Queen's Reign

Chapter 7

Ethelina woke to the sound of her maids rousing the fire in the hearth outside her bedchamber. She sat upright on the pillows, nestled in the warmth of her silky nightgown and feathered bed. "Be careful!" A muffled sound came from the outside, followed by the clatter of a dropped bucket.

The princess was annoyed and marched out the door. Opening the door, her maids gasped and curtsied low at the sight of her. "Good morning, Your Highness," they greeted. However, Ethelina was enraged. "Do you all know your clumsiness woke me up? I could have slept for another hour!"

They all trembled in fear while listening to their mistress. "We are truly sorry, Your Highness. There is a new servant here and we were training her." A middle-aged woman wearing the same soot and dust-covered uniform stepped out and said in a polite tone.

The princess scoffed at her words. "I don't have the time to mess with your incompetence to make a fire and drop a bucket filled with dead embers and ruin my marble floor. You'd better get out of my sight, now!" They wasted no time on a curtsy and filed out of the room.

Sighing, Ethelina looked around for a dress she could wear. She'd probably scared her maids away, so she had to dress and ready herself. Noticing the torn gown she wore when she arrived heaped in a corner of a big, white wardrobe, she approached and opened it. 

In Aeviria, she used to wear ball gowns with skirts that flared out from the tiny waist and beaded bodice. But here, the entire wardrobe was filled with sleeker dresses, the kind that hugged your frame to accentuate her body's curves. These are so Adelyn's type, she said aloud. Finally, Ethelina found a rich, purple dress which was tight at the waist and flaring out a little, went straight down to her ankles. The sleeves and bodice were embroidered with pearls and studded with gems. Making a sound of approval, she went into her privy chamber to change.

Walking out in a pair of matching slippers and her new gown, she exited the room and closed the door. "Good morning," a lady holding a flute stood looking at her, standing rigidly beside the door. "I see you've made yourself acquainted with the wardrobe choices. Please, follow me." Turning to the left to descend a flight of stairs, the lady led her to a wooden door and rapped sharply on it.

The dining hall was equally grand to the rest of the castle. Red roses hung from the pillars lining the side of the room, a long table place in the centre, decorated with a light red cloth and gold linings at the hem. Ravenna sat at the head of the table, blowing her freshly painted nails dry, while Aldare and Laila used their forks to stab at the same piece of meat, shouting excitedly. Isanta and Norwine sat at the right side of the table, speaking quietly among themselves. Upon Ethelina’s arrival, Ravenna glanced up. “Morning, Ethelina. Did you have a good night’s rest?” 

“Yes, I did.” The princess returned, smiling. Crescentia gestured to a seat for her to sit and went to the empty space beside Laila. “Well, now since everyone is here, let’s eat.” The food was served by servants using silver trays, they carefully placed each plate in front of them and ladled food onto it. 

“So,” Ravenna continued as she took her first bite. “Well Ethelina, let me introduce you to my faithful helpers. They possess magic as I do.” The princess looked up from her food and around the table. “This is Lady Laila, she’s my advisor and governor of the village. Next, beside her, Lady Crescentia. She was a palace musician, but I recognised her talent in dark magic. So I raised her to be part of my court.” Ethelina looked to both of them, smiling in acknowledgement. “To the left of Lady Laila is Lady Aldare, my general. She does such a good job in leading the military forces. Those other two beside you, Lady Isanta who was an alchemist, and Lady Norwine. My ladies-in-waiting, but I have better plans for them than accompanying me and dressing me every day.” The glint in her eyes sent Norwine shuddering and she looked to her friend, a frown on their faces.

Suddenly, Laila screamed. “My goodness! You are a servant, and yet you can pour wine on my dress, you-” She exclaimed, holding up her peach silk dress, which was stained red now. The servant stuttered. “I-I apologise, milady. I’m really sorry, I’ll wash that for you,” she knelt on the ground, tears running down her cheeks. 

Unfortunately, the lady scoffed at her plea, kicking her hands away. “Well, if you’re going to wash it for me, who knows if it will become a black dress? Aldare, I believe this is your call,” she crossed her arms, looking at Lady Aldare, who was already brandishing her table knife. Ethelina looked at Ravenna, confused. The duchess announced, covering Ethelina’s hand with her own. “I think our princess can witness her very first punishment today.”

The maid cried harder as the guards dragged her away by her arms. “Please, Milady! Please let me go!” Her shouts were heard as she was being dragged away and out of the room. Isanta looked at Norwine, nodding confidently. Standing up, she spoke. “Milady, please allow me to prepare the t*****e chamber, as I have always done. I was thinking to add a little more of that Vanade you taught me to use.”

The duchess laughed and went to her side. “Of course, Isanta. Go on then, remember to boil it first to achieve the bone-splintering effect.” The lady curtsied and walked out of the dining hall, with Norwine’s anxious gaze following her back.

*********

Isanta ran along the hallways, going to her room and locking the door beside her. In the castle, her rooms were the closest to the dungeon, and there was a secret passageway she found a few years ago. Grabbing a herb basket, she pushed away a tapestry behind her changing screen, revealing a dark flight of stairs winding down. A dank, damp smell hit her nose, but she didn’t cover her nose or wince. Years of secretly attending to prisoners gave her resistance to the odour of the cells. Isanta lifted her skirt, and stepped in, taking care to close the tapestry before disappearing into the darkness. 

Walking down the tunnel and slowly approaching the metal cages inside the dungeon, Isanta quickly went to the main path from the entrance, greeting two passing guards on the way. Screams came from the t*****e chamber on her left, and she immediately ran there. 

“No, no! Please stop!” Rosa shouted as three guards continued to whip her back, chuckling at her pain. Lady Isanta opened the door and told the guards: “I’m here, you may leave.” They regarded her and her basket of herbs suspiciously, whispering to one another. “Duchess Ravenna sent me,” she continued, gaze boring into the guards. Shrugging, they bowed and left her alone and closed the door with a loud bang.

Rosa shrunk into a corner of the room at the sight of her unpacking her basket. “Please, lady. Don’t hurt me.” The lady smiled warmly at the maid and took out some salve. “Don’t worry, I’m not here to do that.” Kneeling on the floor splattered with dried blood, she held the maid’s hand, gently lifting her shift to apply the salve to her back. “I know what would befall you afterwards, my mistress is cruel,” she whispered. “Now, with Princess Ethelina on her side, she can officially be the queen of the Hart.”

Rosa sniffed, her nose slightly congested from crying. “I know, she killed my family for accidentally stepping on her dress while serving food.” Isanta sighed, not knowing what to do. The Hart’s rulers were never kind to their subjects, but Ravenna was worse. “I’m sorry, Rosa. I can’t do more for you, these herbs in the salve can stun pretty well, but I don’t know if the duchess will… kill you.” 

The maid turned around and faced her. “No, I thank you, Lady,” she said, holding Isanta’s delicate hands. “You will keep on helping people as you have done for me, and all of the Hart would know you for your kindness, edoka.” Lady Isanta’s eyes filled with tears to hear Rosa call her ‘friend’ in Ancient Hartian. “Admoto, edoka,” she returned.

Finishing her healing poultice, she slowly gathered her things and closed the door, wondering if there would be anyone else she could genuinely say thank you in the ancient language anymore. 

*********

Snow fell from the sky, as soft as clouds, blanketing the land in pearlescent white. Adelyn was taking a walk beside the frozen Cannian river, looking out at the bright morning sun that hung high in the sky. She frowned a little, as the sun reminded her of Queen Myranda. Her mentor has always loved the sun, and she felt tears welling up in her eyes the longer she basked in its heavenly glow. I miss her, why did she have to be taken in such a way?

The spring sun shone brightly on the palace, illuminating the marble walls. “Focus, Adelyn,” Myranda’s warm voice resonated throughout the empty solarium. Adelyn clenched her teeth, trying hard to focus on her powers. Blue currents of light flowed from the 14-year-old girls’ palms, forming an orb in the centre of the room. Myranda made a sound of approval, walking up beside her apprentice and put an arm around her shoulders. “You’ve improved, Adelyn. Just try imagining the element whenever you use them.”

Adelyn looked as her mentor walked to the big and only window in the solarium, opening them to let fresh air and sunlight enter. “My queen, why can’t we use our powers in any way we wish? We could have lived life the way we wanted to.” Her innocent voice made the queen turn around and smile. “Do you know, Adelyn, that my mother was one of magic’s great practitioners. But, even the greatest have their limits.”

“What do you mean, my queen?”

Queen Myranda gently led Adelyn to the open window, letting the sunlight find her face. “I have practised the light from a very small age, like you. I mastered it, and I thought I was so powerful that nobody could defeat me. I used my magic for nought, and one day, it left me.” The girl pursed her lips, quietly sinking in the knowledge she was receiving. “Queen Myranda, will mine fade too? Like yours did?”

“If you always use it for when you really need it and for the greater good, magic will never leave you. But you must stick to that rule, then your powers will stay with you eternally.” The queen beamed at her student, who nodded demurely and walked away from the window. “Alright, enough practising for the day. Let’s go meet Ethelina for tea.” Adelyn smiled and walked beside her, exiting the solarium. 

*********

“Here, lady.” The kitchen cook passed a tray with tea and cake to Adelyn. “Take this to Their Majesties, I’m thinking they’re in the queen’s study.” The lady caught a whiff of the fragrance the steaming cake gave off and asked. “What cake is this? It smells so nice.”

The cook chuckled. “Cannian Rose, my latest recipe. I could cut you a slice if you'd like, milady." Adelyn slyly smiled and whispered back. "There's no need to ask me twice." She held the tray and headed to the study, careful not to spill its contents. Approaching the study, she heard a loud clatter from the room, followed by shouting. 

Adelyn left the tray on a table and went forward, pressing her ear to the door. “So, she has magic and I don’t, what makes her special then?” Ethelina’s shrill, commanding voice was heard. “Sister, you’re not being reasonable,” Myranda tried to coax her sister. 

The princess stood in a far corner from the queen, glaring at her. “What do you mean not reasonable? You never taught me to wield magic, you gave all your time away for an outsider like her. Magic, sister. The magic that runs in our very veins, magic that only the royal family had and you taught that to a 16-year-old outsider!” The queen stood from her seat, gone was the soft and gentle nature, replaced with a hard and cold demeanour. 

“I said enough, Ethelina! You are not ready to learn magic, and now your childishness proves it. I have no hesitation in teaching Adelyn because she is ready!” Myranda shouted back, glowering at her sister, who was now twisting her fan with her hands. 

Adelyn trembled at the ferocity of their fight, biting her lip as she listened. The two sisters were fighting because of her, she is the outsider the princess mentioned. Feeling tears of hate and regret run down her face in streaks, she ran away from the door, the tray of food forgotten. 

Ethelina continued raging at Myranda. “Fine, if you want to be so foolish and teach her those. I warned you, sister.” The words sounded like a threat from an enemy rather than a warning given by a sister. A little figure running away caught the queen’s eye as she stood by the doorway after her sister stormed out. “Adelyn?” The crying figure escaped from her vision, making her wonder if her student overheard what Ethelina had said.

Adelyn snapped out of her trance, a gust of cold wind hitting her face. She was on the ground, sitting on the snow, her dress slightly damp on where she had sat on. Just as she was about to return to the palace courtyard, a rustling in the bushes behind caught her attention. Her skin tingled from the sensation of being watched and slowly turned around to not surprise the person in the bush. 

Another rustle came. Adelyn immediately fired an icy blast at the bush, demolishing a part of the plant. Nobody was there, but rustling and movement came from another bush, moving in the hedges. The queen kept firing, aiming at the moving bushes. Finally, she hit her target, a small sound coming from a far hedge to her left. Approaching it, Adelyn raised her arms and prepared to fire, but instead of an assassin coming to kill her, she was greeted by a small voice. “Please, don’t hurt me!” A young woman with a dark blue cloak shielded her face with her hands, afraid that Queen Adelyn might deploy her powers again. On her right forearm, a big, angry gash with rivulets of blood flowing from it. The queen gasped at the sight of the injury she caused. “My goodness, I’m so sorry,” she apologised, slowly leading the woman out into the light from the hedge.

“Y-Your Majesty,” she stammered, recognising the queen immediately and curtsied. “I apologise, I didn’t mean to spy on you.” She held her bleeding arm, trying to hide it from her. “Your arm…” Adelyn started, then asked. “May I?” 

The woman hesitated. It was clear she hadn’t known magic existed before, but she relented to hold it up to the queen. Adelyn gently touched the wound, making her wince. “This might hurt a little.” She told her softly, and the blue hooded woman nodded, fear still in her eyes. 

Light sparked from her fingertips as she gently brought it to the wound, glowing bright and reflecting on the woman’s pale skin. She winced, trying hard to not scream aloud, but her frightened expression slowly melted into awe as she witnessed her gash healing, skin joining together seamlessly, the blood stalled. 

Adelyn removed her bloodstained fingertips from her arm, revealing the completely healed hand. The woman looked at her in disbelief, grabbing her once injured arm to inspect it closely. “There you go.” The queen smiled at her, but her smile faltered as she looked at the garden behind her, almost razed to the ground.  “Let me fix that,” she said with a nervous laugh, waving her hand over one of the flattened bushes. 

The bushes flourished beneath her hand, growing and sprouting despite the cold and frigid weather. The woman stood beside her, eyes widening at the sight. Where she lived, anyone possessing magic is considered a disgrace and will be sent to exile. She could not help but marvel at the queen’s powers.

Adelyn turned to her after she was done. “Come, it’s cold here. Let’s go back to the palace.” The woman smiled warmly and followed her as Queen Adelyn trod back to the palace. 

"My name is Zaria, Your Majesty," the woman said after receiving a cup of hot cocoa from the servants, sipping the warm drink. "I'm a refugee from the Hart." Adelyn froze. "The Hart?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. I have two sisters, we are triplets. I had no other choice but to leave them there, to find a new life here. Things are pretty tough there." 

The queen straightened in her chair, furrowing her brow. She had never heard of the Hart as a kingdom before, and have definitely never learned their hierarchy. "I apologise, Zaria. I’ve never heard of this kingdom before.” She quickly reminisced to her history lessons with Myranda, yet nothing nudged her memory of this unknown kingdom.

Zaria’s face plunged into a mix of anger and terror. “Your Majesty, I don’t really think you would like to know about us… My eldest sister once worked for the queen, serving as her chambermaid. Once, she twisted her ankle while helping my parents on the farm and she dropped a tray of food. The queen made her crippled and my parents killed, just for that tray of food.” She slouched, trying to hide the tears that were already streaming down her face. 

Adelyn looked at the young woman, incredulous. How could one take another’s life over a tray of food? And their parents? She bit her lip, unsure what to do, and patted Zaria’s back trying to comfort her. The woman kept crying, her shoulders heaving up and down. It seemed like she had hardly ever cried about her parents, she had to stay strong for her family. “I’m really sorry to hear that, Zaria,” she said. 

The crying slowly subdued as the woman composed herself, trying to wipe her tears away and hide the fact that she had been crying. Managing a small smile, she turned to face Adelyn. “Thank you, Your Majesty. I had never really cried about this for some time now, and I had never expected to be sharing it with a queen.” Zaria looked up from her half-finished cup of hot cocoa.   

“So Zaria, if you don’t mind, you may stay here, in the palace with me. In due time, I will find a way to save your two sisters.” 

A smile made its way up Zaria’s face, eyes brightening at the idea. “Of course, I’d be honoured to, Your Majesty!” Adelyn felt elated that she could bring some happiness into the woman’s sad face. She then called for a servant to bring Zaria to her rooms and to make sure she was comfortable with them. 

As Zaria left the room, a knot formed in the pit of Queen Adelyn’s stomach. The mere mentioning of an unknown kingdom, the Hart, seemed to rile her in an uncomfortable way. What was I thinking? I don’t have the right to feel this way, I don’t know about this kingdom. How can I judge them? 

Shaking her head to rid off the idea, the queen left the room, not noticing as a sliver of purple mist seeped in through the seam under the balcony door, and slithered to the fireplace. The fire snuffed out once the mist landed in the hearth, smoke billowing from the charred wood.