Stone Queen

First Crown

When I was just a child, gold reminded me of the stars; shiny, beautiful and for me...completely unattainable. It wasn't common knowledge that I grew up with no home, a street urchin that begged for scraps, in fact only three people were still alive that held that knowledge. There was two more that knew but one died of sickness and the other I had to kill.

I reflected on the day my father came to take me away from my mother while I stared out the window. My father was a rich and powerful lord that stood out in the dirty and gray streets I knew so well like a single shining star in a pitch black night. I remember my mothers crying, she was a prostitute that never expected a lord to come and demand to take away his bastard child.

"Um-m, Y-yo-your Highness." A servant called my attention. The girl looked barely older than thirteen. Brown hair curling around her face that was tilted to the ground at the my feet.

"Out with it already, what more plots has the court conspired against me." I muttered, wishing I could have the lot of them executed in their sleep.

"It's the king, he's dead."

The glass I was holding slipped out of my hand and a red liquid spilled out on to the expensive carpet. My heart flipped in on itself, my stomach felt as if rose thorns were clawing their way out. The young girl was talking more but I couldn't hear any of it, it was as if a fog had came over my mind and bees were buzzing in my ears. The only reaction I could muster in those few seconds was to place a palm on my stomach in an attempt to hold back the bile that was fighting its way up.

I forced a deep breath though my lips. Be strong little Queen, don't let them see the pain or sadness. Fix your face young Queen, they are not meant to see any emotions you have. I composed myself as quickly as I could. I knew I had already made the mistake, shown my shock to the servant but that was easily fixed, I'd have to send the girl to a remote countryside. I would have to have Viensil handle that.

"Summon Viensil girl, have him meet me in the Kings Chambers. Tell him nothing."

The young brunette scurried off, ahead of me before catching herself and settling several steps just behind the guards.

It wasn't long before I stopped in front of large oak doors with intricate gold leaves decorating them. This time I only paused for a second before signaling for the guards to opens the doors. As the doors slowest creaked open I quickly braced myself. Show nothing, they are not fit to see the truth. You are a ruler not a person. My feet moved in before I could think of moving them. My steps were precise and sure, grace and elegance leaked out of me, filling the room, just as I was taught. It was like second nature for me, an unconscious habit.

My eyes went straight to the bed, there laid my husband. His skin now paled like snow, his lips blue like the orchids that grew in the gardens. I almost believed he was sleeping if it was not for the wretched stillness in his chest. He had been sick for the past two weeks but I thought he would get better. The physician said it was just the flu, he said it would go away with some rest, he said the King would be up in no time. He lied and he would pay for that lie.

"I want him executed."

"Your Majesty?" One of the guards asked, clearly confused."who?"

"The physician of course, he obviously isn't fit to be the doctor of the crown if he misdiagnosed my husband so severely."

"Yes of course, your Highness." The guard nodded and left the room, leaving two other guards still there.

I could feel it, I was so close to cracking, so close to shattering into pieces that would never go back together. I knew I wasn't supposed to, it wasn't my place to cry, I was meant to have a sound mind and be strong, as a leader should be. I had already slipped up once today, I can not afford to again.