The New Arrival
1360 Words
The night was dark, lit only by the faint glow of the moon slipping through the thick clouds. The air was biting, chilling Tiana to the bone, making her shiver as she sat on the cold stone floor of the small cell.
The room barely held her frame, enclosed by worn gray stone walls, with a low ceiling that made her feel suffocated. The only door was made of thick iron bars, and there was no window or other exit. She did not know exactly where she was, but she knew one thing: she had been captured.
She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to hold on to some warmth, though the shivers weren’t from the cold alone.
Fear, Helplessness, Memories that haunted her since fleeing her home.
She had run all night, her feet cut and her clothes torn, yet she never stopped. There was no time to think, to mourn, or even to process the events of last night. She had to run, to get as far as possible from the home that no longer existed.
But… where could she go?
She lowered her head, lost in the surrounding darkness.
“Mother… what do I do now?”
No answer came, only the deadly silence.
A few guards stood near her cell, speaking in low tones, but she caught fragments of their words.
“She was caught at the border, carrying nothing with her.”
“Seems like a runaway girl, but she could be a spy.”
“The king has ordered heightened security after recent movements, she might be from the other kingdom.”
“I doubt it, She doesn’t look like a fighter or someone of importance, Just a girl.”
Tiana’s heart pounded with every word.
The king? Which king?
Were they talking about King Jon? Was he in this kingdom now?
She didn’t know what awaited her, but the thought of being labeled a spy was terrifying enough. She knew nothing of the laws here, but she did know one thing: spies rarely met a good fate.
She lifted her head slightly, staring into the darkness, trying to gather her thoughts. She needed a way out, but how?
She shifted slightly, trying to loosen the stiffness in her limbs, but weakness overtook her. Hunger, cold and exhaustion had taken their toll.
She slowly lay down on the ground, closing her eyes, hoping to regain some strength.
But instead of sleep, memories assaulted her like a nightmare.
Her mother’s screams, her hands pushing her toward the back door, her eyes filled with fear… and her last words:
“Don’t look back, Just run!”
Tiana gasped, opening her eyes suddenly, her heart racing.
She was still here, Still trapped.
And she still did not know where her path would end.
---
Morning had come quietly over the royal palace. Sunlight streamed through the ornate windows of the throne room. King Jon sat upon his throne, hands clasped before him, while ministers and advisors took their usual positions.
The meeting began with a discussion of an important matter occupying the palace in recent days: negotiating a trade agreement with the neighboring kingdom of Renfield, famed for its thriving trade in spices and rare fabrics.
One advisor unrolled a scroll before him:
“Your Majesty, after several rounds of negotiation, Renfield has agreed to our proposal, but they insist on tax exemptions for the goods they bring to us. They also demand the right to trade directly in the capital without local intermediaries.”
The finance minister raised his head cautiously:
“This may harm our local merchants. If we grant them these privileges, it could weaken our domestic market.”
Another minister spoke, looking at the king:
“Yet in return, we need their rare spices, impossible to obtain elsewhere. They have also agreed to send batches of royal fabrics exclusive to their lands, which could benefit the nobility and the palace.”
Jon listened silently, eyes sharp, then spoke in a calm yet authoritative voice:
“We need to discuss the details of these tax exemptions… I do not wish to make a decision that may harm our local merchants.”
The ministers were about to continue when the door burst open. A soldier rushed in and bowed quickly before speaking:
“Your Majesty, I bring an urgent report from the southern border.”
All eyes turned to him. He stepped forward:
“Last night, during border patrols, our soldiers found a young girl of unknown identity sneaking through the forest near the border. Her behavior raised suspicion, so she was detained at one of the guard posts for questioning.”
Jon’s eyes narrowed slightly:
“Do you know who she is?”
The soldier shook his head:
“Not yet, Your Majesty, but her appearance shows she is not from our lands. She looked lost, perhaps fleeing from something.”
A brief silence filled the hall before Jon said firmly:
“Bring her to the palace, I will decide her fate myself.”
The soldier bowed again and left swiftly to deliver the orders.
---
Tiana sat inside the wooden carriage bumping along the rugged road toward the heart of the capital, her hands bound with a rough rope that heightened her uncertainty. Three armed guards accompanied her, one driving the carriage, two on horseback flanking it, watching her as though she might attack at any moment.
Her body was weary, her eyes swollen from lack of sleep, but she refused to give in to weakness. She stared at the gray sky above, the cold wind biting her skin. She did not know what awaited her in the palace, but one thing was clear… her old life was over.
The guard opposite her sighed harshly:
“You’re lucky. In another kingdom, your fate would have been much worse.”
Tiana looked at him but said nothing, prompting him to continue while tightening his horse’s reins:
“Who knows? You may be a poor girl fleeing some terrible fate, or perhaps a spy. Either way, the king will decide your future.”
She remained silent, determined not to show any weakness. She didn’t know what awaited her, but she knew she had to stay alert.
As they approached the city, the dense forest thinned, revealing the paved road leading to the towering city walls. In the distance, the king’s palace rose, majestic, its high towers brushing the clouds.
It was the first time she had seen such a sight, yet she could not help but wonder… would this place be her refuge or her new prison?
Finally, the carriage stopped after a long, exhausting journey. The quiet lasted only a moment before the door swung open and Tiana was roughly dragged out.
Her feet, stiff from the long ride, hit the cold stone ground. She lifted her gaze to see the scene before her. A massive black iron gate adorned with intricate royal carvings, with the kingdom’s emblem etched in perfect detail, loomed ahead. The guards, expressionless, scrutinized her as if measuring her worth before allowing the carriage to pass.
As the gate opened, a meticulously paved avenue stretched before her, flanked by towering columns and perfectly planted trees, like a living painting. At the end, the royal palace stood proudly, its white walls reflecting sunlight like pure marble, golden decorations highlighting the kingdom’s grandeur and power.
Life within the palace walls pulsed with activity: soldiers training in the courtyard, servants rushing along the corridors, murmuring officials on the edges of the halls a symphony of daily palace life.
The guards accompanying her were ordered to a side building attached to the palace, less grand but still imposing. They passed narrow corridors with old stone walls, clean despite their age, until reaching a small room with a single window letting in only a sliver of light.
Tiana was shoved inside with no explanation and left alone. The room was cold, the stone walls adding a sense of awe and intimidation. She did not know what awaited her here, but one thing was certain…
Her fate was now in the hands of this unknown king.
- Writer
