A/N: Sorry if the first part seems a little rushed! I'm just trying to set the scene so we can get to the meaty parts of the story xD Also, there is a reason for the vague-writing I hope you don't mind (it's probably obvious why).
***
A young child is tucked into bed, his father, the King, sitting by his side.
"Can you tell me a story, father?"
The king obliges, acknowledging their moments together were becoming rarer with all his responsibilities. He presses a kiss to his son's forehead and snaps his fingers, little magical puppets filling the prince's eyes with awe.
"Of course, my son. Let me tell you the story of your ancestor, the feared Rogue Queen, who wielded a star made of steel forged by a dragon's breath. Her name is lost to the ages, but I hope you’ll find this exciting all the same."
***
There was once a young girl who was the daughter of royalty. She wore the finest silk and her hair was adorned with jewels. She could have anything she wanted, but she held her family the closest to her heart.
The Emperor, was a kind ruler, treating his servants with respect and ensuring the working common folk had their needs listened to in court. Her three brothers were each decorated soldiers in the imperial army. The Empress had died in childbirth and a shrine was placed in the courtyard under a tree that bloomed once a year.
The young girl sat under that tree one day, next to the shrine, feeling amiss.
"Mother, the land is prospering. The crops this year yielded good harvest and the working animals in the fields are healthy. But I have a bad feeling."
The wind tousled her hair a little and she smiled, as if in understanding.
"You're right, it's probably nothing..."
She heard the footsteps of her oldest brother approaching, sandals crunching against the gravel. Turning towards the sound, she bowed her head in greeting.
"There's my little sister! Come, there's dirt on your clothes and father would like you to be presentable for the Harvest Feast tonight."
"There's dirt?"
She fiddled with the sleeve of her robe as she followed her brother inside the palace. Servants immediately ushered her to her chambers and began bathing and dressing her. She did feel like it was a little strange that she couldn't be trusted to dress herself but it was what she was used to and that's how it would always be, probably.
After her hair was pinned and the servants were gone, she brought her hands to her face. Powder.
'Hopefully my face isn't white as a ghost!' She mused.
Gathering her bearings by touching the chair by the armoire, she stood up and walked towards the door frame, ensuring she took slow steps. Making her way towards the grand hall where the feast was, she felt a chill down her spine. She turned, the tense feeling gone in an instant. She then chalked up her paranoia to her hypersensitivity.
Returning to her original route, she gracefully entered the grand hall.
"Ah! My daughter," She felt her father's warm hand on her shoulder, "You are just in time."
She eventually found herself in the company of warlords from neighbouring lands. The Harvest Feast was a banquet for all dignitaries and she could always identify what region of origin they had from their boisterous laughter and accents.
The servants were out of sight at this time, only seen serving food. It seemed to be going well, until she heard a loud noise, as if someone was banging on the double door leading to the foyer. Having to play the subservient maiden in front of the guests, she rushed over, taking care not to trip over the hem of her dress and pulled the door open.
"You must run... assassins..." it was her middle brother. There was a ragged breath in her ear as she felt a weight collapse into her arms. She heard metal clattering onto the floor. A sword. There was also... something thick and wet between her fingers, her mouth opening in a silent scream.
“To arms!” her father yelled, his royal guard's weapons materialising into thin air.
It all happened in an instant. A strong hand grabbed her wrist, pulling her away. She heard many swords being unsheathed and felt the something slice the air around her. Arrows. Tears welled up in her eyes. She had no idea what was going on and her senses were being overloaded with the noises.
The stranger suddenly stopped as she heard tatami (a servant’s room?) under her feet and she bumped into his back.
“I don't know if I can protect you all the time on our way out of the city. So have this."
Recognising the voice, it was her youngest brother who had taken her away from the fighting. She felt a cold weight in her hand. A dagger.
"The Warlord from the North is here. It's not safe anymore, he has the palace surrounded by assassins. He intends to take the seat of the Emperor for himself. We let our guard down." she heard the anguish in his voice as he continued, "No matter what happens, I want you to run. As the youngest of our royal line, you must survive."
She had many questions but nodded, shivering at the implications. Her brother scooped her up in his arms as the princess had become barefoot in the scuffle and the pair used a secret passage to escape into the night.
***
"Then what happened?!" The young prince was excited instead of tired at this point.
The king chuckled, a twinkle in his eye.
"I believe it is time for you to sleep, Noctis. Maybe if you eat your vegetables tomorrow night I'll tell you the rest of the story."
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timeasmymeasure
FILL: Black Chrysanthemums [1/?]
Date: 2017-03-29 03:29 pm (UTC)***
A young child is tucked into bed, his father, the King, sitting by his side.
"Can you tell me a story, father?"
The king obliges, acknowledging their moments together were becoming rarer with all his responsibilities. He presses a kiss to his son's forehead and snaps his fingers, little magical puppets filling the prince's eyes with awe.
"Of course, my son. Let me tell you the story of your ancestor, the feared Rogue Queen, who wielded a star made of steel forged by a dragon's breath. Her name is lost to the ages, but I hope you’ll find this exciting all the same."
***
There was once a young girl who was the daughter of royalty. She wore the finest silk and her hair was adorned with jewels. She could have anything she wanted, but she held her family the closest to her heart.
The Emperor, was a kind ruler, treating his servants with respect and ensuring the working common folk had their needs listened to in court. Her three brothers were each decorated soldiers in the imperial army. The Empress had died in childbirth and a shrine was placed in the courtyard under a tree that bloomed once a year.
The young girl sat under that tree one day, next to the shrine, feeling amiss.
"Mother, the land is prospering. The crops this year yielded good harvest and the working animals in the fields are healthy. But I have a bad feeling."
The wind tousled her hair a little and she smiled, as if in understanding.
"You're right, it's probably nothing..."
She heard the footsteps of her oldest brother approaching, sandals crunching against the gravel. Turning towards the sound, she bowed her head in greeting.
"There's my little sister! Come, there's dirt on your clothes and father would like you to be presentable for the Harvest Feast tonight."
"There's dirt?"
She fiddled with the sleeve of her robe as she followed her brother inside the palace. Servants immediately ushered her to her chambers and began bathing and dressing her. She did feel like it was a little strange that she couldn't be trusted to dress herself but it was what she was used to and that's how it would always be, probably.
After her hair was pinned and the servants were gone, she brought her hands to her face. Powder.
'Hopefully my face isn't white as a ghost!' She mused.
Gathering her bearings by touching the chair by the armoire, she stood up and walked towards the door frame, ensuring she took slow steps. Making her way towards the grand hall where the feast was, she felt a chill down her spine. She turned, the tense feeling gone in an instant. She then chalked up her paranoia to her hypersensitivity.
Returning to her original route, she gracefully entered the grand hall.
"Ah! My daughter," She felt her father's warm hand on her shoulder, "You are just in time."
She eventually found herself in the company of warlords from neighbouring lands. The Harvest Feast was a banquet for all dignitaries and she could always identify what region of origin they had from their boisterous laughter and accents.
The servants were out of sight at this time, only seen serving food. It seemed to be going well, until she heard a loud noise, as if someone was banging on the double door leading to the foyer. Having to play the subservient maiden in front of the guests, she rushed over, taking care not to trip over the hem of her dress and pulled the door open.
"You must run... assassins..." it was her middle brother. There was a ragged breath in her ear as she felt a weight collapse into her arms. She heard metal clattering onto the floor. A sword. There was also... something thick and wet between her fingers, her mouth opening in a silent scream.
“To arms!” her father yelled, his royal guard's weapons materialising into thin air.
It all happened in an instant. A strong hand grabbed her wrist, pulling her away. She heard many swords being unsheathed and felt the something slice the air around her. Arrows. Tears welled up in her eyes. She had no idea what was going on and her senses were being overloaded with the noises.
The stranger suddenly stopped as she heard tatami (a servant’s room?) under her feet and she bumped into his back.
“I don't know if I can protect you all the time on our way out of the city. So have this."
Recognising the voice, it was her youngest brother who had taken her away from the fighting. She felt a cold weight in her hand. A dagger.
"The Warlord from the North is here. It's not safe anymore, he has the palace surrounded by assassins. He intends to take the seat of the Emperor for himself. We let our guard down." she heard the anguish in his voice as he continued, "No matter what happens, I want you to run. As the youngest of our royal line, you must survive."
She had many questions but nodded, shivering at the implications. Her brother scooped her up in his arms as the princess had become barefoot in the scuffle and the pair used a secret passage to escape into the night.
***
"Then what happened?!" The young prince was excited instead of tired at this point.
The king chuckled, a twinkle in his eye.
"I believe it is time for you to sleep, Noctis. Maybe if you eat your vegetables tomorrow night I'll tell you the rest of the story."