"It takes grace to remind kind in cruel situations."
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Song: Forsaken Land by Lorenzo Balzotti
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Ophelia woke up alone the next morning. Her mind was cloudy. She dressed simple in a flowy long skirt and tight long sleeve shirt. Pairing it with a comfortable knit cardigan and ankle boots. Zeus was nowhere to be found this morning.
She walked out of the room and searched the usual areas before deciding he was most likely occupied. So she walked down to the kitchen where Eunice was preparing for the day.
"Good morning lovely." Eunice smiled gently. She knew of the current events, both of the battle and about Ophelia's missing sisters. Her heart hurt for the girl and her missing family so she came over and hugged her. "Breakfast in the greenroom today?"
Ophelia paused, not hungry but also not wanting to hurt Eunice's feelings.
"I-I think I'll have a late breakfast today. If Zeus is looking for me can you tell him I'll be in the gardens?"
"It's a bit chilly, My Queen. Are you sure you don't want to stay in?" The older woman questioned.
"Fresh air is good for the soul." Ophelia offered her a soft, sad smile.
Eunice, not one to contradict a queen, nodded. They bid farewell to each other and Ophelia opened the door that led to the gardens. The fall frost kissed the ground. It was still dark, but the horizon was starting to turn lighter. The sun made an appearance later each day, foreshadowing the winter months and shorter days. Ophelia followed the familiar path that she had taken so many times before. The world seems to be silent this morning, as if mimicking her sadness. Only the sounds of bristling trees and rustling leaves could be heard.
The ground crunched beneath her boots. The sky was getting lighter by the minute and turning a mix of red and orange. The sky seemed violent today. Not in a stormy way but there were dominating gray clouds mixed in with the beautiful reds.
She approached the cliff, the wind picking up. She decided to go down to the water on a whim. Zeus never wanted to go down as he thought the trek was too dangerous. There were old stone steps along the side that lead to the sandy beachside. Although it didn't look as though anyone cared for the steps as they were covered in overgrown roots. There were probably about a hundred to get all the way to the bottom and she continued down carefully and with balance.
As she got to the last step she undid her shoes and left them on the step.
In her whole life she never felt sand on her bare feet. Ophelia's father spoke of beaches and oceanside but he died before he could take his family on a proper vacation.
The thought of him deepened her sadness.
She wiggled her toes in the grains, it was almost a magical feeling. The silk texture massaged the soles of her feet. She approached the chaotic water. The waves crashed into the shoreline with force. The wind caused her hair to fly. Her feet brought her to the water, the soft sand turned to a wet and hard surface. As a wave crashed by it covered her ankles, the cold water caused her to jump and goosebumps to cover her skin.
She closed her eyes and allowed herself to sink further into the millions of grains. She allowed the cold to in-capture her entire being. The wind ruffled her clothes. Mindless, she walked back to her shoes. Slowly she shed her layers of clothes, until she only had her undergarments on.
YOU ARE READING
The Dancing Queen
Romance*Ophelia June Clarke* She was soft, sweet and nice. Her mother sheltered her from the world while the rest of her siblings got to venture out. *King Zeus* He was the great ruler of the skies and western land. He had led his people to prosperity...
