God, Save the Queen

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The resounding sound of King Edmund's palm striking Edith's cheek echoed throughout the near-empty throne room. Elysa winced and looked away, unable to witness her Father's harsh treatment of her sister.

"Do you know how foolish you have been today?" Edmund shouted at his daughter as Edith reached up to touch her now reddened cheek. "Those men could have killed you; they did not know who you were!"

A fact that Edith loved. No boy had ever been able to fight her freely because she was a girl and the King's daughter. She began to giggle quietly, which then turned into full-on laughter. The girl had just been struck, yet she laughed.

Elysa feared for her sister's sanity, as did King Edmund, as they both looked at Edith bewildered. "Have you gone completely mad?" Edmund shouted, cutting off Edith's laughter. The room was silent as the King waited for his daughter's response.

"My apologies, Your Grace, only this is a dream come true! Elysa never believed I could be crowned Champion- let alone you- yet here I stand," After she had finished speaking, Edith's laughter began once more.

She winced briefly as she rubbed her hand along her rib, struck earlier in the tourney. But it quickly turned into a wide grin because she now had a battle scar.

An uncomfortable amount of time passed, as no one knew what to say. Queen Anora reached out her hand and touched her husband's back. "My dear, let us all retire to our chambers. The day has worn us all-"

"No," King Edmund interrupted. He was angrier than Elysa had ever seen, while tears began to flow down Edith's face due to her laughter. The King stepped closer to Edith while she began to back away.

"Father, I only meant-" But she could hardly get the words out because of how much she laughed. Edmund grabbed his daughter by her cheeks and pulled her face to his. While her laughter subsided, her smile remained.

"Edith," The King said quietly, "You shall never wear this crown on your head." At this, Edith's smile disappeared, while the King gained one. Edith yanked her head from her Father's grip and stepped back.

"And who shall?" She asked, reeling, "You have only me, Father. Shall your drunken fool of a cousin rule Batrion forever? Surely his line will not continue the Lyslin name," Edith shouted, aggressively shaking her head all the while; zealous for her house. "I won today, Father. I am a conqueror! I thought I would prove myself worthy to you and Synon, but it seems you need more convincing."

King Edmund approached his daughter until her back was against the wall. As he got into her face, he nearly spat out his next words.

"You are no conqueror. You merely fill your head with wild fantasies and delusions. I have tried to help you see things clearer ever since you first spoke of this ridiculous notion of being Queen, but you are the one who needs to be convinced. I will name my cousin my heir or, God willing, my son. But you," He said, examining her with disappointment, "you shall never rule Synon."

Edmund looked at his daughter with disdain, a look Edith was all too familiar with. He turned his back to her and began walking to his wife. "Father, please!" Edith pleaded. Now the tears on her face were from anger, instead of her laughter. As he reached Queen Anora, Edmund looked back at his daughter momentarily.

"You are no daughter of mine," The King said quietly before taking his wife's hand and leaving the room. The two sisters stood silently but could not meet the other's gaze. After a while, Elysa decided to speak.

"Father was-" But when Elysa looked up, Edith was already gone. Elysa then made her way up to her chambers, awaiting the call for supper. She assumed her sister wanted to be left alone, so she did just that.