Father's Daughter

Father's Daughter It's not always easy ruling a country

Unable to resist the urge to call out for help, I finally gave into the fact that I was unable to move.  I was in so much pain that I couldn’t even undress myself from my own battle wear.  I waited ten more seconds before yelling “Sonya!” I wasn’t even half way through her name when my hand maid quickly opened the door to my chambers to rush to my aid. “How long were you standing there?” I asked barely looking up at her for my back would not allow it.  “I was just passing by when I heard my name,” Sonya replied with a straight face.  I rolled my eyes at her and she turned her back and started to make my bed when she realized there was no need to. “Have you been in that chair all night?” Sonya gasped.  “I was too tired to undress myself and I fell asleep here,” I say but I knew I could not convince her.  Sonya has known me longer than anyone else and she knew when I was lying. Hitting me on the shoulder she said, “More like couldn’t move!” The instant surge of pain created tears that welded up in my eyes blurring my vision.  My hand clenched into a fist and I pounded the arm of the chair with my gloves scratching the very expensive mahogany finish.   Sonya waited until I calmed myself, then she kneeled down right in front of me until I was forced to meet her eyes.  Sonya was ten years older than me putting her at thirty six.  I still wonder how she became a hand maid with her looks; long brown hair, piercing brown eyes, and a figure that would attract any man if she allowed. If she were to dress in the gowns that hung in my closet then she would look more like a king’s daughter than me.  Sonya gentled her touch when she placed her hands on my knees.  “You are the daughter of the most powerful man in the country of Belgium, you are the heir to the throne, you are one of the most respected women in the nation, you are beautiful, and you deserve the title of Katerina Alicia Javis daughter of King Xavier Torento Javis. It would be a tragedy not to see you sit on that throne someday.  Quit throwing yourself into the face of danger, hang up your battle wear, put away your sword and serve your country in other means.”  “We were flanked,” I told her, “we did not prepare our military strategy well enough.  We were caught off guard.” Sonya was the only one in the palace that knew I snuck off to fight whenever I got the chance.  She also knew that I was better than half the men of my Father’s army.  The disappointing look on her face wasn’t from my disobedience but from the fact that if I returned in such condition than half of the men didn’t return at all. I return my eyes to her stare and continue saying, “This is who I am, Sonya. I’m not meant to shout orders to paupers, I’m meant to lead armies!” “Katerina!” shouts Sonya, “Do not disrespect your Father, let alone the King of Belgium in such manners!” “I am not disrespecting him, I’m using metaphors,” I reply half sarcastically.  Sonya stands and rolls her eyes at me.  “Now let’s get you out of this uniform before someone else comes in.” Sonya declares before she begins undressing me as gentle as she can.  She begins my carefully untying the cuffs that form perfectly to my forearms and then pulling the glove off completely.  I have to stand for Sonya to reach the buckles that secure my chest plate in place.  The first attempt took my breath away, let alone the second and third.  With the armor and my dead body weight combined, Sonya was unable to lift me out of my chair and she had to call in two more hand maids against my orders. I was too tired to argue with her anyway. The two extra set of hands lifted and supported my weight enabling me to rise to my feet.  Sonya walked to my back and started to unlace, untie, and unbuckle the plate off of my body. “I will never understand how you are able to dress yourself for such matter,” Sonya says with confusions.  “A princess never reveals her secrets,” I say with a half-smile. As Sonya finished the last tie, she comes to my front and pulls the breastplate off of my shoulders.  The only thing I have left on is a corset but that thin fabric cannot cover the purple and black blemishes concealing my entire skin from shoulder blades to the bottom of my back.  Sonya tries to cover her shocking reactions but still lets out a horrifying gasp.  I push the handmaids that are holding on to each of my arms back as I walk toward the full body mirror across the room.  The feeling in my legs starts to return slowly as the blood rushes to me feet.  I stumble but regain my balance before Sonya can catch me.  My legs are still armored so they start to begin to unbuckle below my waist as I turn my back toward the mirror.  I have no emotion as I see the damage that has been done to my back.  Before I can look for one more minute Sonya immediately put a silk robe over my shoulders.  By that time the handmaids have finished their work and left Sonya and I to the silent room.  However it didn’t last long because our silence was disturbed by a loud, pounding knock on the door.  “Katerina! Katerina are you in there!” King Javis shouted through the wooded paneling.  I looked at Sonya with a nervous look. My armor, boots, gloves, and the rest of my battle wear was still scattered throughout the room. “One moment father!” I shouted back hoping to by us some time. I was still unable to take more than a few steps without wincing so I watched as Sonya hurried about the room gathering the clothes.  I nodded for her to put everything under the bed and not a moment later did my father’s servants and he following barged into the chamber.  I quickly finished tying off my robe before turning around and facing the King of Belgium. My father smiled and gave me a hug as he entered.  It took every will power in me not to push away or for that matter fall to my knees from the strength he was putting on my wounded back. King Javis was not a small man.  He easily reached the height of six feet and weighed well over two hundred pounds.  His voice bellowed through the corridors and though he seemed quite fierce, he is the nicest man you will meet.  When he did finally release me from his restraint he looked down at me with his green eyes and said, “I have a gift for you.” “Well that wasn’t necessary father, you already do so much for me,” I say trying to hide the pain in my voice.  “Of course it is necessary! We have a special occasion happening in the palace tonight and as princess of this nation you must look the part!”  I take the box that is handed to me from my father’s right hand man Riley and pass it along to Sonya who unties the bow and unravels the package.  Sonya pulls out a full body length elegant ball gown that looks to be a custom lace fit.  I open my mouth in awe as I take in the beautiful sapphire colour that is accented throughout the lace. “Oh father, it’s absolutely stunning!” I exclaim in all honesty.  “It sure is a fine piece of clothing. I especially love the open back, not too modest; A perfect fit for a king’s daughter if I may say so myself,” Sonya says giving me a worried look.  “Well go on, try it on!” father insists.  Not wanting my secret of being a warrior, let alone my injured back, I quickly say, “I want it to be a surprise for tonight! You will see it when everyone else gets too at the parade.”  “Very well then, we will leave you too it!” King Javis motioned to his servants and they hurried out the door.  My father started to close the door but before he did he turns around and says, “Oh and Katerina, breakfast will be served at ten.  You mother would really appreciate you being there this time,” and with that he was gone.  I handed the gown back to Sonya and headed for the wash room.  “Come Sonya,” I say, “help me wash up, I can’t do this on my own.” Sonya stands motionless with the gown hanging from her grip. She looks at the gift and say, “My lady, you can’t wear this tonight. Your entire back will be exposed.” I sit down on the queen size bed because standing was way more exhausting than it should have been. I run my hands along the soft wool blanket that covers the four post mahogany finish bed; the same finish that matches the now scratch chair that sits across the room. I look around the room hoping to find some answers.  The forest green walls that match with the dark wood floors seem to accent the English painting that hangs across from the mirror on the other wall. I stare at the French doors that lead to the walk in closet; hiding the many more gifts that my father has given to me.  The gowns range from every day wear to outside games with the Russian ambassadors, to sophisticated evening balls. “Sonya,” I say still staring at the closet doors, “through those doors to the left, last shelf on the right.” Sonya places the sapphire gown on the chair I was sitting on earlier and enters the closet. I hear her shuffling through the draw and I know she has found the solution to the problem when she says, “Katerina, this is brilliant!” Sonya returns to the main room holding a black shaw that will easily drape over my shoulders and conceal my bruised back. “Perfect, now help my into the tub so I can get the rest of the dirt and blood off of my body.” “How did your father not notice your appearance when he saw you?” Sonya asks. “He doesn’t admit to knowing what my hobby is but he isn’t blind. My father doesn’t want to believe that his daughter can handle a sword better than his top ranking general.” I end the conversation by entering the wash room and turning on the bath water. Sonya finishes undressing my and helps me into the tub.  The lukewarm water has an instant soothing effect on my aching muscles, releasing some of the stress from my body. My handmaid has seen me in these conditions before so I don’t feel a bit embarrassed as she begins to lather and bathe my wounded self. As I begin to relax, my mind wanders to the battle that took place the night before.