1 Seize
It was the day of the end.
The day the kingdom fell.
Rianon was not prepared.
All is not well.
--
"The king has passed away." The royal doctor announced to the royal family. Which only consist of the daughter, Princess Rianon. The redhead princess, feigning her strength, stood proudly with wobbly legs and teary eyes. She walked towards the room where her father lies. As she opened the door, the princess could see the shape of her King. Bony and pale. King Hary has never been sick. A cold and cough here there, sure. But this? Never. All because of the unknown traitor. That hideous traitor siding with the vicious reign of King Jean. Poison has been mixed to his food. Who could have done it? One of the servants? Cook? King adviser? There were too many people at the scene. They were eating lavish dinner for goodness sake!
In the midst of this war, a trial would not be appropriate.
Rianon kneeled down beside the bed. She held her father's hand tightly. "Father, I promise you all would be fine again. I will find brother, he will lead our kingdom to victory. He will rise above them and spread peace here." The princess sobbed, feeling so alone. Her mother gone long ago, her father as well, her brother missing. But she has to stay strong. She is the only one the palace counts on. Even if confidence is slowly draining out. How can she do this?! She was never meant for this!
Composing herself, she left the king's chamber and strode towards the throne room. There, the King's advisers await.
"Your highness." They greeted her, bowing in her presence. Rianon bowed in return.
"The... King... he's... g-gone..." Princess Rianon cleared her throat. "The King has passed away. I am asking all of you not to tell anybody. The word shall not go out of this room. We cannot afford for the enemy to know we have fallen. Until we have found Prince Ernest, we remain silent. I will send a search party to find him!"
The people inside the room burst into argument. Everyone speaking, everyone asserting their ideas, opposing each other.
"SILENCE!"
The noise died down, the closest to the King, Harod came forward. "My lady, with all of my concern, I do not think we can wait for your brother." The glare he received from the daughter of the late King did not deter him from speaking his mind. Albeit old, he is wise. He is the most trusted adviser of the King. "Why so?"
"The war is afoot! We cannot risk the wellness of the kingdom to your brother who has been missing for two years!"
Everyone nodded in agreement. Another adviser has come forth, "We do not know where he is. There is no news about him! Even the kingdom he's supposed to help has denied his presence at that time! We do not know if he is still alive Your Highness."
"We need to hail you as our new Queen."
Those words shook her core. All the confidence she had flew out of the door. The looming weight of that responsibility threathened to squeez her aching heart.
"I-I ca-can't!" Rianon strongly argued. "I do not know how to lead everyone!" She was pacing back and forth, already dreading the insane idea of her ruling. This was madness! "You cannot just expect me to just assume the rule! I am a princess! I was never for the throne!"
--
The princess' room felt humongous than it ever was before. Coldness seeped through Rianon's body, straight to her heart. She was so alone, even if there are still people around her, willing to serve her. Grief was slowly eating her. Her heart's in shambles, crying so hard on the bed.
The Mighty King, her father died; her brother has not been home in years. The weight of responsibility heavy on her shoulders. She was never groomed to be a ruler! It was her brother's purpose! He was trained since they were younglings, while she concentrated how to be fine young lady. Ernest, her brother was the perfect candidate, the only candidate there ever was!
The squeaking of the door broke the princess' musings. It was Harod, walking in sneakily like he doesn't want to be found. It was futile since he was making unnecessary noises as he goes. "Your Highness... May I speak with you?" he gently asked, walking slowly and normally now. "What is it?" she wanted it to have a bite, but the fight in her has left her. Harod sat down on the edge of the bed carefully, as if he was worried to rattle the grief-stricken princess. "About earlier, the discussion about the throne... I really do think you need to."
"Why?"
"We cannot let our kingdom rulerless! It would be giving a chance for the others to seize us! A way to avoid it is to replace the late King."
It was the harsh truth. In the middle of this bubbling war, a rulerless kingdom is surely to fall into the pits of King Jean's wickedness. But Rianon doesn't have the confidence to do so. She has no knowledge, she feels as if she will never be enough.
"I am worried. I don't think I can do such a thing!" she cried to the old man. "Harod, why is this happening to my family? Why?!" The princess had broken down and sobbed until perhaps she becomes numb. "Dear, I know this is hard for you. But I will be here, the council, the advisers will help you. We will be by your side." Harod calmly petted her hair, soothing her as much as he can. He may not be the King, her father but he could be perhaps. This young woman could be everything she wanted to be so long as she believes she can. She can be a Queen. She will be their Queen.
Suddenly, the trumpets' shrill sound echoed in the whole palace. There was a slight quake in the ground, alerting the two people in the room. "What was that?!" Running footseps outside the door was heard. Harod put Rianon behind him, to protect the would be Queen. Whatever trouble may come, he will protect the royal family. The door bursted open, finding out it was Sacho. "Your Highness! Sir Harod! You must flee immediately!" Huffing out his words, he scuffled them out of the room. He looked around before pulling them towards the south wing. "Sacho! What is happening?!" the old man asked the kitchen servant.
"King Jean's army are here!"
