Cool winds invaded the small confinement that was a young princess's cell. Lucia huddled herself in the corner of her bed, her small back pressed against the brick wall while wrapping her arms around her knees tight under a thin bedsheet.
Lucia found herself struggling to breathe as she shivered violently, yet inescapedly hot flashes struck any time she managed to gain any comfortable breath back.
The eleven year old had been in this small room for four days now. It was a punishment for talking back to her step-mother, the Queen. She was still provided with the necessities, breakfast and dinner, a sad looking meal of pourage and a cup of water in the morning, and hard bread along with a cup of water at dinner.
Lucia hadn't gotten her dinner yet today. She assumed from the small window into her room that it was well after night. Her stomach was in pain, her mouth dry, and the room was far too cold. The princess could tell she had a fever that came with a blinding pull into sleep.
Lucia didn't want to fall asleep, or she'd miss meal time, so keeping herself awake she thought about the retort she had made four days ago that landed her in the small shack:
Lucia had been practicing her sword skills; practicing in secret of course, because when she posed the question to her father he told her she was a "frail girl who had yet to turn into a woman". True enough, Lucia was only eleven, but both princes had started their sword apprenticeship when they turned five. However, when she turned five the King had finally agreed with her nanny that she should be allowed a tutor. So as the footsteps of a small maid approached her, Lucia quickly tossed the sword into the bushes and plopped down on the grass pretending she had only been enjoying nature.
"Her Highness the Queen requested you join her for tea, seeing as you have been only lazing around." This was not a question but a command by a young maid, one who had been at the Queen's side since the Queen appeared only a lady from a small kingdom elsewhere.
Katie's stiff, bobbed, dirty-blonde hair clung perfectly around the curves of her plump cheeks. Her green eyes that held no kindess, unlike like her own maid who actually radiated sunshine, looked down on the princess.
"Let Her Highness know I'll join her soon. I'll change into something more fitting for tea."
The maid glanced over Lucia's small figure and saw that she was wearing a riding an outfit. "Princess Lucia, were you planning on going riding without a guard?" Suspicioun seemed to always stain this maid's expression.
"Not without a guard, I was planning on seeking out Sir Frederick but decided to take a stroll instead."
This answer didn't seem to satisfy the maid, but Katie was uninterested and didn't further push with her interrogation.
"Don't keep Her Royal Highness waiting, else you'll be punished," Katie's lips curved into a smirk when she mentioned punishment. Such a sadistic maid she was.
Lucia only nodded and watched the maid stroll away. After seeing that there was no one around, Lucia scoured through the bushes and found her precious blade. Whispering apologies to the blade for throwing it aside, she stored it into the inside of a tree where it had been undetectable for the last year.
~ ~ ~
Returning to her room, Lucia sought after her nanny, Sylvia. Sylvia rushed in already with a dress in one hand and a comb in the other. "Quickly, lets get you changed!"
Sylvia helped Lucia undress her riding gear and then redress into a small gown. The gown was a deep red that made Lucia's icy blue eyes stand out, the gold that wrapped around her pupil and streaked outwards into the blue a sign she was apart of the royal family.
"Look at you my little love!" Sylvia lit up into a smile. "You look gorgeous Luc! Even now at your age you'll outshine the Queen." Sylvia pinched at Lucia's cheek and then quickly pecked her forehead with a kiss.
"Thank you Sylvia," Lucia touched her hand in a gentle manor that made Sylvia sigh in sadness.
"I think it's about time we both finally tell Sir Lance you're secretly practicing with the sword, don't you?" Sylvia asked.
"Why? So he can tell Father and I'll be stuck in this palace for the rest of my life unable to do anything?"
"Remember, Sir Lance tried to put in a good word for you to learn swordmanship. He was your biggest advocate!"
"I do. . . I was incredibly grateful Sir Lance would do such a thing for me, but he's a royal knight Sylv, he wouldn't betray his King."
"Sir Lance is your personal guard Lucy. If someone else found out you were practicing the sword, both of you would be in trouble. At least if you told him, Sir Lance would be able to teach you the correct ways of the sword, and even keep it a secret. He cares a lot for you Lucia," Sylvia lifted Lucia's chin and forced them to meet eyes.
Lucia shook her head. Of course she wanted to tell Sir Lance, maybe even get his help, but how could she trust he wouldn't tattle on her? Sir Lance had only been assigned to her for three years, and while that may seem like a long time, in those years they've never been close.
In a fit of frustration Lucia raised her voice, "It's not like he's ever here anyway! Not telling him is the same as trying to tell him,, there wouldn't be any point." Lucia looked out towards the window, thinking about how silly it was that as her assigned body guard, she never saw him.
Sylvia's expression looked pained as she heard was Lucia had said. "Sir Lance wants to be the best possible knight he can be for the royal family, for you Lucia. He trains as hard as he can to be worthy of protecting this kingdom's precious princess. He'd be incredibly hurt to here you say such sad things. While you may not notice, he's here quite often, but he doesn't want to disturb you so he protects you out of sight."
The young princess felt troubled thinking of how hard he must be training, and then the fact that he was hiding from her in a way. "He doesn't need to train so hard," Lucia whispered, "he's already strong enough. Even if he was weak, what does anyone care for me? That again, would be quite pointless."
"Lucia. . ." Sylvia who was too emotional started to cry, unable to finish her own words.
"I'll- I'll tell him the next time he comes home from training, and when he doesn't seem to hide from me!" Lucia wanted to stop Sylvia from crying, to make her precious nanny happy once again.
"I hope you know I love you so much my little love," Sylvia stroked Lucia's hair gently and tried to clear the tears she had. "You better get going, you won't want to keep the Queen waiting!" Lucia nodded and was out the door when Sylvia's voice was heard from the doorway, "Try and have as much fun as you can!"
Lucia rolled her eyes and then made her way to the Queen's courtyard by herself. It was common for Lucia to be unescorted in the palace. In truth Sir Lance was supposed to be by her side and escort her everywhere, but for the past three days there has been no sign of him. Before that, Lucia had only seen him for two days. Sir Lance was constantly training with the King's personal knights, all of whom were respected knights in the whole realm for their glorious victories in wars. If it was the crowned-prince or one of the two of her younger half-siblings, a new guard would be reassigned, but since Lucia doesn't leave the castle often, the King didn't feel it was necessary to assign anyone. So there she was, strolling to the courtyard alone.
Behind the large stone doors being opened by two very large guards, the Queen sat with excellent posture in a velvet chair, her blonde curls tucked into an elegent bun and her pink dress looking as if it had just come off a mannequin. Queen Sophia sat drinking tea, desserts of all kinds prepared for her, yet only a small cake sat on her plate that, as usual, she never touched.
Lucia offered her greetings, curtsying while speaking, "Your Royal Daughter thanks you for your offer to join you for tea."
The Queen seemed to roll her eyes but flicked her wrist allowing for Lucia to take her seat. The young princess made her way to the seat, which of the two maids and a butler that stood around the Queen, none made any move to pull the princess's chair out for her. So Lucia pulled the metal garden chair out herself and took her seat onto the hard surface across from the Queen.
"You certainly took your time," Queen Sophia spoke, holding her tea cup in her hands. "Though, I had heard you were planning on going riding, so I apologize for the inconvenience," her sarcasm practically dripped through her insincere apology. In fact, the only reason she made such a statement was only out of obligation and for the fact that the if the King ever asked what had happened at tea, which was unlikely, the servants could relay how polite the Queen was to the eldest princess.
"Its always an honor to join Her Highness for tea," Lucia answered, pretending she didn't notice the sarcasm.
"As it should be, not many people can say they've had tea with me," the Queen scoffed. Lucia simply nodded, pouring her own tea. Sophia watched the princess with teasing eyes, amused at the frail princess's efforts. "Miles be a dear, help the poor girl out."
Lucia had managed to pour the hot tea correctly, not splashing a drop in a dignigied manor yet the Queen loved to push and poke her step-daughter. Miles did step over towards the princess in case she needed assistance but seeing as she managed just fine he only stood by.
"Well then, how are your studies?" the Queen moved on.
At this Lucia answered with pride, "Tutor Zex says I'm performing well enough that I can move onto higher levels of learning! I'm at reading level with some of the finest adults is what he said!"
Queen Sophia scoffed and became annoyed with the proud smile Lucia carried. "Even a commoner can be smart and acheive good grades, you on the other hand, need to make sure not to deface your father and do better."
Sylvia had been delighted when Lucia told her such a thing, so Lucia removed her smile and returned back to her stoic expression she always carried with people outside of Sylvia and politely answered the Queen: "Yes Royal Mother-"
"Your Royal Highness the Queen," she corrected Lucia with words as sharp as a blade. "I am not your mother."
Maybe Lucia's damaged pride had boosted her confidence, "Yes Your Royal Highness the Queen, you are indeed not my mother. I dare not give you such a title."
"You insolent girl!" the Queen shot a glare at the young princess. "You dare use that tone with me! If it wasn't for the fact that when that woman gave birth to you, she died, they'd all be questioning whether you really were the King's daughter!"
Lucia had heard such remarks in the past, they didn't bother her anymore, yet she felt her elder brother didn't deserve such words towards his mother. "My Royal elder brother, the Crowned-Prince, shares the same mother with me, you would not want to insult the Crowned-Prince would you?"
The Queen seemed to pale at Lucia's words, her maids besides her seemed about ready to "accidentally" spill some tea onto the princess's dress, but instead the Queen had shot up from her seat, her temper quite thin today, and her hand came down on Lucia's cheek. Lucia hadn't expected such a quick reaction, and certainly didn't expect to be knocked off her chair. The young girl held the side of her cheek, the feeling wasn't new, but the tears that threatened to spill couldn't be controlled, yet she didn't dare cry.
"It can be said you looked to be questioning my authority, Lucia," the Queen spoke loud enough so that the guards outside would hear. "For your rude words and actions that were completely uncalled for, you will be punished. Since you love horses so much, you can use the stableboys house, as it should be empty this time of year."
The stable house was a small shack that emptied any time other than for the summer because the room was treacherously cold at night.
"Guards, take this insolent girl to the stable house and get her comfortable," the Queen commanded.
"What should we tell His Highness the King?" one guard asked.
"If he doesn't ask, then not a thing. However if he does, telp him its an adequate punishment."
Now, Lucia shivered in the stablehouse room, her eyes fluttering closed and finally she lost consiousness.