When I was a child, learning how to protect myself was the main objective for me. My parents had always told me that by me being a princess and all, knowing how to protect myself would come in handy one day. Well, that and basic maths and sciences, I can't be a dumb princess, right? It's just that, I guess learning combat is a necessity, I just... Never thought it really would come in handy like they said.
"Will this even ever help me? I mean, I get that learning how to fight is a good thing and all, but I've never even left the kingdom, and we're at peace with all the surrounding nations. We also have a whole army at our disposal." I said to my mom while training.
"Hey! What'd I tell you about that kind of attitude little girl? The Peace you see right now could change at any moment, and they are not "at our disposal" These soldiers are people your father and I personally chose. All of them are equally important to us and we to them. All of us have fought war after war together and never thought of each other as disposable. Now, come at me. Fighting without a weapon is just as important as fighting with one." she said as she got ready.
"Wait... But what about the other two? Do they not have to train as well?" I asked.
"Oh, your older sisters? They... They, um... Can't adapt as fast as you can! Yeah, they're athletically challenged and don't know their left from their right. You, on the other hand, are super athletic! Perfect for helping me train, and who would be a better teacher than, well, the warrior queen herself? No one that's who. So come on! Have at me!" she said convincingly.
"Okay. Fine, I'll train." I said as I got ready and inched closer to her. From previous attempts and what I remember, I should close and measure the distance. I thought as I threw a punch. As I moved closer, I noticed something, she was looking at my feet.
Hmm? Oh! I wonder what would happen if I... I thought as I moved my front leg. She jumped back a little bit and I swung at her face. My fist nearly hitting her, she lost her balance and fell. It did work! I thought as I extended both of my hands to help her up. "Wow... You... You've really got a knack for this Jenn! Color me impressed!" Mom praised.
"Thanks. Could we try again?" I asked. "Oh? Sure! Are you starting to like combat already!?" she asked really excitedly. "I... I don't know. It does feel kind of fun, but this is just us training if I have to do this against an actual person... I don't know if I'll be able to." I said in a nervous tone. She looked at me wide-eyed, "Aww, you won't have to do that any time soon okay? I'll always be there to protect you! She said as she walked up and hugged me. "Sorry if I'm ruining a precious little mother, daughter moment but, the king wishes to see you, your majesty." The one who said this was my mom's right hand maid and best friend, Laura. "Really?! Right now? Fine. I'll be back Jenn, and when I am, I'll show you something awesome! Laura, will you help me later?" Mom asked her. "Sure, your majesty. Whatever it is, I'll be glad to help if it entertains Princess Jenn, but Princess, I'd be thrilled to continue training with you until your mom gets back. So, how about it? Wanna have a go with me?" she said in a light-hearted way.
"Sure! Let's do it, Laura!" I said excitedly.
"Why does it seem like she likes you more?" Mom asked in a joking manner.
"That's because she does," Laura replied. "You really think so?" Mom questioned Laura in a slightly annoyed way. "No, I know she does, she's just denying it."
"HAHA! Is that how you see it? Oh my, Laura, you're such a riot! I should leave things here to you and be on my way. Bye, bye, sweetheart!" She said as she left. Later in the day, my mom came back and asked Laura to spar with her. Just as she said, it was amazing. "Damn, Queen Sarah! Still as good as ever. Looks like I'll have to pick it up a notch." She said. "Come on, Laura! You're gonna have to try harder than that to beat me. And drop the formalities, we're friends!" she said.
"Sure, sure, Sarah. I'll remember that as I beat you to the ground." Laura said as she attacked her. Mom instantly saw it coming and blocked it, then tripped her. She was so fluent, it almost looked like she was dancing. "Hmm. So who was beating who to the ground?" She asked jokingly as she extended her hand. "Haha, that was luck. You won't do it again." Laura said. "Was it? Ok. Let's go again then." Mom questioned. "Sure. Again." Laura said as she jumped up. She swung her sword around, then ran at Mom. She swung down heavily and made mom block, she then punched her in the gut and kneed her in the face. Laura looked at mom and smirked. "Oh, was that all our warrior queen was capable of? Such a pity if you ask me." Laura said snidely. "Huh... Is that how you want to play it? Fine, screw the swords. Let's just do it hand to hand... Shall we bitch?"
"Bi-?! You're the queen! Don't talk like that! It's unbecoming of royalty! But fine then, forget the swords. Come at me." they said as they threw their swords down. For some reason, the atmosphere felt really heavy. Some soldiers came and saw those two about to fight.
"Oh! Guys! The queen and Laura are fighting! Like, like actually fighting! Come on! Let's go watch!" they said. Laura swung at Mom but she dodged and kicked her in the side. Laura staggered a little and Mom punched her in the face, causing her to fall. As Laura fell on the ground, she spun her legs like a windmill and kicked Mom a few times, then got up. Mom lost her balance and Laura tackled her to the ground. Now on top of her, Laura unleashed a flurry of punches at mom's face. "How ya like that queen Sarah?! Huh?" Laura yelled. Mom caught Laura's hands and head-butted her. She then punched Laura in the face and got her off of her. Laura was laid out on the floor. Mom stood up and stared down at her. "Don't ever think you can beat me," she said as she turned around and walked away. If there was anything I learned that day, it's that mom isn't someone you should get angry. As I got older, I began to like fighting. Laura trained and taught me, she also became more of a sister than my actual one. I wanted her to see me as someone she could rely on. I would train every single day, against soldiers, commanders, and my parents. I thought I was strong, but on my 16th birthday, our kingdom got raided by another country. Troops stormed the castle and killed everyone in sight. Before my father died, he hid me under him so the other troops wouldn't find me. The troops left the room to find others. Laura hid under another dead body the same as I did.
"Huh? PRI-PRINCESS JENN!!! You survived! Thank God! Come now, hurry, this way! We haven't much time left." She suggested.
"Laura! You're alive as well! Wait, what do you mean, we haven't much time? Are you saying they'll be back?" I questioned. "Yes. They will be, once they realize you are still alive they will be hunting for you, so please princess, this way, there's a hidden exit over here and a horse waiting for you right outside the door. Princess, please! Escape and live on!" She said as she pushed me out the door. But how would they know to come back? They'd only be able to know if some... One... Told... Wait... How did they even get here? And today of all days... I thought as I got outside. I looked around but there was no horse, only soldiers.
Wait! Didn't she say there'd be a hor... No... No way, it was her!? I thought as I looked back at her. She looked down at me and smiled, "Wow... I can't believe you all were this stupid! How were all of you this nieve? It took you this long to put the pieces together huh? I even made it so obvious and not a one of you knew! But. Thanks to that, this kingdom is all mine now." Laura said. I was scared and angry.
"How... How could you betray us like this?! We treated you like family! I looked up to you!" I said. "HAHA! Betrayal?! Don't paint it like that! How could I betray you if I was never on your side, to begin with?! And family? You know how long I've wanted to kill you?! The only good thing about this, is now I don't have to wait!" she said as she jumped down.
"Why would you... Want to kill me?! What did I do to you?"
"You were born sweetheart. You know, all those years of looking after you made me sick. I hated every second of it. I mean, why should I, second to none other than the queen, at least in this life, be a babysitter? It just doesn't make sense... Does it?" she said as she walked towards me.
"What do you mean "in this life?" and why would that mean you'd have to kill me? Or, well, want to?" I questioned as I frantically looked around for a weapon. I found a sword that pierced a dead soldier and took it.
"Ah, you'll find out about that later okay? For now, just shut up and die for me will you?" "No! I-I won't die without a fight!" I said. "Heh! Listen to yourself, you're scared. You've never fought to the death before huh? Well no, you're a princess. Why the hell would you? But you see... I have." she said as she pulled out her sword and lunged at me. I blocked and began to attack.
"My, my! Would you look at that? Seems you can put up a fight! I thought the fear would've gotten to you by now." she said.
"Shut up! So what if I'm scared? You were Mom's best friend. The only other person she truly trusted! So how could you?!" I asked. "The thing is, princess, trust can easily be broken, just as easily as it can be built. I guess if there's one final thing I can teach you, it would be not to trust others easily... Cause you may end up dead." she said as she kicked me to the ground. I fell back and hit a tree. She stared at me with her sword in my face. "Do you believe in the gods princess?"
"Huh?"
"Do you believe in the gods? Well, more accurately, do you believe in the goddess of immortality?"
"No. I don't."
"Hmm, well, maybe you should, because you see, that goddess... Is evil, she takes the form of different people throughout time and torments them, taking loved ones, causing pain, and bringing immortality to those who die by her hand."
"What does this have to do with me?" I asked.
"Oh, nothing... Just... When you die, say hi to her for me."
"wha-UGH!" She stabbed me in the arm and pulled out the blade. The pain was so excruciating that I fainted on the tree. "Sleep, tight princess. Next time you see me, you'll be dead... I found the princess! She's over here!" she said and yelled as a soldier came over.
"I think she's dead, but let me make sure." She lifted my head to see if I was still conscious, she drew her sword and stabbed me through the chest.