Chapter 5

Sky dropped on the bed drained thinking back on how bizarre the day was. One moment she was happily devouring the art pieces and the next moment she was in one of them. 

Sky's perspective regarding Antiope and her life has dramatically changed since her arrival here. What has really happened all those years back? And how did the documented evidence change so drastically? Sky wondered how many more historical stories that she has worked upon were all lies or half lies. 

The most recent shock came when she met the other two queens. They seemed so familiar to Sky but she could not place where she met them. It kept on irking her like a itch that doesn't go away.

Sky was so lost in her thoughts that she missed the light knock that sounded on the door. It took two more tries with increasing intensity to grab Sky's attention.

"Come in.", called out Sky. 

"Milady, I brought you some warm milk with honey to help you sleep.", said Elijah meekly.

Sky smiled fondly at this young girl who has been so keen on keeping Antiope comfortable. Sky never paid much attention to her tiny shadow. Elijah had a small frame and a round face, curtained by brown locks that fell heavily upto her waist which was tied in a plait. She was a beauty but heavy work and constant running has taken its toll. The fact that her face was an almost perfect replica of Sky's childhood friend added to Sky's fondness. 

"Thank you dear. Put the glass down on that table. Why don't you come and sit by my side?"

"Me, my Queen? Sit beside you? How could I? I do not have the audacity."

"I asked you to. Come here. Or better, I command you."

Elijah slowly shuffled towards Sky's bed and lightly sat on her bed.

"How long have you worked for me?"

Elijah was taken back by this question but hastily answered, "Since you came here as my Queen. Eight years."

"And how do you like me?"

"Sorry, what do you mean Milady?", stammered Elijah. "How can I say that?"

"Because I asked you to. Don't be scared. I want to know. You take care of me all the time. But do I?"

"Milady, you have been too kind. Yes you may have scolded me at times or expressed your displeasure but you did take care of me."

"Hmm. And what about your King? How is my relationship with him?"

"What?", Elijah almost jumped off the bed. "Speaking about the King is a blasphemy. I am sorry my Queen, but you have asked me a most difficult question."

"I know but I need to know. Do I really not love him? Do we not share a conjugal bond because of me?"

"Milady, I do not know so much or I might be crossing a line but I can say the King loves you. I have seen the way he looks at you. He cares deeply for you.", sighed Elijah.

"Then why did he marry again? Why could he not have kept one wife?", asked an exasperated Sky.

"That I do not know but he must have had his reasons for doing so."

"You seem to trust your King a lot."

"Not only me but everyone trusts his judgment. He is a wise empathetic King."

"Hmm", saying this Sky fell into deep thought. 

"You must sleep Milady. It has been a long day and you need to get up early tomorrow. It is a big day "

"Yes, what? What's tomorrow?", asked Sky absently. 

At this Elijah turned a colour of deep red, "Umm My Queen, it must have slipped from your mind but it is the King's wedding tomorrow."

"Oh! Right, yes, yes. Of course."

"Attending the wedding is not a compulsion.", added Elijah hastily. "You may skip the event if you feel sick. The King has given permission owing to your ill health."

"No, that will not be necessary. I am the eldest Queen and should Dominic wishes to marry, he must wed in front of me. I will attend the wedding."

"Are you sure Milady? Why don't you sleep on it and decide tomorrow? You had an extremely tiring day anyway."

"No I have already decided. Wake me up early tomorrow. I will need to prepare."

"Of course my Queen, whatever you say. But you must rest now. I will let you get some sleep. Good night Milady.", said Elijah and retired to her quarters. 

Sky tossed and turned in her too comfortable a bed and too silky a dress for half the night, events of the day replaying in her mind. It was nearing dawn when she finally fell into a restless slumber dreaming of bloodied dresses and headless grooms.

Elijah had to physically shake Sky to wake her up. Sky was first startled on finding a stranger in her bedroom but started to freak out on realizing she was in a different place. Elijah had to remind Sky where she was and only then could she breath easy. 

"Good morning my Queen. Wake up. You are already late. The festivities of the day have already started."

"Oh yes right. Give me some time. What do I have to do?"

"This my Queen is Seth, your royal dresser and entourage."

A man in his mid-thirties dressed up in vibrant colours of kingfisher glided into the chambers with the grace of a runway model. His bronze skintone was accentuated by the glittering gold eyeshadow and golden jewellery that ornamented his medium built frame. He was followed by a group of five meek looking assistants carrying enormously huge bags and trunks which they dropped with a thud on to the floor. 

"All hail Queen Antiope.", said Seth as he bowed deeply followed by his assistants. "Well you do not look too well rested. It would have made work harder for any other person but not me. Chip chop get off the bed Milady, put haste to your heels.", added Seth without waiting for an answer. 

Sky was almost dragged out of the bed and pushed into the shower and then scrubbed and shampooed till her skin turned raw.

She was then made to sit in front of the mirror and close her eyes while Seth and his assistants put paints and colours on her, tugging vehemently at her hair, clipping and polishing her nails. Sky felt outraged by the fact that despite her being the queen, all her complaints were casually overruled by this man whom she knew for hardly a couple of hours.

After what seemed like an eternity, she was asked to open her eyes and the person she saw in the mirror took her breath away. She could not even recognize her own self. Her chestnut hair loosely braided and laced with tiny white flowers. Her lips tinted with the lightest of pinks. The dewy moistness of her skin reflecting the sunlight thereby accentuating her cheekbones. Whatever complaints she was about to pose died in her lips as she sat stumped staring hungrily at her own reflection. 

"My Queen, you need to get ready. The ceremony is about to start.", came Seth's boisterous voice from behind. 

As Sky turned to look at him, she noticed the proud smirk on Seth's lips. She could not help but laugh. She already loved this man. 

"Are you ready to see the dress my Queen?"

Seth instructed his assistant to open the biggest trunk there was, when Sky nodded her assent.

As Sky wandered to where Seth was arranging  the dress, her breath was taken away for the second time. It had the softest golden hue and looked as if it was made up of liquid gold. 

It felt like feather when it was slipped over her head and fell at a perfect length right at her ankles. Sky felt a different human in the dress. The dress hugged her in all the right places and flaunted all her best parts while softly hiding the flaws. The colour of the dress enhanced her tone and she looked like a radiating sun. 

She stood stunned in front of the mirror as Seth slipped a beautiful diamond and sapphire necklace on her slender neck and one of his assistants slipped her feet in a shoe made of glass. Sky then turned to look at where Seth was unlocking a wooden box. What came out of it knocked the breath out of her. It was the most beautiful piece of ornament, Sky had ever lay her eyes on. It was the Queen consort's crown. The heavily studded piece was glittering like a thousand suns reflecting off the surface of the water. Sky could feel its weight as it was placed on her head. She could feel the power and responsibility that came with the crown course through her. She could feel herself standing taller. 

The end result was so stunning that everyone present in the room fell speechless. It was Seth who recovered his composure the soonest and  started filing people out of the room. Before he left, he turned to Sky, took her hand, gave it the lightest squeeze and said oftly said, "You would always me my favourite, my Queen. Shine on."

Sky could feel tears burning her eyes but controlled herself.

She called out to Elijah, "Come it's time to attend the King's wedding.", and stepped out of the room.