Maddie-Queen of Diamond
Maddie sighed aloud as the sun's rays reached her face, momentarily blinding her dark violet eyes. She was seated beneath a canopy, surrounded by furniture in different hues of amber, gold, cream, and orange. It seemed everything needed to match in the palace, including her dress. Despite her entire body being covered, Maddie felt as tough she were standing naked before the world. Her gown was cream colored, with a deep neckline that showed her uncomfortably large chest, a pattern of the white outlines of diamonds, a floral design of gold shaped as lilies shining behind the white, and the entire dress was outlined in gold. Her skirt was parted to reveal a ruffled white underskirt, the layers separated by gold trimming, and her sleeves echoed her underskirt. She found it unbelievable that the gown was considered simple. The simplest parts of her outfit were her shoes, petite things of white cloth covered by gold lace resting in front of the yellow duchesse brisée Maddie lounged on, the rose-gold belt shaped into tangled thorn-covered vines with roses gathered in the center, and her blonde hair braided, coiled, and pinned behind her head in a bun, with curls at the bottom whispering against her back.
As beautiful as Maddie would have found this scene if it were delicately painted with oils, all she could focus on was how irritable she was, the cause of her sighs. The gown she wore imprisoned her in a cage of sweat stained cloth and puffy lace, which only served to cover and add to the frame of the hoop skirt. The shoes had pinched her toes and heels and caused her to stumble when balancing upon the slim heels of the torture device that dared to call itself footwear. Worst of all was the stay under her bodice. Her lungs felt as though they were to burst, and she felt her ribs being misshaped. The constant pain she was in made it hard for her to breath, and the young blonde girl had to take small breaths at an agonizingly slow pace. Even so, she tried to remain peaceful and gazed at the scenery though her horrid eyesight caused the scenic image to be blurry. The balcony of her solar revealed a perfect view of almost the entirety of the gentle slope of the gardens from beneath the terrace to the end of the Great Canal. It had crossed her mind as odd that the king did not have this view, but she assumed it be because the réinea controlled the navy.
"Réinesse," someone called out. Maddie raised her head from where it rested against her knuckles and at up to see who had spoken the foreign term to her. It was a servant girl, a serving girl she noted by the dark orange cap on her head. The female servants of the palace all wore the same clothes, a dark brown skirt, a cream colored top, and a white waistband, the only way to tell whether they were cooks, servers, maids, and whatnot being the color of their caps.
"Yes?" Maddie replied.
"The rénoi has requested your presence in the northern region of the gardens," the servant said. "He wishes to speak with you."
Maddie groaned internally at what she had just heard. She'd rather beat herself over the head with a hammer than walk over to the northern regions of the expansive gardens in stupid clothes that wanted to kill her. Still though, she quickly sat up, placed her shoes on her feet before the servant could snatch them and insist she do the job, and stood up. Now at full height, with the addition of what felt to be three-inch heels, Maddie looked at the servant girl. Specifically, she looked down at the girl. Though it was a slight difference, perhaps an inch or two, it felt odd. She was one of the shortest girls in her village and she had seen most capital girls were taller than her. It felt strange to be at least an inch taller than somebody that wasn't younger than her, but she supposed it didn't matter now knowing many of the capital girls were probably her size.
The girl nodded at Maddie in acknowledgment, and walked to the doors that led back inside the castle, knocking on the wood before two guards opened them. Maddie followed the girl's path, the short train of her overskirt flowing behind her like a river. As she followed the lead of the servant, Maddie couldn't help but notice how those around her now acted. Barely two months ago she was one of the many faceless peasants, and now everywhere she looked stood a servant with a stiff back and tight quivering lips whom was ready to chase their backside if she so commanded. Each time this happened she turned her gaze down to the floor, not knowing how to react. Some time after Maddie felt her feet begin to blister, her breathing become heavier, and her chest and lungs experience more pain, the servant girl finally opened a door to what Maddie assumed was a shortcut to the center of the northern gardens, leading Maddie through the labyrinth like structure.
It was unnecessary for Maddie to attempt to look over the hedges of the labyrinth to see if they were nearing the gazebo at the center of the northern gardens; the golden roof of the gazebo shone so brightly one might have thought a piece of the sun was captured and placed where the gazebo was, trying to definitely outshine its parent. Besides managing to live up to the title "the kingdom of gold", Diamond also held the unofficial title "the kingdom of the sun".
It was just as unnecessary for Maddie to search for the leader of Diamond and see if he truly was awaiting her in the gazebo of marble and gold. When she first arrived at the palace she was quick to learn that the king was heard before he was seen, and the girl began to attempt fixing the small problems in her appearance, not wanting to look like a bumpkin in front of the extravagant king.
"MADELEINE! I'm delighted you arrived so soon," the réinoi said, coming down the stairs in a strangely graceful sprint, his blonde curls bouncing atop his shoulders with each step though they were tied by a red ribbon, and his lean arms spread wide before engulfing Maddie in a hug. As quickly as he had picked her up, she then found her heeled feet safely placed on the hard ground rather than dangling in the air.
"Uh-um it's an honor to see you this morning Miejo Réinoi!" Maddie stammered aloud, not knowing how she managed to form a sentence. She felt her cheeks flush from embarrassment. It was only her third time meeting to the réinoi, and her first time speaking to him. She didn't know the proper way to introduce herself. Suddenly remembering what she'd learned during her lessons, the young girl did a small clumsy curtsy.
"Madeleine, there is no need for you to be so formal around me!" the réinoi said, waving a rather hairy palm in a summoning motion. For what seemed like a formal meeting, the king was dressed rather casually, or as casually as the ruler of a kingdom could, with knee high black leather boots, white breeches, an orange waistband decorated with gold thread, and a red vest with golden buttons over a white silk top, its sleeved rolled up to his elbows. He resembled a sunset.
Maddie suddenly felt her body be dragged up the marble staircase. She would have tripped over her heels and dress had it not been for the hands around her waist and arm. Her head felt as though it were spinning in the brief moment she settled down as she plopped herself most unceremoniously atop the plush cushion of the chair the réinoi pulled out for her.
"I am sorry for my sudden request of this meeting. I apologize for if I pulled you away from your activities," the réinoi said as he seated himself gracefully. Maddie took her chance to study the réinoi, noting his hair resembled wheat more than the golden shade it was rumored to be, and his eyes were a deeper shade of blue than the sapphires on her gown. "I'm sure you were doing something much more interesting than conversing with myself."
The réinoi waved over a server who brought forth a porcelain tea set with what looked to be hand-painted gold floral designs. Another servant, a boy much younger than the first and perhaps only ten years of age, began helping the older servant place saucers, cups, spoons, and other such things. Maddie noticed that the boy had misplaced nearly all the spoons. Quickly holding onto the back of his shirt to stop him from continuing his errors, Maddie took the spoons on her side, placed them on her lap, and rearranged them in their proper places, making sure to keep her eyes on the réinoi as he continued to prattle on. Once finished, the blonde girl patted the boy's back and gave a soft knowing smile before the boy looked at her sheepishly and turned to place more items.
"Madeleine?"
"Oh, yes Miejo Réinoi?" Maddie replied, looking back at the réinoi with a soft blush, realizing he noticed she hadn't paid him any mind. She stressed out his title in the squeaky voice she carried when embarrassed.
"Please, you are to be my equal soon enough. You're young, a beautiful flower ready to blossom in the springtime, so enjoy your youth while it lasts and do me the honor of calling me by my name, François!" As he spoke, his voice was highly dramatized, and multiple grand gestures were made as his arms spread apart widely.
Maddie remained silent in a slight stupor. How was she even supposed to respond? She had heard rumors that the Diamond ruler was notorious for being a bit flamboyant and at times a bit feminine . . .. This was just another entirely different situation though. She continued giving the king an incredulous look until she realized it would seem offensive and quickly returned to her calm composure. Around her she had the faint hidden laughs and chortles of servants. Her cheeks flushed and she looked down at her lap. She sighed for the sack of sound after her silence and asked, "What about during council meetings?"
François' face became sobered as he spoke. ""Once you are able to join the court, you are to refer to me as Réinoi Bonnefoi, as I am to refer to you as Réinea . . . Oh!" the réinoi suddenly gasped, rather femininely, with hand going up to cover his mouth. "Forgive me floer, but I'm afraid your last name escapes me."
"My family name is Densen-"
"Of course! As I was saying, once you are part of the court, and only when we are in council meetings, you shall address me as Réinoi Bonnefoi and I shall address you as Réinea Densen," the réinoi said, his hand gently grasping the cup and saucer the elder server gave, already having finished mixing in whatever it was the wheat-haired man liked in his tea. He took a sip and hummed with a pleasant smile before setting the cup down on the saucer and saying, "Outside of this though, all the court members refer to each other by their first name. Except for Basch, the Velon, he's always one for formalities except with his wife, Erika. She is our Maîfièch. And you are to call me François from this moment on." He took another sip of his drink.
"Of course . . . François," the violet-eyed girl said, adding the réinoi's- François' name as an afterthought to please him. Looking back to the servant whose hand hovered over one of the many tea pots, she asked if there was any jasmine. When her mother saved enough money, she went out to buy the mix of black leaves, pale yellow petals, and buds, then return home for only she and Maddie to enjoy the soothing drink as none of their other family members enjoyed tea. With a quick nod, the servant poured the tea in her cup before adding the milk, honey, and sugar she then asked for.
Turning back to the king she shyly looked up at him from beneath her lashes. What did he call me here for? Even if the he did seem the slightest . . . frivolous, he didn't seem nearly as silly as the lordly family she sometimes served. Maddie felt herself sink into the plush cushions of her seat thinking about what the réinoi possibly summoned her for, none of the ideas being pleasant. The worst was the thought that she wasn't who they thought she was and would punish her. No one in the last two hundred years was foolish enough to change his or her mark though. The blonde girl twitched her left foot as she felt a sudden spark on her ankle where her mark was. She reached for her cup and took a long drink to relax herself before speaking.
"Mie- François, I don't want to be rude, but what did you bring me hear for?" Maddie asked. She felt her shoulders rise and her chin lower to her neck as she hesitantly looked at the man, not sure how he would react to the sudden interruption of the pleasantries she knew people of high status were fond of. "I-I'm sorry, but I get nervous when people don't get to the point about why they need me. I just end up thinking bad things." Not looking up, Maddie took another long sip from her cup, this time to have something to comment on in case some tension appeared.
To her surprise, the réinoi returned her question with a pout on his Cupid's bow lips that would have made the brothel whores burn with jealousy. He then grinned mischievously, his vest rustling as he sat his cup in its saucer and propped an elbow on the table, chin resting in his palm. The simple white ribbon around his neck was a stark contrast to the daring red vest, and the vest's golden buttons shone brightly when the sunlight hit them. "Well miejo carie, if you wish to speed this up, I'm sure I wouldn't mind too much. You are rather developed for your age."
Maddie sputtered furiously, choking on the scalding hot tea that entered her lungs. Not bothering to notice the presence of the fearful, fretting, François, or the surrounding servants, the blonde girl beat her fist against her chest, not caring if it only served to hurt her more because of the stay and jewels across her front. She chugged her tea like she saw her brothers chug their wineskin and set the cup down harshly, flinching at the loud clink made before gasping for breath and something for her scalding tongue and throat. The girl could still hear François in the background apologizing and sending a servant to fetch something cold. Maddie continued sputtering and coughing as she called François' attention back to her. "I'm fine but please don't say something like that again!" She quickly stuck her tongue back in her mouth after realizing she had stuck it out as she spoke. She flushed knowing her words had been a warbled mess.
"Of course, of course," François quickly replied with wide worried blue eyes. "I'm deeply regretful Madeleine! I hadn't expected you to react in such a manner! My comment was only meant as a joke."
I'm sorry I missed the part where I was supposed to laugh, Maddie thought as a servant arrived at her side with a cup full of bubbling champagne. The drink was foreign to her, and the strange, fizzing, bubbly taste of the alcohol combined with the burning sensation as it ran down her throat would have made her start coughing again had it not been for the fact that her older siblings would steal liquor from the local taverns and brothels and drink with her.
"I suppose I should explain why I brought you here and leave you to yourself," François said, continuing as Maddie only nodded in response. Her cheeks once more felt hot, and she cursed herself for reacting after barely a few gulps of her drink. "I suppose there is no way to put this delicately. Then again, when the queen before you approached me, she did this in a similar fashion, so I suppose it shall settle your mind as well as mine if I confront you in this manner."
"Confront me about what?" Maddie asked. She thanked the northern gods as cool breeze passed by.
"About . . . the requirements, you will be expected to fill," François said, his usually languid body know becoming stiff as he sat straight in his seat, his shoulders broadening and smile lessening. Now without any features of his relaxed figure, the blonde girl could see the air of command she expected of a réinoi. "As Diamond's réinea there are of course positions of power that come with your title, as to be expected."
Maddie nodded as he continued.
These . . . requirements," he began, seeming to struggle when he spoke the second word, "are rather . . . costly, I suppose is the best way I can put it simply. I fear that the reason for why our past réinea departed, because she could no longer handle the price of the requirements."
A cold feeling ran throughout Maddie but she did not shiver. She reacted with a jerk of her foot as she felt fire course through her veins. Thankfully the réinoi hadn't noticed. She looked at François wearily and slowly asked, "Am I allowed to know what these requirements might be? And their costs?"
François opened his mouth but quickly closed it. An audible huff left his lips as Maddie sat straight in her seat and watched the man struggle to find his words. Dread clung to the inside of her skin like wet velvet. It didn't leave as François spoke, his voice like a melody covering terrible words. "While you will not understand why I tell you this now, you will understand later and be thankful for this, just as I was when the réinea told me. I am afraid certain things can only be said after the coronation. You might run away in fright if you were to hear of the responsibilities now. A precaution the original rulers created for these times," François replied, voice deepening and lowering to a gentle hum as he brought his cup to his lips.
Maddie felt her breath hitch in the moment her heart dropped to her stomach. Her eyes that now looked down at her lap began to feel dry and itchy from not blinking and she felt her body unconsciously lean back into her seat. What have I gotten myself into?
"I do have something to tell you though."
Her head quickly shot up, blonde curls jumping upward against her shoulders. Her brows furrowed in concentration as she leaned forward and felt her skirt gather in her fisted palms. If this was the only information she was being given she needed to know it.
"You have so many wonderful choices of what to wear for your coronation!" François suddenly exclaimed, his flamboyant spirit appearing as he leapt from his seat and spread out his arms like an eagle taking flight. Or perhaps a peacock revealing its feathers and crooning would have made a more suitable comparison. Maddie felt her mind was slowly becoming used to this strange man before her as he prattled on, this time only widening her eyes. "The decorators love your eyes and because the color matches them, they've decided to use the color throughout all the decorations. On that note, the colors of your dress will be matching the décor, but we don't want you to blend in of course, mun petòt iris. "
Somehow, if possible, the smile of François face grew wider and his rich blue eyes glittered as though the stars were caught in them. "Mun deu!" he cried out, his almost hysteric laughter causing some feeling of dread to begin crawling along Maddie's skin again. "That is what you will be dressed as, an iris!"
"An iris?" the girl said with a raised eyebrow, hoping the ground would swallow her so this conversation would no longer continue. She could practically feel the prison of rainbow lace, stiff corsets, and soon-to-be-blistering feet begin to choke her neck with its practically unbreakable hold. Having spent all her years until now as the youngest of the many children of a modest farmer, Maddie had never known the feeling of silk surrounding her, or the pain on her head caused by her pinned up locks and the many unnecessary ornaments placed within them, and she hadn't wanted to know how those sensations felt until she was forced learn to the minute her foot stepped out of the throne room. As much as she entertained the thought of beating down the hair of powdered-faced girls with upturned noses, she couldn't help but snicker behind her sleeves as she saw them walk, many requiring the assistance of a servant, and some deciding to limp across the floor than loose their dignity. It was such a ridiculous sight that Maddie couldn't imagine herself in such a scene.
"Yes, you'll be dressed better than the most beautiful iris in my garden!" François announced. "Have the seamstress meet me to discuss designs for myself and the réinesse," he ordered a servant whose footsteps were unheard against the rèinoi's booming voice as he called Maddie to follow him through the gardens to see the flower. The call was unnecessary as the sunset-dressed man practically dragged Maddie from her seat and out of the gazebo.
"Mie-François! Please stop!' Maddie gasped between breaths, one particular turn causing her to nearly fall out of the man's grasp. The abrupt stop was practically godsend, and her corset chocked her as she took some time to catch her breath before rolling her body back into position. The elegant hairstyle she'd been given had thankfully not fallen out of place or else she'd have servants fretting beside herself. Noting the silence of even the man she'd thought would proudly prattle about the flower, she turned her violet eyes to the older man. Seeing that réinoi's eyes were looking downwards with a strange hollow gleam, Maddie turned her own eyes toward the direction he was looking in.
It was an iris as he had said before. It was small compared to the other hundreds of lovely irises surrounding it, yet this specific iris received a place of honor, with its own small plot of dark soil surrounded by white marble fringed gold. It was indeed the lovely, though perhaps not the best in Maddie's eyes. Whereas the other lilies appeared in violet, magentas, and white lined with yellow, this iris was a bright pink at its center, which faded into white as the thick bands of dark sea-green etched itself into the white and turned the rest of the petal the same color, though this was only with some as the other petals became a faded blue-green. It was indeed a lovely flower, but one for somebody else to wear. The girl kept herself silence to please François though.
"It's gorgeous," Maddie said as she took a step forward towards the marble barrier before kneeling down beside it, careful not to soil her skirts too badly. Her chin was cradled in her palm as she took a few more moments to admire the flower before reaching out a hand to graze her fingertips along the soft petals, a habit she'd developed from running through the crops fields. Her pointer finger barely reached the soft tip of a large sea-green petal before another hand stopped her.
Maddie took in a sharp breath as her eyes widened and body stiffened, her arm that wasn't in the large hand's grasp already moving back. Just as she believed she had enough leverage to attack whoever was holding her, her stained lips opened in shock to see it was François whose hair-covered hand clenched held her wrist. Though he wore a smile, the softness at the corners of his mouth was gone, and his jaw was clenched.
"I-I'm so sorry Miejo Réinoi. I didn't realize-"
"Please, no. It was my mistake for not telling you," François countered, his voice so clipped it sent a chill through Maddie. "I should have taken the responsibility of explaining the importance of this flower to myself. I'm afraid it slipped my mind."
Maddie's mind entertained the thought of getting the réinoi to divulge his reason for why the flower was so precious. The thought that the ruler of perhaps the wealthiest kingdom in the world cherished a small flower should have sent her into hysteria had not the man she refereed to been looking at her in that moment with nearly dead eyes. Knowing better than to voice her opinions, Maddie bit the inside of her cheek, despite the pain, in order to resist her urge to smile. It was a habit she attained when nervous. "Of course, I will make sure to remember that."
Noticing the réinoi still hadn't moved his hand caused Maddie to begin sending hesitant looks to the lavish man and his palm. Should she try to move his hand and pull away? She quickly dashed the thought knowing it could be taken as an offence. Instead she opted to flex and wriggle her fingers and wrist before shyly calling the réinoi's name.
"Forgive me, miejo réinesse," the réinoi said, quickly letting go of her wrist. Maddie resisted the urge to rub her freed appendage thinking it might displease the man. "This flower is . . . it means very much to me." The blonde man said no more than that and Maddie allowed it despite curiosity's fingertips tickling the front of her mind. Instead, she nodded her head and gave a small smile.
"Thank you," he said, smiling in return. Maddie noticed that while his smile was perhaps as wide as his other smiles, it didn't cause his eyes to crinkle. She almost leapt backwards when the he suddenly gasped with a horrified expression, his hands retreating to the sides of his face and fingers grasping his forehead. His fingers pushed further upwards to where his wheat-colored locks began, and she noted a small discoloration just below the hairs.
"Oh, pason, pason, pason! I can't have a pimple on my face with your coronation approaching!" the réinoi exclaimed. He quickly walked away in the direction Maddie assumed led to a door to the palace. Cries for a beautician rang throughout the gardens.
Seeing the man who she had become momentarily frightened by suddenly become fretful over the thought of a pimple marring his face, Maddie couldn't help but laugh as she struggled keep pace with the réinoi, wondering how he was walking so quickly though he wore heels likely as high as hers. Just as she reached the steps leading into the palace halls, her skirts gathered in her hands and an amount of leg that no "proper woman" would ever dare show being revealed, Maddie heard someone call out to her.
"Réinesse! Réinesse!" a voice called from behind. Her blonde curls whipped around her as she turned to face whomever was calling her, quickly smoothening her skirt to be more presentable. She saw a boy no more than two years her junior with a face shiny with sweat and dirt on his white tunic. Two armor-clad guards stood behind him.
"Yes?"
"There is a gift waiting for you in the throne room, réinesse," the boy said, bringing his hand close to his face to wipe the sweat from it before fumbling with the belt of his trousers and producing a white envelope. "For you," he said walking forward to hand it to her.
Maddie hesitantly took the letter and whispered a small thank you, before the boy bowed and left followed by one guard as the other followed Maddie inside the hall. The clicking of her heels and the clanking of metal echoed against the floors as she turned the letter in her palm. A seal of a diamond formed on platinum-colored dried wax held the envelope together. The girl's mind went through all she had learned in her lessons about symbols remembered only two people were allowed to use the sigil of the Diamond royals: the royals themselves, and the immediate family of the royals. Even then, how the two were told apart was by the color of the wax, golden for the royals, and platinum for the family. Perhaps her family decided to give her something to show their gratitude towards her or something of the sort? Maddie chuckled at the idea. Perhaps her mother had been kind enough to do something such as this, but those moments of warmth and love were few and far between.
Deciding not to continue pondering, Maddie peeled the seal with care and reached for the parchment inside.
Matilda of the House Densen, the First of Her Name, Réinesse of the Vaincidors, Donatière of the Northwest Lands of Diamond, the Future Réinea and Defender of Diamond
To my dearest daughter, I wish for your days to be filled with nothing but luxury and a lavish lifestyle for as long as you live. You have made not only your father and I proud, but your family proud, and because of this I thought a gift would be needed to show our love. Think of this as something that will keep you from wishing for our old home, as a piece of it shall now always be with you. I send my sorrows for not being able to see you for the time you we've been separated, but I hope this shall make up for my disappearance.
Lucida of Houses Densen and Bondevik, Donaiselle of the Northwestern L ands of Diamond
Mum always like showing off how fancy she could be, Maddie thought, not realizing she'd let out a quiet bittersweet snort after reading the letter and seeing her mother refer to her as her "dearest daughter" yet not know her name. Here she now was, one of the future rulers of Diamond and her mother could still not know her name. Releasing a tired sigh she tried to instead focus on what her gift might be. There weren't many things she could think she was given as her mother was a practical woman, always thinking of long-term projects unlike Maddie's father, Symon, who liked the occasional pleasant sporadic event. Maddie always thought they made for an odd couple but respected the quiet understanding and balance they held.
"Réinesse," the guard said, bring Maddie out of her thoughts. He stood in front of a door held open by guards in front. She closed the letter, putting her hands behind her back and wringing the paper to relieve her fears somehow, and sped up her walk. The girl walked with as much grace as she could manage, heels clicking against the floor, back straight, and stomach tucked in, the mantra of "a réinea does not walk in a room to be announced, but announces herself with poise and power". Her thoughts of screaming lungs and feet were pushed aside.
The mantra silenced as she saw what waited for her in the throne room. The réinoi was obviously not in the room, but many servants stood beneath the many white stone arches of the room or looked down from over the railing on the second floor of the room. At the end of the oval shaped room was a large red carpeted staircase, at the top staircase a large golden throne decorated with amber, yellow sapphires, citrine, and probably a hundred other gems Maddie couldn't name, plush orange cushions on the back and seat. On both sides of the second-highest staircase were matching golden thrones with orange cushion, albeit less decorative. Out of one of the chairs back grew threw items: a maple leaf, an iris, and a lily, the image of a keyhole engraved on the large armrests. On the other chair was no cushion on the back, the image of a key engraved instead along with a rivulet crafted atop each armrests that became a waterfall, which had coins and ships lie at the bottom. Behind the thrones was a painting of the gods of the southern area and capital: the Creator and her children, the Shepherdess, the Farmer, the Blacksmith, the Maiden, and the Wise-man smiling from above amidst the dawn colored sky, lying on cream clouds, and the Destroyer and his children, the Warrior, the Wretch, the Sinner, the Killer, and the Torturer, all dragging their clawed black nails through the dark smoke and rocks to scratch the gods above as well as the thrones. It stretched from the top staircase to the rim of the gilded domed ceiling, which the throne room sat under, a large glass window in the center of the dome allowing the golden accents on the creator and her family to glimmer and shine down on the thrones. To Maddie these were foreign gods. Her gods were nameless, only known in the faces of what was in the forest, what was not in the capital. Her gods did not need something to be made by human hands to make their presence known, it simply was known.
Maddie had only entered the throne room once and had been too scared to admire her surroundings, too busy wringing her hands, taking peeks through her long blonde hair that fell over her face, and admiring the floor. She stood in awe of the grand room for some few moments before realizing that she was to be gifted something. Hesitantly, she looked to the guard at her side that began to walk to the thrones and followed. Reaching the first staircase, she picked up her skirts and put both feet on the step before turning. Take small steps to learning, the réinesse told herself as she faced the room, more servants approaching from behind the pillars and arches to look at her. One approached.
"Réinesse, do you wish for your gift to be brought out?" the pepper-haired man said, his head bowed before her.
"Yes," Maddie said, her voice small and shy before she scolded herself and cleared her throat. "Yes, I wish my gift to be brought," she said louder and with more authority, trying to imitate how she heard François speak with his flowery speech.
The man bowed and quickly walked to a large door on the room's side. He quickly slipped inside and came back out some time later, whispering to some of the guards. They looked at Maddie and she realized they were requesting to leave the room. She nodded and they two walked into the room. Some few moments passed before both doors were opened, and the sound of heavy footsteps emerged.
The first person to emerge from the separate room to Maddie was a tall man with sun-kissed skin, broad shoulders, and lean muscles. The auburn pelt of a fox was draped about his body, the tail stretched and wrapped around his waist over tight tan trousers with white and black shapes lining the sides which Maddie vaguely recognized, and the head of the fox laid over the man's shoulder, seeming to bite the sleeveless white tunic like a cloak's clasp. A dagger was strapped and sheathed against a leather belt under the tail. A glaçmond? Maddie thought as she saw at the at the pattern of his pants. She thought he was perhaps raised as one for some time at least, noticing an uncharacteristic swagger and air of snide confidence about him that most glaçmonds she'd come across didn't have. His looks were undeniably of the northern people with sleek dark hair, dark eyes perhaps a bit too large, and a narrow face.
"Réinesse Madeline," the glaçmond said, bowing from the waist, crossing his ankles and extending his arm out with flourish. Maddie couldn't tell if the man was making fun of how other nobles presented themselves or if he always introduced himself to people of higher status with such florish. The smirk on his face as he lifted his head gave her answer. "I am Talykryctug, but you may call me Taly if you find my name difficult, réinesse."
"No family name?" Maddie questioned. Her eye was arched and she attempted to mimic her eldest brother's poker face, hoping she could convey the same silent power he held.
"My mother birthed me after she was thrown from her house for having an affair. She gave me to another family that could care for me, not glaçmond, but no less accepting. Us bastards receive no surnames, and neither do glaçmonds," Talykrytug said, shrugging his shoulders as if the matter meant nothing, which Maddie thought fine as it meant nothing to her either. Likely half the people in her village were bastards and had the blood of glaçmonds somehow mixed inside them, but it made no difference to them. "All you need know is I am a poacher sent by your mother to fetch your gift."
"Thank you for your services and taking the . . . liberty to deliver the gift yourself," Maddie replied, attempting to stand up a bit straighter so she may not look so small to Talykryctug. She gave a small sigh and offered a smile to the poacher. "I appreciate what you have done for my mu- mother, but I think you should return the furs to her. She already paid for them and I don't like wearing animal skin."
Talykryctug gave a deep laugh from his core and shook his head. The dark hair placed high atop his head swung back and forth like the behind of a horse though it was caged in many leather straps.. "I believe you will find your gift to your liking. Sadly your mother gave explicit orders to kill neither the animal or its family, but it would have made a lovely pelt for the wintertime if I'd been allowed to kill it."
A poacher hired to not poach. It sounds like a joke. Maddie looked at the man for another moment before telling him to bring the gift. Talykryctug looked back at the door he entered from and waved his hand forward. Two men came facing each other, and a metal cage between the two of them. The cage wasn't tall, perhaps two feet high, but it was rather wide. It wasn't enough space for what was held inside though. A servant brought out a short table and placed it a foot from Maddie's feet. The cage was gently placed atop the table.
Maddie stepped in front of the cage, curious of the creature in front of and choosing not to bother listening to the guard beside her saying to not get too close. She had lived on a farm surrounded by all sorts of wild things. What could this creature do that none of the fearsome creatures she'd lived amongst could do? She smiled at the familiar sight of dark eyes, a shining wet black nose, and fur such a pale shade blonde it looked fresh snow.
"Fraîche?" she whispered as she knelt down beside the cage, carefully shifting her skirts. A radiant smile spread across her face, her eyes stung, and her nose felt hot and itched.
The small bear let out a noise of discomfort and worry. Maddie reached through the bars despite protest from both the guard and poacher and placed her palm against the dark wet muzzle. Fraîche was the runt of a group of bears near the land, and had poor eyes, the dark brown glossed over with a pale blue. The cub's sense of smell was no better and it seemed to rely solely on hearing. The girl began whispering nothing words, merely trying to soothe the animal with the sound of her voice. Its whines continued.
"Miejo Réinesse," the guard said, "we aren't sure what tis beast might be carrying. I suggest it be cleaned and-"
"Do you know anything about bears sir?" Maddie asked as she leaned closer to the cage's bars, pressing her face against the metal as Fraîche sniffed around her fac. She twitched as she felt the cold wet surface of the bear's muzzle move about her face. Now that she'd heard herself speak her words sounded more like an outright insult than the passive aggressive comment she meant it to be but the message still came across. She didn't focus too much on that though, the feeling of Fraîche's snout once again against her skin bringing tears to her eyes.
"Very little," the guard replied. His armor rang as he shuffled.
"My family owns a farm in the northwestern lands. It's where all the forest-y parts are, and wild animals, like this bear, live nearby. My family has lived there for generations. We know these animals and I cared for this for a few months before I was taken to the palace. I will be fine if this bear is let out of its cage," Maddie finished. She hated referring to Fraîche as an it. How could she possibly refer to her only companion in the castle as such a thing? "Open the cage." Her voice carried weight and commanded as much authority as she could, but it still sounded small and as though she had asked for something like a child. She was to be a réinae though, and they did not ask for things to be done. But I am a child.
"Of course," Talyryctug said, shifting the fox pelt around his waist to reveal a hook with a several keys attached. Maddie wondered if he had trapped any of the other animals near the farm but threw away the thought. Her mother had probably threatened the man she'd wear his skin as a pelt if he harmed any animals. The thought made her smile.
The sharp sound of gears shifting in the lock after the key had been twisted rang through like wedding bells as the newlyweds and guests raced to their festivities. Maddie almost let her tears stream and would have had none been present, pushing aside Talyryctug and throwing her arms across a mass of soft fur, muscle, and fat. She buried her face into Fraîche's neck, breathing in the forest's scent and smiling. She tasted the salt of tears on her smiling lips and rubbed her face against the fur to wipe away the evidence. She thought to pick up the bear like she did when it was still a small cub and carry it to her room, but decided against it. Fraîche had been difficult enough to carry when a cub, and now nearly full grown it would have been impossible for her to carry the animal. She snorted at the thought, but still picked the bear up by its front paws, making sure to be careful with its sharp claws as she hugged the bear close to her front.
"Miejo Réinesse?" a voice called, dry and wavering. Maddie turned to see a crone dressed in weathered rags of what used to be a servants garb. The white of her cap deeming her a cleaning woman had become old parchment. "Would you like for us to bath this bear?"
"It isn't necessary for now," Maddie replied, her voice like honey in tea. "I think some fish and water will be needed though." She gave one last look Fraîche before she allowed the bear's front paws to drop, and she waved the bear to follow her as she was led to her room by the crone.
After an eternity, I have risen from the dead. I don't even know how to apologize. I've just been trying to adapt to school and the only days I'm able to relax are when we have an extremely long vacation or when I'm sick like today. Sadly, I believe I will only be able to write fan fiction during the winter, spring, and summer vacations and no other time in between. My school has given so much homework on a daily basis I can only not rush through dinner if I finish at least half of it on the train. Please forgive me for this, I'm still trying to adjust my body and mind to a new schedule.
Now that that is over, let me explain the backstory of this story. This world is supposed to take place thousands of years after a plague ripped throughout the entire world. The panic brought on by this plague led to chaos and destruction, ending in civil wars and further pandemonium leading to the death of nearly all of humanity. The world has been reformed in the last thousand, and the lands of several former countries have merged with other lands, causing the people of these lands to merge several different cultures together, ending in the present major kingdoms of Spades, Diamond, Hearts, and Clubs. I'm kind of doing a sort of Game of Thrones language-style with this so there is a Common Tongue spoken throughout all the kingdoms, but there are several languages formed within each kingdom. The majority of the Diamond kingdom is made up of what was once France, with small parts of other countries and (once) French territories, including Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Monaco, and Seychelles, and a chunk of Canada that makes the second largest piece of the Diamond Kingdom. As the majority is French land and the second largest piece is Canada, two French speaking countries, the national language of Diamond is a mix of French and Occitan (the second most common language spoken in France). Usually this language is not spoken unless when referring to the royal hand (all of the card members) or to keep something private.
Réinae- a mix of reign and queen in French and Occitan- Queen
Réinesse- a mix of reign and princess in French and Occitan- used to refer to someone who is to become the queen but has not had her coronation
Réinoi- a mix of reign and king in French and Occitan- King
Miejo- a mix of "my" in French and Occitan- my (Miejo Réinoi- my king
Velon- a mix of knave (jack of cards) in Occitan and jack in French- Jack (Pawn of the King)
Maîfièch-a mix of master in French and asset in Occitan- Ace (Master Asset)
Carie- a mix of "dear" in French and Occitan-dear
Mun- my (truly possessive)-the possessive version of my (Miejo is for when a title is being used) for when in pleasant conversation of when claiming an object, idea, etc. as yours
Petot- petite in French and Occitan
Floer-flower in French and Occitan
Deu-God in French and Occitan (Yes, I know singular, but I want it to be François is monotheistic worshipper who was converted)
Donaselle/Donatier- I forgot exactly what was the translation and I can't seem to find it but it was referring to the land now owned by Maddie's family. Dona is to refer to the fact that they are people of high status, landowners of a large property, and the second parts refer to their places as the people who own the land, "-tier" being part of the French word for heir, and "-iselle" showing Maddie's mother is the lady of the household.