p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; text-align: center;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Only You my Queen/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""At the date of your 16th year you shall be married to Baron Loric's son Lorcen. There shall be no objections. Your time of being a child is up. It is time you started behaving like royalty." All I could do was blink in astonishment. A wedding at 16. Who would have thought that my father would stoop so low? I took a deep breath and looked to the king./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Yes, Father." I said curtsying. One month was all I had. A month to change my future.s/s/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"And," He said, eyes glinting, "your nurses have been discharged and attendants have been chosen. Behave wisely or you will regret it." He stalked out of my room, followed by his attendants and guards. A few of the guards at the back glared at me and I stuck out my tongue. They turned away quickly, clearly, they did not expect that behavior so soon after my father had delivered such news. I shut the door and turned to face my attendants. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"What duties are you assigned to preform for me?" I asked them. One of the ladies in the front made eye contact with the others and stepped forward./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Our duty is to serve you in all things, excepting what only Your Highness can do."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I assume that includes dressing and undressing me?" They all nodded, seemingly happy with a question they all knew the answer to. I laughed, who could be happy about such a perverse thing? They shifted, clearly uncomfortable./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Listen to me. All of you will stay out of my room any time I am inside. If you wish to tidy it when I am gone you may do that. No one will touch me, or I will see you punished. If I specifically praise you, pride yourself in it, but that does not mean you have any privileges above the others. If I ask, do the things I tell you without complaint. After all, I am royalty." I smiled coldly at the last words and an attendant at the back shifted back a step. I pointed to her. "You shall come and speak to me privately in my rooms." I gestured for the other attendants to go outside. None of them moved. I took a step forward and they went as a flock, with the one I had pointed at hanging back./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI stepped out of the door to my room and into the outer room, right into the arms of a guard. I stepped back and glanced up at him, even though he was only a few inches taller than I. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Your Highness." He said bowing./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""What are you doing here?" I demanded. My father was guarding my room now as well?/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I was ordered by the king to guard your door. Another soldier will replace me in a few hours."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Oh." I turned back and shut the door. I walked back to the middle of the room where the attendant was still standing. She was breathing fast and trying to calm her shaking. I motioned for her to come and walked to my vanity. It was beautiful, with polished birch wood flecked with golden glints. I pulled out the chair and she started forward, as if she was going to take it out for me./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Sit." Her eyes widened, but she did as she was told. "What is your name?" I asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""M-mira Your Highness." Her hands where very visibly trembling, even though she was trying to hide them in to folds of her gown. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Mira, did you wish to take this job, or did my father make you?" I was standing in front of her, with trousers on and my long brown hair wild./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I w-wanted to come." Her breath was coming faster now, and she seemed to be ready to faint./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Mira, I hope that you can more personally serve me than the rest of the attendants." She looked up sharply, meeting my gaze for the first time. She had lovely green eyes and high cheekbones. I highly doubted she had wanted to come, but people would or could do anything when scared for their lives. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""You shall be the one to wake me at the time I say." I handed her a replica of the key that hung around my neck. "This will unlock the door, I hope that you do not betray my trust. Only remember, all that is hidden is always found, but in the open it won't be seen. Now go and tell the others the last piece of advice, but only say otherwise as necessary." Mira got up and left, tucking the key into a pocket. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"I walked over to the vanity and sat, opening the top left drawer. A brush nestled at the bottom, surrounded by makeup assortments. I sighed, fishing around for it. The king didn't seem to understand that I didn't need or want makeup. Hundreds of times I had told him I had it on and he had believed me without a second glance. I shut out the thought that maybe it was because I was actually beautiful. Shaking my head, I found the brush and started unsnarling the knots that always popped up overnight. Finally, I had all the knots out, but my hair was still a mess. I put on one of my dresses, even though I thought they were all much to elaborate. I would be the king's pretty puppet, and strike when the time was right. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"I opened the door and nearly bumped into the guard again. He moved, but it still took about a minute which was much to long in my eyes. All the attendants stood from where they had been sitting and gasped. Clearly, they had never expected me to clean up./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Which one of you thinks they can do hair?" All of them put up their hands, but two had a bit of hesitation. "Who can do my hair in under five minutes?" Only one attendant halfheartedly put her hand up. I motioned for her to come. I glared at the guard who must be slow of mind, staring at be the way he was. So what if I had never really dressed up a single day of my adult life? I was still the same person./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"A few minutes later I came out with my hair piled neatly on my head and a twisting gold leaf circlet settled in my hair. I wore the matching necklace and earrings, glad that the attendant hadn't tried to over step the rules I had put in place. The attendant's eyes had widened, but they hadn't made any noise this time. The guard was staring at me again and I glared at him. He stopped obviously staring at me but snuck glances every few seconds./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""What are your orders regarding me leaving my room?" I asked the guard and attendants./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I am to stay with you were ever you go." They guard answered./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""We to are to follow you." The attendant who had spoken before said./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Very well." I brushed by them and began walking towards the dining hall. Lunch would be finishing up at this point. The guard made an attempt to pass me and I glared at him. Did he really think I knew so little of the palace layout? I sped up a bit and he fell back next to the attendants who were following a few steps behind me. We got to the dining hall and I paused next to the entrance./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""All of you shall wait here." The guard opened his mouth as if to object and I glared at him. I turned and walked into the dining hall. My back straight, my head held high. The very embodiment of a future queen. Almost all eyes on the long table turned toward me. I heard a few whispers but ignored them. I stalked over to the king's side of the table. He, my mother and two older brothers where deep in conversation. The dining hall had fallen silent and I coughed, the sound echoing off the walls. They all looked up to see what had happened and saw me. Their eyes widened, and my mother's hand went to her heart./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Father," I said curtsying. "Do you think me a child now?" My face was stone. I would not cry, I would not smile. He was counting the last days of his reign./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""No, I do not." He had recovered the quickest and was ready when I spoke. I curtsied again and moved to sit at the empty seat next to my second oldest brother./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"New warm food had been placed at my seat, but I didn't touch it. I raked my gaze across those who were staring at me. Almost all of them glanced away. Finally I ate my sweet buttered roll, but none of the meat. I beckoned to a server boy and he gave be some wine. It was dark red and not very appealing. I had just started to drink wine the year before. I sighed, and put my lips to the cup, after all appearances are everything./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Finally, lunch was over. My father stood to go, and I confronted him. "Father, may I pick my own guards from the barracks? The one I have now seems rather slow." My father shrugged./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I suppose, but you must keep one with you at all times."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Yes father." I said and curtsied. I turned and walked back to the entrance. My attendants and guard where still standing there, and they came towards me. I sighed but walked towards the back of the palace with them following me like dogs. Three of the attendants started flagging a bit and I sent them to get bread and candied nuts to eat in my room. Today had been very disappointing and I didn't plan on going anywhere near the king unless I needed to, or he requested me./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI got to the back entrance of the palace and paused in front of the doors. The guards were staring at me with their eyes wide. I sighed and removed my necklace and earrings and pulled out the pins holding my hair up. I unbuttoned the back of my dress easily, letting it slide to the floor. I picked it up and gave it to Mira who had stayed with me, and the attendant who had spoken first. I went back to the guards, standing in trousers and a boy's shirt, with my gold circlet snuggled deep in my overly messy hair. The guards had recovered, and they just looked at me./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I hope you can contain your amazement." I said, glaring at them. "Now open the door." They complied, almost knocking their heads as they hurried. I strode past them, walking past the trimmed hedge of the castle garden. I continued walking, wishing I didn't have to take the attendants and guard along with me. I had wanted to look like a servant, but that was ruined now. I came to the entrance of the barracks and turned to my entourage. We were in an inlet where we couldn't easily be seen or heard, something I had known for a long time. I turned to the guard./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You are dismissed from my service, I shall be choosing my own guards, and that does not include you." The guard just stood there blinking. "You may be dismissed from the king's service forever and as compensation you will receive a gold rose." I handed it to him and he took it numbly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Thank you for your service." He would be well off, whichever path he chose to take. The gold rose would easily pay for a large farm the size of which most people could only dream of owning. I turned to the attendants. "You both shall wait here. I am fully guarded, and I have no request of assistance. You may sit at the bench over there." I said, pointing./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI walked into the head lieutenant's office and closed the door. It was only a few feet away from the entrance and clearly marked. The lieutenant looked up and went back to work. I laughed, and he looked back up and went back to work. I walked to the back of the room and started messing with his papers./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Hmm… this one says that Ada needs to grow up. So, you decided to get rid of me huh?" I saw him hide his grin and I smiled. Eli had been the one that taught me I didn't have to be the pretty princess who couldn't think for herself. He was nine years older than me and had changed a lot since he had become a man. I could still get his otherwise serious demeanor to lift for a few seconds, but it was getting harder and harder./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"So why have you come this time?" Eli asked me, turning in his chair to look at me./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"What makes you think I came for something?" I asked, leaning back on one of the tables in the back of the room. He raised his eyebrows and I laughed. "So, I did come for something, but not because I wanted to. Father is making me keep a guard and attendants. They follow me where ever I go."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"So?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You have guards, I don't like the one I have, so I need to pick a few different ones."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I knew you wanted something." He said, leaning back in his chair. "Tell you what, you can pick a few guards, and I'll talk to the captain about any other ones."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"That will be fine." I smiled and hugged him. "Thanks."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Anything for my little cousin." He said, then muttered "Not that she wouldn't get it anyway." I laughed and walked out of his room, closing the door behind me./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI walked down the hall, causing some of the passing guards to look at me strangely. I had only ever gone to my cousin's office and never to the mess hall. They noticed the circlet in my hair and I motioned for all of them to follow me. I walked towards the mess hall, my entourage growing much, much bigger. I arrived at the door and all the soldiers who had been eating came to look at the commotion. When they noticed me, they all started bowing and the hall became quiet. I walked a few more steps and stood on a chair so they could see me, as I was a few inches shorter than almost all of them./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I am Princess Ada, and my father, the king has ordered that I should have a guard with me at all times. I have chosen to pick my own. Now I would like the handsomest men to go over there," I said pointing to the right side of the room, "and the other men that are left to go over there." I got down from the chair and walked over to the entrance and reached under the bush next the entrance. The rope I had dropped when I went in was still there and I grabbed it. I saw many nervous looks as I walked over to where the barrack boys where watching the action. I reached into my pocket and grabbed a silver for each boy. I handed them the rope and one coin each and directed them to stand at one side until my signal. They nodded, eager to please. I strode back to the middle of the room and stood on the chair. There was a flurry of action and the soldiers stopped moving. I nodded to the barrack boys and they threaded in between the sides, keeping them apart./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"As you can see, I have employed measures to stop anyone from switching sides. I also happen to be on the so called ugly side." I saw a few alarmed looked as I got down from my chair and strode over to the handsome side. "Charm isn't everything. All of you on this side go out and do your duties or wait as we will be done shortly." When they had all gone out of the room I dismissed the barrack boys and turned back to the "ugly side". They were all looking at me in relative astonishment, clearly surprised to have made it. I stood on the chair again, and their anxious whispers quieted./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Now, all the archers go over there," I said pointing, "and the sword men stay here." The men were looking at each other, obviously anxious, assuming it was another trick. "Don't worry! One soldier out of each side will be chosen." Their confidence reinforced, they hurried to their sides./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Now everybody point, who is the most uncaring person in the entire army?" Most of the men just stood there, but a few men where pointing towards the back where a few people had massed around a single man. "Come forward." The man came forward and bowed. He was of middle age and seemed to be in shape, but who was I to judge? He looked older than his years…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Pick a man from each side, not the best or the worst." The man nodded and walked around for a minute. He came forward with a younger sword fighter and an older man with greying hair./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I have chosen these three as my guards, there is one more spot open and you all may chose who will fill it. Talk to Eli once you have decided." I jumped off the chair and motioned for the soldiers to follow me. That had been fun, and now I had men I could improve. I stopped at Eli's office and told him what I had done, he didn't seem very pleased. I laughed, telling him to lighten up. I told him to find one more guard of his choice to guard during the night. When I left the office, I dismissed the guards the uncaring man had chosen and told them to meet me tomorrow at dawn at the training grounds as I wanted to see their skill level./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"I walked back to the bench with the guard trailing me. He really did seem rather uncaring…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""At the date of your 16th year you shall be married to Baron Loric's son Lorcen. There shall be no objections. Your time of being a child is up. It is time you started behaving like royalty." All I could do was blink in astonishment. A wedding at 16. Who would have thought that my father would stoop so low? I took a deep breath and looked to the king./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Yes, Father." I said curtsying. One month was all I had. A month to change my future.s/s/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"And," He said, eyes glinting, "your nurses have been discharged and attendants have been chosen. Behave wisely or you will regret it." He stalked out of my room, followed by his attendants and guards. A few of the guards at the back glared at me and I stuck out my tongue. They turned away quickly, clearly, they did not expect that behavior so soon after my father had delivered such news. I shut the door and turned to face my attendants. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"What duties are you assigned to preform for me?" I asked them. One of the ladies in the front made eye contact with the others and stepped forward./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Our duty is to serve you in all things, excepting what only Your Highness can do."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I assume that includes dressing and undressing me?" They all nodded, seemingly happy with a question they all knew the answer to. I laughed, who could be happy about such a perverse thing? They shifted, clearly uncomfortable./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Listen to me. All of you will stay out of my room any time I am inside. If you wish to tidy it when I am gone you may do that. No one will touch me, or I will see you punished. If I specifically praise you, pride yourself in it, but that does not mean you have any privileges above the others. If I ask, do the things I tell you without complaint. After all, I am royalty." I smiled coldly at the last words and an attendant at the back shifted back a step. I pointed to her. "You shall come and speak to me privately in my rooms." I gestured for the other attendants to go outside. None of them moved. I took a step forward and they went as a flock, with the one I had pointed at hanging back./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI stepped out of the door to my room and into the outer room, right into the arms of a guard. I stepped back and glanced up at him, even though he was only a few inches taller than I. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Your Highness." He said bowing./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""What are you doing here?" I demanded. My father was guarding my room now as well?/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I was ordered by the king to guard your door. Another soldier will replace me in a few hours."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Oh." I turned back and shut the door. I walked back to the middle of the room where the attendant was still standing. She was breathing fast and trying to calm her shaking. I motioned for her to come and walked to my vanity. It was beautiful, with polished birch wood flecked with golden glints. I pulled out the chair and she started forward, as if she was going to take it out for me./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Sit." Her eyes widened, but she did as she was told. "What is your name?" I asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""M-mira Your Highness." Her hands where very visibly trembling, even though she was trying to hide them in to folds of her gown. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Mira, did you wish to take this job, or did my father make you?" I was standing in front of her, with trousers on and my long brown hair wild./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I w-wanted to come." Her breath was coming faster now, and she seemed to be ready to faint./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Mira, I hope that you can more personally serve me than the rest of the attendants." She looked up sharply, meeting my gaze for the first time. She had lovely green eyes and high cheekbones. I highly doubted she had wanted to come, but people would or could do anything when scared for their lives. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""You shall be the one to wake me at the time I say." I handed her a replica of the key that hung around my neck. "This will unlock the door, I hope that you do not betray my trust. Only remember, all that is hidden is always found, but in the open it won't be seen. Now go and tell the others the last piece of advice, but only say otherwise as necessary." Mira got up and left, tucking the key into a pocket. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"I walked over to the vanity and sat, opening the top left drawer. A brush nestled at the bottom, surrounded by makeup assortments. I sighed, fishing around for it. The king didn't seem to understand that I didn't need or want makeup. Hundreds of times I had told him I had it on and he had believed me without a second glance. I shut out the thought that maybe it was because I was actually beautiful. Shaking my head, I found the brush and started unsnarling the knots that always popped up overnight. Finally, I had all the knots out, but my hair was still a mess. I put on one of my dresses, even though I thought they were all much to elaborate. I would be the king's pretty puppet, and strike when the time was right. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"I opened the door and nearly bumped into the guard again. He moved, but it still took about a minute which was much to long in my eyes. All the attendants stood from where they had been sitting and gasped. Clearly, they had never expected me to clean up./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Which one of you thinks they can do hair?" All of them put up their hands, but two had a bit of hesitation. "Who can do my hair in under five minutes?" Only one attendant halfheartedly put her hand up. I motioned for her to come. I glared at the guard who must be slow of mind, staring at be the way he was. So what if I had never really dressed up a single day of my adult life? I was still the same person./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"A few minutes later I came out with my hair piled neatly on my head and a twisting gold leaf circlet settled in my hair. I wore the matching necklace and earrings, glad that the attendant hadn't tried to over step the rules I had put in place. The attendant's eyes had widened, but they hadn't made any noise this time. The guard was staring at me again and I glared at him. He stopped obviously staring at me but snuck glances every few seconds./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""What are your orders regarding me leaving my room?" I asked the guard and attendants./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I am to stay with you were ever you go." They guard answered./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""We to are to follow you." The attendant who had spoken before said./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Very well." I brushed by them and began walking towards the dining hall. Lunch would be finishing up at this point. The guard made an attempt to pass me and I glared at him. Did he really think I knew so little of the palace layout? I sped up a bit and he fell back next to the attendants who were following a few steps behind me. We got to the dining hall and I paused next to the entrance./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""All of you shall wait here." The guard opened his mouth as if to object and I glared at him. I turned and walked into the dining hall. My back straight, my head held high. The very embodiment of a future queen. Almost all eyes on the long table turned toward me. I heard a few whispers but ignored them. I stalked over to the king's side of the table. He, my mother and two older brothers where deep in conversation. The dining hall had fallen silent and I coughed, the sound echoing off the walls. They all looked up to see what had happened and saw me. Their eyes widened, and my mother's hand went to her heart./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Father," I said curtsying. "Do you think me a child now?" My face was stone. I would not cry, I would not smile. He was counting the last days of his reign./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""No, I do not." He had recovered the quickest and was ready when I spoke. I curtsied again and moved to sit at the empty seat next to my second oldest brother./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"New warm food had been placed at my seat, but I didn't touch it. I raked my gaze across those who were staring at me. Almost all of them glanced away. Finally I ate my sweet buttered roll, but none of the meat. I beckoned to a server boy and he gave be some wine. It was dark red and not very appealing. I had just started to drink wine the year before. I sighed, and put my lips to the cup, after all appearances are everything./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Finally, lunch was over. My father stood to go, and I confronted him. "Father, may I pick my own guards from the barracks? The one I have now seems rather slow." My father shrugged./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I suppose, but you must keep one with you at all times."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Yes father." I said and curtsied. I turned and walked back to the entrance. My attendants and guard where still standing there, and they came towards me. I sighed but walked towards the back of the palace with them following me like dogs. Three of the attendants started flagging a bit and I sent them to get bread and candied nuts to eat in my room. Today had been very disappointing and I didn't plan on going anywhere near the king unless I needed to, or he requested me./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI got to the back entrance of the palace and paused in front of the doors. The guards were staring at me with their eyes wide. I sighed and removed my necklace and earrings and pulled out the pins holding my hair up. I unbuttoned the back of my dress easily, letting it slide to the floor. I picked it up and gave it to Mira who had stayed with me, and the attendant who had spoken first. I went back to the guards, standing in trousers and a boy's shirt, with my gold circlet snuggled deep in my overly messy hair. The guards had recovered, and they just looked at me./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I hope you can contain your amazement." I said, glaring at them. "Now open the door." They complied, almost knocking their heads as they hurried. I strode past them, walking past the trimmed hedge of the castle garden. I continued walking, wishing I didn't have to take the attendants and guard along with me. I had wanted to look like a servant, but that was ruined now. I came to the entrance of the barracks and turned to my entourage. We were in an inlet where we couldn't easily be seen or heard, something I had known for a long time. I turned to the guard./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You are dismissed from my service, I shall be choosing my own guards, and that does not include you." The guard just stood there blinking. "You may be dismissed from the king's service forever and as compensation you will receive a gold rose." I handed it to him and he took it numbly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Thank you for your service." He would be well off, whichever path he chose to take. The gold rose would easily pay for a large farm the size of which most people could only dream of owning. I turned to the attendants. "You both shall wait here. I am fully guarded, and I have no request of assistance. You may sit at the bench over there." I said, pointing./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI walked into the head lieutenant's office and closed the door. It was only a few feet away from the entrance and clearly marked. The lieutenant looked up and went back to work. I laughed, and he looked back up and went back to work. I walked to the back of the room and started messing with his papers./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Hmm… this one says that Ada needs to grow up. So, you decided to get rid of me huh?" I saw him hide his grin and I smiled. Eli had been the one that taught me I didn't have to be the pretty princess who couldn't think for herself. He was nine years older than me and had changed a lot since he had become a man. I could still get his otherwise serious demeanor to lift for a few seconds, but it was getting harder and harder./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"So why have you come this time?" Eli asked me, turning in his chair to look at me./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"What makes you think I came for something?" I asked, leaning back on one of the tables in the back of the room. He raised his eyebrows and I laughed. "So, I did come for something, but not because I wanted to. Father is making me keep a guard and attendants. They follow me where ever I go."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"So?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You have guards, I don't like the one I have, so I need to pick a few different ones."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I knew you wanted something." He said, leaning back in his chair. "Tell you what, you can pick a few guards, and I'll talk to the captain about any other ones."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"That will be fine." I smiled and hugged him. "Thanks."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Anything for my little cousin." He said, then muttered "Not that she wouldn't get it anyway." I laughed and walked out of his room, closing the door behind me./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI walked down the hall, causing some of the passing guards to look at me strangely. I had only ever gone to my cousin's office and never to the mess hall. They noticed the circlet in my hair and I motioned for all of them to follow me. I walked towards the mess hall, my entourage growing much, much bigger. I arrived at the door and all the soldiers who had been eating came to look at the commotion. When they noticed me, they all started bowing and the hall became quiet. I walked a few more steps and stood on a chair so they could see me, as I was a few inches shorter than almost all of them./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I am Princess Ada, and my father, the king has ordered that I should have a guard with me at all times. I have chosen to pick my own. Now I would like the handsomest men to go over there," I said pointing to the right side of the room, "and the other men that are left to go over there." I got down from the chair and walked over to the entrance and reached under the bush next the entrance. The rope I had dropped when I went in was still there and I grabbed it. I saw many nervous looks as I walked over to where the barrack boys where watching the action. I reached into my pocket and grabbed a silver for each boy. I handed them the rope and one coin each and directed them to stand at one side until my signal. They nodded, eager to please. I strode back to the middle of the room and stood on the chair. There was a flurry of action and the soldiers stopped moving. I nodded to the barrack boys and they threaded in between the sides, keeping them apart./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"As you can see, I have employed measures to stop anyone from switching sides. I also happen to be on the so called ugly side." I saw a few alarmed looked as I got down from my chair and strode over to the handsome side. "Charm isn't everything. All of you on this side go out and do your duties or wait as we will be done shortly." When they had all gone out of the room I dismissed the barrack boys and turned back to the "ugly side". They were all looking at me in relative astonishment, clearly surprised to have made it. I stood on the chair again, and their anxious whispers quieted./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Now, all the archers go over there," I said pointing, "and the sword men stay here." The men were looking at each other, obviously anxious, assuming it was another trick. "Don't worry! One soldier out of each side will be chosen." Their confidence reinforced, they hurried to their sides./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Now everybody point, who is the most uncaring person in the entire army?" Most of the men just stood there, but a few men where pointing towards the back where a few people had massed around a single man. "Come forward." The man came forward and bowed. He was of middle age and seemed to be in shape, but who was I to judge? He looked older than his years…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Pick a man from each side, not the best or the worst." The man nodded and walked around for a minute. He came forward with a younger sword fighter and an older man with greying hair./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I have chosen these three as my guards, there is one more spot open and you all may chose who will fill it. Talk to Eli once you have decided." I jumped off the chair and motioned for the soldiers to follow me. That had been fun, and now I had men I could improve. I stopped at Eli's office and told him what I had done, he didn't seem very pleased. I laughed, telling him to lighten up. I told him to find one more guard of his choice to guard during the night. When I left the office, I dismissed the guards the uncaring man had chosen and told them to meet me tomorrow at dawn at the training grounds as I wanted to see their skill level./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"I walked back to the bench with the guard trailing me. He really did seem rather uncaring…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p