KING

C H A P T E R | T W O

Odette was born not long after the commencement of the festival. The kingdom continued in its routine. Her birth did not grant celebrations in her honor, nor did father or mother claim she was a gift but rather she was given from love, and love alone.

She was, however, presented to the kingdom in a Linage Unveil, but that was customary for the royal family. During this custom, the people of Col would be introduced to their next princess, as would I.
Her small head would be oiled in lilac myrrh and she would be wrapped in white blankets with golden flakes, then the Col would throw white petals upon her from below the high balcony where the royal family stood, finally the people would eat honey and mint cakes with champagne. Leave their gifts at the castle doors and return home.

I was wearing my first crown, it was different than my mothers, and fathers. I knew it always would be.
It would not be golden and covered in white gems, nor would it have craven shells made of pearl.
But rather it was made from the black rock found in the ocean, welded with sea salt and crushed shells mixed with blue moon quartz.

In truth I preferred it.

I caught a glimpse of my baby sister as she was being wrapped in the shimmering blankets. I saw her wisps of golden hair and I could hear her faint whimpers, but never wails. When her head was oiled, I stood on the tips of my toes and I could see her face.

Slender green eyes and freckled, she was plain but pretty. She looked an awful lot like my mother.

The kingdom and the Col cheered, for her.

Princess Odette.

—

As time passes and my sister and I grew, I began to notice more and more how much more delicate she was. My mother fussed over her constantly in fear of her protection and of her not hurting herself. She was always thinner, even as a toddler she never had much baby fat. Rather than run all over the castle or in the gardens, she was always on my mothers hip or clinging to the stuffed white rabbit she was given by a someone in our kingdom on her Unveiling.

She wore white often along with pale yellows, Mother made sure of it. She took honey and milk baths, and her bedroom was painted with fairytales along the tall walls, and she had the doors to her balcony locked. She would smile constantly. Which in turn would make me curious.

When I began my lessons in the fall, I became more caught up in royal life than watching my sister grow. My features molded themselves into fitting my face, and I became more independent in my thinking and in my freedom. Father took note, and on my fourteenth birthday gifted me accordingly.

A Friesian Black Stallion.
So black that his coat looked blue when the sun hit his back. He was wild & Ill tempered with kind eyes.
He size was astounding, in comparison to my petite frame. My hands reached out for his snout but his massive state prevented my grasp.

I heard my father chuckle before placing his large hand scraped hand upon my shoulder looking down at me with shinning eyes, "Give it time, and you two will be as one." 

The stallion bucked his hind legs, crying out, causing the stable boys to rush out in attempt to control his outburst, my father drew me background close to him. His hand firmly gripping my shoulders. This however panicked the beast, I saw it in his black eyes searching for escape. I wiggled sharply out of my fathers grasp walking slowly I beckoned the stable boys to move away from us.