CHAPTER SIX
"She is to Ascend then? And within the year?"
Nodding, Adrian held his hands behind his back, spine straight and legs parted, the stance of a soldier, ready for anything, ready to attack or defend at any moment's notice. His father's sword hung from his belt; its scabbard decorated dully. Swirls and whorls of black ink coating the brown material. The sword passed down to him when hisfFather did not come back from a raid against an Angelic envoy. Some high diplomatic mission it seemed. Many were killed. Adrian's Father included- his only immediate family left. Adrian had been told by the King the day after when the Prince's body had been found among the slaughter. Angels, his Grandfather had told him. Struck him down in his youth. Never to rise again, never to inhale the fresh air or to hear his son's laughter.
Rage simmered within the Dark Prince at the thought of the pristine, clean dressed Angels. It was their fault. And they would all pay.
"I think it's time to remind the kingdom of Solas just exactly who shares their borders. And who exactly they are at the mercy of, and who will soon be their rulers."
Smirking, the Prince would enjoy this mission. He may not take pleasure is the murder and slaughter and torture. But an attack- direct or not- on the high ranking Angels and those damn Royals he would take immense pleasure in.
A high diplomatic mission they said. That had to mean only one thing. That the higher-ranking Angels were responsible for his Father's death. And he would personally see to each and every one of their demises.
"Shall we leave a message, Majesty?" Adrian glanced towards to Guard who had spoken. "Let them know exactly what awaits them?"
Fool.
You do not speak to the King unless addressed or are their kin, such as Adrian was.
The man was dragged away without even a glance from the King. His gaze was fixed solely on Adrian as he rested his hand on the hilt of his sword. It may be old fashioned, but all the Royals had them, Angels and Demons alike. They did not believe in modern war fare of the human realm beyond the continent that was their home. Guns, machinery... they had no need for such things. The art of war has been fought with steel and hand to hand combat for centuries, and it would not change any time soon. Adrian's sword had a beautiful hilt. The blade itself was fine, balanced and deadly as all Hell. But the hilt, the golden handle was covered in swirls to match the scabbard, not so distracting and uncomfortable that it made a nuisance to wield. Its grip was perfect, never slipping. In the centre of the hilt was an emerald no bigger than a stream stone, fitting perfectly within the sword. It was a beauty to behold.
His King still watched his every move. Waiting for his input on the assigned mission.
Bowing deeply, the dark eyed Prince righted himself and opened his mouth to speak, a smirk plastered on his face, eyes giving nothing away, "I saw we give them Hell."
The answering smile upon the King was a thing of nightmares.
****
"Fayre, Milady. Would you please it still, your hair will fall out if I don't pin it into place properly." The maid Iris had sent into her room fussed over her. Attempting to pin the Princesses hair up into a less complex bun than the night before, but still rather tedious.
Fayre had been correct; she had woken up later than usual after a fitful sleep. This had been apparent when Iris had barged loudly into her chambers, screaming apologises for being late- hungover Iris is not a fun Iris. Fayre had simply sent her obnoxious cousin a not-so-ladylike gesture of her hand with a cheeky smile. Gasping loudly, Iris had stormed out, demanding her maids get her ready instead.
Ready for her first day or learning how to rule her people. Of how to be Queen.
So, there she sat, fidgeting at her dressing table, the older woman trying so hard to get the future-Queen to sit still as she did her Highness's hair.
"Can I ask you a question Hilda?"
The maid- Hilda- was an older woman and had been working at the castle for longer than Fayre had been alive, perhaps even before Isa had been born. She was a pudgy lady with a happy smile accompanying her wherever she went. Her once a fair blonde, now mostly grey, she was still a beautiful woman. Her dark skin complementing her dark brown eyes and her kind smile. Fayre had been taken care of by Hilda for as long as she could remember.
"Of course, Your Highness."
As Hilda continued to work on the Princesses hair, she pondered how to word the question she so desperately wanted the answers to.
"Did you know my mother well?"
Hilda's hands ceased in the golden locks of Fayre's hair for only a moment before they continued on. It was rare for the former Queen to be mentioned. The heartbreak still fresh in the kingdom, despite it being twelve years on. The King did not speak of his late wife. And since Isa was no longer around to satiate the inquisitive Princess, she just stopped asking. Fayre could see the visible pain on everyone's faces when Rosa was mentioned, so she spared them the pain and sealed her lips. The questions dying off one by one.
"I did. I was her lady-in-waiting. Much like the role Iris has taken on for you. Only more formal. She was a beautiful soul who was taken much too soon from this world."
Fayre didn't need to turn around to know Hilda was on the brink of tears, she was about to tell her that she needn't continue but Hilda continued on. "She had hair much like yours Milady, the slight curl only noticeable to those who looked close enough-" Fayre froze at that. Angels didn't have curly hair; it was always pin straight. Even the males. If they chose to grow it out, it was always dead straight. The females never have to straighten their hair for it is as in someone spent an hour perfecting it, only it was natural. For Fayre to have that curl, even the small scale that it was, was dangerous. It made her different, it made her an outlier. She never wore her hair down for that fact alone. When it was up, or someone was placing her hair into intricate confines, the curl wasn't noticeable in the slightest. She had never left it natural- not to see if her curl might become more, might actually be more wavy than straight. She was too afraid.
She would've denied it if not for the reassuring hand Hilda had placed on her shoulder, and the light squeeze she gave it. As if to say, it's okay. Your secret is mine to keep.
"She had the most beautiful golden eyes; many came from all around; Solas and the bordering cities also. Never from Malvat for obvious reasons, but they came from all around Paradisum. We had many from the Dawn City surprisingly. Although she did originally hale from there so it shouldn't come as too much of a shock."
Fayre never knew that. Never knew her mother's origins- she just assumed that she was a high-born Angel. She voiced these thoughts.
"Your mother was a high-born Angel, only her mother was not, as part of an alliance , your grandmother married a high-born from Lia, but she originally came from the City of Dawn. One of the finest arrangements in recent Paradisum history."
Paradisum is the name of the continent.
There are only two kingdoms on the small continent, Malvat and Solas. The rest of the land is inhabited by smaller cities with small populations. The Cities of Dawn, Dusk, Light and Dark- all reflective of the good and bad of the world, the End and the Beginning. They govern themselves and keep to themselves. Except it would seem, when Rosa was involved. The Queen trying to create a united world. Starting with Paradisum.
Paradisum was named so in an old language for Paradise. During the Beginning, it was named so to be what its name intended- to be a paradise for Angels. But when Amon- the first Demon- Fell, it disrupted that paradise and Malvat's darkness covers his kingdom, longing to spread to the entire continent.
"She was kind, helpful, and she wanted change. She wanted to change the world. Starting with our little continent. She was always looking for ways to include the cities in decisions or to negotiate with the Demons. That was what she was doing that day... when she went out... I was with her, I was supposed to go with her, with the Queen to negotiate with the Travellers so she'd have someone beside her... but she ordered me to stay, to watch over you two girls... I vowed to care for you and Isa when she didn't return...all that hope she carried died with her Milady."
Fayre's hair was done, even if that were not the case, it wouldn't have stopped her from turning in her chair to see Hilda smile at her with tears running down her cheeks. Guilt hit the Princess like a bucket of ice water had been dumped over her head, coating her head to toe. She opened her mouth to speak, to apologise for asking her to talk about it, for not respecting the mourning of the kingdom, but Hilda beat her to it.
Taking her hand, the older lady squeezed tightly, "You have that spark inside you. Don't let it go out Fayre. Do not let that ember die. Carry it with you for your life and set the world on fire."
Tears gathered in the young Princesses eyes, and she did nothing to stop them as she joined the woman who had been by her mother's side until the end. Joined her in grief, joined her in tears. The air heavy with sorrow, but the two hearts in the room beat as one in that moment. They beat for the hope she embodied and the hope that sparked awake inside Fayre, the hope that seemed to awaken from a deep slumber, she could feel it, feel it inside he, feel it crack on eye open in her chest, and she was ready to embrace it. For her mother. Their hearts beat for the Queen...who's own did not.
****
"Daughter, you look lovely this morning." The King greeted the Crown Princess with a nod as she entered the meeting hall.
After Hilda and Fayre had cried for the Queen who was no more, they embraced for an inordinate amount of time, neither willing to let go of that sense of security. When they finally separated, Hilda had fixed up Fayre's hair and applied her makeup, leaving Fayre to decide on her gown for today's events. She was to be introduced formally to the court as the Queen-to-be, then she was to spend the rest of the day with the King, learning the history hidden to all but the royals to Ascend.
Drawing on her conversation with Hilda, she took a moment to ponder how she wanted to appear to the court for the first time officially. Deciding, the Princess avoided all the white, straight gowns in her expansive wardrobe. Opting instead to search through the section of her closest that gowns from her mother, sister and from all over the continent were stored. They were for special occasions such as her Becoming, Ascending and her wedding and any other important events afterwards.
She froze- her wedding. She hadn't even considered that aspect of her future yet, but she was expected to have chosen a suitable husband to be King by her twenty first, as was tradition. The ruling heir, after their Ascension- were given a year to court and decide on a spouse suitable for ruling alongside.
Pushing those thoughts from her mind, she continued browsing her collection of expensive, gorgeous dresses. Her hands paused over one of said dresses, pulling it from the rack, she examined the dress.
The smile that took over her face stretched from ear to ear, "Perfect."
Using the fire that she found within, the hope her mother put there , her legacy to follow; Fayre dressed herself. There was no time for nerves.
If she was to do this, rule the kingdom. Discard her dreams. She was going to do it in style.
She was going to spread the hope of a better world across the kingdom, and eventually the kingdom. She would finish what her mother started. She would rebuild what was broken and she would fight alongside her people. Adventures were for children.
Fayre needed to be a woman. For her mother and for her kingdom.
Her dress was emerald green. The satin silk layered, its layers shorter at the waist, but getting longer the further down the skirt went. Flowing, not pin straight as her usual attire was. The bodice tight, yet breathable. The sweetheart neckline distracting from the fact that her dress was strapless.
Fayre had worn her mother's crown atop her bun. Proudly and happily.
She would do this. She would change the world. Her adventures would not cease. They were just beginning. Only they weren't the adventures she dreamed of. These adventures would change the world. She would not go down nameless and unknown at the end of her long-lived life. She would go down in history. She would make sure of it.
She walked in to meet the Court with her head held high, her heels clicking on the linoleum floor, her emerald dress reflecting every which way on the white, polished flooring.
No, this adventure would be the greatest she could ever have. She would save them all. She couldn't describe it, it was a feeling deep within herself that she would be the one to set them all free, to change the world and follow in her mother's footsteps.
Despite her father's kind words, it was evident her arrival, and in such a dress- had startled him, not quite knowing what to say.
*
He did not like the defiance in her eyes. The defiance that was not there the day before. What could have happened overnight to drown the sorrows in her eyes and replace that with a burning passion. His daughter smirked up at him, her still not reaching his full height- despite the heeled shoes she wore- and the King of Solas could tell that his daughter- the Princess he knew, was gone.
In her place, a Queen stood.