The Abbey

45 minutes later...

The unmarked carriage came to a halt. The horses huffed as the driver pulled on their reins to ease them to a stop. Prince William stepped out first, reaching up and helping Clancy down first. Then he opened the carriage door and assisted Princess Beatrice down as well. Princess Beatrice almost held her nose at the smell of poor people living.

The stench of human waste and poverty were always at its highest in the early day. Princess Beatrice held her breath instead, as they quickly walked towards the Abbey. The Abbey was a slender, gray, stone building that pointed upwards towards the heavens. It was also was one of the first buildings built by her great great Grandfather, King Leonidus. For over three decades it served as a beacon of unity and strength for the people.

As the ruler changed, so did the landscape and the once beautiful Abbey was now in the middle of the gutter of her kingdom.

Her mother had frequently come here, overseeing the baking of wheat cakes she would handed out every Sunday to the poor, widowed and the orphans. Beatrice had never cared for that kind of work. She had enjoyed her solace in the library or horseback riding with her father, But Adelaide had took to this place like a fish. Beatrice had a difficult time being confronted with the mistakes her forefathers had made.

She recalled when she had been a small child her father would recite to her the story of their kingdom and how it was built.

He had always made sure to ease any concerns she had. Her mother had called them 'less fortunate'. Princess Beatrice just thought they were either lazy or drunkards. She had no one to correct her ignorance. Adelaide seldom spoke to her, and here she was not even knowing if the Abbess would grant her passage here because she had never been allowed to come here.

She had not taken her frazzled nerves into consideration. Prince William knocked on the door, while a drunkard snuggled up with a whore walked by them, without giving them so much as a glance. A Hackney rolled by loudly. It was quite a busy slum.

It felt like they stood there for hours to the Princess because she was holding her breath and her lungs were on fire from holding it in so long. She was terrified, but in reality it was only 40 seconds. One of the heavy steel doors to the Abbey opened and a small, elderly nun smiled and greeted her warmly.

" Your Majesty, may God be with you. Please come in."

Beatrice was a little shocked that the nun had recognized her. Getting inside seemed easy enough. The Abbey's interior was a stark contrast to where they had just been, which was literally on the opposite side of the door. The stones appeared to bleached white. Each wall held a beautiful tapestry with a Christ like depiction, along with the Virgin Mary.

The stained glass windows shown an array of pinks, yellows and reds that made it seem ethereal inside. They could hear the other sisters singing a hymnal. Their soprano voices echoing beautifully around them. Now Princess Beatrice understood why her sister enjoyed living here. It was like living in a manmade Garden Of Eden.

They continued to follow the sister until she led them down a hallway to double doors on their left. She opened them and announced them immediately.

"Mother Superior, Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice to see you, ma'am."

"Thank you, Mary Grace. Send her in, please."

"Yes, ma'am." She looked at them and Princess Beatrice, Prince William, and Clancy stepped forward.

"Your Highness, how may I be of assistance?"

"I won't lie to you, Mother Superior. I have nowhere else to go. I have made a decision that has caused a domino effect I cannot stop."

" And what part do the sisters of Our Ladies of Adam play in this?"

"I hope that you would play an enormous one considering the relationship my family has with you."

Mother Superior found herself laughing at Princess Beatrice's haughty attitude.

"What do you find funny?" She asked.

"That you think we curry favor from your family. We are but a poor Abby, Your Majesty. We keep to ourselves and do what we must, when we must. You are here, Princess because of your pride. Pride is a sin."

Beatrice bristled at her words.

"Tell me, Princess, plainly. What do you want?"

After a moment, she answered "Sanctuary."

Mother Superior looked up from her task, and then at the Princess. "Why do you need sanctuary?" She asked plainly.

"Because the Council is threatening to usurp me and possibly exile Prince William."

She was silent, and she continued.

"The only way I can fight back now is with the law."

Mother Superior could see Princess Beatrice was on edge. She felt badly for her. She was nowhere near ready to be a Monarch. She had no choice. Mother Superior wasn't surprised by the actions of the Council either. They were the ones to make sure that she and her sisters were impoverished and lacking funds as well as Patrons these last few years.

She knew why and every time Mother Superior thought about it, it made her angry...