Author´s Note:
Sorry for taking so long with this stuff, but I had a massive writers block. I want to state that I´ll be modifying this story to make it better, and avoid confusion. All chapters will be revised, so if you wonder if something changed, it possibly did. Anyway, hope you like this chapter, and please review it and tell me what you think about it. Everything helps. Enjoy!
Chapter 8: Postponed Plans
"Thy Queen, thy Queen! Thee organizers needed thou presence! There hath been an outrageous mistake!" Screams were followed by multiple hits on the door.
"Ughh…" I groaned, as my body was suffering exhaustion due to the ball.
It was already morning, as I could see through the little spaces of my eyelids that were slowly opening. The sun's light had failed to blind me, as the curtains, thin and covered in pink floral patterns, covered the bed. My hands were numb, as I had slept on top of the pillow above them, facing down the bed. It was a bright light, accompanied by the smell of fresh roses and dandelions, along bird's chants and the peace of my people, what came through the window located to the right of me.
"Is thy Queen prepared now to attend the matters?" Peppermint butler asked once more.
I sighed deeply, and realized it was time. Slowly, my movements helped me to wake up the rest of my body, and, as my hair started to move and cover my eyes, yet not fully open, I smiled as I watched a Mockingbird and a Blue jay caressing each other's feathers. A melody sang by such small creature, spoken to its blue companion, smoothened the quiet, yet not silent, morning.
"In a moment…" I paused to yawn while leaving the bed "…I´ll be ready, Peppermint butler, and what´s going on with you and such eloquent vocabulary?" A small taunt while I stretched beside my bed.
The little sugar man started to ramble about his new words, yet I ignored his claims or explanations, as the Blue Jay and Mockingbird stared at each other's eyes. They moved in synchronization, repeating every move, touching beaks while doing those movements. I felt like a kid, a child, seeing a first kiss.
"...and we don't have much time! So forgive me for this, My Queen!" A knock followed by a hit on the floor came from the door. It was just peppermint butler, who in desperation he violated my privacy.
"May I know why are you doing this outrageous act?" I asked irritated, as I wasn´t ready. I had just barely steeped out of bed!
"Umpff…" He groaned while he stood up, cleaning the dust off his little, blue tuxedo. "I' am deeply sorry for violating your privacy, yet I have important matters that need to be discussed with thou highness!" He approached me, angered and sweating, while he slipped out of his chest pocket an envelope.
I took the envelope out of his hands, as it must be something important due to my faithful underling creating such mess.
"I hope this might explain my actions and temperament" In an apologizing matter, he kneeled while I opened the envelope.
A bone coloured envelope, in a rectangular shape with patters the seemed like crowns, long, rectangular strings of silk and stem less flowers gave the envelope texture. It was soft. Carefully, I removed the seal, marked with the Queen's crown, which closed the important package.
"Just like I expected…" I said while taking out the letter, and carefully reading it´s content.
"What is it written in it, my liege?" He asked, still kneeling, without looking at my face, closing his eyes.
Day Thirty of the Twelve Month of the Year XX98
Dear Queen Bonnibel Von Wolff
Regards, from the counsel of the Queens of the Kingdom Continent
We have been preoccupied for the few past moons, as your Kingdom has not send
Any regards or information during the last trimester.
We hope, that you may send an update of the status of your lands
Meaning that the Royal Counsel Won´t be required to interfere in your land´s matters.
Ignoring that fact, we, the Queens specially, have to inform that the dance
Which you will host, and we are very grateful for it, must be postponed for two more nights
All the guests have been informed already, and we ask for your understanding
The Why´s of this will be explained in the Dance, so we ask for patience
Thank You for Your Attention and Understanding
Signed by:
Scarlett Von Wilde Länder, Queen of the Wildberry Kingdom
Brumhilda Oppenheimer, Queen of the Breakfast Kingdom
Lauren Selene Paige, Queen of the Lumpy Space Kingdom
Sabrina Van Der Schleim, Queen of the Slime Kingdom
Galina Van Der Hölle, Queen of the Purgatorial Kingdom
Marceline Abadeer, Queen of the Night O´Sphere
Elyse Reinhardt, Queen of the Diamond Lands
Errol Ichabod Säure, Earl of the Earldom of Lemongrab
Olaf Pyros, King of the Fire Kingdom
Maxwell Von Wolff, Governor General of the Ice Kingdom under the Candy Kingdom
And, with Maxwell´s sign at last, the letter was over.
"So, it was just a warning? Huh… I feel quite disappointed" I said, while Peppermint Butler stood up.
"It´s not just a warning, my Queen, it´s a promise. We know they would do what it´s inked in that paper, and is no warning. I´ll charge the task of making the report to the administration, and as soon as they are ready I´ll give them to you" With a serious tone, he spoke while putting his arms behind his back.
"Then, you´re free to go. I have matters to attend on my own." I said while looking at me, still covered in my pyjamas.
"Errr, not quite, my liege." He said while I walked towards the bathroom, to the left of the room.
"Speak, you´re making me late for my bath. I need to clean myself." I explained while approaching the stone carved door of my bathroom.
"There is a young captain, who belongs to the north white bear fleet, who wants to speak to thyself and offer tributes to you." He said while leaving through the huge door of my bedroom.
A young Captain, belonging to the North White Bear Fleet…
In my few knowledge of this fleet, and overall pirate knowledge, I know that those of the north are dangerous men. The Norse, or Northeners, as the navy call them, are fearful and violent, yet they don´t attack innocent villages or innocent people. Interesting pirates, or privateers as they call themselves.
"So, what are you going to do with that man, my Liege?" He asked while leaving, but he still could hear my answer.
"I´ll have a talk with in thirty minutes." I looked at the clock hanging from the roof, seeing that it was just seven and a quarter.
"As you say, my Queen" It was hard, yet not impossible to hear his answer as he walked the corridors of this castle, towards the main hall.
I entered the bathroom, with white walls and clear pink tiles, with floral patter paint in the roof. Columns made of marble, coloured in a pale white, closed this room. I stood in front of the door, while slowly it closed. When it did, I wondered many things.
Feeling that the counsel needed an update, the fact that Marceline decided to join, a captain of a pirate ship, and the dance being postponed two nights. Information that did not necessary startled me, but seemed so sudden. As I walked towards the shower, I wondered why some of these matters were happening. Entering the shower seemed as a relief, as a reward, but not before removing my clothes.
Simple pyjamas, that followed a pattern, in which the pants and shirt were both made of cotton, while the below was tinted black with a white rose and it´s stem, going in a spiral from my left thigh towards my ankle. The shirt was simpler, as it was white in the chest, but pink in the sleeves. Simple, light and comfortable.
My robes dropped while I removed them, slowly, as thoughts still rumbled my mind. As the shirt fell, the returning thought of what happens in the seas, made me fear of a lost, young friend; who´s heart blinded his mind, and with a broken soul tried to drown through forgetting.
As I saw my naked reflection in the crystal door of the shower, I could appreciate in myself, not in an egocentrically way, what a young one once admired and dreamt of having. My figure reflected a shape of an hourglass, and I could appreciate the size of my breast. A little smaller than average. Could I be able to feed children with them? My hips, at least bigger than average, could support the birth of a child? My pink skin, sweet and pure, is it frail? My thin arms, my rounded thighs, could attract a worthy male?
A worthy King?
Finally, I was under the shower head, while the water caressed violently my hair, just to loosen up and touch gently the rest of my body. I stood there, while the cold water woke me up, dribbling away any remaining thoughts or dreams, as I focused on my lost friend. I wondered many nights, many days, if he could be alive. Would he still be a champion between pirates, the captain of a navy, just another filthy pirate, or a mighty raider of the six seas?
He would be now a young man, no older than sixteen or seventeen years. Remembering how I once denied his fervour wish of accompanying me, holding my hand, towards the uncertainty of the future. The past had already scared my mind many times, and my deeds have damaged others, and while I cannot take my words, I can at least beg and wait for someone who would forgive them. And I believe, that those who once came into my life, and I so selfishly denied were those who wanted to forgive. Ironically enough, and while making me giggle, and shedding tears of sadness who would be washed away with the water, I knew that while I tried to change them or denied them for what they were, they always accepted me. Loved me.
"Finn…if you´re out there…in a small boat fishing…In a great ship captaining it…or resting at the bottom of the ocean…please now that I…that I…am sorry…"
But I knew that he wouldn´t listen to me, as my words have hurt him enough. He would ignore me, returning the pain that I once caused. As I accept my guilt, I must beg for forgiveness.
Finishing my shower, I was already clean, ready to attend the matters of my kingdom. I could only hope that the water had washed away any though of remorse, as my people must not see me in such state. They count on me, and I must be strong for them, as no one else will be. Entering my room, and feeling the soft, light purple carpet made me smile. The coldness of the water may have cleaned myself, but it wasn´t as nice as if it was hot.
I approached the large room, just in front of the bathroom, known as my closet. A day that would be busy must require formal attire, but comfortable and light. My gratefulness towards my maids that, in gratitude, set my attires ready for me. They were hanged at the end of the room. Jackets, shirts, and such were hanged. While other stuff likes underwear, shorts and pants were safely storage in the drawers of the wardrobes that extended, alongside this room.
Quickly, I chose my attire, starting with some underwear, which reminded of lingerie, yet it wasn´t as expository. The rest was easy, as a long, pink dress without straps was hanging right in front of me, with some low heels, coated of pink with a amethyst in the middle, stood by its side. Such matters were not as important as tending what was ahead of this day.
After putting perfume on me, a light white, diamond necklace and my crown, I left my room so I could attend the young privateer who was waiting. My pocket watch, which I had attached to my hand but rolling it´s chain, told me that it was seven and thirty five, meaning that there was spare time for me to discuss any matter with that man.
The long hall connected to lots doors, most of which were spare, if any one wanted to sleep in them it's completely alright. They were by each side, and between them there was a fine table, which had on top either a vase full of extravagant flowers, or a statuette. Alongside there were many chandeliers, of the finest quality. And where there was no door, it laid a rounded window, with many divisions, creating a mosaic.
Finally, I approached the stairs. They were long, covered in the purple carpet that coated all of the halls of the second floor, but not totally, as it coated the middle yet the sides were planks of a reddish brown. Princesses have visited the reconstruction of this castle, which I built long ago, and I feel that this new vision of the castle will hopefully home some of my descendants.
As I stepped down of the last step, I went to my right, the hall where my throne was located, and where I could admire my people as they celebrate during festivities. Today, it was almost empty, nothing but tables with flower vases on top, doors which lead to spare rooms, the high windows and the curtains the were hanged by their sides. The floor was no longer carpet, but rather tiles which formed patterns of triangles, coloured in many shades of reddish blue and pink.
"Peppermint butler, where is thy privateer?" I spoke while I sat in the throne, right at the bottom of the hall.
"In a moment, my Queen" He appeared from the insides of a spare room by the side of the door.
The door made out of wood and carved preciously, in a way you could appreciate the great gods that the people once believed in. Before it there was a little stair, made out of three steps, yet it was wide, coated with white tiles and a blue border.
"My Queen, here it is the Privateer" Peppermint Butler spoke while opening the doors.
A figure, tall, of great built entered the hall. It´s footsteps had power, strength. The whole outfit of the privateer was amazing. You could not see his face as he wore a red hood, with patterns of the revolution heroes. His pants were of brown leather, and his boots, high and finely polished, were as black as the deepness of the seas. His jacket was wide, due to his figure, and it´s sleeves long. The insides were of a leather brown, yet most of the colour was a red, which looked like velvet, and the epaulettes were gold. He had stripes of white crossing in an X, and buttons coming down.
The patter of his hood followed through the jacket, proving that he had to be someone important, worthy of captaining a vessel, as wearing such robes require only accept those who are worthy. He carried two swords, whose sheaths were white and borders gold, to his left and a modified, twelve shots flintlock to his left. A dangerous, armed man, who didn´t intent to harm me, regardless of my position, as if he did, he would have not wasted so much time travelling this long hall.
He kneeled once he was close to me, yet not enough to touch the few stairs towards the throne.
"Speak" I said in a serious tone, evaluating this man.
"As you say, My Queen" He stood up, and I could listen to his deep, harsh voice.
"Uncover you" I said to him while he was ready to say his first word.
"As you say, My Queen" Then, he proceeded to take off his hood with his left hand.
Slowly, he did so. I was astonished by him.
"Who are you" I said once more in curiosity.
"My name, my Queen, is Arbaaz Ibn Rus." A peculiar name, regular of the old Mountain Kingdom.
He had a massive figure, towering the two meters. A wide back, possibly moulded by the necessity of swimming the unforgiving seas. His legs were longer than his torso, and his face, while humanoid, lacked any hair. His nose was one of a bull, and his lips, thick and brown. All of his skin must have been lighter in the past, but now was a dark, brown, maroon sort of colour. You could easily see his exaggerated jawline, and big masseter muscle, giving him a form rounded on top, yet box like in some parts.
"Today, I can gladly come here, and offer you my services as a Captain of a Warship. Even though, I´m the underling of an even greater man, my experience is great and the seas are my homeland. To prove myself, I have gathered many presents towards this kingdom, which are waiting to be brought here in the following hours." A monologue he had prepared, none the less, but extremely polite and fluent.
"Why?" I asked in a wondering matter.
"Why? What do you mean, thy Queen?" He was dumbfounded by my question.
"You were born in the Mountain Kingdom?" I asked casually
"Yes, my Queen. Yet I was raised in the seas, alongside men of the ocean" He spoke with great pride, while a smile painted his face.
"Then, why are you giving me these tributes?" I stood of the throne, so he could hear my question.
Instantly, he kneeled.
"Thy Queen Bonnibel, I'm more than grateful for what you have achieved. Many people of the kingdom I was born in are now population of yours. This is just my thank you, as many members of my family, and friends, have found the peace and goodness of life in your lands."
Instantly, his answer shocked me. My palms covered my face, as no one had ever said anything to me about that. I could truly say, I was happy for his response.
"Then, Arbaaz Ibn Rus, I shall accept gladly this presents" I said while sitting down.
"Thank you, My Queen" In humbleness and gentleness, he answered.
"I should be the one thanking you, Rus. What are those present you offer?" I was honestly, curious about what he was going to give me.
"Mostly, my Queen, wealth of the seas. Be it gold, food, fish and immigrants, if you allow it so." He answered happily.
"Immigrants? For Victoria´s Lair? They will be of great use, we need manpower nowadays. The price of progress is never too expensive" I said happily, but calm. "But, let me ask you, Rus, who is that man that you´re and underling of?"
"Great question, My Queen. My captain over a captain, is no one less or more than Liam Cormac V" He said in a proud way, ignoring that Cormac is the most looked pirate in the north.
"Isn´t that dangerous? Being his underling? Even though he is not looked for in this continent, he is in many other places. The bounty to his head grows larger and larger by the day, making yours an extension" My answer was cold.
"It is dangerous, but, trust me my Queen, he is a man worth dying for" His sentence startled me, yet made me curious on what type of fellow is this Cormac one.
"Peppermint butler!" I screamed for his attention, making Rus and Peppermint butler jump in surprise.
"Yes my Liege?!" He screamed back.
"Tell the organizers to keep everything as planned, but that the dance will be in two more nights." I said.
"Yes my Liege!" He screamed back, and ran towards the door.
"And you, Rus." I said softly, yet serious.
"Yes…. my Queen?" This time he answered nervously, but he didn´t kneeled.
"I want to meet this fellow named Liam Cormac, I´m more the curious about what kind of person he is" I said in a serious tone, while a grin coated my face.
"Of course, my Queen. But, why?" He asked dumbfounded once more, like a child.
"I want to know what kind of man is someone worth dying for"