The Queen of Dawn

Chapter 10

Azora woke up early the next morning. Every member of the household except the servants were still asleep, and the sky was still dark outside.

Azora slipped on her plainest dress even though it was extravagant to the poorest of people, and her oldest hood and cape. She put on her sturdy bots she usually wore for horse riding, and slipped out of her room.

The halls were dark, and all the candles had been snuffed out the night before, but she still managed to find the hidden servants entrance.

She galloped down the stairs, that were unusually empty, the servants were only just waking up and getting ready now.

She made her way through corridors and servants stairs until she made her way down to the kitchen.

The cooks were preparing breakfast for all the members of the household, and none of them noticed her slip into the giant pantry.

She grabbed a few loaves of bread and a basket, and slipped out the back door into the city.
***
Azora trudged around the city in the muck and mire of the filthy streets for a while,looking for people she could help, and unforunantly she found them quite quickly

A family of beggars sat on the corner, made up of a mother and her two small children, the children sleeping, and the mother stoking their hair, beghing for coins on the street corner.

Azora knelt down beside them, and held out a loaf of bread. The mother quickly snatched it up, a greatful smile on her face.

She tanked Azora over and over again, praising her beauty and kindness, before Azora managed to get away.

She continued handing out hunks of bread that she ripped off of the loaves and comforting the sick.

She noticed a small crowd gather around a large notice board. A man stood on the elevated steps, hammering a declararion onto the wooden board. When he stood away and left, the crowd gathered around and Azora had to hear people murmurings to get what was happening, but even then she was beyond confused.

"What is wrong with his wife now?"
"Why must he get a new one?"

Azora had to shove and push to get to the board and see what was all the fuss.

Her stomach dropped.

The King has hereby declared he wishes to seperate from his Queen. An annulment case will be held in two months from now.

Azora clutched her head. No this could not be happening. Tears threatened to spill and her face grew warm. She collapsed in a heap on the ground, causing the hood that covered her head to fall down, revealing her identity.

The mother she had helped earlier, stood in front of her, and held out her hand.

"Are you alright ma'am-" she stopped mid sentence when Azora looked up at her. She dropped a low and respectful curtsey and looked down at her feet.

"Your Majesty!" She exclaimed. Azora hoped no one would notice, but just her luck, they did. Everyone spun around and followed the womans lead, bowing and curtseying in front of her.

One man pumped his fist in the air chanting a chant that the crowd began to chant too.
"Long live Queen azora! Long live Queen Azora! Long live Queen Azora!"

People who were passing by on the street joined in on the protest, and Azora stood in shock and awe at the amount of people who joined.

A carriage with the royal seal slowly pulled around the corner, and stopped in front of the huge crowd. The King exited the door and stood on a stool that was placed in front of the carriage so he remained higher than the crowd.

"My good people-"
He tried to yell above the noise of the crowd, but to no avail. The just chanted louder.
"Long Live Queen Azora!"

"I have decided to find a new wi-"
The chanting got louder.

"In fact I have already found he-"

"LONG LIVE QUEEN AZORA!"

"I AM DOING THIS FOR THE PEOPLE! THE PEOPLE NEED AN HEI-"
Kalian began to yell louder, but he was no match for the booming crowd.

"LONG LIVE QUEEN AZORA!!!"

In the end Kalian gave up and collapsed back on the seat of the carriage, as a footman closed the door and the carriage sped off. Azora noticed Madeline sitting in the carriage, clutching her flat stomach, with a worried look on her face.

She may have the king, but Azora had the people, and that was the  bigger advantage.
***
Azora had snuck into her bedroom while the servants were busy serving breakfast to the members of the household.

As she got to her room, her personal maid was checking the room, presumably for the missing Queen.

"I am here if you are looking for me." She announced her presence, causing the young girl to jump and clutch her heart.

"I wish to be dressed now. Please."
***
Azora sat on her throne in her with-drawing room, doing as she usually did in the mornings. Sewing. Every Lady in Waiting was there except for Maddy and the other Ladies in waiting gossiped and Azora listened in.

"Apparently when the King and Lady madeline went into town there was this big crowd chanting Long Live Queen Madeline!"
Azora scoffed and everyone turned to look at her.

"Why do you scoff, my Queen?"

Azora turned red.
"I- she- thats- thats not true."

Everyone was listening in now. Another Lady piped up.

"How do you know?"

Azora was just digging herself a deeper hole.

"Because... because..."
There was no use lying now.
"Because I was there."
She blurted.

"Whenever I get lonely, I sneak into the city and try and help as many people as I can."
She whispered.

The ladies in waiting were quiet before another curious lady bravely spoke up.
"So what were they chanting?"

"Well thats obvious!" Said another.
"Long Live Queen Azora! You see how the people love our Queen!"

The other Ladies ralleyed on azoras side now, gossiping about Lady Madeline and her bastard baby, but then the door creaked open and the woman herself came through the door. The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Lady Adelaide, the snubbed former mistress of the King beckoned for Lady Madeline to sit down with her, and Maddy did so, reluctantly.

"Well we were just talking about our king and beautiful Queen here."
Adelaide gestured to Azora who blushed.

"She was just admitting to the fact that when she feels down she goes out into the city and helps the needy!"

"Isnt she just wonderful?" Another Lady in Waiting continued Adelaides jest.

"Yes, and she tried to stay hidden but they all found her and they starting chanting for her. Did you know that?" Adelaide said in a sickly sweet voice.

Madeline had a boost of confidence.
"I thought they were chanting for someone else?" She said haughtily.

Adelaide scoffed, inching closer to Maddy before cackling.
"For who? You?"
She cackled and the rest of the ladies laughed along with her.

"We are not stupid Lady Madeline, Azora told us herself, and she would never lie, she doesnt betray her friends."

Adelaide snarled and Maddy paled. She had been caught.