As Alissa approached, the queen frowned and drew a sword from a dead body near her. "So..." she said softly, staring at her daughter. "It's come down to this. You really are your father's child after all."
The sword in Alissa's hand dropped to the ground as the princess shook her head. "It's not time for you to die yet," she responded. "And not for a long time. I only want to talk."
"Talk," her mother said, tossing her own weapon aside.
Alissa stared her down with a calm, collected anger. "Mother, I need to be the heir to the throne."
"Impossible," said the queen imediately. "You're a woman. Is that all?"
"Mother," Alissa began in a voice akin to explaining something to a small child. "Brandon will make a terrible king. He doesn't have the skill neccesary. You know that, I know that, and the entire palace knows that. No matter what you do to him, he will never willingly take the throne."
Her eyes narrowed. "And even if he does, he'll last a month or so, and then all your movements up until this point will have been in vain. I know you because it's in my blood to think like you. You could never stand to cause all the suffering you do if you weren't working towards a goal."
The Queen looked down at her hands for a moment, turning them over looking for blood, before she sighed and gave a single nod. "Checkmate," she replied. "Even so, I cannot resign myself to giving your husband the crown."
"You won't have to. I'll find a man who agrees to father my children and let me rule without him." Alissa took a deep breath, her mouth a thin line, and continued. "And if I don't... Brandon becomes king. Is is a deal?"
(And now to pull the rest of this post out of a hat. ^_^;; Sorry. )
Saying nothing, the Queen closed her eyes for a moment.
"Mother, please." Alissa took a step forward. "You know this is the only way."
"We will make preperations to leave at once," the Queen said quietly, opening her eyes again. "I'll talk to His Highness when we return to Therney."
Alissa raised an eyebrow, causiously. "Father will pay attention?"
"I'll make him," replied her mother with a deep sigh. She looked at Alissa, and beyond her at the unconcious Brandon, with a wistful look. "Although it may not seem so, he truly wants you both to be happy. As do I."
"Mother..." Alissa, biting down hard and taking several more steps, embraced her mother in a stiff and rather awkward hug. "Thank you."
The Queen looked somewhat shocked. Pulling away after a few moments, she turned away. "Find the survivors and order them healed," she ordered the nearest living soldier. "We leave as soon as possible." She turned back again and nodded to her daughter. "You are all dismissed."
Edited by: [url=http://pub30.ezboard.com/brpgww60462.showUserPublicProfile?gid=kotoki@rpgww60462>Kotoki</A] at: 3/12/03 1:12:24 am