Astrid Fletcher has lived most of her life in solitude. Away from people and away from the rule of Queen Ravenna.
She always wondered if the stories were true about the dark sorceress. Did she really kill those she considered beautiful?
She never ex...
Pain, that was all I could feel. My eyes water as I flick them open and closed with a loud buzzing in my right ear. With my consciousness coming back every second, I remember where I am.
"What's your name?" A petite woman whispers beside me. Licking my blood stained lips I try sit up fully. My breath hitches at the movement. The arrow was still in my stomach.
"Don't move." The woman ushers me back down. "You'll cause an infection".
I breathe heavily.
"How long have I been out?" I mutter as my voice is strained.
"A few hours", Another woman replies. She's sat in front of me.
The chariot has large black metal spikes alongside it. No way to escape. A suffocating feeling of dread overcoming me.
"I'm Edith." The woman sniffled bringing her sleeve to her nose.
"Astrid." I respond.
Was this really my destiny? To be brought to the slaughter house like a lamb.
I tower my neck slightly to get a better view. I faintly hear rocky waves on either side of us. That's when I saw it. The Dark Queens domain. The black stone embedded in my gaze.
We were here.
Crows cry loudly as they swiftly breeze through the air, almost like they were mocking us.
The closer we get to the kingdom, the harder it is to breathe. Whether it be the arrow in my stomach or the fear of death itself, both is enough to make me freeze. A large iron gate has now halted us from moving.
Like clockwork, the gears start as the doors to my demise opens. "I come with a delivery!" The horseman announces to the gatekeeper.
The carriage bumps as it starts making its way into the courtyard. Soldiers scurry to get everything ready for the Queens new arrival of goods.
Us.
Edith grabs my hand, she looks me in the eyes, "I don't want to die". I see her gaze turn glossy. I wish I had something to put her at ease, but I have nothing. I open and close my mouth but suddenly the gate is opened to the carriage.
"Come on little ladies." a soldier huffs. He grabs Edith's legs pulling her toward him.
"Stop!" I shout as I smash the door on his fingers. He cries in pain.
"How dare you!" He snarls opening it. He grabs me by the waist, pushing the arrow deeper into my skin. As he throws me to the ground, my whole body is covered in mud.
He turns to face me. "So you were the one causing problems in Hornsby?!" He shoves his boot into my ribs. I roll around in agony. I gasp for air as the only thing in my body is defeat.
"Would you stop that! Don't taint them! Think of them as ripe apples, if they're bruised, she won't WANT THEM" The Queens bother shouts coming into view. He looks down to me, "You're a little troublemaker aren't you?"
I grunt and try stand up. My knees buckle at the weight of myself. The soldier tosses out Edith and the other women left. She rushes to my side helping me up. Finn opens the door to the castle and makes everyone walk in a single file. I limp holding my side through the grim hallways. Twenty to thirty girls are in front of me. Soft cries heard along the line.
The hallway is lined with torches and other random statues. Soldiers are watching our every move. An archway into a large room littered with stained glass appear.The long red carpet soaking up my trail of blood droplets. Columns draped with dark vines planted in a strip leading to...
That's when I finally feel the world collapse right in front of me. There she is. Queen Ravenna herself.
In the flesh.
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She's mesmerising, yet the feeling of evil is present. She's sat on her throne, watching as her array of women come to finally be bestowed upon her.
"I have a present for you sister" Finn rushes to her side. He curtsied before motioning behind him. We're stood like a fruit at a market, waiting to be plucked and eaten. All the women are looking down trembling.
I on the other hand, have nothing left to loose. I stare at her with my hand on my abdomen. The blood still slowly tricking down my hand. She slowly turns her focus to us. She moves eyes down the line but stops suddenly. Her gaze piercing into me, letting her eyes linger for a moment.
She smiles as she stands up. The long beads on her dress scraping to the floor, making all of us flinch. She goes to the front of the line walking down slowly. I'm at the bottom since I could barely walk let alone stand.
I turn my gaze to the floor. Her power demolishing me. I can feel the sound of her dress coming closer, across the stone tile. She's still at the top of the line, slowly surveying each and everyone of us.
"Hm, you've brought me a treat brother." Ravenna coos looking to her twin.
"Only the best for my Queen" he giggles like a small child.
Revolting.
Feeling her presence near me, I look up slightly. She's made her way to Edith. "What a pretty face" Ravenna hums. Edith whimpers as Ravenna's hand takes ahold of her chin. "Such a pity" She whispers.
Ravenna's attention turns to me. "And who is this?" She purrs.
Her brother stands in front of me. "I apologise my Queen. This one won't be of much use" He stutters.
Ravenna stares at him for a moment. "Move."
"But you're majesty-" He tries to reason.
"Move" She maintained, her voice sterner than before.
He ducks his head and does as he's told. Ravenna is now right in front of me. "What is your name?" She questions surveying my face. My heart beat accelerates.
I refuse to answer. A soldier comes up behind me and presses on my knees making me fall. The knight holds his knife to my throat as a threat. Ravenna holds her hand up to the soldier almost immediately, signalling him to stop. This causes him to let go of me.
With my breath now low and far apart, I don't think I can hold on anymore. The soldier picks me off from my knees. I slump as he lets go. "What is your name child?" She asks again, this time softer in tone.
Is she belittling me?
I go to open my mouth but loose my balance. I fall forward. Arms suddenly rap around and catch me. Ravenna has me in her arms. She looks down at fluttering gaze, her eyes wide at the sudden contact. It's like she hasn't had human physical contact in centuries. Her expression being unreadable.
"Astrid" I whisper before going completely limp in her arms.
A/N -
Let me know what you think of this chapter!! I have no idea where this is going, so some ideas would be great!! XD
