Queen

Chapter One

Twenty one years old is considered a normal age for a royal heir to take the throne. But I don't feel prepared for what is to come. My mother is dead along with my father now and I am unlucky enough to be their only heir. Joyful. Why couldn't they have had a son too? Why only me?
The coronation was easy enough. I had only been preparing for it for twelve years just in case my parents failed in having a son. Which they did fail much to my dismay. The hard part was coming. Now that I'm Queen I am expected to hold a tournament in honor of the new Queen, me. So sticking to tradition hundreds of men and Knights are coming to joust and duel while I watch. Another part of the tournament was the part where each of the Knights of my kingdom have to put their lance through a ring and bring it to me as a token of some sort. My mother had taught me all about it but I was much more concerned with the Knights that were training outside my window.
So all I know is I have to sit and wait for the tournament to begin; starting with the tokens from my Knights before moving onto the real combat. Of course I will have to give some sort of speech to my people before the competition begins. That is what I'm truly nervous about; I have to impress my people and the lords and ladies of my kingdom. If I do not I will have to fight to keep my crown, which is something I do not plan on doing. Even if I do impress them I still might have to fight for my crown since the greed of people can overwhelm even the purest of heart.
"Your Majesty?" I hear Abigail whisper.
"Yes?" I turn to her quickly but gracefully.
"It's time for you to go out for the tournament," Abigail smiles.
"Yes, of course," I smooth my hands down my dress mentally preparing myself for what is to come. I touch my black wavy hair making sure it is in place before I lift my head up confidently and walk out of my room with Abigail trailing after me. The train of my purple dress follows me slithering across the floor like a snake. Purple, the color of royalty as my mother always told me. I half smile half scowl as I make my way onto the platform where I'm to watch the tournament from. Colorful tents line the arena making me feel sick as I think of all the men that plan to woo me with their combat skills, sitting in those tents, also the fact that bright colors piss me off.
"Ladies and gentlemen," I begin with a smile plastered on my face, "we are gathered here to celebrate my coronation. But we are also here to celebrate a new dawn for our kingdom as a whole..." Blah blah blah. At this point I stop listening to what I am saying and let my mouth continue reciting the speech that I have been practicing for the last three years.
My eyes wander until they fall on one man who is watching me. He's dressed for combat, obviously one of the contestants in my tournament. I recognize the armor he wears so proudly. It's the armor Knights-to-be wear for training. I know this man though, I know him well, who is he? I ponder this thought until I realize that I have finished my speech. Everyone is looking at me expectantly, even the young knight who I'm so desperately trying to remember.
"Let the tournament begin!" I yell out raising my arms high above my head with a smile. Everyone cheers as the tournament begins with the first competitor. I don't recognize the armor so it mustn't be a knight in my kingdom or other kingdoms that I know so it must be a peasant of some sort. I smile with as much brightness as I can muster as he pulls off his helmet lifting the large ring to me on his lance. Oh, I guess all contestants give me a token; not just my Knights. The token giving continues on for such a long, long, long time until someone interesting comes up. The last competitor, my mystery knight. He rides his powerful white horse down the field and passes his lance through the ring expertly. This time when I accept the ring I am truly smiling yet in my grey blue eyes I'm sure he can see my confusion. He raises an eyebrow at me but smiles non the less.
"And now time for jousting! Remember Knights, save your strength for this will continue on to tomorrow and the rest of the week!" I call out to my people who crowd the stands. The cheers drown out my own thoughts and my vision seems to blur around the edges, but before anyone can notice my dizziness I slump down into my throne like chair.
"My head," I sigh touching my temple lightly. The only one who seems to notice is my mystery knight who is now watching me from the opening to a tent. I look at him squinting my eyes to try and figure out who he is. He stares back at me, his eyes warm and jovial. He smiles goofily at me before slipping into his tent again. "Oh dear lord!" I mutter to myself. It is my raven haired friend, Richard. I haven't seen him in almost two years now, of course he shows up at the worst possible moment. Im the new queen only just coronated and there he is. Last time he appeared he was nearly banished by my father, but then my father died so Richard disappeared.
"Why are you here?" I mutter under my breath as the jousting starts. I smile at the competitors as they raise their arms up in victory but I am not really paying attention to the games. Until Richard comes up in his Knight-to-be armor. He wins and rides over to raise his arms up to me. Smirking he blows a kiss to me making everyone gasp at his audacity. Blowing a kiss to the queen, unthinkable! Little did anyone know that we have a past, a past that I pray will not come back to haunt me.
"My lady, it's time to stop the tournament for today. It's getting late," Abigail murmurs into my ear.
"Of course," I smile warmly at her before standing up. Cheers erupt as I stand up. Raising my hand I quiet the crowd enough for me to talk. "Congratulations to all the competitors who will be moving on to the next round in jousting tomorrow! Go celebrate your victories now, the tournament will resume tomorrow!" My voice booms over the crowds murmurs. The crowd erupts in cheers and all begin to leave the stadium. Most likely all of them are going to the tavern, at least that's where they normally go.
I wait for everyone to leave even the lords and ladies that always try to stay with the royal family members. Once everyone is gone and I notice Abigail still lingering by my side as I stand up again. "Abigail, you may go," I say calmly.
"Have I done something wrong, your Highness?"Abigail asks frantically.
"No. No, of course not. I just want to give you a break from having to be with grim and ill spirited me all the time." I smile faintly.
"But I want to stay with you!" Abigail chirps.
"And I want you to have a life. Now, go!" I yell pointing for her to go. She nods and curtsies before scuttling off in the direction I am pointing. I smile fondly before slowly walking away myself. I walk the castle grounds alone until it gets dark and I decide to head back to my room. I walk cautiously careful to make sure no one can take me by surprise. I guess I don't do a good enough job because... "Hello Rowena," Richard grins stepping out of the shadows next to me. I jump shocked at his sudden appearance. He is in everyday clothing with a red shirt and dark brown or black trousers on, I can't tell in the darkness of the hall.
"What are you doing here?" I ask exasperated.
"Well since neither of your parents can try to banish me I thought it was about time I came to see you," he says smoothly. "What has it been two years?" He smirks cocking his head to the side.
"It's been almost two years," I snarl.
"We've been counting haven't we?" Richard cackles.
"Leave me be Richard," I growl.
"You didn't say that almost two years ago," Richard mocks.
"Richard, go!" I yell. I hear metal clinking as guards rush toward us at the sound of my yell. I grab Richards hand and pull him down the hall to a broom closet that I know is there, problem is so does he. We slip inside our bodies pressed together with no space to move.
"I have some pleasant memories in here," Richard chuckles.
"Silence!" I bark in a whisper.
"Whatever you say Rowena."
"That's your Highness to you," I whisper in a low voice. The guards jog by taking no notice to the broom closet we are in.
"Of course. But Rowena has a much better sound when it comes out of my mouth, doesn't it?" Richard cocks his head to the side with a smirk. Im about to protest but my words are silenced as lips come crashing down on mine. I know I should pull away from him and not let myself repeat my past mistakes, but I can't control myself and I let myself melt into him. I feel him smirk against my lips and a throaty chuckle escape him. I let him snake his arm around my waist and pull me even closer than I already am and my hands rest on his strong chest. What am I doing? This is Richard I'm kissing! I need to stop. I pull away slightly so that I'm no longer kissing him and my hands are no longer resting on his chest. Instead my hands are on his chest but pushing him away from me and into the closet wall. I turn my head away from him and say "No," simply. Before he can respond I push open the door and step out, letting it close in his face.
When I finally make it to my room I am exhausted. I sit down on the bed and lay back keeping my feet on the floor. My arms spread out around me and I let my eyes begin to close. Before I can doze off Abigail comes in smiling and trying to contain her own laughter. "What?" I scowl.
"Nothing! Nothing, I was just walking by the broom closet that's down the hall," Abigail cackles madly.
"Abigail!" I throw one of my many decorative pillows at her; just barely missing her head. She smiles wickedly as she runs off.
"I guess you can manage without me tonight?" She calls back from outside the door.
"Yes. I'm the Queen I'm positive I can handle myself," I call back.
"Yes and I'm sure if you need anything that friend of yours can come by," Abigail laughs before I hear her fast retreating footsteps. How much had she seen? She couldn't have seen everything, could she? But for now I need to rest instead of think hard on such a trivial subject. Quickly I change into my nightgown and fall into an originally easy sleep. But as usual half way through the night I wake up in a cold sweat from a nightmare. Almost never the same but always just as horrific. I spend the rest of the night awake; falling asleep only when the sun begins to rise.