I'm baaack! Didja miss me? Or at least my stories? Anyone?
…Anywho, I experienced a teeny bit of writer's block, but I think I've finally come up with something decent.
"-have been chosen." Opal finished. "Have you any questions milady?"
Raz was frozen. "M-M- Marriage?" she managed to sputter out through her shock. She was being forced to wed someone cruel, iron fisted, black hearted? Someone with no sense of mercy? She'd been informed by Opal the way he treated his subjects, she could only dread how he'd treat his wife.
The young woman gulped before collapsing down on the bed, suddenly nauseous. She grabbed her stomach. "Think I'm gonna be sick…"
"Oh dear! Um…" Opal hadn't much experience with this type of thing, but she tried to be comforting. "Just, ah, stay calm! Breathe in and out, I'll uh… I'll get a healer!"
"N-No…" she took a gulp of air, steadying herself, willing her nausea away, slowly clearing her spinning head. "I… c'n Ah 'ave some wat'ah?"
"Of course! Iced, room, or warm."
"…Iced?"
"Alright. Would you prefer gold or silver?"
"What?"
"For your chalice." Opal explained patiently. "Would you prefer to drink from gold or silver?"
"…Silver?"
"Ok." She hurried across the room and opened one of her chests, coming face to face with a pile of perfectly polished pearls of all colors. Digging around for a moment, she found what she was searching for. She pulled out the small silver chalice, about as big as she was, studded in pink pearls and emeralds. "Iced water." She said. She knew Zalim had charmed them all, so it was no surprise when it instantly filled with clear water, small pieces of ice bobbing in the mix.
"Here you are, Milady." Opal bowed respectfully, holding up the cup in offering. The future queen grabbed it and chugged it down without hesitation, taking large gulps of water till the silver cup was empty. Opal waited for a moment, still in her kneeling position. She knew she wasn't to rise until someone of authority told her to.
"Ya just gonna stand like tha' all day?" inquired the she-pirate.
"I must be ordered to my feet." She explained. "A servant is to bow to their mistress whenever fit, and only to rise when commanded."
"Ok… then gittup."
"Thank you, Lady Raz." She rose. "Were you pleased with your drink? Do you approve of your bedroom?"
"The watah was fine." she explained, looking around in admiration. "Th' rooms nice. The beds' comfy."
"So you are pleased?"
"Yeh, Ah guess you coud say tha." She ran her fingers over thee pink blanket. "Is this real?"
"I haven't the slightest idea milady. I was not informed of it's material. I will gather the information though, if you wish."
"No, thas alrigh." She stood up, placing the chalice on the carved nightstand. "Am I allowed ta explore? Or it Lord what's-his-face gonna keep me fr'm havin any fun?"
Opal blinked. No one had ever spoken about Zalim with such disrespect. Or any disrespect at all, really. "I… my orders were to accompany you wherever you wished. I don't see why you couldn't explore."
"An… ya called yerself a servant?"
"That's right. I must obey your every command."
"Really? Anythin I say?"
"Anything you say." She promised, beginning to get nervous. "Any and every order you give I must follow."
"Well then, if that's the case" she grinned, rubbing her hands together, a malicious grin spreading on her face. "Where's the nearest waterfall?"
Opal gulped. She could tell this wouldn't end well.
…
She was right. While Raz promised it would be fun, the tiny rabbit was quick to disagree at heart. Her idea of 'fun' was tying a vine around her waist and tossing the poor bunny off the waterfall cliff, making her bungee jump as a living yo-yo. All the while the she-pirate laughed the whole time. While she knew she was over doing it a bit, Raz didn't let up. If there was anything being the youngest on a ship of six rough-and-tumble siblings, it was that dominance had to be assured immediately in a situation, or you became a target. If this rabbit was serious about following her 'every command', she had to see if she was truly serious. Would she really do anything she asked. Even act as a living yo-yo?
Apparently so. Opal didn't utter so much as one word of complaint, though Raz could hear her desperately stifled screams and whimpers of terror. After half an hour, the kangaroo's arm had fallen asleep from being suspended in the air for so long, and poor Opal now resembled a guacamole in color. "Oh…" she stumbled dizzily for a moment when she was set back on her feet, before collapsing flat on her back.
"Ya alrigh there tiny?" Raz leaned over her, gently prodding her in the stomach. "I didn' hurtcha too bad did Ah?"
"N-No Milady." Opal managed. "Just a bit dizzy…"
"Good." She gently grabbed the rabbit around the middle and sat her in an upright position, a finger caressing her long ears for a moment. "Ah was worried Ah'd broke ya."
"I'm quite alright." The young girl assured. "A little, ah… bungee jumping never hurt anyone."
"Act'lly, my brotha broke 'is arm doin tha."
"Oh! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean-!" Opal started rambling apologies, dropping to her knees with her hands folded pleadingly. Disagreeing or so much as implying that the Lady of Zalim'island was wrong in anything- punishable by death! She'd said, actually said something that directly disagreed with some she'd said! Zalim would obliterate her for sure now!
"Woah, woah, woah! Slow down a sec!" she shut her mouth indstantly. "Talk slowa shorty. I can' understand a word yer sayin when ya talk like tha!" her tone was light, but Opal thought she was angry, scolding her, reprimanding her, if you will.
"I-I'm sorry My Queen! Please spare me!"
"Spare you? Wot…"
Opal gulped, tears of fear springing to her eyes. "Will you tell Zalim of my mistakes! He will slay me for sure!"
"Wha, jus fer talkin so fast?" she nodded unsurely. "Well thas jus bout the stupidest thing I've eva heard." And that was saying a lot, considering one of her brothers had the IQ of a tadpole. She gently tilted the young girls' face up with one finger. "So ya jus had a lil slip up. Weh all do. Ah'm no' gonna have ya murdered jus cuz'a something as silly as tha." She gently picked her up, patting her head, smoothing away the still building tears with the tip of her pinky. "Don' worry. Ah'd neva have somethin like tha done ta you."
Opal sniffled, reaching up to rub one eye, looking up at her curiously. No one had ever showed her such kindness. Any kindness at all, really. "Really?"
"Of course."
The young girl grinned. She was right. Zalim's bride was nice. No, not just nice. She was kind, loving. She had a good heart. And maybe, just maybe, she was the one. She'd save them all.
A warm feeling spread through Opal's chest and into her heart. Joy. She smiled wider; she liked this feeling. She liked Raz. She could tell immediately everyone would be fond of her. She'd be a great queen. Now, if only she could help Zalim… no, that would never happen. He was too cruel. Too cold. Too emotionless. That couldn't happen. It wouldn't.
…Would it?
Well, did you like it? Sorry for the longish wait, but I'm back now! In the next chapter or two, maybe, I think I'll have Queen Raz (I love he sound of that. Dunno why, but I just do, for some reason) meet her to-be husband. Oh dear… I'm almost scared to write it! Haha! :D
Sorry again for the wait. It's been hectic here at my house, my sister just got a horse, then my mom turned around a few days later and bought my four-year-old cousin one too. Between all that, and getting ready for school to start (tomorrow. Eek! D: kinda nervous!), I've just been so busy! I've got a few ideas for a couple new stories, not sure if I should go for it… input anyone?
Please review!