Lover Of The Last

21. Coronation

"Touch my mouth and hold my tongue

I'll never be your chosen one

So crawl on my belly 'til the sun goes down

I'll never wear your broken crown"

Arabelle

I jolted awake when the doors to my chambers were ripped open, two guards loudly entering the giant room and bringing me out of my deep sleep. My vision was hazy and I blinked a couple times before everything came into focus. My heart began to pound in my chest, my mind coming up with the worst possible thing they could say.

"It's coronation day, my lady." One of the haggard looking guards said loudly. His voice hurt my head and I wanted nothing more then to ignore them and try to go back to sleep. I knew what coronation day was and wanted nothing to do with it.

I pulled the silk sheets up, almost like a barrier between me and the two men. I wasn't in the mood to face everyone in the kingdom. "We've brought maids to get you ready and presentable, we begin when the sun is highest in the sky." The other guard said.

Right after he finished his sentence, four women poured through the large wooden doors and into the room. They wore simple white and brown dresses and carried various, brushes, pins, powders and a long gown. My body tensed up at the sight, not wanting to be pampered and prodded into perfection.

"My lady." They all said simultaneously and bowed their heads. I looked away awkwardly, not liking titles other than my own name.

"We'll leave you to get ready." The two guards turned and exited the chambers, closing the doors behind them with a bang that made me jump.

"You seem jittery," A short, brunette maid with wide eyes almost as blue as mine said. "would you like us to draw you a bath?"

Memories of last night flashed across my vision and I shook my head. Images of dirty water, blood and my chest burning with lack of oxygen tried to pull me back into the numb darkness that was my mind, but I quickly got up and tried to occupy myself.

"Let's get this over with." I said, trying to keep my voice strong and steady. Two of the maids took my hands and sat me on the chair in front of the Queen's old vanity table. I wondered how much they knew about the vampires and why William and I were becoming King and Queen. But seeing as they were servants, they were most likely ill-informed on what was happening.

I looked cautiously at my reflection as a young, wide eyed girl began to brush my tangled hair. My eyes stood out like two blue drops of paint on a white canvas, surrounded by dark circles and thick lashes. My skin was clear of all the dirt it had collected from the Dark Forest last night, but the memories still clung to me like hooks; pulling on my every thought.

My eyes wandered to the gown that was laid on the huge bed to my right. One of the maids, a tall girl with her back to me, was smoothing out the wrinkles with care. The dress was gorgeous, but I cringed at the sight of it's size. It was made for someone much thinner than I, and I had a feeling the corset would cut of my breathing.

Nevertheless, I brushed off my upcoming discomfort and let the four girls put me in it and lace it tight. I wanted to be the leader this kingdom deserved, even if I was as far from being a ruler as anyone possible could.

The dress fit a little nicer than I thought and as I looked in the mirror, one of girls beginning to braid my hair, I ran my hand down the black and red fabric. It was woven with silk, lace and beaded down the back along my spine. The black lace ran down my arms like dark spiderwebs and red cascades of silk flowed from my waist and into a train behind me. My black hair blended into the beautiful gown and I noticed the maid who was braiding it weave in red flowers.