Like any castle dungeon it was cold and cramped for Arianthe to stay for the night. Old straw lay strewn across the floor and rats scuttled in and out between the cell bars, there wasn't much light except for a small chink poking through the tiny barred window. The smell was atrocious but at least the Princess had a cell to her own which was something to be grateful for.
Miserably the girl tried to loosen the chains around her wrists, they dug into her skin and would've drawn blood if they were a fraction tighter, undoubtedly her father had made sure there could be no escape for her.
This wasn't Arianthe's first time sleeping in the castle's dungeon; in fact this was the 5th time she'd displeased her father enough to be locked in a place almost unfit for criminals.
Of course she assumed she deserved it; she'd gone against her father's wishes and he was a king after all and couldn't be seen as weak or soft, especially on his daughter.
And as the day turned to night and the night turned to day Arianthe sat in the corner of the room and watched the rats play around her feet and listened to the grunting and complaining of the prisoners next door, and at the back of her mind she contemplated the strange corridor at the top of the restricted staircase.
~~~~~~~
"Princess, I hope you slept well," said a voice to her left.
Arianthe opened her eyes, rubbed them and tried to remember where she was.
Oh yes, a prison cell.
She looked over at the knight standing in the doorway holding a bunch of keys.
"Your father is asked for you," he continued "you may want to get changed before seeing him thought."
Princess Arianthe got up and held out her arms to him. Without speaking the guard unlocked the shackles on her wrists, they fell to the floor with a crash.
"Thank you." she said tonelessly.
"No problem, My Lady." he answered with a small smile.
She returned it weakly.
"What are you doing in here, Sir?" She asked "knights don't usually work here."
"Well someone's got to look after the Princess." He answered.
Arianthe nodded, smiled again and left the dungeon.
"Oh, My Lady!" Cried Agnes rushing over to her, she held a new dress in her arms.
"Don't fuss, Agnes I'm alright." the Princess consoled her.
"Here I got you a new dress to wear before you come before the king." she pressed it into her hands.
"Thank you." She smiled.
YOU ARE READING
Her Portrait
FantasíaYoung Princess Arianthe has never stepped foot outside the castle. Her father, King Eustace is determined to keep her safe due to the disappearance of her mother years ago. But what he doesn't know is Arianthe is slowly learning his secrets and find...
