The Hapan Princess: Chapter 1

It was mid-day, and the sun stood high above the iconic towers and turrets of the Hapan Castle of Per'Agthra. The palace was bustling with activity, an unusual site, with courtiers dashing to and fro. Representatives of the many noble houses of Hapes had come to the seat of the monarchy at the special request of the Queen Mother herself. The Hapan Princess knew the exact reason, and that was precisely why she remained hidden away in her bedroom, though it was only a matter of time before mother came knocking. There was, however, no harm in trying to delay the inevitable a little while longer, she thought, still tucked away in bed.

Within the antechamber of the throneroom, Queen Mother Ishara stood, outwardly a vision in elegant silks, inwardly her blood was boiling. Hours ago she had send a breakfast tray to her daughters room, with a message asking.. conveying...no informing the Princess Elaine that some of the most eligle bachelors to be found, had come to attend her this day. Her presence wasn't requested. It was commanded. Now it was mid-day, some of the courtiers had returned to their rooms, the oppression of so many bodies crammed into the throne room awaiting the arrival of the Princess had made even the Queen herself flee to the antechamber.

Hands clasped behind her back, she stood gazing out the windows. "The tray was returned.. untouched?"

"Yes, My Queen.. The knocks on her door went unanswered."

"I see. For her own safety then, stars know what the useless girl could do to herself to delay the inevitable."

She turned and left the antechamber making a direct path to the royal tower where Elaine's rooms were. She had a small battalion of servants following in her wake. One holding the train of her traditional Hapan court dress, one fanning her to keep the stifling heat at bay, yet another had procured a fresh tray of food. A Medic was called, in case the Princess was ill. Not to mention the disreputable looking character that was always in the Queen's shadow. It was he who stepped forward, knocked and when he recieved no answer looked to the Queen for instructions.

"If it's locked.. kick it in."

The Queens approach hadn't gone unheard and Elaine wasn't about to give her mother the satisfaction of bursting into her bedchamber's. The door flung open. The Princess wore only light chemise, evidently not yet appropriate attired for the Royal court. The servants crowded around Ishara averted their eyes immediately. Feigning a yawn, while looking somewhat perplexed at the entourage amassed outside her room, she asked: “Is something a matter, mother?”

Snapping her fingers, another wave of female servants brushed past them into Elaine's rooms. The Queen Mother herself, gave her daughter a hard stare and brushed past her to the wardrobe room. She said nothing, yet. Instead she selected a suitable gown, one that would enhance all of of Elaine's already perfect features. Demure enough to make the wayward brat seem a tame bidable child, but womanly enough to boost her assests.

"Why, yes child. When you refused to answer to the call of duty, I had feared the worst." She slipped a dressing gown around her daughters shoulders, a show of motherly affection before the assembled servants. She slid her fingers through Elaine's honey locks, wishing more to pull her by them and force her into the damn dress.

"However now that I see you are alive and well there is absolutely no reason why you won't be down to attend court, in twenty minutes."

The Queen Mother, and her shadow, strode to the door along with the Queen's attendants. "Don't displease me again today Elaine, you know it causes my headaches..."

The servants had already begun to bustle around her, inspecting the dress so that they might find some suitable accessories to accompany it. One began to run a brush through the girls tousled hair. “Yes, mother,” Elaine sighed in annoyance.

The servants had been given strict instructions as to how the Princess was to be presented and it wasn't long before she was dressed up as her mother would have her. “Oh, you do look lovely in that dress, Miss,” one remarked, smoothing away a ruffle in the fabric. Elaine smiled weakly in thanks.

“Come on, then. You heard the Queen Mother. Best be getting down to the court now,” another said, ushering Elaine towards the door with a firm palm to the small of her back. As they wound down the stairs to the palace proper, she could hear many voices all speaking together. They would soon be silenced, of course. Ishara insisted introducing her daughter – her Royal Highness Chume ta' Elaine - with all the pomp and bravado expected of the monarchy.

"All silence!"

A blast of from a trumpetier was followed by the loudly, but proudly vocalized introudcution of "Her Royal Highness, Chume ta' Elaine!"

The already crowded throne room filled to capacity as those who had been standing out in the hall now rushed in to get just a glimpse of the beautiful Princess. Order was called for and the courtiers were made to form a reception line, in order of rank to be presented to her Royal Highness.

Elaine did look young and beautiful and every inch a royal Princess as she sank gracefully into her seat and retained the posture expected of her at a court function. Ishara's eyes narrowed, but a cold smile hinted at the corner of her mouth. Nothing pleased her in life so much as obedience.

She leaned in close and warned her daughter. "You will find an accpetable suitor today or one will be found for you. The line must be secured and you are past the age when I should have done this. Your Father was far too soft, I wanted you wed or at least betrothed when you were five. He wanted you to have a choice. So choose."

The parade of young men seemed miles long. They had had come from far and wide, some even traveling to the planet specifically for the chance to meet the Princess. Hapes was renowned for its beauties, so only the most handsome of prospective husbands were admitted. There wasn't a blemish to be seen. One by one they stood forward to greet Elaine, and exchanged brief words. Though she was always friendly towards those her mother chose to present, the fact that they had been chosen by her was enough to sour Elaine towards them.

At a pause in the procession, the Princess turned to her mother, speaking in a low tone: “I've already found a suitor, mother. You know that.”

"Elaine.. I refuse to go through this with you again. It is tiresome. I shall remind you that you can be tried for treason for even the suggestion. I will NOT hear another word about that, that pirate!" She said the last word quietly, as if it somehow would sully her to even speak of him.

Dasquian Belargic.

She had no intention of letting that snake anywhere near her daughter. She jad no idea what inspired the silly chit to infactuation with a scoundrel she had never even met. If it would silence her on the issue, she would love to see the young man brought up on charges of piracy, conspiracy and whatever else she could think of to get him executed. He was an insect, and she would crush him like one.

"You will honor my wishes and marry someone who is suitable to your station, and soon. "

“He has more right to sit on this throne than any us do,” Elaine snapped in reply. The so-called royal line was a joke. Her anger was short-lived, however. She sunk back against her chair and sighed. “When is Tristan getting back? I can't possibly pick someone without his approval.”

The Queen Mother chose to ignore her daughters last remarks, futile as they were. Instead she bestowed a smile on the latest suitor, a Baron Rehua Blotts. He did somewhat resemble a blot.. A rotund man with a ruddy red face, a bulbous nose and coffers deep enough for his appearance not to matter. She extended her fingers to him which he dutifully bent and kissed.

"Lord Blotts, We have missed your company. You do Us a great honor by presenting yourself to Our daughter.." The chubby little man seemed to swell even more and moved in front of Elaine. Ishara could feel the disgust oozing off her daughter. Perhaps she was right, there were plenty of other candidates that were filthy rich, and not nauseating to look upon.

Some of the nobles around the court were murmuring disapprovingly amongst themselves. It was the duty of the Ta'a Chume to ensure that the Hapan royal line not only continued, but that future generations maintained the high standards of appearance that had come to be expected of the planet. While Blotts might have had money up to his eyeballs, he wasn't quite so fortunate in the looks department. He was old and flabby, greasy and misshapen. If it was Ishara's plan to torture her daughter, she was doing a pretty good job.

“Mother, may I be excused? Only... my stomach's just taken a funny turn. I think it must have been something I ate.”

"La child, of course. Do not be ill in the Presence chamber!" Snapping her fingers an escort was at the Elaine's side to help the "poor girl" to rise.

The compliance with which the Queen Mother gave into Elaine's plot to leave without finding a suitor should have warned her. Nothing with Ishara was that simple. "We will speak no more on this today. I have already reached a decision. I know what needs to be done."

With that cryptic remark, the Queen Mother rose and, amidst a swarm of servants eager to please, she left the room ahead of her daughter. The shadow that was always nearby to the Queen stepped into stride directly behind her as she made her way to her own bedchamber. He said nothing, but dared to follow her inside when all the others servants stopped at the door, signaled by the Queen waving a dimissive hand. As soon as the door was shut, Ishara turned, her face a cold mask which had already decided the fate of the insect that was buzzing about in her face, annoying her.

"We have work to do."

"Yes, my Queen.."