A Flower Yet To Bloom (Episode 1)
Warning: This story will have death, violence and angst and mentions of blood, there will be mentions of blades and weapons, please proceed with caution.
I should be paying attention, but honestly I’ve heard the Lord’s proposal a thousand times. Instead, my focus is on my sister, Zuri.
She looks so free, sitting outside with her back to the courts, mother wanted me to accompany her to court today. This will all be mine someday, so I need to learn the policies and how to rule over such a large kingdom, how to not be swayed by gentle words, but I grew up in the courts, I knew the rules before I could talk. I think my mother just wants me to learn how to appear regal. How to not run out to the fields anytime and everytime that I am bothered. I know she only wants the best for me, but I find this bit tedious every single time. I do not need to know how to appear polite and how to mask what I mean to be a good ruler. I just need to know how to listen and how to be unbiased.
“And that’s why I want the courts to be exclusive,” The Lord finally concludes and mother looks even more weary than when we started.
“I understand, Lord Abbas, but the courts are meant to be the home of justice and changing that will lead to more problems than solutions. Perhaps if you feel uncomfortable coming to court, you can send another member from your house?” My mind immediately flashes to the third of the Lord’s children, Eren.
Imagining Eren in court is…funny to say the least. Eren’s built for the sunny outdoors, she would hate being forced to stay in court.. He’s been trained for battle his whole life, you can hardly blame her.
I am so lost in my thoughts that I don’t notice the messenger bursting into court. She looks breathless, I recognise her as sloan, our newest pager. She looks like she should be the one sitting on my seat. Her dark dreads remind me of the deep depths of the ocean, and she always carries herself impeccably, even in a simple white messenger’s outfit, she demands your full attention. Or perhaps it’s the abrupt nature of her entrance.
“I apologise,my queen, but this cannot wait.” There is worry on her face, she looks at my mother urgently. Dread washes over me, and judging by mother’s expression, she’s been caught off guard.
“The court will reassemble shortly,” I call out. Mother looks grateful, and whispers her thanks, but her voice breaks.
Why does it break? What news does Sloan carry? ♕
My questions are left unanswered. Mother is swept away by her guards as soon as the court is dismissed, no one allows me to meet her. In the end, I am practically thrown outside, and I find myself wandering around the gardens.
Perhaps a talk with Zuri will clear my head? I run down to the shore, she sits quietly, sketching in her little book like she always does. Books are spread out around her, bowls of food lie unguarded for the servants’ children to take as they play around her. It’s quaint and strangely cosy.
I tap her shoulder three times, our code. She turns her head, a lazy smile on her face, “Escaped finally?” she signs.
“No, you’re talking to a ghost” I sign back. “Liar,” Zuri says. And I laugh, no matter how many years pass, Zuri is still my favourite person. She’s my older sister, my rival, a headache, and a menace. I love her so much.
Her wedding is fast approaching but until father returns there can be no discussion of it. So she spends her days, lying in wait, trying desperately to not be a whiny, lovesick teenager, she mostly fails but we let her believe that we don’t hear her long suffering sighs at night.
I sit down next to her, and listen to her talk about her paintings. I tell her about the Lord’s proposal mostly, I just skirt around the real bother. The mysterious message carried by Sloan. As I listen to her talk about a painting of Arno, her beloved, my mind wanders. Could the message be related to our ongoing war with the Mensonges? Maybe father was coming home? But father couldn't come home until the war was over, until a treaty was signed or a kingdom conquered, mother wouldn’t allow it. I wouldn’t allow it.
Sharp nails dig into my flesh and I whimper, Zuri really needs to stop doing that. “Are you listening?” she asks.
“Of course! What kind of sister do you think I am?”
The kind who doesn't listen. “The distracted kind,” Zuri’s voice is poisonous, and her grip is bruising but her words are true.
“I’m not-”
“Pardon me princesses, but the queen has requested your presence,” A meek voice speaks up, and I smile, thankful for the intervention.
“Of course, we’ll be there in a second,” Still angry, Zuri waves the servant away but they’re determined, they don’t move.
Curious, I turn to see which servant would stand their ground while facing the wrath of one of the scariest people I know.
“Hey princess,” Eren’s lopsided grin greets me. I rush towards them, probably a bit too childlike for the heir of the throne, but at that moment the only thing I can think about is Eren.
Eren with her ridiculously pretty brown eyes, and her bit too long hair. They meet me halfway, my arms wrap around them and a laugh escapes me. Their mere presence melts away my worries from the morning. He’s gained more muscle and is darker due to his time at sea but she’s still Eren. My Eren.
I pull away and smile, if she’s back it must mean that the war has finally ended? Right? It must mean that father can come home right? I think it wise not to mention the war just yet. Instead, I follow Eren and the servant that came to fetch us up to mother’s quarters.
“He’s arriving tonight.” Mother tells us, I haven’t seen her this happy since the war started. for once, We’re alone in her chambers.
For a moment, My mother isn’t Raheesa the queen of Aiga, she’s just a mother. She’s just a lovesick girl waiting for her lover, just another woman. It suits her.
“Shouldn’t we tell the kingdom that the war’s over?" I ask. Far too many innocent citizens have been employed to fight, so the kingdom will be overjoyed to find that they’re coming back.
“We should, and we will, just breathe for a moment. Oh! He’s coming back Raja! It’s been so long!” She looks ten years younger, and I smile as she embraces Zuri and I. Our family will finally be complete after so long! It’s surreal. After so many years, there will finally be a king in Aiga’s court, Zuri will finally be able to marry Arno. If a few happy tears fall, we don’t address it.
♕
Mother decides that she wants to announce the end of the war herself. We accompany her down till the townsquare and we cheer just as loudly as the townspeople when she tells them. It’s over. Ten years of trauma all neatly tied up. It feels a little too simple, but what do I know? I had never been allowed on the front lines. I keep my doubts to myself and watch everyone celebrate, mother’s barely audible when she tells us all about the ball. I wonder if Zuri hears her. Does she worry as well?
♕
Author's note: IT'S HERE. I HAVE UPLOADED IT. BE PROUD. I'm aware that this is, mmm not adequate and too short but I personally think that the second chapter (coming next saturday, 23rd of July) is much more thing happeny but I like what I wrote! Shoutout to mod Sam for proofreading and hyping me up, oh and thankyou my irl sister for proofreading as well.
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