Bertha gazed sadly around her office in the back corner of the castle while she worried absently at a crumpled handkerchief clutched in her hand. Her meager belongings were packed and waiting by the door for the Page to come collect them. The teapot and heavy iron mugs sat forlornly by the dying fire on a table between two once comfortable chairs. The chairs appeared now as defeated, old women without the energy to even pretend there would ever be brighter days to look forward to.
As Bertha gazed at the two chairs for a moment, her mind drifted back to the last time she had seen her Queen alive. Queen Dawn had come into her office to check on the latest application for Township Recognition and tell Bertha of a possible hope for an end to the terror unleashed on the lands by the demon Virtuebane. It was clear to see that the Queen was desperately worried about her missing husband, but Dawn never let it distract her from doing what she felt she must for the people of Britannia.
The Queen had sat in the chair next to Bertha and asked about Bertha's sister and the new babe that had recently been born. With everything going on, it always amazed Bertha that the Queen still thought to ask after her family. They had shared a pot of the Queen's favorite tea while Bertha took notes and the Queen outlined her plans. Little did Bertha dream this would be the last time they would share these moments. If only she had known.
Bertha turned her gaze to her desk and wondered to herself, "What? What could I have done differently? If I had known what was to come, could I have done anything to prevent it?"
She'd asked herself this question many times as she knew others had asked themselves the same. Could anyone turn aside the fickle hand of fate when it set its course? She had a feeling that all of the prayers and efforts of everyone combined could not have stopped the dreadful outcome. And now, they were left to pick up the pieces and try to put their lives back together. The sadness and worry hung over the castle like a dark, suffocating cloth that threatened to smother everyone within. Somehow, they would have to get through these dark days. Somehow, they would not let Queen Dawn down.
Bertha raised the handkerchief and wiped away the tears that were pouring down her face as she took herself in hand. She would not let Queen Dawn down. Bertha had one final task to perform for her Queen and she would see it through.
Taking a deep breath, Bertha picked up her quill, dipped it into the ink and began to write. When she was done, she walked to the door and called for the Pages waiting just down the hall.
"It's done," she said sadly. "Jonathan, please take my bags outside to the wagon. Jacob, please take this parchment to the scribes, have copies made and see that it's sent out tonight."
Looking back at her dark office one last time, Bertha pulled her cloak around her, wiped her eyes a final time and walked slowly down the hall to face life without the finest task master she'd ever known. She wasn't sure what her future held, but she knew she'd never forget Dawn and her time at the castle.
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From the Desk of Bertha Beaudreau, Secretary to the Late Queen Dawn
Funeral services for Queen Dawn will be held on Saturday, February 26th at 5 p.m. by the Pacific Moon/8 p.m. by the Eastern Skies. In seeking to honor the Queen's wishes to one day return to the home of her childhood, the service will be held at the Court of Truth in the City of Yew. Citizens wishing to speak will be given an opportunity to do so. A brief graveside service will immediately follow.
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As Bertha gazed at the two chairs for a moment, her mind drifted back to the last time she had seen her Queen alive. Queen Dawn had come into her office to check on the latest application for Township Recognition and tell Bertha of a possible hope for an end to the terror unleashed on the lands by the demon Virtuebane. It was clear to see that the Queen was desperately worried about her missing husband, but Dawn never let it distract her from doing what she felt she must for the people of Britannia.
The Queen had sat in the chair next to Bertha and asked about Bertha's sister and the new babe that had recently been born. With everything going on, it always amazed Bertha that the Queen still thought to ask after her family. They had shared a pot of the Queen's favorite tea while Bertha took notes and the Queen outlined her plans. Little did Bertha dream this would be the last time they would share these moments. If only she had known.
Bertha turned her gaze to her desk and wondered to herself, "What? What could I have done differently? If I had known what was to come, could I have done anything to prevent it?"
She'd asked herself this question many times as she knew others had asked themselves the same. Could anyone turn aside the fickle hand of fate when it set its course? She had a feeling that all of the prayers and efforts of everyone combined could not have stopped the dreadful outcome. And now, they were left to pick up the pieces and try to put their lives back together. The sadness and worry hung over the castle like a dark, suffocating cloth that threatened to smother everyone within. Somehow, they would have to get through these dark days. Somehow, they would not let Queen Dawn down.
Bertha raised the handkerchief and wiped away the tears that were pouring down her face as she took herself in hand. She would not let Queen Dawn down. Bertha had one final task to perform for her Queen and she would see it through.
Taking a deep breath, Bertha picked up her quill, dipped it into the ink and began to write. When she was done, she walked to the door and called for the Pages waiting just down the hall.
"It's done," she said sadly. "Jonathan, please take my bags outside to the wagon. Jacob, please take this parchment to the scribes, have copies made and see that it's sent out tonight."
Looking back at her dark office one last time, Bertha pulled her cloak around her, wiped her eyes a final time and walked slowly down the hall to face life without the finest task master she'd ever known. She wasn't sure what her future held, but she knew she'd never forget Dawn and her time at the castle.
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From the Desk of Bertha Beaudreau, Secretary to the Late Queen Dawn
Funeral services for Queen Dawn will be held on Saturday, February 26th at 5 p.m. by the Pacific Moon/8 p.m. by the Eastern Skies. In seeking to honor the Queen's wishes to one day return to the home of her childhood, the service will be held at the Court of Truth in the City of Yew. Citizens wishing to speak will be given an opportunity to do so. A brief graveside service will immediately follow.
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