WITCH - The Queen

Chapter 58

Marie

Theo was waiting for her behind the school kitchen. There, they met every morning before the day officially started. That day it was late afternoon. All the staff was busy preparing everything perfectly for the queen, so no one noticed that the elf was quickly sneaking away, or that a student was sneaking behind the kitchen.

The two exchanged quick, fleeting kisses.

"Good luck!", Theo whispered in Marie's ear.

She laughed softly. "You better wish me strong nerves!"

"All right." Smiling, he kissed her cheek. "I wish you iron, happy nerves!"

"Thank you!" Marie pressed her face to his shoulder. "I don't want to... See you later, yes?"

"Of course. And now go. Before we both be noticed as missing."

Marie was reluctant to go. But there was not much time left until the Queen's arrival. And time flew by.

---

The time had come. All the students gathered in the courtyard to await the Queen's appearance. The teachers stood around them and made sure that no one stood wrong. They waited for the headmaster to lead the queen to the tribune. Some of them were among the lucky ones to have seen the arrival of the carriages. The queen was accompanied by several guards.

Then, finally, a proud figure appeared in the gallery and the students bowed deeply. Just as they had practiced a few days before. They straightened up again, and many curious glances were directed at the special guest. The queen took a seat on a decorated chair while the headmaster gave a short speech.

Marie looked at the queen skeptically. Queen Agathe von Sonnenhof was a beautiful woman. She looked very much like Julia. Or rather, Julia looked very much like her mother. But her gaze was different from the look of the princess. The queen's eyes seemed cold and deliberate.

The students of the elite course marched in lockstep to the edge of the courtyard so that the other students could present their swordsmanship. Marie would have liked to roll her eyes. But she stared forward as practiced, instead of grimacing.

Queen Agathe did not smile for a second. She watched the performance with an iron expression. Then, it was time for the show fight. Marie felt the Queen's eyes rest on her. She tried to focus on the fight, and ignore the unsympathetic queen as she stepped forward with the other students of the elite course. She drew her sword.

As expected by the teachers and her friends, Marie shone as the best student in the school. She bowed deeply to the queen when she was proclaimed the winner of the battle by one of her teachers. For the first time, the queen smiled. Marie shuddered as the other students cheered for her. Shortly afterward, the performance was finished and the queen retired to the school building.

Marie stood with her friends, who patted her appreciatively on the back. The other students of the elite course, sometimes, looked at her enviously. Finally, the lunch break arrived. The queen would dine in the headmaster's office while the students sat in the hall as usual.

Everyone spoke of the great honor of having seen the Queen.

"Marie! You were great!" Elin showered Marie with hugs so that the two hardly could eat. "You were a true warrior! And the Queen! Her eyes were on you the whole time! You impressed her very much!"

Marie just nodded. If there was one thing she didn't want, it was this queen's attention. Maybe she should have just lost? But that would have been even more noticeable, wouldn't it? Marie did not become a soldier to swear her eternal loyalty to this woman. If Julia was queen, that would be something else. But her mother?

Was Julia still alive?

Her friend was such a lovely person. She didn't deserve what had happened to her. Harmless, friendly, and a bit shy. Did Julia have any bad quality at all? Except for her school grades being miserable? And she couldn't handle a sword. Smiling, Marie remembered how Julia always drummed her fingers on the table in class when she was bored. She did this completely unconsciously and the teachers never spoke to her about it. As if she didn't disturb the entire lesson with it.

Julia had a kind of quiet, gentle authority that she herself seemed unaware of. You automatically wanted to do what she wanted. At least that's how Marie felt. And at the same time, Julia had never tried to impose her will on anyone.

Would she be able to govern a country? Not at sixteen, that much was certain. But maybe... No. Julia was gone. Marie had new friends she wanted to protect.

When the lunch break was over and Marie brought away her dishes, a teacher approached her and her friends. Lou grinned broadly. "I knew it!", he whispered in her ear.

"Marie!" Her archery teacher grinned. "I have wonderful news! You get to meet the queen. She specifically asked to see you. Come, she's waiting for you in the principal's office. There you will meet two other students. Everyone is from the elite course, of course!"

Her friends smiled excitedly and Marie did her best to feign enthusiasm. She said goodbye to her friends and followed the teacher.

Agathe

An office was not a throne room, but Agathe was satisfied with it. That the headmaster made his office available to her was the least she could expect from him. The food she was served was good, and the staff behaved appropriately.

Overall, she was satisfied.

Now she waited for the three students of the elite course, whom she would meet. Three promising talents already were seen as future shadows. (From the few teachers who knew about the shadows.) There was a knock at the door. One of the teachers entered the room with a deep bow. Three students followed him.

"Your Majesty? These are the three students with outstanding achievements. Marie Grau, Saber Wiese and Siwon Fern."

The three also bowed and thanked her for the honor of meeting her. They also expressed their condolences for the loss of the king. The words sounded rehearsed. Agathe nodded. The teacher bowed again, leaving Agathe alone with the three students. He would wait at the door.

"Marie, Saber, and Siwon. Do you like this school?", Agathe asked with a small smile.

"Very, Your Majesty", Siwon replied. A young woman with short, black hair and dark eyes. The other two nodded.

"How nice. I really liked your performance. I'm proud to have such talent in my country." Now her eyes rested on Marie. The girl seemed a bit distant. She was pretty. Her dark skin, however, reminded Agathe of Paula. Her unwanted daughter-in-law. But unlike Paula, this girl was valuable to her. Just like the other two. Saber, a young man with blond curls, looked like he wanted to say something. Agathe gladly allowed him to speak.

"Your Majesty? We are very honored by your visit. And I hope to proudly lead one of your troops one day! My loyalty belongs to you!", he proclaimed with deep conviction. Siwon nodded sheepishly. Only Marie did not move. Her look was proud. Agathe liked that.

"I'm glad to hear that!", she said. Her eyes wandered back to Marie. "Marie? Child? I'm particularly excited about your talent. You have shown true greatness. I look forward to seeing you as a fully trained soldier! I will follow your training with great pleasure." Then, she looked at the other two again. "And I can expect great things from you, Siwon, and Saber, too!"

Marie smiled, finally. "Thank you, Your Majesty", she replied quietly, bowing. The other two followed Marie's example with red faces.

"You have lessons now, don't you? I don't want to hold you up any longer. You may go!", she dismissed the three of them from their meeting. With another, deep bow, the three students left the room.

Agathe was extremely satisfied.

(c: sasi)