Dying Roses
Summary: Marie Antoinette always will remain a princess at heart. Drabble- Oscar reflects.
Warning: -
Set: Marie has been queen of France for a few years already. The revolution is nearing.
Disclaimer: Standards apply.
Oscar never paid flowers attention before.
Now she sees the roses in the gardens of Versailles, the beautiful bushes that grown in the gardens of Maison De Jarjayes. They are expensive, those roses. And spoiled. They require special care and a certain atmosphere and climate. But they are beautiful, and so is Marie Antoinette.
France, Oscar can see now, was in dire need of a queen. Louis XV., may he rest in peace, was a great king. But he was a man, and as such he ruled. With Marie Antoinette's arrival from Vienna life had started to focus on the Princess more and more. Balls, gala dinners and elegant brunches had been prepared, concerts and plays for the pleasure of the Dauphine. And how the country had loved it! The splendor, the colors – the Princess. Men needed children to remember their youth and countries needed princes and princesses to remember their importance. And the people needed them, too.
Marie Antoinette, at heart, will always remain a princess. She loves her life, its splendor, her power and her freedom. Money means nothing to her. Fashion, instead, is an integral part of her life, ribbons and silks and colors, feathers and hats and fans. She always is in search of female friends, friends whom she can confide in, whom she can trust. To gain such she gives away titles and money like they are nothing, like the blood of her people does not stain it red. Her amusement is her foremost concern, even though it is only to lessen the loneliness in her heart that has been growing since Graf Fersen had left. And how everyone wants her to be happy! Her happiness shines brightly, innocent and clear. Her happiness is the happiness of the people, as long as the people are clothed and fed and content with their lives. But people are dying in the streets, from hunger and violence, and beautiful, innocent girls (they could have been Marie in another life) try to sell themselves to gain just enough money to feed their families. Meanwhile Marie Antoinette, Queen of France, lives her life, a rose in a garden full of want-to-be flowers. She is beautiful. She only does what pleases her.
Marie Antoinette, Oscar reflects, never learned how to be more than a princess. Because a queen never is free. She will always, always and foremost, be a servant to her country and her people. Marie does not see this, and perhaps she never will. She never learned how to be a queen.
Lady Oscar sees the beautiful roses in the gardens of Versailles. But it is fall, and the roses are slowly dying.