I didn't dare leave my room again, I waited till we had docked and then I left. I went to the stables and saddled Jibe, the knights horses were all ready gone. There felt like there was a stone in the pit of my stomach weighing me down. I could feel that something bad was going to happen, but there was no turning back now. I held Jibe's reigns tightly in my hand and pulled the cloak hood tight around my face. I led him down the ramp that led to the cobbled streets below. The street was busy, it was the largest exporting and importing dock in the country. My breathe caught in my throat when I saw the King sitting upon a white horse. He was surrounded by soldiers as he was talking to Arthur who was also sitting upon his horse. Tristan glanced at me and petted his horse. I tried to blend into the background, trying to be inconspicuous.
I had made it down the ramp and onto the cobbled street. I tried making my way away from the King and his soldiers but it was like trying to swim against a current. I gave up and thought maybe they wouldn't notice me if I walked by. I took my chance and turned around, walking with the crowd. I passed just feet away from the King and his soldiers. He gazed down at me, I held my breath and my knuckles grew white as I gripped tighter on the reigns. The kings mouth twitched, his eyes passed over me and back to Arthur's. I thought I was home free until he swiveled in his saddle and his gaze was fierce upon me.
"ARREST HER!" He yelled and his soldiers moved quickly surrounding me, I pulled out my sword and let go of Jibe's reigns, I slapped him and he raced off into the forest. The king had a special hatred towards me, I had disgraced him, I had once outsmarted him and I had embarrassed his authority.
"Give it up, you'll only put yourself in more trouble," One of the soldiers whispered fiercely at me, I swung swiftly at him and kicked his feet out from under him. He fell with a thud to the ground. They grew tight around me, I didn't want to kill anyone.
"Please don't do this," I begged them softly but they only smiled.
"Put down your weapon!" The king yelled at me and I looked up at him. I raised my sword in the air and dropped it uselessly to the ground. It clattered for a couple seconds on the uneven cobblestone. One of the soldiers bent and picked it up.
"You thought you could outsmart me!" The king laughed, "You thought I wouldn't post soldiers at any of the. I know you! I know how you think! Although it did take longer than I had suspected." One of the soldiers bound my wrists together tightly with a piece of rope.
"What is the meaning of her arrest?" Arthur asked.
"Don't question my authority!" The king barked at Arthur and he shut his mouth. The knights looked awe-stricken because no one had spoken to Arthur that way before.
"Pull her hood off," The king ordered and one of the soldiers pulled my hood off. I heard the knights gasped and mutter between themselves.
"Dorinda?" Lancelot whispered and the king heard him.
"Is that what she's been telling you?" The king asked and Lancelot looked at me with a blank stare, "Take her away." The soldiers pushed me towards where their horses were picketed. One of the soldiers pulled me up onto his horse and sat me in front of him.
"Come now, we will go to the castle," The king said, Lancelot went to say something but Arthur gave him a stern look that shut him up before he even opened his mouth. They slowly rode back to the castle, taking a long scenic route.
Meanwhile I was being raced back to the castle, once we reached the castle I was roughly brought to a sitting room where the Queen was drinking tea. She looked up and dropped her cup, it shattered loudly on the stone floor. She screamed and jumped up.
"What is she doing here?" She asked still screaming.
"What should we do with her?" The soldiers asked and the Queen put her hands on her hips, she thought for a minute and then nodded.
"How am I supposed to know?" She asked and I rolled my eyes, "Don't you roll your eyes at me!"
"I wouldn't have to if you didn't make everybody else make all your decisions!" I yelled at her and she turned beet red.
"How dare you speak to me you impertinent child," She said slapping me across the face and then screaming when she realized her hand was covered in dirt, "Go get her washed up." They dragged me the maid's quarters and they got a bath ready. Then they left me in care of the maids who stripped my clothes off, cutting my shirt off because my hands were still tied. They put me in a tub of water and scrubbed my skin till it was raw. After I was washed thoroughly they handed me a dark blue dress, I scrunched my face up and refused to put it on until one of the maids threatened to make me go around naked. After I finished pulling the dress on they sat me down in a chair and pinned my hair up. I refused to let them powdered and perfume me. I jumped up and they went screaming out of the room. The two guards came back into the room and led me back to the Queen who had gotten dressed for the arrival of the knights.
"That is better," The Queen muttered, "Well un-tie her!"
"But your majesty-," One of the soldiers tried to object.
"I said un-tie her," The queen said again grinding her teeth, "If you don't think you can handle her un-tied then I will find some guards who can! And find me my son!" They bowed and stepped to the side. We could see the knights and the king in the distance.
"Why are they here?" I asked but the Queen ignored me, she waved to the King and he waved back. Arthur was speaking with the King while the Knights conversed between themselves. I took a step back hiding in the Queen's shadow. A man about 3 years older than me walked over to the Queen from the opposite side of where I was standing. He did not notice me because his eyes were glued on the Knights.
"Darrion," I whispered and he looked at me, his eyes widened and his mouth fell open.
"Close your mouth Darrion," The Queen ordered stiffly. Darrion stared at me for a minute.
"How-?" He started to ask but the Queen gave him a death glare.
"Shush now Darrion, the Knights are coming," The queen said smiling when they reached the stairs leading to the doors of the castle that we were standing in front of. I turned around and tried to run but there were guards at the door.
"Welcome to our home!" The king said opening his arms up towards the castle.
"It's beautiful," Arthur said and his knights agreed, I stayed back and they didn't notice me until the Queen went to stand besides her husband.
"This is my wife Jenny," He said kissing her on the cheek, "My youngest son Darrion." He pointed to Darrion who bowed lightly to the Knights, "And my youngest daughter Tashia." The knights looked at me and I looked at the ground as I curtsied to them. I walked slowly over to Darrion and stood at his side. We locked arms and he squeezed mine lightly.
"Your daughter?" Arthur asked starring intently at me, "But-."
"She's been very juvenile lately," He said, "We've had to take extreme measures t ensure her safety from the public."
"I'm sad to say they are not very happy with her at the moment," My mother piped in and I grunted. She turned her head towards me and gave me an evil glare that made me want to wash my own mouth out with soap. But I smirked in spite of her. She wouldn't openly hit me in front of the guests.
"Tashia," Darrion warned and my expression softened
"Our eldest daughter is not feeling well enough to greet you at the moment," My mother said smiling.
"Come, our stable boys will care for your horses," My father said beckoning the Knights into the castle, "They will show you to your rooms so you can get ready for dinner." He pointed to the servants lined up against the wall. The knights passed by me confusion and interest in their eyes. Arthur bowed to me and I curtsied in return.
So that's it, how'd you like it? It took me awhile to just get her identity out, it'll probably take even longer for the plot to develop and all of her history to come into play. Darrion is Tashia's, pronounced Ta (like short form of dad, Da) Shi (She) a (Like in father), brother. Her parents are the king and queen of Gristonia. Message with any questions.