*POV* Coral Sparks
I turned to my maid, Jane exasperated as she told me once again that the plan could go awry. "My Queen, you shouldn't be doing this! The King will not be pleased." I stomped my foot, my face determined.
"I need you to do this Jane, Now go!" Jane smiled softly and reached for my hand and gave it a quick squeeze before rushing from the room.
I stood shaking for a minute before I could get myself under control, this plan was risky but I could not keep them any longer in this prison.
I turned quickly as the door opened none too gently. "My dear?" I rang my hands as The king entered the room. He stopped. "Why are you just standing there?" he questioned.
"Come sit with me." He positioned himself on the loveseat that sat in the middle of my sitting room. I hesitantly walked forward hoping Jane had made it out of the castle.
I took hesitant steps over to sit on the other side of the loveseat beside my husband, clenching my hands to my chest so he could not see them trembling.
"The end of the season dance is tomorrow," he began. "Why were you up here, instead shouldn't you be downstairs overseeing the arrangements?"
I tried to keep eye contact with him but failed and looked down at the fancy pillow sitting between us. "I haven't been feeling well…" I answered.
It was true I hadn't been feeling well after the birth of our twins and the death of my son, the king had hit me then.
And the next day acted as if it had never happened, saying I was afraid of him was an understatement, I was terrified at times. But I couldn't let it show.
We had been in love once, but my heart hurt now every time he showed me kindness. Because I knew that at any moment he could turn into that ugly monster that loved the pain of others.
His hand came up to caress my face, and a shiver ran through me. "You should get some rest." he smiled. "The people would love to see you there. And I will be calling for your first dance."
I put my hand up to cover his, smiling softly though my heart was far from it. "You know I wouldn't miss a dance with you." My heart pounded as he leaned in and placed a kiss on my lips.
A knock on the door made me pull away from him. He bellowed out for the person to come in, his voice gruff with anger.
I scooted away from him as a young guard around my age came marching in with a shiny silver spear complete with red streamers, he came to a stop a couple feet away and bowed hastily.
"My king, I have come to inform you we have caught a servant leaving the castle with the princess!"
"What!?" The king sprung up and stocked out of the room and as the door slammed I was left shaking with fear and determination.
I jumped to my feet, throwing the pillow to the ground, before running to follow. I hoped against all hope. I entered the guardroom and gasped. "Where's my daughter?" My husband turned to me before turning to slap Jane across the face as he towered over her.
"This tweet gave my daughter to someone else and they disappeared into the forest." He yelled out in anger before slapping her again.
Jane held strong and no tears fell down her face even after multiple hits from the king and his guards, it wasn't until she saw the proud and understanding small smile I gave her around the king's shoulder.
But my smile did not last long as he turned and cursed in my face, before grabbing my arm and marched me down the hall.
The plan was going well. The children had left the castle, but I was not sure if I would be able to leave. My husband was boiling with anger as he dragged me down the hall.
"You're hurting me!" I cried out as my wrist began to burn. He grunted and the pain subsided, I knew where we were headed and my fear started to grow.
"My king! A yell from someone behind us made me turn my head, but he did not stop. "Your majesties!" they yelled again, as they ran past us to stop in front of my husband.
"My king." the guard said breathlessly. "We lost the carts." The few words made him even more furious and my wrist once again became hot. I cried out.
He seemed to realize he was hurting me because he moved me stumbling to wrap an arm around my shoulder before addressing the guard. "We will talk about this later, give me an hour." the guard nodded, bowed, and moved to let us pass.
We entered the king's rooms with an angry slam of the heavy wood door, then I was pinned to the wall, I couldn't help crying, as fear and panic overtook me.
"I can endure!" I thought as I filled my mind with Clay as tears streamed down my face.