The Rebel and the Icequeen

The captured rebel

Queen Louises POV

“Next there is a man from the Eastcoast,” says a man at the door, who announces the newcomers.

“What does he want?”, asks the minister next to me. The minister is a very slim man, and since my husband is gone, he things he has the power to do whatever he wants. He won't dare to sit on the throne, but he is standing in front of it, which gives him the same power, as if he was sitting. I absolutely don’t like him. He is a prick in the ass.

The man comes closer and kneels before me before he starts speaking.

“I’m a merchant and was travelling through the forest, to deliver the goods, when I was ambushed. There where at least five men, and they took everything I had. Please, will you help me, your majesty?”

Often, I've seen people cry and beg for help and not once was I able to help them.

I attempt to speak to the man before me, but the minister is quick to take the word.

“Who ambushed you?”

“I don’t know, sir.”

“Was it the rebels?”, the minister asks, and I can already smell a trap, I just don’t know what the minister has in mind. It is evident on his face that he is out for something very specific. The people in the hall begin to murmur, but one single glance from the minister makes the people fall silent. The rebels have been the cause for a lot of problems lately, but normally they go after the rich and wealthy people and not the common ones.

“I don’t know sir,” the poor merchant repeated.

“Well,” the minister answers with a sigh, “if it would have been the rebels, then the king you would have paid everything, but since you're not sure, we can’t help you.”

The man in front of me blinks his eyes rapidly, but he can’t hold back his tears. They roll down his cheaks and end up falling to the red carpet. He raises his hands in agony.

“Please have mercy. I have a family to feed and kinds to raise,” he pleads.

“... and we got a whole kingdom to feed,” the minister interrupts. He waves with his hands, and to guards get into the hall and get the man out of the hall. Once again my opinion is not important at all.

But I'm just a woman who has neither a clue nor an opinion, apparently. How I hate it! The corners of my mouth are starting to hurt, but I keep on smiling. It's late afternoon and I've already listened to thirty-two hopeless stories.

“Let us through”, a man announces and he’s immediately given permission to enter. He is one of the guards. He bows before me and then states: “Your Royal Highness, we arrested one of the rebels trying to break into the castle.”

“Oh great,” the minister says smiling gleefully, “bring him here.”

Immediately more guards enter the room and bring a man forward. He is wearing a dirty white shirt and brown pants. He looks like an average farmer. His hair falls dark on his forehead, but what stands out are his caramel brown eyes, which shine so clearly from this dirty face that I can hardly look away. His hands and feet are in heavy chains and jingle with every movement. The guards force him to the ground in front of the steps of the throne. His hateful look bores right into me. I stop smiling. And I'm glad to finally be able to relax my cramped face. Instead of smiling, I now have complete equanimity on my face again. It's my way protecting myself, so this man can't guess my thoughts. Inwardly, I once again congratulate myself on the skills I have learned, even if it was hard to achieve it.

“What is his name?”, the minister asks coldly.

“I have no clue sir,” the guard answers.

“Liam Cameron,” the Rebel says, without taking his gaze of me. His hate is so clearly reflected in his gaze that I’m sure the only thing that is holding him back from killing me on the spot, are the heavy chains.

“Why are you here Liam Cameron?”

Liam presses his lips together in a thin line, but doesn’t answer.

“Execute him! Everyone should see what happens to traitors who are not loyal to their king,” the minister says loud and clear. His hideous smile makes me shiver inside.

Several emotions appear on Liam's face at the same time. His gaze shows panic for a moment and then changes to determination. Apparently he is ready to die for his cause. His eyes no longer look at me, but glare at the minister. The guards are reaching for Liam Cameron's arms again to take him to the dungeon when I step in. I want to explore this man more closely. It kind of appeals to me that he’s as open as a book. His face reveals everything. It would be a shame to just execute someone like that. I've always been interested in finding out what drives people. It wasn't particularly difficult with the minister. He is obsessed with power and money. He enjoys being the center of attention and at night he probably dreams of being the king himself. But what drives Liam Cameron? Is it just hate, or is there more to it?

To be honest it is probably not only my curiosity, but also the need to provoke the minister, make him see who I am and what I am capable of, and to do something forbidden. I've just sat there quietly for too long. Now I would do something for myself. Something exciting to escape this endless boredom.

“Liam Cameron will be punished for breaking into the palace. He will be thrown into the dungeon. Furthermore, he will be questioned about his motives and if it should turn out that he is guilty of further crimes, he will be hanged," I announce in a loud voice. Everyone stares ad me, and after about half a second everyone starts to whisper.

Liam Cameron also looks at me, his face shows pure disgust and some kind of strength to endure whatever thing will happen to him.

“But your majesty! This man broke into the palace,” the minister contradicts me. Complete surprise and disapproval shown on his face, but even if I don't use it often or even show it, I have the last word in this discussion. I raise one of my plucked eyebrows and look at the minister, who immediately recovers and nods at me. Liam Cameron's gaze is still on me, but for the first time in a long time, I can't say for sure what he feels right now.

I'm not entirely sure, but I think I've seen a flash of gratitude. He seems confident, or at least he tries to, but there is something vulnerable about him. He presses his jaw tightly together and then lowers his gaze to the floor. The guards grab his arms and drag him away. "It's enough for today," I say, while getting up. My limbs are very stiff from sitting for a long time. However, I do not let it show and walk away. My chin held high and with perfect posture. My mother would be proud of me if she could see me like that, I'm sure. The ministers protests follow me until I exit the great hall.