A Kingdom to Resurrect

Chapter 2

Arianette's POV

"I swear to god. One day I am going to murder him." I growled, clenching my fists so that my nails sent sharp pangs of pain up my arms.

I rubbed my temples and walked to my sole belonging in the bedroom, an oak chest embedded with jewels of my native land. Looking down between my bosoms, I gingerly stuck my hand in and pulled out the warm keys. I stared at the chest, locating the secret engravings that when pressed in the right order would reveal the key hole.

The wood creaked and moaned as the keyhole revealed itself. I quickly pushed the key in and turned. With a click, the chest popped open and I pushed the lid all the way back to reveal my documents.

"Earla!" I called.

She upruptly came to my side and bowed.

"What is the situation?" I whispered in my native tongue.

The melodic words rolled smoothly off my tongue. It was nostalgic to the time I was back home...  Earla's eyes widened at the sudden change from Quelish. Within a few seconds, she regained her composure and nodded.

"It has gotten worse, Your Highness. I'm afarid we need to act quick or else the rebel forces may cripple the kingdom." She replied back.

A sinking feeling in my stomach grew. I knew this was going to happen. With only father, the King, ruling the kingdom without my guidance,  the whole Court must be a mess.

Before I was shipped off and offered as a sheep, I had power. I helped my father rule. As time had passed in the palace throughout my childhood and youth, it became apparent that the retainers and the council was not working. It was corrupt and lazy.

I sighed and shook my head. There was no reason to think these thoughts right now.

"Shall we make a trip back?" I suggested.

"You've only been here for a few years. If you go back now, the royal family and the people will think there is trouble in the treaty. You can't go back. Not now."

I waved my hand in the air, dismissing the topic. Grabbing what I needed, I close the trunk and locked it with the key. Afterwards, I tucked the key back into its place and stood up.

"Here. Orders for Trevor." I held out a folded letter.

Earla grabbed it quckly and tucked it into her sleeve.

"Did you get the bath ready?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

"Help me get out of this dress."

She rushed to my side and began to loosen the back if the dress. The freedom of my lungs brought great relief as the normal flow of air through my lungs resumed. The cold caressed my bare skin, raising goosebumps all over my arms.

"Get me my best dress. We are going to see the Queen." I proclaimed loud enough for the maids in the bath to hear.

"The Queen?"

"Yes," I affirmed, "It's the only way to gain support."

Pretty soon, I was naked but I did not cower or move my hands to cover anything. I was tired. Everything seemed to sap the life from within me.

I walked across the cold tile floors. The temperature bit the bottoms of my feet. I continued my trek into the bathroom where a large circular pool established it self as the prominent feature in the center.

Gold rimmed the bath and glistened in the light. Flower petals floated at the surface of the water. Steam rose and danced.

Slowly, but surely, I descended into the bath. I felt my mind wander back to my first encounter with the pool. The shock and terror I felt of the hands of maids which reached out to wash me. How ironic it was that I was doing something I once feared before I went to face the true battle of this palace.