The Rightful Queen

Chapter 1 – The Seer

The King has been feeling very sick in the last few months, so he decided that the time has come for his son, Prince Samuel, to step forward and rule the land. To begin with that, they have scheduled his coronation within the month.

But the king couldn’t be assured of his son’s future. Most likely, he would no longer be living to witness his success or failure, but he would like to know what fate awaits him. He sent his servants to look for a seer, one that could tell the future and give advice on what one must do to succeed in life.

After searching for weeks, they found one and the King took Samuel to see this Seer.

Prince Samuel is only twenty-four years old. Not too young, but not too old yet. The King feels that he’s still a bit lacking. He couldn’t be assured that he would do well as a ruler and as a leader. The prince needs guidance. Something he can’t provide when he dies soon. Out of the royal advisers, he can’t deny that some of them are selfish and make recommendations based on the benefits that they would receive. There’s only few of them that he could trust.

“Where are we going, father?” Despite his immaturity, the prince respects his father and admires the way he run the kingdom in the last few decades. He’s a king that people love.

“We’re here to speak with a Seer. I haven’t hid it from you that I’ve been sickly these last few months and it doesn’t look like I’m getting any better. I may not be here to see you become king, so I would like to ask this Seer to tell us what your future will be.”

“Do you believe they speak the truth, father? They could be lying.”

“Seers don’t lie. Whatever future they see, they make sure someone knows they were right.”

“Have you dealt with Seers before, father?”

“Yes, I have.” The king didn’t provide more details and the prince knew not to probe further when the king goes silent.

The carriage continued its journey. They had a meal on the way and arrived at an isolated hut deep in the forests. It was just as the sun has started its descent.

As they made their way towards the door, it opened and a tall woman in a black cloak appeared to greet them.

“You have sought me again, my lord. Please, come in.”

“It’s you.” The king paused as he recognized her.

“Do you still want my head, your highness?” The woman pulled back her hood and smiled at her visitors.

What the prince saw is a fair middle-aged woman. Her hair is turning grey but she stood with strength. Her expression is sad despite the small smile on her lips.

“Did you order her execution?” The prince asked, having translated her words in his head.

At his question, the servants stood at the ready but the king ordered them to stand aside.

“Let us go in. No one is to come inside unless I say so, is that clear?” He left instructions and the prince followed after him.

The king took a deep breath upon entering the threshold on her home.

“Please, have a seat. I have waited for this day to come, you know.” She went to the kitchen to fetch some mugs and a pitcher.

“Forgive me as I have no food to offer you.”

“You saw us coming and you didn’t prepare anything?” The prince asked, standing by the door and surveying her household. Nothing looks like a threat.

“With how your father treated me before, you should be thankful I’m even offering you something to drink.”

The prince could hear a hint of contempt in her voice. He turned to the king and asked, “Father?” He needs an explanation.

The king took a deep breath before speaking and looking directly at the woman. “I apologize for how I reacted. I was grieving and acted irrationally. I am glad you survived.”

The woman smirked. “Yes, you are glad. Because you need me to see your son’s future this time, no? What if it turns out to be grim? Would you punish me for it? I only see the future for what it is and I have nothing to do with it.”

She glanced at the prince and squinted her eyes at him. It is most curious to her.

Samuel listened intently to their exchange. His father mentioned grieving. That only happened when his mother, the Queen, died in childbirth. Along with the princess.

“You asked her about mother’s future?” He directly asked his father. He was young, then, and didn’t understand the concept of death. He thought his mother was just sleeping and it’s taking her too long to wake up.

“Your mother was already ill when she became pregnant. I merely saw that both the child and the queen would perish. Your father seemed to think that I cursed them and blamed me for the outcome. My hands are free of blood, my lord. If you cannot bear to hear ill tidings, you shouldn’t bother asking what the future holds.”

The woman sat on a wooden bench, opposite his father.

“Do you still want to ask me what his future is?” She challenged.

Samuel exchanged a glance with his father. After a minute or so, his father made his decision.

“I might not live long and I want to know how well he’ll do after I leave this world.”

“Father, don’t say things like that. You will recover.” Samuel himself doesn’t know what he’ll do if his father dies. He’s not ready to take on so many responsibilities, no matter how much they tried to prepare him.

The king only spared him a glance before ordering the seer, “Tell us.”

The woman turned her eyes towards Samuel and she squinted again. “Most curious, indeed.”

“What’s curious?”

“Tell me, prince. Is this the first time we’re seeing each other?”

Samuel frowned at her, “Yes, it is.”

He’s sure that he has never seen her before.

“Listen carefully, then. You have a great future ahead of you, but only if you have a proper queen on your side.”

Samuel stepped forward, closer to his father. “What do you mean?”

“Ask your father. As king, you would need someone to support you. With a foolish queen on your side, you will perish as quickly as you learn how to walk.”

“What must he do, then? What is his future like?” His father felt relieved at knowing he would have a bright future ahead of him.

“Everything you wanted him to be. And more, my lord. He would be greater than you. But there is a crucial player in his future.”

“Explain well. What crucial player?”

“His future is greatly influenced by the person on his side. A rightful queen. One full of wisdom. You must listen to her words carefully, my lord. Hers is the only advice you must listen to. Listen to every word she says. Never shut her up. And most importantly, treat her well. For her tears and pain would cause your demise.”

The king became agitated at her last sentence. “How dare you speak of death in front of me.”

The woman sighed. Here we go again. “If you cannot bear to listen to my words, would you rather I don’t speak of it? A great king has a great queen reigning with him. Without you, she is nothing. Without her, you are nothing. It would take the two of you to turn this kingdom to experience years of prosperity. If she is hurt, you will have failed her. If you fail her, you fail yourself. The moment she starts living with the pain, that is the same moment your enemies will find your weakness. She has nothing to do with it, and yet, she is everything that is between your life and death.”

“You speak in riddles, woman.” The king cut her off.

The seer stood up as well and stared unflinchingly at the king. “Do I? Are my words difficult to understand?”

She turned to the prince and gestured, “Tell me, my prince, what did I say? Those words you must remember.”

Samuel is blessed with good memory so he remembered everything she said.

“The queen you mentioned… the one who would reign the kingdom with me, how do I find her? Would she come to me? She couldn’t be just anyone, could she?”

The woman smiled and he found it unsettling.

“Yes, you must choose carefully. If you chose the wrong person, your kingdom is doomed. She is wise, my lord, not someone foolish.”

“So, how does he choose correctly? Who is she?” His father asked.

The woman briefly glanced at the king before turning and walking towards a room.

The father and son exchanged a glance. It didn’t take long before the woman came out again, bringing a small box with her. She eyed the prince and noted his clothing and accessories.

“Your armband, my lord. Can I have it?” She sat down and set the box on the table.

Samuel approached her to hand over the armband. It was made of thin metal and bears the seal of their family on the underside.

The box was opened and they saw a ribbon on it. It was intricate, like a proper accessory for a woman. The colors were of their house.

The woman turned the ribbon over and inserted his armband somewhere in there. She was able to manipulate its shape and hid the seal just under the bow.

“Within this week, you will be met with trouble. Go take a walk in the market. A woman would be there to help you out. She is the one you need as queen. Give this to her. When the coronation day comes, you must…” The woman paused and sighed. She seemed to be struggling with something.

“I must what?” The prince prompted her to continue.

She stared deeply into his eyes. “You must discern to whom you’ve given the ribbon to.”