By Her Majesty's Side

Chapter 2

Mother insisted we practice our dance for the state dinner every night but I asked for this one to myself before we started. I have been going to meetings in secret for some time now and I wanted to go to one last so I didn't disappear without a word. 'The White Lily Society', a group that helps women like me, holds meetings every two weeks for emotional support and, if needed, financial support. I've been donating to them for the last six months and helping to run their support group.

"Thank you for all your help Miss Vivian, we can take care of everything in your absence." I had been using my maids name to protect my identity. The woman speaking was Lena, the one who had been running The White Lily Society since the beginning. I had brought six weeks worth of donations with me as well so they didn't suffer a financial loss in this time.

"I do sincerely apologize again but I'll still be helping with today's meeting." I begin to set up chairs as members trickle in and socialize. I greet the familiar faces and welcome in the new ones.

A shy young woman with blonde hair entered and looked nervous. I couldn't quite tell why but she seemed familiar. "Hello, is this your first meeting?" I smile warmly. "My name is Vivian."

"H-hello. I'm La-" she catches herself, "I'm Isabella" Ah... So that's it.

"Welcome Isabella," I choose to ignore her slip up. "Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help you. Feel free to socialize until the meeting starts." I guide her to the meeting room and return to greeting.

After a few more people arrive Lena finally speaks up. "Thank you all for coming, let's take our seats and we can begin our meeting." At that the group settled in the circle of chairs and the meeting began.

To give an overview of a typical Lily meeting Lena, the head of The White Lily Society', and Malbek, who wasn't at this particular meeting but was Lena's partner, would both introduce themselves, explain a bit about TWLS, offer the group the chance to introduce themselves if they wished, and finally have an open discussion. Today was no different, say for the lack of Malbek. When the discussion portion opened an older woman, who looked to be a soldier by her build and choice of hair cut, by the name of Verona spoke up wishing to know the origins of some of the symbols used by TWLS, namely the double headed axe. I knew she was a soldier!

"Ah!" Lena always loved discussing symbolism. "That comes from the famous warrior Aria Cree. I'm sure you are all familiar with the name from poems or history but she was a fierce warrior of legend who would wield a double headed hand axe. Some tellings even show her with one in each hand. For those unaware, Aria Cree was a real person. It's impossible to say for certain but many of us believe she was homosexual just like us. She never married or was said to have a relationship with a man, outside of stories written by men after her death, and had a faithful female companion she lived with until her death. Due to this the double headed hand axe became a symbol for homosexual women."

"And what about the flowers?" A young pink haired girl about my age asked.

"I love this question!" Lena giggled. " The white lily had always had a meaning of purity and chaste, so it became a bit of a joke for women to give a white lily to men who made advances on them as a sign of rejection, though this is seldom seen these days. Back then many young homosexual women took to wearing the flower earning the name 'Lily Women', which is why we sometimes refer to homosexual women as 'lilies'. Violets are a more recent symbol as their symbolism has changed in recent years. They once represented modesty but more stories and poems have started to use them to represent a delicate love and fierce faithfulness. Some women started to gift them to other women as a safe way of expressing romantic interest without outing themselves as a homosexual."