The Lady In Waiting

Wedding Bells

  Seen and not heard. This is the mantra that Kiara had been fed her entire life. To always attend Princess Augustus's side no matter the circumstance. To clean and nurture Augustus, making sure she was fed and taught nothing but the best. To keep the princess company and provide a safe place for Augustus until she was of age to be wed. And under no circumstance was she to leave the princess alone, aside from their admittedly separate bedchambers. From the moment she was conceived, Kiara was constantly being reminded of her good fortunes. Being born into the palace life was something most working class citizens would quite literally kill to have. Her belly was always full no matter the time and every lesson the princess was allowed, Kiara was deemed appropriate to join in as well. Although the classes were never meant for her, Kiara was quick to learn what she could. Every interest and hobby the princess entertained, no matter how minuscule or insignificant, was most usually rewarded by her adoring parents. Because of this, growing alongside royalty, Kiara was allowed to do and experience things most children only dreamed of. Of course, she had been quite literally born into success. Kiara's mother was planned to be the queen's nursemaid to raising Augustus. However, when her own mother died giving labor, a few months before the queen's delivery, it was decided that Kiara would take her mother's place looking after the young princess due to their closeness in age. Hence how Kiara became forever seen and never heard.

  And for the most part, life was sweet for Kiara. She was lucky to live out such a spoiled life in the castle away from the hustle and bustle of street life. Of course there may have been the occasional lashing or scolding for allowing the princess to spoil her gown or put toads in the suitor's shoes, but that was to be expected. Kiara may not have been cherished like Augustus was, but the king and queen were never outwardly cruel to her. And even on several occasions, Kiara was allowed to escape certain punishments due to her strong devotion to her duties. Yes, Kiara always followed orders. She was quiet and shy around most but her Augustus, yet hardworking and loyal. Everything that a lady in waiting was supposed to be. But this all soon began to change after the princess fell ill. Augustus rarely left her bed for months. Meanwhile, Kiara busied herself with changing linens, nightgowns and bed pans. The castle that had once been lively with suitors and visitors fell dark with gloom. The queen herself paced endlessly from hallway to hallway and the king became exceedingly irritable. Royal guards who had once laughed freely in front of the royal highness now stood rigid with fear at the mention that royalty was near. Although Kiara couldn't find it in herself to blame them. Everyone loved the young princess. Her golden hair and fiery playful personality always made Kiara feel at home. And if you promised to never tell a soul, Kiara wouldn't deny loving the girl like the sister she never had, despite her attempted professionalism. 

  When princess Augustus died, Kiara wasn't sure what to do with herself. For days, she sat tucked away in bed, raising her head only to check that it all wasn't a dream. The king and queen were beside themselves in despair. Often nights, the only sound that could be heard within the castle walls were the empty footsteps and persistent wailing of the miserable mother. It wasn't too long after that, that the queen herself became bedridden in grief, the king taking over in doubled efforts to maintain balance and order. Selling off seemingly everything that the princess ever loved or touched, Augustus's name was forbidden to speak in an effort to allow the family appropriate time to mourn. Kiara knew at that point that it was only a matter of time before she should be shipped away as well. And true to her word, only a few days later, whispers of a foreign nobleman seeking a wife in Rapir began to bubble around the castle. It seems that a deal had been made with the young man that in turn for a healthy woman, he would propose a trade agreement between his homeland and Rapir. Perhaps, Kiara should have accepted her fate then. 

  However, as she currently stood in front of the large steeple steps, fiddling with the royal crest emblem on her dress, the only sign she was of any importance besides the thinly plated gold stud earrings she wore as a wedding present from the Rapir steward, Kiara couldn't help but feel contempt boil up from her bosom, her hands shaking at her sides. She had worked day in and day out to be an acceptable- no- an exceptional lady in waiting. She was quiet and maintained her duties to the royal family in sickness and in health. Yet as soon as the opportunity arrived, they would throw her away? Kiara wanted to pinch herself for allowing such negative thoughts to reside in her brain. This was the king and queen she was talking about? Wasn't she lucky for even managing to go this far? She couldn't have lived in that castle forever. Kiara knew this. But for some reason, clutching her dress in her hands, tears came to Kiara's hands as the holy music began to play. This was her wedding. To a man she had yet to even ask the name. Despair sunk in like a stab to the gut as she struggled her way up the stairs and through the church aisle. This was her duty. Kiara dared not look up at the stranger, instead gathering her courage to stare blankly at his tanned hands beneath the tight fitting tunic. "Do you, Kiara Machhelm take Aodhan Cross to be your lawfully wedded husband?" This is what Augustus would've wanted. Clearing her throat, Kiara lifted her head to view Aodhan for the first time. He was muscular for a nobleman, but not overwhelming so. His hair blocked the light from his deep brown eyes, only flicks of auburn shining through the wisps of thick black hair. Wiping the tears from her eye, Kiara's voice barely came out a whisper. "I beg your pardon, miss?" "I said, I do."

A/N: Here is what Kiara and Aodhan look like. 

Pronunciation: Kiara = Kee ar ah, Aodhan = Ay dawn, Rapir= Rap year, Ciatidal = See at idal