Riven Monarchy

Sage's story

"I mourn the girl you once were." he croaked, her digits imbrued with his blood. She clutched his wind pipe "Many will," she affirmed, the blade cunningly swiping along his skin "she was easier to kill", she slashed her scabbard upon his throat, eagerly watching the crimson spill as she observed the body fall limp to the ground, his dignity with it. She grasped the tendrils of his hair. "Long live the king." she hissed, sarcasm radiating off of her as she spat upon his cursed complexion.

The early sun lingered behind the drapes, it's mellow tone weeped for some type of recognition. However, the rays that abscorned the drapes fell upon her. Sage. Her mahogany locks weaved around her clutch as her emerald eyes adjusted to the morning's greeting. The eyelet lace of the comforter caressing her complexion whilst she knitted her brows in aid of shade. As she arose in bed, the solemn essence of repetition defined her again. The same one that fills her just as every dawn does. This sensation elicited trembles down her vertebrae, not disturbing, but an unsettling feeling. Whilst entertaining the idea that she couldn't avoid what the day beholds, she was quick to her feet and drew closer to the threshold of the balcony. With feline like paces towards the cobbled porch, her silk night dress rippled in the morn's breeze. She noticed that the clouds had kindly separated this morning, allowing a view of her whole kingdom she knew like the back of her hand. She could name each district and region in alphabetical order or even numerical, too. Wisteria woods laid distantly behind the Kingdom's hall, The Cambria Jane auditorium, named after her late mother. Sage trailed her digits across the stone guard in disciplined circles whilst she reminisced of her mother. Queen Cambria Jane of the Eslaraen Dynasty was a firm yet altruistic leader. Although strict, her beauty was known throughout the lands and recipients from other kingdoms would even murder to have one rapid glance of her visage. However busy she was, she was never absent in Sage's childhood. She would cancel debates, meetings, balls, anything, just so she could reside in the company of her daughters. Sage's nostalgia then mixed with the love she had for her sister, Princess Alice Bennett of Eslaraen. Fond memories of them all in the courtyard, her mother teaching Allie how to shoot a bow and arrow at the target yet always missing, or, when it was Allie's 10thbirthday and their mother got her an elegant mare by the name of Miss blue, the sister horse of Sage's stead, Sootie. She even purchased her the neighbouring stable to Sage's.

Her dulcified memories were rudely interrupted by an obnoxious knock at the door. 3 loud bangs dithered around her chamber, there was only one person who was permitted to knock at her door in such early hours. She hastily unlocked the door and met the peripherals of her common friend, the handmaiden.

"Mornin' miss, up and at 'em already are ya?" Clara verified, stumbling into the room and advancing further towards Sage's vanity, she handled an elaborate gown, the skirts plethoric, yet elegant. "It's not like you to be so eager at an hour like this, ma'am, is something the matter?"

Sage hesitated, her tousled locks framed her complexion as she attempted to coat her neglected lips with her tongue. She had repeatedly woken up at this hour for just under a week yet not adroit to seek help, her mind too overwhelmed with thoughts and mere occurances to defeat her slumber.

"I'm fine Clara, just wanted to watch the sun rise," Sage lied, evident in the brief reluctance at the start of her sentence, "The kingdom looks so beautiful at this time, so I wanted to be awake to see it"

Clara glanced at her with an intuitive glare, yet buissied herself again with the flaccid ribbons of the dress corset.

Sage resorted back to the balcony, wonders and contemplations danced around her cranium. She tapped her index finger to the beat of her thoughts, almost like a waltz concocted with a salsa, her mind functioning in the most peculiar way. She sensed an emotion. A new feeling. Unexperienced and unfamiliar. Like a fresh wound inflicted by the commencement of war, yet, the only war that was occurring was the one in her mind. Why was it haunting her so? Why did it lurk in the plumbness depths of her soul that could not be tampered or altered? Why wouldn't it just go away? Sage wasn't aware, but an irked expression spread upon her features, a prominent brow was to show for her eccentric thoughts and brain.

"Ma'am," Clara mumbled from behind her, silencing Sage's myriad of thoughts "I must prepare you for the day"

Sage defiantly turned and humbly smiled at Clara before approaching her vanity for her dress, why was this feeling so infatuos?

Sage hubristicly stood before the golden framed mirror, its evacious carvings and markings expertly designed by Eslaraen's finest decorators, craved over by the ones who could afford it. As the secondary arm of the dress was pulled over her, Clara worked on the silky ribbons of the corset whilst Sage admired her appearance. The decorous sleeves of the dress, a blushed rose and poofed. The dulcified skirts pooled around her as he she was entranced by herself, Sage thought she resembled that of a doll.

"You look just like her miss," Clara endeared, entranced by Sage's appearance, still busying herself with the corset "Your mother"

Sage modestly grinned, a magenta pigment settled upon her cheeks as she opted to gaze over at the balcony to hide her emotion.

"She was exactly like you at your age. The same posture, hair, features," Clara mumbled on as she finished tailoring the last ribbon of Sage's dress "do you miss her, ma'am?"

"Everyday Clara," Sage elicited eye contact with her from the mirror "Not a day goes by that I don't. She was so good to us, to everyone. It wasn't her time to go, not that early"

A precious tear threatened to escape her eyes.

Clara fastened her hair with an identical bow to her dress as the brunette turned to face her maiden.

"We all do too, my love," Clara wiped a stray tear from the princess' cheek " She loved you and your sister with all of her heart, and her soul resides within both of you. Do not dwell on her past and what cannot be changed, this is your story. You are the author. This is only the first chapter"

With one last comforting glance, Clara paced towards the door in order to leave the princess with her privacy once again.

"Princess," She notified "the king is awaiting you in the throne room after breakfast, do try and be on time. You know how he gets when people are late"

Sage nodded and then the door proceeded to close, she could hear Clara's steps growing further and further away from her quarters. She was once again, alone. Alone with her thoughts and that same strange feeling that was buried deep inside of her. What was it?