The Stolen Throne

Chapter One - Night Terrors

Again and again, Lucy hit the training dummy. At this point, she didn't care anymore that every time her sword contacted with the wooden figure there was a loud thud.

Who cares if she woke up some simpering sod of a nobleman who was unfortunate enough to have rooms at the west side of the castle (overlooking the training ground no less)? They were only after her father's favour, wanting more lands and riches to fill up their already full pockets.

Lucy despised them. Who were they to bleed their duchies dry whilst the common folk living in those regions starved to death, unable to buy food for their families? But not all nobles were like that, the small, annoying, reasonable part of Lucy argued. By the Gods, she hated that voice.

With renewed vigour, she attacked the dummy, pushing herself to go faster and faster to take her mind off of everything. It didn't work. Not that she expected it would. It was a never-ending cycle of remembering and attacks. Her straight dark brown hair flicked around her as she struck. Left, right, spin and jab.

"Lucy, please listen to me. You must go, at the first chance you get, you run and never look back." Lucy's mother whispered, crouching down next to her daughter. "What will happen, mother?" Lucy pleaded, tugging on her mother's sleeve, "Where is father?"

Lunge in, strike. Lunge backward quicker.

"Your father is safe, don't you worry."

"But mother, he ran out of the carriage, towards those men. They won't hurt him, will they?"

"They are bad men, but your father is strong, he won't let them hurt him or us. Now, please, remain hidden in the carriage until I tell you to, and you run away from here. Far away." Lucy nodded. Even at seven years old she understood the severity of the situation.

Duck and roll, swiping with the blade as you go. Lucy paused for a moment, shaking her head, trying in vain to rid these memories from her mind. The memories kept resurfacing, no matter what she did to try to stop it, now more than ever.

Lucy heard laughter. Sick and manic laughter that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up, Feeling her mother's hand on her cheek, Lucy looked up to meet her mother's eyes. The same green eyes that she'd passed onto her daughter.

"I love you, my dear Luciana. Don't ever forget that." Her mother whispered. Queen Alessandra slowly stood upwards, opened the carriage door and checked to see where her assailants were. They weren't in sight, but she was not stupid enough to send her daughter out into the woods where their attackers could be anywhere.

Sweat trickled from Lucy's neck down her back and, despite her aching limbs, she continued striking the dummy.

With her head held high, Alessandra stepped out of the carriage. "I know who sent you. Is she not brave enough to carry out her own attack?" The Queen taunted, "Pathetic." she spat. Slowly out of the trees, three men came into view.

"Give up now, Your Majesty." One of them growled, her name an insult coming from his lips.

"Not while I live and breathe will I give in to vermin like you."

"We were hoping you would say that." The same man grinned, pulling out a sword. The Queen did nothing, only continued to walk away from the carriage. The men followed the direction she took.

"You know, your husband is still fighting oh-so-valiantly. He'll do anything to protect his precious family. It's only a matter of time before he falls."

"We are stronger than you think." The Queen said calmly. When she deemed she was far enough away from the carriage, she pulled out a sword from underneath her skirt. The men only laughed.