What's Forbidden Love When You're Queen?

[Fluxious Fatality]

The peasants had gathered around the center of the town -- the palace doors had opened. The doors to the castle had not opened in over thirty years. The courtyard was open to the public; a coronation was happening! Nothing had happened in the kingdom of Aryei in thirty or more years. Not since the Queen had died.


The King had lain low, never showing his face. The Princess never revealed herself to the public, either. There were all kinds of rumors, legends, and folklore surrounding the royal family of Aryei. They simply disappeared. The Queen had died, and the sons had soon followed... but out of nowhere, this little girl, a princess was... spoken of. Had the royal family had a daughter? Nobody really knew.


The chatter and the clamor of the people of the kingdom was loud, and it was like music to the Princess' ears. She had been kept away -- hidden, she had been engaged to a man she had never met. But here she was. Being crowned as Queen of a kingdom she wanted no part in.


She scowled and rolled her eyes as the servants finished dressing her, doing her hair, touching her. She scowled and muttered, "Father just had to die." as she exited the castle to start into the courtyard. She was to be crowned in front of the entire kingdom -- or as many of the peasants that could fit into the courtyard.


@Paint The Wind

 

[Paint The Wind]

Ashley Leighten was among the many in the courtyard of the castle to watch the coronation of the new Queen. She looked up and saw the Princess. Her mouth gaped slightly. The princess was beautiful!


Ashley however, was not. She had matted hair, dirt all over, and a ratty dress. Her father was a German immigrant who swept the stress for a living, she had a job hauling a cart of firewood through the street. There wasn't a horse though, she was strapped into the cart and driven like a horse.


She was in fact strapped into the cart right now. The man who employed her was trying to sell firewood before the coronation started.

 

[Fluxious Fatality]

The Princess pursed her lips as she gazed out at the peasants. Ugh. Disgusting filth inside her castle. She grumbled as she settled into the throne, her head tipping forward as the priest of the castle stepped forward with a scepter and the crown. She stood as the priest came into view, humming quietly to herself...


When the priest began to speak the chatter in the courtyard, for the most part, would die down. The ceremony had begun -- very simple, very elegant, the Princess held the scepter and pledged herself to the kingdom, gazing around the crowd that was her kingdom. She pursed her lips in thought as she resettled into her throne. She would be taking the peasants issues...

 

[Paint The Wind]

Ashley watched the ceremony in awe. The Queen looked so calm and poised, her head didn't even wobble when the heavy crown was placed on it. She smiled softly and cheered with the rest of the peasants when she was crowned Queen of Aryei. There had never been this much excitement in the capitol of the country before. Soon however the peasants were forced to leave.


The man driving the cart picked up a whip and struck Ashley with it. She whimpered in pain and bit her lip, pulling the cart as hard as she could. It was extremely heavy so she wasn't going very fast. Crack. Another strike of the whip. She whimpered again and continued to pull as hard as she could. Crack. And again. This time she cried out. Ashley hated her job, she had countless scars on her back from being whipped like a horse every day. She was sweating hard as she tried to pull the cart out of the courtyard. At this point everyone else had left, but she was struggling to get out.

 

[Fluxious Fatality]

The first strike of the whip, the newly crowned Queen did not flinch. The second time, third time, she stood and spoke. "Stop." She growled, through her teeth. "Get the man a horse. Bring that girl to me." As a knight turned to go toward the stables, the Queen stepped from her throne, hands resting clasped behind her back.


"Sir. Trade this horse for the girl. It's healthier. Cleaner." She commented, narrowing her eyes.

 

[Paint The Wind]

The man glared at Ashley who was biting her lip and not looking the Queen in the eye. She was scared. The man nodded and got down from the wagon and released Ashley from the ties. Ashley whimpered in pain and stepped away from the wagon, her head down in shame as a horse was put into a harness and the man drove the cart away.


Ashley bowed deeply to the newly crowned Queen. "Thank you very much Your Majesty. I am forever indebted to you." she said, not looking up. She was afraid to.

 

[Fluxious Fatality]

The woman furrowed her brow as she gazed down at the girl. "Write a decree. About whipping." As she spoke, she held out a small, pristine hand. "Come, girl." She murmured, dipping her head gently as she moved to pull the girl to her feet. "We have the best healer in the lands. He'll see to your wounds."


She would wait for the girl to take her hand, or at least to follow her, before turning and leading her back into the castle. As they entered, her servants stared toward her silently, before two of the maids dispersed to claim towels and run bathwater for the girl. "Tell me, do you have a name? You can call me Lady Isse."


She turned to watch the girl, her head tipping to one side gently. Her blonde tresses fell into her face as she gazed at the other woman. "You shall be my guest. I cannot believe that my Father allowed people to be treated as if they were animals." She stated, as an elderly man came into view -- the castle doctor.


The man mumbled, "My Queen," as he circled the dirty, filthy girl slowly. After a moment he handed the Queen a pouch. "This salve, after she bathes. Rub it onto the places where the whip hit. Bandage her. She should be fine if infection does not set in." As the doctor turned and disappeared into the confines of the castle once more, the Queen spoke, Isse spoke. "Please, come."

 

[Paint The Wind]

Ashley looked at the small soft hand that was extended to her. She almost didn't want to touch it, it was so clean and her hand was so dirty, but she placed her hand in the Queen's. Her rough, calloused hand had never touched anything this soft in her life.


Ashley followed the Queen into the castle and looked around in awe. She hadn't ever been in such a beautiful building before. When the Queen asked her name her eyes widened slightly. "My name is Ashley my Lady." she said with another small curtsy. She knew to show respect for fear she would get killed.


Ashley looked up at Lady Isse's face. "I don't think he knew. He never left the castle my Lady. My father moved here 10 years ago from Germany. I had to get a job to support him, and that was the best one I could get my Lady." she said, curtsying yet again.


Ashley rubbed her arm when the physician circled her. She was uncomfortable being stared at, even if it would help. She looked at the doctor as he told Isse what to do for her wounds. "I'm going to get a bath?" she said softly. "I've never had a bath before. Thank you Lady Isse." she said. She followed the Queen yet again.

 

[Fluxious Fatality]

Isse shook her head. "Never had a bath? Well then," Isse led the girl into her own, personal chambers where her maids were waiting -- they had run the bathwater, and had sprinkled the scents, the dried leaves, the dried flower petals the Queen herself bathed in. They figured if the woman was taking this girl as her guest, it'd be smart to treat the girl like royalty.


"Come," she murmured, as she nodded to the maids. One maid in-particular, Charlotte, moved forward to undress Ashley -- "I need to undress you, miss." Charlotte would start pulling at the filthy clothing that the girl was wearing, as Isse moved across the room to rummage through a small box of jewels, absently.


Once Ashley was undressed, she would be led to the basin to bathe, by the maids, who were armed with soaps and lotions and sweet smelling things.

 

[Paint The Wind]

Ashley looked around at the room with the bath in awe. It smelled amazing and it was beautiful and there were flowers everywhere! She looked everywhere with her mouth agape. She had never seen so much finery.


Ashley blushed darkly and let this servant undress her. She was so confused and she hadn't met these people before. Why should she trust them? However, she trusted the Queen, so she would trust her servants.


Ashley looked around at the many servants around her and got into the water. She gasped. It was so warm. "This feels amazing…" she whispered.

 

[Fluxious Fatality]

Isse turned to gaze toward the girl thoughtfully as she handed a gown off to one of the maid. "Hmmm... yes, that goes nicely with her hair..." She mused, nodding gently to herself. "You'll get one everyday while you live within the castle." Isse's lips pursed in thought as she moved to take over from the maid that washed Ashley's hair.


Her fingers would run through the girl's hair gently, massaging the roots, humming as she did so. The Queen shifted her weight as she spoke, "You will have a very... special job. You will be my eyes into the city, to the people," she stated, as she began to rinse the girl's hair.

 

[Paint The Wind]

Ashley looked at Isse and watched her pick out a dress for her. "Thank you my Lady. That is very kind of you." she said, looking at the gown. She wondered what the fancy fabric would feel like against her skin, all she had ever worn was thick woolen dresses.


Ashley's eyes widened when her scalp was massaged. It felt wonderful. When Isse told her what her job was going to be her eyes widened even more. "That is very generous my Lady. I will do the best job I can, you saved me. I am forever grateful." she said, smiling softly. Her life was turning around, all because of the Queen's kindness.