The Queen of Dawn

Chapter 11

Maddy stood up and swiftly walked out of the with-drawing room. Her face was red, and twisted into a frown in embarrassment.

Azora chased after her, and managed to catch up to her after she had already made it halfway down the hall. She walked quite quickly.

"Why are you following me my Queen." Maddy snapped. Her hands were folded in front of her, and her gaze steely.

"Why are you doing this to me?" Azora pleaded, her eyes darted all over Maddy's face to see if this was all one big joke, but her friends gaze remained dangerous and moody.

"Why am I doing what, your majesty." Maddy sneered. Her hands were in fists either side of her, her teeth clenched.

Azora couldnt help her emotions, and her eyes began to well up, and she looked down at her feet.
"Why are you ruining my life?"

"Because I love him!"
Maddy snapped, her eyes sending daggers in Azoras way.
Now Azora was no longer upset, but now she was angry.

"How selfish do you have to be?" She murmured.

"Excuse me?" Maddy raised her eyebrows, daring Azora to go further. And Azora did dare.

"How selfish do you have to be to risk the lives of both our countries just for some stupid affair!"
Azora's voice began to rise, and she stared Maddy right in the eyes.

"Do you realise that because of your 'love' as you like to call it, you could start a war between Navalia and Cavianny, one that would kill your 'beloved'!"

Maddy smirked.
"Your just jealous, and you should be. Once my son is born, the court will force you to abdicate, as I will be mother to the heir. I will be crowned King, and you will be sent back to Cavianny to live the rest of your life as a spinster."
Maddy smirked in triumph, but Azora was not done.

She scoffed.
"You, queen! Ha! That is a funny jest! Just remeber while you were being waited on hand and foot, with your father giving you every thing you ever wanted, I was being trained to be a Queen. I know how this court works and if you ever become Queen, you must be prepared to die at the claws of those courtiers. You have no idea how hard my job is."
Azora was shouting at this point, her finger pointing in Maddys shocked face.

Maddy had no comeback. She knew Azora's words were true, and her mouth hung open in surprise.

"I-I"
She stuttered, before smirking, and placing a hand on her flat stomach.

"I must be going, I have somewhere to be."
She curtseyed before turning on her heel and swinging her hips as she walked away.
***
Azora stormed towards the stables, wiping the tears off her cheeks as she sobbed. When she eventually reached the stables, she pulled off her french hood, throwing it on the muddy and mucky ground, not caring that the fine fabric was being soiled.

She pulled out the ribbons and pins from her hair,and ran her fingers through her waist long locks, her scalp hurting from the tightness of her braids.

Grabbing her saddle and reins, she saddled her horse up, smiling through the tears at her beloved animal, before she led the horse out to the wall of the castle, making sure she was not noticed or recognised by the staff.

Once free from the confinements of the castle, she trotted through the backstreets of the capital city before she reached the outskirts of the city. Rolling hills were as far as the eye could see, and there was a forest in the distance.

Azora urged her horse into a gallop, the tears drying into her skin as the speed of her horse caused a wind to blow in her face. Her hair was trailing in the wind behind her, as she raced across the plains and hills.

Her worries seemed to be blown away by the wind, and she forgot everything as she tilted her head up to the blissful sunshine, and closed her eyes, soaking up the rays as her horse contined to speed along.

She felt pure exhilaration as the wind blew through her hair and skirts, and she slowed down as she got close to the forest

She swung off her horse, tying him to the closest tree, and feeding him an apple she kept in her dress pockets.

She wondered around a bit, examining the beautiful view, the worries of the city far in the distance.
Or so she thought.

She heard the snap of a twig, and a high pitched flirty giggle, and she whirled around to see her husband and Lady Madeline sitting on a blanket, eating an array of sweets and snacks.
Thankfully Maddy had her back to Azora, and did not spot Azora, but her husband did.

She locked eyes with him, before tearing away and quickly untying her horse to gallop away, fresh tears trickling down her cheeks.
***
Madeline let out a musical laugh, throwing her head back, and Kalian chuckled slightly too, grabbing an apple from the basket and taking a bite.

They were having a picnic, sitting on a comfortable blanket on the grass, tucked away from prying eyes in the forest behind the trees. The sun still managed to shine through the leaves and shine onto Madelinea face.

Kalian was feeling utter bliss. He stared out onto the beautiful landscape, away from the hustle and bustle of the city and court. He heard the ker-thump ker-thump of horses hooves colliding with the grassy fields, and he looked towards the sound to see a figure upon a horse, galloping towards them. For some reason he did not atand up to go and greet the person as he should, but he just sat there, mesmerised by the person before him, as they came closer.

Her hair was waving behind her in the wind, showing off her sharp bone structure. Her wine red coloured dress did the same as her hair, and trailes behind in the wind, revealing her stocking covered ankles. Kalian realised she was not sitting as a proper woman would sit on her horse, with both legs on one side, but she sat as a man would, legs seperated over the horses body.

Kalian watched this woman, memerised by her beauty and grace, and how powerful she looked just by sitting on a horse. She looked like a King.
She looked like a Queen.

Kalians heart twisted as he watched his wife dismount and tie the horse up.

"Kallian, what is troubling you?"
Madeline placed her hand on his knee and gave him a lopsided grin. She giggled awkwardly when he didnt reply, and he felt himself being drawn back to his wifes image.

This time she was staring right at him. Steely blue eyes peirced right through him, the skin around her eyes pink, and slightly puffy as if she had been crying moments ago. She tore her gaze from his and bolted to her horse, galloping away towards the city.

Kalian looked away from her retreating figure and smiled at the woman in front of him.

"Nothing is wrong, my Love."