A Cold Empress

Even as a young child, Aurora had been treated as a nuisance by her mother, Empress Zephyra. In fact, Aurora could only address her mother as "Empress" or "Your Majesty", which only added to the coldness between them. For years the princess spent hours each day trying to find ways to please Zephyra. She was always leaving trinkets for her mother to find. A flower here or her mother's favorite fruit there. Zephyra barely glanced at the tokens, often tossing them to a servant to be thrown away. Still, Aurora persisted.

One fateful day when Aurora was seven, she snuck into the Empress's chamber and hid under a table along the wall. She had worked for weeks to make a card for Zephyra's birthday, even writing a poem in honor of the occasion. 'She'll have to love this,' the girl thought optimistically. Aurora crouched low under the table, clutching the paper to her chest. She had escaped her tutors and Nanny to be here, and she refused to be caught be for her mission was complete.

After what seemed like an eternity, Zephyra entered the room with her entourage. From below the table cloth, Aurora could see many members of the Council as well as the Emperor Consort enter the sitting room. The princess was overjoyed to see her gift would have so many witnesses. 'Even father is here! How wonderful!' She cried inwardly. In her mind's eye Aurora could see everyone listening patiently to her poem and then breaking out in applause. Her mother would throw her arms around her and weep with gratitude. And her father would just smile and say, "I told you our little girl was special!" Then everything would be perfect. All Aurora wanted in life was to be loved and valued, most of all by her mother. This was her chance.

"Why are the trade routes slacking between Valiant and Cyrene? We must have wheat!" The empress said forcefully.

Cafer bowed deeply, "Apologies Your Majesty. We will send an emissary immediately to remedy the situation."

"If they persist in their insolence, Chief Cafer, you know what to do." There was a threat in her words.

Cafer bowed dutifully, "Of course, Your Majesty. No one would dare defy your order." 

In the ensuing silence, Aurora could wait no longer. "Surprise!" She called out as she leapt from beneath the table. In her enthusiasm, the girl bumped the table and the priceless vase which sat atop it. The vessel teetered perilously close to the edge before falling and shattering in a spectacular CRASH!

The rage in the Empress's eyes was evident as she pressed her lips firmly together. In a measured voice, she spoke to the captain of the guard, "You must tighten your defenses, captain. Even a child can get past you!"

"Right away Your Majesty!" The captain bowed many times while exiting the room. He knew that the Empress's punishment would be harsh and swift for his error, and he was glad when he was finally out of her view.

Hoping to salvage the situation, the princess brushed off her dress and stood straight. "Happy birthday, Your Majesty!" Aurora said brightly.

"Who told you it was my birthday?" Zephyra asked Coolly.

"My tutors told me. I wanted to celebrate with you." Aurora's eyes grew round and wet. This was not going as she imagined.

"It was thoughtful of you, my dear," the Emperor consort, Elias, told her. His dark brown eyes pitied his daughter, but he knew better than to approach her.

"Thoughtful, but not thought-through. How clumsy you are!" Zephyra laughed cruelly.

"I have a present for you," Aurora countered, summoning the last of her courage.

"What could you possibly offer me?" The empress mocked.

"I wrote a poem…" The meekness in his daughter's voice nearly broke Elias's heart, but he feigned disinterest. Giving attention to anyone except the empress would only incur the royal's wrath.

"A poem? A POEM?! Ha! She wrote me a poem," Zephyra spoke to the Council. The members laughed along with the Empress, causing Aurora's cheeks to blush.

Elias could stand it no longer, "Perhaps we should hear it, my dear." Only Elias was excused from calling his wife 'Your Majesty' though whether it was due to affection or tradition, no one could say.

"Oh very well. I swear you have a weak spot for this girl."

Elias shook his head, "All my love is for you and no other."

The Empress nodded slightly and motioned for Aurora to begin. The girl stood proudly and held out her paper to be read.

"Like a summer day,

the Empress shines on us.

Her black hair brings us the coolness of night;

Her watchful eye provides us safety.

We owe all we have to her power and might

Without her we would crumble to dust

Each day is a day to serve the Empress faithfully

And on this day of days we give her praise

Glory to the Empress."

Aurora curtsied at the end and awaited a response. Standing behind her mother, her father smiled kindly. He had appreciated her effort. But her mother? She did not look amused.

"You call that poetry? You could have at least made it rhyme."

"It's free verse," the girl whispered, her eyes filling with tears.

"That's not the only liberty you've taken today. Now what shall your punishment be?"

Aurora swayed as if she had been struck. "Punishment?"

Zephyra nodded, "You trespassed into my room. I should have you beheaded."

Elias lay a gentle hand on his wife, "Perhaps we can find a different punishment?"

"If you insist…" the Empress rolled her eyes, then leveled her gaze at the child. "Never enter my sight again until you can behave like the daughter of an Empress. Next time I will not be so lenient." 

Aurora wiped the tears streaming down her face with her long sleeve. "Yes, Your Majesty," she said before exiting the room in a fit of silent sobs. From then on, Aurora avoided her mother at all costs.