Queen Rue sat upon her throne beside her ruling husband, Mytho. She was now the second Ruler in this strange and foreign land, which she knew nothing of. She watched her husband speak kindly to a peasant she did not know. He was so good to everybody. But, that was the problem. He was so kind to everybody. He was kind to her as well, but aside from a kiss on the cheek every now and then, what was the point? Was this really all she had ever wanted? If so, why was she not happy? She was... content. But Mytho wouldn't show any passion towards her. He told her repeatedly that he loved her, but this felt no different than when she told him to say it as a puppet. She felt as if.. as if she might as well be the peasant standing before her. She could imagine herself, pleading for his passion, pleading for his love. And politely he'd say, 'But I already love you."
Rue knew much better than this. He said he'd been feeling selfish that day, that she was the only one he wanted to love more than the rest of the people.. but had he been telling the truth? Had he been speaking to the right person? She had done such horrible things to get him back, to get him permanently by her side. And now, here they were. But she yearned for so much more than this. Rue looked at her husband, and he looked back with a brief smile, a warmth in his eyes that explained his happiness.. But was that happiness.. really his love? She had awaken in the middle of the night to shelter a screaming husband, more than once. All he would scream was 'Tutu! Save me!' She had awaken many times to him staring down at her, a frown upon his face and sadness in his eyes, as if he wished she were somebody else. Had she really won once and for all? Had she really gained the love of her prince? Had she fulfilled the changed fate that Tutu was supposed to have? That Ahiru really deserved?
Rue stood up. "I'm getting a glass of water." Rue said.
"Ah, good." Mytho said with a smile, "Than you can take Penny with you."
"Penny?" Rue questioned, looking towards the peasant. She was a woman, about her age, with dark brown hair flowing to her waste, and beautiful blue eyes that Rue suspected were unseeing. And yet, they seemed to pierce her soul, and examine her thoughts with a power she had never felt before. Rue walked over to Penny and took her hand, leading her towards the kitchen.
Rue said nothing as she walked through the halls, staring straight ahead. But Penny just stared at Rue eerily. Rue could see her watching her everytime she dared to take a look.
"You've stolen what isn't yours." Penny said, finally looking away down the hall.
"What...?" Rue questioned, astonished enough to stop.
"You have stolen what isn't yours, and now you are paying the price. And ultimadum will be given to you, and for now it will suffice. Leave this place, right now you see, and bring us back the rightful Queen." Penny said, still walking down the hall. "If you don't, a wiseman said that in five days you shall be dead."
Rue was silent, her heart beating faster and faster.
"Live or Die, it's your time to choose, but either way, you're sure to lose. This punishment sent from above, is to make sure you don't receive any love. For it is love you so selfishly stole, you shall now pay the toll. Give days to fetch the rightful Queen and put her in her place, five days you have to erase your selfish face. Five days you have, and that is all to redeem your selfish act, And now I have spoken, I take my leave to make note of this terrible pact."
Rue saw 'Penny' disappear into the darkness of the hall, and she swore she felt her heart seize in fear. She had lived for three years with Mytho, why did this prophecy come now! She had been content, living with a loveless Mytho because she still loved him! But, how was she supposed to find Ahiru and get her back to normal in five days, make sure the two of them married and sat on the throne together in five days! And she hadn't known who was the right Queen... Ahiru, or Princess Tutu. Was it even one of them at all?
Rue didn't want to leave the kingdom! But... would she rather die with a loveless Mytho than see him love once more and live her whole life through, living with the agony that it wasn't her who brought back his love? They hadn't given her time to think. What story was this! This.. this twisted story had screwed up her life once more! Now she had to leave and give the person she feared the most her rightful place? As far as Rue knew, Ahiru had been a duck now for three years! She hadn't thought of that... and she had a feeling Mytho had, a lot. Did he even know that Ahiru was Princess Tutu?
Well... it had been obvious he had. The first day he got here, he told a weaver to make a silk banner, one with Ahiru, Princess Tutu, and a duck that resembled both, right in the middle of them. It had been hung up by their first month together, in Mytho's private room. He spent day after day in that room.. Rue didn't know whether he was staring at the mural, or figuring out the problems of the people. Rue had thought nothing of it as a reminder of why he was right here, this very day..
But she had been wrong. She had selfishly ignored the signs, and now, now..
She had to go.
She had to go, and now. She feared for her honor, her love, her feelings... and her life. She rushed out to the throne room, and Mytho shot her a concerned glance.
"Why are you panting? Where's Penny?" Mytho asked lightly, looking down the hallway as Penny came through and slowly moved towards the exit.
"I've got to go..." Rue said, panting heavily and taking a deep breath, "Find Ahiru."
"Why? Is something wrong with Ahiru?" Mytho asked.
And from that moment, Rue's stomach sunk towards the ground. There in his eyes, a spark. It was like a warning bell had gone off. Where was that spark when she'd run in out of breath. Did she need to scream? What did she need to do?
"I need to go. Goodbye." Rue said, running out and running to the carriages. Rue took the largest one, leaving no horses for Mytho so he couldn't escape. She hitched them up, not knowing how to properly drive a horse, but they seemed to know what they were doing. Mytho was back at the castle, shouting something she couldn't hear. Rue just shook her head. "I love you too.." Rue said, wiping her eye.
Mytho halted as he saw Rue set off into the distance. She probably couldn't hear him.. "I hope she's careful.." Mytho said, watching after her. He got a small pang in his heart as he thought of Ahiru being in trouble. He didn't know why Rue had gone.. but lately, now more than ever, he felt estranged being around Rue. She was silent, and although she looked at him as though he were the world to her.. Mytho shook his head lightly and headed back inside, worried for both Rue and Ahiru.
It was the raven's blood that had been put in his heart long ago. Over the years, it had faded, because of his demeanor and because he wasn't taken over by the evil raven. That little bit had drained, slowly but surely, and his heart was in the right place.. the place it would've been if Rue hadn't selfishly soaked his heartfelt feelings in Raven's blood. But, something else happened. From the moment the young Prince's heart was fully normal, a new book began. And now, pulled into a whole new set of stories, Rue was being pulled ever closer to the journey of her life.. one that she would never fully overcome.
And as the horses flew nearer and nearer to the town where Ahiru lay sleeping, she was already being pulled inside, never being able to escape what was coming next.
