Little Miss Red
Member
Eve kept her eyes on her hands, her small, pale hands- one folded over the other so no one could see that she was grasping her skirt tight. The skirt was beautiful, the whole dress was beautiful, and at any other moment Eve would have felt like she was in a dream wearing such a thing. A midnight blue with silver stitching on the neck and hem, which matched the silver crown which also held the matching blue veil over her face. She had been wearing the veil ever since she left the castle. It was her first disguise from the people of Avalon. No one in the kingdom could know except those of the family and a few in the royal guard. For months she had planned for this day, but the only thing she was happy about was that the veil hid her tears.
The king and queen sat opposite from her in the carriage, not speaking much. The king and queen seemed to take turns sleeping, resting their heads on each other’s shoulders. They seemed stone faced when both awake, but as the other slept the worried looks crept through. They were nervous, but at some point during the long ride the queen looked over at Eve, as if for the first time since they left that morning, and realized she wasn’t the one who needed to worry.
“My dear girl…” The queen stopped, and Eve understood there wasn’t much to say in this situation.
“Please, my Queen, it’s my honor and duty.” Eve’s voice came out soft, for she was afraid if she spoke any louder she would not only give away the worry in her own voice, but also wake the king. However, the queen moved forward, giving her husband no mind as his head slid forward a little, and she placed her gloved hand upon Eve’s.
“My husband and I can never thank you enough.” The queen squeezed her hand, and as the pressure around her hand tightened so did her heart. Eve squeezed her eyes tight, not willing the tears to fall. There was this mixture of fear and happiness. Eve really did believe that this was the right thing. She was saving a family from being torn apart, a country from falling into depression- whether they really knew it or not...But the fear kept creeping back and all Eve could do was try and think of other things. After awhile, she began to daydream, and her grip on her skirt loosened, but a few hours later they arrived at the capital of Ireon, and she tensed up again.
As they headed up the long main road to the castle Eve looked out the window at her new ‘subjects’ and saw faces that looked a lot like the faces back home- unhappy faces. The lump in Eve’s throat began to get worse, but she tried to keep it together. The queen gently shook her husband awake, and for the final mile up the road they talked over strategy. What Eve should be saying, or in this case what she shouldn’t be saying, and what she should be doing. Eve quietly nodded at all of it, her grip tightening to the point she could feel her fingernails through the fabric on the palm of her hand.
As the carriage stopped the queen placed her hands once more on Eve’s and smiled.
“You are brave. It will be alright. Just breath and stay by me.”
Eve took a big breath and nodded before the carriage door opened, the footman helping out the king, then queen, and then Eve.
“King Rowan, Queen Gwendolen, and Princess Juliet. It is an honor to have you here.” A man in general attire approached and bowed to the three of them. “I am here to escort you to the throne room where a feast has been set for your arrival.”
He stood straight and turned, leading the royal family indoors. Before the doors closed as they entered Eve looked behind her at the now evening sky. The sun was starting to set….Tomorrow, when the sun rose again, she would be married in that morning light. This was her last day as Eve, tonight was her first night as Juliet. That tight feeling in her throat again, but the queen’s hand brought her back as it wrapped around her shoulder.
“Come my dear. It’s time to meet him.”
The king and queen sat opposite from her in the carriage, not speaking much. The king and queen seemed to take turns sleeping, resting their heads on each other’s shoulders. They seemed stone faced when both awake, but as the other slept the worried looks crept through. They were nervous, but at some point during the long ride the queen looked over at Eve, as if for the first time since they left that morning, and realized she wasn’t the one who needed to worry.
“My dear girl…” The queen stopped, and Eve understood there wasn’t much to say in this situation.
“Please, my Queen, it’s my honor and duty.” Eve’s voice came out soft, for she was afraid if she spoke any louder she would not only give away the worry in her own voice, but also wake the king. However, the queen moved forward, giving her husband no mind as his head slid forward a little, and she placed her gloved hand upon Eve’s.
“My husband and I can never thank you enough.” The queen squeezed her hand, and as the pressure around her hand tightened so did her heart. Eve squeezed her eyes tight, not willing the tears to fall. There was this mixture of fear and happiness. Eve really did believe that this was the right thing. She was saving a family from being torn apart, a country from falling into depression- whether they really knew it or not...But the fear kept creeping back and all Eve could do was try and think of other things. After awhile, she began to daydream, and her grip on her skirt loosened, but a few hours later they arrived at the capital of Ireon, and she tensed up again.
As they headed up the long main road to the castle Eve looked out the window at her new ‘subjects’ and saw faces that looked a lot like the faces back home- unhappy faces. The lump in Eve’s throat began to get worse, but she tried to keep it together. The queen gently shook her husband awake, and for the final mile up the road they talked over strategy. What Eve should be saying, or in this case what she shouldn’t be saying, and what she should be doing. Eve quietly nodded at all of it, her grip tightening to the point she could feel her fingernails through the fabric on the palm of her hand.
As the carriage stopped the queen placed her hands once more on Eve’s and smiled.
“You are brave. It will be alright. Just breath and stay by me.”
Eve took a big breath and nodded before the carriage door opened, the footman helping out the king, then queen, and then Eve.
“King Rowan, Queen Gwendolen, and Princess Juliet. It is an honor to have you here.” A man in general attire approached and bowed to the three of them. “I am here to escort you to the throne room where a feast has been set for your arrival.”
He stood straight and turned, leading the royal family indoors. Before the doors closed as they entered Eve looked behind her at the now evening sky. The sun was starting to set….Tomorrow, when the sun rose again, she would be married in that morning light. This was her last day as Eve, tonight was her first night as Juliet. That tight feeling in her throat again, but the queen’s hand brought her back as it wrapped around her shoulder.
“Come my dear. It’s time to meet him.”