Saturna tossed and turned much of the night, and only fell asleep as the green sun began to rise. She dreamt of her father, the kingdom and of demons. Demons she had to fight. With her bullen in hand she was winning the battle, but needed help. Crying out she awoke to find Gondee at her side.
"I sensed you were struggling with your thoughts, Your Majesty."
"Yes Gondee, a bad dream," said Saturna, trying to block her fears from him.
"You may not feel it yet, but you are ready for this challenge," he replied knowingly.
Quickly turning his head Gondee nodded towards the door. "Prepare yourself, another challenge lurks beyond.”
At that moment the door flung open and Detis strut regally into the room, looking very fresh and beautiful in her most extravagant hand-made gown.
"Saturna, I will see you alone. Be gone little gnome!" she hissed at Gondee.
"I take my leave from the Queen only Madam," he replied calmly.
"The Queen, how dare you address her as such!" Detis screamed and then noticed the royal ring on Saturna’s left index finger. Quickly correcting herself and gaining composure, she said, "This is absurd, you are a child and the inhabitants will not serve you. Remove the ring at once and give it to me. Your father wanted me to be Queen. And you little troll,” she continued pointing her long finger at Gondee, “had no right to steal the royal ring from the King’s body. You shall pay by death. Seize him guards and remove him from my presence!"
An aura of blackness oozed around Detis and as she yelled her command the cloud thickened, extending tentacles that reached out to every corner of the room. As she waited for the guards to obey her, the scowl on her face turned to surprise when she made eye contact with Saturna and received a hard, cold reception. Saturna certainly looked much prettier and older than Detis remembered, not that she had paid much attention to her in the past. Getting the royal ring might be a little more difficult than I initially anticipated, she thought. Irritated at the lack of response she tapped her diamond studded gold slipper on the floor.
“I am waiting,” she said, looking towards the guards. “If you both wish to retain your positions in the army, I suggest you follow MY ORDERS as the new Queen of Zard and arrest this gnome. And you Saturna,” changing her gaze to the bed, “need to realize it is in your best interest to give me the royal ring right now. Your father and I spoke last night just before his untimely death and although he insisted, I refused to take the ring while he was still with us. You see, I was always meant to be the Queen and to become your guardian. So child, I want the royal ring now before I become angry.”
Although unable to see the blackness, the Zardite guards sensed a sudden coldness to the air and glanced from Detis to Saturna, but did not move from their post at the door. This was a conversation the sentries knew they should never hear. It was only because Detis had entered the room on her own flinging the door open completely that they had been pulled into the altercation.
"As fast as the egrittle can fly, the proclamation of my father’s death will fill the kingdom. I am his only heir and his written word and final wishes were that I be Queen. He himself placed this ring on my finger and asked me to treat you with kindness. However, should I hear of problems with you or your treatment of my servants I shall have you removed from the castle. Now take your leave Detis and let us prepare for the mourning rituals of our beloved departed King!" said Saturna, sternly.
“You take a great risk in speaking to me this way. Ruling the kingdom is not a game and not for a child. If you will not freely give me the ring, I’ll have it taken from you. You have one hour to come to your senses!” screeched Detis as she spun on her heels and exited the room with great flare, leaving a trail of black fog that slowly dissolved behind her.
The guards stood at attention. "Our Queen," they said together, bowing their heads toward Saturna.
"This misunderstanding will go no further than this room. My loyal servants you are dismissed."
The moment the door shut Saturna let out a great sigh and then felt Gondee's thoughts. "Beware of Detis for I fear she sees your father’s passing as her opportunity and right to take the throne from you. We must begin our lessons today. There is no time to waste.”
Saturna looked down and folded her hands. "I wish to pay my respects, Gondee. Zardites do not believe in rebirth like your race," she said in a whisper.
"Yes," replied Gondee, "I do understand mourning. I too feel for your father’s passing, but I worry more about your safety. You have so much more to learn about your kingdom. Upon his death your father requested the secret vault be opened for you. This is for your protection and for the protection of the planet. Take time to mourn and when you are ready, I too shall be ready, My Queen." Bowing, Gondee left the room.
Saturna fell into her pillow and letting down her guard she began to sob with feelings of intense sadness and hopelessness for her predicament. She was now alone with no one but herself to rely upon. When there were no more tears left to shed she lay for some time in silence, her long brown hair tangled about her neck and her clothes twisted and restrictive. Taking a deep breath and pulling from her inner strength she got out of the royal bed, and as she did so she caught a glimpse of her swollen eyes, and reddened face in the elaborately sculpted mirror on the wall.
Hardly a queen-like image, she thought pushing her silky hair away from her face. She managed a small smile. The Queen--I still can’t believe father gave me the realm. But Detis is right, I am a child and I’m not sure the inhabitants will support me in ruling the kingdom. For the first time in my life, I feel truly afraid.
Walking slowly towards the window Saturna looked up towards the heavens and remembering her father’s last words, she spoke to him. “If you had enough faith in me to make me Queen, I must have faith in myself. Please give me the strength I need, Father.”
Saturna knew what was expected of her. She was to begin her duties today as Queen as though she had always been Queen. There was to be no showing of any emotion or sadness in front of her subjects. Any type of emotion would be taken as a sign of weakness. She already had three strikes against her, she was young, inexperienced, and female, and therefore could not afford a fourth. Yet her biggest obstacle was being a female. Never before had a Queen ruled Zard.
Leaning against the wall and thinking of these things, Saturna recognized she needed to call for her servant Maize. Her hand quivered when she attempted to grab the satin bell cord and she sighed deeply, wishing she could change the past. But she had wasted too many hours feeling sorry for herself and now it was time to get ready for her first day as Queen. Pulling the cord, she let it slip slowly through her long fingers understanding that she would never be able to give into her sorrow again.