Rebirth Of The Fallen Princess

Chapter 2

You would think that riding to my inevitable death would be far more off-putting and dreadful. And, in all fairness, it was. However, not for any of the reasons it was meant to be.

The fortnight it took to cross the kingdom from Raven's Wood to the capital was tedious. Days of travelling from dawn to dusk with few stops had worn down my patience. But I never once complained. What good would it have done me? No one cared whether or not I was comfortable. Although Prince Cade allowed me the luxury of washing up whenever we passed by a lake or stream. It was more than I expected of him.

That being said, the state of my dress left much to be desired. Without extra changes of clothes, I spent the entirety of the fortnight in the same dress I'd worn the night they arrived at Raven's Wood. The maroon fabric was creased, wrinkled, and covered in enough dust and dirt to create a cloud should I shake it off. It was uncomfortable to say the least, but again, I didn't complain. It wasn't as if they brought me a change of clothes. And as much as I would have been fine wearing a change of clothes from one of the soldiers, a lady in trousers was nearly as scandalous as if she were roaming around naked.

As tedious as the trip was, time passed by quickly. Before I knew it, we stood outside of the capital city and I wondered if perhaps it would've been better for the trip to last longer.

Etherea's capital was widely known as the Impenetrable Fortress due to its exceedingly high stone walls and single entrance. In the thousands of years since the kingdom's founding, no one had once been able to lay siege to the city and claim victory. Those who lived within the kingdom's borders, knew it simply as Ether, the shining city. And anyone who ever laid eyes upon the city would understand.

Standing at the center was the home of the royal family. The Crystal Palace. Aptly named, the Crystal Palace was adorned with millions of crystals that reflected sunlight from every angle. During the day, it was nearly impossible to look upon the palace, but at night, when only lanterns lit the city, it was dazzling. It was a sight that brought travelers from the furthest reaches of the kingdom to the capital and its outskirts. A sight believed to bring good luck to those who saw it. Even I still marveled at the picturesque image it created.

"Open the gate," a guard shouted from his position outside the gates. His gruff voice rang out clear to call orders to the others inside the city. "His Highness has returned!"

The gate creaked and groaned as it was heaved up and off of the ground. I watched with raised brows as the chain pulling it up rattled noisily. It had been nearly ten years since the gates had last been lowered. Since the death of the first prince. But they were lowered in times of war, and with my family accused of regicide and on the run, it was to be expected that they would lower the city's single entrance. Though, it would be all over soon. With my execution, the gate could rise again.

Prince Cade ushered his horse forward and we crossed the threshold into the city. And the moment that we did, I realized that my return would be far more difficult than I once thought. Because what awaited me on the other side of that gate was what appeared to be the entire population of the capital. Commoners and nobles alike lined the streets, creating a mixture of extravagant dresses and tunics spun from rough cotton. But they had one thing in common: a willingness to take time out of their day to spit their hatred at me.

I held my head high. Regardless of what the people thought of me, I wouldn't let them see me bow my head in shame. The persona I'd spent years crafting would not crumble for the likes of them.

A child emerged from the crowd; his fingers furled in a tight fist as he stared defiantly up at me. Even before his arm moved, I knew what he meant to do. Then, as he swung his arm in a clumsy movement, he launched something toward us. I felt a small sting as it struck my forehead, followed by a warmth trickling down my face. The prince stopped his horse and stared down at the child, his lips pulled into a tight frown. However, the boy didn't notice his discontent. He only had eyes for me. Balling up his hands, he glared at me with the ferocity of a stray kitten.

"Witch!" he cried, his voice barely audible over the jeering of the crowd. "Murderer!"

For a child, he was quite bold. If I were the things he claimed me to be, I would have no qualms about lashing out at him. However, I was neither a witch nor a murderer. At least, not in the sense he meant. So, I ignored him, instead lifting my shackled hands closer to my chest. The chains rattled as I fiddled around, somehow managing to retrieve a handkerchief from my sleeve. Despite the odds, it was the only thing that seemed to be spotless from the journey.

I managed to catch a drop of blood before it fell from my chin, and I wiped the rest of the blood from my face. The pure white cloth blossomed with deep red stains. Such a pity.

Only after I tucked away my handkerchief did I acknowledge the child. The moment that our eyes met, his bravado crumbled, and he staggered back two steps. Movement from the crowd caught my attention and I watched a woman pushing past everyone. She was probably the boy's mother, on her way to save him from the monster that I was. My eyes drifted back to the boy, my blank eyes reflected back at me in his. Fear crept into his gaze with each second.

Leaning closer, I was vaguely aware of how Prince Cade stiffened. He braced his arms, ready to grab me if I were to slip off. Not for my safety, but in case I tried to run. Or if I tried to hurt someone. But I didn't intend to hurt anyone. Least of all this child in front of me. Instead, the corners of my lips turned up ever so slightly, and I murmured one word to the boy before I straightened.

His mother burst from the crowd and latched her arm onto the boy, bowing deeply toward us. No. Toward the prince. "Apologies for my son's rudeness, Your Highness! I'll be taking him home now."

Almost as suddenly as she appeared, the woman vanished into the crowd, dragging her son away. Once the eye contact was broken, he began to wail. The building fear broke free the moment his brain was able to process what I'd said. It was one simple word, but it was enough to get my point across. Liar.

The insults that had died down began again. They were more venomous and scathing than before. But that was to be expected. After all, for all they knew, I'd threatened that child. I had no qualms in playing the role of the villain. If the entire kingdom wished for me to be the grand villain in their history, I would play the part perfectly. Anything to protect my family.

Prince Cade signaled to the other knights to move on, and we continued on our way to the Crystal Palace. There, I would be imprisoned until the day that the prince decided to execute me. And I would be wasting away in the dungeon until then.

In no time at all, we had paraded through the rest of the city. Past the slums and residential district, through the market and the shopping district for the nobles. And finally, through the palace gates to the front of the palace. A handful of guards were waiting. They didn't bother masking their distaste, freely glaring in my direction as the prince led his horse toward them. I paid them no mind. After weeks among the prince's army, I'd grown used to the contempt. Besides, most of these men hadn't liked me any better before I was arrested for treason – why would I bother caring now that my circumstances had changed? The only difference was that their resentment was no longer hidden away behind closed doors.

The prince handed the reins of his horse to one of the guards and swung off, helping me down afterward. I bowed my head in thanks but said nothing. It didn't matter if I properly thanked him, it would go unappreciated regardless. Manners weren't well received from those who were convicted as criminals.

Several knights followed us as we marched into the palace. My wrists ached as the shackles dug into my skin, but I held my head high. Servants milling through the corridors came to a stop as we passed. Several wore expressions mixed with shock, fear, and awe. And the closer we came to the dungeon, the more those expressions warped to satisfaction.

We descended a set of stone stairs to the bottom of one of the palace's towers. A corridor led to a room with one single cell. It wasn't spacious by any means, but I hardly took up any space. The single bale of hay in the corner would serve either as my bathroom or my bed, however I decided to use it. But the drain in the middle of the cell could be used as the former and sleeping on the cold ground wasn't something I wished to do, no matter what.

As I stepped through the cell door, it slammed shut behind me. Prince Cade watched as I settled into my seat upon the bale of hay. "You will reside here for the time being. Do not even think of escaping. It would be near impossible. Even for someone like you."

"Of course, Your Highness." I bowed my head once again. "I would not dare to break our deal. For the preservation of my family, I will wait here until the day of my execution."

Gritting his teeth, he looked as though he wished to say more. But he simply turned and led the guards from the room. Two remained outside, close enough to ensure that I wasn't plotting an escape, but far enough to give me the privacy of relieving myself whenever necessary. Other than them, I was all alone.

My cell was completely cut off from the outside world. There were no windows, no other cells, nothing. The only source of light came from the two lit lanterns, and the only other inhabitants in the desolate crypt was a family of rats. But even they seemed to understand that I was meant to be left alone.

For a while, I tried to keep track of the time that had passed. But when I lost track of counting the seconds after a few hours, I resigned myself to simply breathing. It was something my mother had taught me while we trained. Breathe and allow my body to release all of the tension. 

At first, food came in regular intervals. Some sniveling maid would arrive with a plate of what I could only assume were the kitchen's scraps. It consisted of a small piece of rock-hard bread and a nearly rotten apple. Yet, I ate them with no complaint. I had already been deteriorating on the trip back, I couldn't let any form of sustenance slip away from me. Even if it hurt my jaw to gnaw on the bread or if the texture of the apple made my stomach churn with distaste.

The first person to visit me came after what I assumed was several days spent in the dungeon. She arrived in the early morning, rousing me from my light slumber. As her heels clicked against the stone floor, I pictured wringing her neck for interrupting what little sleep I had managed to claim. And, as I recognized her gait and the potent stench of her perfume wafted into the room, I relished in knowing that she wouldn't be able to fight back if I did. And knowing that I'd be more than delighted to scare her.

She looked rather ridiculous. Even on a visit to the dungeon, she wore an extravagant dress. It looked like one that most ladies would have reserved for a ball in order to capture the attention of any suitors. From the excessive number of ruffles and ribbon, I knew it must have been expensive. But knowing her and her father, it was well within their budget. And it was quite pretty. It shimmered even in the dull light, the pastel blue contrasting greatly with the dark surroundings.

Next to her, I looked shabby. My dress wasn't nearly as showy as hers. The style was far simpler without a single ruffle or ribbon, more like something one of the commoners would wear. It was just one of the things she would ridicule me for, on top of nearly everything else about me. But that was to be expected as well. As far as she was concerned, I had stolen her husband.

"My, my," she mused, a cat-like grin lighting up her face as she gazed at me through the steel bars of my cell, "you have certainly seen much better days, Your Highness. I must say, those cuffs are much more fitting than any jewel for a woman of your caliber. The gray brings out your eyes."

I met her gaze, settling into a neutral expression. "Ah, Lady Carne. I would like to say I am surprised to see you in a place like this, but I find that the nastiest of pests tend to make themselves at home down here in the dungeon. Allow me to apologize for intruding."

A crease formed between her brows, and I held back my satisfaction.

Lady Morrigan Carne. She was the third daughter of Marquess Carne, a man whose political power was only just below my father's. Once, she had been a prime candidate to be Prince Cade's fiancée. And with hair like glistening amber and fierce hazel eyes, it was no wonder that everyone became enamored when they first lay their eyes on her. She was the star of every social circle.

Yet even the brightest stars could dull. Once I had debuted into noble society on my fifteenth birthday, King Caesar announced my engagement to the second prince. And Morrigan Carne had been tossed aside like a rag doll. It wasn't an insult that she so easily forgot, nor did her father. For ten years, neither one of them relented on their criticism of both me and my family. This mockery was just another way to insult me.

Shaking off my passive-aggressive insult, Morrigan fixed me with a haughty smile and purred, "You have no idea how long I have waited for this moment. 'Princess Avyanna is to be executed on the grounds of treason' – does that headline seem fitting? I am debating going and speaking to the paper myself. Perhaps I will offer them insight into how you have had this coming for years. Finally, you will be brought down from your self-imposed pedestal."

I simply watched her. It wasn't that I believed that I was above her, it was that I was above her. My father was the head of the single duchy in the entire kingdom. Our house had always been the right-hand of House Etherean, ever since the founding of the kingdom underneath the Liberation King. Her father, along with two other marquesses, were just a step below that. But below us, nonetheless.

Some say that the marquesses were put in place as a way to keep House Rhosyn in check. We were powerful, that much is true, and many believed that the royal family had been afraid of what might happen should we rebel. That's why we were bound by blood oath to serve House Etherean. But as an extra caveat, the three marquess houses were founded. House Orville, House Kynes, and House Carne. Their founders had been heroes in the war, strong men in their own right. The marquesses now couldn't be more different. But their resentment had been inherited, and the three of them would gladly watch my head roll.

"No one even knew who you were!" Morrigan seethed, grasping the bars of the cell tightly. "But the moment you appeared, I was treated like an afterthought. I was meant to marry Prince Cade, not you! I was meant to be his one and only princess and queen!"

I remained silent. There was no use speaking to her, not when she would take any opportunity that she could to tear me apart.

"Your father must be a demon! That is the only way he could have tricked His Majesty into a betrothal! And with looks like that h-"

"Lady Morrigan," I interjected, standing slowly and fixing her with a glare that seemed to drop the temperature of the room. "I would suggest that you take a moment to carefully think about the next words to come from your mouth. I may be in shackles, but there is nothing that says they will keep me bound. It would certainly be a pity if I were to break free. I do not intend to break my deal with His Highness, but I will not allow you to speak in such a manner about my father."

Flinching, she took a step back from my cell. Her glare melted away as she blanched, a flash of fear in her eyes as she glanced down to the shackles.

It was a bluff, of course. Regardless of how strong I was, my shackles were made of steel. Not even my father could break free of them with pure strength. And I was only a fraction as strong as him. Even so, if I were to break out of my cuffs, it would take the mere wave of my hand to subdue her. My brother and I had gone through the same training when we were younger. To that day, he had yet to truly beat me in a one-on-one fight.

Another voice rang out in the silence, catching both of us off guard. "Enough with your scare tactics, Lady Avyanna. It is disrespectful of you to address the future queen of Etherea this way. I would suggest an apology if you want me to uphold our agreement."

I lowered myself into a curtsy, bowing low as Prince Cade came into view. Lifting my eyes, I swept my gaze between the two of them. It made sense that this would be the outcome. Morrigan was an unwed daughter of a marquess and the most optimal candidate for queen now that I would be executed. I'm sure that her father managed to snake his way into the court.

From the look in the prince's eyes, I could tell that he'd hoped to elicit some kind of reaction, distress or dismay. How incredibly petty. The two of them were a perfect fit.

The apology rolled from my tongue as I monotonously replied, "Please accept my apologies, Lady Morrigan. Let me offer my congratulations on your engagement. I pray that you find happiness in the future."

Neither looked pleased with the phrasing of my apology. Morrigan knew I wasn't congratulating her on anything. It was a challenge. She could live her life comfortably within the walls of the Crystal Palace, but regardless of her feelings toward Prince Cade, he would never return her feelings. He wasn't that kind of man.

Prince Cade himself showed his disappointment in his eyes. It was obvious how little he cared for Morrigan. His motivation for accepting the marquess' proposal was aimed to spite me. But it did little to affect me. After all, I hadn't loved him either. Seeing how unaffected I was, his expression twisted back to detest.

I nearly pitied Morrigan. Even if he didn't care for her, Prince Cade wouldn't let her do as she pleased. He would finally have the control that he never had while we were married. But I wouldn't be around to witness it.

"Your Highness, I apologize if this is too direct, but may I inquire as to how much longer I will be staying in this cell?" I folded my hands in front of me, routing the conversation to a subject more beneficial to me. "I do not mean to sound overly eager, however, I could rest much easier knowing that my family will no longer be in hiding."

The prince's face shifted as his distaste turned to a small smile. Probably the first I'd ever seen. "You will not have to worry for much longer. Come dawn, you will have the execution you so desire. Rest knowing that this will be your last night among the living."

Twenty-four more hours. I had to persevere for just one more day, and then this would be over.

Lowering myself into a deep bow, I quietly thanked him. As I straightened, the prince ushered for Morrigan to follow him. She hesitated for a moment and glanced back at me. A twisted grin spread across her face. Of course. This was a day she had been waiting for. Twenty-six years of her life had been spent vying for the crown. After my execution, it would belong to her. I prayed she would be able to handle the weight that accompanied the crown. If not, the people would be asking for her head next.

***

As I slept, I was plagued by dreams. Not the nightmares I usually suffered from, but one that was far more peculiar. The contents were incredibly mundane, however that was what made it so strange. To have my night terrors replaced by something so normal gave me a foreboding feeling.

Like most dreams, it began in the middle. A beautiful cottage in a snow-covered clearing stood before me. Unlike the snow of northern Etherea which became easily muddied by heavy foot traffic, this snow was pure white. There was only one place so pure and desolate. The Waste. Vast lands that spanned across the entire northern border, they were the source of many rumors and terror-filled nightmares. People said even the Mad Dog, emperor of the neighboring Démencian Empire, wouldn't set foot within the borders of the Waste.

It was a land of eternal winter said to house demons. Monsters of nothing but shadow, with an insatiable appetite for anything that moved. They were beasts beyond description, with howls so powerful they could stop a grown man's heart. That is, if you believed the stories. No one knew where the stories came from, or how true they were, but one resounding detail remained no matter who told them: if you went into the Waste, you weren't coming back out. Whether it be from the endless cold, the massive wolves that roamed around freely, or real monsters, everyone who entered was never heard from again.

Despite all that, my family had fled there. And in my dream, they remained. My father stood at the edge of the forest, my brother beside the cottage with a pile of freshly cut logs. And through the window, I could see my mother sitting in front of a fire. No one would have suspected that they were once nobles, that they weren't used to doing tasks like this.

So seldom were we all in the same place at the same time, it was almost more surreal to see them gathered together than it was to see them acting so mundane. As I glanced between my brother and father, it was difficult to tell them apart. They had identical black hair, dark as the night, pale skin, and piercing red eyes. The signature looks of a Rhosyn, everyone whispered whenever they appeared in public. And when my mother was present, it was hard to see any form of resemblance.

Unlike my father who was born and raised in Etherea, Mother came from the southern desert lands of Sahir. And her deep brown skin reflected that. Though it had paled quite a bit from the northern weather, there was no mistaking her for a native Etherean. Even in my dream, she donned her leathers, and her hair was woven into an intricate braid down the back of her head. She looked every bit the warrior that Etherean society made her hide.

My chest swelled as I beheld the image of my family. This was the future I hoped for them when I was executed. A future away from the responsibilities of court, and away from the obligations of our blood oath. Just living for themselves.

Suddenly, I was being pulled away. The snowy landscape melted to black, and then, a new setting took form in my head. Gone was the ethereal glow of the snow. In its place was a much darker interior. Even in my dreams, it took my eyes some time to adjust to the dark. But what I saw when they did was far too surreal to be anything other than a dream.

I was in some kind of castle, but something far grander than the Crystal Palace. The walls were high, supporting a ceiling that towered over me. Intricate carvings depicting various animals, plants, and people decorated every inch of them. But they weren't random. They were stories. Stories of men who towered over the trees, stories of destruction and terror, and stories of beasts. None of them I'd ever heard before.

Stepping forward, I paused when my foot brushed against something. A staircase. My eyes followed it up to where a solitary throne sat. But the throne was the least impressive thing in the room.

Sat behind it was a colossal structure of solid gold. Shadows danced around it in the dark, making it far more ominous. It was a massive tree, I realized, and the roots wove around the throne, as if it were the source of its life. I knew that it couldn't have been real. Gold was a rarity in Aeshivar, especially in Etherea. Only one country could lay claim to a substantial amount of it, but even Démencia couldn't hold a candle to the amount of gold it took to make the sculpture.

As I slowly ascended the stairs, I looked around in wonder. The architecture wasn't anything like that of the kingdom, or even any of Aeshivar's five other countries. Yet, there was something painfully familiar about it. 

I didn't make it all the way to the throne. Before I even made it to the top of the stairs, a flash of light enveloped it. Then, a man appeared. White hair fell around his shoulders, straight as a board. But there wasn't a single wrinkle on his pale face, nothing to explain why his hair looked that way. He donned a purple robe and sat upon the throne as if it had been made specifically for him. And when he looked at me, I sucked in a sharp breath. Piercing red eyes stared back at me, several shades darker than my own. But that was impossible.

One thing that was a constant point of criticism in the nobility was anything remotely different. I was just that. Not only had my parents abstained from introducing me at court as a child, but when they had, it was my appearance that had caused more of a stir than anything. While I had the signature pale skin of House Rhosyn, my eyes were pink rather than red. And my hair was white as snow. Just like the man standing before me.

Without blinking, the man continued to stare at me. I stared back, unsure of why a pit of nerves twisted in my stomach. After a few moments, he opened his mouth, but before he could say a word, I was forcefully pulled away. The room vanished into a rush of colors, then into darkness.

I struggled but couldn't pull myself free of whatever force had grabbed me. Frigid air bit at my skin and debris from the ground snagged and tore at me. Or maybe those were teeth. Every instinct in me said that I was outside. But I saw nothing. Nothing but black emptiness.

***

My eyes flew open, and I stared blankly ahead. I could feel my heart hammering in my chest. Nausea threatened to overwhelm me, but I managed to swallow it. Looking around, I familiarized myself with the steel bars of my cell and the light of the dulling lanterns at the entrance. Despite how it felt, my dream had been merely that: a dream. I wasn't in the Waste, or some palace’s throne room.

No, I still lay in my prison cell awaiting death.

Sitting up, I sighed heavily. My hands shook as I ran my fingers through my tangled and unkempt hair. It had been a while since nightmares had caught me off guard. But then, it had been quite some time since my dreams hadn't been filled with the same familiar darkness.

Yet, I didn't have time to recover. Because footsteps were approaching. Combing my hair out of my face, I straightened and waited for my visitor to arrive. Much like Morrigan's, I knew this gait. So, even before he entered my line of sight, I was glaring. And as he stopped in front of my cell, arms crossed over his chest, I could see the resentment was mutual.

"It has been quite a while," I commented, my gaze hardening further and my voice closer to a snarl than anything. "Right, Cousin?"