The Princess and Her Whipping Boy

Broken Souls

Rosalina was seated among several of her generals who she knew had been loyal followers of her father. Glancing over the paper for one last time, she raised her hand to press upon it, her signature. But before her hand could fall, the great hall doors swung open and two men entered. Recognizing them, before she had even seen their faces, Rosalina dropped the stamp from her trembling fingers. Turning to her generals, she waved them away.

"Leave us, immediately."

The men all bowed low and left quickly by the side door. They were used to the new queen's fickle change of mind and so did not think anything of the newcomers' approach.

Rosalina rose to her feet and moved to meet the two men halfway.

"How dare you come unannounced?" she hissed, rising her hand ready to strike them. But her wrist was caught in the iron hold of the taller man.

He shook his head. "No more, Rosalina," he told her quietly. "You have already taken this too far."

Rosalina pulled away from his grasp and stared at them with a mixture of confusion and bitter hatred. Silas met her gaze calmly, but Cronan stared at the floor, unable to meet her gaze. He looked sick, she realised. But her fleeting satisfaction and disdain, turned to guilt.

"Why have you come?" she asked wearily. "You know you can not stop me."

"Only you can stop this, Rosalina," Silas answered, his gaze firm upon her.

Suddenly Cronan could no longer bear it. "Rosalina, please. For the sake of all our years together, for the sake of your father, please stop."

The queen's eyes turned to him, and a chill ran down his back as he saw what they held. "It is for my father that I do this. It if for the loss of those childhood years. It is for all the pain I now realise I had held onto in silence. It is for who I was."

She turned and walked slowly back to the table. Stopping before it, she picked up the stamp stained with red ink and pressed it firmly to the paper that lay there. Her shoulders seemed to sink in relief at what she had done. She held the paper up for them to see, as she turned to face them once more. Silas wordlessly took the paper from her. His face became paler with every word that he read.

"You are demanding the death of the Commander of the Royal Navy, the Commander of the Southern Border Guards and the Master of Ceremonies?" His voice was full of horror as he raised his head to stare at her in disbelief.

Rosalina laughed mockingly. "You think I would let your father's two brothers get away with treason? You should go thank the Gods I decided on your father's innocence."

Silas shook his head. "Forgive me, your royal majesty, but I can not stand by and accept this." Holding up the paper before him, Silas tore it into two. Then before them all, he ripped the two halves until the floor was strewn with the paper shreds.

The queen's eyes darkened. "Fool," she snarled. "I can have you thrown into the darkest coldest dungeon and command your entire family's death. Is that what you desire?"

"I desire nothing more than for you to stop for a moment and look closely at yourself. Is this what you want, Rosalina? To instill fear into everyone's hearts. You think this is making you seem strong and indestructible? People will hate you and assassinate you without a moment's doubt, before erasing your name from the history of kings."

He and Cronan were both taken aback, as the queen let out a crazed laugh.

"If that is all I have to fear, than nothing will stop me." She turned back to the table and sank into the chair. "You have entertained me long enough. Leave now, while I am still tolerant."