The queen and the maiden (Part 2)

Anette woke up before dawn. She put on the same dress as the evening before and once again braided her hair.

Anette had not been sleeping well. The sad look in the queen’s eyes during the evening before had been haunting her dreams.   

When Anette found out that she had been sold to the royal house, she became scared. So scared. She had heard stories about the king and what a wicked man he was. But when he said that she would be the queen’s maid, Anette had to hold back a sigh of relief.

Anette’s movements stopped in mid-air while a big lump started to form in her chest. She had heard that the queen always was cheerful and confident. But those rumors turned out to be lies.

Anette got out of her room and went to the kitchen. One of her duties was to serve the queen her breakfast and dinner in her room. This seemed very strange to Anette. She had always thought that the queen was surrounded by servants all the time, and had many dinners with the nobility. Of course she had only been here for one day, but still she could not suppress the feeling that something horrible had happened to Tarja. Something that would make her want to be left alone.

After getting the breakfast from the kitchen, Anette went to Tarja’s room. She knocked gently with her knuckles and waited for a response. When Tarja did not answer, she knocked again. After a fourth time, Anette balanced the tray carefully so that she could open the door with one hand.  

“Good morning!” Anette exclaimed cheerfully.

She put the tray down in the same place as the dinner she had served the evening before. Anette turned around and saw that he queen was still in her bed, with her head hiding under the cover. Slightly amused, Anette sat down on the side of the bed and shook Tarja’s shoulder slightly. Tarja immediately curled up and started to shake. Alarmed, Anette removed the cover slightly. The red marks on Tarja’s wrists stood out brightly against her pale skin. On the queen’s face, similar marks appeared. To Anette, they looked like someone had slapped her really hard on the cheek.

“Tarja, what happened?”  

Tarja sat up slowly, as if she was in pain. Without answering Anette’s question, Tarja went to her wardrobe and pulled out the clothes she wanted to wear for the day. Anette was stunned for a while, but then remembered her duties.

“Let me help you, your majesty!”

While Anette got Tarja dressed, she noticed the bruises on the queen’s thighs and shoulder blades. But the maiden kept her mouth shut, still afraid of what the queen may do to her if she was being too demanding or annoying.

Tarja had her breakfast in silence, and then proceeded to put some white powder on her face to hide the red marks. Anette later helped her with the bracelets and the crown. When she was done, the maiden looked into Tarja’s eyes and saw how she bravely held back her tears.

“Good morning dearest, did you sleep well?”

The king’s eyes were cold and emotionless.

Tarja hid her sadness and replied with the sweetest voice she could manage.

“I slept very good, thank you for asking.”

The queen placed herself on the throne and adjusted her dress and crown. She straightened up while Anette served her some wine. When she was done with that, Anette placed herself on a chair a few meters away from the queen’s throne, so that she would be able to assist the queen if she wanted her to do so.

Hours passed and Anette saw how Tarja’s bravery began sinking. Every time the king spoke or looked at her, Tarja clenched her fists and breathed in and out heavily. Anette could not take it anymore, so she rose from her chair and walked up to the king.

“My king” she said and curtsied “your queen is not feeling well, may she be excused?”

Anette saw how the king almost broke out in laughter, but instead he nodded.

“Get better soon, my darling”

Tarja did not even look at him, nor did she respond. The queen grabbed Anette’s arm and pulled her out of the room. But before Anette closed the door, she managed to catch a glimpse of the malicious look in the king’s eyes, which caused a shiver to run down the maiden’s spine.  

“Does your majesty want me to go?”

Tarja lay on her bed and stared at the ceiling above her. She had put on one of her lighter dresses and gotten rid of all the jewelry and powder. The red marks had subsided a bit, but still made a sharp contrast against her skin.

Anette stood by the side off the bed and waited for an answer. The queen turned away from her before she spoke up.

“He did this to me, my husband.”

Anette heard some sniffles coming from Tarja. The maiden lay down next to the queen and put a hand on her waist.

Slowly, Tarja turned around and faced her.

“He raped me again. He always does it when I have disappointed him. I am nothing but a failure!”

Without a word, Anette slid an arm under Tarja’s head and pulled her closer to herself.

The maiden held the queen as she cried.