Authors Notes: Hi new chapter, in this one something terrible happens to Ariadne…her wardrobe gets ruined
Chapter Six: A Weekend in the Country (of Denmark)
The ghost had been right something was rotten in the state of Denmark; it was my luggage. Somehow on the ship to Copenhagen salt water had gotten into my suit cases and ruined my all clothes. All I had to wear on our journey to Elsinore castle was my finest white mink coat, my beautiful teal, chiffon cocktail dress with the golden embroidered ivy leaves all over it. Luckily the Manolo Blahniks' that I bought in Paris (Paree) were also safe but all my other clothes and shoes were now mouldy and rotten. I was devastated my entire expensive wardrobe was gone, how could I live without them. I was lost in a world of dread and terror I didn't even notice when we had arrived at Elsinore that the carriage had stopped. "Sweetie were here" said Romeo "I feel like throwing myself into a lake and ending it all" I said to Romeo "come now sweetie, what would I do if you drowned yourself?" He asked "find a woman who has nice things" I replied dryly. He kissed me "you know I could never replace you Ariadne, any way I'm sure Queen Gertrude will have something you can wear" her reassured me. I felt a lot happier now I was sure the Queen would have good taste. We got out of the carriage and were greeted by some guards; they took us into the castle and showed us into the throne room "Romeo and Ariadne" one of the guards announced. The King and Queen rose from their seats and bowed to us "an honour to meet you" said King Claudius kissing my hand. The Queen came over to me and looked me up and down "you truly are a beauty aren't you" she said. "Your majesty's" said Romeo "is my good friend Prince Hamlet around?" "Oh no, my dear son has gone completely mad" said Gertrude "Yes it's so sad" said Claudius "We've sent him to England with some school friends to recover" "That's such a shame, I was hoping to see him" said Romeo. This subject seemed like something that the royal couple didn't want to discuss so Romeo left it at that. "Oh Queen Gertrude I have been meaning to ask…" I explained about my clothes "Oh well this is a stroke of luck" said the Queen "a young maiden of the court, Ophelia has recently drowned herself in the lake so you can have her clothes she was your size too." I was very happy to hear this I now had a new wardrobe I just hoped that this Ophelia had had good taste "Thank you your majesty" I said "no problem, let's leave the men to get to know each other, I'll take you to Ophelia's room, Oh and please call me Trudy" said the queen. We left Romeo and Claudius downstairs to discuss hunting and Trudy escorted me to Ophelia's room.
Ophelia's room was very luxurious with its large four poster bed, the sheets were pure satin and had lavish gold embroidered embellishments on the. There were four large and very comfortable looking pillow, they seemed a little much for one person. The other furniture of the room was equally grand a huge dresser seemed to take up one side of the room; a beautiful vanity table with an assortment of perfumes, makeups and brushes was at the other side. The walls of the room were covered in lots of expensive fine art and attached to one wall was a stunning mirror with a gold leaf frame. This room was how I had always dreamed my bedroom would look, I felt rather jealous of Ophelia, ha I thought to myself, you're jealous of a dead woman. "Stunning isn't it" said Gertrude in her dusky contralto, "I'll where her clothes are kept" I walked over to the huge dresser "on no dear" said the Queen "that's where she kept her hats, her dresses are over here" she walked me over to a heavy looking wooden door "go on then open it" she said. I grasped the iron handle of the door, twisted it and pulled it open and walked in side. I was nearly blinded by the beauty of what I saw. I was surrounded, surrounded by thousands of the most beautiful dresses; silk, chiffon, satin, cotton and wool to name just a few of the materials used, Varsace, Chanel, Christian Dior, Dolce and Gabbana, Vivian Westwood and Gap to name just a few of the labels. The room was cavernous and everywhere I looked there was a dress more glamorous that the next. "Why don't you try this on" said Gertrude handing me a gorgeous white sundress. I went behind the changing screen and removed the clothe I was wearing and slipped into the sundress. "Come take a looked in the mirror" Said Gertrude. I looked into the glass of the mirror and what I saw was a radiant princess, I began to cry I had always seen myself as ugly but the woman in the mirror was gorgeous. "You know you look just like her" said Gertrude "come sit at the vanity table and I'll brush you hair". I sat at the vanity table as she had asked; she picked up a silver hair brush and began to brush my long golden tresses. "She would ask me to do this every night" said the Queen "she would say "come on Trudy come and brush my hair" and she would sit here while I brushed her hair". I felt a little awkward sat here with the queen bushing my hair; she eventually stopped and perched on the next to me on the little stool I was sat on. "You know I miss her so much" she said placing a hand onto my knee, now I felt really uncomfortable, she then stared into my eyes "there like burning sapphires, just like Ophelia's" she said and then she kissed me. Now I was shocked, she pulled at the dress eventually ripping it to reveal my milk white breasts. She stopped kissing and looked down at my heaving bosom, she was about to touch them when I slapped her across the face, she fell to the floor in a heap. I quickly covered myself up and then helped her off the floor "I'm so sorry your majesty I was just shocked by what you did" I told her "no it's my fault child I shouldn't have forced myself on you, Ophelia may have loved my but you aren't her and I shouldn't have tried to replace her with you. I'm so sorry. As an apology please take Ophelia's wardrobe and please dear don't tell the king I about this" "I wouldn't dream of telling him your majesty" I reassured her. She told me that she was going for a rest and that dinner would be ready at six and hastily left the room.
I arrived downstairs to find that only Romeo and Claudius were in the dining room "where's Queen Gertrude?" I asked "I'm afraid my wife has a headache and won't be dining with us tonight" said the King, this didn't surprise me. After what had happened in Ophelia's bedroom I didn't think I would be seeing much of the Queen this weekend. "So what have you two boys been up to this afternoon?" I asked "I showed Romeo my hunting equipment and we shot some clay pigeons" replied the King. "Then we discussed plans for the wedding this weekend. Ariadne, the King has kindly let us use the palace grounds" said Romeo excitedly "thank you so much" I said to the king and I curtsied. "Oh no problem, after Ophelia's death Trudy and I have been looking for something to celebrate" Replied the King. Just then an army of waiter marched into the dining room, they had brought several large silver platters all covered with different foods; chicken wings, hot dogs, finger sandwiches, salad leaves, BBQ spare ribs and salmon were just a of the types of food there was on offer. "I hope you don't mind, I had the chef make a buffet instead of a more formal meal, I hope you don't mind, it's just that I didn't really know what you would like" said Claudius "Oh it's more than enough for us" Romeo said "yes thank you so much" I added. We all sat and ate the filling meal and discussed the plans for the wedding which had all been taken care of by the King, he had even asked his chef to cater and the chef had kindly agreed to make the wedding cake. I was so happy I would finally be married to my beloved Romeo. I kissed the king on his cheek for his hospitality and kindness and he blushed slightly "you know my dear you really are a vision" he told me. I felt a little uncomfortable, his statement reminded me too much of this afternoons events with the Queen, I really didn't need any more unwanted advances.
After dinner the King asked one of his servants to show us to our room. When we were finally alone I told Romeo about the Queens attempted seduction "did you know Queen Gertrude is a lesbian, or at least bi. She kissed me in Ophelia's room; she also implied that she had been having an affair with Ophelia before her death. And now the King tells me I'm a "vision" I'm so sick of all this unwanted attention why am I so damn alluring?" "Well I certainly don't blame them you are damn sexy and you're a really nice person too" Romeo told me. I gave a deep and frustrated sigh and hugged him "you know you really make me feel better Romeo, I love you so much" we then kissed passionately; his tongue was like the proboscis of a butterfly trying to find the sweet nectar in my mouth. I really burned for him I needed him inside me but no not now, I wasn't going to be a cheap tart and sleep with him before the wedding. Anyway I didn't have long to wait in two days we would be able to make love until death finally parts us. That night I slept well Dreaming of wedding and new clothe and making sweet love to my handsome Romeo. How I couldn't wait for it all.