The Traitor Queen

Cruel.

It is a cruelty, it’s torture.

I can see the open sky, I can feel the breeze as it brushes against my sky, whispering for me to fly with it as the stars beckon and call for me to join them. Join them high above the ground, but alas I am locked away, trapped in this tiny cell with nothing but a small barred window to tease me of the place where I belong.

Chained in a cell with nothing but the rats to keep me company.

And even if I could leave, I can’t. They have bound my wings together and on the off chance they aren’t bound they have been broken. In a number of places, leaving me in too much pain to even move them an inch.

Cruel is all this place is.

I long for the stars. I long for freedom but that is a dream, a dream I long since gave up on after being locked away for the last 500 years. All I have now is pain and darkness. My keepers don’t even bother to lock my cell door anymore, they know I won’t leave. That I can’t leave.

That I cannot reach the stars.

They have beaten me too many times, brought me to the brink of death and brought me back again too many times.

The only solace I have is that the guards cannot touch me, that is the only thing my husband demands. Otherwise they would all know the truth, that it is him at fault and not me. That is the king who cannot have children.

He cannot risk it.

That’s why they keep me here, to shame me. To ridicule me.

But I think they also stay away because of the only other prisoner here. Seker. He is very vague about himself, all I know is that he is not human, nor is not fae as I am. All he has ever told me is that he is death only he is not death at the same time.

Cryptic.

Confusing.

But a companion nonetheless.

“Are you still in the land of the living?” I hear Percy whisper. Percy, a human who was given what the fae here call a blessing, but he calls it his curse of immortality.

It made him an outcast amongst the humans, he could not die, if a limb was cut off of him it would just reattach itself to him.

But he is also not good enough for the fae. They look down their noses at him, like he is nothing more than an annoying insect flying around. He was here when I first arrived, he watched me being brought in chained to the King. He has freedom because the King believes that Percy works for him, because Percy can travel to the human towns undetected, and all that once knew him are long dead.

He tells the king half truths, the humans are weak, still untrained. Percy teaches them, he gives them weapons that can harm us.

All because the King’s goal is world domination and he thinks riches and power is all Percy wants. That being immortal is enough for him to be treated like shit around people he detests.

His greed blinds him from the truth.

Percy walks towards me with water and some bread, he cannot sneak much down here but beggars can’t be choosers.

Along with Seker he likes to keep me company. Seker like me cannot remove his chains, they are made from iron and have been blood bound to us by the King’s bitch of a witch. Only Seker is not chained to his cell like I am, my chains only have enough length for me to lay down on the ground.

Seker, who has been a prisoner centuries longer than myself can wander the tower but he cannot leave it as I cannot leave my cell. The blood binding means only the witch can let us enter or exist. Unless we die.

Which we can all agree on would be a kindness. One that we will never receive.

The King will never let me die, he likes to play with his toys. Every now and then he likes to bring me up to the Palace, to play his games, to enjoy my discomfort as his people sneer at me, to feast their eyes at the disappointment he has wed. To hear the hateful whispers and the ill wishes.

None of them know that I live down here, that I am a prisoner in my own home. The King has them believing that I live the life of luxury, that I spend my time sitting in a cushioned room with all of the comforts I could ever ask for.

That I am never hungry, I never starve or feel the cold, my skin is never calloused or cracked. To never be so dehydrated that cracked and dry blood is all my lips are even after being given a drop of water.

And why would they, he has his witch cast her spells on me anytime my presence is required. I am spelled to look beautiful, plump even. To look as though I gorge myself on food. I am never without in their eyes.

She is extremely powerful. Powerful enough that I wouldn’t be surprised if she herself is the reason that the King cannot further his line.

When I first arrived here and it was announced I would wed the King I saw the look on her face, She thought she was going to be his Next Queen. She could’ve had a bastard child with him, hundreds if she wanted but her spiteful and petty nature controlled her.

I have heard rumors from the guards that she is the reason the kings first two wives died before their wedding nights were even over.

But she can’t kill me.

That’ll ruin everything.

“Here.” Percy offers me the cup of water. Words cannot come past my lips right now that I can’t tell him that I can’t drink it even if I wanted to.

I barely manage to shake my head no, but Percy brings the cup to my lips anyway, tilting my head back so the water slides down my throat easily. He takes it slowly, so I don’t choke and splatter on the water. It is refreshing and cold but my body is not used to it so it is also nauseating.

Once the cup is emptied I feel better and Percy takes a step away. I try to thank him but words still can’t form. I am still too parched.

“You’ll need all your strength for tonight.” He pauses, he hates when I am paraded around but he looks even more concerned than usual.

“Why can’t they just leave her alone.” Seker hisses from the doorway.

“I don’t know, but something is happening. Something feels off. I haven’t been sent to spy in some time. The king is up to something.” Percy for once looks genuinely fearful. I watch him and Seker exchange glances. At times Seker can speak into our minds but it takes a toll on him as the witch has drained him of all of his magic.

Whatever is happening it concerns me and they do not want me to know.

Percy walks over to the bread. “Can you?” is all he asks.

“No.” I don’t know if it even sounded like the word ‘no’ out loud but I think they know the answer as they leave it be, Percy offers it to Seker who just shakes his head at it.

“Everyone will be here tonight.” Percy informs us. “The King has summoned everyone back to court, all generals and advisors, spies and trickers.”

Both of them look worried but honestly what can happen at this point.

“I have to go, I barely managed to sneak down here as it is.” We have to be very careful from here. I can’t protect you or even pretend. I’ll have to act like all the others so I need to apologise in advance.” Percy doesn’t give Seker and I any more information as he picks up the cup and takes it with him.

“Hide in your cell tonight Seker when they come.” Is all he says as he walks away.