Ashes to Ashes
Chapter 1 : Women and War
In Mehan, women were expected to be prim and proper, but not as delicate as flowers as some realms brought up their women. Along with etiquette, dancing, and sewing, ladies were taught as the grew, they learned fencing and defensive measures to take during wars and invasions just as the men of the kingdom were. Everyone one, from the lowest peasant to the King and Queen, knew how to battle. Now, we were not a war orientated kingdom, on the contrary, we were quite peaceful. The original reason for this training was because Mehan has a huge coastline, making pirate raids quite common, but some king of the past discovered that having both genders able to go to war beneficial. Of course, the King and men were sent first. Then, if the men weren't fairing well, a messenger was sent and the Queen gathered in women and readied them for battle. This has occurred only once in my lifetime; I was six at the time. Needless to say the young, elderly, sickly, and those is a certain conditions weren't called to war, but my mother was none of these. My father had already left six months earlier and now it was her turn. The day she left, she hugged me close and let warm tears fall into my raven curls.
I looked up at her, "Mommy, don't cry. You and Daddy shall return soon and we'll be a happy family again."
"I love you, sweets," my mother said in her melodic, soft voice, "and I'll miss you."
"I love you, too, Mommy," I said reaching up and circling my mother's neck with my small arms.
My mother kissed my forehead tenderly, "I'll be home as soon as I can. Be good, sweets."
Those were her last words to me.
"Now, Mom, are you sure you can keep up with Ellana?"
"Yes dear," the smooth, warm sound of my grandmother's voice answered.
"Well, take care of yourself and her," Mom's voice sounded sad and distant, "Don't worry about me too much, okay?"
"I'll try not to."
They embraced, and those were the last moments I remember of my mother's life.
The next six months of the war flew by as if I had only blinked my eyes. My father swept into the house and scooped me into his strong arms.
"War's over, my little raven!" he cooed at me. I giggled. "Where's your mother, sweets?" he asked as he began moving room to room with me on his hip.
"Daddy," I squinted my eyes and wrinkled my nose, a habit I had when something confused me, "Mommy went to war. Didn't you know?"
"Oh," my father said with disappointment, "I suppose she'll be home in the next few days..."
The next day, a knock came at the door. I ran to open it, hoping to see my mother's beautiful face. Instead, I was greeted my a stern, solemn looking gentlemen with a sharp nose and straw colored hair. All the joy in my face was replaced by my squint and a wrinkled nose.
"Hello?" I questioned. "Is your father home, little girl?"
"Yes, he's in the study. Hold on, I'll send someone to get him," I walked over to the staircase where I saw our manservant, Alexander.
"Could you please go get my father?" I asked politely.
"Yes, little Miss," he smiled brightly at me.
I smiled back. I severely doubt either of us would have been smiling if we has known the news the man wearing the royal colors held in store for us.
"He'll be down in a minute," I said returning to the door.
"Thank you, little Mistress," he said stiffly.
There was a pause. I opened my mouth to ask some sill and unimportant question, when my father bellowed.
"Hello, good herald!"
"Duke Resington," the man said with a curt bow," I have pressing news for you. May I speak to you in private," the herald said eyeing me.
Father's brow furrowed, "Yes, of course," he said skirting around me and stepping outside.
I ran into the drawing room, where my grandmother sat cross-stitching.
"Grandmother," trying to sound adult at seven, "there's a herald here!" I said excitedly.
It wasn't everyday a herald came to the house. This was when I learned that not all news heralds brought was good news.
My grandmother smiled at me and patted the cushion next to her. I flopped down, still rebelling to listening the instructions my governess gave me on how to sit lady-like for the last two months. My grandmother laughed heartily.
Then, Father walked into the room. His face as pales as a ghost's. He looked as though his whole world had just ended. He absolutely refused to look me in the face.
"Catriona," he drew breath, "is dead...." he trailed off into sobs.
My grand mother clutched her chest and fainted.
I wailed. I wailed endlessly for a complete hour. After that I didn't talk; I couldn't talk for that matter.
My father had been right. Mother did arrive home in the next few day; just not in the fashion we wished she would have arrived.
A/N: Hey! Well I hope you enjoyed the first installment of my story. Sorry I know it wasn't the best but I felt I needed to explain the kingdom and such. Well, till next time! Smile! Oh and if you see any mistakes please point them out. This was the rougher draft because it wouldn't load the good one. :-( But I think I caught everything.