BLEDSERENITY / LADY JOSEPHINE .
there was nothing for her here. no glory to be found in a kingdom as secluded as arendelle nor any sense in an attempt to overthrow it – and an attempt that would certainly be. as confident as she was in her own abilities (that fire that rested beneath her skin: the one that turned the air around her warm with the weight of it), josephine would be a fool not to acknowledge the power that remained here. it was that power that’d saved this place, after all – that’d kept the walls of the palace sacred, valuable. long live the queen. and the queen she had come for. josephine had considered the option of a violent arrival (chaos, after all, was in her nature, in her blood) and, she had to admit, seeing firsthand what the sovereign queen was capable of had been tempting. but experience taught her better than that long ago and, after much consideration, civility had overridden anything else.
having sent word of her arrival a few days prior, josephine was glad to’ve been met at the gates by an array of guards. they were amusing to watch, but she tried not to stare for long on the walk to the palace, knowing well how quickly unease could become outrage in the hearts of men. that was a lesson learned the hard way, just as the one currently confronting her was. that even with a decorated past of lands conquered and leaders defeated, anxieties still fought their way down her throat; still dug their knuckles, elbows, knees, into the curve of her ribs.
what did she have to fear?
the sunlight that crept into the throne room painted elsa in bright white light. she looked other-worldly, for a moment, glowing as if the gods had handpicked her to act out their earthly duties herself. then: everything, came the belated response to her own question. you have everything to fear. bowing came easy when all josephine craved was to look away. just for a moment – just long enough to regain her composure and remember the reason she’d sought out this place. this woman.
“your royal majesty. i am honoured to make your acquaintance here.” vaguely, she wondered how many people had stood here before this day and muttered those same words. meaningless things. meaningless people. “arendelle is…” smaller than i thought it would be. “… a charming place.” / @diligetur.
the word came as a storm . a single letter , from a single nation , penned by a single woman caused arendelle’s castle to be all astir & swept into the winds of disquietude . she watched as it unfolded ; each syllable striking at the hearts of people , the moment its sender’s name was revealed : the lady josephine , defender of the kingdom of erisia . her own hands blanched cold . council members descended into murmurs . & anna’s voice rose to ask the burdened question that pressed against but never left anyone’s lips ❝ will we be all right ? ❞
they all knew the tales . tide & sails brought rumblings of cities burnt , men returning to the dark ash & soil from whence they came works attributed to a woman who could light pyres built from seized empires with a mere flick of the wrist , dressed in scarlet & shadows . her very equal in power & opposite in essence .
but could it be ? did truth rest in the tongues of those who told such tales ? or were they spun with threads of fanciful silver ? or , perhaps , as was likely , what reached her ears was a mixture of both , one entwining & inseparable from the other . she could not say . it annoyed her so . & with fear rose an unbidden curiosity , a longing that crept in & trembled to know & verify the existence of another like her . another born with magic .
soon , a lurking voice whispered in the back of her mind , watching as black nights fell & golden dawns heralded days passing by . soon , it would say , always , always watching the movements she made & orders she called to fortify the castle & prepare the way & her heart for the lady to come .
until at last . the day arrives .
sat on high , on the seat of her throne , the monarch watches lady josephine approach , flanked on either side by a quartet of guards each . compared to a thrumming heart , the walk is almost slow . she is raven - crowned , draped in pomegranate red , eyes carrying a dark depth that beg you to look , even as she lowers them from sight & bows . her beauty is enough that you could mistake her for a mere woman , & nothing more , if that is what she wished to be & enough that elsa could believe the tales , if she wished to act .
the pause between pleasantries isn’t missed . as queen , as who she was born to be , she knows the importance of appearances , of putting on a show . briefly , she wonders if the other woman would feel more comfortable in an open display of power , rather than the laws of court to which they were confined . the thought is banished with a breath , & she offers a smile as true as her word . ❝ the honour is mine , lady josephine , & arendelle welcomes you . i hope your journey wasn’t too unkind . you’ve come quite a ways . ❞
by a single nod the guards are dismissed . for the moment , their work is done ; while hers is only beginning . she descends from the throne thus , chin held high , coming face to face with josephine herself . ❝ my servants have prepared a room for you to rest & leave your things , if you would like . it would be my pleasure to escort you there . ❞
❝ will we be all right ? ❞ anna’s voice echoes . we will be . i’ll make sure of it .
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