Reigon,
the capital city of Greece,
the king's castle.
Late at night,
the Queen's Chambers.......
Tilda, the Queen's personal servant and close friend, stepped into the Queen's Chambers.
My lady??
No one answered.
My lady?
Yes Tilda?
Queen Harriet turned slowly to face her servant.
The king requests your audience my queen,
Tilda said, a worried look on her face. Harriet got up reluctantly and followed Tilda out of her Chambers towards the king's courtroom.
Mistress?
Mistress?
Tilda suddenly grabbed Harriet's hand, yanking her back.
Mistress, you can't go in there, you can't!!
you just can't!!.
Harriet smiled dryly before releasing her hands from Tilda's grasp.
Make sure you get out of here and start a new life when this is all over Tilda.
And what about you mistress, what about you?! You know he might finally decide to kill you if you go in there, so why do you still want to go mistress??
You used to be full of energy, and brave, you would fight for what you believe in and live life the right way, I used to look up to you, what happened?!!
But now look what that evil useless man did to you, all because you fell in love with the wrong person.
Tilda burst out crying.
I can't just figure out what went wrong, I thought I loved him, thought he did too. I gave up everything for him, trusted him with my very life. Disobeyed my parents, caused my father's untimely death. I betrayed my mentor ; all of that, just for him?!!
Harriet seethed with anger, she stared at her hands in horror. Her whole world was engolfed in darkness and loneliness as memories flashed through her mind.
Her mother was banished and her younger brother, Harry, had been secretly taken somewhere far away from Theo's reach. A lot of people warned her about Theo, but she didn't listen to any of them, not even her mentor who she had a crush on......
All her family's loyal friends had either left or had been killed by some of Theo's dogs, her mentor was no where to be found.
Her best friend, Delila, was now Theo's whore, and one who betrayed her and sided with Theo, now acting as Reigon's fake queen.
And Theo, who had arrived in Reigon as a foreign merchant with ties to the royal family of Reigon, but had only come to deceive and destroy the royal family from the inside, the one who caused her all this pain and betrayed her love. She couldn't really blame him, after all, she had been warned severally to no avail.
Now her kingdom,
her friends,
her loved ones,
her humanity,
and her reason to live.
Yes!!!
She'd accepted her fate now, she was tired of resisting, tired of trying, she was ready to give in to death, it's calm and comforting embrace. Then maybe she'd be free of this snare.
Tilda called out to her mistress, she seemed to be lost in thoughts. That did bode well at all, these past few years she hasn't been herself, she'd even tried committing suicide sometimes.
She really felt her mistress's pain , but the terrifying thing is that she might actually finally give up on living.
She must survive,
for her own sake, for her kingdom and it's citizens who still await her rise and take back her throne from the tyrant king and regain all that's been lost.
Tilda reluctantly escorted Harriet into the king's court, where the sloth was seated beside Theo on the Queen's seat. Theo looked down, a look of disgust on his face. Delila shamelessly smiling at Harriet.
She let go of Tilda's hands reluctantly and approached the king's throne:
What does my king request of me?
she said bowing low slowly.
Count yourself privileged wench, I'll be departing for Tyrane soon and though regretfully, as you are my lawfully wedded wife, I have no choice than to take you with me. Gather all you'll need before two weeks to come, is that clear?!!
Yes my king.
Delila giggled lightly, sitting on Theo's laps.
Darling??
Yes my love?
Theo answered.
Why can't we just get rid of her now.
Theo sighes. Because we still need her , but don't worry, when we get back you'll have the pleasure of killing her yourself. Alright darling?
Harriet excuses herself from the room, Tilda following behind her.
Mistress?
Are you alright?
Is everything okay??
Do you need anything at all??
I'm fine Tilda, but I need you to do something for me.....
What is it mistress??
Tilda asked expectantly.
I need you to prepare my things, I'll be leaving for Tyrane soon, and I don't intend on coming back here afterwards. I would rather kill myself than to die at the hands of that sloth!!
Tilda was momentarily surprised by the sudden change, she looked somewhat like the old Harriet; that gave Tilda hope that she even can still be revived.
She skipped to Harriet's chamber, leaving her mistress to walk alone through the castle halls.
She was so deep in thoughts that she hadn't noticed a dim light gracing the hall ground in front of her, she had already walked ahead before stopping in her tracks. She retreated backwards, staring long at the light seeping out of a slight crack in the wall - Light?!!
But that's outrageous, that shouldn't be possible, right??
She gently slipped her hands between the crack, trying to edge it apart. She touched something loose, the walls slowly came apart, revealing a row of stairs. She paused;
This wasn't here before, was it?
She shifted her weight to walk through the shallow passage, the walls slowly closed behind her. She took a frightful glance and walked on .
I've never noticed this place before, not even while father was still alive.
She grimaced sadly.
A big map of all the six kingdoms of Marly stood plastered in the center of the room beside a large table.
Who could've put it here??
And why??
She thought.
A vivid dot marked Tyrane's geographical landscape.
What did that mean?
she walked towards the table where several pieces of paper were scattered all over. She picked one up and stared wide eyes at it in shock : A thorough plan on how to ambush and seize Tyrane!!
Harriet felt sick.
So enslaving Reigon wasn't enough for him, he still plans to enslave another?!!
She said, disgusted.
She quickly ducked under the table when she heard footsteps approaching. Theo's voice echoed , several footsteps sounding alongside his.
Are the preparations ready?
Theo asked.
Yes my king, everything is ready, just like you requested.
Good, any news from the other sides?
No my king, nothing yet.
What's taking them so long?!!
Should we send a messenger my Lord?
NO!!!
We'll wait for them to reach out to us, not the other way around. Let's head back for now, I just hope they hurry up and get this over with, so I can claim my share of Tyrane and finally be rid of that witch. Delila hasn't conceived yet, and we've been trying but nothing's changed, I fear that witch is to blame.
They chuckled, Harriet sneered but remained hidden. They all exited the room, she listened closely before creeping out from under the table, before she could catch her breath she was unexpectedly pinned to the edge of the table......
Who?!
Remembering her training she lowered her head and forcefully twisted her hands free, she stepped forward despite the pain and slammed her head hard against her attackers forhead. The person didn't even move, seeing that didn't work she kicked him hard below the belt, causing the person to crouch in pain, unknowingly releasing her.
She took this chance to elbow him before he held her hands tightly and flipped her to the floor, she didn't have time to breathe before he climbed on top of her and slapped her hard across the face, sending her head sideways. She struggled, to no avail and shrunk back, awaiting death ; but nothing happened??
She attempted to open her eyes but was slapped again.
Stupid child,
he said before getting off her, she quickly got up, facing her attacker but was too shocked to react afterwards...
Teacher?!!!
Her mentor and friend glared at her in greeting but smiled faintly, she attempted to hug him but he stepped back. She moved back in shame.
I'm sorry Elijah, I truly am, for all that's happened. I Know it's all my fault, I regret not listening to your warnings, I'm sorry I betrayed you........
Shut up, or I will hit you again!!
he warned.
You say you're sorry?! and yet you're not doing anything to stop your tyrant husband!
I don't believe you, the Harriet I know wasn't like this, she would rather die than to endure all this suffering.
He pointed to her :
You're not Harriet, don't ever talk to me or come here till you can find the real Harriet.
he said before walking out, she stood like a statue in the middle of the room, realisation set in ; what have I become?!? he's right, what happened to me!!
she collapse to the floor.
She'd cried so much that crying wasn't even an option anymore.
He wants the old Harriet back?!
Can I do that?
Can I ever earn their trust back?!
She questioned herself.
She got up and left, heading towards her chamber of comfort and solitude.
She couldn't sleep at all, she bolted upright, sweating profusely.
She had a dream ; her parents and little brother were all seated in the fields, they smiled at her when they saw her and she smiled back. Suddenly she started to drift away from them, from afar she saw as they were all captured and imprisoned by Theo, begging her to free them. But no matter how hard she tried, she only drifted further away.
It was horrifying.
But she'd made up here mind;
I'll take back what is rightfully mine!!!