𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐓𝐒 | 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘯

➥ ravenna; perpetual

To be bound in shackles early morning is not ever an expected procedure, especially for someone who has served the crown thoroughly and committed not even the slighted bit of treason; devout to her last breath. Yet, the crown fails to make the very exceptions it promised for the services I provided: safety and loyalty.

My hands are brought together tightly, like two people forced into close proximity - uncomfortable and unwelcome. Roughly, I'm guided to the throne room, the fraying, coarse rope rubs my skin raw and pink. Growing warm as we move, the heat at my wrists cool as I'm forced to my knees before the queen herself, cold hard floor almost bone breaking. "Your Majesty." I bow my head in respect, thankful for all the core training as I keep my body angled towards the floor.

"Knight Y/N L/N, you, along with your accomplices have committed an act of high treason!" Her brother calls from beside her iron throne, welded in such a way it looks menacing from whatever angle you are presented to the royalty. The queens eyes lock onto mine in a harsh, swift movement and for a moment make me believe she would actually pity us. Or even me, her most loyal knight. "You and your associates will face execution tomorrow."

Once again, I'm dragged up from the floor, shoulder dislocating with a subtle pop. I groan at the grinding feeling and decide to focus on something else to distract myself from the pain as it will become irrelevant tomorrow.

An eternity later we stop outside the palace dungeons and the ropes slacken and my arm drops weakly to my side, the pain a shattered glass severing my skin and embedding itself into my bone. I hold it to try and reduce the movement as I'm thrown behind bars beside said acquaintances. A man in with a long brown beard looks at me kindly, "Want some help with the arm?"

"Thanks, but I've got it." I watch the people surrounding me cautiously, remaining aware of their movement as I angle myself against the stone wall. Each time I ram my arm against the wall I feel it slip closer to its original residence and continue on until the agonising pain is reduced to nothing and my arm is moveable. Groaning I asses the situation, however, anyone in the room looks like a junior knight, not on the level of complexity that means they contribute anything to being able to escape our holding cell. Instead I curl up in the corner and decide to try and get some sleep.

The morning is early as we are dragged back to the throne room, lined up and sent in one by one. When my turn arises I'm the only person left out of the group accused for a crime we didn't commit. I walk along the blood stained floor before bowing for the queen, her fingertips showered in crimson death. I lift my head to meet her eyes and to scan my surroundings. We're alone.

Her voice calls out into the space between us, challenging and icy cold, "Here is your final chance to have an attempt on my life." She calls, her blue eyes cold and stark. I chuckle. "Something funny pawn?"

"Quite." I show no fear for the monarch, even though she is about to claim my life amongst the many others she has before. She raises an eyebrow in curiosity and so I continue. "I don't think you're killing me for treason, if fact I think you're killing me as a result of that mirror you love so dearly."

"And you conclude all these...accusations from who and where exactly?"

"They are only observations I have made from serving in your vicinity." I don't bow my head instead rising and kneeling at her feet, "Your time is running out and now I'm just another girl you need to kill to keep your youth." I tilt my head, "My body and mind are yours to control, I am devout only to the monarch, Queen Ravenna." I recite the oath from my first day and watch as her head drops.

"I tried to keep you alive Y/N, I really did." I smile and take her palm, placing her palm flat against my chest. Surprise floods her face and her blue eyes meet mine, "But your beauty is only comprisable to love and laughter. I don't want to kill you."

"Take my heart, my lady, it was yours from the beginning anyways."

I never expected to feel each vessel in my physique tear as its core was ripped out, blood coming from every synapse in my body, like a sacrificial lamb. I never expected the dismal screech that she could elicit from my lips as the pain flooded my system, overtaking any other sense. But what I expected least of all was Ravenna's other hand on my shoulder, holding me upright and her forehead pressed against mine.

As my vision began to blur, I felt arms wrap around my figure, pulling me onto their lap as the stars set into the darkness shrouding me. The cold kiss of the devil on my lips, warmth escaping like a soul being sucked from its shell. As I die in her arms I hear her whispers, the final thing before I am no longer earthbound, "You were the most beautiful to me, rest easy my love."

...

A/N : nearly done with this oneshots book, the start of the new year is the start of my new writing. See you soon for the final update :)