Young Writers Society

Chapter 3

Lynnea waited by the iron door. Will I ever see him again? I wish that Father would allow a commoner to be my lover... I do not even know him, but I know that he could not be a two-faced suck-up like those men who saunter in, thinking they own the palace. Lynnea could hear his voice at the bottom of the stairs. Val. What a lovely name. A lady's voice called out to Val, but she knew that he was gone. Lynnea snapped out of her sappy lovestruck mood and as soon as she did, a young girl, who could not be much older than Lynnea, appeared on the other side of the bars.

“Girl, you'll be given a load o' chores for what you did. What's yer name? What are you doin' here? I'm sorry if I scared you two at all. I hope you weren't havin' a … private moment.” The robust girl said.

“Uh, my name is, uh, Elsa, I uh, well, I am not supposed to be here, and I can assure you of that. Could you help me out of here please?” Lynnea hoped that her distinguished voice did not give her away.

“You had better be glad that Prince Christoffer sent me to inspect this wing here. I could hear you two talking from the ground! I wonder were that boy came from?” The servant girl, Anika, looked down the stairs where she just came from and then at Lynnea. “I haven't ever seen him before! Nor you for that matter. I'll be back in a jiffy.” Lynnea was left for the third time in her helpless position.

Lynnea reflected on the story that she had told the stranger. I cannot believe that Valdemar trapped me up here all of those years back! How glad I am that Sir Reginald told Mother that he would not stand him anymore! Soon enough, the gate was lifted and Lynnea pranced down the stairs to thank her rescuer.

“I will take you to Mrs. Flinthill to see what yer supposed to be doin'.” The girl grabbed her fellow servants wrist and dragged her to the kitchen.

Once in the hustle and bustle of the kitchen area, Bryndis showed her face. Lynnea tried to duck out of site at a sink, but her escort led her on. Bryndis caught sight of the servant and her caboose. Lynnea tried to hide herself, but her hands looked out of character, and her hair was up and out of the way. Lynnea stepped up to her leader and tried to strike up a quiet conversation so that she might look like she fit in.

“Excuse me.” It had not worked. “Anika, who is this?” Bryndis looked directly at Lynnea.

“Elsa Madame. I was just taking her to find some work.” The girl showed absolute respect for Bryndis.

“If you do not need her for any work, I have something for her to do.” Anika looked from Lynnea to Bryndis and let go of Lynnea's wrist. “Thank you very much Anika.” Bryndis strangled Lynnea's hand better than any boa constrictor. Bryndis hissed in Lynnea's ear, “If you did not have such an important appointment, I would leave you here with Anika and a mountain of chores. Fortunately for you, your parents are counting on this man to sweep you off of your feet.”

Lynnea looked out of her bedroom window, hoping to see something that would interest her and Bryndis enough to prevent the inevitable. The fury in Bryndis had burned holes in Lynnea before, but now Bryndis was burning her completely.

“Ever since your fourth suitor, you have been rude, demeaning, and sometimes quite gross as soon as a gentleman steps foot in the palace in order that you may get rid of them. Your country, grandparents, and parents are not supportive of this habit. It is repulsive and embarrassing.” Bryndis stood up, half paced, and half stomped around the room. “You are labeled worse than any other royalty. You have at least seven titles of snobbery. Word is spreading to neighboring nations about your terrible titles and awful attitude. Valdemar is the next man in line.”

“Val? Oh Val.” a deep sigh and sheepish smile relieved Lynnea for a moment, “but... Oh, oh, oh no! Not that Valdemar! Never!” Lynnea rushed to find a pretty dress. Now some motivation was provided, again.

“As soon as I left you earlier today, your parents cornered me. They told me story after story about your shenanigans. They said that if you do not get your act together, then they will... well, I will let them tell you for themselves.” Bryndis crossed her arms with a huff and sat in front of Lynnea's ornate vanity. With an air of finality, Bryndis turned away from Lynnea and checked herself in the mirror.

“Oh Bryndis. I will behave today, call on any suitor and tell him I am sorry. I will go meet him, be a perfect angel, and voila! Piece of cake.” Lynnea ended her conversation and took her shower.

After Bryndis and Lynnea calmed down enough to stand with each other, they walked to the Throne Room. Lynnea walked tall, unaware of the hungry lions’ den she was walking into. Bryndis tried to stand up straight and keep her dignity but she knew that everyone would be dead meat in a few moments.

King Thurston and Queen Metta sat in their grand thrones with stern faces. Princes Christoffer and Princess Halle's faces were not welcoming either. “Lynnea Brigit Lexington.” King Thurston tried to keep from shouting as it would turn his face red, but he couldn’t help it.

Lynnea veered left and left again. She made it five steps to the door before the guards stopped her. The proud lioness had become a humble kitten in front of her grandfather. The guards pushed her back towards the elegant thrones where King Thurston and Queen Metta were conversing.

Finally, Grandmother spoke but never finished a sentence before Grandfather interrupted. Grandfather’s interruptions were quite loud too. “Lynnea, we want to understand some things-“

“-And you had better give us some good answers missy.”

“Shh. We want to know how we can bring fine young men here and take you all over the world to meet fine men-“

“Very fine men and a lot of them were quite expensive as well.”

“Thurston, shh! And you still cannot find a suitable husband.”

“Well? Miss Princess? The first Kings of Filemonia deemed it necessary for every heir regent princess to have a fiancé by their 18th birthday and you do not even have a boyfriend!” Thurston stood up and started wiggling his index finger at his only granddaughter.

“Thurston, sit down or else!”

“Grandfather! Those were the first kings! Times have changed drastically! Girls do not get married at 18 anymore. Besides, all of those men showed great disrespect for Filemonia, you, Grandmother, Father, Mother, or me. I could not hurt my-our kingdom like that.” Lynnea spoke up, trying to stand up straight to the king.

“That is not true!” His face turned redder than Lynnea had seen it in a long time. “Every one of those men was a perfect gentleman and you were a little horror to every single one!”

Lynnea knew in her mind that this was the time to back down. “They were not right Grandfather! They were all wrong! I don’t want any random person to live with.” Lynnea’s parents and Bryndis tried to motion the international “cut it out sign”, but Lynnea wouldn’t pay attention. “I want Val! I want Prince Charming! And, for the record, I am not heir regent so the law does not apply to me! Ha! Take that one!”

“Lynnea Brigit, do not talk to your king that way!” Grandmother gave her a stern look.

“Did you say Val? As in Valdemar?” Prince Christoffer offered a cautious smile to his wife and to his daughter.

Lynnea looked to her toes and blushed then remembered which Valdemar they were speaking of. “No! No, not that Valdemar! I met a different one and I-”

Princess Halle had jumped up when her husband suggested Valdemar and ran to Lynnea. “Oh my darling I am so happy for you! You have found your future husband and he was right beneath our noses the whole time! We might as well cancel this incoming prince! Shall we?”

“No!” Lynnea pushed her mother from frustration with the situation. Halle landed on the floor with a thud. “Mother! I am sorry! I did not mean too it is just no one understands! Give me a moment to explain please!” Halle lowered her eyes and would not look towards her daughter. Two body guards ran to her side and helped her back to the throne. Lynnea wanted to cry and she did let one sob out before she took her moment. That moment never came for a knock interrupted the family bonding time.