ruins of war : Kitchen Maid

my heart raced as my bare feet hit the cobblestone path. he said he would meet me here, I thought as I wanderers the castle garden. the thick bushes adored with scarlet red roses, the small path scattered with moss, as the wind pushed softly against my back. it had been a little over 3 years since I had seen him, not since I told him I was pregnant.

He’s late I thought as I sat down on the old well. my clothes tattered and torn my feet bare and cold. my racing mind came to a rest as I felt a hand gently placed on my shoulder. I turned my head quickly “I thought you would never show”, I said quietly.

He smiled “It’s nice to see you,” he said placing his hands around my waist. His head was gently placed on my shoulder. I smiled standing up and breaking away from his hands. “Are you ever going to tell anyone’’ I said picking a rose from the bush “About what my love” he said hastily.” about us! we can’t keep it a secret forever you know I sighed “Speaking of secrets..’’ before I could finish my sentence he cut me off “When the time comes..my love” he said annoyed stepping towards me. I took a step back “Arthur we can’t keep doing this!” I exclaimed.

He sat there obviously annoyed he opened his mouth to say something but stopped.

I sighed the wind growing stronger as my tattered skirt flared through it. “Come with me,” he said quietly “I want to show you something”.he then proceed to walk down the path toward the woods that surrounded the castle. Wear I would often spend many a day wandering its vast assortment of trees and flowers.

The eerie cast of the trees wasn’t at all comforting as I wandered the woods following Arthur. “Alice” he called, I turned my head quickly my eyes locked on his. They were a pale blue with hints of green almost like a crystal clear lake.his hair a smokey brown carefully combed and styled. “What is it you wanted to show me,” I asked.

He smiled a bit creepily “We’re not quite there, it just seemed as if you weren’t quite… payin’ attention to your surroundings” I smiled and kept following him. After a while of walking, i was starting to get annoyed I then stopped walking.

“Arthur!” I called annoyed. he sighed and stooped walking “im listening,” the then said. “ good,” I said wind howling in my ear. “Your daughter..” I announced with courage but was quickly interrupted. “Alice this again I told you want I want to be done on this matter….please don’t bring it up again,” he said holding my chin high.

I sighed and nodded, and he did the same and continued walking I knew Arthur would never listen and that very thought drilled a hole in my heart. though I knew this I still couldn’t help but love him. His crystal blue eyes. the way he spoke made people listen. And I would follow him anywhere.

after a while, we came to the edge of a cliff “What are we doing here?” I asked looking over the edge. A large ravine at the bottom.

He grinned stepping towards me “What are we doing here” I repeated scared.

“Alice, my love don’t you trust me,” he said his hands around my waist as I placed my head onto his chest. he smelled of burnt wood and smoke, similar to a fireplace.

“Of course,” I said relaxing a bit.

He grinned again, “Well big mistake”. “W-what?” I said confused. I suddenly felt a pain in my abdomen, I looked down and saw it was dripping blood. “A-Arthur? What! I don’t understand!” I exclaimed falling back a single tear falling down my cheek “I.. I loved you,” I said gasping for air as he loomed over me.

He scoffed, “Did you really think I could love a kitchen maid” I gasped as the world around me seemed to get dark my mind slowed down and my heartbeat slowed. only one thought at the back of my head. she will never know her father, it’s probably better that way..oh..if only she knew… how much I loved her.

blood dripped from my mouth and nose as I took one more look at my love. when my chest took one more breath and the world disappeared before my eyes and they rolled to the back of her head.

The breeze ran through Arthur’s hair. the night was dark the stars the only source of light. He smirched at his work “To think she thought I loved her” he let out a quiet chuckle “A prince and a kitchen maid” he let out a larger and heavier laugh. “I’ll be kind soon ,it will be as if she never existed”

he took one last look at her motionless body. As he pushed it over the edge. “Long Live the King”