The queen and the maiden (Part 1)

Tarja’s gaze travelled across the throne room. It was late afternoon, but still there seemed to be no ending in sight of citizens who wanted help and advice from their king. Tarja squirmed in her seat and adjusted the crown on her head. She hated wearing it, but she had to look proper next to her husband.

The king leaned back in his throne and started rubbing his eyes, signaling that he had had enough for the day. Tarja was just starting to leave, when her husband’s voice stopped her.

“Do not go yet dearest; I have a surprise for you!”

Tarja sat down again. She wondered what he would give her this time. The king was not very good with presents. He had given her strange animals and disgusting fruits from the colonies he had around the world. He was a strict and ruthless king with a lot of enemies. He scared Tarja a great deal.

The king waved his hand and made a woman step out from the shrinking crowd of people. She curtsied towards the king and then the queen.

“Tarja, this is Anette, your new main maiden.”

Tarja eyed Anette up and down. The clothes she wore seemed simple and did not show if she was of noble birth.

“Where did you find her, dearest husband?”

“I bought her from the Snow family. Apparently her reputation is good and since your last main maiden died, I thought you needed another one.”

She was murdered, and it was all your fault.

Tarja swallowed her anger and smiled.

“I will happily accept your gift, my king.”

“Good, you may leave. Your duties are done for the day.”

Tarja left her throne.

“Come with me Anette, I will show you my room and explain what your duties are”

“Yes, my queen.”

Tarja had five servants of her own already. They were all noble men’s daughters. They always flattered the queen and sucked up to her every time a chance presented itself to them.

Tarja was sick of them.

She had been showing Anette the duties she would undertake. There were not a lot, since the main maiden often kept the queen company and acted as her best friend. Tarja really needed one right now. The loneliness she felt had become hard to handle.

Someone knocked on the door and made Tarja snap out of her thoughts.

“Come in!”

She saw how Anette appeared with a tray.

“Your dinner, your majesty.”

Anette sat the tray down in front of Tarja.

“Thank you”

“It was my pleasure, your majesty”

Tarja began eating while Anette sat down opposite of her and continued sewing on pearls on one of the queen’s dresses.

Tarja watched her in silence. Anette’s hands worked gracefully and with ease.

“Where are you from?” Tarja asked.

Anette diverted her eyes from the needle she was holding and into Tarja’s emerald eyes.

“I was born in the city, in the darker and poorer areas.”

Tarja was shocked by her response.

“How did you end up here?”

Anette bit her lip and Tarja sensed that she did not want to tell her. At least not yet.

“You do not have to answer that if it makes you feel uncomfortable.”

“I am so sorry, my queen, if you truly wish to know I will tell you.”

“No, that will not be necessary. And stop calling me queen or majesty when we are talking to each other. Call me Tarja.”

“Yes, your m… Tarja”

Tarja smiled and continued to eat. When she was done, Anette got up and went to the kitchen with the dishes.

While she was gone, Tarja started to remove her jewelry. The rings and bracelets were quite heavy and caused her wrists to ache quite a lot. She carefully placed them in her jewelry box and then proceeded to take of her crown and placed it next to the box. Tarja looked up and saw her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes were much sadder than she remembered. All her youth seemed to have been removed from her face and soul.

Tarja did not even notice that Anette came back into the room.

“What would you like me to do now, Tarja?”

The queen held back her tears while she turned around and faced her maid. To Tarja’s surprise, Anette wore the dark blue dress she had picked out for her. Her blonde hair was braided and around her neck, she wore the simple silver necklace that all of Tarja’s servants had.

She was so beautiful that Tarja forgot about the question Anette asked her.

“Tarja?”

“Oh I am… what did you ask me now again?”

Anette manged to hold back a giggle.

“I asked you what you wanted me to do next”

Tarja smiled and started to remove the hair clips from her hair.

“I think I will go to bed a bit earlier today. Can you help me get out of my dress?”

Anette later continued helping Tarja with the hair clips and freed her long, black hair. She then untied the corset around Tarja’s waist. The queen took a big breath and stretched herself. Anette went to the big chest next to Tarja’s bed and pulled out one of her nightgowns. She gently placed the gown over the queens naked body and then went to ready the bed. Tarja watched her in silence until she was ready.

“Good night, my queen” Anette said and curtsied before opening and closing the door.

Tarja started hugging the pillow tight and listened for any footsteps.

Please, please, not tonight…