Long Suffer the King

IV

The next morning is filled with disorder. The servants are running around and the funeral procession arrangements are last minute, typical Dimitri, so Ophelia is stuck with a simple braid and her black dress, a veil over her face. She walks to the front steps of the castle where he brother stands waiting in his all black tunic, robe and pants. He doesn't smile at her but he holds out his arm for her to take and they walk to their carriage together.

It's silent throughout the whole town as they ride down the streets. Not even the animals make a sound. Ophelia peers out the window and sees the grimy faces looking back at her. Everything was grey and dull. Even the bright foods seemed less colorful.

She sits back and glances at her brother. He stares ahead, hands fisted up and gripping his pants. She sighs. "Why don't you relax?"

Dimitri chuckles darkly. "Why are you acting so amazed by this filth."

Ophelia turns to him. "Filth? Is that all you can think of when you see them?"

He doesn't respond. The rest of the procession is silent between them.

Their father is buried on the hill behind the castle. It's a pretty view, Ophelia observes when the coffin gets lowered into the grave. She thinks her father will like it.

They walk back to the castle together and her brother brings up the coronation. "Why don't you prepare and we'll meet one another in the throne room?" his hands are clasped together behind his back. Ophelia smiles and nods. "Of course."

She walks upstairs and looks over her shoulder for one moment to see him motion to a guard and begin talking animatedly. Ophelia looks away and continues walking.

The servants fix her up quickly, not doing much but fixing her braid and making her cheeks more colorful with powder. She steps into her gold and red dress and when it's tied very tightly in the back she looks in the mirror to see herself.

"You look beautiful m'lady. Fit for the throne!" one of her servants calls out. She doesn't smile or thank her, she just stares at her reflection. "Thank you, you all may go now."

Once they all shuffle out of the room she closed her eyes. "This is happening all too fast."

Nonetheless she walks out of the room and, with some difficulty, down the stairs to the throne room. The doors are closed and there's guards standing in front of it. They don't bow when she stands in front of them.

"Let me in." she orders. They look at one another and then back at her.

"We're sorry m'lady, we can't."

"And why not?" she crosses her arms. They go to speak but the doors open behind them and another guard pops his head out. "She can come in now. The king wishes to speak with her."

"King? He is no king yet!" she shoves past the guards. "Dimitri!"

Her brother is sitting on the throne, crown in one hand. He is laying back in the most informal position, with his one leg kicked up and foot resting on his other knee. It takes a moment from him to register it's her. He stands up and motions for the doors to close. "Just the person I wanted to see."

"You've already crowned yourself?" Ophelia stops in front of the steps to the throne. Dimitri looks down at the crown in his hand and smiles. "Well, I am the rightful heir to the throne. I've just taken what's mine." he places the crown atop his head. "I only asked you to come back into the throne room because I have news for you. Take it as you please. You're being exiled."

"W-what?" Ophelia's voice shakes. Her brother adjusts the crown on his head and turns to her. "You heard me." he growls. The jewels on his head twinkle in the light, a stark contrast to his dark hair.

"But we're siblings, we're family. I'm all you have left!" she steps up to the throne. Dimitri moves to strike her but controls himself. He takes a deep breath to regain his composure. "Ophelia Morstein you are now exiled from the kingdom and the line of the Morsteins. No woman should ever rule, especially someone as soft as my sister. Never return, never tell anyone you're a Morstein. You're banished from the line. You're no longer my sister." he snaps his fingers and she feels the rough hands of the guards grab her arms and drag her out of the throne room. She begins yelling at him. "I'm your friend then! We spent twenty years together! You'll regret this! You broke your promise to father! You swore to protect me!"

He looks at her sadly but before he can change his mind or utter another word the doors to the throne room slam shut and Dimitri is utterly alone.

"Let me go!" Ophelia screams, kicking at the guards. They just laugh and take her to a carriage waiting in the back of the castle. One of the guards clamps a hand over her mouth and panic sets in and she struggles with breathing. She tries moving her head away but it's no use.

"Where to?" the carriage driver asks. "Farthest out you can before sunset. Dump her in the river once you stop. She can drown for all we care."

Ophelia's eyes widen and she starts struggling against them again. "For fuck's sake, dammit Horst knock her out."

The hand from her mouth is removed and she screams. Seconds later something hard hits the back of her head and everything goes black.