The Crown and the sword ( Fem!Queen x Fem!Knight ) 18 + Content

Chapter 1 - The lakes

“ Princess ? ”
No answer
“ princess ? ”
Martha turned on her heels and ran , in a ladylike way , she was a close friend to princess of andriona , melora . Despite her low rank in the court , her father being only advisor to the late king and now the new king of andriona , the second son of late king's third brother .
" She's . Not . There ! " Martha hissed which she meant to be whispers , The downager queen , wife of the late king stopped dabbing her eyes to wipe the occasional tears that wouldn't stop .
" What ? " Her emerald eyes glinted sorrow and anger that she never saw before , not even when she knew that king Benedict quite liked Martha's company .
" She wasn't there in her chamber when I went up . " She perched her lips closed when three lords passed around , Queen smiled precisely and spared the concern only for her to hear .
The queen paced around castle with Martha on her side , looking out at every window for her daughters shadow .
Soldier's were sent at andriona's border , to search the castle , the gardens , the towers , to search every carriage , to look for any missing horse but it looked as if melora was gone with the wind . Her wedding would start very soon and mother of princess could only think about what would happen to her daughter if she was found after everyone would know , after the king would feel it as an insult and declare war against andriona , she had no say in it , her husband - The late king of andriona was dead three years ago with melora only sixteen and no male heir , two days ago Benedict came in her chambers and told her that melora was going to be married to king of skontandio , she must prepare and keep melora ready .
There was nothing to be said , she knew better than that and now her daughter is in danger , she must find her .
She will find happiness and love ...if she couldn't fall in love with her husband then she would love her children , her eyes moisten to think of melora with little beasty just like her , her daughter must have a unhappy life than no life , she wouldn't lose her , not now  , not ever .
" We must find her "
" We must ...she wouldn't be far " Martha said , her tone unknowingly suspicious to queen mother
" Martha , how could she know about it ? " Her tone wasn't friendly and her eyes were questioning , Martha felt her heart sink .
She anticipated the question for a moment and knew very well what she meant .
" Oh no! How could you ? " She burst out angrily , her hands fidgeting , she did knew about it .
Benedict told her two days ago about his plans to set her cousin off to become the  Queen of skontandio, she mustn't not know ; he told her  , everyone in the land of  andriona knew it very well that princess melora was too unladylike . her laughter wasn't soft and her walking not so delicate , her needlework looked like a war field after bloodshed and one shouldn't talk about her beauty .
She was all wrong with her choices ( although it wasn't hers to make )  when she could have come out like fairy god child with her mother's beautiful emerald eyes , glittering golden hair , tall and perfect body , she chose her father's black hair , his golden honey like eyes , and everything wrong ( his father was delighted about it ! )
" I mustn't question your intentions Martha but -" melora's mother halted as two knights in golden came in with a note .
Martha took it and opened it on downager queen's command , " The wedding would start soon , melora should be ready  "
No doubt it was Benedict's lousy handwriting , her heart was beating louder than ever , she didn't slip it anytime .
Not when the king arrived andriona and melora wondered why , " It's for your brother I think , to form alliances king , heard there was rebellion somewhere " Martha assured her , melora couldn't have known any of it , her wedding to the king was a secret that was kept safely by people of andriona from it's princess who would soon be the Queen .
But not for the people of skontandio
" Someone from skontandio might have told her ? " Martha suggested 
" Told her ? "
" Congratulated her perhaps ? " Martha pressed on it  because it wasn't really her to do it , as much as she liked melora , she knew it was for the better , his brother was no good .
"I only let her out once for dinner with the King ( she meant King Zain of skontandio , she never called Benedict king ) 
That settled the question .
" She wasn't out for a day ? "
" No, well now she's gone "  she sighed , her emerald eyes glittering .
" Oh well " Martha's corner of  lip rose a little , " she's out for a walk , where have we checked ? "
" She's not in the gardens "
" The lakes ! " Martha shrieked with pleasure , taking Queen mother's hand in hers .
" The lakes ? "
" YES ! "
" Alone ? " Queen mother was only there once , on her wedding...in their tradition , wedding by the lakes were only legitimate , under the old willow she took vows of love , honour and duty , she abided by it to this very day  .
" Well ofcourse " Martha said as-a-matter-of -fact tone .
" Oh ..ok ..ok "
" You get her dress and maids all ready , I get melora back " Martha took sharp turn but queen mother had different plans .
" Get the bath and dress ready , I will get her ! "
Martha opened her mouth to protest but she cut her off " - And if he ( Benedict ) asks for me or melora  just keep him out till we are back "
" What will I tell him ? "
" That we are having that talk " Queen mother smiled , ofcourse Martha knew what she meant by that talk , her own mother wasn't there to teach her but Benedict didn't left enough to be taught , melora must know about the thing one must endure after marriage , she felt bad for her .
" Right . " She bowed in courtesy and left .
Queen mother left for the lakes , knowing well how she wouldn't have much time to talk to her daughter , she must do it now .