KING

C H A P T E R | O N E

As early as I could recall I would run around the castle barefoot and shirking, I would ride the horses bareback, jolting and gripping relentlessly to the poor mare's mane. Occasionally when my father would leave, I would sneak into his War room using his small dagger to play pirates, every other sword in the room was too heavy for me to hold.
Most days I was sitting in the servants kitchen on the counter eating the remaining sweets they were making for mother's banquets. I remember the way they would giggle and hush one another as they gossiped about things I was far too young to understand. But I felt most comfortable in their company. Truth be told servants and handmaids were who I was most accompanied by most in my youngest years.

When I turned five years of age, it seems my parents took more interest in me, not that they lacked love for me, they were simply busy.
"Just look at her Percy," My mother clasped my curls within her long fingers, "Isn't she just a vision?" She sighed breathlessly as she examined my reflection in the mirror I was gazing up at both of them, attempting to study their features. I felt my heart slow as I awaited my father's answer. Even being so young, I remember these moments like scars on my skin. "If she wasn't a gift from the ocean itself, I would question if she were mine."

I watched my Father's face twist in amusement, "Iris my Queen, you gave birth to her, how could she not?" I caught his eye gleaming back at him softly.
It was true however, I did not look a lot like my mother, I was the piercing resemblance of my father, the sharpness of his jaw and high cheekbones reflected heavily on my face.

My mother would trace these lines as I would fall asleep. I'd catch glimpses of myself in the mirror while dancing around the castle or during my baths, and I stared often at the darkness of my hair compared to my mother's flat golden hair that swept across her shoulders. But what I studied most was the sharpness of my eyes, large and deep, making my reflection look shocking and cruel. I looked cold, intimidating and I was only a child. The color was of ice swirled with the dark sea. Almost as if they could not make up their mind on if they were light or dark.
As torn about my appearance as I was, it was doited upon in my Kingdom.

My Kingdom.

The Kingdom of Coldrin.
The Bridge between all surrounding Kingdoms.
The peacekeeping Kingdom.

The Col, were believers of respecting the signs given from the earth and water, respecting nature as a part of themselves. The Col were wealthy and opulent, dressing in the finest of white silks. The merchants sold the most expensive and most rare pearls, perfumes, salts, and alcohols. Known as the most natural and pure of others, Coldrin's royal color was white, pure white and the kingdom emblem would change as the seasons according to what Royal Family of the time was to be known for.

The Col were a happy people known to enjoy the luxuries of life but more than anything they were peaceful people who loved their King & Queen.
King Pervcial, a fearless Knight with a hidden past took reign over Coldrin because of his legendary tales. He was known as a dare devil with a fierce sense of loyalty, and handsome.

I had heard stories of my father's Knightly days of triumph but never how it came to end and how he became King. It was as if that part of the story was ripped from the book. I often asked my mother if she had any idea, she would smile sweetly and shake her head, "Your Father is only a King because of his Charm." She would tease me and wink upon my father who would roll his eyes as he gripped her waist, "In truth your mother speaks, it is only because a young naive princess took a chance on a wild Knight, that he became the King."

Naive.

My stomach curled, I hated the word.
My Mother was the Daughter of the King of Coldren before us, it was because of her lineage that my father was king.

"Why isn't Mother King?" I questioned as my father released his lips from my mother's forehead. I watched her face twist softly in confusion with still a smile grazing. I saw my father's mouth open slightly as if he was searching for a reply.
"She was grandfather's only child, was she not?"
"Well yes-" He replied, I remember a hint of shock in his eyes as I cut him off,

"The eldest child is next in line for the throne, the next to rule, so why did mother have to marry you in order to claim her own kingdom? Why could she not rule as King on her own?" I felt a heavy wave of confusion as I stumbled out my words, my small form staring up at my parents for the answers I wanted but never received.

My father lifted me into his arms and stared me in the eye sternly.
"Kirsi, that is enough, you are far too young to understand these things, and the proper term is Queen."

I felt my mother's hand on my back, soft and loving. "My love, be gentle she's only five." She soothed my Father, placing a hand on her stomach. She did that often lately. I felt my father's eyes on me, he sighed.
"Come now, we have bigger things to do, my family." He beamed pulling us all in tightly. I felt a giggle escape me as my mother looked lovingly upon us. "We're only a few days from our kingdom's most joyous celebration!"
I remember distinctly, a wide smile growing upon my face as I bounced up and down in euphoria.
He whispered to her, "The Celebration of Ocea, the day our Kirsi was given to us by the Sea."

My day.

—

The Festival Of Ocea was a most loved occasion. The whole kingdom participated in this enchanting three day celebration. Dancing, singing, drinking, and feasting all on the beaches that the kingdom shared. There were no titles, no noblemen, servants, senators, or chambermaids, simply bliss. White silks swept all the skin of the people as they sang haunting lullabies by candlelight as the full moon rose of my birth.

Children would collect shells for crowns they would wear, little boys often decorated their hair with pearls. I remember running around the white rose covered sands playing with the children of the kingdom, slashing in the white water.

The adults watching as they drank toasting to the future of lineage of Coldren, smiling for the ocean, was pleased with them.

I could smell the freshly baked bread, along with the mint butter, spread across the white marble dining table. Displayed with several assorted cheeses such as bri and goat. Beside them, white wine, olives, salted caramels made from the oceans salt. I often would eat all through the day for there were no chairs at the grand table, but rather sprawled across the beach, with white candles cradled by beds of starfish.

There was however the occasional duty of the young 'Ocean Princess.' On the third and final day, the day of my birth. When the moon touched the water, my father and mother would walk me to the shoreline clasp my hands and kiss them, then let go. From then on I would walk to the waves on my own, my silk dress colliding with the waves, It was in these moments, I felt safe, and more than anything powerful.

As I heard the drumming soften from shore I would turn, and set my my eyes upon my people, and my parents and they were all bowing before me as the moon slipped past the ocean and was swallowed and it became black night, cheers roared and the soft delicate music of the festival began once more and as I, along with the rest of the children slept of the white and gold sheets placed along the beach as our parents danced and sang and fell in love all over again as the sun rose ending the final day of Ocea.