Over the Mountain (Book One)

Chapter Nine: The Royals

^the king^

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Taylor

The first thing that I notice is the cold. Then I feel the throb of my skull that seems to rattle my body. Did I get drunk last night or something..

I open my eyes, and It hits me like a train that has run off the tracks. The castle. I am in the castle.

They probably recognized me-

I hear the click of a door opening, and quickly take in my surroundings. I'm in a cell with only one small window. Mold climbs the walls like vines climb a tree, and the smell is terrible. A door and bars trap me, and through the bars I can see a figure on the other end of the room.

She's walking towards me, skirts billowing out behind her like a storm. As I make out her face, a sick feeling rises in my stomach.

She stops in front of the cell. With her luscious blond hair and piercing blue eyes, she's stunning. Her cheeks are rosy against her pale skin.

"Mother." I say quietly.

"Emily, oh darling! How I have longed for this day!" Wow, I haven't heard that name in a long time. She puts on a big smile that I know is fake.

"We both know you don't want me back." I say, frowning. "We both know that you want me dead. If father hadn't-"

"Your father wants you back." She says, finally releasing her true emotions and scowling. "I don't. But he is king, and you happened to show up right in his kitchen after we have been looking for you for ten years." She takes a breath. "He misses his daughter, Emily. He is going to visit you today, and try to reason with you-"

"You exiled me for a reason!" I exclaim, hating to see her face again. "Can't you just leave me alone?"

"Trust me, I would." She growls. "But we need you. After your brother went missing... the whole family has been distressed. He was our only heir. It was just luck, finding you here today. When I saw your mark, I immediately knew it was you. And wow, you have grown up. But it doesn't make you any more than the piece of scum that you are."

"Just let me go." I say, crossing my arms. "Tell him I've escaped. Everything will be fine after that."

"No, it won't." She grimaces. "I need you to be my heir. If your father and I fail to produce a heir, the Delafontaine line will be discontinued. I do not want to disappoint my ancestors."

"Mother, I am not fit to rule-"

"I will help you. I will make all of the decisions for you, just as I do for your father. You will only be an image for the public. You will marry an easily fooled man, and I will be behind the curtain, pulling the strings." She smooths her blond hair back, as if this is a perfectly normal thing to do.

I feel my nostrils flare. My mother basically rules the country. For my father's entire kingship, she's put ideas into his head that he thinks he's come up with. He has no idea that he is a puppet. Who would expect anything from a woman? Queens are only meant to be support for their husbands, and the bearers of heirs. Queens are not supposed to be smart or controlling.

"Then what of me?" I ask. "Do you think I want to be a puppet for my whole life?"

She scowls. "I can tell you're not going to budge. But you will be Queen. You will marry an nonsensical King. And your father and I will make sure of it." She stalks out of the room, leaving me in silence.

I had hoped this day would never come. Seeing my family again is like diving into my past. Hearing my name again is shocking like cold water. Princess Emily Taylor Delafontaine.

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Soon after the Queen leaves, two maids come rushing in. They unlock my prison, but I can tell that I'm still heavily guarded: men in uniform roam the halls, and I can hear the click of their boots like an unspoken warning. The maids take me to the bathroom without a word, but I can tell they're exited. The long lost Princess of Taireilla is back.

They have a warm bath ready, and after getting undressed I slide into the bubbles. They brush my hair and scrub my skin, making it really smooth, and basically get me to princess perfection.

After a long while in the bath, they fit me into a long  green dress that complements my eyes. Then they pin my hair into a bun at the top of my head along with a crown of emeralds.

I look into the mirror. I look stunning, a bit of makeup here and there, the dress in perfect shape.

I thank them as they bring me into the huge foyer where my father sits on his throne.

I try not to be shocked as I take in his appearance. Heavy bags are under his eyes, and wrinkles line his skin. I can see gray in his hair, overtaking the brown hair like an illness.

"Em." He says, and I can't help myself as I rush foreword into his open arms.

"Daddy," I say into his shoulder, "I- I missed you." I hadn't realized how much I had missed him, his genuine hugs, as if he could take away all of my problems in that one embrace.

"I missed you too, sweetheart."

We break away, and I notice that mother is sitting in her throne beside him, watching cooly.

"Daddy," I begin, "don't let her keep me here. Please. Just let me go."

He smiles at me sadly. "Em, I need a heir. If your brother doesn't show up, you'll be next in line. And he hasn't."

I pinch the bridge of my nose. I just have to convince him. "Daddy, I'm not happy. You haven't told the public that I'm back yet. I can slip out without notice."

His green eyes are sorrowful. "There is no other way. And Em, I want you here. You can be happy again."

"Listen to your father." I turn to mother.

"You are not part of this." I growl.

She smiles, like a snake. "But I am, aren't I?"

"Daddy, please-" I plead, but he waves his hand.

"Guards, take her to her quarters!"

I can't do this. I hate this place, I even can't bare to look at my father anymore. He is too heavily under the influence of my mother.

Gloved hands touch my back, firmly pushing me to my rooms. I have to get out of here. I have to.

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