The Queen's Quest

Chapter 1~ Octavia

My eyes slowly fluttered open at the sound of hooves sharply hitting the ground. It was a bright morning today. The sun peaked in through little peep holes in the wooden structure of the stables and it was actually warm for once.
"Good morning love." Said a husky voice from behind me.
I slowly turned around and grinned as I saw him.
Who was he? No one. A mere stable boy at that. I didn't even know his name, but I do know that I've never been happier while in the presence of a stranger.
"Well hello there sir." I responded as I curtsied, my skirt brushing against his feet.
"My princess, I do believe I should be the one bowing to you." He speculated.
My smile only grew from there. A princess. The fairest princess in the land to be precise. I absolutely loved every second of it.
"Thank you kind sir. I sadly must head off now. Wouldn't want to miss brunch with my mother again!" I replied.
"Please, stay. We have all the time in the world." He mumbled softly as he pressed light kisses along my shoulder and neck.
I've never wanted to be in anyone's presence more.
I turned to face him, taking in his handsome features.
He had beautifully blue eyes, much like the ocean on a sunny day. His hair was a dark brown, almost as dark as mine but not quite.
I was so caught up in him that I didn't even notice the stable doors fly open.
His eyes widened in fear of being caught and he quickly ducked behind a bale of hay.
"Octavia what on earth are you doing in here! It smells like horse poop!" Shrieked my youngest sister Rosalind.
"I was visiting the horses! Calm down!" I replied melodramatically.
She may be young but she was a smart little thing. She gave me a suspicious look and stuck her tongue out at me before turning sharply on her heel and storming off.
"She's gone." I said quietly to the stable boy behind the hay.
"Ah lovely, well you eat be heading off to your brunch!" He said quickly.
I just nodded in reply and headed off quickly. My sister almost found out... That was close. Too close.
I slowly opens the large barn doors and hurried off to brunch. Last time I had missed brunch, my mother locked me in my room for three days. She is extremely peculiar about going to these dumb events for 'good publicity'. Morning brunch is most likely worse than being stoned to death in my mind. Spending the morning with my power-hungry mother until we're excused at half ten is just dreadful.
I finally approached the brunch house after what felt like hours of walking. The front door was quite large, probably larger than most of the peasant houses. I grasped the large embellished knocker on the door and hit it hard against the wooden surface three times.
The door opened no more than 2 seconds later and I entered the warm house.
The room reeked of expensive perfumes and teas. There were lords and ladies everywhere throughout the room and I suddenly realized how underdressed I was compared to the rest of them. I probably smelled of manure as well after having slept in a barn...
"Oh Octavia darling, please join us!" Shrieked my mother from across the room.
Everyone stopped talking and turned towards me. Some of the ladies curtsied and a few lords bowed, but I had ignored most of that. It was the whispering that got my attention.
They had clearly heard the rumour that was going around about me and the stable boy.
I put on my best smile and held my head high as I strolled towards my mother. The ladies sneered and continued to whisper about me as I passed them.
I heard a few comments about my gown, which now had several tears and dirt stains throughout the skirt. Oh well.
I finally reached my mother and couldn't help but grin when I saw her shocked expression.
"Please dear may I have a word?" She said through clenched teeth.
"Of course you may!" I responded cheerily.
She quickly snatched my hand that was dangling beside my dirty dress and pulled me outside. The whispers continued.
"Octavia Lorelei Montgomery, what on earth are you doing!" My mother asked angrily as she attempted to fix my ruffled hair.
"Why I don't know what you're talking about mother." I responded in a monotone voice. I really had to contain my emotions around her. After all, she is the Queen.
"You've been fooling around with that stable boy Octavia don't play dumb with me." My mother stated angrily.
"Do you have any idea what this will do to our family name?" My mother said as tears began to fall down her cheeks.
"But mother I love him. You wouldn't understand." I said quietly.
She looked at me with pure disgust, hatred, and disappointment. A look I had received many times before and I will undoubtedly receive it many more times.
"Love is not real Octavia. It is only made up. A fairy tale." She stated coldly.
Her icy blue eyes pierced into mine and I almost felt bad for her. I could see past that frigid glare. Behind it was a woman who had once loved, but who had chosen power over love. I pity her.
"Well that's too bad mother because I'm going to marry him. In fact, the wedding will be tomorrow!" I practically shouted at her.
"And I want every single person in this kingdom to attend!" I screamed.
My mother only frowned more, but after a few seconds she grinned. Not a happy grin, a mischievous grin.
"Fine Octavia. If you want so much to be married, then you may." She said.
I smiled happily and hugged my mother, possibly the first hug I'd ever given her. She leaned close to my ear and whispered something. Something so horrific, so awful, that I cannot fathom why she would do this. Something that would forever change my life. My smile dropped and my jaw went slack after she said it.
I felt tears rush to my eyes as I quickly pulled from her grip. No no no. This couldn't happen... I was in love!
She couldn't do this.
I ran from her grip and back to the stables to find the one boy I truly loved.
Her words echoed over and over in my head and I felt my heart physically ache.
"Octavia, you will marry Prince Nolan and become a Queen after you win the Royal Games of Bravia."

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Hey everyone! Thank you so much for checking out my book! Please tell me if you see any grammatical/ spelling errors because I haven't edited it yet. The first few chapters will be a little shorter than the others because I'm just giving you all a little background info.
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~B