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TMEB wrote: "I know that there are already a few of these, but I thought it'd be really fun to start one, so here I go.FIRST SENTENCE:
Helena watched as her brother, no, her best friend, was marched up the s..."
Jonah screamed in pure agony and Helena closed her eyes, hoping, wishing, that this could all go away.
She turned her face to the side, and buried it in the dress of her older sister, who remained stone face as she watched the burning of their 9 year old brother.
To this day, his screams of agony still haunted her.
Then just as soon as they started, the screams stopped, and silence reigned, Jonah was dead.
Helena opened her eyes, just a crack, but shut them closed almost immediately. Because in place of her cheerful brother, whom to her had always been a purple, or yellow, maybe even the brightest pink, all she could see was red. Red, red, red.
With eyes closed tightly she stand there for a while, numb and immobile with one thought:"They will pay! They will pay Jonah, I promise!!!"
She turned away, disgusted at herself for showing weakness. She had to be tough, like her sister. She had to show no remorse, as the future queen. After all, her brother, little nine year old Jonah, he was a traitor. And traitors must be punished. She force the same cold expression onto her face as her sister, and left the scene, her promises washed away with her emotions. She forced herself to not show expression. The future queen could not be soft. Even for family.
Daniel watched as the future queen of Dryden composed herself and was led away from the horrific scene.
He too, was disgusted, but for an all different reason. Here they were, the royal family, burning their own son. A child no less. Barbarianism. He was even more disgusted that even the future queen showed such indifference as she walked away. Disgusted wasn't the right word, neither was appalled. He was sickened by her lack of compassion or sympathy.
As Helena exited, she met eyes with a boy, her age. He stared at her, wondering and angry, ashamed at her. As if he knew her. And was disappointed. For a fraction of a second, her composure broke, and the horrificity of the whole the hit her. She jerked her head away, away from the boy, so he only barely caught her hysteric expression.
"Ow. Ow. Ow. OW!" screeched Helena as her mother attempted to tightened her corset. Her nails dug into her wooden dresser. "Tell me again why we have to do this?""Because we need allies and the kingdom is in an uproar. In short, we need to do something that pleases them so they don't rip off your head when you're crowned. Not to mention Katherine is in need of a suitor since she's come of age. Perfect timing." she yanked harder.
Helena winced, red faced, "Then why do I need to participate in this whole shenanigan?"
"Because if they make an alliance with me and your father they will ultimately have to alliance with YOU. Furthermore, it wouldn't hurt for you to marry in the meanwhile. Show some interest."
"How can I show interest if I have no interest? It's like asking a dog to be a cat!" Helena said a bit more relaxed, the pain was starting to go away.
Daniel closed his eyes. A heat spread through his body, anger, fury, there was no words to describe how he felt at that point. He had known long before now that this was supposed to be his fate but how could they expect him to just cooperate?! His fist shattered the glass surface of the cabinet. With that blow some of that power left him, but not enough to make him feel completely in control again.
The situation grew more and more complicated after he found that ring that night so long ago. After the burning of that boy... the brother of the queen to be... the brother of his betrothed.
The situation grew more and more complicated after he found that ring that night so long ago. After the burning of that boy... the brother of the queen to be... the brother of his betrothed.
Daniel opened his eyes, because -- dammit! -- sometimes people open their eyes. Helena was shocked. She had never seen anyone open their eyes before. They were beautiful, or at least she thought, as it can be hard in a kingdom where everyone is constantly closing their eyes to know whether or not anyone has pretty eyes.
All these jumbled thoughts raced through Helena's head. "Mother! I think you may have closed this thing too tight!" she said motioning to the corset.
"If you think it is too tight then it isn't tight enough! Come, come I'll fix it." the queen rolled up the sleeves of her dress and quickly grabbed hold of Helena's waist. Helena flinched away at her touch and threw up her hands in defense.
"NO! no, no, no, no it's perfect!" she stammered. "I think I'm ready to put on the dress."
The dress was one of the finest ones made... most annoyingly. Eight layers and it almost looked like all the castle jewels were embedded in the design. This resulted in a very heavy, very restricting dress. She couldn't even lift up her arms. The color was a rich royal purple which her mother always said showed off her eyes and did wonders with her hair. Helena thought it looked horrid with her pale reflection, but she didn't say that. This dress was costly and perhaps squandered what was left of the castle funds. "I thought this is supposed to be Katherine's night to shine," she mumbled as she looked herself over. With this dress, she would definitely be in the limelight. How unfortunate. She felt like she couldn't walk -let alone breathe- in this dress. How was she to be the charming, handsome, regal, sophisticated, diplomat her parents wanted her to be if she couldn't fit through the door?
'Daniel are you coming?'
The voice of his younger sister brought him back from his memory and he sighed. How much easier would his life have been, if only he hadn't found that cursed ring.
'Yes, Michelle. It's not like I have a choice' he grumbled.
There was a hint of irritation on his sister's face as she stepped forward and slapped him, hard.
'Auw! Damn it Michelle what was that for?!' He shouted, shocked because he had not been expecting that. He had expected much but not being slapped.
'You just man up. Ever since that burning you've been acting strange and now is The one night I am allowed to have some me time and I'm not going to let your unimportant existence ruin it.' she answered, quite in a matter of fact way.
'So be a good brother and escort me to that celebration will you?' she asked, though she didn't wait for an answer. He felt het hand on his arm and he knew that he was at her mercy.
'Yes, My Lady.' he said, though for the first time in a while he had a genuine smile on his face.
The voice of his younger sister brought him back from his memory and he sighed. How much easier would his life have been, if only he hadn't found that cursed ring.
'Yes, Michelle. It's not like I have a choice' he grumbled.
There was a hint of irritation on his sister's face as she stepped forward and slapped him, hard.
'Auw! Damn it Michelle what was that for?!' He shouted, shocked because he had not been expecting that. He had expected much but not being slapped.
'You just man up. Ever since that burning you've been acting strange and now is The one night I am allowed to have some me time and I'm not going to let your unimportant existence ruin it.' she answered, quite in a matter of fact way.
'So be a good brother and escort me to that celebration will you?' she asked, though she didn't wait for an answer. He felt het hand on his arm and he knew that he was at her mercy.
'Yes, My Lady.' he said, though for the first time in a while he had a genuine smile on his face.
"Hey! Don't smile too much while I'm holding onto you, people will get the wrong idea. You do remember the Banister siblings don't you?" She suddenly go the chills and her skin started to crawl."Well, if you looked as good as that Banister girl... I mean, I would probably..." he said slowly turning to look into her eyes.
"Ew... EW! You are so disgusting! she started swinging at him in an angry flurry.
Despite Daniel's small frame he was quite the decent fighter, all the men in the kingdom were well-versed in combat at a young age. Thanks to his training he was able to weave and dodge all of Michelle's blows effortlessly... when he was expecting them.
"I was joking!" he said dodging a right hook.
Continuing her attack "I don't care I'm still going to kick your-" The doors of Daniel's bedroom swung open with a loud crack. Two Royal Guards stood firm, a hand rested on the hilt of their sword, and the other held the doors open as the Queen of Torchar entered. Michelle and Daniel quickly stopped fighting and stood side by side and greeted their mother.
"Good morning, Mother." they both said, Michelle with a curtsy and Daniel with a slight bow.
"Good morning children." the queen said slowly walking toward the two. "What seems to be the problem this morning?" she added.
"There is no problem Mother." Michelle said forcing herself to look into her eyes.
"Good." she walks toward Daniel. "I hope you know how important tonight is Daniel." Daniel's eyes are fixed to the ground. The queen continues "The alliance with Dryden is absolutely crucial if our kingdom is to flourish. We may have the most powerful army in all the kingdoms, but they have the money, and we need that money." Annoyed at Daniel's lack of eye contact she grabs his chin and lifts it until their eyes meet. "Even though your marriage has already been arranged it is possible for them to change their minds if they wish to do so." she brought his face closer to his. "So don't screw it up." She withdrew her hand but Daniel's eyes remained trained on her's, on his face a hint of disgust. The queen turned and walked past the royal guards, the slam of the doors echoed through the room. Daniel felt the touch of Michelle's hand on his arm.
"Well," humphed Michelle, "Isn't she crabby this evening? I don't even know why mother is going on about Drydon's finances. I hear that they are scraping by as it is after loosing trading in Aythe, economically they're struggling anyway. Don't even get me started on Queen Cadence and her extravagant spending sprees. She's hardly the public favorite."Daniel hummed, "And here I thought you didn't pay attention to your history lessons or gossiping committees."
Michelle hit him on the arm, "You're the one who should be concerned. Your child bride is one of them." This time it was Daniel's turn to be cryptic.
"Princess Sophia is their second cousin twice removed. Furthermore she is fifteen-"
"And hopelessly," laughed Michelle, enjoying this all too much, "enamored with you. If she was in charge of her betrothal you would've been wedded immediately and I would be an aunt already."
Daniel frowned, but he didn't doubt the truth of the statement. He and Sophia had been betrothed before she was even born. He had been six at that time, but when he visited the outskirts of Drydon he always thought he was playing with her brother Jarom, than visiting his cooing future bride. It wasn't until he was older he understood the gravity of it. Sophia was destined to be with him, there could be no more shoving her off, or riding horses with Jarom all the time. He would remain the polite, charming, patient, and doting future husband. Even if that meant he would have to listen to Michelle's jests and tolerate Sophia's swooning and idle talk on his behalf.
He would play the dutiful son saving his kingdom from financial ruin.
'Please Helene, at least try not to look like you'd rather throw yourself down a cliff.' a sour looking woman said with a voice that reflected her dissatisfaction with the girl in front of her.
'Yes, madam.' Helena answered, though she did not try to take the look of her face.
'ugh you're such an ungrateful child.' the woman started while she did something with the girl's hair. ' I just don't k ow why your mother has such high hopes for you. You're just. ..'
'That will be all. Thank you Mary for your kind words.' her mother's voice could cut through flesh if she wanted to. Sometimes quite literally.
With a small curtsey the elderly woman left. muttering something about an unfortunate family under her breath.
Her mother turned to her and smiled her diamond smile. 'Now, dear girl, make your mother proud. Remember what I taught you? Always be present but never be noticed. Come and find me when you've acquired the requested information. ' and with those words and a touch to the cheek, her mother left.
' Yes mother...' Helena whispered.
'Yes, madam.' Helena answered, though she did not try to take the look of her face.
'ugh you're such an ungrateful child.' the woman started while she did something with the girl's hair. ' I just don't k ow why your mother has such high hopes for you. You're just. ..'
'That will be all. Thank you Mary for your kind words.' her mother's voice could cut through flesh if she wanted to. Sometimes quite literally.
With a small curtsey the elderly woman left. muttering something about an unfortunate family under her breath.
Her mother turned to her and smiled her diamond smile. 'Now, dear girl, make your mother proud. Remember what I taught you? Always be present but never be noticed. Come and find me when you've acquired the requested information. ' and with those words and a touch to the cheek, her mother left.
' Yes mother...' Helena whispered.
Katherine messed with her sleeve and Helena watched out of the corner of her eye. She supposed that at sixteen she had done the same with Marianne. But only because the sleeve was itchy, not because she was nervous. "You'll do fine," Helena whispered encouragingly.
Katherine looked up at her with wide, frightened eyes.
"I'm just afraid I'll mess up," Katherine said softly, "Mother expects so much from me." Helena was tempted to say that mother expected a lot from all of them, but she refrained.
JK wrote: "Daniel opened his eyes, because -- dammit! -- sometimes people open their eyes. Helena was shocked. She had never seen anyone open their eyes before. They were beautiful, or at least she thought, a..."
Oh my gosh, I am laughing so hard right now... XD
Oh my gosh, I am laughing so hard right now... XD
((Okay, the story is really confusing, it is switching characters around a bunch, maybe we should either label whom it is talking about on the top, or just stick to one person for now?))
((I agree with Julane, what do y'all think?))
((I'll start it off! :D I guess lets just focus on Katherine and Helena for now))The pair walk towards their mother's chambers hand in hand. When they turn the corner to her door their mother is already outside waiting for them.
"About time, the guests are starting to arrive," was all she said, and walked off. Her daughters trailing behind her to the balcony.
FIRST SENTENCE:
Helena watched as her brother, no her best friend, was marched up the steps of the execution block.