Final Round- The Dagger

[The Selection Committee]

Lagertha and Topsail have been eliminated.

For 2 RL  you will find yourself unexplainably slow- minded (side effect from the neurotoxin) thoughts are difficult to form and conversations with others are confusing as you become lost while trying to follow along. This will fade, but every now and then it will pop back up, to cause you strife.

Royal Notice

The next morning comes, whether it is too soon or not soon enough you have yet to pinpoint. The routine was second nature by now. You have been at the castle for about a month now and the morning routine goes by in a blurry insignificant period of time. Your team shuffles out, and you do not know what to expect, there is no guard in front of your door… but after the confessions you made during the interrogation, your room almost feels like a safe haven. Just not enough to keep you there after a week’s time. You didn’t know if the lack of guard was happenstance or purposeful, but you dare not risk it, so you flee. Down the hall, around to the grand oak stairway from which you first met Francis, down the stair and our the closest door to the grounds. The fresh air hits your face, along with the aromas and unmuffled sounds that accompany the gardens and it is enough to make tears dance around your eyes. You enjoy the moment, fully absorb it for you are sure someone is about to drag you back in, lock you away. Surely that will happen, to go from confined prisoner to free reign with no debrief just didn’t seem right, so you take it in fully engrossed in the moment.

It ends all too soon, the tap on your shoulder is firm, business-like, and indicated your time was up. You steel yourself for the escorted march back to your room as you turn to face whomever as requested your attention. But your turn is brought to a halt mid form as arm hooks yours and move you away from the castle with a graceful ease. Francis. He is beaming. It may just be the most lighthearted you have ever seen him. There was something different in the way he looks at you and you might as well be a bowl of mush under his amber stare. The last time you saw him flashes in your mind and your feelings about him from your toxin-induced vision bubbles to the surface. This includes any residual anger for being locked in a tower for a week, and even with the dark note lingering lightly between you Francis gives no sign of bad news or ill will… so that was good, right?

The walk meanders to a fountain, and Francis stops you there motioning you to sit, suddenly growing serious as the smile faces from his handsome features. Oh here it goes, the other shoe has to drop at some time I guess. You search his eyes, ready for the dismissal that was sure to come from his mouth. You think of the way he’ll let you down gently, how he cares but you can’t be the one because… he cares for another more, you don’t have the right skills or attributes, you don’t look the part, the list goes on and on your mind going a mile a minute. ”You’re the one.” Francis’ voice is soft, like it is a secret and it doesn’t register at first, but he goes on. He tells you all about why he chose you, why he wasn’t worried about your flaws, and about how he cared for you. You’re in a state of shock and momentary disbelief, but his words are serious and you end up in an embrace of joyful tears. He explains the next steps, a few weeks for planning, then the royal announcement and public festivals, that will culminate in the royal wedding. Your head spins and you are lost in the feeling of belonging, pride, and opportunity before you.
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The last few weeks have been a blur. You and Francis are rarely apart and have planned the announcement festival activities and finalized your wedding plans. The wedding was the easiest as it is all pomp and circumstance. The decisions you have were small personal touches, that most wouldn’t notice, but were there to give the royal couple a small feeling of control over a largely “matter of state” ceremony. Your family was at the castle, and would remain until a small villa could be given to them (no family of the Princess and future Queen could live in poverty). Your team was constantly bustling about preparing materials and seeing to your needs. You had grown to adore them, as they always had your back it seems and were there for you even on your worst days. This is especially true for your head servant, she has become a confidant, you have found that her thoughts and opinions hold a certain weight, you respect her opinions and want to make her proud.

So it is no surprise that on the day of your public wedding and coronation as Princess, she is the last in the room with you, her eyes dance with emotion. You, a vision in a larger than life white gown, smile down to her grateful for her company. She smiles back at you, and you think she is about to laugh into a heartfelt cadence, but that doesn’t happen. She gives you a small package instead. She tells you not to open it just yet, to wait until she leaves. She smiles sweetly at you, “I know you care for Francis, but I know you care for Illea too - maybe even more than you care for your sweet Prince. We all know Illea needs the change you could bring, I hope you can do what is need to bring those changes for us all. Maybe sooner than later even. If I’m lucky I will be by your side through those changes. You make this old lady happy to be a servant here.” She smiles and falls silent, there was something else she thinks of saying but she shakes her head and gives you a hug before taking her exit. It was unlike the head maid to make such a speech, but you brush it off to the emotions of the day and open the package. Eyes widen to find a dagger with a note. The Rebels need you. Illea needs you, sooner rather than later. I think you know what to do. The shock is enough to floor you, but you have no time as a knock on the door signals it is time to start your procession.  You hide the dagger within the folds of your skirt, and move to the door; there is no time to worry about the dagger now.

You move regally through the crowd, using every ounce of muscle memory to move perfectly just as the week long rehearsal demanded of you. You family is up ahead about to join in behind you when the horrendous crash and a guttural scream breaks the soft music and awe of the beginning of the ceremony. A victorious cry reverbs through the air followed by an unknown voice bellowing, “The rebels have killed the King and Qu--” But his words were lost in the panic. People erupted into chaos as rebel fighter swarmed from every direction, and you only thought is to protect yourself and the other innocents. Your hand goes to the dagger, and you pull it free, and the note comes to mind. Your sweet maid… had she wanted you to kill the King and Queen? No… Francis. Your mind wheels as you try to process. Francis would bring the change needed alongside you, wouldn’t he? He wouldn’t lead like his father, and mother, right?  So why did your sweet rebel maid think Francis has to die? You respect her wholly and suddenly the answer is not clear, but you have no time to sit idly and ponder - Francis has made his way you and is almost at arm's length.

Questions?
PM: The Selection Committee
or post in Connect

Prompt

You have 2 options you may only pick 1 and the options may not be combined. You do not need to pick the same side as you have in prior rounds

1. 1. Side with the rebels: How do you react to the attack? You realize in the moment that Illea needs a completely fresh start. You see the rebel leader attack Francis, and Francis is about to slay the leader. You intervene, killing Francis.  How do you Kill him?  What happens after you kill him? What does this say about you? Do you escape, if so how? If you are captured, what happens next? What of your family? What happens to Illea and its people (this is a conclusion/wrap up guidance question)? You must be severely injured during this attack. You must encounter at least 1 guard no more than 2 (other than killing Francis)

1. 2. Side with kingdom: How do you react to the attack? You realize in the moment that you simply can’t kill Francis. You fight to protect him and the innocents. During this time the rebel leader attacks Francis, and you must kill the rebel leader to save Francis.  How do you kill him? What happens after? Do you and Francis escape, if so how? Or does the royal guard force the rebels out? What happens after? What of your family? What happens to Illea and its people (this is a conclusion/wrap up guidance question)? You must be severely injured during this attack, encounter at least 1 rebel nor more than 2 (other than rebel leader)

Final posts are due by Thursday May, 26 at 4 PM EST

Helpful Hints
#Yes, this is the final round.  Congratulations! (And yes, we understand if there is a sigh of relief here too, the competition has been tough.)

#Why Francis picked you is up to you.

#You may powerplay: Francis, rebels, guards, wedding/coronation attendees. King/Queen, family, etc.

#How your story wraps up is up to you, it can be happy or sad, the Selection Committee will not discriminate on happily or not so happily ever after. It is all about the story you tell.

#You have a lot of creative freedom this round, but make sure that you completely answer the prompt. If any part is not clearly addressed it will be grounds for automatic disqualification.

# Remember that the Committee is looking for vivid details, creativity, and the story itself (we want as nice big bow as the finishing touch of our story time).

#As always contact the selection committee with any questions.