Quest of Fate

Fiendish Friends

  Bellator and I rode into the courtyard of the Cortsinova Castle. Sliding off Bellator's back, I grab the reins and led him to the stables. Taking off his saddle and blanket, I couldn't help the smile that was plastered on my face. A prince. A PRINCE! HA! I grabbed Bellator's brush and brushed him down, a little ditty on my lips, barely containing the happiness I was feeling. Swirling around, I placed everything back in order, gave Bellator a carrot, and all but skipped through the large oak doors to the Great Hall. Feeling small inside such an expanse of room, I hurried through to the halls leading to the quarters. Specifically, Father's and I. Walking down the hall,  I heard a voice coming from our rooms. Moving to the wall, I slowly made my way, closer to the  doors. A couple feet away, I went to grab my knife, realizing that someone else had it. 

"Great," I sighed.

Trying to stay quiet, the only weapons I had were my two fists, I opened the door slowly, glancing around, trying to see who was there. Who knew. The queen could have one of her many thugs, standing in there, hiding, waiting to strike. Only I know how many she had waiting for me, wanting to bow to her, or be broken.Hearing footsteps walking away from the door, I slithered in quickly, gliding towards the wardrobe, hiding in the space between it and the wall, waiting to pounce on whoever was there. Seeing their shadow creep closer,  I jumped on their back, tackling them to the ground. The person struggled against me until I heard a voice that I had missed dearly.

"Cara! Get off of me, you pouncing cat! I am not a mouse!"

The body moved beneath me, and I saw the raven haired girl pop out from under me. 

"Gabriella, what in a dragon's hoard are you doing here? I thought you were in Anhalt, being the Queen's niece and all." 

Gabriella laughed, the clear, rich sound unlike the throaty chuckle her aunt had, one of the many signs that they were completely different. We both crawled up from the ground, laughter emitting from the both of us. I walked over to the desk below the window, perching on the edge, feeling the sun on my back through the winter chill as Gabriella sat on my bed, snuggling with one of the many useless pillows piled there. Trust me, I wouldn't have them there, but the Queen was the one who designed my room, so the reds and girlish ornaments across the room were her idea, not mine. At least I was able to ask for one thing. The desk, where all my journals rest, filled from cover to cover with each thought, each emotion that passes through my mind, were written as a letter to my mother, as a way for her to be here.

"Cara,  I wanted to see my best friend. A tall, lithe woman with long auburn hair that always falls into bright blue-green eyes, over a sharp nose, full lips, a strong square jaw, long swan-like neck, broad shoulders, big, round-" 

"Gabriella!"

Jumping forward, I snatched the pillow out of her arms and used it to cover her mouth. Muffled giggles escaped through the pillow.

"Shame! What would Catherine say?"

Gabriella fought against the pillow, finally scooting back, breaking my hold. More giggles as she tried to catch her breath.

"She would say 'Why Cara, I am completely jealous of your-"

I jumped at her but Gabriella dodged it, laughing big belly laughs. Gabriella darted around the bed, but I cut her off, grabbing her arm and tackled her back down to the ground. 

"You will pay Gabriella!"

I reached down for her sides and started tickling her.

"No!-giggle- Please! I can't-giggle-take it!-giggle- Cara, you need to stop!"

I paused, her tone startled. I felt a presence behind me. Leaping up, twisting about, I took in the sight of one of the Queen's guards standing in the doorway. He was a large, greasy bear of a man, with a squished face and a leer hidden in his eyes. He bowed shallowly, a mockery.

"Mistress Lu'Pine, her Majesty requests your presence in her bed chambers. She asks that you come immediately, if you are not too busy."

That leer appeared again as his eyes travelled up and down my frame. A disgusted feeling settled over me, and all I wanted to do was run to the bath and scrub the slime off. Ever since Father and I started staying at court, it seemed that all of the most vile of men's eyes I caught, and I hated myself for it. Some of them stayed away, but others thought that they were brave enough to lay a hand on me. My father had surely changed their minds with dismemberment looming over their heads, but now, as he grown ill, the men had grown braver. I strode forward, pushing past the guard into the hallway.

"Gabriella, I will see you soon. Perhaps after dinner we can talk?"

I looked around the guard and saw Gabriella's head shake, a sliver of fear in her eyes. I mimed a knife going through the guards neck, and I saw a glimmer of laughter flit across her face as she snorted. The guard turned quickly, but I was already heading down the hall towards her majesty's rooms.