Promise And Exceptions || The Ink Well August Contest

There is an exception to every rule. No law stands forever and some bonds may break over time.

I run these words through my head as I pace in my private study. They will be my argument when I see Queen Nele today and hopefully she won't imprison me for insolence.

The words' are my daughter's really. Since her marriage to Nigel, she's become a shadow of herself. Next week will be their second anniversary and she thinks she may not last that long. I've never seen my daughter this depressed in all twenty-two years I've known her.

"Mäe, the car is ready," my butler announces with a bow, shocking me slightly. He moves stealthily around in the mansion knowing I detest noise.

"Thank you, Demi. I'm going to the palace to see my friend." His eyes widen for a second. I smile to put his mind at rest. "It's been a while since I've seen Nele so I may stay longer."

"Yes, Mäe. Enjoy your visit but be careful. The kingdom knows how temperamental the queen can be. She grows more so as she gets older."

I chuckle and pat his chest as we walk out of my study together. "Nele and I have been friends since childhood. Don't worry."

He pulls open the passenger door of my Rolls-Royce, takes my hand and I gracefully step in. As my car pulls out of the driveway, I reminisce about that afternoon, many years ago when Nele and I played in the palace garden.

We were just ten. She, the princess of Vyrencia and I, daughter of one of the high noblemen. We got into a mock fight and ended up rolling in a bed of sweet-smelling flowers. "Promise me your firstborn child, Romane," Nele said after our laughter died down.

I assumed it was a joke. "What?"

She cupped my hands in hers. They were warm and sweaty. Her amber eyes, gleaming like gold in sunlight, stared straight into mine that day. "I want us to stay friends forever, Romane. I want our children to be married to one another so we can stay friends always. Do you understand?"

She gave me a winning smile and I agreed. We made a pact to have our firstborns betrothed to each other. Nele got married and had a son, Nigel. I was blessed with a beautiful daughter, Eydis.

When our children got to the official adult age of twenty, the wedding took place at the palace and the whole kingdom was in awe, except the couple.

It's been two years now and Eydis cries every night to sleep in her wing of their mansion.

"Mäe, we are here," my driver says before stepping out to open the door and helping me out. The guards at the magnificent entrance door raise their hands in salute. One of Nele's lady-in-waiting walks towards me with a wide smile and bows slightly. "Her Majesty requests that you meet her in the garden. This way please."

I smile and walk with her. The palace garden is the best in Vyrencia occupying acres of land. With fountains in different sections, flowers of different colours and shapes dance in harmony with the soft breeze. At the heart of the garden are luxurious sofas and throw pillows placed close to a fountain.

^{_{Image credit: Guilherme Stecanella}}

The sight of Queen Nele in a flowing white gown by the fountain is regal. Her red hair interspersed with strands of grey and pulled into a ponytail, accentuates her rouge-dusted cheekbones. She stares into the water pooled at the bottom of the fountain.

"Your majesty. Madame Romane is here," her lady-in-waiting says and quickly hurries away. I clasp my hands in front of me, a sign of respect to my monarchy, and stand beside her.

"Let me guess," she mutters. "You are here because of our children?" Our eyes meet and I see pain in hers.

"You look tired," I say instead. She smiles and walks away to sit on one of the sofas.

"Always deflecting my question. I thought as we grow older, you'll stop that habit."

It's my turn to fall for the fountain's hypnosis. I follow the stream of the water from the top to bottom. "Nele, they are not happy. My Eydis is not happy."

"Since when do we care about these things? I married for alliances and you, the same. Their marriage is not any different. I would not hear more on this subject."

I grit my teeth. Sometimes Nele gets consumed by her powers and forgets our friendship. I turn to hold her gaze. "You would not? Nele, you're not addressing your subjects. It's me!"

She stands, walks to a row of blooming gardenias, and begins to pluck the petals. Poor flowers. They must submit to her wants as the people of Vyrencia have, including me. "You make this into something it's not. Let's give our children more time—"

"More time to wallow in pain and sadness?"

"We made ours work. They can too!"

I shake my head and walk towards her. We hold each other's gaze for a long moment. "They are not us. Prince Nigel is in love with another. My Eydis knows this and is unhappy in that mansion. She wants her freedom."

"No."

I scoff. "Nele, I gain nothing by lying. Eydis painted the door to her wing yellow. A yellow door! It's her favourite colour that represents hope but a warning to Nigel to stay away from her wing. They don't see one another except at social functions and act as strangers. That is not marriage!"

The frown between Nele's brows deepen as her lips thin and tug down by the edges. "I love yellow too," she whispers and walks towards a row of daffodils.

"Nele, there's always an exception to every rule or law. Our law says they must stay married to the end but you can make an exception for them."

"What will my people think of me, Romane? Did you think of that before coming to me with this submission?"

I walk up to her and hug her from behind. She leans her head on my shoulder, just like old times. "They will say you are a great queen with a heart," I whisper into her ears, my heart racing in the hope that she'll agree with me.

She chuckles. "You think I don't hear the rumours. They say I'm volatile…"

"Prove them wrong. Show Vyrencia the Nele I know who is kind and has a heart."

We watch the clear skies darken into night together in companionable silence broken once by one of her chefs with a tray of sandwiches and tea.

Then Nele holds my hand and says, "I've heard you, my friend. I'll sign the royal assent freeing our children. We were wrong to force them into marriage."

Right there, I imagine the smile of relief and freedom breaking out on my daughter's face when I deliver the good news to her. She's right to hold onto her hope.