Chapter Text
chapter one
Shauna enters the sprawling room, flanked by the three people who lead her here, their serious faces made of nothing short of stone and marble.
Her gaze found its way sweeping across the room. Finding high ceilings, glittering windows, and a floor spreading so far she would lose her breath if she ran from one end to another.
Queen Jacquelin of course sat in the center. Draped with silk so fine it spoke more wealth than even silver could shout. Her completion cold, a temperature far from the expression warming her face, her lips though hardly held up in the corners gave the great illusion of joy.
She looked grand. Shauna felt pathetic.
All but dragged from her home to kneel in front of her, and she had the nerve to seem pleased. she wished to spit in her face, to take her fine silks and mop these marble floors.
She courtesies low not in any respect but to hide the sneer creeping up her face.
Her dirty hair was hastily tied up with a ribbon before she got to the castle. The deep brown tendrils falling nearly in front of her eye, certainly adding to the furrow creasing her brows.
If the Queen took notice of the expression darkening her face she made no comment.
"Please, enlighten me what is your name?" The kindness with which she spoke shocked Shauna, but she refused to be phased.
"Shauna, Shauna Shipman, your Majesty." she hoped the words didn't come out bitter. She dragged her all this way without even the knowledge of her name. She bit back a scoff.
"Well Lady Shipman, it is an honorer to meet you" She says with a smile toeing the line of mocking. Shauna clears her throat as if the words she's about to say refuse to rouse from her lips.
"The honor is all mine your Majesty" Her words sound almost sincere. the Queen replies with only a tight lipped smile. She spoke again before she could lose her courage. "May i ask your Majesty, why have you brought me her?" She says to the floor and much quieter than she would have liked.
"You are to be my lady in waiting." The Queen answers seemingly not shocked by the question. Shauna though was thoroughly rattled by the answer. Lady in waiting. She could hardly believe it. The Queen prattled on not caring or not noting the shock on Shauna's face.
"As my lady in waiting you will of-course abide within the palace, and sleep in my chambers among the other ladies in waiting." She says with a soft smile. Shauna does not miss the lack of question in her words. The Queen does not ask for who is foolish enough to say no.
She was incredibly confused. Lady in waiting is typically a position reserved for a woman of higher stand, or someone close to the Queen. Shauna was neither of those things. Just moments ago the Queen didn't even know her name, and she certainly was not in high standing.
She opened her mouth trying to ask more questions, but the Queen quickly cut her off to say "They will take you home in the carriage they brought you with, so you can gather your things and say good bye to any loved ones. then return here." It left very little room for argument.
She simply curtsied, and nodded her head. Her brain was moving far slower than it typically did, fully thrown for a loop with the events of today. How was she going to tell her Nana? She began to follow the men who had escorted her here. The tall wooden doors slam behind them. The hallway they walk through is far dimmer then the ballroom in which she spoke to her as if the Queen herself was producing the light.
They make their way through the beautiful halls, the walls lined with wonderful paintings of the royals, some of which have long passed away. Shauna struggles to keep up with the pace the guards are walking. She wipes her sweaty palms on the dirty white apron tied around her waist. Her mind racing, and replaying all the words The Queen and her exchanged.
They finally reach the exit of the castle. She holds up the hem of her dress as to not trip down the stairs. As she steps up into the carriage a gloved hand reaches out from inside to assist her. She takes it and lifts herself inside.
"thank you" Shauna says as she settles in her seat opposite the knight who helped her. The same one who rode with her on the way here, though she was far too anxious to speak to him. The knight only nods in response. She cannot see his face due to the helmet upon his head. Now with her thoughts less occupied the silence was rather uncomfortable, but she was terrible at making conversation, especially with strangers. There was something curious about this knight, she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
"Lovely day isn't?" Shauna asks. The knight simply nods again. Shauna frowns, increasingly annoyed by the lack of response. Was he not allowed to speak to her? she had seen plenty of knights speak to people she knew, it had to be something else. "How are you?" She asks with a pleasant smile. The knight clears his throat
"I'm quite alright, ma'am thank you for asking" Replies a woman's voice. Shauna's eyebrows raise, confusion clear on her face. The knight chuckles lightly, and removes her helmet, fiery locks spilling out and land at her shoulders. She has stormy blue eyes that stand out against her pale freckled skin. She's a women a women close to the same age as Shauna, and yet she is also a knight. how? women were no permeated to be knights.
"But you're a…" Shauna says dumbfounded.
"A woman?" She responds. Shauna nods.
"How?" She quickly asks. The knight considered for a moment, biting her lip.
"its a secret, so if i tell you have to promise you wont anyone else, alright?" She finally says. Shauna considers for a moment, but who was she kidding its not like she really had anyone to tell.
"I promise" Shauna amends. The woman across from her smiles, pleased with her answer.
"All of the Queens personal guard is made up of women" The knight watches her closely after she says this. Shauna is incredibly shocked, but also…delighted. She had always found the way women were said to be weaker than men a foolish statement, one she could hardly agree with seeing as all the women who surrounded her are the strongest people she had ever met, far stronger than the oafish men who only seemed to come around and cause harm, and hurt.
"That's incredible" Shauna states, the adoration clear in her voice. The knight smirks at her. "How much of a secret is it?" Her curiosity getting the best of her.
"No one but her Majesty, and us guards are aware" She answers, her words thick with pride. The grin on her face much lager than before. The carriage stops, signaling their arrival to her destination. "Have a wonderful day." The knight says as she begins to exit the carriage.
"Wait, what is your name?" Shauna asks. The Knight smiles.
"Van" She answers.
"It was nice to meet you Van" Shauna says.
"It was nice to meet you too, miss Shipman" She huffs politely.
"Please, call me Shauna" She pleads, the formality reminding her of the Queen. The knight laughs.
"Of course" She replies. Shauna turns, and walks down the dirt path to her house. She hears the carriage rubble up the cobble stones headed back to the castle. A lady knight, perhaps the queen wasn't so bad.
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