ORIGINS
Freda's POV
“Don't worry Christie. No one will touch you anymore.” I declared. I didn't know how I would make that possible as I wasn't ready to take.up the mantle of queenship but it was the least I could do, to comfort her.
“Your majesty?” She whispered as if unsure she heard me correctly.
“As long as you are my maid, you'll be under my protection.” I promised her, pulling back slightly but keeping my hand on her shoulder.
“Thank you your majesty, you are too kind.” Christie looked at me with wide grateful eyes.
I nodded and we stood there in silence. Christie's gaze lowered to the ground as she waited for me to speak.
“So Christie, tell me about yourself. Where are you from?” I asked, curious to know about her origins.
“I, uh…I don't know if I should, Your Majesty.” Christie hesitated, playing with her fingers.
“Of course you should.” I reassured her. “Remember, we are friends and friends share everything with each other.”
“Friends?” Christie asked.
“Yes friends.” I clarified in excitement. “Alright tell you what, you tell me your story, and I'll tell you mine. Maybe we'll find we have more in common than you think.”
“Alright, your Majesty. But it's not a happy story.” Christie said, letting out a shaky sigh.
“Another thing we have in common.” I tried to lighten her mood by joking around but she had a sad look on her face.
“My mother…she was a maid here in the castle too. Long ago.” Christie began, my ears perked up and I listened to her with my full attention.
“She was always an adventurous one. She escaped the castle to explore and somehow she found herself in the human realm.”
“There, the unexpected happened. She fell in love with a human.” She said with a trembling voice.
“She loved him and he loved her back, even after he found out about her true nature. They lived happily with each other until something happened.”
At this point, Christie's eyes began to pool with tears once more. I reached a hand and patted her shoulder, trying to comfort her.
“What happened?” I asked gently.
*The previous king ordered a few of his men to get my mother. They found them in the human realm and they killed him.”
I took in a sharp breath when I heard this. I never expected this unlikely love story would take such a dark turn.
“They brought her back to the castle and the king issued a severe punishment. She was tortured day and night, it was in this period she found out she was pregnant with me.”
“At this point, the king decided it was enough and let her be. My mom gave birth after some months and she brought me up. But, the torture she went through took a toll on her. She was constantly in pain and after a few years, she died.”
A choked sob escaped her lips and my heart ached for her. Compared to what I had to go through, she had endured so much hardship.
“I've lived here ever since. Alone and maltreated by the other maids.” she whispered, ending her tale.
