The Voice of the Nightingale

Part II

Ash walked into her chambers and immediately sat on her bed. She cried into her pillow, not holding back.
The Queen hated how her husband treated her. She was an object, something that he could control.
"I'm sorry, my Queen, but I must ask what's wrong." A guard walked in. It was the same man who had stayed in before.
"Everything's fine,"
"No it's not, my Queen, every time you've had private talks with his Majesty, you've come back crying."
"I said it's fine," Ash shouted. "Leave!"
The guard didn't listen and stayed. Ash looked up. The man had light olive skin and unruly black curls. His eyes were dark brown, but far from the shade of hers. It was Nicholas.
"What's wrong? I'm here to make sure that you are in good health, and not just physically."
He sat on the bed and waited for her to respond.
"It's nothing that you can help me with. Now leave!"
This time the guard left. He looked back at her before he did. The door closed and Nicholas was gone.
Ash continued crying. It was midday before she could composed herself.
Lunch was in fifteen minutes. The Queen realised she was starving : she had missed breakfast.
Ash got up and looked herself in the mirror. Her eyes were red and puffy. She dipped her hand into cold water, which she had in a pot on her desk. Carefully, she rubbed her fingers over her eyelids, hoping that any sign of crying was going to disappear.
She walked to the door and breathed out. The door opened and she walked through, the same two guards flanked her, including Nicholas.
"My Queen, are you sure you're okay, I can tell you've been crying this past two hou-"
"Shut up!" Ash was never this rude to her guards, but he was getting on her nerves. Why couldn't he just listen to his Queen?
Ash walked through the corridors down to the lunch hall. Thankfully, it was only the King, Queen and other lords eating here today. She opened the doors and found only a quarter of the seats filled.
Several families from the alliance had representatives living in Bidcambrough Castle. Most of them were sitting at this table.
The Queen sat in her seat, at the foot of the table. Her husband sat at the head, as the master of the house.
On Ash's plate was venison pie. There was a siding of potatoes and carrots, all covered in a richly seasoned sauce. In a goblet, to the side of her plate, was an expensive red wine.
Everyone else at the table had started to eat, as the King had allowed it. Ash began and found the food disgusting. It was too well seasoned. Too many conflicting flavours. However, Ash continued. She couldn't seem rude in front of the other family representatives.
The King was talking with people at the table. Each person was having a separate conversation. Ash was silent. She didn't talk to anyone and just focused on her food.
At the other end of the table, Theodor was talking to a representative of the Clemonte family. His plate had barely been touched, as he was too busy making conversation. When he stopped talking, he clapped his hands, bringing attention to himself.
"Hello, families of the alliance." He said to everyone. "This is our first meal, as allied families, with the Nightingales having joined our forces."
He raised his cup.
"To our new allies!"
The whole room repeated in unison, raising their cups as well.
The room went into chatter again until someone tapped their cup with a spoon. It was Sir Clemente. He was living here to represent his family.
"Speaking of new allies, my lady, the head of my family, would like to invite our new Queen to her town house in Tendelvel."
Before Ash could say anything, Theodor said, "Yes, that would be delightful. I'll join my wife if that would be okay with you. We shall meet you there tomorrow!"
Ash would have said the same thing, but the way he interrupted her filled her with ire. He always did this, and it got on her nerves each time.

A few minutes later, when nearly everyone had finished, dessert was dished out. Ash finished her tart quickly, so that she could leave for her room. Lunch had taken two hours and the Queen wanted to go out riding. Her guards flanked her as she left.
"I would like you to prepare my horse. Let me change and I will be at the stable soon."
Nicholas nodded towards the other guard. The guard left to prepare her horse. Nicholas stayed and accompanied her to her room.
Ash went inside and took off her dress. She grabbed a shirt and pulled it over her head. From her closet, the Queen took out leather trousers and a belt. She slipped into the trousers and tied the belt round her waist. Ash walked out of her room and headed towards the stable. Nicholas walked next to her.
"My Queen, shouldn't you wear more... feminine attire."
"Nicholas, what makes you think you can comment on my actions every time I leave the room. Also, didn't I tell you to shut up?"
Before he could reply, Ash continued, "That order still applies to you, so, I'll say it again, shut up."
They made it out of the palace and found Ash's white mare saddled up. She was a beautiful creature, bred from some of the finest racing horses of the country. Two other horses stood behind them, common ones, for her guards.
Ash walked towards her horse and hoped into the saddle. A guard handed her a sword. It was engraved with the words : Ash Nightingale, Queen of Bidcambrough. It was not the one that she wished to wield, but she took it anyway.
The Queen headed off to the fields. They were on the palace grounds and her favourite place to ride.
Nicholas spurred his horse on and made it to Ash's side. "What makes you like this place so much, my Queen? Every time we've gone out, we've headed here."
"This place makes me feel free, that's all."
"Do you not feel free in the castle?"
"No, not with my husband around. If you couldn't tell, he traps me. I feel like a bird locked in its cage."
This was a dangerous thing to say, Nicholas could tell Theodor. However, she trusted her guard. He had not told the King about her crying every day, so he probably wouldn't tell him about this.
They continued through the field. At one point, a family of deer ran in front of them. Ash thought of how they could do whatever they wanted. She wished that for herself.
Soon, they reached a more open field. The Queen spurred her horse on, the wind blowing in her hair.
"My Queen! What are you doing?"
"Having fun!"
Nicholas chased after her as the other guard looked over in awe. Ash realised she was being naive, acting her age, which she wasn't meant to. However, she couldn't stop. She was enjoying herself too much.
Nicholas galloped after her and began laughing.
"Really, my Queen?"
Ash galloped around, letting her guard nearly catch up to her but then rushing off. His stallion was no match for her racing horse.
In that moment, she felt free.