Elizabeth strode down the hall of Lorton Stronghold. She could perceive her brothers voices in the distance, beyond the chamber walls and inside the North Region.

“Lord, I saw it,” a strained voice pleaded. “I know. I saw, I’m not mad, please.”

“Take this man to The Abyss,” Dixon, her eldest brother commanded.

“I hid because I was frightened,” the man continued. “I didn’t call for help, I couldn’t.”

“You were afraid,” Dixon scoffed.

“He’d be a fool if he wasn’t,” an other voice chimed in, her youngest brother Gage said in a low, spiteful tone. Elizabeth reached the entrance of the North Region. Her brothers sat upon the iron chairs in front of the Throne. The chairs were facing to the right of her. The Throne behind them was for the King her father and the two chairs are for his two eldest brothers. She watched as the man was dragged from the fore of Dixon’s chair.

“No one ever abandons the fight,” Dixon spat, forcefully driving the words out of his mouth, sending spit onto the throne room floor as the man was being hauled out the front doors. “You will show the other men the consequences of abandoning your troop.”

Elizabeth sauntered over to the chair and hesitantly approached Dixon. The loud sound of the door slamming shut echoed through the chamber.

“Why must you do this? You shan’t do this.” She questioned him knowing in the back of her mind she will regret this. “He doesn’t deserve this fate, he served you loyally for years.” The knight was being sent to the Abyss, a really deep hole which held the Hollowing. A pack of giant scaly raptors trapped at the bottom waiting to feast on any living thing that falls inside. A fate no one wanted to face. Dixon ignored her and felt she was disdain to be in his presents.

Katherine Claimond, her own servant, she was only thirteen and barely on the brink of womanhood. Sold to Elizabeth at just eight and homeless as a coming of age gift. They found her outside the Stronghold walls. Katherine was to follow her and do her every demand.

“Do you want some water, my grace,” she asked.

“No, not now,” Elizabeth said.

“I heard them talking, he’s been getting harsher by the day.”

She knew who she was talking about. He was getting angrier everyday that past since their mother had past.

“Yes, my dear, he has,” Elizabeth turned around sharply and went down the corridor she had came. Katherine followed close behind her. She went into her room and sat down on the foot of her bed. Katherine lit a lantern and set it on her drawer. The room was grey and the shadows spectral.

“I heard one day you will marry the future king,” Katherine said.

“I too discerned this terrible rumor,” Elizabeth agreed. “We all know it will not be right, he knows… where have you heard this?”

“From the council, my grace. Now let me tuck you in my lady.”

“No, go.”

Katherine bowed and left to go to the servants quarters.

Elizabeth pulled back the sheets and slid inside. The blankets were cold against her tender skin but she was used to the cold. Living in the Stronghold her whole life made her immune to the cold. It was always icy in the North.

*

Elizabeth sat at the royal table. Dixon sat at the head and Gage at the opposite side. When their father visited the youngest would have to give up his seat for him. The royal family sat at the front of the room, the guests sat on the outer tables and the inner tables were for relatives. The back was for slaves and servants.

People politely nodded in respect to her as a gesture of greeting and she nodded back. Elizabeth carefully selected the fruits from the platters in front of her. Pig and cow lay strewn on golden platters and fruit mounted into copper bowls. She took some fish and spices.

She scooped up some fish and presented it to her taste buds. The fish was briny and had minor flavor. She searched each person. Her cousins, second cousins and cousins first and twice removed. The eldest sat with Elizabeth and Dixon. Her aunts and uncles were spread out through the room like knots in wood.

Elizabeth, her kinsman and women sat together and filled their stomachs. Elizabeth sat in silence and sipped from her goblet. Dixon let out his bellowing laugh and Gage quietly snickered at the witticism. Katherine looked around and listened to each of their conversations.

“He shall,” one laughed. “The mocking fool.” Others joined in as Elizabeth looked around puzzled. “He is a cursed one” She picked at her fish and vegetables. “The vile… man? Woman? Who could tell? Didn’t know his place.” They all laughed and mocked whoever they ridiculed.

“Those minuscule arms,” another said. “Those stunted legs, who could ever forget? For such a small person he… she, how could he have such a big temper?” The fellows and ladies laughs boomed through the chamber at the jest. Elizabeth held in her irk and ate her fish in silence.

The old table made of oak cracked in the middle and the wooden chairs worn down from the many decades. The many platters were brought in from the far islands and utensils molded from platinum.

No one noticed her. She sat silent and invisible at the end of the table next to Dixon. Anger boiled in her by every word they spoke.

“How met?” He finally acknowledged her. “Did you eat most well?”

“Fairly well,” she replied politely. “Most grateful for this cuisine.”

“Art the fish well?” He smiled and went back to noshing his favorite food.

“Very nice, briny, well indeed.”

Elizabeth felt bigotry sidle up through her nerves and into her brain. Her temper burned like a branch in the flame. Their mockery made her sick and their laughter was like poison to her ears. Elizabeth fed her appetite, cleared her plate, and emptied her cup. She calmed herself, took a deep breath of relaxation, and felt a jot of placidness.

Elizabeth lifted her dress and stalked off without a soul seeing; they were too busy rapt in each others conversations. She changed into her gown. Then slipped into her silk sheets and blew out her candle. The blood sun dimmed in the distance giving the room a red hue from the window. The sun casting a little silhouette onto the floor. She closed her eyes and could hear all of the tales her father told miles away.

*