Jesika’s coronation

Jesika felt like she was going to throw up. And she had never been known to have a weak stomach. She could barely contain her nerves as her handmaiden prepared her makeup.

Aquila sat behind her on her large bed. Jesika had requested for her to be with her while they prepped her, hoping it would help.

It didn’t.

“Aren’t you excited, Jes!? You’re going to be a queen!” Aquila exclaimed.

Jesika shook her head, at which her handmaiden promptly scolded her. “It’s just great, Aquila,” Jesika responded sarcastically.

“I don’t see what you’re so worried about—”

“YOU DON’T SEE WHAT I’M WORRIED ABOUT?!” Jesika shouted, turning to look at her, once again ticking off her handmaiden.

Aquila winced. “Alright, alright. I suppose, if I was in your place, I would be freaking out just as much... Probably more,” Aquila paused, leaning forward, putting her elbows on her knees, “but trust me, Jes. If there’s ANYONE who can do this, it’s you.”

Jesika sighed, feeling some of the stress lift as she turned back to her handmaiden. “And if I can’t?” Jesika asked quietly. “This is my home, Aqui. And if I was responsible for destroying home—”

“Hey. You’re not doing this alone. And if you can’t handle it, your Uncle Audric could always step back in. He’s done it for this long.”

Jesika grunted. “No. I’ve put this burden on him long enough. It’s my kingdom to rule. And so, I will,” Jesika said with a sense of finality.

Aquila grinned. “That’s more like it. And don’t forget. Queens need confidantes too. Darryn and I are always there to talk to.”

Jesika smiled as the handmaiden stepped away. “I know. Thank you,” she said.

She admired herself in the mirror, then thanked the handmaiden. The handmaiden grinned in reply.

The handmaiden moved onto her hair. She stood behind her and prepared her hands.

“What would you like me to do with your hair, Your Highness?”

Jesika cleared her throat, straightening in her chair. “Do you have a razor?”

The handmaiden frowned. “No, but I could get the royal barber in here.”

Jesika stroked her hair on the right side of her head. It was long and wavy, going to her chest, silky and pitch black. Her parents used to always fawn over her hair, and it was just like her mother’s.

Emotion rising up in her, she swallowed and looked up at the handmaiden through the mirror.

“I want half of my head shaved.”

***

Jesika stood in the private room connected to the throne room, where all of the royal guard and staff and council members eagerly awaited her arrival. She self-consciously touched her newly shaved side of her head, feeling the coarseness of the hair that was left. She scolded herself, dropping her hand. She had made the decision, and it was final.

Just as it was if she went through those doors. Suddenly a knock sounded on the door. Jesika opened it to see Audric. She smiled, quickly hugging him tight.

“Audric!”

“Jesika, honey, what are you doing? They’re waiting for you!” Jesika moved away, looking into his kind eyes.

“I’m so nervous, Audric.”

He smiled. “It’s going to be fine, Jesika. You’ve prepared for this moment your whole life. You are ready.”

Those words coming from him, a person she looked up to more than anyone, aside from her parents, were a balm to her soul.

“Alright. I can do this,” she said, once again feeling a renewed sense of determination.

Audric’s smile grew, and he touched her face, looking at the half of her head she had shaved. “I like the new look too. It’s edgy,” he said, arching a brow playfully. Jesika laughed.

“Audric!”

He laughed, stepping back. “I have to go back in. I will see you marching through there soon, right?”

Jesika nodded. “I’ll meet you at my throne,” she said confidently. He chuckled before leaving her.

Jesika waited a few moments, taking a few deep breaths. Then she slowly walked out. The announcer noticed her at the back as did her two guards that would be escorting her, Aquila and Darryn.

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“All stand and bow as your future queen, Miss Jesika Ivory Snow Binet, makes her way to the throne.”

The people rose as the trumpets started playing. Jesika reached out and subtly took Darryn and Aquila’s free hands. They slowly walked beside her as she made her way to the front. She waved to the people around her, several of them people she had grown up around, and some of them even people that had babysat her when she was a baby or trained her to fight.

She then looked ahead as she got nearer and gazed at Audric waiting to hand her the crown. She knew with his help, she would do just fine. Better than fine.

She stepped up before him and the trumpets stopped, the people sitting. The Archbishop approached them, and held out a Bible to Jesika.

“It is time for the traditional Binet vow to the kingdom. Raise your left hand and lay your right on the Bible.” Jesika did so. “Now repeat after me. I—”

Jesika cut in, knowing the vow by heart, having rehearsed it every day, every morning when she woke up, and every night before she fell asleep. “I, Jesika, solemnly swear with all of my heart, mind and spirit, to uphold the traditions and beliefs of this kingdom and to further improve and invest in it. I swear to devote my life, time, and thoughts to my duty as queen to protect and uphold this kingdom and its people.”

The Archbishop grinned and shook his head, as several members of the audience chuckled. “Never had someone interrupt me at this part...” he mused. His statement was followed by more laughter from the audience.

Jesika herself laughed quietly. “This day has been at the forefront of my mind for a long time,” she said softly.

The Archbishop smiled at her, nodding. “Very well. Then we will proceed, moving on to the crowning and anointing of the queen to be. Please bow,” he instructed.

Jesika took a knee, lowering her head. Soon she felt a liquid being slowly poured over her head, having the spicy smell of wintersweet flowers.

As the Archbishop poured, he prayed over her, saying:

“May God give you guidance and discernment to make the tough decisions you are faced for this kingdom. May He bring trustworthy and loyal people into your life to advise you and be your support. May He provide you with strength when you feel weak, energy when you feel tired, and determination when you feel like giving up. It is in His name, I say amen.”

Once the prayer was over, the pouring stopped midway through said prayer, the Archbishop looked at Audric, who was standing to the side and watching.

“It is now time for the crowning. Sir Audric, stand in my place.” The Archbishop moved aside, and Audric stood before her where she kneeled. “Repeat these words after me as you crown the queen. I, Audric.”

“I, Audric,” he repeated.

“Do hereby pass my throne to you.”

“Do hereby pass my throne to you.”

“Relinquishing all control.”

“Relinquishing all control.”

“And promising to support and respect your authority.”

“And promising to support and respect your authority.”

The words spoken, Audric lowered the crown onto her head. Jesika felt her heart fill with warmth at the realization of what had just happened.

She had stepped up to her parents’ role.

Jesika stood and turned towards the audience. The Archbishop also turned to them, saying loudly enough for anyone to hear:

“All rise for your new queen, Queen Jesika Binet!” The audience rose, cheering loudly as the trumpets played once again. Tears came to Jesika’s eyes. And this time, she was okay with that.

***

Jesika walked back to her room that night, with Darryn beside her, in armor with his sword, just in case there was an attack. They reached her bedroom door, and she turned to him, leaning against the door.

She looked at him, tilting her head, trying to ignore how handsome and strong and safe he looked in his armor with his sword. She had always loved it when he suited up, and though their relationship had changed, that never had.

Darryn smiled at her. “So... How does it feel to be a queen, Your Majesty?”

Jesika’s face colored the slightest bit. “It doesn’t feel real. I feel like any second I’m going to wake up.”

He nodded, then his eyes strayed to her newly shaved head. “So, if you don’t mind me asking, what made you decide to do that?” he asked, pointing at the right side of her head.

Jesika grinned, resisting the urge to self-consciously touch it. “Why? You don’t like it?”

He laughed, shaking his head. “I never said anything of the sort.”

Jesika chuckled, averting her gaze. “I just thought it would look interesting,” she said quietly.

He laughed. “I don’t buy it. Rarely do you do anything simply for cosmetic reasons. You’re far too practical for that. And it certainly wasn’t to protect against the cold weather. So, fess up. What was your reasoning behind it?”

Jesika turned a glare on him, startling him and making him stumble back a bit. “As queen, you do not command me to tell you anything. Watch your tone.”

His hands shot up in a show of surrender, but he leaned close, his expression one of mischief. “My apologies, Your Highness,” he paused, lowering his hands, and tipping up her chin, “this is me, Jesika. Not any old citizen. Tell me. Please.”

Jesika squirmed at how closely she could see his gorgeous ice blue eyes that stared straight through her walls. She steeled herself, clenching her jaw.

“I did it because I have a mission. To learn what happened to my parents and avenge them. And until I fulfill that mission, I am missing a part of myself. Once that part of my heart, my soul is restored... My beauty will be restored with it.”

His eyes darkened slightly at her pained tone and the mention of her parents. He removed his hand from her chin but remained close. “Okay...” he paused, looking into her eyes once more, “but you should know, you’re not any less beautiful than you have ever been, my queen.”

Jesika’s eyes widened and her breath hitched at his sincere compliment. Darryn backed away, looking down the hall.

“Goodnight, Your Maj—”

“Jesika, please,” she cut in.

He looked at her again, smiling. “Goodnight, Jesika.”

Jesika smiled back. “Goodnight.”

***

“Avenge us!” Voices screamed from within a wall of flames.

Tears trailed down Jesika’s face as she backed away from the flames creeping ever closer.

“Avenge us!” They continued to scream, the flames getting closer and closer.

Jesika kept backing away until someone’s hand reached out from within the fire and grabbed her ankle, pulling her closer. Jesika screamed as a face peered out at her, his skin so devoured by the flames, that she could only barely recognize him as her father.

“You will burn just as we did if you do not seek and find the truth!” He screamed, still yanking her closer. Jesika fought, trying to get away, but she stumbled, falling to the ground.

She screamed and wept as she was dragged into the inferno.

Jesika woke up and screamed at the top of her lungs, hyperventilating and sweating. The sound of someone running came down the halls, until the door was swung open to show a panicked Darryn. He saw her sitting there weeping, and instantly realized what had happened. He came to her and held her tight, rocking her slowly and caressing her hair as she cried into his shoulder.

“Shhh, it’s alright. It’s over, Jesika. It happened years ago.”

Jesika continued to cry, shaking her head. “It’s not over. It’ll never...be over,” she rasped.