Thread: The Weight of the Crown (JellyFish & Greeneyed23)

Aretha stood silently watching her hand, studying it in confusion. After what she had seen from the brutal and crude images, she found it difficult to rely on her mind to place the pieces together. Somehow she was in a blur of thought and fear. Rezda, they seemed to be the spawns of ghastly minded monstrosities. Never had she imagined such atrocities could occur, nor had she tried to think of them. However a form of pity enveloped her heart. People who thrived off of blood and revenge. Her shudder was visible and she cringed. Such a sorrowful life. A tug on her dress brought her from her ponderings. Glancing down she saw that a young prince was rubbing his eye with a single hand and yawning loudly. Aretha, I wanna go to bed, Arkley murmured. Picking up the small child, she rubbed soothing circles on his back while he laid his head on her breast. I know, I know. Im sorry you have to be kept waiting Glancing over her shoulder, she called for the slumbersome five others. Three boys and two girls laid on the marble steps curled up with one another already passed out. Walking to where they slept, she shook the side of Benedict, the leader of the small group. His light blonde hair, fell in front of his face covering blinking eyes. Come on, you all need to get to bed. She nudged all the children to their feet, some stumbling and being carried on the backs of their stronger siblings. Aretha walked to the elder brothers, as they busily discussed the events that had just occurred. Siddel! Ducan! Help me, I cant carry all of them and they might just topple over in the halls. Ducan turned sternly to his sister, a grimace on his features. Cant you see that we are speaking, Aretha? There are important details that must be reviewed! we were just told war is upon us and you want us to go be the maids! Aretha rolled her eyes, placing a hand on her hip. Im sure father will ask you for your input later. At this moment, I dont plan on carrying them all on my back. Be responsible and take them. She forced the two girls to Ducan, passing an icy glare his way. With an irritated sigh, he heaved the girls in his arms and jogged off to put them to bed. Benedict, now lifted from a heavy burden of carrying his siblings wandered over to Siddel. Aretha, you cant expect me to carry him do you? Hes nearly twelve and much too big. Siddel looked to Aretha with a pleading tone, obviously not wanting to lift a finger. Carry. Him. Now. Or I swear mother will have your head if you make him fall and hurt himself. Siddel having more respect for his mother, lifted Benedict up. The boy squirmed in his arms unable to find a comfortable position on his brother's hard chest. Siddel gave Aretha a dirty eye and and grumbled about the moronic behavior of women leaving her to care for the last two. She pushed Arkley up, finding she was growing tired of the weight of the six year old. She glanced around to find her sisters to take the last one but realized they had abandoned her. Scowling, she gritted her teeth in frustration. Chilton, lets go. She waved for Arkleys twin to follow her, letting go of her anger and allowing a softer tune to arise. Unlike Arkley he had a mix of dirt blonde hair while Arkley was blessed with the hair of herself and her mother. The boy shuffled over to her, sniffing in a disappointed state. Why does Arkley get to be picked up? I wanna be picked up. He reached his hands up for Aretha to comply with his demands, but she was already too occupied with the child in her arms. Chilton, I-I cant. Arkley is already asleep. Tell you what, Ill take you out to the stables later if you walk with me. The boy rolled the thought about, before finally nodding in agreement. So instead he grasped the back of her skirt to guide him. She walked away from the worried individuals in the courtroom, sympathy crawling over her for the king. He was already a wreck when he head of the Souled coming and she was sure this news only put him in a more difficult situation. A puff of breath blew from her and she trudged on with the children to their rooms. The servants looked at the her, some even approaching her to take the boys. She only rejected the offers, telling them shell put them to sleep herself. After taking a long journey through a series of halls and stairs, she finally managed to get to the chambers. Leaning against the heavy wooden doors, she pushed them open. Once stepping into the room, she realized how bright the sunrise was. Morning light shone through room, waking Arkley from his slumber. He blinked sleep from his eyes, staring dumbly at the uncovered window. The suns rays seemed to dance in the sky, filled with hues of red and orange, tinted of bright pinks. Gently placing the boy onto his bed, she rushed to the window drawing the navy blue curtains into a close. Now in a dark filled space, she touched the heads of her two brothers. Chilton had decided to climb into his brothers bed and now the two laid in a half hazard mess of sheets various toys. Brushing the scattered objects aside, they clattered to the floor. Neither child woke. Lifting them to lay down on the pillows, she breathed for them to sleep well. And closed the door behind her. And left the room, closing it shut. Aretha placed a hand over her eyes, exhaustion now settling in her bones. How does mother even expect me to stay awake today, is what I would like to know, she grumbled as she veered into a wall. Sliding against it for a pillar of support, she rounded the corner bumping into a servant. The girl caught the princess, gasping as Aretha slumped downward. Princess Aretha! Are you ill? Should I call for a guard? The girl looked around desperately for someone to help her and was about to cause a ruckus when Aretha looked up and shushed the girl with her palm. Oh hush, I simply stumbled. She begrudgingly stood to her feet, trying to maintain a regal stance. Girl, I might need some assistance to my room. I feel as if Im walking blind. The servant nervous wrapped her arm around Arethas waist and escorted the sleepyheaded girl to her quarters. When Aretha she had dismissed the servant, she was kneeling on the ground next to her bed as if praying. She was nearly about to fall to sleep, when Ellen so conveniently appeared. MiLady! You cant rest now! You need to get ready to go back to the Queen! She has just requested that her older children to make an appearance before her. Dragging Aretha up, she began to undress the princess. She slouched being poked and prodded by the women, her head falling back as she moaned. She would have snapped at the nurse angrily, but the comforts of a darkened sleep seemed so tempting at the moment and all energy was gone in the fickle breeze. Ellen..I just..I just need a few minutes..just a few.. But the nursemaid paid no mind and herded Aretha to a bath filled will semi-warm water. She didnt even have time to relax when she stepped into the tub before her head was dunked under the water. By the gods woman! Do you plan to kill me!? Ellen chuckled scrubbing Aretha down in soapy suds. Of course not. I thought you just needed to wake up. It would embarrassing if one of the Kings children fainted. But then again it would serve you right. Sneaking out at night. Aretha just scowled, bitterly wishing terrible things upon the old bat. Finally, she was rinsed off in freezing water, assuring her wakefulness. I swear Ellen you have no compassion, Aretha drolled while drying herself off with a warm towel. If anything all she wanted was to now just limp off to bed and soak up the heat of her sheets. But she knew better than to suggest such a thing. Soon enough she was once again dressed, her hair braided and tied into a bun. Holding her arms out, Aretha choked while Ellen laced her undergarments. There. Be off with you, cant keep the queen waiting, said the maid when she had finished dressing the princess. Aretha once more was sent back to the courtroom. She thought about food but realized hunger was not upon her. Perhaps the excitement of the night had chased it out of her, but she was still tart about not being able to sleep. Idiotic guests and the need to serve them, she growled lowly as she made her way back into the stuffy and insufferable room filled with perturbed people.