The Queen And The Flower

Part 5

Ray carried me over his shoulder, then dumped me on what felt like a marble floor. New hands picked me up and forced me to my knees, not at all nicely. The bag was lifted from my head and a guard looked me over. He winced and grinned as his eyes traveled over the right side of my face. I wanted to spit at him, right into his stupid red beard. It truly was a shame that I couldn’t. He shoved the bag back over my head.
It felt like forever before I heard a door open and heels clacking on the floor. The bearded guard spoke from beside me, but I didn't hear what he said over the princess's distraught shrieking.
“What have you done to them!” I heard her heels as she ran closer, then flinched in the light as she tore away the bag. Her face was painted with worry as she pulled the gag from my mouth and tossed it aside. I saw it was one of the blankets I had been using as a fake boob. It must've fallen out when they knocked me out.
She didn't bother untying my wrists before she threw her arms around me.
"Your Highness." I said stiffly, not moving. She pulled away and looked down at my uneven chest in confusion. "It's impolite to ogle someone as such, I would've expected better manners from the queen."
She looked up and raised an unimpressed brow. I gazed back at, stoney faced. Her brow furrowed in hurt and confusion. “What’s wrong?”
“You’re joking, right? I’m tied up and on my knees on your floor, hair stuck to my face from the blood that appeared after I was knocked out and thrown in the back of a wagon so that I could be brought to you for a reward. Now I’m just waiting for my execution date to be set.” I tried so hard to stay cold and distant. I didn’t doubt that some of my anger leaked through.
I was quickly untied. The first thing I did was punch Ray in the face. When the guard came to hold me back I slipped away and spat on his shoes.
He drew his sword. I stared him down.
“ENOUGH!” the queen roared. “Lars. Take these men to collect their money and send them home.”
“But, Your Majesty...?”
“Now, Lars,” she snapped.
Once they were gone she turned to me. I softened my glare, but not much. “What’s next. The dungeon? A trial?”
“No, Amaryllis.”
“Then what do you want.”
“I was looking for you because I wanted-”
“I won’t tell anyone anything.”
“That’s not-”
“I’m not moving out or getting a job or paying taxes.”
“Amaryllis would you-”
“And I’m not going to stop stealing or leave the kingdom.”
“WOULD YOU SHUT UP AND LISTEN TO ME, YOU FOOL!” I sucked in my breath. I wished I had my mask, I wished my body didn’t hurt so much from being manhandled so I could twist and bend and scared her and run away. I hated her, I hated everything she put me through. I hate her stupid face and her stupid hair and her stupid dress and her stupid voice. I glared at her eyes, but I wanted to look away, I didn’t want to watch her expression soften like it did all those nights ago. I couldn’t look away, I wasn’t some trembling quim here to bow at her feet. She’d used me enough and I wasn’t going to suffer anymore from it. I hated her.
“I want to offer you a position at the castle,” she said, looking relieved to get it out.
“I’m not going to be your stupid court jester,” I all but snarled. “Especially after how thoughtlessly you dragged me here.”
“That’s not the position I’m offering,” she said slowly, fidgeting with one of the rings on her fingers. I didn’t know why she seemed so nervous, perhaps she was scared I’d hit her as well. I hoped she regretted sending that stupid red bearded guard out. She pulled the ring right off and held it up to me. It was a pretty little thing, a thick, intricately carved golden hoop with little  reddish pink jewels scattered across it's design. “I was wondering if you’d want to… to… rule with me?”
I blinked. I blinked again. Something wasn’t working in my brain, I couldn’t figure out what the words she was saying ment. She started rambling, avoiding eye contact and rubbing the band of the ring with her thumb.
“Of course, I’d like for us to court first, I don’t really want to just jump into it, that would be illogical and I mean even this is gamble, I only knew you for a few hours, but they were an amazing few hours and I really enjoyed them, I enjoyed your company. You're performance was amazing, by the way, incredibly daring and stupidly bold of you to do that."
"Princess," I said, letting out a breath I hadn't known I'd been holding. "Please shut up."