The White Rose
Chapter One
Alana sighed. The servant gave her a sympathetic smile as he poured more water into her glass. She smiled back.
"Cheers," she said softly to him. He chuckled, but quickly stopped, glancing at the queen. She was paying no attention.
"Darling, if you do not get married, what will happen to the kingdom? I have no son!" the queen was saying.
The queen and Alana's sister, Davina, were fighting as usual. And just as usual, Alana was stuck contenting herself with watching the water in her glass swirl, completely ignored.
"Mother, my life is horrible enough as it is!" Davina cried; she was remarkably dramatic. "You don't need to make it worse!"
"Oh, please. How is your life horrible?"
"It just is," Davina said, her lower lip beginning to pout.
"Your life is fine, Davina. It's you who makes yourself think it's so horrible."
"Mother, don't start."
"Davina, how can I convince you to marry?" the queen asked in exasperation.
"You can stop trying to convince me!"
They both sighed, long and exaggerated.
"I just don't see why you didn't like Prince Eric."
As this brought on a fresh wave of arguments, Alana decided enough was enough. She picked up her plate of chocolate cake and left the room unnoticed. She briskly walked to her father's study and collapsed into his chair.
Her father had died the year before. He had been the only other sane person in Alana's family, and now she was left alone to cope with her mother and sister's ongoing battle. Unfortunately, she was both sane and invisible. Her mother paid no attention to her, and when her sister took notice of her, it was to tell her to wear different clothes or to say her hair looked atrocious. She straightened herself in the chair and ate her cake, glancing through the maps that were still strewn across his desk. Nothing had changed in this room; her mother had ordered it not to be touched.
Her mother was often said to be somewhat intimidating, but Alana always thought that it was only because she had become the sole ruler of the kingdom, and had to be intimidating. Mind you, the kingdom of Estralia wasn't that big to begin with, but ruling any kingdom had to be challenging. Alana didn't exactly blame her mother for ignoring her - she was the younger princess after all - but she couldn't help feeling resentful. It was true, she had no brother, and therefore if the rule were to stay within the family, Davina would have to marry, and marry soon, because there was only a limited time that a widow could rule in place of her husband. Estralia was still very much traditional, believing that a man should rule the kingdom. But Davina was extremely stubborn, and extremely melodramatic. She could turn the tiniest anthill into a mountain.
Alana finished her cake, and decided to take her plate to the kitchen.
"Good evening, your highness," the servants said as she entered. She put her plate down near a sink.
"Why didn't you stay in the dining hall, Alana?" her friend, Zora, said.
"Why would I?" Alana retorted, and sunk onto a stool. Zora picked up the plate and began to wash it.
"I suppose you're right. Every night then, eh?"
"Every single night. I'm telling you, my patience is wearing thin."
"Alana, you never had any patience to begin with."
Alana sighed. "I suppose you're right," she said with a halfhearted laugh. "It's just that with my father gone, there's no one to come between those two. I'll either go plum crazy or run away."
Zora clicked her tongue. "Oh, Alana. One day you'll meet a prince-"
"Who won't even see me," Alana interrupted.
"Let me finish!" Zora scolded. "One day you will meet a prince, and he'll fall madly in love with you and you can be rid of your insane family forever."
"I think I'd rather marry a servant," Alana said. "The princes are always so haughty."
Zora sighed. "You know what I meant."
"Yes, I do, and I thank you for it. But for now I'll just have to wait it out, I suppose."
Zora looked sympathetically at the twenty-year-old princess. She had always been the smarter one, even if she wouldn't admit it. She was beautiful as well, but the fact that she was the second daughter caused her to be unseen by her family. Zora sighed.
"Someday," Alana said.
"Someday what?" Zora asked.
"Someday my life will change. And I don't even care if it's for better or for worse. I just need something to change."
"Well, it won't change if you sit in this kitchen bothering me all the time," Zora said with an encouraging chuckle.
Alana laughed. "I guess I'd better be going. There's still that ball next week."
"Another prince?"
"Two, if I'm not mistaken," Alana grumbled.
"Two? Davina will go mad!"
"I know," Alana said miserably. "Just think of all those fun dinners I'll have then!"
Zora just smiled. "Good night, Alana."
"Good night."
Alana sat out on her balcony, her glimmering blonde hair blowing in the warm breeze. She loved her balcony. It faced the sea, and she watched the tide wash up on the beach. The full moon glinted eerily off the waves, and Alana felt as if she were in a trance.
She thought of the ball next week. She considered not going, but then someone would ask her mother where she was, and then the queen would be forced to think of her younger daughter, and Alana didn't wish to bring that upon herself.
"Oh, Father," she whispered, staring up the shining stars. "I need to get out of here."
The only answer she got was the crashing of the waves. She sighed, and curled up on her chair. Maybe Zora was right. All she needed was someone to take her away from this place. Take her away and never come back.
Although I would miss this balcony, she thought. The last thing she saw before she fell asleep was a shooting star. Foggy with sleep, she smiled like a little child.
"I wish I could get away from this place," she whispered, and then fell fast asleep.
The week passed quickly, and the night of the ball arrived. Alana was definitely not looking forward to it; nothing ever happened at these affairs. All she did was go, dance a few times, and then leave. And then wake up to aching feet the next day. What was the point?
She dressed in a simple, pale blue satin gown. She swept her hair up, and placed her feet into some sparkly shoes. She retrieved the diamond necklace her father had given her for her 16th birthday, and put it on. She chose some earrings to match, and decided she was as ready as she would ever be. She looked at herself in the mirror for a moment or two; her bronzed skin made her golden hair seem lighter than it truly was, but she fancied how her hair glittered in the light. She had always loved her emerald green eyes; they were the same as her father's. So were her strong jaw, high cheekbones, and straight, jutting collarbone. Her nose, however, was her mother's, no doubt about it: the straightest nose one could possibly have. She and her sister shared the same rose red lips and the slight dusting of freckles on their cheeks. Nonetheless, even with all these wonderful similarities, she was still invisible.
"Oh well, their loss," Alana said to herself with a smile. She left her room and walked slowly to the ballroom. Her mother and sister had already gone in; as usual, Alana was late. She descended the stairs, groaning silently to herself as she looked around at the simpering nobles in their extravagant dresses. What she assumed were the two princes were standing next to the queen's throne, chatting and looking arrogant. Alana was asked to dance and she was led to the dance floor; the sea of nobles whirled around like a bright rainbow of colors as she waltzed endlessly. Dizzy after many dances, she pardoned herself and went for a drink. She found seclusion by hiding behind a rather large plant, and amused herself by watching a poor girl who hadn't realized her dress had split in the back.
The night seemed to go on eternally. Near midnight, Alana stole away to the kitchens to find some sanity.
"Alana, you look beautiful," Zora said when she saw Alana come in.
"Beautiful and bored to death," Alana answered.
"Not having fun?"
"Never having fun," Alana replied, her voice cross and irritable.
"Oh, Alana," Zora said, but changed the subject. "Do you think your sister liked any of the princes?"
"I doubt it, but I couldn't really tell. She's danced with them both the whole time. They looked like a couple of scumbags if you ask me," she said, not caring for the subject.
"They're supposed to be, they're royalty," Zora said, chortling.
Alana raised an eyebrow.
"You're different," Zora contested.
Alana sighed as Zora continued to wash an incessant flow of dishes.
"I think I'll go to bed," she said, yawning.
"Well, then, good night."
Alana left and went up to her room, plopping onto her big, soft bed. She could hear the music playing softly, and the murmur of people talking and laughing. She lay on her back, staring up at her ornate ceiling. She suddenly felt a sense of foreboding, but she couldn't think why. Maybe I'm a seer, she thought with laugh. But the feeling nagged at her as she let down her hair and changed into her nightgown.
Something was going to change soon. She could feel it.
Alana woke the next day to hear arguing coming from the hall. The feeling from the night before returned like a slap in the face. Her stomach knotted as she listened intently.
"My daughter is not going anywhere! I don't care who you say you are, you cannot take her!" It was her mother's voice, high and shrill.
Alana staggered out of bed and pressed an ear against her door. Could they be talking about her?
"Take no offense, your majesty, but you barely realize the girl is here. Besides, your husband wrote the promise in ink; it's a contract!" Now it was a man's voice.
"How dare you! Don't you think it's hard enough not having my husband around without people like you to remind us?"
"Your majesty, I have to. If I don't, he'll take one of my daughters!"
"And that is my problem how?"
"The king promised! I have it right here!" There was the sound of a paper.
Alana's breath was coming fast and hard, and her nerves went into high gear. Her mother was also breathing heavily, obviously reading the paper.
"That is his signature," she said, sounding astonished.
"I am sorry, your majesty. But I had to, please understand. From a parent's point of view." The man sounded desperate. "He also told me at the time to give this to you." Another paper.
Her mother was silent again. Alana tried to lean closer, biting her lip so hard she suddenly tasted blood.
"Well, that settles it, then," the queen said in a restrained voice.
"I am so sorry."
"It's not your fault. This could have happened to anyone." Her voice sounded hollow and resigned.
"Shall I tell her, then?"
"No," her mother said. "No, I had better do it."
Alana sprung back from the door and into her bed. She grabbed a book and hastily opened it, pretending to read. Her door opened, and her mother came in, looking worried.
"Hello, dear," her mother said. Alana forgot to be surprised that her mother was addressing her; all she wanted to know was what was going on. She stayed silent.
Her mother sat down on the edge of the bed, smoothing the paper in her hand. "I have to speak with you."
"Alright," Alana said, her voice shaking.
"Darling, when your father was alive, he…well, he didn't always make the best choices," her mother began, avoiding Alana's eyes, and instead looking at the paper. "One time, not so long ago, he was in the countryside and became lost. It began to rain heavily, and it was very cold, and… well, you know you're father always had… delicate health. He stumbled across what he thought was an old, abandoned castle. He was so lost, and had nowhere to stay, so he stayed in this castle. Are you following?"
Alana nodded, her heart caught somewhere in her throat.
"Well, this castle, which he thought to be empty, turned out to have… well, an unusual inhabitant. Our land is filled with fantastical creatures, of course. Understand, dear, that your father was scared. When this… inhabitant confronted him, your father gave him the name of a farmer he once knew instead of his own. The… person told your father he would let him leave if he gave him one of his daughters as payment. Your father agreed."
Alana's mouth had fallen open. She held a hand to her head, trying to calm the blood that pounded her temples.
"Of course, when he got home, he thought that the person would take one of the farmer's daughters instead of one of his own, but the farmer found out because the person began to write to him, reminding him of the payment. The farmer sought out your father and demanded he send one of his own daughters." She paused, holding a handkerchief to her eye. "Your father was a good man," she continued, her voice shaking horribly now. "He realized this was the only fair and honorable way to handle the situation. So…"
"…he agreed," Alana finished. It was all perfectly clear to her now.
"Exactly."
"And you can't send Davina because she is the crowned princess."
Her mother paused. "Yes."
"So I have to go," Alana said, her voice even but anxious. The room suddenly seemed very small and constrictive.
"Yes," her mother said again, looking at her fearfully.
Alana took a deep breath, her mind working double time. "What exactly is this… person?"
"I don't quite know, your father never specified," her mother replied, laying the paper down for Alana to see. Alana, however, didn't look at it.
"Well, then I suppose I have to go, don't I?" Alana said, her nerves calm but her mind overwhelmed.
"Oh, darling, if I could stop it I would, but I don't know how."
Alana didn't look at her. Well, I did wish to get away from this place, she thought ironically.
"When must I leave?" she asked instead.
"Tomorrow."
"How far away is it?"
"About 100 leagues." The queen paused. "The farmer will show you the way."
Alana began to tap her nails on the book. Her lips were pursed, and she nodded continually. She was thinking quickly; it was either going to be very bad, as in she was going to her death, or it was going to be not so bad, as in she might actually get along with this…person. She sincerely hoped for the latter.
Author's Notes: Woo! I have finally uploaded the revisions for this story! I'm so proud of myself!
Anyway, for readers who have read it before, it has changed a bit; not the story, per se, but there's a lot more explanation and new stuff. So review again, if you like.
To new readers, you're lucky! You get to read the revised version! The first version really wasn't that bad, but I just had such a hankering to perfect it, that I couldn't help myself. So enjoy and review!
This is my fastest paced story, so don't fret that chapters aren't very long. Otherwise it would be boring, and that's the way I wanted to write it.
Love,
Emma the NazgulQueen