The Red Queen's Daughter: Book One

Chapter 6: Decisions

If I decide to tell him why I'm here, he's most likely to laugh! If I tell him who I am, he'll laugh even harder! What am I going to do?, I think. He seems trustworthy enough, he's from the White Court! But that doesn't mean anything, does it?

"Again, why should I take you? You're an outsider, mother would want to know before I take you to her castle," he says questioningly. I replay his sentence in my mind,'Mother would want to know before I take you to her castle.' Mother. Her castle. He's... the White Queen's son.

I go stumble down next to a tree. I think I remember him from my childhood! From when our mothers got along, from when my mother wasn't evil. From when it was hard to believe my mother was actually nice.Memories come flooding back. We use to pick apples for our mothers together, we used to play tag and hide & seek, and much more. A smile creeps onto my face. I remember.

"Are you... the White Queen's son?" I ask him, repeating my thoughts. His eyes widen. "Well, yeah, if you're the Red Queen's daughter, and we're cousins," he says. He still remembers me, thank god! I thought I might've been the only one here who remembered. "Yeah, I am. We are cousins. But, if you remember, I'm nothing like my mother. I'm not mean, cruel... or evil at all! I have plans to go to the White Castle, for escape. I can't take it at my mother's castle anymore. Will you please take me there? It would take me longer if you don't take me, and the Red Knights should be coming soon to look for me. Please?" I ask. He considers this for a moment, then says,"Yeah, I'll take you.''

***

It's been a few hours since we started running to the White Queen's Castle, and we're finally there. I stare in awe at the wonderful marble walkway leading to huge doors, that lead to freedom. Beside the walkway are lavender willow trees that cover the sun while you walk to the doors.

Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful, this place.

I realize something: I forgot his name. My cousin's name. I ask him what it is. "Nick," he replies.

I'm puzzled, my name is Nicole. Maybe we were supposed to be named like each other. "Strange, my name is Nicole. I think we were meant to be named like each other," I say, repeating my thoughts. He nods his head and says,"I think so, too."

Nick starts going down the walkway. I follow him. I find myself to be running. I reach the marble steps before him. I smile. I'm finally here.

I realize something else, I'm still wearing the sword and shield. I still have my bag over my shoulder. "What is all that stuff for, anyways?" Nick asks.

"I thought my travel would be longer, so I have food and the sword and shield for protection." I say.

"Oh, I see. Well, let's go on in," he says, reaching the doors.

I gladly open the doors. I stare in awe at the huge, gorgeous room. The high ceilings, white walls, and marble floors.

I see some people frozen in the scene staring at us. They don't know me. Maybe. I honestly dont know. I see somebody coming down the marbled steps in a flowing white gown. It takes me a moment to recognize her, but I soon realize that it's the one and only White Queen.

***

She looks our way and gets a plain face, it's expressionless. Is that supposed to be good or bad?

She picks up her dress and races towards us. Her painted white face, red lipstick, and long white hair comes into view. Not like old white hair, but she's the White Queen, so, yeah.

She stands in front of us. "Is that, really you, Nicole?" her soft voice asks me. I nod my head, I'm speechless.

"Wait, does your mother know? Or are you coming... Secretly?" she asks me. "I-I came secretly. I couldn't stand it at my mother's castle. The bloodshed, pointless deaths, I couldn't stand it. I came to you, hoping I could stay," I say, the last part being a whisper.

Her smile fades,"Yes, yes, you can stay. But what I'm concerned about is your saftey. The Red Knights are probably coming for you. I'm scared for you." I just realized that, too. What will I do? "I don't know what I'll do, but- I don't know." I say. What is that on your back. Oh my stars, it's the Sword of Queens and the Shield of Kings!" she says.

The Sword of Queens? Shield of Kings? I slide the sword off my back, it's appearance has changed. It is no longer black and studded with hearts, but it is now white, and studded with with Opals down the middle.

I take the shield off my back, it's appearance has changed, too. It's no longer black, either, with a red spade in the middle, but it is now white with a chess piece on it. "Wha-?" I say aloud. "Oh, the appearance must have changed. You see, it changed when it entered the White Kingdom, it changed its appearance, it's magic." the White Queen says. "Come," she says. She leads me high up in the castle to my room, I think. Nope, she lead me to an armory. "May I see the shield and sword?" she asks me. I don't answer, just give them to her. "Thank you," she says. I bow to her.

"The armory is complete, now." she says. "Let me show you where your new room is."

Now I'll be safe for sure, I hope I'm right.