THE PRINCESS & THE PIRATE

Chapter 2: A Princess's Duty

Reanna had managed to sneak back into the castle undetected very late last night and had just been woken up by her maid drawing back the heavy velvet curtains, blinding her with the bright morning sunlight, " oh I do love you Edwina but must you torture me so ?" Reanna moaned as she attempting to pull the covers over her head.

" Don't you dare! It's already mid-morning and his Majesty, the King, has requested your presence in the great hall immediately. He was most annoyed that you weren't present at the morning meal! " Edwina scolded as she tugged the covers from Reanna's sleepy grip and threw them on the floor.

 Reanna reluctantly sat herself up and when she did she was met with the disapproving stare of her maid, who likely thought Reanna was just being lazy sleeping until midday- since Reanna did not dare share her secret with her, for Edwina's own safety. " Do not look at me so, I am tired." Reanna huffed hating being scolded verbally or with expressions by her maid who was like a mother figure to her.

" I wouldn't have too if you got up when you're meant to ...for the past month you've been going to bed early with no super and then not rising until midday, you have the nerve to say you're tired when you've been sleeping over twelve hours a day! " Edwina scolded unaware that Reanna had been sneaking out from early evening to do her duty as the hood, protecting Avlington's citizens until the early morning hours, barely receiving more than four hours sleep a night.

" Yes well, what can I say ...I need my beauty sleep ?" Reanna replied making Edwina scoff.

" Beauty sleep? That's one thing you definitely don't need. You are the most beautiful woman in the Kingdom, in fact the most beautiful woman in the Seven Kingdoms ..." Edwina replied softly as she helped Reanna out of bed and sat her on a stool by the fire so she could brush and style her unruly mane.

Reanna this time scoffed loudly in response, " so you have told me since I  was a child Edwina, but I am a woman full-grown now and I don't see it myself."

" Yes, you are a grown woman now..."  Edwina said sadly   " and if only you saw yourself threw the eyes of others you would, as you are beautiful Reanna. You have grown into a stunning young woman, you have the most glorious hair I have ever seen, it's such vivid color and so shiny, you have the most beautiful shade of blue eyes, pale porcelain skin and a full woman's figure... you will make a fine wife one day. But the real beauty you hold is the fact that your soul is just as beautiful as your appearance. Your mother would be so proud of you." Edwina said as she smiled with pride, thinking about Reanna's mother, her previous mistress with fondness.

" Thank you, Edwinna. That is most kind of you. But I also hear the sadness in your voice and it's not over your memories about my mother...it's over your silly theory that I will marry soon and leave you behind again, is it not?" Reanna asked as she turned to look at her maid who refused to make eye contact. " Honestly, how many times must I say it? I HAVE NO INTENTIONS OF GETTING MARRIED ANYTIME SOON! I have only just turned eighteen and I am still not ready besides... if I EVER did marry I would only do so as long as my groom agreed to allow me to keep you in my employment and take you with me ...I WOULD NEVER LEAVE YOU BEHIND! "  Reanna said with such force that her maid brushed away her tears and nodded in gratitude.

" Forgive me. I am an old fool and whilst I would never compare myself to your dear Mother Queen Rowean, God rest her soul, I do love you as a daughter since I raised you ...and like any Mother or Mother figure seeing you so grow up ...well it's a sharp reminder that you will no longer need me anymore ." Edwina said as she put down the brush to wipe away the rest of her tears. " Don't get me wrong, it's a great joy to see what a beautiful and kind-hearted woman you have become and, of course, I wish that one day you marry and find true love and happiness but at the same time... I still remember, fondly, when you were a small child I would carry on my hip...and I will miss you when the day comes that you find your Prince," Edwina said with a sad smile.

" Oh, Edwina..." Reanna said as she turned to take her maid's hands in hers. " I do love you like a Mother also and whilst I may be too big for you to carry on your hip...I still need you. And as I said I have no intention to marry anytime soon but when the day comes, well, I will need you more than ever! As I have no clue how to be a wife...especially if I do marry a man of the same station and I become a Princess or Queen of a foreign land I will need you by my side for support and to help me find my way in a foreign land. That's if, of course, if you will do me the honor of staying on as my personal Lady in waiting ?" Reanna asked hoping her request would settle her maid's fears.

" I would be honored Reanna," Edwina replied this time smiling with happiness.

" I am glad that is settled ." Reanna replied returning her smile, " for now, however, please help me dress. As I fear I have kept my Brother waiting long enough and any longer and he may kill me before I even meet my Prince! " Reanna said only half-joking and Edwina gasped knowing the temper the King had and whizzed around the room with expert precision helping Reanna dress.

Reanna took a deep calming breath before she gracefully walked down the great hall aisle, towards her Brother who was sat pompously on his throne glaring at her. As she glided down the aisle every man in the room, from servants to her brother's murderous guards followed her with stares of lust and admiration.

" So you finally decided to rise and come to me as summoned? Why were you not at the morning meal?" King Quentin roared at Reanna who was bowed in front of him.

" Forgive me, Sire for missing the morning meal and keeping you waiting. I was not feeling well this morning when I arose and so stayed in bed to try and recover, had I known you wished to speak with me I would have come to the morning meal...despite not feeling well. I apologize for keeping you waiting to come to you now also, I wished to make myself presentable before greeting you and since I was not well it took longer than usual." Reanna replied in her honeyed ton, keeping her eyes downcast in a fake submission.

" It is contagious...?" Her Brother asked concerned for nothing more than his own health.

" No, Sire I simply felt rather dizzy and had a headache. " Reanna replied in her sweet tone waiting for her Brother to allow her to rise from her position of kneeling on the uncomfortable floor.

" Women ... so fragile, delicate and weak in nature," The king replied in a mocking tone making Reanna force herself to stay appearing submissive and not punch him as she wished to or gloat about how this ' weak woman' and her band of loyal men had been robbing him and getting the better of his men for months.

A silence filled the room for a few awkward moments whilst the King decided how to proceed. " Well I suppose you can not be blamed for being born the weaker s*x and prone to being delicate by nature...so I will be lenient on this occasion and give you a warning instead of punishing you, DO NOT KEEP ME WAITING EVER AGAIN! " Quentin growled making everyone in the room shake with fear- everyone but Reanna who shook with rage at having to bow in fake modesty to her Brother.

" Yes, my King," Reanna replied as she tried her best to replace the look of hatred in her eyes with one of submission before she raised her gaze, pleasing her Brother who signaled for her to stand.

" Now that matter has been settled, LEAVE US! I wish to speak to my Sister in private," the King ordered the servants and Lords who were present, all of whom quickly complied with the King's order, leaving Reanna to his mercy.

Reanna starred at her Brother and his guards, who remained by her Brother's side nervously. Why had he ordered a private audience with her? He had never bothered to do so before. Had he discovered her secret and, he was about to order his guard to kill her, out of the view of the public, so she would be denied a trial and so he wouldn't have to face the embarrassment of admitting what she had done? She wouldn't put it past him to do something so under handed...no doubt he would hide her body afterward so her death would not be traced back to him. Reanna thought as she subtly reached for the dagger at her waist to be prepared.

" Do not look so nervous DEAR Sister..." her Brother replied amused as he nodded to one of his guards who brought a chair over for her. " I have decreed that you shall face no punishment for your tardiness or the disrespect caused by keeping me waiting...this time. So have a seat and relax we have moved on from that matter and I wish to discuss a different matter with you." 

Reanna sat in the seat opposite her Brother but kept her hand near her dagger, keeping a vigilant eye on his guards in case they attacked, " what is it you wish to speak to me about your Majesty?" Reanna asked demurely.

" I know you do not frequent the city often Dear, as you prefer the solitude of prayer but you may have heard the servants gossiping about the increase of Meccador soldiers on Avlington lands Hmm? " 

Reanna was well aware of the frequency of Meccador soldiers on Avlington land, as they were the main reason she and her knights had increased their nightly patrols- as the Meccador soldiers were even crueler than her Brother and she had been patrolling nonstop this past month to try and keep her people safe from their cruelty, but she couldn't very well admit as much to her Brother. " I am afraid my King, that as you have said I prefer the solitude of prayer and do not hear servant gossip in the chapel," Reanna replied pleading ignorance and innocence.

" Of course not my dear, so allow me to enlighten you. Meccador soldiers have been visiting our lands more recently this past month with my blessing as I have increased our trading with Meccador and it is my hope that Avlington will form an alliance with Meccador..." 

Reanna felt unease begin to prick her skin, she did not like the direction this conversation was taking.  " A trade alliance?" She asked innocently hoping her Brother would not reply the way she dreaded he would.

" Increase trade between our countries resulting in vast wealth and prosperity for our Kingdom would be one of the perks yes...however I was thinking of a bigger alliance, that would not only secure our Kingdoms wealth now but for my heirs and generations after..." the King replied making Reanna go pale.

" You mean....marriage?" Reanna whispered with dread.

" Precisely! I know politics are not something that women can understand easily ...but think on the benefits an alliance with Meccador will bring us! The trade of fine silks, spices, and gems. Expansion of our borders, meaning more room to build fine castles and more land for us. Access to their coffers, which will increase our wealth vastly and of course a guarantee that their ever-growing powerful army will never attack us! Which will also make us feared amongst the rest of the Kingdoms meaning we can conquer foreign lands with ease." The King replied excitedly.

" But...King Sebastian has a reputation throughout the whole Seven Kingdoms as being cruel, merciless, and to have ...unnatural perversions. Surely you will not force your own sister into such a union?"

" Of course I would not FORCE you dear...but it is my hope that you will do your duty and not resist such a union if King Sebastian is agreeable to one. After all, without an alliance with Meccador our coffers would be a lot bearer... so naturally, I would have to increase taxes and make the peasants work harder, to produce a bigger harvest and more good for us to sell." Quentin threatened knowing how fond Reanna had a soft spot for the peasants.

" BUT YOU CAN'T !! " Reanna exclaimed in horror unable to help it before she recalled her Brother's temper and lack of care for the people and changed her tactics. " I mean, that would not work your Majesty ...for the people simply have no more money to pay increased taxes, they are practically penniless as it is and are struggling to feed and clothe their families. They can not give what they do not have. And they work laborious twelve-hour days as it is farming and making goods for you already ...they are exhausted and will not survive being pushed even more." Reanna replied trying to reason with him.

" Well nearly penniless still means they have coins left and they are managing to still feed and clothe their families despite finding it a struggle. So I will just have to take every coin they have left and if they can't feed nor clothe their families because of it well...that's not my problem. And as for being exhausted, they still have twelve more hours left in the day I can increase their working day by at least four or five hours, meaning they have a few hours to rest between working days. Admittedly the weak or elderly will not survive the grueling workload but I have no use for them anyway..."

" PLEASE...I BEG YOU DO NOT PUNISH THE PEOPLE!... I give you my word I will do my duty and I will marry King Sebastian if he desires such a union." Reanna replied sadly, doing whatever she must to protect her people.

" A wise decision my dear. King Sebastian will be here by the end of the week, you will greet him when he arrives and you will do your best to charm him into agreeing to a union...given your beauty, it shouldn't be too hard." Her Brother said as he raked his gaze on her in a manner in which no Brother should ever look at his Sister.  " In the meantime, I will do by part by ensuring his soldiers are treated well and kept entertained...it would not do for them to send word back to their King that they have not been treated hospitably."  Reanna wiped away her tears before her Brother could spot them and then lifted her head boldly staring him in the eye.

" If that's all Sire, may I retire? I am still not feeling well and must rest and later I wish to pray...in peace," Reanna said making it understood she did not wished to be disturbed.

" Of course, I have no further use of you right now but tomorrow a seamstress comes to take your measurements to make you gown for King Sebastian's visit, see that you are not tardy for the appointment. You may go and rest then pray now..." the King dismissed and Reanna bowed before she quickly glided down the aisle.

She wasn't quick enough however to miss her Brothers guards cruel jibes, " she prays so much she is practically an angel and King Sebastian is most certainly the devil...what an interesting pairing they will be." The men laughed cruelly as Reanna quickened her pace so she wouldn't hear their comments. " I wonder if the angel will manage to save his soul or if he will possess hers...he will certainly possess her body anyway, what man wouldn't !! "

Reanna finally made it to the sanctuary of her room. once inside she locked the door and stripped out of her silk and velvet clothing. Once she dis-guarded the heavy layers she may her way over to the loose floorboards, under her bed, and pried them open to reveal her peasant disguise.

 She changed quickly before sneaking out of the secret passageway and out of the castle, on route to meet with Maurice and her Knights.