The Queens Quest

Chapter 1

I awoke from a deep sleep. The sun was bright and warm. Today was Coronation Day, the day I would become queen.

Tired, I dragged myself out of bed and walked towards the bathroom, knowing I would need to be clean for the special day.

"Oh, Clair, there's been a change in the plans. Come back after breakfast. We'll clean you up then."

I had barely opened the bathroom door when Mary ushered me out again and into the hall. Mary was a stout woman with great, green eyes and golden hair pulled back into a messy bun.

"Out, out. Go eat your breakfast and come back later."

"Alright, I'm going, Mary, you can stop poking me now."

I walked down the hall to the private dining area. I took the ribbon tied around my wrist and pulled my brown hair into a pony tail.

I reached the doors to the dining room and knew my mother would be waiting inside. I quickened my pace and skipped into the dining room. I saw my mother right away, already eating the food on the table. She stared at me with a disapproving glare.

"What?" I asked her.

"You look like you just woke up."

"I did just wake up."

She shook her head and I laughed. I sat down, determined to enjoy the day. I took a bite and another. The toast was warm against my fingers. Mom coughed and coughed again. She was choking now, struggling to breath.

"Mom," I screamed, "Mom!"

She was clawing at her throat. I grabbed her and put my arms around her stomach. I pushed hard. Nothing came out.

"Get me a doctor," I yelled. The servants dropped their trays and quickly ran to alert the court physician.

Mother reached out with her hand, stroking my face. She opened her mouth. I leaned in closer, so my ear was nearly touching her lips..

"I love you..I.i'm sorry..," she breathed. "You will make a great queen..the prophecy..it isnt.."

But then the doctor finally arrived, I was whisked away. I could see my mother had gone unconscious. She had said the last word, but I hadn't quite heard it in all the bustle. I stood off to the side, watching them load mom carefully on to the stretcher. I felt sick. Was she okay? Was she going to be okay? I thought to go ask the doctor, Earl was his name, but then I knew he didn't quite know either. So I grabbed my toast and proceeded to my room, and took a much needed nap.

Mary woke me that afternoon.

"you think she'll be alright?" I asked. Mary had always been a kind soul, a refuge if you will.

She shrugged. "Who knows? I expect she's been poisoned. But Catherines long been a strong woman, she'll pull through."

I nodded, hoping she was right.

"But why worry about that right now? We still have your coronation to prepare for."

She was right, I still had my speech to write. My blue gown laid in the corner, waiting for me to don it and transform into the queen I was meant to be. I just didn't know if I could be that person without my mom's help.

Later I walked down the hall to eat a quick dinner.

"Ah, there you are," said Egar, walking towards me with his brisk stride. "We have news for you."

"What is it?" I asked.

"Come with me."

He led me down a long passageway. The corridor led to the private meeting rooms of the queen. Egar opened a door and pushed me inside. It was a large room, with a tall ceiling and white, stone walls. I had been here before.

Doctors were in the room, as well as officers, generals and other courtmen. They were standing around a table.

"What is going on," I said, suddenly feeling very defensive. Seeing all the people reminded me of when I found out my dad had left us; it was the same room. I felt sick again.

"What's the news," I asked again.

Everyone was just staring at me. I searched and saw Daneen in the crowd. I recalled when we were both kids and how I always searched for his eyes in the crowd after my father left, and the steadiness they gave me. I held on to that steadiness now.

"We've discovered that your mother was poisoned," said Earl.

"Who did it?" I quickly asked.

"We have reason to believe it was..Queen Ursula."

I kept staring at Daneen's eyes. He nodded to me, confirming what Earl had said.

"Have you caught whoever poisoned her? Can you make an antidote?"

"We have caught her. She is to be executed for treason." I jumped. I had nearly forgotten Egar was behind me. "And there might be an antidote. But it's far away."

"it's a myth," Earl said quickly. " a fairy tale."

I stared at him. "I'd like to hear it please."

He sighed. "Your Majesty, with all due respect, magic hasn't been seen in this land for nearly...a hundred years. Who knows if this antidote can even be found." Earl massaged his brow while I stared at him not making a sound. "The antidote for this particular poison is said to be a flower of rare species. Its mere petals are said to contain more magic and healing properties than all the evil in the land." He looked at me. "If we found and used this flower to heal your mother, Ursula and her entire land would be burned by the power of the flower, destroying all the evil everywhere."

"But you can't seem to locate it?" I asked him. " If we found this flower, this war would end." I looked at Daneen. my mother would be saved.

" Not just that," said Yusef. He had a thick brown beard and gold rimmed glasses,I recognized him as the court historian. "There seems to be relative information on what it looks like, what it is it even does. if-and that's a big if- we find it we wouldn't necessarily be able to use it."

I scoffed and looked at all the faces in the room. I was the only woman. These men had been handpicked by my father...but my father had left me. Now my mother was dying, their Queen, and these men wouldn't so much bat an eye at the issue. It was time to take things into my own hands. If they couldn't help me or my kingdom, or my mom, I'd help myself, somehow.