Aah I haven't written in so long. Yeah I kind of wanted to explore Ashe's character as she grows alongside Trynd, this first chapter is quite short so I'm curious to see if it'll interest any one C:
Stand still, child, if you don't wear your cloak you'll catch ye death." She sighed, a warm smile lifting her cheeks. The little girl stared at the castle doors eyes full of excitement, as if they could dissapear at any second. "Go on then." The girl had turned to run out of the doors before Margery could finish the last button. "Oh and Ashe! Stay within the grounds!" But she had already swept through the doorways and ran into the gardens.
"Oh to be young, wild and free." Margery hummed.
"Sadly not for long. She will have her responsibilities." The queen said calmly. Margery jumped slightly.
"Your majesty you must forgive me I was unaware of your presence." She curtseyed quickly.
The queen walked to the stained glass window beside the great doors, she peeked out to see her young daughter on her knees by the flowerbeds staring whimsically at the blooms.
"Still, she may enjoy it whilst she can." She smiled as she watched her curiously pick a frostflower and examine it. Margery followed and also looked through the tinted blue glass.
"She loves the world doesn't she? If she learns to love her people like that she'll make a wonderful leader."
A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts, Ashe inhaled sharply still standing in front of the mirror irritably. After a few seconds she pulled herself away and walked to the door, the layers of her dress delicately brushing the floor as she walked. "Who is it?" She asked cautiously.
"Margery, my love." Ashe let out the breath she had held and opened the door.
"Are you alright sweetheart?" Ashe sighed and walked back to the mirror. After a few seconds she spoke. "I didn't ever picture myself on my wedding day Margery, but if I did, I would not have looked like this." She looked back at herself again, her hair silvery and flat, eyes dangerously shadowed. "Mother would turn in her grave." Margery chuckled and stepped behind Ashe.
"Turn." She said, a hand on her shoulder. "Someone's not been sleepin." She said brushing the shadow under Ashes eyes. She pulled a small vial out of her pocket. "Mannera oil, it'll wake up tired eyes in seconds." She said dabbing tiny bits of it underneath Ashes eyes and smoothing it over soon after. "Ah I used to carry this everywhere when they had me scribing for the council meetings. Hmm.." She said turning Ashe back to the mirror and speculating her over her shoulder. She picked up a haircomb and combed back Ashe's white tresses. Something was missing. "Sit." She said, gesturing to the chair near the window.
Ashe sat on the chair quietly, sighing as Margery experienced fingers swept small sections of her hair into an intricate braid that crowned her scalp. "You always used to ask me to make you a crown, but you would never sit still enough for me to finish it." Ashe smiled, she was always ready to go, this may be the first time in her life that she had wished for time to stand still.
"I know you're afraid sweetheart. It's okay to be. This is a new beginning for the Freljord and for you." She said her hands now resting on Ashes shoulders. Ashe looked to the mirror, to the intricate braid crowning her, beautifully framing her face too. The crown suited her and for the first time for that morning she felt calm. Until thr next knock on the door rang through. This is it. She inhaled smoothly standing and walking to the door, turning to smile to Margery as she walked away.
Walking through the corridor, she mapped out her steps mindfully, distracting her mind. She stood tall and elegantly, ready.
"Wait!" Rushed footsteps followed her, she turned to see Margery tottering towards her with something blue in her fingertips. As she got closer Ashe realised what it was. A powder blue flower it had frosted over and glittered in the light. The ones I used to play with in the gardens, she remembered? Margery gently weaved the flower into one side of her braid and kissed her on the forehead. "Your mother would be proud."
"Margery, Thank you."
Please read and review if you can, it would help me write again lmao xoxo