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Monarch
🕑 Added 2021-10-29 12:25:19 +0000 UTCWoman: Jilor
Butterfly: DLR Designs
"Father!" Kathryn's exasperation clearly showed in her voice. "I am eldest."
"That you are my lovely."
"Then why him? Why my younger brother?"
"The nobles, my love. They'll not accept any other than a male leader."
"But Robiat is a moron. He'll run the kingdom into the dirt before he's reigned three years."
"I'm counting on you to prevent that when the time comes."
"Me? He hardly listens to me now. Why should he do so when he's King?"
"You will find a way. Now I must meet the Ambassador of Trillari."
"But Father!!!"
"It must be so. Would that it were otherwise."
Kathryn was a Princess of the Realm. The eldest of the line. And now passed over for the Kingship (Queenship?) of the Kingdom of Helkathian. Stupid nobles! Stupid old laws! Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! Kathryn was so incensed by the injustice of it all that she nearly knocked over a thin dark man carrying some wooden cases.
"My Lady," he said bowing.
"I beg apology for I was distracted."
"No apology necessary, my Lady. For I know well the cause of your distraction and a most unfair disservice it is."
"Disservice?"
"To yourself and to the Kingdom as well. For many well know that neither of your brothers is fit for leading much other than horses. I doubt your younger sister even has aspirations to the Throne of her ancestors."
"Such talk could easily be treason if I didn't agree with it as I do."
"Perhaps I may be of service then, my Lady."
"Service? How? You are not one of my Father's advisors to get him to change his decree."
"No, but there are other means."
"I would not throw the Kingdom into anarchy. Our neighbours would seize such a chance gladly."
"Anarchy? Hardly, my Lady."
"What means then?"
"It is best you not know."
"I understand. You'd separate yourself from me in case of failure."
"Others would appear if I failed but I shall not."
"Such a service would command a great reward."
"Aye, but I want little."
Kathryn thought a moment. What had she to loose? If this little man failed and were caught, she could easily deny everything. Nothing existed on paper and there were none about to witness the conversation.
"What is it you'd want then?"
"I am a humble collector, my Lady. I would ask nothing more than Your permission to collect in Your lands."
"Collector?"
"Curiosities, my Lady."
"May I see?"
Kathryn's curiosity had gotten the better of her. The natural world fascinated her as much as ruling the Kingdom. The man opened the top of one of the cases. Inside were rows of glass bottles filled with strange insects. About half the containers appeared empty though. Such an avocation hardly needed permission but if that's what would buy his aid, so be it.
"Very well then."
"Excellent, my Lady. By your leave, I would ask your signature on this paper then."
Now Kathryn hesitated. Such a paper would link her to him. His failure would mean her head. Still, without some kind of aid, she'd be second fiddle to that pompous ass of a brother forever. The little man offered his back, a quill and an ink pot. Kathryn signed the document without a glance at it.
"I have much to do in your service then," he bowed.
She waved her dismissal and he scuttled off towards the forest. Kathryn heard nothing more from him. She half expected some kind of reports, secret missives, something. Instead, as the months went by and her brother's stupidity strove to reach new heights, she heard nothing. One evening, five months after the strange meeting, she was accosted by the Major Domo of the castle.
"My Lady, my Lady! Come quickly. Your Father bids your presence."
"Where?"
"Robiat's chambers. There's been a terrible accident."
Kathryn dashed (as fast as protocol would allow, of course) to her brother's room. He lay on his great bed, clearly in pain. He'd been thrown from his horse when the stupid beast had tripped in a badger hole. The animal, badly injured, had already been put down. By the grave look on the physician's face, Robiat was likely to follow very soon. His head and body were swathed in bandages but blood was still leaking from them. He apparently had struck a large stone when thrown and his injuries were severe. Her Father, King Lithinis, was at his son's side. He was outwardly calm but Kathryn knew him well enough to realize he was emotionally in pain. He looked up at her when she arrived and nodded. Kithrick, the younger brother, hadn't even bothered to show up. Robiat lasted many more hours but finally his suffering ended. Lithinis had clearly been affected by His son's untimely death but no one could be blamed for a wild creature's hole and a son's imprudent galloping cross country on a new horse. Several weeks passed before Kathryn once more found herself before the King.
"My Daughter," he began slowly. "I would that I could grant you your wish and name you Heir to the Throne."
"But you cannot. The Nobles again?"
"Aye. Stupid fools that they be. Kithrick studies nought save war. He's enamoured of empire and glory of conquest. He will ruin this land and leave us in debt to the moneylenders for certain. I have tried but there is nothing for it save Kithrick as King."
"I understand, my Father. You will do what you must to hold this Kingdom together."
"Even if it is against my better judgment. Perhaps he will have as much success with the Court of Nobles as I have."
Kathryn steeled herself and agreed. What else was there to do? The arguments had all been presented, discussed and rejected by the Court of Nobles with Robiat. The stupid hidebound fools would have nothing other than a male lead them. Even an incompetent male was better than a mere woman in their eyes.
But events have a way of changing things. Only five weeks after Robiat's unfortunate death, Kathryn was once more summoned by the King to a brother's chamber. Kithrick's chamber this time. His penchant for war and the things of war had led to his undoing. He'd called a joust and, as was his wont, he participated. A lance from an adversary had shattered on his armor and a splinter had been driven through an eye hole in his helmet. Pierced through to the brain, the doctors could do little other than give him potions for the pain and wait for the inevitable.
When the time came to name the Heir to the Throne, there was little surprise when Kathryn was the one honoured. Her younger sister, Elsabet, wasn't next in line and was clearly too young. The nobles, of course, insisted that she agree to marry as soon as expedient to ensure the monarchy continued. King Lithinis reluctantly agreed for he knew well His daughter's dislike of restrictions of any sort.
The King, brokenhearted at losing two sons, soon joined to his Ancestors and Kathryn was crowned. Her coronation was ordered for the next Full Moon. The ceremony, complete with the ancient old High Priest and all his ridiculously garbed retainers went off without a hitch. Kathryn, Queen Kathryn, was crowned just as the moon rose over the Eastern Ranges. The years followed. Kathryn's reign was wise and she was well liked by Noble and Serf alike. To honor her Father's last decree, she did marry. Her own decree, though, was that the man, one Jochanick of Ghelarian, would never be King. A Prince of the Realm but her son or daughter (which ever came first) would be Heir to the Throne. That Heir was soon born, too. A fine daughter that Kathryn named for her mother. She'd long forgotten the strange man and his collection. She was surprised one day when she was walking in her private garden.
"My Liege, you are Queen now."
"Who are you? And how did you get in here?"
"I have my ways. But we have business."
"Business? I know you not."
"You wished to be Queen and you are now Queen. I have fulfilled my contract. I am here to collect what is due me."
"Due you? How dare you speak thus? Guards!" Strangely none came. Even the air was still as if waiting.
"Guards!" Queen Kathryn shouted again. Again nothing.
"They are perhaps detained by some other means." The phrase pricked a memory.
"You! The Collector!"
"I am here to collect."
"You have my permission already."
"You are what I would collect today."
"Me? You speak in riddles."
Kathryn felt the world shift. The years fell from her and she felt her body become again the young woman who had signed the contract those many years past. Her clothing faded and disappeared. Very soon she felt other twistings as well. Her legs fused and she collapsed to the ground. From her hips, legs and wings. The legs and wings of a butterfly, a monarch butterfly. Her fused legs soon took on the aspect of an insect and dark fur blotched with white spread to her chest. Finally, from her forehead sprouted a pair of huge antennae.
"Now you will join my collection," he chortled.
"Why? Have you not my leave to collect throughout my lands."
"Indeed, and I have done so. But your contract, too, needs collected."
The world began to grow as the man moved towards Kathryn. Within moments, she found herself in his hand. The top of the uppermost case swung open without any hand to move it. Kathryn was unable to move and found herself moving through the air towards one of the glass topped containers in the case. As she floated towards her prison, she took a closer look at the other specimens in the case. Not insects, or at least not insects alone. Part human, part insect. Nearly every cell was full.
"Your Kingdom has furnished me an excellent collection," were the last words she heard as she was dropped into the container and the lid sealed behind her. Her paralysis left her and she found herself on the stalk of a plant. A Monarch butterfly.
