Finding Freedom

Finding Freedom - Part 2 Chapter 1

            “Her majesty the queen and her daughters!”

            The room became instantly silent. The wooden floor creaked as everyone separated into two groups to let Amandina walk on the carpet to her throne. I took a second to observe the guests’ clothes. Most of the women wore bright colours. Good, I thought, at least I won’t stand out too much.

As we followed her to the throne, I fought back a sigh of exasperation as the guests tried to bow without creasing their expensive clothing. Etiquette required that they start to bend five steps before my mother reached them, only to stand back up after she had passed them. The thus created wave accompanied her to her royal chair.

Two servants rushed up to help her sit without damaging her royal dress. I had to bow down in front of her, as always, but contrarily to all the guests, I didn’t care if I creased the yellow horror I was wearing. Sir Cedric huffed down beside me with what seemed a considerable amount of effort. We would have to stay that way through all the opening speech. Another rule of etiquette.

I started to think of what I would change in these pesky traditions when I became queen, but interrupted my thoughts. If I became queen. The reality bowed down on me. If I ran away, would I still become queen? I doubted it. My resolution started to fail me; I was so much looking forward to the day I would be crowned; the day I wanted to make all the changes in the rules I had imagined since I was little. My mother started the speech, ripping me away from my thoughts.

“I welcome you all to this ball, opened in honor of my two daughters. It is also the youngest’s first ball, and she will be treated with the respect due to her rank. Enjoy.”

That last word was more of an order than a proof of affability, but I seemed to be the only one to notice. My face stayed calm even though my insides were burning with rage. The rest of the speech was short and concise. Amandina hadn’t even mentioned why it was at least part my ball, and she had never told anyone to treat me with respect. At my first ball, I had to stand beside the throne for almost the whole evening after she had told my name in the opening speech. My decision was made. I would run away.

The music started and I stood up, helping my escort rather than the opposite. I was supposed to open up the dance with Mary and our two companions. I took his offered hand, thanking my gloves for shielding my skin from his.

Mary stayed close by because before a man could ask her to dance, I had to introduce him to her. I was then at leisure to find myself a partner.

The bell announcing dinner did not ring too soon. I fell down heavily on my assigned chair, exhausted. I hadn’t been able to stop dancing. After the first dance, I got different partners until I could barely stand, and when I thought I would finally have a minute to rest, Sir Cedric brought me to the dance floor again. There was always some man I hadn’t danced with yet and would offend if I didn’t. Usually I didn’t care, but that always drew the attention to me, and I didn’t want any attention if I was to leave.

I bent down gently to take off my shoes from my sore feet. Dancing all evening hadn’t been helped by being stepped on five times: four times by Sir Cedric and once by his brother. I dug in my plate, trying to eat as much as possible without seeming unsuitable. I would need all the energy I could find. I kept a close eye on my mother’s plate. Another of those traditions I didn’t like. When the queen is done, everyone else is done, even if they aren’t.

Everyone got up and went back to the ballroom. Most of the lower-rank guests had left before dinner, so there was more room to breathe. Sir Cedric came up to me to ask for another dance, but I was ready to deceive him.

“My apologies, dear sir, but I am utterly exhausted. I hope you do not mind that I take leave of you early to be fresh and preppy tomorrow.” I told him with a smile.

He seemed surprised but agreed, “Of course, miss. You do not look well at all… Yes, I highly suggest that you go to bed.”

“Please offer my apologies to all the guests that I have not had the honor to dance with.” I added.

“I will. Good night miss.”

I turned away and left the room, surprised that it had been so easy to leave. I scrambled up to my bedroom where Yvonne was faithfully waiting with a candle. I hadn’t realized how late it was. She had already prepared my getaway bag with the things I had planned to need, and a few extra provisions.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” she asked.

“Very sure.” I replied.

“You were so much looking forward to being queen…”

I forced a smile. “I still am. But I want to leave more than I want to be queen of Iryllia.”

She still tried to dissuade me from going. “But where will you go?”

“Northanger.” Where no one knew me.

I had almost been to Northanger, once. I knew that the only way to get there was over a bridge, and there was only one bridge. It would take two days to get there. The only reason I didn’t go was that Mary and I became suddenly sick with a strange disease and we had to go to Iryllia castle immediately to see the doctor.

I changed into my travel dress, Yvonne handed me my bag and we went onto my balcony, followed by the light of the candle. The full moon lighted the terrain enough for me to be able to distinguish the stables nearby.

I looked at the blueleaf vine and took a big breath. I hoped I would still be able to climb down it, after I’d stopped for eight years. I swung the bag over my shoulder and looked at Yvonne.

“One day, I vowed, I will be queen.” I said before climbing down the vine with some difficulty.

I made my way to the stable where a surprised boy helped me put the saddle on my horse Meena. I chuckled. He probably thought I was going on one of my night promenades. I may not have climbed down the vine in eight years, but the service door was easily accessible. I often went on night strolls, when no one but the stable boys noticed I was gone.

I made Meena trot to the end of Lilyside’s main street, then urged her to a gallop. The farther away I was from the castle when morning came, the better, because when morning came, they would start looking for me.

[[Welcome to Part two! The biggest part of the story starts here. I hope you forgive me for the huge time-skip, but part one was initially supposed to be an intro... that turned out to be pretty long. No worries, the gigantic time-skips are over, as well as the really sad parts. Enjoy the rest of Heather of Iryllia! ]]