The Funeral

Princess Diane headed up to the castle’s remains and took a deep breath, dressed in black from head to foot. Two days ago they began to bury the bodies, yesterday they finished almost all of them, Now, they had to bury the Royals and all Diane could think about as she was led to the remains of her home by the Wells’ horses Sam and Winston and the Smiths’ horses Bonnie & Mary. She reflected on her thoughts the night the night it all disappeared and scoffed at her indecisiveness that night:

It’s eight and I still haven’t decided whether I should wear the red dress with thick  straps, the purple dress that’s strapless  or the blue-green dress with spaghetti straps. The party is at nine. On top of that how do I want my hair...I’m thinking loose curls or a braid. I’m leaning more towards the loose curls, but if Mary is to wear them I don’t want to copy her. Mother will be wearing her curls tightly and I figure Mary ought to wear the braid, she won’t be old enough to impress a man yet. I am at that age to empress, I’ll marry in two years if not next year, so this is my year to impress. And be impressed. So loose curls and...my spaghetti strap blue-green dress. I’ll have to inform the hairdresser to do my hair in loose curls. But, for now I’ll dress. I did and left the room to have my hair curled. After it was done, I headed to where my parents were waiting to greet our guests. It was honestly one of the most boring things every guest, with a handshake.. Little Mike was jumping up and down with excitement when he greeted every guest with a handshake and a little bow, but for me. Worst. Ball. Ever. Until he walked in. Prince Spence of Aberton and his parents the king and queen of Aberton. Spence’s hair was slicked back and his eyes were sparkling when he saw me. A quick smile had my heart racing and his voice was amazing. After greeting all of the guests I went off to find Spence. We danced the waltz and his dancing skills were quite impressive. We chatted some more and got on really well. I was thinking of courting him until- boom! A loud sound shook the room. Everyone was silent for a few seconds and then they were chaotic. Guards came running in  yelling for everyone to run out, there was an attack on the palace. We all laughed thinking it was a joke. Until the second explosion at which point we stopped, in shock and heard voices of maids being killed. A third boom and I could not move. Spence grabbed me by the wrist and I grabbed my journal that I’d set on the table before he shoved me out the door.

“Run!” His deep and husky voice commanded. I tried to get words out about how I loved him and enjoyed the night. In my mind begging and pleading for him to come with me but all I got was “what you?” He shook his head and had it been any other situation he would have laughed, but he didn’t. He just looked at me and said, “I’ll try. Long live Wolford! And by the way I love you.”
“I-” I began to tell him I loved him back but the words were caught in my throat, the next explosion was closer, people were running attempting to escape. He shoved me towards the forest and the darkening night yelled, “Go!” I started to run but turned back. “Go!” He yelled once more. I whispered, “I love you too,” I whispered before running into the dark forest, trying to survive.

The carriage stopped and Diane got out staring at her family’s bodies, their eyes and mouths now shut, an opposite to how they found them. Her youngest brother’s brown hair gleaming in the sunlight, just like her mother’s brown hair. The only difference being that her mother’s hair had small wisps of silver. Her father’s black hair still looking slicked back like it had, he was still in uniform just like little George and Mike. George’s blonde hair and brown eyes made him a spitting image of his father. But Mike had his mother’s blue eyes and their Grandmother Bryson’s red hair. Grandmother Bryson was their mother’s mother. They didn’t see her very much and her husband, their grandfather, died when Mary was young., so the two boys didn’t know him. Nonetheless, they had been told many stories. Mary's brown hair was still in its braid and her gray eyes looked lifeless and pale when they found her. Words were said by the priest as the bodies were lying there and it took all Diane had to not cry. Tears starting falling down as the bodies were covered in dirt, and somebody grabbed her hand. She looked to her right to see it was Nathan, a small smile spreading across his face. She smiled slightly back. It was then that the priest declared, “Princess Diane., at the tragic death of the beloved King and Queen Bolafolder along with Princes Mike and George and Princess Mary it is to be declared that you are now acting commander and ruler over Wolford. Do you accept this role?” Diane took a deep breath and stated,”yes.” The priest then yelled out, “Long live Princess Diane, Ruler of Wolford! Long live the princess!”
“Long live the princess!” After this Nathan grabbed Diane’s hand once more, more cautious this time and Diane let it be there for a few minutes, before pulling away more tears falling down her cheek. Leaving the sight behind her as she headed into town she had no idea that someone had been watching the whole time.