Chapter 15: Alura

                                                                                    𝕬𝖑𝖚𝖗𝖆

Alura watched the first rain of the season through the window of the council's room, she could hear the men talking amongst one another about stuff that simply did not intrigue her. All she could focus on was how well the water that fell from the sky cleaned the brick shingles of the castle's roof. She kept her blue eyes focused on a leaf that had fallen prematurely, it was still green but was soft and sticky. The raindrops properly brought it down with every hit until it fell off the side and down to the entrance of the castle where horses were being taken back into the stables.

It occurred to her how much they needed the rain as she looked at the hills past the kingdom, they started turning a familiar green tint with just the first taste of the spring rains. The city however was paused, people hid under any roof they could and she watched their coughs as they tried to get wagons that had sunk in mud out of the roads. It always caused her pain to watch the people suffer in ways she would never have to worry about.

Hearing her name being called from the table she took a deep breath to exhale the scent of the rain, it was an aroma she could not describe but one that never ceased to calm her even in the most stressful moments like the one she was in now.

"Your Majesty." She heard again. Putting her head down and blinking a few times she turned to face Dras who gave her an apologetic face before speaking again. "We must have your permission for funds sent to the countryside." The treasurer, Neill, who sat on the other side of him only nodded.

"Why are they in need of more?" She asked turning and facing the council that stayed silent with their heads down.

Dras was the only one brave enough to speak again. "There was a sickness that swept many Shepard's livestock, my lady."

"It seems everyone is struggling of late are they not?" The Queen whispered.

"The gods must be bored." Lord Lancher said his quill twirling between his fingers as he tilted his chair back and eyed the woman who walked to the table slowly. "Speak to us about the people Lenal," the room stayed silent except for a couple of creaky chairs and cleared throats. "After all you are their voice."

The young boy kept his head down but nodded. "They are unmotivated. They mourn with the Queen and Princess."

"She was no Princess yet." Lancher scoffed and turned his head back to the Queen who kept her daring eyes on him as she sat down in her chair. "She hadn't even been announced to the people yet. We should be thinking of a proper suitor for the Queen."

Dras interrupted, "There is no need to-"

"I think there is." Lord Lancher let his tongue run along the bottom of his chapped lip. "The Queen is the only one able to-"

"We all know my inability to have more children Lord Lancher." The Queen spoke leaving everyone else quiet. She clasped her hands together and tilted her head. "How do you suppose we continue with those simple facts?"

The table full of men stayed quiet leaving the high priest Vastor to break whatever tension fell in the room. "The God's gifted us with the Queen. They will gift us again if the people so need."

Alura let her lip curl as she stared down the man on the other end, his black greasy hair getting in his face as he rolled his eyes louder than any words. She knew he was fishing for anything he could get his dirty little hands on so she didn't see the need to let him hurt anymore in suspicion. "God's be good father, they have granted me with an opportunity that can not be overlooked." Her calm voice reached the curious eyes as they turned to her waiting for her to continue. "The Marquees is-"

"Your son's bride?" Lenal spoke up letting his eyebrows furrow. "She is a girl your Majesty. Already spoken for even if her suitor has passed on...rather recently I might add."

"The God's have said otherwise to me." She smiled before turning her attention back to Lord Lancher who leaned forward and rested his head in his hands.

"How long have they spoken to you, My Queen?" He bit his bottom lip like a child with a joke ready to be heard. "How long have you been using the Prince's wife to be as a come cloth, my lady?"

The other Lords spoke up trying to calm the situation but as the Queen rose they silenced themselves, her body towering over them as she stared down the table at the still-humored Lancher. "My son is recently buried and his death bed looks awfully cold." She paused as he squinted his eyes and twirled his thumbs. "Do not speak of the future Princess that way for that is treason. Rain or sun the guillotine is becoming rather rusty."

"My apologies your Majesty." He leaned back in his chair again before letting his eyes scan the audience of other council members.

They stayed silent a moment longer before her political advisor Dras shook his head. "You can not marry Antonella, My Queen. It has never been done before and even the slight chance of you bearing children will be gone."

The woman sat back down slowly and turned her head back to the window where the rain fell down harder than before, she knew it wouldn't go the easy way so she only nodded knowing there was no way to change their mind. It reminded her of the first time they decided it was time for her to find a husband and have children, they had every possible suitor show up in the best armor and try their best to impress a woman who was never impressed. Not until a few weeks ago, she had never seen a beauty so pure and a soul so...readable. Why couldn't they deliver someone with that sort of perfection? "Give me a list of all possible suitors by tonight and tomorrow I will give you an answer."

They all gave relieved sounds but only Dras was able to nod. "We believe that is the wisest decision your Majesty and we appreciate your flexibility even with the waves of emotions you must be feeling." Everyone began standing except for the woman who still looked out the window. Her mind was in another realm until Lord Lancher put his fingers up like he remembered something important.

"Might I send a raven to Antonella's family? They must be thrilled to know their daughter can come back home to them. Maybe even find a suitor who dreamt of the day they would take Lady Antonella's hands in marriage." He couldn't even hide his smile as the Queen's slow head tilt turned to him once more.

"I do believe they will be ecstatic." She watched him leave and everyone else as she waited until every last door had closed completely and latched. She threw any papers in front of her off of the table and stood up to catch her breath, she could feel her temper rising to the tips of her ears so she went back to the window to feel the cool air.

"Might I have someone fetch some wine?" Nible asked staying far away, a plate full of cheese and fruits in her arms as she watched carefully.

"I am the Queen of Pentad!" Alura spoke walking to the handmaiden. "I have the power to send every one of them to death and they dare speak to me that way?"

She began pacing as Nible only tried to de-escalate the raging woman. "They are simple-minded people, my lady."

"Then why are they here?!" Her voice had risen to a level that echoed off of the walls, her hands hit the plate of snacks out of the woman's arms and onto the floor making a loud percussive sound bounce off of the stone walls and into the old handmaiden's head. She only stood with her eyes closed as the Queen stepped over the food with her head in her hands. "I'm losing everything Nible." Her voice was soft leaving the old woman to walk over and rub her back with her palm.

"A Queen loses only what she does not take."

"That would be easy if I really were of pure blood Nible but I am nothing, I am human like everyone else! The only difference is what they think I am." She leaned her body on the window seal, the first tears of all her emotions spilling out accidentally as she tried to wipe them away.

"You may not be from the Gods but you are not just a human Alura." Nible brushed the woman's hair back behind her ear. "You are a child of the blood forest just like your mother...just like me." She pointed out the window to the left where Antonella poked her head out from her room, her hand held out to feel the raindrops as she winced feeling them hit her nose instead.

The Queen watched her with more tears filling up her vision. "Not even she knows of my lies Nible." Her once infuriated eyes softened at the sight of a face so pure.

"She does not have to."

Taking a deep breath the Queen held her own hand out to feel the cold rain hit her fingertips as the girl did, she watched them fill up her palm before she dumped the water out and shook her hand. She fixed the crown on her head and left the window seal with the same professional walk as before until she bent down to pick up the plate she had thrown. "Please take my Princess a treat. I have someone I need to speak with."

Taking the plate Nible only nodded as she watched the ruler of the kingdom walk out of the doors like the God everyone believed her to be, even if her blood was red like everyone else she had more abilities than any strong man or talented artist. She had the perseverance of a Queen and the strategic mind of a commander. She was everything the people needed her to be even without the gods who never seemed to answer the prayers people pleaded with.

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