The Young Queen. closer, they would see her chest shaking in both fear and anticipation. The young woman

Transcription

1 The Young Queen Her hands shook as she stared at the imposing wooden doors. If one were to look closer, they would see her chest shaking in both fear and anticipation. The young woman looked down at her intricate dress, for it was handmade by the castle seamstresses. Red, she thought, it s the color of a queen. She breathed out and looked at the door again. Her hands pressed themselves against the corseted torso of her dress to stop from trembling. A trumpet sounded as the doors open. The hall was filled with the Lords and Ladies of the country. A flag was flying high from the rafters of the stone and wood building, yet she felt so alone in the hall of strangers. It was full of people wanting her to fail for their chance at the throne. The young woman took slow and careful steps towards the throne in the front of the hall. Her cheekbones, tilted up as a way to show her dominance, were glowing in the morning and candle light. As the throne came closer bit by bit, her body began to tremble like a leaf in autumn. An archbishop stood proud and tall. He was old, and his beady eyes stared into the young woman s soul. She stepped up to the old man, and he stretched out his old wrinkling hand, and she gently placed her youthful, delicate hand in his. They walked together closer to the throne. I hope you understand that you do not deserve this title, for this title belongs to a male heir, his gravelly voice stated in a quiet manner. The young woman continued to

2 look ahead of her because she knew her babe of a brother would die by assassin, usurper, or both. Two bodies, one old and one young, stood at the foot of the throne. The young woman took her hand out of his, and she kneeled down and bowed her head. Her hair stayed in place as her eyes cast downward toward the marble floors. She had never noticed them before; they were old, ancient, and worn away-- almost too worn after the years of wear as kings stood and ruled the kingdom. The archbishop looked upon the hall of nobles, We are gathered here today to crown a Queen-- one that is a direct heir of the Great King Nikolai Petrov, stated the old man as he looked upon the faces of the nobles. Do any of you here object to the crowning of the monarch? The room was silent; so silent in fact, that one would be able to hear a pin drop. I see. With the power vested in me, I crown you Myrina Anastasia Petrov, Queen of Adron. Next, the old man turned to a young boy to his side and grabbed a delicate gold crown-- covered in pearls and diamonds-- from the pillow; the crown shined in the morning light. Then the old man put the crown on her red hair. When the crown had settled, he put his hand out in front of the young woman to lift her up. She refused the hand and stood on her own. Myrina turned and gazed upon her subjects seeing all the eyes of those who want to see her fail. Myrina s trembling stopped, for she was no longer nervous; she was the Queen and the ruler of all the people in the room.

3 The young woman turned again to look at her throne. It was a throne was made of oak. The sides were covered in swirls, and it had a touch of gold-leaf that shined and showed the power of the monarch. It was her throne-- it was Myrina s throne. Myrina walked towards it and lowered herself onto the throne, yet the wood was rough on her hands as she sat on the throne her father rested on a mere year ago. Similarly, the wood was stiff on her back. If it wasn t for her dress padding, her lower half would be sore due to the fact that the wood had none built into it. So this is why Father was always so grumpy at the end of a day with nobles, Myrina thought. Long Live The Queen! Long Live The Queen! Shouted a chorus of nobles, but most notably two little boys screaming among the chorus. Myrina smiled softly at her little brothers; the ones she raised. Myrina knew that she would have to get a governess for her brothers as now she would not be able to watch them any longer. That is a topic for a later date, Myrina thought. The crowds began to file out of the hall in pairs based on where they were from. Everyone was almost gone when a man not much older than Myrina turned and looked at her. He was tall and had the most beautiful brown hair. He looked at her as if he was diagnosing a patient, and then bowed his head. Myrina looked at him surprised at the gesture. He was the first one out of the whole crowd to actually look at her and bow his head in respect. * * *

4 Myrina looked in her full-length mirror. After her hair was tied in knots on her head, Myrina s face was caked in makeup to make her skin look smooth as marble and her lips red as blood. Yet, despite her get-up, what caught her attention the most was her dress. Her dress was off-white and blue with at secure corset around her torso and the bottom of the dress brushed the ground. The ribbing was stiff on her ribs, for she could hardly breathe. Myrina was a queen and one that her father would be proud of. While staring at herself in the mirror, Myrina heard a knock on her door. Come in! Myrina yelled. Your Majesty, Are you ready? came the quiet voice of her favorite handmaiden, Inara. Oh Nara, I m so nervous! What if I screw something up? Myrina asks her close friend and confidant. Well your Majesty, you are the most beautiful queen of all time and the most well-spoken of all existence. You need not worry about messing up, Inara stated in a voice above a whisper. She came closer to Myrina, and Inara brushed her hands on Myrina s upper arms. Thank you so much, Inara. I don t quite know what I would do without you, Myrina stated in gratitude to her oldest friend. Now your Majesty It is time to show off those nobles who the boss is, Inara whispered into Marina s ear. Myrina looked at her reflection with confidence, for she was

5 the Queen of Adron. It was her birthright to rule these people. Okay, Myrina breathed out, let s do this. Myrina was having a sense of deja vu; she was again standing in front of a wooden door scared. Myrina breathed in deep and pushed the doors open. The trumpets sounded at Myrina s arrival; the crowd turned and bowed to her. Myrina walked down the grand staircase gazing into the crowd. She searched for the man who nodded at her earlier in the day, and eventually, she found him in the middle of a large circle that had formed. Your Majesty, it would be my honor to have your first dance as Queen. the young man said, as he bowed at the hip raising his left hand as a greeting to Myrina s right hand. She gently placed her hand in his as her response. The two started to waltz together in time to the music from the orchestra. Myrina and the man first swayed side by side with his right hand securely at the base of her back. They are staring at you, Myrina said. The young man laughed in a quiet manner. No, believe me, your Majesty, they are looking at you. He guided Mayrina under his left arm and spun her around to face him again. When Myrina pulled herself closer to the young man, she saw his steel grey eyes; they almost looked silver in the candlelight. You know, it is customary to say who oneself is before dancing with them, Myrina said in a hushed tone to the young man. I would love to tell you my name; but, my status is rather low compared to a queen like you, the young man whispered back. Myrina was confused. Who was this man? she thought. Her confusion betrayed her face. I am

6 not here to kill you, your Majesty, The young man said. I am here in celebration of you, and I m the delegation from my country for your coronation. The waltz song finished and the crowd clapped for the couple. Any onlooker would have seen lights in the queen s eyes that were not there before the waltz. My name, your Majesty, is Marcel Lucian, and I am third in line for the French throne. the young man said as he bowed to her. Myrina looked up from her curtsy in surprise at Marcel, but he was a Prince of Fedad! The gears were turning in Myrina s head, for Marcel was handsome and had a standing in the French royal court. She understood the need for allies and for heirs. Marcel was the person that she needed for both of those tasks. * * * Myrina s royal advisers looked at her in shock. It was unheard of for a coronated queen to marry a prince of lower status; however, Myrina s mind was made up. This would be the man she would marry. Your Majesty, we as a council don t believe that this would be a good option for your rule. You must not think irresponsibly. This is a matter of country, not infatuation, stated the head of the council. He was old and fat, and he had been old and fat since Myrina was a young girl. I understand your worry, but he is the right choice. I may be a queen, but I am a queen of a small nation. One that needs support from other countries and Fedad is our best option because of its power. Myrina stated in a manner that showed her power over these

7 men. They might have been the wisest in her country, but she was thinking outside of her country. Myrina was only thinking of the handsome prince. The letter was sent with the official seal of Adron. An invitation for a private audience with Myrina. It took two weeks before she heard back, and thankfully it was a gracious acceptance of her offer. He would arrive in a days time of the arrival of the letter. Myrina was excited, to say the least. The young queen could barely contain her joy when she walked into her bedroom where Inara was waiting there for her. Oh, Nara! He said yes! Myrina exclaimed. She could see Inara s sisterly grin on her face. That is amazing your Majesty, Inara congratulated as she sat Myrina down to undo her hair and makeup. Oh, this is so exciting and so nerve-wracking, Inara! What am I going to say to him? I just can t outright say that I want to marry him. That would be too forward, and I can t be too vague because that would be a waste of his time. What do you think? What if I m getting all worked up over nothing? Or worse what if he says no- Your majesty Inara soothed the young queen, you are going to be okay. He accepted the invitation, so it means that he wants to see you again. Inara s reasoning made sense to Myrina; however, she wanted to know for sure that he would be accepting of the marriage proposal. This meant that Myrina had to wait another antagonizing night.

8 When Myrina woke up the next morning, she rushed to get herself dresses as best as she could. The young queen could barely stay sitting long enough to get her hair and makeup done. Myrina s dress was a white chiffon that was held up with two white strings, and it was soft to the touch. The dress made her exude an aura of royalty and grace. Sitting on the throne was Myrina s favorite and least favorite activity at the same time. For she had all of the power of the country, but the throne hurt so much. Myrina believed that the throne was made to annoy the ruling monarch into paying attention, so when Marcel came into the throne room it took all her power not to run up to him. Marcel entered the throne room as if he owned the country. Myrina could feel at heat rising up her neck; she was blushing! The young queen stood with elegance and poise to ensure that Marcel knew she was the queen. Marcel bowed deeply on the tile floor, and Myrina walked down to meet him. Please Marcel, stand. You are as much a royal as I am, the queen stated. Myrina laid her hand on Marcel s shoulder to raise him to a standing position. She first saw his eyes, and she was transported to a new place far away. The two young royals stared at each other as if they were the only ones in the room. Their hands were locked together as a sign of exultation. I am Sorry, your majesty, Marcel apologized. It s just that I have never seen such beautiful eyes before. What was the matter that needed my attention? Myrina swallowed the lump in her throat. Well here goes nothing, she thought. I have asked for your presence here in my court for a very good reason, She started. I

9 asked you here for a proposal a marriage proposal. Myrina held her breath as she looked at the man in her arms. She waited for his answer. Your Majesty, Marcel whispered. I fell in love with you the moment you walked into the hall on your coronation day. I would be delighted to marry you, your majesty. Myrina smiled from ear to ear in glee. She jumped into Marcel s arms and they turned around in pure delight. Your majesty, would it be against royal code if I kissed you right now? Marcel asked in a hushed voice. Myrina replied, I certainly hope not.