Why Were We Leaving?

".....wake up, my queen!", the faint whispers wake me up. By the looks of it I'd say it is around midnight. I wonder what all the commotion is about. My mind takes it a while to decipher the tall and brooding figure standing in front of me. The worry on his face has made it obvious. Something is not right.

"My queen, you need to leave right now. Hurry and get dressed. Lancel, my most trusted guard will escort you to the stables. There will be a carriage there waiting to take you back to London. My love, are you listening to me? Please! There isn't much time."

I am in a daze and Aiden's words seem to be incomprehensible. Nevertheless, I, in a state of bafflement, force myself out of bed and change in to a simple dress. My handmaiden, Elisa, helps me don my travel robe as I begin to think of everything that has led us here.

One bad deal. All it took was one bad deal to turn our world upside down. I sometimes wish my husband, the king, wasn't so stringent with his moral codes. It has got us in to hot water plenty of times. However, this time, I believe, is by far the worst.

The nobles have been the major support of the French Court since ages. Compliance with the nobles' demands and wishes is the only way to ensure peace in France. By refusing to grant the nobles their autonomy in their treatment of the commoners and slaves, Aiden has finally pulled the last string/straw. The nobles are infuriated and are prepared to retaliate. I wouldn't be surprised if they try to over throw the throne. After all, they do possess a lot of power.

I had warned Aiden of this possibility. I begged him to do what was best for his family, for once. The price was too high and yet he still went along with being the better king. As a result, the nobles now want our heads on pikes.

I scurry out of my chambers and my beloved daughter, Ayla, is waiting there for me. Aiden bids us farewell and I can see the hurt in his eyes. However, if one spent all the years I've spent with Aiden, one would know that even though his heart cares and aches for his family, he would die for his country.

As we walk to the stables, I can see a carriage making itself prominent in the near distance. I begin contemplating the decision I am about to take. Escaping is something any over- protective mother would do when her child's safety was at risk. However, would she leave her king's side in times of trouble and strife?

"Watch your step, my lady", the guard's voice brings me back to reality. I climb the carriage step and get seated across Ayla.

Maybe I should stay with Aiden. I'd be a horrible wife and queen if I abandoned him when he needed me the most. I could send Ayla away to live with my sister but in these trying times, you never really know who to trust. Aiden's distant family have always felt threatened by us and made every effort to impede the progress of our rule, hence that is not an option either. It would be better to keep her here. Besides, what is the worst that could happen? I will just be beheaded alongside the King. My child will probably be taken away and treated as a traitor's daughter. She'll be beaten and deprived of the life she was destined to live. Our legacy would end then and there and the nobles would falsely claim our rule to be oppressive in writings of history. The nobles might even go to the extent of trying to abolish the whole system of monarchy.

However, if I stay, I might find a way to overpower the nobles' growing aggression. I am known as the Queen with an eagle eye and a clever wit. I've never backed down from a fight before, so why should I quit now? I should perhaps present the case to the Vatican since they are the ultimate authority. If all else fails, I'll just bribe the nobles or strike a deal with the most influential ones. My husband might be a righteous man but I can let go of my morals and virtues when the situation calls for it. I wonder where my king would have been if I hadn't bribed all those people just to keep our rule going.

"Mother, why do we have to leave? Why isn't father coming with us?", Ayla's feeble voice brings tears to my eyes. If I leave with my daughter, I have a chance to watch her grow up. I can escape the brutal fate that awaits me. However, if the nobles indict me of having any involvement in the edict, which they will, then I will be hunted down and executed. Of course, the only reason I am being sent away is so Aiden can deny that I had anything to do with the law and hence was sent away to be excluded from the trial.

Why is it taking me so long to decide? It does not seem that hard of a choice now that I think about it. Together, Aiden and I have always been a force to be reckoned with. Our ideologies clash but we find a way to make do. If I leave, I will be further weakening his stance. The downfall of his rule will become inevitable. I must go back. We need to fight the nobles and regain our power. And why shouldn't we? Aiden has done nothing wrong. He should not suffer for doing the right thing.

With my decision having made itself obvious, I immediately order the driver to turn the carriage around. I smile at my daughter and say:
"I don't know why we were leaving my love, but I can surely tell you why we are going back."