Imperfect Queen

Departure

    As Agatha woke up the next day, she didn't even want to leave her bed.Her night had consisted of endless tossing and turning, when she thought she would finally fall asleep, a ridiculous thought came and pestered her, they had started very rational, until they became the thoughts of a sleep deprived person. Agatha was lucky to get about two hours of sleep.

She didn't want to go on a trip who knows how many days, she didn't want to do any of this. But she had to. If those annoying guards said they would be here by dawn, that meant she needed to wake up very early in the morning, she and her mother were up by about five. Last night, she and her mother had stayed up until ten just packing and discussing what their plan was for tomorrow. Agatha only owned a small bag, the two found a way to pack an amount of clothes they thought sufficient for the trip. Neither were really clear how much time Agatha would be on the road, they just knew it wouldn't be too short.

Agatha and Callis sat in the kitchen in an

"I know I am not the most eloquent person you know, but I want to let you know that I will miss you" Agatha looked up for the first time today

"I know" Agatha replied quietly. There were so many words in this language, so many phrases, but none could be used to express how much she wanted to run away from this terrible fate.  She felt cheated, she felt used, it was stupid. But underneath all that anger and frustration, she was scared. Agatha didn't want to admit it, but she was petrified. She knew how royalty works, she knew women are pretty much there just to stand there and look pretty, to give heirs to the kingdom, she didn't want to do any of that.

    Someone knocked on the door, they looked at each other as if to say they knew this was the end. Callis got up and opened the door, but it wasn't the guards, it was Sophie.

"I know you weren't expecting me, but I told Agatha I would come" Sophie was so sleepy  that she didn't speak in her usual, chirpy tone, but in a slight monotone. She rushed to Agatha and hugged her before Agatha could object.

"You need to write me as soon as you get there" Sophie said quietly

"I will" Agatha said in the same hushed tone, she pulled back from Sophie's embrace, then Sophie plagued her with questions, just like she had the previous afternoon. The atmosphere was gloomy, it was as if someone had died and the three of them were mourning together. All with a question in mind: 'what would happen After Agatha left?

Then they heard a knock on the door. This was it. No more visitors. The guards were here. Callis got up again, her expression was grim, more than usual. Agatha matched her mother's, while Sophie was simply melancholic.

The guards came in, the blond one spoke first.

"Ladies, as you know, we are here to take Agatha with us, you may give each other your goodbyes" Sophie yet again threw her arms around Agatha, she started sobbing softly

"I'll miss you so much! I won't forget about you"

"I know you won't" Agatha pulled back again, then her mother looked at her simply

"Well, don't do anything stupid, don't become an airhead, and please, do write some time, at least to say you are still alive" Callis said, Agatha surprisingly hugged her

"I will, and don't worry, what kind of disaster could I make?" Agatha replied, she turned to the guards and asked "Will I need anything?"

The red haired guard replied "I would bring clothes if I was you, for the trip." Agatha nodded and grabbed her bag, they crossed the threshold and left. Agatha turned to see her dilapidated house one last time, and the two sad women inside it. She gave a wave and finally exited.

The guards helped her up their horse, she would ride with the red haired one, while the blonde one was alone.

"Well, we will be traveling for approximately 14 days to 17 days, that is my shortest estimate. I expect we will be fine" Said the blond one

"Great. More than two weeks" Agatha complained

"Hey, we weren't expecting to go so far" The red haired said

"Will I ever know your names?" Agatha asked

"Oh right, sorry. Well, I am Chaddick" The blonde one said "And he is Tristan"

"So, the plan is to make me queen right?" Agatha asked yet another question

"Yes my lady" Tristan said

"You do realize that goes against any protocol set by society? Princes don't marry peasants, nor vice versa, it is unheard of. And what will this prince even say when he sees me? Because I don't think he will find me very appealing, at least physically" Agatha verbalized

"Well, you do have a point there" Tristan said, getting slightly nervous

"And if they don't like me, the fault will be yours, because you technically chose me. Another question, why did the prince didn't come here? You would think he would come" Agatha vocalized

"Look,  they need to stick with you, money was invested in this, they're not wasting money in this again. And Prince Tedros happens to be very busy preparing to be king" Tristan answered again

"When is he becoming king?" Agatha inquired

"We don't know yet" Chaddick said "We do know you guys will be getting married shortly after you arrive"

"Great" Agatha said sarcastically

"You sure are unique" Tristan commented

'What makes you say that, the hair, the clothes or perhaps the 'lack of manners'" Agatha retorted, she was so done already, everything seemed petty at the moment

"Well, all of it, but finding a girl who doesn't want to marry a prince is sure unusual" Tristan mused

"Getting married in general, is just a scam, an opportunity so people can get richer by affinity, lovely" Agatha snorted

"You know, you are very smart" Tristan complimented, Agatha raised her eyebrows in surprise

"Uh, thanks" Agatha said awkwardly

"So, do you know how to read and write?" Chaddick asked her

"I do, but my calligraphy isn't great" Agatha replied

"I don't think you are going to have such problems adapting, I think you'll be better than what we thought" Tristan said

"Why did you pick me?" Agatha blurted out

Tristan and Chaddick snickered, then Tristan replied:

"Well, we did it as a joke, get the ugliest girl in the town , see his reaction, but now I'm starting to think it was a good idea. You seem pretty smart" Agatha just rolled her eyes, she knew it had to be a joke

"Good luck at getting me all princessy" Agatha said bitterly.

The road to the blasted Camelot was going to be long. Terribly long