There was a thunderous pounding on Flora's bedroom door, jolting her awake. She barely had time to sit up before two guards stormed into her rooms. They stopped at the door frame, but before they could speak Flora screamed at them, "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING IN HERE!" She pulled the covers over her body, since she was still in her nightgown, completely unfit to be in front of two men. She glared at them before speaking, "What is the meaning of this? I need an explanation now!"
The guards faces reddened as they realized how inappropriate this situation was. Looking down, a young guard spoke, "The king requests your presence immediately, your highness."
Flora sat there dumbfounded. Why would her father want to see her? And moreover, why would it be so pertinent that he see her immediately? She clutched the fabric of the duvet in exasperation. "What could be so pressing that two MEN would need to tear into my room, without notice, while I am improperly dressed?" She was fuming at this point.
"Well, your highness, the king requested..."
"I am the princess!" Flora quickly interrupted. "I WILL NOT be treated this way!" She looked around the room for something to throw on quickly. "Now you go get my hand maiden so I can properly present myself to his majesty or so help me gods."
"We cannot wait your highness," one guard said in a low voice. "If you are not in the presence of the king in the next ten minutes, there will be consequences."
"You can give me time to put something on."
"Your highness, if you do not come with us then we will have to take you by force."
The guard looked very uncomfortable telling her this, but Flora didn't care. "Close your eyes so I can throw on my slip please." Before they could object she told them in a stern voice, "You owe me at least that much." They turned around as Flora put on her slip and stuffed her feet into a pair of silk shoes laying by her bed. She didn't have time for Rose to come in and help her into one of her dresses, so this is what she would have to do with. As she walked towards the door, she grabbed a shawl and wrapped it around her shoulders, already chilly.
The two guards lead her out of her chambers, and towards the king's receiving room. Why in gods' name would the king want to see her, she thought again. She remembered yesterday's conversation in the war room. The men had mentioned the king wanting to get answers from some woman about the war, but Flora had no idea who this person was. Did he expect her to get information from this woman? What could Flora even add to this situation? She was just the princess that was always holed up in her chambers; she didn't talk to anyone.
The two guards pace hastened as they got nearer to that ten minute deadline. The three of them were basically jogging down the hallway, dodging staff along the way. The exercise was enough to distract her before they arrived at the closed doors leading into the receiving room.
As one guard knocked on the door, notifying the occupants of their arrival, Flora had a bone chilling thought. What if the war council was referring to her yesterday? A response came from inside the room, beckoning them in. The doors flew open, and one guard reached to pull Flora in. Disgusted, she ripped her arm away and pushed past the guards into the room. Who did these men think they were to put their hands on a princess? This morning was way too much for Flora to handle.
As she approached the empty dais, Flora was instantly more uncomfortable as she felt the raggedness of her appearance. The marble floor was cold, and her thin slippers did nothing to keep the chill from soaking into her feet. Flora was all too aware of the lack of clothing she was wearing, and was preemptively embarrassed to be seen by the king like this. She didn't have a relationship with her father, but she wanted his respect, even if that was slightly out of fear of him.
The back door opened, as the king's personal squire announced that everyone should prepare for his arrival. He exited back through the door, and the king entered the room, making his way to the golden throne on the dais. Behind him, Felix followed to stand off to the side of the raised platform.
Flora kept her head bowed and her curtsy deep, as she waited for the king to address her. Her knees quaked from holding the position for so long. Flora felt the king's stare at the top of her head, but didn't dare to look up at him. Finally the king said, "You may rise princess. Everyone else leave." Only the king, Felix, and Flora were left in the room.
Flora stood with her back ramrod straight as she took in the king, sitting tensely on his throne. He was wearing a gorgeous red satin suit, with gold embroidery entwined throughout. His hands were covered in gold and ruby rings, his pointer finger tapping the arm of his throne impatiently. His hair had become more salt and pepper since she had seen him last, but even still, the majestic Pranian crown sparkled atop his head.
The king's dull, brown eyes narrowed in on her before he spoke, "Princess, I want answers." Flora didn't know how to respond to this, so she remained silent. This seemed to anger the king as he restated, "I want answers."
Flora panicked trying to figure out what exactly he was talking about. She grasped her skirt as she began to sweat despite the chill of the room. Her brain felt scrambled as she racked her mind for what she could say.
"Are you mute princess?" The king began to raise his voice.
"My apologies, your majesty," she ducked her head in submission. "I don't know what you mean."
The king clenched his fists as he asked, "I want to know if Leosta is going to ally with Mistis." His fists trembled with anger. He was not pleased to be made to wait.
Her eyes widened in surprise as she lifted her eyes to meet his. "Um..." she stumbled trying to find the words, "Um... your majesty, I don't know what you mean." Panic rose up inside of her as she stared at him. She looked over to Felix for help, but he gave her a blank stare, worrying her even more.
"Must I repeat myself?!?" The king yelled. "I asked you to find out if Leosta is going to join Mistis in the war against us!"
Dumbfounded, Flora managed to ground out, "I... I don't know how I would do that." Her body began to tremble as she watched the king rise out of his chair.
"Find out the truth!" The king began to walk towards her. "Look into the future and tell me whether or not Leosta will fight against Prana!"
Look into the future? How would she be able to do that? Flora barely had any magic inside of her, not even enough for anything more than lighting a candle. Flora's body was now shaking as the king bridged the gap between them. She again looked at Felix, pleading him with her eyes to help her, but there was nothing in his gaze.
The king was now an armlengths away from Flora as he screamed at her, "TELL ME!" She could feel the heat of his breath as she flinched away from him. That motion was a major mistake. Her flinching set him off the edge, and he swung his arm, slapping her hard across her cheek.
Flora stumbled backwards, clasping her cheek. Tears pricked her eyes as she looked at the king absolutely dumbfounded. Never before had she been hit in her entire life. Regaining her composure, she tried to speak again, "your majesty, I can't do..." Again, there was another loud smack as his palm connected with her face. She began to cry as she glanced back up at her father. "Please, I don't..."
This time, the king whirled his fist at her, knocking her to the ground. The rings on his fingers tore through the delicate skin on Flora's cheek. He was steaming as he looked down at Flora. "I know you can see the future!" Flora sobbed as he screamed, "LOOK INTO THE DAMN FUTURE!"
Flora held her head, her body wracking itself with heavy sobs. She could taste the metal tang of blood in her mouth. She was in so much pain. Why was he doing this to her? She looked up to plead with the king, "Please, father..." Calling him her father triggered him into a further enraged state, and he swung his leg to kick her. Out of panic, she put up her arms to block his foot. This act of defiance made all hell break loose.
The king began to beat her, slamming his boot into her back over and over again. All Flora could do was cover her head with her hands as he roared, "HOW DARE YOU DEFY ME, THE KING? WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING?" The beating continued as Flora wailed in pain, her vision darkening. "I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT! LOOK INTO THE FUTURE NOW!" Flora's consciousness faded as he howled, "HOW COULD YOU BETRAY YOUR KINGDOM LIKE THIS? WE COULD LOOSE THIS WAR!"
Before Flora passed out, she looked up at Felix, begging for his help. The last thing she saw before blacking out, was him turning his head away from the scene. The king continued to kick Flora's unconscious body before he realized she was gone. He looked at her limp body and sneered, "what a pitiful excuse of a daughter."
As he walked away from her, the aura surrounding the room changed. Felix's head shot up as he noticed it, the king still oblivious. He glanced at his father, too afraid to say anything to the king. In an instant, the room began to shake, the king falling to the ground. He screamed at Felix to help him up, and Felix rushed to his side. He put his arm around the king's back to support him, as they both turned to look at where Flora was laying.
A gasp escaped Felix's mouth as he twisted to see Flora now standing. Slowly, her gaze lifted to the two men. Felix froze as he took in her face, devoid of all emotion, her eyes brightening into a golden glow. As if there was a snap, her face twisted into that of rage.
The king moved to punish her once more, but before he had the chance to get out of Felix's grasp, an inhuman voice, both old and young came from Flora's lips, "what a pitiful excuse of a king you are." Her face scrunched up in disgust.
The king yelled back, "HOW DARE YOU SPEAK TO ME IN THAT MANNER!"
Flora's face contorted into a fury as that voice spoke again, "how dare I?" The voice began to rise as she got more heated, "HOW DARE YOU!" She raised herself into a full stand as she continued, "HOW DARE YOU HURT THIS CHILD?" She strode up to the king, Felix blocking him with his body. "HOW COULD YOU BEAT THIS CHILD LIKE A RABID DOG!"
The king, despite his attitude, flinched back from the girl, suddenly realizing that this was not the princess speaking. "You are to tell me if Leosta will ally with Mistis in this war we are currently in."
Flora's body shook as anger rose up from the voice. Suddenly, her body stilled as a dry laugh passed through her lips, "Hah..." Her golden eyes met the king's. "All of this for your foolish war." The king scowled at this, but didn't respond. "Leosta will not get involved in this war." Flora spat blood onto the white marble. "Leosta should be the least of your worries boy. There comes a price for your arrogance, and you will loose much more than you previously thought." Flora's gaze drifted to Felix, the distaste apparent. "Let me make one thing clear, king of Prana. If you DARE lay another hand on this child, this trivial war will be seen as a blessing in comparison." She held his gaze as she finished, "heed my words, or suffer the consequences."
Flora loosed a breath as her body fell, her head slamming into the stone. The king stood still, waiting to make sure she was down for good this time. He scoffed and turned towards his private door. "Felix, figure out what to do with her." The king waved a shaky hand in his direction. "I'm over this nonsense. Find the war council and tell them to meet me in the war room. We found what we needed to know."
Felix looked at his sister's unconscious body in pain as the door slammed shut. He called the guards to come in and take her to her chambers, telling them to fetch the royal physician immediately. Felix looked at his sister once more before leaving her behind.
The bigger guard scooped up Flora, and held her close to his chest, blood dripping down his uniform. He cradled her gently the whole way to her chambers. The guards, while horrified, did what they were told, and never spoke about what they saw to anyone ever again.