The Palace of Valstand was abuzz, tonight would be a grand party for Princess Tahra, who was finally turning 21. The laws of Valstand said unless an heir to the throne abdicated they were to ascend to the throne, regardless of the current monarchs age, health and desire to rule. This law had been placed to prevent one monarch from ruling for too long, allowing newer generations to keep the country moving forward. 

Tahra’s personal guard was uneasy, several near death accidents had occurred leading up to her birthday but Tahra refused to admit that her father had anything to do with it. It was widely accepted if not talked about that the King had arranged for his older brother to drown before taking the throne so that he could become King. Tahra was summoned to her parents chambers, her guard instructed to leave them alone.

Tahra marched quickly through the marbled halls of the palace, not even taking the time to change out of her armor into the dress her mother had picked out for the party. Tahra was immediately concerned, it was apparent that her mother had been crying.

[color=7CFC00]“ Amil, mana na- raica?”[/color] Tahra took a step forward and was baffled when her mother threw her arms around her and sobbed. In public they spoke the common tongue but in private Tahra and her mother spoke almost exclusively in elvish, her mother’s native tongue but not her father’s.

The Queen was sobbing but Tahra could still understand her. She tried to comfort her mother but was silenced when her mother spoke directly into her ear. [color=9932CC]“Tye must imeúre-, -yes na- vamme varna. Your ontáro na- going ana kill tye. Linne- sí!”[/color]

Before Tahra could argue her mother had pushed her back, having heard the heavy foot falls of her husband. Tahra collided with a suit of armor and fell to the floor. Her father was holding an unsheathed sword, and he looked angry.

[color=FF0000]“No doubt your mother has warned you but as always you are too stubborn or too stupid to take the hint. I have been trying to get you to abdicate the throne for months, this is my country and I will not be ousted by my own daughter. You will not take my power from me!”[/color]

He raised the sword but his wife stepped between him and Tahra. She pleaded with him to stop. He told her to move but she would not budge. Tahra moved to get up, the armor clinking together as she moved it aside. Tahra yelled for the guards.

Unable to get to Tahra, the King settled for running the sword through his wife, who fell to the floor, the sword impaling her though her midsection. Tahra wrenched the sword out of her mother, applying pressure to the wound while cradling her body in her lap.

[color=7CFC00] “Amil, tye indóme n- okaime. Ni'm símen. Tye indóme n- teréva.”[/color]

[color=9932CC]“Ni mel tye, titta er.”[/color]

The guards rushed in and the King pointed his finger accusingly at Tahra. [color=FF0000] “She killed the Queen in cold blood. She ran in here saying she wanted to start her reign without our influence getting in the way! Seize her, take her to the dungeons! She will be hanged in the morning.”[/color]

Tahra didn’t say a word in her defense, it wouldn’t have mattered anyway and she was now holding her mother’s lifeless body in her arms. She complacently let the guards restrain her and throw her in a cell. Now, all there was to do was wait for the morning, for her father to kill her like he had killed her mother.
[hr]
[hider=Elvish] I did not write my own version of elvish, this is a variation of Tolkein’s. For continuity sake, if your character speaks elvish and you would like to include the elvish script, I ask you use the same translator that I did:
[url] http://funtranslations.com/quenya[/url]

For your convenience I have also included an English translation of the conversation Tahra and her mother had:

“Mother, what is wrong?”

“It is not safe. He is going to kill you. You must go now!”

“Mother, you will be ok. I’m here. You will be ok.”

“I love you, little one.”[/hider]