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Description
The Golden Maiden
Chapter Two
   As the rabble quieted, my heart beat louder. My eyes stung as the unshed tears pooled in the corners of my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. Especially when this woman was staring me down. She placed her mug back onto the bar, and then she jerked her head back, gesturing me for to come sit next to her. At first, I only stared back with dribbles of food hanging from my chin. This woman, she obviously knew who I really was. I could just tell. I removed my gaze from her and saw that the group of men was gone. Did they go search for me…?
   "Would you just come here?"
   I jumped at the sudden demand from the woman, her voice cold and kind of pinched. Not wanting to get her upset, since I thought she was a gifted, I quickly wiped my face and stood up. After scooting my chair back in, I slowly made my way across the room. The woman looked back to her mug, circling the rim with her finger. She didn't look at me once I sat, but she spoke.
   "What are you doing here, Princess?" She murmured, her voice much softer now.
   "How-how do you know who I am?" I sputtered, eyeing this woman cautiously, and that's when I realized who this was. "You…you're Miriam the Witch, aren't you?"
   "I prefer Miriam," the Witch muttered. "And I know who you are because I just do. You best get out of here while you still can, by the way. If anyone here realizes who you are-"
   "They won't turn me in," I hissed, my heart swelling with pride of my people. "They love me. They sacrificed themselves to defend us from Farn-"
   "Then, they did, Princess." Miriam corrected, raising a finger. "What about now? Do you really know your people?"
   I wanted to scream back that I did know them. I did. But then I thought of those men who disappeared after my bounty was announced, and how the messenger had a slight grin on his face when shouting that I was wanted dead or alive. My heart quivered, doubt entering my mind. Miriam watched me with a rather smug expression, circling the rim again.
   "I see that you are rethinking."
   "No," I nearly shouted, and I saw that the inn was suddenly filling with people. All the tables were taken, and the sound level went up dramatically. I heard a few talking about me, but I ignored it as I lowered my voice. "They wouldn't do that. They all know that I am the last chance this kingdom has."
   "But you are doubtful about that, too, aren't you?"
   Miriam's words made me freeze. My jaw clenched as anger pulsed through my veins. But I couldn't deny that, sadly. I didn't disagree with her. She smiled as her words took affect, and I wished to hit her. But I knew better. This was the infamous Witch of the Four Kingdoms. Everyone knew of her, and maybe that's why she was sitting alone and left with a jug of drink. I suddenly felt nervous with this Witch. And my anger was taken over an abrupt feeling of fear. She was the most powerful gifted in all of the kingdoms. Miriam also could wield the most incredible magic.
   Or so the rumors said.
   I've never actually seen this woman perform anything deathly incredible, but I didn't really want to find out if she actually could. Instead, I slowly met her purple eyes that were staring back at me. She still had a hint of a smile on her face, but her eyes were serious. We sat in silence for a little bit as Miriam's words still lingered in my head. It seemed ridiculous. I mean, I knew that I was a great warrior; I could defeat all of the captains easily during my sparring matches, but then I got to even more thinking because of this Witch. What if my men were letting me win? My anger quickly came back as my hands curled into fists in my lap. Miriam glanced down and saw this.
   "I see that I've upset you." She said simply and with a slight twinge of humor, but the Witch continued before I could say anything in response. "Princess, I know you can hear what your precious loyal people are saying. Oh, as a matter of fact, I know you were wondering about those men from before and how they left as soon as your bounty was announced. And yes, they did go looking for you."
   "Shut up," I hissed, angrily meeting her purple eyes. "What do you want? Did you only call me over to tell me lies?"
   "Still don't believe me, eh?"
   "It's hard for me to trust a witch." The words tumbled out before I could even think of keeping them in.
   I sucked in my bottom lip as if trying to shove my insult back in, but Miriam seemed unfazed by my words. She merely shrugged, continuing to ring her mug with her fingertip. She must've been used to insults. After all, she was the notorious Witch. Insults must be the shallowest of cuts to her by now. An apology started to form in my mouth, but I didn't want to say that, either. I, for one of the first times ever, was at a loss of what to do next.
   My hair felt suddenly very revealing, and all I wanted was to wrap it up or put on a hat. My fingers strayed to the free strands of my golden blonde hair at the nape of my neck. Miriam watched me silently, her expression rather blank. I glanced behind us at the bustling activity all around us. I was glad that Miriam and I were in close proximity so we did not have to shout over the noise. That was the only reason.
   To my very dismay, I could hear bits and pieces of my own people talking about where to find me and how they'd-
   "I would say I told you so, but…"
   Miriam's voice startled me, and I regretfully released a squeal of surprise. She rolled her eyes at me, still circling her cup with her finger. A woman sitting at the table closest to us looked over in our direction, her eyes narrowing at the sight of my slightly damp and bundled hair. She nudged a man next to her, but he shrugged her off since he was in a more involved conversation with another man. The woman looked me up and down briefly before turning back to her table. Her gaze struck me to the core. It started to prove Miriam's, at first ridiculous, words right.
   My heart, if it wasn't darkened already, was now completely withered and black. How could they so easily turn on my family like that? Their rulers that were not so much rulers but like extended family? It disgusted me, but still, there was a little light in my dark heart. Hope. I knew that's what it had to be. But, that little light faded even more when that same woman finally got the man's attention. Both were inspecting me now, and I looked frantically back at Miriam.
   "You can't be right," I whispered, that little light still powering my words. "My people are not cowards."
   "I'd have to disagree with you, Highness," Miriam murmured, her eyes on her finger roving the mug even still. "They may not be cowards, but they are scared out of their wits."
   I was thankful that she didn't call my people cowards outright, but it still stung. With one glance around the inn, I finally accepted that she was right. It was strange to see these many people here. When I first came here, there was no one in or outside of the inn. Now, all seats were occupied and Serah was making a lot of noise back in the kitchens. Did they know that I fled? Did I leave a trail? Was I that predictable?
   I looked back to Miriam. And when I met her purple gaze, I felt like I was looking at Miriam for the first time. My brain was just not working well, because I opened my mouth and asked something a bit dangerous and rather random.
   "Miriam, are you really a Witch?"
   She blinked at me, her finger frozen on the mug's rim. A small grin appeared on her face as she looked back down at her empty mug. I risked a glimpse back at the people who were ogling me, and now only the woman was staring me down. That was a little better. Once my eyes snapped back to Miriam, I was very surprised to see her eyes glazed over with nostalgia. Her grin had evolved into a little smile.
   "Witches don't exist, my dear," She started. "I would think that they would teach you that up in your fancy castle and all," My face turned red, and Miriam continued on before I could defend myself. "Anyways, no. I am not, since, you know, Witches don't exist. But it's fun to mess with you silly Arthrinians. You fools seem to be the only ones that actually fear me."
   "Excuse me-!"
   "Oh, hush up, child, and let me finish my story." Miriam snapped, her smile gone, but her eyes still faded with the past. "You should be honored. Never have I told anyone of my past. Now, as I was saying, when I was very young, my mother passed. And don't worry about me getting all teary. My mother was a terrible person. I have a few scars to prove it, but I don't wish to make you feel even worse than you do now. After she died, an elf came to me. She offered to take me to Charth because I guess I was extremely gifted. Well, I obviously am. I mean, look at me. I have people convinced that I am a fictional being. It's great.
   "Goodness, I keep getting off track. Back to the elf bringing me to Charth. Once there, I was trained by an elven mage just as gifted as I am. She was a great teacher, and it's a shame that she was killed by her sister, but I got my training done, so that's all that matters. And now, here we are, my dear."
   Just as those last words flew from her lips, Miriam stood up, threw her hood over her head, and turned to the crowds. She pointed at me, and the little hope in my heart diminished completely. All respect I may have had for her flew out the door as her mouth opened.
   "Lookie here! It's the Princess of Arthrinia!" Miriam shouted over the sounds of the crowd, which instantly silenced once she cried this out.
   I looked at her to strangle her, but Miriam was gone. And a many pair of eyes was staring at me. Even Serah was looking at me strangely with her hands full of plates and cups. And, for the first time, I wished that my hair was a different color.

Description
The Golden Maiden
Chapter Two
   As the rabble quieted, my heart beat louder. My eyes stung as the unshed tears pooled in the corners of my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. Especially when this woman was staring me down. She placed her mug back onto the bar, and then she jerked her head back, gesturing me for to come sit next to her. At first, I only stared back with dribbles of food hanging from my chin. This woman, she obviously knew who I really was. I could just tell. I removed my gaze from her and saw that the group of men was gone. Did they go search for me…?
   "Would you just come here?"
   I jumped at the sudden demand from the woman, her voice cold and kind of pinched. Not wanting to get her upset, since I thought she was a gifted, I quickly wiped my face and stood up. After scooting my chair back in, I slowly made my way across the room. The woman looked back to her mug, circling the rim with her finger. She didn't look at me once I sat, but she spoke.
   "What are you doing here, Princess?" She murmured, her voice much softer now.
   "How-how do you know who I am?" I sputtered, eyeing this woman cautiously, and that's when I realized who this was. "You…you're Miriam the Witch, aren't you?"
   "I prefer Miriam," the Witch muttered. "And I know who you are because I just do. You best get out of here while you still can, by the way. If anyone here realizes who you are-"
   "They won't turn me in," I hissed, my heart swelling with pride of my people. "They love me. They sacrificed themselves to defend us from Farn-"
   "Then, they did, Princess." Miriam corrected, raising a finger. "What about now? Do you really know your people?"
   I wanted to scream back that I did know them. I did. But then I thought of those men who disappeared after my bounty was announced, and how the messenger had a slight grin on his face when shouting that I was wanted dead or alive. My heart quivered, doubt entering my mind. Miriam watched me with a rather smug expression, circling the rim again.
   "I see that you are rethinking."
   "No," I nearly shouted, and I saw that the inn was suddenly filling with people. All the tables were taken, and the sound level went up dramatically. I heard a few talking about me, but I ignored it as I lowered my voice. "They wouldn't do that. They all know that I am the last chance this kingdom has."
   "But you are doubtful about that, too, aren't you?"
   Miriam's words made me freeze. My jaw clenched as anger pulsed through my veins. But I couldn't deny that, sadly. I didn't disagree with her. She smiled as her words took affect, and I wished to hit her. But I knew better. This was the infamous Witch of the Four Kingdoms. Everyone knew of her, and maybe that's why she was sitting alone and left with a jug of drink. I suddenly felt nervous with this Witch. And my anger was taken over an abrupt feeling of fear. She was the most powerful gifted in all of the kingdoms. Miriam also could wield the most incredible magic.
   Or so the rumors said.
   I've never actually seen this woman perform anything deathly incredible, but I didn't really want to find out if she actually could. Instead, I slowly met her purple eyes that were staring back at me. She still had a hint of a smile on her face, but her eyes were serious. We sat in silence for a little bit as Miriam's words still lingered in my head. It seemed ridiculous. I mean, I knew that I was a great warrior; I could defeat all of the captains easily during my sparring matches, but then I got to even more thinking because of this Witch. What if my men were letting me win? My anger quickly came back as my hands curled into fists in my lap. Miriam glanced down and saw this.
   "I see that I've upset you." She said simply and with a slight twinge of humor, but the Witch continued before I could say anything in response. "Princess, I know you can hear what your precious loyal people are saying. Oh, as a matter of fact, I know you were wondering about those men from before and how they left as soon as your bounty was announced. And yes, they did go looking for you."
   "Shut up," I hissed, angrily meeting her purple eyes. "What do you want? Did you only call me over to tell me lies?"
   "Still don't believe me, eh?"
   "It's hard for me to trust a witch." The words tumbled out before I could even think of keeping them in.
   I sucked in my bottom lip as if trying to shove my insult back in, but Miriam seemed unfazed by my words. She merely shrugged, continuing to ring her mug with her fingertip. She must've been used to insults. After all, she was the notorious Witch. Insults must be the shallowest of cuts to her by now. An apology started to form in my mouth, but I didn't want to say that, either. I, for one of the first times ever, was at a loss of what to do next.
   My hair felt suddenly very revealing, and all I wanted was to wrap it up or put on a hat. My fingers strayed to the free strands of my golden blonde hair at the nape of my neck. Miriam watched me silently, her expression rather blank. I glanced behind us at the bustling activity all around us. I was glad that Miriam and I were in close proximity so we did not have to shout over the noise. That was the only reason.
   To my very dismay, I could hear bits and pieces of my own people talking about where to find me and how they'd-
   "I would say I told you so, but…"
   Miriam's voice startled me, and I regretfully released a squeal of surprise. She rolled her eyes at me, still circling her cup with her finger. A woman sitting at the table closest to us looked over in our direction, her eyes narrowing at the sight of my slightly damp and bundled hair. She nudged a man next to her, but he shrugged her off since he was in a more involved conversation with another man. The woman looked me up and down briefly before turning back to her table. Her gaze struck me to the core. It started to prove Miriam's, at first ridiculous, words right.
   My heart, if it wasn't darkened already, was now completely withered and black. How could they so easily turn on my family like that? Their rulers that were not so much rulers but like extended family? It disgusted me, but still, there was a little light in my dark heart. Hope. I knew that's what it had to be. But, that little light faded even more when that same woman finally got the man's attention. Both were inspecting me now, and I looked frantically back at Miriam.
   "You can't be right," I whispered, that little light still powering my words. "My people are not cowards."
   "I'd have to disagree with you, Highness," Miriam murmured, her eyes on her finger roving the mug even still. "They may not be cowards, but they are scared out of their wits."
   I was thankful that she didn't call my people cowards outright, but it still stung. With one glance around the inn, I finally accepted that she was right. It was strange to see these many people here. When I first came here, there was no one in or outside of the inn. Now, all seats were occupied and Serah was making a lot of noise back in the kitchens. Did they know that I fled? Did I leave a trail? Was I that predictable?
   I looked back to Miriam. And when I met her purple gaze, I felt like I was looking at Miriam for the first time. My brain was just not working well, because I opened my mouth and asked something a bit dangerous and rather random.
   "Miriam, are you really a Witch?"
   She blinked at me, her finger frozen on the mug's rim. A small grin appeared on her face as she looked back down at her empty mug. I risked a glimpse back at the people who were ogling me, and now only the woman was staring me down. That was a little better. Once my eyes snapped back to Miriam, I was very surprised to see her eyes glazed over with nostalgia. Her grin had evolved into a little smile.
   "Witches don't exist, my dear," She started. "I would think that they would teach you that up in your fancy castle and all," My face turned red, and Miriam continued on before I could defend myself. "Anyways, no. I am not, since, you know, Witches don't exist. But it's fun to mess with you silly Arthrinians. You fools seem to be the only ones that actually fear me."
   "Excuse me-!"
   "Oh, hush up, child, and let me finish my story." Miriam snapped, her smile gone, but her eyes still faded with the past. "You should be honored. Never have I told anyone of my past. Now, as I was saying, when I was very young, my mother passed. And don't worry about me getting all teary. My mother was a terrible person. I have a few scars to prove it, but I don't wish to make you feel even worse than you do now. After she died, an elf came to me. She offered to take me to Charth because I guess I was extremely gifted. Well, I obviously am. I mean, look at me. I have people convinced that I am a fictional being. It's great.
   "Goodness, I keep getting off track. Back to the elf bringing me to Charth. Once there, I was trained by an elven mage just as gifted as I am. She was a great teacher, and it's a shame that she was killed by her sister, but I got my training done, so that's all that matters. And now, here we are, my dear."
   Just as those last words flew from her lips, Miriam stood up, threw her hood over her head, and turned to the crowds. She pointed at me, and the little hope in my heart diminished completely. All respect I may have had for her flew out the door as her mouth opened.
   "Lookie here! It's the Princess of Arthrinia!" Miriam shouted over the sounds of the crowd, which instantly silenced once she cried this out.
   I looked at her to strangle her, but Miriam was gone. And a many pair of eyes was staring at me. Even Serah was looking at me strangely with her hands full of plates and cups. And, for the first time, I wished that my hair was a different color.