lavenders blue

c h a p t e r : o n e

song: Fur Elise - Ludwig Van Beethoven

tw: miscarriage, death, verbal abuse, blood mention, alcoholism

The faint sounds of horses worn down hooves and drifting chilled winds danced with soft piano notes throughout the seemingly accustomed Isle of Eroda. All seemed to be peaceful, the rain coated the silent courtyard as young fingers played a soft Für Elise as the boys eyes watched the raindrops waltz down the stained glass onto the gravel below his black barred window.
"Your majesty?" the boys gentle and innocent thoughts we interrupted as he glanced up, the music coming to a halt as the pittering of the rain took over the ambience. "his royal highness the King requests your presence". The pale girl stood, eyes on the polished wooden floorboards below her tarnished shoes. Her dress barely reached the floor, dirt stains complimented her calloused hands as she spun a thin clay ring around her finger.

"Tell my father I will see to him in a moment," George began to play again.
"My Prince..." she stuttered, "it is your mother." Almost everything went quiet. His mother, as of now, was meant to be giving birth to a new royal member, something George was looking forward too. Finally having someone to talk to, or entertain. The prince shot up, immediately reaching for his navy evening cloak which Niki quickly gave to him.
"What is the matter...is she alright?" George's hands fiddled and slipped whilst buttoning it up.
"The miracle of childbirth...has...subdued her my Lord...the infant as well, a baby girl..." The maid stepped a few paces backwards. George's face dropped, as tears formed in his eyes the maid smoothed down the front of her cotton dress. The young princes memories of all that he had once done with his mother, the piano lessons and endless stories of far off lands, the extra food that was snuck to him at all hours of the night and the dancing lessons, to which he wished he could express how much he enjoyed them.
"He wishes to speak with you...the King...your majesty..." She began to back out of the door, beckoning George to follow her but he stood still for a moment.
"May I see her?" Niki shook her head,
"Not as of yet..." he nodded, tears pricking at his eyes as he followed the blonde.

George's feet carried him swiftly down the royal corridors, passing mourning ladies in waiting and scurrying wet nurses, blood staining their once white skirts. "Our condolences, your highness,"
"Please do not console me," The prince mumbled in return, passing the women with grace but determination to comfort his father. George admired his father. Given their past and their staggered relationship you would think he would be distant, disobedient and disrespectful, however, George had always been taught to treat everyone he meets with kindness, no matter how much they did the opposite. As he walked, the mourning prince glanced down at his hands, his fingertips were dabbed red from the piano keys and his dry knuckles contrasted with his pale skin. He flipped his hands over to reveal the harsh scares that he had received defending himself from his father. The vivid nightmares played through his head of his fathers cane and heavy leather diary hurling towards his head. George did not even notice his fingernails digging into his sweaty palms. He quickly retracted and dabbed the blood with a handkerchief before knocking on the large wooden doors, the sound echoing down the marbled corridor.

George heard shuffling and the click of the brass lock before the Kings doors were opened to a small butler. "Is the my father in Toby?" George questioned.
"I- uh...your highness...I will...get him for you," The boy stuttered and didn't move. George stood with his hands behind his back, tilting his body slightly to see his father. Sure enough the King was sitting by the fireplace, his grey beard lit up by the silent flames at his feet. George bobbed his head in his direction to catch the attention of the timid butler. "Oh yes!", Toby went straight for the King, hitting the leg of the armchair with the cap of his boot. George watched the boy inform his father of his presence and his smile quickly dropped as they made eye contact.

"My Lord I-" George began to speak as his eyes scanned the room, stopping on the four posted bed with a white cloth draped over the thick woolen blanket.
"It is all well my son," The king spoke as if he was victorious after a battle. The princes face furrowed.
"It is not father, the queen-" George lowered his voice once he realised it was higher than necessary and dark eyes were boring into his skull, "mother is dead and my sister too..."
"What good is a daughter in this world anyway," the King sipped his whiskey before glancing at the occupied bed. George stood stunned,
"To rule as a Queen father,"
"Please what is a Queen without a King?" King Schaltt scoffed, George shook his head, as if to erase the conversation he just had. "Besides, soon you will be married to a nice submissive princess and you could have all you wish for!" The King hiccupped, tossing his hands up, blindly spilling whiskey on the armchair, which had been stained multiple times before.
"That is not for another few years my lord-"
"I have arranged it already George," The King smiled at George, who was not smiling back.