Kingdom's Queen

Act 1: 13

I hit the wall of the cell as they throw me in. I rush back to the door, missing my opportunity to get out.

"Please, just let me explain myself-" I reach out to the guard. But he slams his metal glove against the bar to shut me up. I walk back in the dark cell I'm in and sit down. "I'm such an idiot for thinking I could win." I try to calm myself, breathing slowly.

"I don't believe you are." Declan walks up to the bars, holding a cup. I stand up and walk over, drinking the whole thing. "I brought you some water, looks like I was right to bring it."

"You spiked it." I reply, wiping my mouth. "I can feel it."

He nods, "Sure, but you have to understand, that I am very weary of being around you right now. I won't be able to sleep until I know I did the right thing, defending you or sending you to your doom."

"I understand, my brother. I would've done the same thing had it been me in your place." I inhale. "But it wasn't me."

He nods, smiling. "I knew it... Show me." He holds out his hand and I take it. I feel him in my mind, searching through my memories. I quickly show him the powder, the result, and-

I fall back when my mind reaches what happened in the woods. I can't think of Winston, I'd go insane just picturing him again...

"I heard what they found... How?"

"An arrow came from the trees. It was so fast that Winston said he didn't feel it." I lean against the bars, the cold metal cooling my face. "I tried to do something to save him, but he pushed me away."

"And you didn't catch who did it?"

"I did. But you don't know who she is."

"Alright, did you get WHY she did it?"

"No. She only told me she was sorry I got caught in the middle of her plan... That she needed someone to take the blame so the suspicion would move away from her."

Declan pushes his arm as far as he can through into the cell, reaching for my glove. "Show me what's left."

"I can't. It hurts too much, I'm afraid the glove might've melded to the melted remains." I pull it down a little, tugging at the skin on my upper arm. The pale skin covers a shriveled layer of what looks to be lava. "Yeah, I was right."

"I know what it was." Declan looks at me. "Magic detector. It doesn't prove anything against you, it only tells her you can use magic. That was obvious already, though... I should be able to convince someone to be on your side, my sister."

"Thank you, Declan." I hold his hand. "I'm sorry I made this into... such a big mess."

"No. This was not your fault, Darling. This is the fault of the person who killed Winston. Maybe-" He stops talking, a man's hand on his shoulder. "Uh, King Harold?"

Oh, no. Winston's father.

"Leave, Declan." He demands. Declan looks at me, I give him a nod, and he leaves. "You killed my son." He's talking so calmly, it scares me.

"My king, I promise you that I did no such thing. You know Winston loved me and I returned his love, why would I do something like this?"

He gestures to my glove, "You must've had your motives. Power?"

I lean back, holding my arm. "No. I've always been able to use magic, very POWERFUL magic. If I wanted to take over the kingdoms, I would've done so long ago. And even then, lots of people in my kingdom can use magic, I am not unusual by any means."

"And yet you're in a dungeon. I bet your castle has one of these."

I scoff, "No one in my kingdom cares enough about power to even COMMIT A CRIME, my king. All they're worried about is their freedom against people like YOU. Why would I DO THIS?!" I stop, catching my breath. "I am Princess Darling Harmony of the Five Kingdoms, future queen of Harmony and Whim-"