In Love With The Ebony Queen

Duty Calls

She knocked hesitantly on the king's study door. "Come in." His powerful, commanding voice echoed against the walls. His voice softened when he saw his daughter step in.

"Serena, darling. Come in." She stepped inside, closing the door behind her. "You wanted to see me daddy?" He gestured for her to take a seat at his desk in front of him. The room was massive. It had two large windows that provided lots of natural light.

His desk was rather large and made of deep walnut wood and had gold trimmings. On his desk was lots of paperwork of the kingdom's information- finances, constructions, the people. There was also a vase with freshly cut red roses that the king insisted on having near him every single day to remind him of his beloved queen.

"Serena, your 16th birthday approaches. You know what that means, sweetheart?" Serena sighed as she leaned back into her chair and crossed her arms and legs. "Please, not this conversation again." she complained. 

King Alexander's brow furrowed. "Now you know the tradition, Serena. You have trained to become a queen one day, and a queen you shall be. On your 16th birthday, you will be introduced to a few eligible princes and noblemen close to your age that would make a fine husband for you someday."

Serena rolled her eyes. She hated the idea of being paired with a guy she barely even knows. "Serena, this is how it always is and always has been. Your mother was promised to me when we were your age." Serena closed her eyes and took a deep breath, attempting to calm herself before she and her father ended up in an argument as this subject usually produced. 

"Daddy, you and mother knew each other long before she was promised to you. It's not the same thing! You want to have a bunch of random princes I do not even know come here and look at me like a piece of meat and you decide which one you think will be good for me? What about what I want?"

King Alexander became visibly upset. "Now Serena. This is how things are done. A princess must marry a prince. You have many years before I step down and you rule as queen, but you need a king to rule by your side."

Serena stood up and stomped over the the window. "But why? Why couldn't I just rule my kingdom on my own? Why does some prince or some noblemen who isn't even from here get to take over as ruler?" 

The king walks over to his princess, now very annoyed. "You do not have that choice. You will meet these boys in a few months on your birthday, and you will chose one to become your husband one day. This is not optional." 

His deep voice boomed. Serena looked at her father with frustrated tears in her eyes. "Mommy would have never let you sell me off to the highest bidder!" she yelled. "THAT'S ENOUGH!" the king bellowed.

There was silence between them for a moment. Serena looked away from him and out the window at the workers tending to the gardens below. 

"Serena, my love. I am not trying to sell you off to anyone. I am merely trying to secure your future. When I am gone, I want to make sure you are well taken care of. I want to know that our kingdom is taken care of. That's all. I just want to know that you and the kingdom we have built will be in good hands. 

Running a kingdom is a lot of hard work. It would be much easier if you have help." Serena looked at her father as he touched her shoulder. "But I don't want to me forced to marry someone I don't love, daddy. You got the have to love of your life, even though it was only a short while. I remember the way you looked at mother. 

I want the chance to fall in love and have someone love me that much." King Alex pulled Serena into his big, strong arms and gave her a gentle squeeze. "You are a remarkable young woman. Anyone of them would be incredibly lucky to have you as their queen. 

You are not getting married to anyone right away. You will have time to get to know them- spend time with them. Please, just give it a chance."

Serena stood there against her father's chest, then wrapped her arms around him to return his hug. "Okay daddy. I will try." she said, reluctantly. 

Serena returned to her room to think on what her father had just asked of her. Part of her understood what he wanted from her, but the other part of her did not care. She wanted to be able to find love on her own terms, not be forced into marrying some random prince so that he could take control of her kingdom. 

She decided the only way she would be able to clear her head was to ride her horse, Julius. She changed out of her formal princess gown and put on some black leggings, a plain white t-shirt that she tied up in the front, and her favorite studded boots. 

She took her curly locks out of the bun they were in. She enjoyed feeling the wind blow through her hair as Julius galloped. She peeked out of her room to make sure her father wasn't coming. He hated it whenever she dressed this way. 

He would always say to her "These clothes make you look common, and you are anything but." She saw that the coast was clear, so she made her way out of the castle and raced to the stables. 

"Hello, your highness." the stable workers bowed as she entered. "Hello Brenda, Lee, Luis. How is Julius doing?" She gave them all a smile and walked towards her horse. "He is doing just fine, my lady. I just finished giving him a fresh set of shoes an hour ago." Brenda said as she followed the princess to her horse.

"Luis grabbed Julius' saddle and brought it over to the ladies. "And how did you know I came here to ride him?" Serena smiled at Luis. "Because you are where your favorite studded boots. You wear those every time you ride." They all chuckled. 

Everyone in the castle enjoyed serving their princess. She was always a pleasant girl, and never treated anyone like they were less than her. They were really the only friends she had. 

She always felt like she fit in more with her servants and the common folk of her kingdom than any of the royals or noble people she met. She always felt like they thought less of her simply because she never thought less of others.

Princess Serena was truly beloved by all of her kingdom. Even as a young child, she always insisted on being with her people. Now, as a young woman, she gets to do much more. She goes to schools and reads to the little children, she plays sports at the local parks, she helps with charities. 

She enjoys being around her subjects, and they always appreciate such a humble princess. Her father is very different. While he a just king who sees to it that his kingdom is happy, and no one goes hungry, he believes that there is a difference between himself and the common folk. 

He never spends time with them the way Serena does. She managed to convince him to show up to a few charity events, but he did not enjoy himself the way Serena did. He never did understand why she enjoyed being with the commoners so much, but he could never tell her no.

It made her happy, and that is something he lived for. 

Once Julius was saddled up, Serena looked at him in awe. "You never cease to amaze me, Julius. You are so beautiful." she said, stroking his mane. Julius was a large, white stallion with brown patches on his mane and tail. 

She got him a few years ago for her birthday. She has been in love ever since. "You ready, boy?" she guided him out of the stable before hopping on his back.

They trotted along the tail on the castle grounds for a while, until she was ready to pick up speed. She began coaching Julius to go faster and faster. She loved the feeling of the wind in her hair and on her face. 

After a couple hours of riding, she slows him down so that he may take a rest and drink some water by the stream. She hops off his back and sits on the rocks next to the water. 

"Are you happy, Julius?" she asks her horse. "You look happy. I hope you are. At least one of us can be." She pulled her knees up to her chest and buried her face. Her horse nudged her with his nose and she looked up to pet him. 

"It's alright, boy. I will be fine...I guess. Come on. Let's get back." She hops onto Julius' back and the stroll back to the stables. 

After she drops Julius off, she heads back into the castle, only this time she is stopped by her father. "What are you wearing? I can see your stomach." he fusses. "Daddy, I was just out riding Julius. I'm not wearing a 70 pound ballgown to ride a horse."

He pinches the bridge of his nose and sighs in annoyance. "Serena, you are a princess. A princess must dress and act a certain way." Serena rolled her eyes. 

"Yes, father. I know very well how a princess is supposed to act. You have drilled it into my head every single day since I was born. Maybe I am just not fit to be a princess. Ever thought of that?" She begins walking passed her father with he grabs her arm to stop her.

"But you are a princess, whether you like it or not. You have certain obligations and responsibilities that you must adhere to. You must always look like royalty, no matter where you are or what you are doing." Serena says nothing and stares at her father. "Serena, please you-" 

"I have already agreed to give this whole betrothed thing a chance. Can't you just let me be myself while I still can?" He looks into her eyes and sees her sorrow. "I am sorry, my love. I do not want you to think I am trying to change you. 

I wouldn't dream of doing such a thing. You are a remarkable young woman, an amazing princess, and will grow to be as grand of a queen as your mother was. Please, forgive an old fool." He smiles at her and kisses her forehead.

She gives him a half smile. "Daddy, I wish to visit Dimitri in town." King Alex's smile quickly disappears. "Absolutely not. I forbid it. He is welcome to see you whenever you are not doing your studies and when he is not working, but you going there? Out of the question." 

He begins walking away from her towards the stairs. Serena follows closely behind him. "But why not? It's only Dimitri. You have known him for ages now! Why can't I see where he lives?" she whined. 

"I cannot protect you outside of these walls. You doing charity work or visiting the local schools is fine because you are always surrounded by guards. But visiting someone's home? No. Out of the question."

He makes his way up the stairs and to his bedroom door. He goes to close it but she stops the door with her foot. "It's not fair. I only get to go to town a few times a month. And when I do get to go, your uptight guards scare everyone off. 

Couldn't I just get one day to myself? Please? If you want me to cooperate with this whole prince thing, and not chase them all off, you will let me go for only one day."

The king hesitates. "Why do you love being with the common people so much?" the king asked his daughter. "I don't know. Maybe I'm just too much like my mother." Her words made the king smile. "Yes.  Yes, I suppose you are."

He turned to smile at her. "We will discuss this more at a later time. I am going to take a nap right now. I am feeling a little fatigued. She smiled, then kissed her father on the cheek before backing out of his room and letting him close the door.