She Made Her Choice
Prologue
Princess Melna of Silvana strode into the throne room, back straight, chin high seeming to possess every bit of confidence she didn't currently feel. The fenner she wore swished against her ankles. The deep red loincloth-like skirt was almost long enough to touch the floor and was held up by a gold chain around her waist. Her matching gint hung down just far enough to cover her breasts but allowed the golden chain that hung from her nipple rings to be seen. Both pieces of clothing were artfully embroidered and studded with emerald and sapphire beads; they had also been her mother's, worn on the same occasion Melna hoped today would be. The chain hanging between her breasts had a ruby in the center with smaller sapphires part way up on either side.
Fighting to keep her tail still and short blue fur from rising in apprehension she walked along the purple carpet eyes straight ahead looking at the base of the throne raised on a dais and the red-brown feet visible there. “That's far enough.” Fifty feet from the throne on of the two guards a step behind her let out. She stopped. Not looking up to meet the gaze of the king she let the moment hang for a five count then lowered herself to her knees. Touching her forehead to the floor paws flat to the carpet. Finally tucking her tail displaying absolute surrender she stated what she had come here to say and his answer could well determine her- and her nation's- future.
“King Tomlin of Aldenea, I have surrendered and requested this audience to end the war between our two nations. Please, your majesty, you must give me a child.”
Chapter 1
Some time earlier
“My father, the fool.” Almost overwhelmed by the urge to throw the newspaper in the fireplace Melna managed to set it on the low table.
“Melna, that's not kind.” Pausing for a sigh. “At this point you're going to have to decide what you are going to do.” Sally, the woman that had raised the princess since her mother died stood across the room holding a pot of tea.
“Yes, I know. I'm just not sure I can.” Walking out to the low balcony she knelt resting her chin and arms on the railing staring out at the wall that had been the boundary of her world for her entire life and listening to the distant gunfire beyond. They would be here soon.
She felt a paw on her back. Melna felt small, like she was watching the funeral procession for her mother again. 'Momma' Sally comforting her then as she did now. “So have you thought about what you will do?”
Standing to face the rotund woman. “Surrender. Its about all I can do. If the news coming out of Aldenea isn't as slanted as ours... King Tomlin sounds like a good man. He's not likely to punish the citizens too badly over following the orders of a greedy chieftain.” She let out a snort, “I don't envy those on the council, though.”
“Your father, he...” Sally trailed off and Melna's ear twitched. The sound of guns was trailing off replaced by one word being shouted gradually echoed by those closer to the villa: Dragon. Turning her attention to the courtyard a short distance bellow the balcony Melna saw a gardener pointing behind where she was standing.
Unable to get a clear view she jumped off the balcony, falling the six feet to the grass bellow and ran out into the yard turning to look in the direction indicated. There was indeed a dragon, quite close. Holding up a paw palm out she could clearly see the both wings on either side and it was heading this direction. This would give her time.
Dropping her arm Melna tapped her front teeth with a blunt claw as Sally- who had taken the more traditional route of the door- joined her. “You're never going to grow up, are you,” she said with a smirk.
Melna blinked at Sally having lost her train of thought. “What? Oh, heh, probably not.” smiling back. “Anyway, I've got an idea that might smooth things over with those approaching. I need orders of ceasefire printed and runners assigned. Then I want a full honor guard dressed and polished as soon as possible. Our friend up there,” Melna pointed to the enormous lizard that had begun a lazy arc above them, “has bought us maybe a day and I intend to use that time well.”
***
The Villa of the Matriarch came alive with activity. Melna's guards- all female, all highly trained, and all answering directing to General Sally Banchet- began the work of preparing as they would for a visit from the Chieftain. Dress uniforms, swords, shields, and spears all polished to a mirror shine. Maids cleaned every inch of the villa while gardeners clipped grass and trimmed hedges.
Melna stood at her wardrobe looking through her formal wear. Hearing pawsteps she turned. “How are we on time?”
Sally, dressed in her white dress uniform gold badges of rank gleaming in the morning light coming through the window, marched into the room. “They just started shooting again. I'd give them a couple hours at most.” Melna noticed the saber missing from her hip.
With a deep breath she sagged. “I guess we need to wind down 'operation cleanup' then.” Looking down at the clothes hangers in her paws as if she'd forgotten they were there, “and I still need to...”
Sally put a paw on her shoulder to stop her. Reaching in to the wardrobe and removing the outfit Melna had been avoiding. “Your mother would want you to wear this. I know what you intend to do and she was my friend long enough to know she would think it fitting.” Choking down a lump in her throat Melna didn't move, just stared. Setting the clothes down Sally took the hangers from her putting them away and pulled the younger woman into a hug. “Your mother would be proud of what you have become. Not just because of this, the way you treat the staff, how you behave, all of it. She's smiling for you now and she will watch over you in this.”
The tears came and there was nothing to do but to let them. Melna's knees gave out and Sally lowered both of them to the floor. Face buried in Sally's shoulder she cried until there was nothing left to cry. Her mother was gone, her father- no matter her feelings about him- was also gone, and now... She may not see Momma Sally ever again. Twenty-five years Sally had been her rock and it was about to be taken from her, too.
Leaning back Melna looked Sally in the eye, feeling like a pup that had just lost her favorite doll. “Will everything be all right?”
An unwavering gaze stared back. The stern but kind woman said with confidence, “I believe everything will be all right. Get up, let's get you dressed.”
Returning Melna to her feet Sally stepped back. “Go wash your face, I'll get everything ready.”
Coming back from the washroom Melna found Sally had laid out everything she would need. Striping out of her every-day clothes she allowed the older woman to dress her. Holding the fenner in the front while Sally looped the gold chain around her waist above her tail. The cloth had a notch at the rear to allow the tail to pass through. After tying the leather pad covers to Melna's feet Sally stood up and held out the short-sleeved crop top for her to put on. Back length hair was bound into a pony tail with two golden silk bows. “Last but not least.” Sally stepped close to clip the gold chain to her nipple rings. Stepping back with a smile, “You look better in that than your mother.”
Looking down at herself she let out a breath. “Let's hope it doesn't turn into striped coveralls.”
A hurried knock at the door startled Melna. “General, they are approaching the gate.”
“Enter,” Sally called out. “Is everything ready?”
Lieutenant Jesha Contin stepped into the room saluting. “Yes, ma'am. The honor guard is stationed on the path. Site staff positioned along the stairs to the villa entrance.”
“Weapons down, correct, lieutenant?”
“Yes, ma'am.”
Letting out the breath she didn't know she'd been holding, Melna replied, “Good, and thank you, Jesha.”
“It's been an honor, princess,” she replied, some emotion pulling at the corners of her eyes.
Melna pulled her childhood friend into a long hug. Letting go she looked between the two soldiers. “Let's get this over with.”
Grabbing two bags and hurrying out of the deserted villa stopping short as she opened the door. Everyone was there. The maids and grounds keepers lined the steps leading to the main entry. On the cobblestone path were the soldiers in their brilliant uniforms swords and spears laying on the ground at their feet. Everyone she cared about was here to see her off. Without turning her head she asked again, “how are we on time?”
In a complicated set of gestures that Melna was irritated she's never learned Sally motioned the gate guard. Looking out the peep hole in the gate she turned and motioned back. “Ten or fifteen minutes.”
“Alright then.” Stepping down the first step she turned to the maid standing there. “Thank you for everything you've done until now. Take care of yourself after this and if you need a job reference just send word.”
Smiling back with tears streaking her cheeks, “It's been a pleasure, princess.”
And so it went on down the line thanking all of her staff that had cared for her. Some had been with her from the start, others taking positions more recently. After greeting the last of the guards at the gate Melna stood and waited. And waited.
She was beginning to think the Aldenean military had decided to stop for lunch when a heavy hand struck the iron gate three times. “Open the gate!” General Banchet ordered. With an ominous creek the gate swung wide to reveal a man in dirty combat fatigues holding a rifle at low ready. None of Melna's guard moved. This was the point of no return and any potentially hostile action would only get some of them killed.
Melna suppressed a shiver running down her spine. She could count on two paws how many men she'd encountered in her life. She wasn't afraid of men, she had just been kept from them for so long she wasn't used to them. Finally noticing several more soldiers behind their inopportune guest she straightened. “Greetings,” she looked at the rank insignia on his collar, “captain. We will be offering no resistance.”
Lowering the rifle to let it hang in one paw the soldier also straightened glancing to Sally and back. “Princess Melna, I presume?”
“I am she.”
“I'm captain Colear of the Adenean armed forces. I'm here to take you into custody.”
“I will surrender under certain conditions.” she replied confidence beginning to return.
The captain squinted at her stiffening slightly. “It depends on the terms, ma'am.”
“Of course.” Fully in control of herself again she gave a gentle flick of her tail. Sally slowly pulled out four rolled parchments from a satchel handing them to Melna who in turn held them out to Colear. “First, these orders of ceasefire be allowed to be sent to any remaining active Silvanen units. Second, I would be granted an audience with king Tomlin.”
Colear took the orders handing them to another soldier behind him. “We'll have to read these before they can be sent. As for an audience with the king, I'm sure that can be easily arranged. You will be taken back to our base of operations where you must be,” the captain glanced down finally seeming to notice Melna's scant clothing, “searched. Then transported to the capital to meet with the king.”
“That is acceptable.”
Colear's stance relaxed and he gave a circular wave of his tail to the squad behind him. One of the others let out a piercing whistle to a carriage waiting farther down the road. Still under the watchful gaze of the Aldenean soldiers Melna turned to Sally giving her one last hug. “Take care of everyone.”
Stepping out of general mode for a moment the older woman pulled her in tight. “You take care of yourself. We will be fine, I look forward to hearing of your success soon.”
With one last squeeze Melna stepped back and turned to the approaching carriage. She gave a snort, it was her father's. “Here to see me off too, daddy?” she said quietly to herself. When it stopped in front of her captain Colear opened the door and held out a paw. Melna handed her bag of clothes to a soldier standing nearby and took the offered paw. Climbing into the carriage she was relieve to see three female Aldenean soldiers would be accompanying her on this ride.
Settling into the plush seat letting her tail fall into the gap at the back she looked out the window at the wall that had been the boundary of her world. It already seemed smaller than it had before. “Looks like that life is over,” she whispered to herself.
