queen of everything [open]

[THEA!]

To Noelle, the eroded stone wall still standing high above all else was a bitter reminder that all rulers fall eventually. She could just imagine this castle when the rulers' power was at its zenith; paid servants bustling about, carrying trays of delicacies; slaves tending the land and the animals; the ladies-in-waiting following like a hive of bees around one single figure. Laughing at its every remark, and when the situation called for it, nodding earnestly and running off to do errands for the one person who held all the castle in their paw. The Queen. Having heard stories of Queens and castles and monarchies all her life, Noelle longed for the position. Actually, it was more than just a longing; it was an obsession. All princesses were supposed to get their fairy tale ending. And, with her dear best friend Allegra playing the part of the cute little helper, Noelle would get her rightful throne. Since she was born, she was told she was a princess. And all princesses became Queens at some point.

Roaming about the courtyard, she allowed her mind to wander a little bit, and it returned to a conversation she had had a few days ago concerning the probability of her becoming the Queen. Shaking her head, Noelle told herself not to listen. Noelle was destined for head bitch position since she was born. It didn't matter who said no. Only two things mattered: a. how silky her fur was (nobody could be considered hot with their fur in a ratty mess) and b. how sharp her claws were. And with the two things that are universally known to be most important in politics, a pretty face and a will to get something, whatever the cost, Noelle was, from the start, destined to succeed.

As she wandered into yet another room in the vast ancient castle, her eyes roamed over the stones. Poking up between the rounded pebbles were weeds. Her gaze sweeping across the floor, she noticed a small wooden square. She stared at it once again and started crossing the room to get to it. A latch connected it to the floor. Curious, Noelle nudged at the latch, pushing it with her paw until it fell open, and the trapdoor fell downward. A staircase descending into the hidden chamber was the only way down, even though it was splintered and rotting. Gingerly, she stepped onto the first step and began to step downward. As she did, the lightness disappeared more and more until there was only darkness pressing in on her. As her eyes adjusted to the half-light, the stairs turned sharply, leaving the lonely beam of light shining on a wall. She felt carefully for the next steps, and finally found herself at the bottom.

The first thing that hit her was the stench of sickness, and Noelle's head began to throb. It was so strong it blocked out any other scent. She supposed that the chamber hadn't been opened since this castle was inhabited. As her eyes began to see more clearly, and her nose began blocking out the scent, she was able to make out shelves of food against the wall and another acrid scent. Grain and other bags lined the walls beside her, but at the far end, the very back wall, meat was hung up. She couldn't tell exactly what sort of animals the misshapen blobs were, but she could that they weren't cat. Stepping backward, Noelle stood, all the muscles in her body tensed, at the foot of the stairs, deciding whether she should explore further or leave.