Queen Atria

Dawn of the New World

“It’s safe to say he must die.”

Are they really going to kill him? I thought the whole purpose of creating a new world was to inspire change. How can treating a life so savagely result in a better tomorrow?

Lost in thought, Atria barely avoided colliding with the king's son as he rose from his chair. Snapping back to reality, she quickly apologized and moved out of his way.

“It’s about showing strength!” the prince exalted to the royal council, walking proudly to his father's side. “We’ve done the impossible. The land has been set free. If we can’t show our conviction now—let me ask you—who will believe in us?”

All eyes slid to the new king. Who—staring into his ornate goblet with a look of detached resignation, stated. “He was a brother to me. Like all of you. We celebrated the joy and loss of battle together. I shall listen to your heart's desires, and only then shall I make my judgment.”

“Kill him” shrieked the youngest from across the table.

“Drown him” approved another in close succession.

One by one, each of the councilors agreed. The king gave a brief glance of recognition as they stated their opinions. Atria had to say something before the man's fate had been sealed.

“He was only defending his family from injustice! How could he have known the penalty for his actions? The new laws are still to be written!”

The room fell silent. All eyes now intensely focused on Atria. She shifted her weight and brushed her long chestnut hair over her shoulder.

“If his daughter had been given the right to be educated on the matter, then—”

“Quiet!” shrieked the youngest again, “what gave you the impression your thoughts mattered!”

Triggered by his insensitivity. “Because you're acting like a child who's had his toys taken away from him!” she shot back before thinking.

“Enough” commanded the king—staring directly at Atria. “I will spare his life, then banish him and his family from our land. That is my decision.”

With a brief low mumble, the council moved on to discuss the specifics of noble birthing requirements. Atria—obviously relieved—returned to filling their goblets with the wine bottle that she’d forgotten she was holding.

The discussions went on for another hour or so, all marginally boring affairs. Yet Atria couldn’t help but notice the king's gaze fixed on her for what seemed like an eternity. When they concluded, she quickly left the room, and with a sigh of relief made her way back to the royal kitchen.



With Happiness, a Flower Grows

The flowers were blooming. An intoxicating fragrance of young roses filled Atria's mind with hope and joy. A new day. What unexpected experiences would she encounter today? She couldn't put her finger on the source of this feeling. All she knew—was today she felt alive!

"Bobble!" chirped an excited voice from behind her. It was Maple. The sweet girl—only having just become a young lady—jumped on her back, causing Atria to drop her basket of freshly picked fruit she'd gathered for the royal breakfast.

"Hello sweetie. What mischief have you got planned for today?"

"I'm in love Bobble, the boy I was telling you about has finally agreed to take me to the theatre! And then he will ask me to marry him!"

Atria smiled wistfully, Maple said this every day. There was always a new tale of love, which undoubtedly ended in a proposal and living happily ever after.

"Oh really? And what is this boy's name?"

"Evan! He doesn't have a last name. He said ‘he's been on his own since before he can remember, and he never knew his parents.’ He even said he would take my last name! Can you believe that? I know he's the one!" Maple sang rolling into the roses and beaming into the sky.

"That amazing sweetie, you should plan something dazzling to wear tonight" prodded Atria, trying to save the fresh roses from Maple's rampant glee.

"I hadn't thought of that yet! I'll go find something now!" she answered with excitement and skipped away singing.

Atria returned her concentration to the flowers making sure they were unharmed—Lost to her inner thoughts—she didn't notice another figure approaching from behind.

Something suddenly dropped over her neck. Looking down she saw a heart-shaped locket. It was beautiful, a shimmering ruby bounded in immaculately polished silver. The sun reflecting off its surface into her eyes.

She turned to find the source of this precious object, only to be speechless to see the king sitting behind her picking roses. He wrapped them in a silk cloth and handed them to her with a gentle warm smile.

"Hello Atria, what a lovely morning it is!"

"Uh—oh—yes it is!" She stammered, finding the words amidst her obvious surprise.

He wore plain clothes, but he was still the new king. Why was he here—sitting next to her? Before she could find the right way to inquire, he smiled once more.

"I wanted to ask you something" he started, pausing to find his next words. "Would you want to join me for a show at the theatre tonight? Perhaps afterward we could go for a walk and I could get your perspectives on how we could shape this new land of ours. Together?"

Enthralled by his gentle attitude, Atria beamed. "I would love to!"



The Breeze of Change

"That's unfair! I want to be your bride of honor Bobble!"

"Now Maple" chided her elder sister. "Atria and I are each other's oldest friends. You're getting to be a bridesmaid! You know she thinks the world of you!"

Atria wisely watched her friends bickering in silence. Turning for support from the other three women in the room. "So I guess that means you all accept then?" she asked, trying to move the conversation along.

"Of course!" instantly replied the first.

"I guess... Why not?" answered another with a smirk.

"I can't believe you're actually going to become the Queen!" exclaimed the third. "I mean. Of course! How could we not be there, you've always been here for us. Now it’s our turn to support you on your big day!"

Atria smiled at her friends, still not quite believing it herself. Becoming the queen? How did this even happen? She briefly looked at the heart-shaped locket. And to a man who really cares what I think. We are going to change so many things together. As he keeps saying, once I'm queen the councilmen will respect me. Then we will make this world a better place. An equal place. Starting with education for women!

"Okay girls! Back to the lesson at hand. Maple, it's your turn to read. Continue from where your sister left off"

“Ok” piped the young lady. “Navigan… Navigation! Of the constellation—Triangulum… This is so boring!”

Everyone laughed.



My Queen, My People, Your Hopes, My Desire

This is intoxicating. The carpet beneath my toes, everyone's loving attention, I’ve never felt so good before. I can’t believe this is actually happening!

All eyes are on Atria as she gracefully floats down the aisle towards her beloved king. The hall is full of elegant people in exotic clothes—although none compared to her dress—pure white with dazzling tiny diamonds sewn into the stitching. Comfort beyond comprehension. This must be heaven.

Reaching the end of the carpet, she slowly spun and faced the man she would spend her future with. A good future. A royal future.

From that moment everything seemed like a daze, they exchanged vows, recited kind words of affirmation. And finally, it was time to complete the ceremony with a kiss. Closing her eyes and leaning slightly forward, Atria waited for what seemed to be an eternity. Time must have slowed down to a crawl, her heart beating, she could feel the cold metal of her heart-shaped locket and felt at peace.

Still waiting, how long will this moment last?

“My people!”

Confused. Atria opens her eyes to see no one. Blinking twice she turns to see her beloved addressing the hall. Maybe she forgot that her king was to address the people first. Maybe to announce their joint desires. Quickly quelling her racing mind, she composed herself and eagerly listened.

“On this great day of celebration. I have a final decree” stated the king.

This must be it, women will finally be treated as equals by law. Atria could barely contain her sudden rush of excitement.

The king continues.

“One final law that shall be upheld by all the land. On the great day of a royal wedding. After the kiss that closes the ceremony. The king and queen shall retire to their chamber, take to the royal bed.” glancing briefly at Atria, he smirked.

“And be joined by the bridesmaids in heated pleasure.”

Walking back to Atria—who was frozen in shock—he roughly kissed her to the rampant applause of the noblemen. Ordering his queen and the bridal party to follow him, he strode out of the hall.

Atria felt all eyes in the room burning through her lavish dress. She’d never known such humiliation.



My Heart Belongs to the King

Queen Atria and her bridesmaids entered the royal chamber one after another in slow succession. Her mind ran in overdrive, analyzing all the little details leading up to this moment. She thought she knew him. The king lay on the bed waiting for them.

This wasn't reality. What was this feeling? Her mind was moving so fast. It was like she existed in a future time, looking back on the present like a play in the theater. A play written by a man, in which she was just a pawn of his disgusting fantasies.

She was trapped. There was nothing she could do. The outcome had already been written. All she had left was to play her part and wait for the curtain to fall.

"Take off your clothes" the king ordered.

The girls stood still looking to Atria for guidance. She looked at Maple, tears running down her cheeks. All she could do was nod to them and remove her pure white wedding dress. They slowly followed her lead.

She had no free will. Her life. Her closest friends' lives. They were now merely toys, subject to the man lying before them. She felt desire. How could she still feel such an emotion? Was it love? An aftereffect of the attachment, fostered by sweet words of whom had ruthlessly uprooted her hopes and dreams? All she could feel was desire.

“Crawl to your king” she coldly said to the girls as she strode to her husband. Hunger darkening her eyes. She climbed enchantingly onto the bed and took her place beside her beloved. She seductively whispered in his ear.

“They are yours to do with as you please my love.”

The king succumbed to his desire and let out a long-held groan of passion. Lost in her words, Atria removed her heart-shaped locket and gently placed it over his head.

Without a word, she rotated the locket, and swiftly thrust the tip of the heart deep into his neck. A brief look of confusion crossed his gaze. She wrenched out the makeshift blade, causing a sudden fountain of blood. He slumped forward over the crimson-stained royal bed.

The king was dead.

Maple screamed in horror, her cry filling the chamber with dread and echoing down the royal hallways.

Queen Atria knew what she had done, she and her friends would be put to death for her actions. She turned to the girls, and with an evil smile, told them “run to the hall—naked for all to see—and tell the men there... The queen has slaughtered their brother.”

They ran.