Two Knights, A Pale Princess, and A Story

Written by Neenee Hu and Ray Everly

"Deep in the groves,

Of Evergreen Cove,

Lay a princess with blonde curls and shy eyes-"

"Is this over yet?" Chiscara complained, throwing down her diary in a flurry of flower-themed pajamas and pale, yellow curls, strung in pigtails, adorned with ribbons.

Voices crowded outside, along with laughter and warmth from the kitchen. The dinner party raged outside.

"Shush, Princess. I'm trying to tell a story." Caylus muttered, adjusting his helmet comfortably under his arm.

"Well, it's taking too long!" the princess whined, folding her arms over her chest. Her beady, coal eyes gleamed from under her wispy bangs.

"Chiscara, it's your fault for speaking out during your tutoring. Now I must teach you a less-"

"I don't care! Not to be a thorn in your backside, Caylus, but you're the one who said margarita was a good word to call someone!"

Caylus sighed and ran a hand through his dark locks.

"As your king and self-appointed private guard, I command-"

"Cayluss! You're being bossy again, and I don't like it!"

"Princess, I know you're only 6 and don't understand this yet, but I promise that-"

"I just wanna write in my diary!"

"Stop interrupting and let him talk!" shrieked Ray from his spot by the doorway.

"Thanks, babe. Okay, Chiscara, you need to understand. I am your knight. I've been with you since you were born, and I'm an adult. I brought you Claude, your unicorn (a goat with one horn missing), remember?"

Chiscara nodded. "Yeah?"

"Your daddy is having a dinner party today, so we've gotta stay inside today. I even invited my boyfriend, Ray."

Ray waved and gave a crooked smile. "Hello, princess."

"So we're gonna stay inside and play swords. Sound good?" Caylus insisted.

Chiscara pouted and curled herself up in her lavender, snowflake-patterned blankets, her hands clutching her journal. "But I wanna play outside, Caylus! It seems warm!"

Ray opened his mouth to speak before Caylus shushed him.

"Well, it's still cold. It snows sometimes, remember?" he insisted, shifting his armor on his chest.

"It snows ash, babe!" Ray chimed in with glaring eyes. "It's a fiery wreck out there!"

Caylus tried to get Ray to shut up, but it was too late. Chiscara's eyes widened, her diary flopping to the mattress.

"It's.. It's... what?" she managed.

Caylus shot his boyfriend a glare, which Ray shrugged to and mumbled, "Sorry, babe."

He sighed and turned to Chiscara. "Yes, it snows ash. Something is happening outside."

She swallowed. "Like what, Caylus?"

"A war! Goddamnit, Cay, stop beating around the bush! There's a war going on outside, and the villages are burning! That's where the ash is from!" Ray cried, hands on his hips, eyes fiery and bright.

Caylus froze, and Chiscara's eyes widened as her jaw went limp in shock at Ray's outburst.

"A... war?" she mumbled, her voice now an octave higher.

"Yes, Chiscara. A war." Ray nodded, not taking the hint.

The princess crept closer to the two of them, ankles dangling from her mattress.

"Is that why my mommy is never home? Is she fighting in the war, like you and Ray?" she asked curiously, head tilted to the side.

Ray blinked. He didn't know about that, but Caylus did.

"No, Chiscara," Caylus whispered. "She isn't fighting in the war."

Chiscara blinked. "Is your mommy in the war, Caylus?" she chirped.

Caylus's posture suddenly stiffened, hands tightening around his knight's helmet, which was adorned with stickers.

"...No, Chiscara. My parents... are not in the war, either," he murmured.

"They're dead!" Ray blurted out loudly, clasping a hand over his mouth.

"Ray!" Caylus shrieked.

"Sorry!"

He shuddered, placing the glass down at his feet and on the floorboard before he buried his head in his hands, eyes pricked with tears.

"Yes, Chiscara. My parents are dead. Your dad killed them after they wouldn't release me to my knight apprenticeship. After they died, your dad took me here, and I became a knight."

"He made me watch," he thought.

The princess swallowed, crawling closer and nestling in her violet blanket.

"I'm sorry."

"For what, princess?"

"Your mommy and daddy. They must've loved you a lot."

Caylus managed a shaky laugh. "Thank you, princess."

She nodded, legs dangling from under her blanket.

"Do you think my mommy was killed, too?" she whispered, glancing up at them.

Ray was about to lean in to peck Caylus on the cheek and stopped abruptly when Chiscara's question hit.

"I don't know, princess," Both knights said in unison.

She swallowed. "I wish I had a mommy."

Caylus squeezed her shoulder. "You have us."

"Yeah, I guess."

"That's the spirit. How about we play swords now?" Ray asked, managing a grin.

Chiscara nodded, shedding her covers and standing up to unhook her (fake) blade from the wall.

"Bring it on!" she exclaimed, pointing her blade at Caylus, who smiled and brandished his own (also phony) sword.

Ray laughed, Caylus fought, and Chiscara smiled ear to ear.

But she couldn't deny the longing feeling in her gut and the tears that pricked her little eyes.

A mother.

She could've had a mother.

"That's 106 barrels, your majesty."

King Adonis nodded, folding his arms over his shirt. He resembled his daughter, with his blonde curls, though his skin was not sickly pale like his girl's.

"Good. Now begone."

The maid nodded, her red curls flowing as she skittered out, toes poised, skirt swaying at her hips as Adonis turned away.

King Adonis dipped a finger in one of the barrels, the digit coming out bright red. He placed one drop on his tongue and nodded, a smirk growing on his face.

"Ah, our recipe for wine is simply divine, isn't it, Marie?" he turned to one of the discarded skulls in the corner of the cellar. "Too bad you're not here to share it with our girl."

His smile grew wider as he dipped another finger into the wine.

"I must say, though. Blood is quite the secret ingredient."