Freya

Chapter 1

I sat my favorite chair looking at myself in the mirror. In the reflection I could see my maid Greta, who was brushing the knots out of my hair.

"Have I told you how beautiful your hair is, my lady?"

Catching her eyes in the mirror, I smile at her. "Many times."

Greta has been with me since I could remember and am truly thankful for it. Her kind and caring heart is not something that went unrewarded, as she was rewarded her position as my maid after having saved me from drowning in a river when I was just a baby. King Lawrence, the king of this kingdom, then adopted me as his ward and placed Greta as my ladies maid. I have lived the life as royalty ever since.

I look back into the mirror and smile again at Greta. She was only ten years of age when she had found me. She had courage and bravery, and not to mention beauty which some of which the knights of the kingdom lacked in. I couldn't thank her enough.

"You have very pretty hair as well Greta. I envy its color." I saw her blush in her reflection through the mirror. "Thank you, miss. You are too kind."

It was true however, Greta may have been a handmaid but she was extremely blessed with looks. Everything from her almond brown eyes to her bright smile. I myself wondered why she wasn't a princess or royalty of any sort. Her worn-out clothes could not hide her true beauty.

"There. All done." Greta said placing down the golden handled hairbrush onto my mirror table. My long dark hair had been weaved into a braid that flowed down my back. Greta was an artist when it came to things like this. "Shall I find you a dress, my lady?" She asked me, causing me to come out of my thoughts.

"That would be lovely." Greta went over to my cupboard and pulled out a simple yet elegant blue dress which had a pretty floral pattern around went all around the bottom of the dress.

"Oh, you found my favorite!" I have always loved this dress its simplicity is the main reason why.

"Thank you Greta." I get up out of the chair I have been sitting in and walk over to my dress feeling immediately like something's not right. I place my hand onto my stomach and fall onto my knees in one quick yet swift motion.

"My lady? Are you alright? Greta is now beside me trying to lift me up onto the bed even though I'm trying to push her away.

I feel something inside me I have never felt before, a pain, a burning pain. I feel as if my stomach is about to burst open at any minute along with my head which feels clouded and dizzy. I look at Greta trying to cover up the harsh sensation I'm feeling.

"I'm fine" I say through the coughs I'm trying to fight back. "Really, I am."

"Are you sure? You don't look well, miss."

"I'm fine." The pain has now subsided but my head still feeling slightly dizzy but I am able to pull myself up of the floor. Successfully standing up I brush myself off and immediately notice something on my wrist.

"Your wrist..." Greta says almost suddenly.

"It's nothing. Just a scratch.... You should probably go and see to breakfast." I say walking over to my door and opening it, miming for her to go through. "I should be able to finish getting ready by myself this morning."

"But, my lady..."

"Now." I say sternly. 

Greta looks flustered but agrees none the less. I quickly lock the door behind her and study my wrist. A marking, no bigger than size of a coin has stained my skin. It's black, and swirls around my wrist the tip ending on the top of my wrist. It looks... unfinished. I rush over to the bowl of warm water placed on top of my mirror table and pick up a cloth, I try to rub the mark from my skin, first with just water then I try with soap, but nothing seems to work.

The mark seems to be permanent.

~~~~

After adorning a dress and giving up on rubbing the mark off my skin, but thankfully finding something to use to cover it from view, I walk the long corridor from my room and down the west side castle stairs to the banquet hall. I think about the strange occurrence that happened earlier but then quickly shake the memory from my head. And instead think about the rest of my day that's to come.

Every morning I have the same routine. Dress, breakfast, then activities of my choosing with lunch and eventually dinner included somewhere in between.  I was now heading to the Banquet Hall for breakfast which was usually in the company of my siblings, Richard, Amelia, Gwen, and Peter. All of whom were related to one another. With Richard being the same age as me at seventeen, followed by Gwen, then Amelia, then Peter who happened to just be coming up to his tenth birthday.

 Reaching the Banquet hall I can already tell that whatever has been conjured up for breakfast is defiantly going to be good, due to the look on Peters face. As I approach the long table full of mouthwatering food I am greeted by my sister Amelia.

"Freya!" Amelia says happily gliding over to me in one quick motion. Amelia has always had this certain grace about her it's something I've always admired. "Amy! How are you this morning?" I spin her around in a pirouette and as a result she giggles. "I'm good but I'm also really hungry." She rubs her tummy causing a small laugh to protrude from my lips. The funny thing about Amelia is that she is ever so small and slender, yet she's constantly eating throughout the day. She really amazes me. "I think breakfast is almost ready." I smile trying my best to convince her I'm right. "I hope so." She replies with a large smile.

"Say...Is that a new dress you're wearing?" I ask trying to distract her from the small wait. Amy grins widely. "Yes! Papa said it matches my eyes. Do you think it does?" I tilt her head up with my hand gently so her eyes are directly connected to mine then look back her dress. "Yes, I believe your father is right."

As well as being small and slender, Amy is also gifted with gorgeous locks of red hair, bright green eyes and freckles that seem to trail all along her face. She looks like a mirror image of her mother.

"Breakfast is served!" I hear our cook Madam Grimm call. Amelia quickly makes her way back to her seat and I make my way to my own which happens to be next to Gwen. Across from me is Richard, who I can tell is also just about ready to eat now. And next to him is Peter. Amelia is on my other side and King Lawrence is seated at the head of the table.

"Before we start I would like to remind all of you that the next couple of weeks are going to be very busy. We have Peter's birthday coming up. And the coronation of Richard and Freya."

I slightly groan. To be honest it wasn't something I was looking forward to.

"Is something the matter Freya?" I could hear the concern in the king's voice.  It was sharp and alarming. 

"No. Everything is fine." I smiled back him sweetly hoping that would be enough to convince him I was telling the truth.

"Good. Then after breakfast I would like both you and Richard to join me in the Great Hall. We have some important details to plan if we want your coronation to go smoothly."

"We'll attend there as soon as breakfast has deceased." Richard spoke up to his father.

Smiling the king nodded his head. "Right then. That is all, you may now begin." Everyone dived into the delicious delicacies on the table and soon realized that it was definitely worth the wait.