The Mad Queen

Chapter One

The Kingdom of Vivelle once had many races and creatures living within. Though it was plagued with bloodshed. Cruellest of all these creatures were the humans. They made slaves of those they deemed lesser than them and called it civilised. That does not mean that humans were alone in their cruelty. Territories and boarders were fought over in long battles. Villages were plundered for riches and innocents killed for sport. Every race committed atrocities in order to gain more land, more food and more power.

This was called the First War of Vivelle.

~The History of the First War of Vivelle. Volume One. Chapter One, Verse One.

My father looks at us with a slow, annoyed glare.  His eyes meet ours individually as he looks at each daughter. Eventually, stopping on me.  He lets out a thoughtful huff before looking away.

"My wonderful daughters," he finally speaks, his voice dripping with sarcasm. My chest flutters with nerves as his deep voice echoes around the large throne room. His fingers stroke at the armrests of the golden throne. The beautiful throne. It enchants me every time I look at it.

It is made out of solid gold and shaped in the image of a large tree. The seat of the throne is cut into the middle of the twisting, golden tree roots. The backrest of the throne begins to travel up the trunk of the tree. Also cut into the golden tree roots are steps that lead up to the throne. Two smaller chairs are embedded into the curling roots. They are right at the front of the golden tree and there is no need for any stairs to get to them. One chair is slightly larger than the other. They are both empty.

The throne cut into the trunk is so small against the tree itself. The golden trunk continues up high before it spreads into hundreds of branches which twist and hang from the ceiling. It is so intricate with its thousands of tiny gold leaves hanging from it. I am still amazed by this throne. Every time I look at it, there is a small detail I have never seen before. Then there is its glow. Even though there are no light sources shining on it, the gold is always glowing.

My father clears his throat and my eyes snap back to him and not the cascading branches of gold hanging from the ceiling high above. He is looking at me a raised eyebrow and tight lips.

"As I was saying," he almost growls. "This time in two weeks, one of you will be sitting on that throne." His head nods to the lowest root throne and I have to try not to scoff in disgust. That is not the throne any of us want to sit on. We want to sit on his one. But a woman is not deemed worthy enough to be able to sit there. We aren't allowed to rule. It fills me with revulsion. That having daughters is such a crime for a king that he must sacrifice all but one as his punishment. That even though we are the daughters of the King and Queen and have royal blood flowing through our veins, the crown must go to any husband we will marry. Not any of us. Though it will still be our duty to carry on the bloodline. As soon as we marry, our husband will be the King's official son and heir to the throne. 

"Before any of you even sit on the throne, however, you all must go through the Queen's Trial." My heart starts racing just thinking about it and a dull, uncomfortable ache settles in my stomach. I'll either die or be the only one left out of all my sisters. Either way is it an ending I am not very fond of.

"As Shaelyn is now eighteen, all of you are of age. The trial is set to begin soon." I gulp. "But before the trial begins," he sighs. "I must pick and declare my favourite daughter." We all gasp at the same time and my sisters mutter under their breaths. That is something we hadn't been taught about the trial, yet doesn't surprise me.

"Why?" Cordelia asks. I look at one of my younger sisters.

"I am to chose which daughter I wish to win the Queen's trial. I must pick the daughter who I believe has the most chance of winning and who I believe will be the best queen."