The Last Warrior Queen

Chapter 9

I awoke at dawn the next morning, having a decent nights sleep. As I washed I pondered what dress I should wear for the wedding. I still had the lovely green gown from Talia. Perhaps I could wear that.

Suddenly there was a knock at the door. I cautiously opened it to find a warrior standing in front. He stepped aside and gestured to a small older woman standing nervously behind him. She looked familiar somehow.

“This maid says she needs to see you my Queen” the warrior said. Gunnar and Eric had obviously been relieved of their post sometime during the night.

I noticed the old woman was holding something and she looked harmless enough. I nodded and stepped aside so she could come in.

The old woman cautiously entered and I closed the door behind her. As I turned back towards the old woman she curtsied deeply. I walked over to her as she stood up.

“My lady, I have come at the request of your mother. She bade me keep this dress and hair comb until the day of your wedding.”

She held out her arms revealing a beautiful fabric in her hands.

I walked towards her and gently lifted the fabric from her arms and placed it on my bed. As I unfolded it I let out a small gasp as I realized I was looking at a beautiful white gown heavily embroidered with silver and gold thread. In the center wrapped in cloth was a large silver and gold hair comb with an ornate floral design.

I set the comb aside and held up the gown. It had a wide neckline with long flowing sleeves and and a small train. I wonder if it will fit me. I turned my attention back to the maid.

“How did you come to have these?” I asked her.

She smiled warmly at me and replied “I was your mother’s lady in waiting. I traveled with you here to House Regan. After her passing I was allowed a place here as a maid. She entrusted the gown and hair comb to me and I made sure to hide them well.”

I gasped slightly as I suddenly remembered her.

“Helen.”

The old woman smiled brightly and nodded. I immediately walked over to her and hugged her, tears pricking my eyes. When I pulled away I could see she was crying as well. We both quickly wiped our tears.

“Well now my lady, we need to get you ready for your wedding. Come let’s get you washed and dressed.”

I could tell Helen hadn’t forgotten her lady in waiting training and she made quick work of getting me ready. Luckily the gown fit like a glove and Helen was a genius at pinning hair. Soon I looked the part of a Queen.

Helen stepped back to admire her handiwork. “You are the spitting image of your mother” she murmured as tears filled her eyes once more.

I gave her another hug when there was a loud knock at the door. I hastily went and opened it. To my surprise Gunnar and Eric were outside.

My eyes widened in surprise as they both bowed. “My Queen, the King requests we escort you down” Gunnar explained.

“Oh yes, of course” I replied. I turned back to Helen and she gave me a smile and a nod as she handed me the cloth that the hair comb had been wrapped in. “In case you need this later” she murmured. I smiled back at her and took the cloth from her. I shoved it into a pocket in the gown and then turned to follow Gunnar with Eric behind me.

We soon arrived outside the small chapel of the estate where Lord Regan was waiting for me. He glared at me as I emerged from behind Gunnar and roughly grabbed my arm, pulling me towards him.

He leaned down and whispered gruffly “Talia was extremely upset last night. I know it was all your fault. What a miserable ungrateful wretch you are.”