" Hannah?"
Jasper asked as he walked into his bed chambers, completely startled to find her in there, straightening his bed, as though she'd laid in it. Which she had, she'd watched Jasper enter the throne room and turned away somewhat hurt that he hadn't shared the fact that he had been summoned by her father, with her. She had walked back to her bed Chambers and sat on her bed, standing again several minutes later, telling herself she would not mope. Instead she had a bath, had a maiden do up her and walked to Jasper's newly assigned room. it wasn't that hard to find, the guards could be very helpful when they had a mind to. And so she waited for him to come back and wondered what it was that was being said between both the king and Jasper that took so long. She wasn’t nosy, she didn’t see herself as nosy anyway. She chose to call her behaviour curious. Exactly, she was simply being curious.
She ran down the stairs –no, scratch that– She flew. And Jasper came right after. "They're coming, Jasper! And they have Martha!" She shrieked as she made for the door of the library. The passage that led to the rooftop was in the library. She wondered vaguely just how many more passages in this place were hidden doors that looked like walls. Jasper grabbed her and hugged her hard against him. He held her and she could hear his racing heart and joined him as he began to recite 'our father.' And their voices became one cry. "–Hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven, give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us," She heard bells ring and believed someone had spotted the
Myeen, you seek my own. And even now, you hold my own captive."The Athànatoi gave a blood curdling laugh as he held on to Martha, whose face was unearthly serene."Your own? But you cast this poor old lady out of your castle, Your own mother-in-law." He spat out the last phrase. "You just might be worse than me. And where is that little wife of yours? How about a little mother-daughter reunion?" He rose on his toes and craned his neck, as if searching for Anastasia. And it hit Jasper, that maybe, just maybe, he was looking for Hannah."She is not here, Myeen." The Athànatoi
“Will she be okay?" Hannah asks, bending over her grandmother, tears running down her face. She had faced a hard hit when the Athanatoi had thrown her aside, and Hannah was sure they had been cruel to her even before they reached the castle. It made her angry just thinking about it. Made her sad looking at Grandmother, the way she looked frail and vulnerable. Her parents had said Martha was Welcome, shwe just wished Martha had been there sooner, then those ancient devils would never have gotten a chance to touch her. But nevertheless, she was with them now, and by God Almighty, as long as she lived, they’d never lay a hand on her grandmother ever again. Neither they nor anyone else."Just a few bruises, but they'll heal." Queen Anastasia said, but she too worried about her mother"What aren't you saying mama?" Hannah asked, looked at her mother, beg
1933Hannah.My name is Hannah, and I am princess of Brone. yes, the actual princess, the only child of my parents. My conception is one of those stories they tell around campfires, with children gathered, cross legged and bright eyed. And when it ends, those stay seated waiting for more, knowing it's over.But when I hear the story of my conception, the hairs on my skin stand on end, and I am humbled. But I am reminded, that life is a gift, my life is a gift, and I must honour that and not take it for granted. My people are a blessing, and I must remember my responsibilty to them.with all this said, another story begins,My name is Hannah, princess of Brone, And my Kingdom is being threatened.My people fear, and the anxiety of what comes next eats at them. it eats at all of us, causing us to shudder whenever we remember, and mak
1938Hannah sat under a castor oil tree a book in her hands, using the branches of the tree for a shade and watched as a purple butterfly danced above her head."Must be fun being free like that, right, Mr. Butterfly?" She said softly, smiling as it landed carefree on her right thumb."Pretty little thing." she said on a giggleShe watched it alight and fly away, and then she sighed softly, looking towards the castle.It had been five years since the whispers of war emerged. Five years since the threats came, since such whispers caused a wild stir, and then, as time passed, these whispers died down. And now she was older, nineteen summers to be exact. And all was still, all was quiet.But she knew.she knew, as did her parents, that one brewed, subtly, gently, violently. A slow poison through and through, one that ate at you without living any visibel mark. But it clouded your judgeme
"We're almost there." They'd crawled and stuck to tall hedges for cover, but so far, true to her word they hadn't been spotted." there, right there." She said, pointing to a brown small builing that resembled a barn, which stood only a small distance away."I don't think the caretakers are in there right now. In fact, I think they should be done for the day." She said when they got to the door. She opened the door quietly and raised up a hand, gesturing for him to wait before poking her head and surveying the surroundings."All seems quiet in here, come on in." She said, before leading them in,stopping at every stall to greet each horse.The woman, he thought, had a word for each one of them. He wasn't sure if to Marvel at her when she made each stop or simply stop her and remind her of why they were there in the first place. But after horse number three, he realised that, he didn't want her to stop. He found her endearing, the way she would stroke
What do you mean by that?" The king's voice was steady, not hinting at the tremor growing within. He knew this day would come. when the Athanatoi would come seeking, threatening, calling. but he didn't expect it to be this soon. Dear God, he didn't want to be this soon, when he was so unprepared."Her." Hannah stared at him with wide eyes. She'd gone pale from the moment he'd opened his mouth and spoke his words and now she could all but feel herself suffocating, choked up by her own growing fear."What- but what could they want with me?" She asked, He didn't say a word, he only stared at her, his expression unreadable."That's enough. Hannah, you may leave us."It was the king who spoke, he managed to look steady and strong, but he could feel his fingers begin to shake, he didn't like where all this was going."This is about me, I'm not going anywhere. please, Don't make me leave just yet. please, papa." The king turned to her and some
She had wept with her mother, and had tried to be strong for her father.But now, she needed to let out the storm She'd kept locked within when she was with the both of them, the storm that had quietly been gathering while she was in the throne room, the storm that was threatening to wash over her.Her father, before she left his chambers, had sworn to keep her safe.But she didn't feel safe. She felt like all hell was breaking loose, like the fires it threatened to unleash were going to come down on her, and she had to run... run very far away.She walked hopelessly to the stables, holding back her tears. Not yet, she told herself. She walked past the horses, not stopping to greet them as was her wont, her heart in her throat, her spirit downcast.She walked to the old supply room and opened it, not caring to close it behind her, not expecting anyone to be around as it was well after dusk. She walked to the corner of the room and dropp