A/N: R&R plz!!!
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Chapter 1 – The Beginning
I was born Princess Airadne of Annon to King Hal and Queen Eliza. I was completely happy in my childhood; I was loved and got whatever I wanted. Then it all changed when I was nine.
My father annulled his marriage to my mother. His excuse? Queen Eliza wasn't able to bear him a son and provide him with an heir. It wasn't my mother's fault, but father didn't think that. He was enchanted by another woman and wanted to marry her instead. So he came up with a sorry excuse to annul his previous marriage.
Then it got worse. Although my mother was still alive at the time, I wasn't allowed to visit her. She was cast aside by my father's lust to another woman, so I was cast aside as well. Father wanted to forget me and his past with Queen Eliza, but I was his only child and he needed someone to succeed him. So I kept my title as Princess. But when my stepmother, Queen Vivia was pregnant, I was stripped of my title and my possessions. The Queen's unborn child would be the heir or heiress. Although I was older, the annulment made me illegitimate. I was to be the lady-in-waiting for the unborn child.
Because of my father's actions, I'd come to hate Queen Vivia. But she wasn't mean to me. In fact, she tried to be friends with me, but I wasn't willing to forgive her. My mother and I were cast aside and forgotten because of her.
I eventually forgave the Queen. She lost her child seven months into the pregnancy. I felt bad for her, and we became, well not exactly friends, but we learned to get along.
When Queen Vivia wasn't able to bear a child when my father was laying on his deathbed, he named me his heiress, even though I was considered illegitimate. The Queen would rule for me as my regent until I come of age, that is, when I'm 18.
The Queen and I got along fairly well; she treated me as a mother would to her child. I was to be raised as a boy, as my father requested. Thus I was taught swordplay, archery, riding, as well as the usual lessons of history and languages. I was also taught painting, dancing, sewing and manners. The latter two I dislike a lot. So you see, I had a busy life.
I became acquainted with the assistant hunter Robin. He and I used to ride together and compete in archery. I was proud that I could beat him at that. I'd even gone hunting with him and his trainer the chief hunter James. Robin and I became fast friends.
When I was born, the people who saw me described me to have "lips red as rose, hair black as ebony, skin white as snow". They started calling me "Snow White", but I refused to answer to that name. I insisted to be called by my real name Airadne. It was true that I was beautiful, people kept on telling me that, but I didn't like it. In fact, I think I was ashamed of my appearance. I hated when people think of me as just a pretty face. I kept on telling them that I had other talents too, talents that I was proud of. I was the best archer and rider around, and I was also artistic.
As I grew, I was said to be more beautiful than every other maiden in Annon. But since I liked to be outside most of the time, my creamy white skin tanned in the sun. My long black hair was often disheveled and had streaks of brown in it from the sun. I wasn't the perfect Princess who was always kind and obedient as everyone believed. I often get into mischief and play tricks on everyone in the palace, servants and nobles alike. My partner in crime was usually Robin. Thus people stopped calling me "Snow White".
All was going well for me until one fateful day when I was 12 …
I was in the courtyard practicing my archery skills, when suddenly the sky dimmed. I looked up to see the sun blocked by ominous clouds. I hurried to gather up my stuff and go inside because it looked like it was going to rain. But before I got to the door, a bolt and lightning struck the tallest turret followed by an earsplitting boom of thunder. I shrieked involuntarily. There wasn't any rain though, and right after the thunder, the clouds cleared and it became light again. 'That's strange' I thought. I shrugged and went inside.
I didn't notice anything different until dinnertime. Queen Vivia came down in an elaborate black gown. The first thought that came to my mind was that there might be guests coming. The Queen always liked bright colours and never wore anything dark unless she needed to be formal. I looked around but saw no one who looked like a foreign visitor.
"Good Evening Vivia." The Queen insisted me calling her by her name because she didn't like to be formal.
"You shall address me as 'Your Majesty' from now on." She ordered coldly, her voice sounded raspy and not at all like her.
That was when I looked at her face. I was so surprised I almost fell over.
There was a dark shadow on her usually cheerful face. Her lips were pursed into a tight line where it was usually turned up at the corners. And she had a scowl on her face.
"Um okay V- I mean Your Majesty."
She was silent throughout dinner and I couldn't stand it. So in the middle of dessert I tried to make her laugh, but it only made her more angry.
"You shall not speak to me until spoken to, you impudent girl." She paused to glare at me, "You may be excused."
I climbed the stairs to my room and wondered what was wrong with her.
~*~
~*~
Chapter 1 – The Beginning
I was born Princess Airadne of Annon to King Hal and Queen Eliza. I was completely happy in my childhood; I was loved and got whatever I wanted. Then it all changed when I was nine.
My father annulled his marriage to my mother. His excuse? Queen Eliza wasn't able to bear him a son and provide him with an heir. It wasn't my mother's fault, but father didn't think that. He was enchanted by another woman and wanted to marry her instead. So he came up with a sorry excuse to annul his previous marriage.
Then it got worse. Although my mother was still alive at the time, I wasn't allowed to visit her. She was cast aside by my father's lust to another woman, so I was cast aside as well. Father wanted to forget me and his past with Queen Eliza, but I was his only child and he needed someone to succeed him. So I kept my title as Princess. But when my stepmother, Queen Vivia was pregnant, I was stripped of my title and my possessions. The Queen's unborn child would be the heir or heiress. Although I was older, the annulment made me illegitimate. I was to be the lady-in-waiting for the unborn child.
Because of my father's actions, I'd come to hate Queen Vivia. But she wasn't mean to me. In fact, she tried to be friends with me, but I wasn't willing to forgive her. My mother and I were cast aside and forgotten because of her.
I eventually forgave the Queen. She lost her child seven months into the pregnancy. I felt bad for her, and we became, well not exactly friends, but we learned to get along.
When Queen Vivia wasn't able to bear a child when my father was laying on his deathbed, he named me his heiress, even though I was considered illegitimate. The Queen would rule for me as my regent until I come of age, that is, when I'm 18.
The Queen and I got along fairly well; she treated me as a mother would to her child. I was to be raised as a boy, as my father requested. Thus I was taught swordplay, archery, riding, as well as the usual lessons of history and languages. I was also taught painting, dancing, sewing and manners. The latter two I dislike a lot. So you see, I had a busy life.
I became acquainted with the assistant hunter Robin. He and I used to ride together and compete in archery. I was proud that I could beat him at that. I'd even gone hunting with him and his trainer the chief hunter James. Robin and I became fast friends.
When I was born, the people who saw me described me to have "lips red as rose, hair black as ebony, skin white as snow". They started calling me "Snow White", but I refused to answer to that name. I insisted to be called by my real name Airadne. It was true that I was beautiful, people kept on telling me that, but I didn't like it. In fact, I think I was ashamed of my appearance. I hated when people think of me as just a pretty face. I kept on telling them that I had other talents too, talents that I was proud of. I was the best archer and rider around, and I was also artistic.
As I grew, I was said to be more beautiful than every other maiden in Annon. But since I liked to be outside most of the time, my creamy white skin tanned in the sun. My long black hair was often disheveled and had streaks of brown in it from the sun. I wasn't the perfect Princess who was always kind and obedient as everyone believed. I often get into mischief and play tricks on everyone in the palace, servants and nobles alike. My partner in crime was usually Robin. Thus people stopped calling me "Snow White".
All was going well for me until one fateful day when I was 12 …
I was in the courtyard practicing my archery skills, when suddenly the sky dimmed. I looked up to see the sun blocked by ominous clouds. I hurried to gather up my stuff and go inside because it looked like it was going to rain. But before I got to the door, a bolt and lightning struck the tallest turret followed by an earsplitting boom of thunder. I shrieked involuntarily. There wasn't any rain though, and right after the thunder, the clouds cleared and it became light again. 'That's strange' I thought. I shrugged and went inside.
I didn't notice anything different until dinnertime. Queen Vivia came down in an elaborate black gown. The first thought that came to my mind was that there might be guests coming. The Queen always liked bright colours and never wore anything dark unless she needed to be formal. I looked around but saw no one who looked like a foreign visitor.
"Good Evening Vivia." The Queen insisted me calling her by her name because she didn't like to be formal.
"You shall address me as 'Your Majesty' from now on." She ordered coldly, her voice sounded raspy and not at all like her.
That was when I looked at her face. I was so surprised I almost fell over.
There was a dark shadow on her usually cheerful face. Her lips were pursed into a tight line where it was usually turned up at the corners. And she had a scowl on her face.
"Um okay V- I mean Your Majesty."
She was silent throughout dinner and I couldn't stand it. So in the middle of dessert I tried to make her laugh, but it only made her more angry.
"You shall not speak to me until spoken to, you impudent girl." She paused to glare at me, "You may be excused."
I climbed the stairs to my room and wondered what was wrong with her.
~*~