Chapter 3 - Queenstrial.

The Wells house had been a flurry of activities. Ever since Astra's invitation to Queenstrial, everyone had been running helter shelter like headless chickens. Everyone except Summer of course. 

Being Astra's handmaiden meant that she would have to go to the Grand Palace in Wyeth. Wyeth was the kingcity for the rich and noblest of nobles inside Ludmilla. 

She didn't want to go to Wyeth, going to Wyeth meant she would never get to see Maven. She didn't know how much time he had before he went back to service. And she wanted to spend every minute with him but Lady Lucia was doing everything in her power to prevent that. 

She had also been trying to fail hopelessly at being an handmaiden, at least it would save her from going to the Grand Palace in Wyeth. But Astra was determined to keep her as her handmaiden. She liked the fact that Summer was suffering. 

"Do you want this or this to be packed?" She asked as she raised up two silky dresses for Astra to pick. 

Astra was at her large dresser combing her silky golden hair.  

"Oh pack them all Summer!! The competition is going to be tough. I'll need all the dresses I have." 

Summer rolled her eyes. 

"But you've ordered six new dresses for Queenstrial already" 

"It doesn't matter. Pack them all!! Stop being so insufferable Summer" she snapped and Summer rolled her eyes again. 

She left Astra's room after she dismissed her and groaned indefinitely when she met Sal smirking at the hallway.

"I'm miserable." She said to him as he snorted. 

"That's because you haven't seen lover boy in a while. Lady Lucia is sure keeping him busy. You and him both" 

"I know. It's annoying. You know I have to do kitchen duty everyday now? I have no time for my archery lessons"  

"You know, I can help with that. We can practice together at nighttime. I'm pretty good with a bow and arrow too" Sal said as he nudged her shoulder.

"I guess you're right. I'll think about it. But I think Astra still wants me to be her handmaiden. That means I'll have to leave her and go with her to Wyeth" 

Sal's eyes widened. 

"That's great!! General Wells asked me to accompany Astra as her personal body guard." 

My brows furrowed in confusion. 

Why does Astra need a bodyguard? 

Sal nodded sadly as he sensed her question. 

"The General has witnessed a Queenstrial before, he said a girl died and a few were injured. You don't know the lengths people will go to make sure they get their grubby hands on the throne." 

"Wow. Sounds dangerous. So you mean people kill themselves to just be Queen?" 

"Well, it is a pretty dangerous affair. Whoever gets to be Queen wields a certain amount of control on the King. I guess that's what they want." 

After spending a long night in the kitchens slaving away on dinner, Summer emerged tired and sweaty from the kitchens and walked briskly to my rooms. Normally at that time she would be eating dinner with Sal, Tommen and Suri but she just wanted to collapse on her bed. She was exhausted. 

She heard a low whistle and she turned sharply. It was Maven at the corner calling her to him. 

She looked around before walking towards him. He enveloped her into a hug. He smelled of mint and horses. He must have been out riding while she was slaving away in the kitchens.

Great. She grumbled as she smelled herself, she smelled of stale sweat and kitchen spices. It was horrible.

"Oh how I've missed you!!!" he said as he lifted her up as if she weighed nothing. She did actually weigh next to nothing. 

"Well, I missed you too. You have to let me go now what about your mother?" She asked as Maven covered her in kisses to stop her protests. 

"Well, she had a slight headache so she retired early. I decided to use that opportunity to seek you out. Come, let's go to my rooms. We can't waste any second" Maven hurried her as he dragged her. 

She did her best to stand rooted in the spot frowning. Lady Lucia might not like her but she did speak some truths. She could just be a quick tumble in the hay to Maven. She needed proof of whatever love he had for her. 

"What's wrong Summer? Come on let's leave so no one sees us." he begged as he tugged on her arm. 

"I can't. If you really love me, you should have told your mother. Tell her that you love me and you want to marry me. Tell her everything you told me. Let her and your father give us their blessings. So we don't have to sneak around" she pleaded and Maven looked at her like she had horns for a head. 

"Summer. You know that's not possible"  he said slowly in a calm voice. He drew her closer to him.

Her cheeks reddened in anger and she snatched her hands away from him. 

"Why? Why isn't it possible? Because I'm just your father's ward? Nothing more than an orphan from a nameless village? Because I'm not a noble like you?" She spat out angrily.

"Yes" Maven whispered but she heard it. And she felt her heart shatter into a million pieces. Suddenly her chest felt too heavy and she gasped for breath. He couldn't mean it, he couldn't possibly mean it. 

She said to herself as she moved away from Maven. 

"Summer. Please. Try to understand..." 

Maven begged.

"Stay away from me" she screamed and something in her voice made Maven flinch back. He looked, afraid. Very afraid of her. He walked back slowly, watching her eyes with awe and fear as it seemed to burn bright with her anger.

Summer turned back and moved quickly. 

She spent the night in the company of the guards. Sal, Tommen, Suri and the rest of the servants who were not on their shift had their own celebrations in the kitchens. They passed around tankards of ale and pieces of roasted beef. She generously drank her pitcher of ale. Requesting for more and more.

Sal stopped her when she had too much. He decided that it was time she retired for the night. She was  staggering and heavily drunk as Sal took her to her room. 

"Easy, easy" he said as he led her into the room she shared with Suri downstairs. 

"Thank you Sal" she slurred as she reached the edge of her bed and fell on it ungracefully. 

She could hear Sal speaking but she couldn't make sense of whatever he was saying. Her heart was still in pains and her head was dizzy. She needed to sleep. 

She was vaguely aware of Sal positioning her well on her bed. And she felt lips on her cheeks. Lingering there for more than a second. 

It couldn't be Sal. She must have been  dreaming. She thought as she drifted into darkness. 

************

The next morning she was vaguely aware of Suri shaking her awake. 

"Oh you smell so bad Summer. Did your drown yourself in ale?" she asked as she removed the thin blanket from her and pushed her into the washroom. There was already a bucket of warm water waiting. 

She groaned and pain sliced through my head as she stood upright. 

"Suri I don't feel so good" She said and she shoved a cup of tea in her hands. 

"You have to be fast. Astra is leaving for Wyeth today and as her handmaiden you must be prepared before her. Have you packed?" she asked and she shrugged. 

She took large gulps of the warm brew of herbs that was meant to relieve her headache. 

"I was hoping I wouldn't have to go. So I didn't pack." She said as she shrugged. Suri glared at her. 

"How irresponsible can you be Summer. Go wash yourself. I'll pack for you." 

She walked slowly into the washroom and peeled off her clothes from my body. She did stink. She thought after taking a whiff of her clothes. 

She washed herself fast as she scrubbed her hair and body with a rough washcloth. 

She stood gingerly in their makeshift mirror as she dressed herself in the prettiest dress she owned. A sky blue plain dress with ribbons and puffy sleeves. She put her hair in a simple braid and left my face plain. Molten gold eyes with a touch of auburn stared back at her. She always had the strangest eyes, eyes that looked like they were made from some sort of living fire. But she always managed to look tired. There had been bags under her eyes for as long as she knew and her cheekbones and chin looked like sharp edges on her face. 

Her skin was so pale it might as well be white. The only color that appeared on her face was the occasional bloom of red that appears on my cheek any time she blushed.

"Well, you look nice. Let's put some colour on those lips shall we?" Suri said as she brought out a small pot full of crushed red berries preserved in the air tight pot. 

She smeared them on her lips and Summer smiled. 

Suri looked back at her and shook her head wearily as she stared at her dress. 

"If only you had a little more cleavage to fill out that dress" she stared hopelessly at her chest and Summer glared at her. 

Suri was right, she was practically skin and bones. At least even though Suri was tiny she still had a little meat on her. 

"I think you're good to go. And you better hurry." 

She hurried down the hall as she rushed to Astra's room hoping she wasn't awake.

Too late, she's already awake with two servants dressing her. She glared at Summer as she entered the room. 

"You're late! And you're always late!! How are you going to be my handmaiden if you aren't here to serve me!!!" she snapped as she threw a golden brush at her. She ducked just in time and it hit Lady Lucia right on her forehead as she opened the door just in time. 

Everyone in the room gasped. Except for Lady Lucia who was fuming. An angry red bruise was already formed on her forehead. 

"Mother, I'm so sorry. Summer can be so frustrating sometimes. Can she stop being my handmaiden?" 

Astra begged. 

Lady Lucia glared at Summer. 

"Unfortunately, your father is already happy with the idea of her being your handmaiden. Don't worry, when you win Queenstrial you can dispose her." she said as she went over to fuss over Astra. 

Later Astra was dressed in a glittering red dress with the edges in gold. Her hair was in a sweeping cascade of golden curls. There was a tiny gold tiara on her head. Her face was perfect. It had been painted and dusted in powder. Her cheeks were rosy with blush and her lips are painted red. She was wearing gold jewellery and a large necklace was resting on her cleavage. Summer didn't know why Astra chose to flaunt her cleavage at any opportunity she got. She felt it looked distasteful.

A few minutes later, a fussy weepy Lady Lucia put Astra in the carriage and Sal took the spot at the front with the horses and the coachmen. The General was giving him strict instructions instead of saying goodbye to his daughter. 

Summer kept her eyes away from Maven as he gave Astra a brief hug. 

The General suddenly appeared in front of her. 

"Summer. I trust you to keep my daughter safe. With your life." he said sternly without a flicker of emotion. 

She gave a little bow and nodded enthusiastically. 

"Well then. I bid you farewell with this. Only use it whenever you're sure Astra is in absolute danger. And send word if there is any suspicious activity." he said as he handed her a bow and a bag of arrows. 

Oh gods!! It's beautiful. she thought as her fingers ran through the arrows that were finely made with their tips made of silver. She only ever had wooden arrows. But this one is far from it. 

"Thank you General Wells" she said as she bowed her head. He nodded sternly. 

"There is no one else I would entrust with my daughter's safety than you." 

He finally said as he bid them farewell. What did he mean? Summer asked herself as they were about to leave.

General Wells was really taking security serious. Summer was starting to think the Queenstrial was more of a battle than a pageant. 

She hoped she was wrong. For all their sakes.