Pansy lay motionless as she stared at the window as the swaying curtains allowed the occasional glimpse outside. It had been days since she'd left her rooms. Now that Neville was well again, there seemed no reason to push her presence on him in the greenhouse. She yearned to go and spend time with him, like an anchor tethering her to him. She felt a stray tear dribble down her cheek as she lay staring, hoping for a glimpse of him in her garden.
The sun poured in as the fresh breeze felt soft on her skin. The material of her veil felt damp, where other stray tears had collected.
Her heart felt leaden and heavy as her thoughts returned to Neville again. She replayed the words he'd said in her head and once again felt a shudder run through her. Why did the most beautiful words feel like a knife through her heart?
She lay and imaged their future together and knew that they could be happy together, but it could never happen; The King would never allow it.
His words continued to repeat in her head. He thought she was beautiful. How wrong he was. If only he knew what was under her veil. She was hideous, and she knew it. He deserved better, so much better.
Her heart had stopped when he'd said those words, like joy, could burst out of her like sunshine. But then reality had crushed her again. He couldn't say those words if he knew what she looked like. The cursed Princess was a mutant.
A noise came from further in her quarters, drawing her attention from the swaying curtain. She sat up as her door burst open. She opened her mouth to speak as the guards burst in.
"Princess. By order of the King, you are under arrest."
It took her mind a moment to catch up.
"What?" She asked as she pushed off the bed.
"By order of the King, you are under arrest." The guard repeated.
"Arrest? Why?" She asked as she stood to meet them.
"Sorcery, your highness."
She almost laughed until she saw that his face showed no sign of humour.
"There has to be some mistake." She explained as the stepped forward and took her by the arm.
"No mistake, your highness. The King ordered us personally." The guards walked her through her rooms, where her maids watched and muttered to each other. She felt shame fill her as she was pushed through the corridors. She felt the servants eyes on her, and hushed whispers followed her as she was herded toward the throne room.
The room had always intimidated her as a child. The domed ceiling was so high that she got dizzy looking up. And the ground so large that it took so long to walk from one side to the other. As she was corralled towards the throne, she felt her insides churn like curdled milk.
Her father sat thoughtfully in the throne, and bearly looked up as she approached. His skin seemed grey, and his face downcast as the guards stopped her before him.
"Father?"
"Silence cursed one." Came another voice. She looked around and found Zacharias stood to one side looking smug. She glared at him before looking back to her father.
"Father, why do the guards say I have been arrested?" She asked, stepping closer before one of the guards could stop her.
"Because, daughter, your curse, which has been believed to have caused the maladies in the far off corners of the Kingdom, has now spread here amongst the hothouses."
"As you have been visiting the hothouses recently. It came to our attention that the plants have started to die. Shrivel away to dust."
She frowned in confusion.
"What does that have to do with me?" She asked nervously feeling sick.
"your mere presence has soured the fruits and spoiled the roots. You are a harbinger of death and chaos" Zacharias announced as he stepped up next to the King.
"Father. These are lies. I have been here for 18 years, and the plants have never failed before. Why would I curse them now?"
"Because you have come of age and grown into your power."
"You are not King here, Zacharias." She spat at him before turning to her father.
"Please, father. Why are you doing this?"
"I have to, Daughter. I have no other choice."
She closed her eyes and waited for her anger to fade.
"What then, is to be my punishment?" She asked calmly. "Am I to be whipped until my bones show, Am I banished? What will you do with me, my lord?"
There was a resounding silence in the hall. Pansy waited for as long as she could bear.
"Death by fire." The King announced in a whisper "Burning at the stake."
She felt fear grip her. She had seen deaths such as these and the screams had lingered in the darkest recesses of her mind. She felt her knees tremble as she felt her eyes fill. She refused to show weakness in front of Zacharias. She remained standing and ordered her legs to stand firm.
"Death by fire?" she acknowledged calmly. "If that is to be my fate, so be it. When am I to be murdered?"
"It is not murder, it is sacrifice." Her father argued.
"I'm sure the lamb would agree, but I do not." She said sharply.
"You have twenty-four hours. A cell has been prepared for you." The King said gently. He waved his hand, and she was pulled away.
She sat on the cold flagstones and wondered whether it was the same place that Neville had occupied when he had awaited his judgement. She wanted to scream at the heavens for the cards that had been dealt her. She felt the fury burning like a red hot poker within her chest, and she held onto it, stoked it, made sure that the fire didn't wane. If the fire went out, the fear would work its way in and would reduce her to a bubbling mess.
She stood up, fuelled by her anger as she pulled off her veil. If she was going to be murdered for being cursed, then she would curse them by remembering her face. She would look at each, and every one of them in the eyes as the fire consumed her on the outside as it consumed her now from within.
Knowing that she was cursed, her only wish was to see Neville one last time. To show him the real her and bare her self to him and fall upon his mercy.
A wave of sadness extinguished the fire within her as she began to cry. She fell to her knees as she cursed her father and the lords and herself.
The gate to the dungeon squealed open as Zabini appeared. A sob erupted when she saw his face. He rushed to her and wrapped her in his arms, letting her cry into his robes.
"Shush, milady. Do not cry." He soothed as she sobbed. She felt his hands stroking her hair like one would and child. She cried for what felt like forever as he held her close.
Finally, the tears had dried up, and the glowing embers of the fire sparked to life once again.
"Thank you for coming, Zabini." She nodded as she dried her eyes.
"Of course your highness. I am your loyal servant."
"I fear that you will be out of a job shortly." She snorted as she pushed her hair out of her face.
"I have a plan however, I have yet to talk to the King, he is refusing to see me." He shook his head. "I am sure that I can resolve this if he hears me out."
"I fear you waste your time. His ears are all for the Lords Zacharias and Terrence, and nothing you say will sway him from this course." She stood and turned from him.
"I will try until it is too late, milady. You deserve no less." He stood as the gate rattled. "I must go, but I wanted to offer you some comfort."
"Thank you, my friend." She smiled
"It is not my presence I offer. It is the final thoughts of a dying man." Pansy turned to look at Zabini as she felt her heart in her throat.
"When Neville sat here, waiting for his sentence, he thought that these moments were his last. He asked me to tell you this if he was to be killed. He said 'Tell the Princess that I think she is beautiful, regardless of what is under her veil.'" She felt her throat close as the tears threatened to consume her again.
"He would never say that if he could see me now." She croaked as she fought for her control.
"I would say it, and I can see you, milady," Zabini said as she stepped closer. "Please take comfort knowing that I will try to save you from this fate with all of my power." She nodded as the tears started to fall again.
"Thank you, Zabini. I would ask the same favour of you. Regardless of your tireless efforts, I foresee that I will burn tomorrow. If that is to be the case, please, Tell Neville that his presence these last few weeks have meant so much to me. I have no words to express what he means to me and that I wish I was able to see him one final time."
Zabini nodded and cleared his throat.
"Please have faith in me. We will save you from the flames. I promise."
Pansy nodded, but she didn't believe him. What could he do against the might of a King?
Zabini nodded again and bowed before leaving her alone. She took a deep breath and sat down again as she waited for her time to come.
