KittOnyx
=^meow^=
It was cold and damp out the day it happened, which seemed to match Lillen's mood. She stared off into the horizon from her wrought iron windowpane, a scowl painted on her face as she watched tiny droplets of water fall from the graying sky. From her window perch she could see the garden, which was really a small hedge maze surrounded by a border of rose bushes and a courtyard at the foot of the stairs with room enough for a party of twelve. The concrete of the courtyard was dark from rainfall, it must have been going all night. There were a few guards milling about in the greenery, walking perimeter as it was their hourly duty, who were surely as damp as the concrete. Lillen watched their slow, calculated pacing with groggy eyes. The queen had just woken up from a long nights rest and was taking a moment to herself before she started the day's activities, something she rarely had time for anymore. Ever since her husband, King Piotr, had passed away she had taken up his responsibilities as the only Noble left. Running a kingdom was not all it was cracked up to be and Lillen hated making all the hard decisions. She missed her husband greatly and wished everyday that she was back in his embrace.
A tear fell from Lillen's eye and landed on her hands which were folded neatly in her lap. She hadn't even realized she was crying until she felt the water touch her skin. Callously, she wiped her tears away and scolded herself internally for letting herself get so worked up. It was much to early in the day for her to be fretting on things that were long over and people who were long gone. She sniffled quietly as she picked herself up from her window seat and headed directly to her wardrobe to change out of her nightgown. She was sure the advisors were already waiting for her in the throne room, sure to have plenty of wishes and demands to thrust in her direction for approval. Once she was out of her nightgown and dressed in a billowing black and gold gown, she pulled her dark brown tresses into a tight bun atop her head, a perfect place for a crown to sit.
Now in the hallway, Lillen was in the company of the two guards who were stationed outside her bedroom door. She gave them each a friendly but curt nod as she passed by. They each gave her a salute in turn and she made her way down the halls towards the throne room. She could hear hushed conversations being held but as soon as she entered it was silent in an instant. She took up her seat in her throne, only giving a quick glance to the empty seat next to her, before she addressed the advisors who stared expectantly up at her. "You may begin," she announced as she carefully picked up the teacup that had just been brought in by one of the many servants that filled her castle. She gave the girl a thankful nod and a tight lipped smile as she sipped her tea. She held the cup close to her face, inhaling the sweet pungent aroma with fervor. There was almost nothing that Lillen loved more than to be curled up with a hot cup of tea and a book. She has always been a 'book worm' as her father had called it. Nowadays though, the queen rarely had time for anything other than her Royal duties.
Lillen listened as the advisors droned on and she gave her answers when necessary, but otherwise she was quiet and contemplative. She was just finishing her first cup of tea, which gave her a little pang of sadness, but as she was about to request another cup the double doors that served as the main entrance into the throne room were thrown open and in stormed two guards dragging a male between them. Each had a hand hooked under his armpit and his head was slumped so she couldn't see his face quite yet, but her curiosity was intense. The advisors looked cautiously between one another and the queen motioned for them to step aside so she could address the guards and their prisoner. "What's the meaning of this," she boomed in her most official tone, the look on her face was stern and cold.
"This cretin," one of the guards started as he shook the prisoner sharply, "was trying to incite a riot on you, your Majesty." Lillen's eyebrow pulled up in mock surprise. It wasn't the first time someone had tried to make advances on the crown and she was sure it wouldn't be the last. She eyed the man suspiciously and was silent for a moment as she contemplated what his consequences would be. He obviously hadn't been very successful if he was the only one that had been arrested, but then again, maybe whoever he was working with just put him out as bait. Either way, she knew he couldn't go without punishment or it would give other's the impression that their queen was complacent. She thought a moment longer befor she finally spoke, "For the act of attempting to overtake the throne, I sentence you to death," Lillen declared, finally meeting the man's eyes. There was terror there which made a small lump rise in Lillen's throat. She really hated these cut throat decisions. While she wasn't a softhearted person, necessarily, she knew the value of a life even in someone's darkest moments. The guards had already started dragging the man away when Lillen stopped them mid step, "Unless," she started, "you agree to be my personal servant." She knew it wasn't anybody's first choice but it could be beneficial for them both; the man wouldn't have to lose his life and Lillen would have a companion again, however begrudgingly they stayed with her. The guards wheeled the man back around to face Lillen, her eyes searching his face for any sign of recognition, any sign of what his answer would be. Would he give his life for his cause? Was this part of the plan all along? Had she just invited an assassin into her court? Only time would tell, she supposed. Thoughtfully, she sipped on a new cup of tea that had appeared next to her sometime while she was deliberating on this man's fate as she waited for his decision.
RedtheRoyalGuard
A tear fell from Lillen's eye and landed on her hands which were folded neatly in her lap. She hadn't even realized she was crying until she felt the water touch her skin. Callously, she wiped her tears away and scolded herself internally for letting herself get so worked up. It was much to early in the day for her to be fretting on things that were long over and people who were long gone. She sniffled quietly as she picked herself up from her window seat and headed directly to her wardrobe to change out of her nightgown. She was sure the advisors were already waiting for her in the throne room, sure to have plenty of wishes and demands to thrust in her direction for approval. Once she was out of her nightgown and dressed in a billowing black and gold gown, she pulled her dark brown tresses into a tight bun atop her head, a perfect place for a crown to sit.
Now in the hallway, Lillen was in the company of the two guards who were stationed outside her bedroom door. She gave them each a friendly but curt nod as she passed by. They each gave her a salute in turn and she made her way down the halls towards the throne room. She could hear hushed conversations being held but as soon as she entered it was silent in an instant. She took up her seat in her throne, only giving a quick glance to the empty seat next to her, before she addressed the advisors who stared expectantly up at her. "You may begin," she announced as she carefully picked up the teacup that had just been brought in by one of the many servants that filled her castle. She gave the girl a thankful nod and a tight lipped smile as she sipped her tea. She held the cup close to her face, inhaling the sweet pungent aroma with fervor. There was almost nothing that Lillen loved more than to be curled up with a hot cup of tea and a book. She has always been a 'book worm' as her father had called it. Nowadays though, the queen rarely had time for anything other than her Royal duties.
Lillen listened as the advisors droned on and she gave her answers when necessary, but otherwise she was quiet and contemplative. She was just finishing her first cup of tea, which gave her a little pang of sadness, but as she was about to request another cup the double doors that served as the main entrance into the throne room were thrown open and in stormed two guards dragging a male between them. Each had a hand hooked under his armpit and his head was slumped so she couldn't see his face quite yet, but her curiosity was intense. The advisors looked cautiously between one another and the queen motioned for them to step aside so she could address the guards and their prisoner. "What's the meaning of this," she boomed in her most official tone, the look on her face was stern and cold.
"This cretin," one of the guards started as he shook the prisoner sharply, "was trying to incite a riot on you, your Majesty." Lillen's eyebrow pulled up in mock surprise. It wasn't the first time someone had tried to make advances on the crown and she was sure it wouldn't be the last. She eyed the man suspiciously and was silent for a moment as she contemplated what his consequences would be. He obviously hadn't been very successful if he was the only one that had been arrested, but then again, maybe whoever he was working with just put him out as bait. Either way, she knew he couldn't go without punishment or it would give other's the impression that their queen was complacent. She thought a moment longer befor she finally spoke, "For the act of attempting to overtake the throne, I sentence you to death," Lillen declared, finally meeting the man's eyes. There was terror there which made a small lump rise in Lillen's throat. She really hated these cut throat decisions. While she wasn't a softhearted person, necessarily, she knew the value of a life even in someone's darkest moments. The guards had already started dragging the man away when Lillen stopped them mid step, "Unless," she started, "you agree to be my personal servant." She knew it wasn't anybody's first choice but it could be beneficial for them both; the man wouldn't have to lose his life and Lillen would have a companion again, however begrudgingly they stayed with her. The guards wheeled the man back around to face Lillen, her eyes searching his face for any sign of recognition, any sign of what his answer would be. Would he give his life for his cause? Was this part of the plan all along? Had she just invited an assassin into her court? Only time would tell, she supposed. Thoughtfully, she sipped on a new cup of tea that had appeared next to her sometime while she was deliberating on this man's fate as she waited for his decision.
RedtheRoyalGuard