The Legend Of The Five Queens : Arabella's tale

Chapter 13: A Failed Meeting

Arabella sits at the table along with King Deitrich. The King and his son sitting across from Arabella. The king's most loyal guards stand at his side as well as other government officials with him. Arabella's legs shake slightly as she tries to contain herself for she has no one else accompanying her except for her four mindless guards.

"Queen Arabella, it has come to my attention that you wish to ally with my army. What can you promise me that your father couldn't?" the King asks.

"My father has an old way of thinking. I want to put an end to this brewing war before it starts,"

"Arabella, while your goal sounds nice and all we cannot ally. Your past leaders have brought too much destruction to my homeland. How can we possibly make things better?" He sits back in his chair.

"The choices of my previous leaders should no longer affect the future of our relations. I believe that if we can put the past behind us and build something new,"

The King lays back in his chair and lets his shoulders relax. This conversation Is going nowhere. This king is really strong about how he feels. She will have a choice but to be extra careful with her words.

"Arabella too much as happened, I just do not think my people would be willing to accept a truce at this time," he tells her with a sigh.

  "But we could change things if we work together. We could combine our resources and something new for the next generation of kids," She leans forward against the table. The King stays quiet and strokes his beard. The other officials softly talk amongst each other. If only Severus was here to help her out.
"Arabella, we appreciate your ideas but the possibility of an alliance just is not possible at the moment,"

  "But what if my kingdom has something that your kingdom could use-"

  "There is nothing my kingdom wants from yours! Now if there is nothing else to discuss then I am calling this meeting at once," The room falls silent with his statement. Defeat flows through Arabella's body. She has lost this conversation unexpectedly. Perhaps she will come back to him after she has the other kingdom on her side.

   "Is this how the conversation went when my father was here?" King Dietrich sits back in his chair and snickers to himself.

  "Yes, he came to me two years ago and tried to convince me to ally. He was not very good at trying to convince me," He drinks from his golden goblet.

  "If he could not convince you then I see no reason to continue this conversation. It has been a pleasure being here," She stands up from her chair.

   "Despite us not being able to ally, it was a joy to see you, Princess Arabella," King Dietrich stands up and bows at her.

   "You may stay in my kingdom and see all that we have here if you so please," He signals for his other officials to leave the room.

   "Thank you, King Dietrich," She laves the room and exits the castle. Outside of the castle, Arabella approaches Severus.

   "How did the meeting go with the King?" Severus asks as he wipes the sweat from his eyebrows.

    "He is not willing to ally with us at this time. It is unfortunate," She sits down inside of her carriage. Severus sits next to her and sighs.

   "So what is the plan now, Princess?" He looks outwards towards the castle gate. Arabella stays quiet for a moment letting the sound of the wind blowing be the only sound that is heard.

  "I want to find my father and find out what he has been doing all of these years," She looks him dead in the eyes. Severus's eyes widen after her comment. It is as if she stated that she had wished to commit a war crime.

   "Why would you want to go find your father?" He stands up and takes a few steps backward.

  "Because my father has been away for too long. I want to figure out what he has been doing all this time," She remains sitting as she speaks calmly to him.

   "Princess Arabella, your father has been in negotiations with the other kingdoms for years. He is probably keeping everything quiet to avoid rumors from being spread throughout the world," Severus speaks with a hint of aggression in his voice. His tone of voice makes Arabella feel offended. How dare he talk to her in such a manner? Arabella stands up and slowly walks around Severus.

   "Oh Severus, do you dare to oppose my desires?" She continues to slowly walk towards him. Severus's eyes wide and he bows with one hand over his chest.

   "N-no my Princess, I will follow your lead no matter what," She smirks at his comment as she sits back down on the carriage. Sadness slowly flows through her body at the thought of her father.

   "I have not seen my father in years. I deserve to know exactly what he has been up to. I do not believe that he has been in negotiations this whole time," She sighs and puts her head down. A moment of silence passes. Arabella looks up to see Severus's hand out towards her.

   "Well then Princess, if you want to find your father then we will not make any progress just sitting here," He tells her before pulling her to her feet. She smiles at him and looks at the rest of her guards.

   "Gentlemen prepare yourself, it may take a while to find my father," With that said the Princess and her guards leave the castle grounds and begin their new quest.