The Princess and The Captain

Part 8- The Princess's Chambers

Aspen reveled in her stubbornness as she ,sat on a canopy bed filling a quarter of the room. Light blue silk covered her mattress and her feather-stuffed pillows. The same-colored fabric draped over her head from four golden posts at each corner of her bed. Under her feet laid a wide, beautifully crafted rug that covered the entirety of the marble flooring. On her cream-colored walls hung flowers, torches, and various tapestries depicting the stories of the Gods. She huffed as she watched her handmaiden scuttle around the room. The princess was meant to be changing out of her day dress and into a much fancier one for dinner, but truth be told, she wasn't in the mood to be cordial with her family or with foreigners.

The maid flitted from the bathroom to the wardrobe, to the lobby area of the chambers, getting numerous things cleaned and in order for her highness.

"I'm not going, Mirabel." Aspen asserted as she watched the maid roll two dresses in front of her.

Mirabel, a tall and lanky brunette, gave the princess a disapproving look, "You must, my lady. The king demands you be present to welcome the royalty of Kane. They came all this way to see you."

Mirabel was about five years older than Aspen and had been in her position as a handmaiden to the princess for three years now. Over these years, the two had built a rapport with one another, and Aspen now considered the freckled girl a friend. The princess found that the girl was more clever and observant than she let on, and those skills in this castle were highly valued.

"My father can go to all of the seven hells." Aspen huffed, getting up and walking passed the pink and yellow dresses on display for her, "If he wants to keep me locked in my chambers, that's fine, but he can't expect me to play politics with him after the fact."

Mirabel took the princess' hand and gently led her back to the middle of the room where they both observed the dresses, "Ah, so stubborn, Princess! If I were in your shoes, I would lavish in the riches and servanthood of this castle." The maid held the princess' pink dress against her body and twirled in place, "I would eat cake and ride horses, and at night I would count the gems in my jewelry box to go to sleep. I can't imagine why you're so hell-bent on leaving these walls."

Aspen plucked the other dress off of the rolled-in rack and examined the material against her own body, checking her reflection in the mirror that rested above her solid oak bureau.

"It's not that I'm not grateful. I am. But I want to do more with my wealth than sit around behind these walls eating cake." Aspen lamented, giving Mirabel a pointed look. "And I won't be silenced and made complacent by a narcissistic monarch. Even if he is my father." The princess hung the dress back on the rack and folded her arms as she watched Mirabel dance around with the royal garments pressed against her, "Are you quite done?"

Mirabel sighed and put the dress back where she found it.

"I'm sorry, Aspen. I know your anger is warranted, but it's hard to see all of this," Mirabel waved a hand as if presenting the riches of the room for the first time, "and imagine the person who owns all of it doesn't want it."

Aspen fell dramatically back onto her bed, "I do want it, just...not like this. Not at the expense of my people."

Mirabel was about to respond when a knock sounded through the chamber. The maid quickly sobered up and found her way through the chamber lobby and at the bejeweled door. She struggled against the weight of the wood but eventually pried it open, coming face to face with the captain of the guard.

"Captain!" The maid called out, greeting the woman with a wide grin, "We didn't expect you at the chambers today. Is everything alright?"

Emory's eyes were warm as she spoke, "Yes, nothing to worry about Mirabel. How's your mother?"