Elements of Vidania

Chapter 9: Seana's Foreshadowing

My arm is hooked in General Love's as he escorts me down the hallway with two other guards to accompany us. We walk at a slow pace, allowing me the freedom to not have to struggle. Aren is surprisingly considerate, and he always somehow manages to keep the peace around here. Mother always used to tell me to court him before some other village girl somehow managed to snag him. His muscular frame, his height, probably around 5'9" or 10, and his bone cutting jaw could charm any girl he met. Any woman would be lucky to wake up to him every day. Maybe I should do it in honor of my mother, it's a good future, but is it really for me?

"Your majesty, I'm sorry to disturb your unnecessary pondering, but I would like to inform you about what's about to happen." Love pulls me out of my thoughts with a small tease.

"Ah yes, sorry, please do tell." I straighten my face and ready myself for an explanation.

"Also I am very sorry about your mother, princess, a great queen died in the wake of another."

"Thank you Aren, you're very kind. I already miss her more than everything I have ever lost. I will be the best queen I can be and allow her the right to be proud."

"That's what a queen would say! You're already catching on Lady Teav."

I lightly smile at his comment, but think about my mother. I don't want to adjust to any new normal, I want her back. "I wonder if she will be proud of me."

"Don't fret dear, you already started this job when your mother first fell ill. You made the executive decision to push back your coronation for your mother's sake, and that was a lot more honorable than you think."

"Anyways, are we almost there?"

"Ah, yes, it's right here!"

We stop in front of a solid wooden door, one no different from the others in the castle, but is obviously not the same as the others. It feels as though there is a powerful force behind it, and it sends shivers down my spine. Love opens the heavy door with minimal struggle, and it opens to reveal what looks like a woman leaning against a small table. She's wearing dark red military camis and a dark red beret to match.

"Hello ma'am," I speak and she rises from the table to turn to me. She smiles and moves towards me.

"Hello Lady Teav, my name is Joy, Joy Tulip." She bows at my royal presence and I curtsey in response. "I understand that today is a very solemn day, and I am deeply sorry for your loss. I apologize for putting you through this today, but you'll never have to do this again."

"Thank you Ms. Tulip, I appreciate your well wishes." She smiles and I see the lines that have formed around her smile. She has dark purple hair, and her dark brown skin that lights up her yellow eyes. A truly unusual woman stands before me, as she holds no similarities to any specific kingdom. "Please take a seat in the chair at the table, the questioning will pass as soon as it begins, my dear."

I release Aren's arm and as I move one foot towards the chair, I scan the room from the doorway. There are no other exits or windows in the room, which is surprisingly eerie. "I'm sorry to ask or inconvenience you, but could we move this interrogation somewhere with a bit more space. This room is very stuffy."

"I apologize Lady Teav," Love speaks up. "There is no other room that we can conduct this in."

"Then make one, I refuse to be interviewed in this room. This makes me uncomfortable, and you cannot force me to. I am your princess, and as the only surviving member of the immediate royal family you must do as I say." Just then I remember the exact words my mother told me. 'When I am gone, you must prepare yourself for something else much more serious to take place.' So I take a step back out into the hallway and fold my hands together in front of me.

"Lady Teav," Love says with a tinge of irritation in his voice," we would appreciate your cooperation seeing as how we immediately need a queen to begin her service. Not a naive princess. We cannot be a monarchy without any monarchs."

"I am not naive, and I'm refusing to do it in this room! Just trust me Aren, I don't feel safe in there."

He steps towards me and grabs my hand to attempt to reassure me. His pale blue eyes are soft with care, but fueled with determination. Aren wants me in this room more than anybody here, I can tell that much by how he squeezes my hand. I don't know why it absolutely has to be this room, but I am beginning to realize that my mother may have been correct. I pull my hand away from his and fold them in front of me once again.

"Your majesty, I promise you that no harm will come to you if you step into this room. My name is 'Joy', how much harm could I possibly do?" Tulip chuckles in the midst of her attempt to coax me into the room.

"I respectfully decline, and you will not challenge my word! Now, if you'll excuse me," in an attempt to flee I begin to walk back down the hallway. I get about five steps in before Joy calls out to me again.

"Princess, I am warning you. Walk away from me and General Love and I will seize the power to arrest you," her voice is stern and intimidating. The very thing I should have been expecting from a person such as she. I turn around to face her and she wears a stoic look on her face, ready to retrieve me no matter what the costs. Love stares at me with the same expression.

"Are you threatening the princess of Quartum Aquae?" I drop my hands and grab onto the skirt of my dress in anger. How dare she threaten me in my own kingdom, a place she has no connections or abilities under. "I am the heir to the throne, and you are threatening me?"

"I'm not threatening you, I am just informing you on what will happen if you take another step in the opposite direction. I cannot let you leave without questioning you, and I will have to detain you in my home country under those laws for your questioning." I stare at her in disbelief. A bit of the stoicism in her expression faded when she spoke, but that didn't take the bite out of her statement. "Ms. Teav, I am a disciple of the Guard of Dietas and you may have something that doesn't belong to you. This interrogation is not only for the future of your kingdom, but the safety of people everywhere on earth. If you continue to evade and walk away from me, you will not get out alive."

"I'll have you know that you do not frighten me, and I'd say the same if you dare to put your hands on me." A feeling of anxiety consumes me and a tinge of excitement rushes through my core. I've never been in a battle or duel before, I've only ever trained for the instance that it happens.

"Queen," Love rushes over to me and takes both of my hands in his own, but this time a lot tighter. I cringe and pull back from his timely inappropriate actions. "Please think about what you're doing! You can't throw your hard work away like this, please dear."

"Let me go," I pull back, but he only squeezes harder. "Love, please, you're hurting me!"

"Princess I'm not going to let you walk away! Your position is too valuable to me and I can't let you screw this up." He begins to raise his voice at me and I shriek at his tightening grip. He has never acted or said anything like this before, why would my 'position' be more valuable to him than I? I thought our bond grew deeper than that.

"Why are you acting like this? Let me go!" I struggle to get out of his grip and he just pulls me even harder. His face contorts into a disgusting glare as he attempts to pull me back and into the room. I pull back as hard as I can and suddenly he yells in pain and lets me go.

"What the hell came out of your hands?" He examines his heat damaged skin and I turn around and flee. I run as fast as I can to the end of the hallway and I hear quick feet tailing me. I look back to see Joy running at me with unmatchable speed, I can't outrun her. Think Seana, think!

I'm on the third floor, so if I use my water as a safety net, I may be able to break my fall. So I choose the only sane option a person in my position would choose, I take a left, and use my water to break through the window.