QUEENLY QUEST

Chapter Nine-Royal summons

As the day wore on, my fever finally began to break. I felt my body relax, my mind clear, and my senses return to normal. I was exhausted but relieved.

Just as I was drifting off to sleep, I heard a knock on the door. My mother answered it, and I heard her chatting with someone. Then, she came into my room with a warm smile.

"Helena, Mrs. Rachel is here to see you," she said. "And she's brought some delicious bread and stew to help you feel better."

I smiled weakly, feeling a surge of gratitude. Mrs. Rachel  always knew how to make me feel better when I was down.

She bustled into the room, her eyes shining with concern. "Helena, dear, I heard you were feeling poorly," she said. "I brought some of my famous stew to help you recover."

She handed me a steaming bowl, and the aroma filled my senses."Thank you." I took a spoonful, and the flavors danced on my tongue. It was like a taste of comfort, of love, of home.

As I ate, Mrs. Rachel chatted with my mother, filling the room with warmth and laughter. I listened, feeling my heart fill with gratitude for these wonderful people in my life.

With every bite, I felt my strength returning, my spirit lifting. I knew I was on the mend, thanks to the love and care of those around me but as soon as Mrs.Rachel departed all feeling of peace and tranquillity vanished as the door burst open and two palace guards strolled in,their faces stern. 

 "Helena, the king has summoned you to the palace," one of them announced, their eyes scanning the room.

My mother quickly stepped in front of me, her eyes flashing with alarm. "Why has the king summoned her?" she demanded, her voice trembling. "She's not yet eighteen."

The guards shrugged, their expressions unyielding. "The king's orders are not for us to question," one of them replied, reaching for me.

"No, please!" I protested, trying to pull away. "I don't want to go!"

My mother tried to intervene, pleading with them to reconsider. "She's just recovering from illness," she urged, her voice cracking. 

But the guards were unmoved. "We have our orders," one of them said, his grip on my arm tightening.

As they dragged me towards the door, I caught a glimpse of Asher at the door, his eyes wide with shock and fear. "Helena, no!" he exclaimed, rushing towards me. "Don't take her away!"

But the guards shoved him aside, and I was pulled out of the room, my heart racing with terror. My mother's cries of protest echoed behind me, along with Asher's shouts of anger and frustration.

The carriage door slammed shut, and we lurched forward, speeding towards the palace and sending my stomach into a frenzy. Mrs. Rachel's delicious stew threatening to come up. I was trapped, with no escape from the king's summons. Tears streamed down my face as I realized I was being torn away from everything I love.

As the carriage hurtled through the streets, I felt a sense of desperation wash over me. The guards' grip on my arms was unyielding, their faces expressionless. I struggled to free myself, but it was no use.

Outside, the village  blurred by in a kaleidoscope of colors and sounds. People bustled through the streets, oblivious to my plight. The carriage wheels rattled over cobblestones, jolting me about like a rag doll.

My mind raced with thoughts of my mother's worried face, Asher's desperate attempts to rescue me, and the unknown fate that awaited me at the palace. Fear and anxiety churned in my stomach like a stormy sea.

The carriage turned a corner, and the palace came into view. Its imposing spires and towers loomed before me, casting long shadows in the fading light of day. My heart sank, and I felt a sense of hopelessness wash over me.

The carriage halted at the palace gates, and the guards dragged me out, their grip on my arms unforgiving. I stumbled, my legs trembling beneath me, as they propelled me towards the palace entrance.

The heavy doors creaked open, and I was thrust inside, leaving behind the bright sunlight and the world I knew. The doors slammed shut behind me, and I was enveloped in the cold, dark embrace of the palace.

I found myself in a grand hall with a high, vaulted ceiling that seemed to stretch up to the heavens. The walls were adorned with intricate tapestries depicting scenes of battles and conquests, while the floor was made of polished marble that reflected the light of the setting sun.

The room was filled with courtiers and guards, all dressed in their finest attire, their eyes fixed on me with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. The air was thick with the scent of incense and the flickering light of candles cast eerie shadows on the walls.

To my left, a grand staircase curved upward like a swan's neck, leading to the private chambers of the king and his family. The banister was made of ornate gold, and the steps were covered in a plush red carpet that seemed to glow in the dim light.

Ahead of me, a pair of massive wooden doors led to the throne room, where the king held court. The doors were adorned with intricate carvings of lions and dragons, and they seemed to loom over me like sentinels guarding a forbidden treasure.

As I was pulled deeper into the palace, I caught glimpses of gleaming suits of armor, glittering chandeliers, and priceless works of art that seemed to whisper secrets in the silence. Every step seemed to echo through the halls, and I felt like a small, insignificant pawn in a game of power and intrigue.

Finally, we arrived at a door made of solid oak, adorned with the royal crest in gold and silver. The guards pushed me inside, and I found myself in a small, dimly lit chamber with no windows. The room was sparsely furnished, with only a single chair and a small table in the center. On the wall opposite me, a large mirror seemed to reflect my image back at me, like a ghostly apparition trapped in a prison of glass.

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