Better Things to Come

My mothers best friend would visit us every week. Clairette. I loved her name, so much more than my own.

"But Dawn, your name is beautiful!" she said. "Your name is a reminder that better things will come."

She always talked of our kingdom as a dark place, that was about to get better soon. I didn't know what was wrong with the place back then, but I do now.

Our queen was (and still is) evil. She treated the villagers like dirt and was never helpful to anyone but herself.

That's why Clairette came. She was a wealthy lady, though I don't know how. Almost everyone in our kingdom was poor. Since I never knew my papa, it was just me and my mother, and her job barely paid. Clairette was very helpful.

But then my mother fell ill when I was 5. Clairette's last words to me after my mother's death were, "I'll find a safe place for you."

I never saw Clairette again. I was all alone. So I ran. I ran away from my village and through forests and rivers until I came to a little camp on the shore of a lake.

A man walked over to me and asked me my name.

"Dawn," I said.

"Dawn," the old man said thoughtfully. "Dawn. How would you like to help us?"

He told me what he meant. Not in full detail at first, I was only 5. But he told me about the queen. How cruel she was, how these people in this camp were planning a rebellion against her.

Somehow, in my 5 year old mind, I felt a calling to this. Like somehow it was the queens fault my mother died and that I was left alone.

So I said yes.

As the years went on, I learned more and more.

The horrible things the queen had done. The rebellion's plan was tho kill the queen, no just defeat her.

I was trained in archery, sword fighting, hand to hand combat, and much more. Our group went out into small villages to help villagers get food and money. Being with those people in the villages made me feel energized around other people, so the people in our camp tried to get to know me, thinking I was extremely extroverted.

But being with other people just drained me, so I went to taking private lessons, and stopped going to the villages.

But even after 10 years, we still weren't ready.

That angered me.

10 years of training and our plan was nothing more than break into the castle and kill the queen.

So I made a plan of my own. A foolproof plan for one person. Me. I was about to just escape and leave forever to kill the queen myself, but my heart told me to wait.

I couldn't leave without saying goodbye to Samuel. The old man. The first person I met here, all those years ago.

He wasn't our leader, but he was one of our best men. He practically raised me. I couldn't leave just yet.

"Samuel? Are you in there?" I asked before walking in his tent.

"Yes. Come in," he said.

I walked in. I showed him my plans, told him what I was about to do.

"Dawn. There's a thin line between brave and stupid," he said.

" I know," I said. "But I'm not crossing it. I'm doing this, and you can't stop me. I just needed to say goodbye."

Samuel sighed. "This is dangerous, Dawn."

I nodded. "I know. I know the risks."

"You won't be able to do this!" he shouted. Not unkindly though. Just desperate.

I didn't answer at first. Maybe he was right. But we had trained for 10 years and we still hadn't done anything. So I had too try.

I smiled. "I wish I could agree. But then we'd both be wrong."

I grabbed my sword and walked out the tent, waving goodbye.

Sneaking into the castle was easy. A little too easy. It's like they knew I was coming. But how did they know? And why were there no guards out?

I looked at the map I had stolen from camp, and made my way to the throne room.

There were no guards outside the throne room, but I still kept my guard up as I cracked open the door. There was a long hallway. At first I thought the map must have been wrong, but I kept walking and somehow I knew it was right.

I saw the Queen's portraits as I turned around the corners in the hallway. She was sickeningly familiar, but I couldn't figure out why.

The hallway came to an abrupt stop as I came to one more set of doors. Since I still hadn't seen any guards, I opened the door.

The queen was sitting in an elaborate throne on the other side of the room. I walked towards her, not hesitating at all.

"You know, most people bow when they see me," the Queen said icily.

I shivered at her voice. It, just like her face, was horribly familiar.

"We can skip the formalities. It appears you've been expecting me," I said, just as harshly. "And besides, it really is unfortunate to have had to see your face every time I turned a corner back there. Maybe consider taking those down. It might scare your visitors away." I tried to hold back a laugh.

"Come here Dawn. I want to see how you've changed over the years," she said.

How did she know my name? I slowly walked towards her.

"Just as beautiful as you were 10 years ago," she said, a tear going down her face.

I pulled out my sword. "What are you talking about?" I demanded.

She wipes her tear and her sadness is replaced by the same icy look as before. "Excuse me, I was under the impression that I was not going to be executed today."

"Well, it seems you were wrong," I said, trying not to let my voice waver. I walked closer, my sword at my side.

The Queen laughed. "My dear, do you know what my name is?"

I hesitated. Is this a trick?" Claire," I said quietly.

"Well, most people add a Queen to it, but yes," she said. And then she looked directly at me. "A good name for a Queen, but a name like Dawn may have been better. It is, of course, a reminder of better things to come," she said softly.

"You're... Clairette." It wasn't a question. It was the truth.

"I am," she said.

I slowly backed away. "You... you killed my mother!" I screamed.

"Oh sweetie. I am your mother," she said.

"What? How?" I demanded.

"I couldn't give my throne away, or risk my only daughter challenging me. But I loved you. I couldn't just... kill you. So I gave you to a dear friend of mine. I'd visit once a month. But then she died. I meant to come back for you, I meant..." she choked on her words.

"I'm glad you didn't. I got a chance to see who you really were. And that's why I am here." I walked toward her again, holding up my sword.

"Go ahead and kill me. Just a warning. Many have tried and failed," she said. Her face looked colder than ever.

"I won't fail."

"I don't believe you. You wouldn't kill your mother," she said confidently.

"Don't be so sure," I said. "You're no mother of mine." And with that, I ran toward her, sword in hand, watching her brace herself for the impact.

But I stopped.

"I'm sorry, Dawn. I love you," she whispered.

"Then run. Run away and never come back," I said.

"But-"

I hold my sword up and raise my eyebrows.

"Ok."

I walk her out a hidden door in the castle and I take her into the woods.

"Follow the path until you get to the next kingdom. Do not tell anyone you are a queen. You are Clairette. Ok?"

Clairette nodded. She walked a few feet into the woods and turned around, tears streaming down her face.

"Goodbye," she said. She turned around and kept walking.

"Wait!" I called. Clairette turned one more time. "I... suppose I could forgive you." I said quietly.

"Now? Or in 6 years?" she asked, a hint of a smile across her face.

"I don't know yet."

Clairette turned and ran into the forest. But I know I heard her say, "Thank you."

Now the kingdom had no ruler. But I was the rightful heir. And I would do my duty if I had to.