Queendom 01: Dilemma

Elanor was on her way to Templeton, one of Wolkenshire's prominent provinces, to bless their annual celebrations with her presence. Barthomius had maintained a special relationship with the province, and they never missed their celebration's first day in all the years together. Yet, if not for the responsibility as the Queen, she would have avoided this trip. At least she was happy to have Bellatrix accompanying her. Though the Queen knew she didn't join in for chit chat. Elanor also noticed the ornate box, a mini-trunk, that Bella had brought with her. It only had side handles, and the top lid had an unusual lock, with a single key attached.

Bella spoke, "Queen, as we discussed earlier. This is going to be a task based approach. And I've designed this task as you specified. It can be done in the comfort of your privacy, without losing on the fear element crucial to your initial experience. I have procured this trunk from the same person who made your cabinet, and it works on similar principle. Here's the task. In two minutes we'll reach the Capital gates, and I'll get down there. Once I'm out, you are to strip down nude, and put all your clothing, including under clothing within the trunk and close the lid."

Elanor had her much practiced poker face. Bella continued.

"You may lock it, hand me the key, and continue on. I'll ride ahead and wait for you at the Templeton North gate. Once we meet, I'll hand the key back, and you'll have just enough time to dress up before reaching the main event. Now this is far less risky, but we must start with baby steps. Also I'd have preferred to ride with you, but I'm riding ahead on your specific instruction that you'd rather do it alone. If you have any doubts, please ask."

Queen asked, "So just strip. Lock the clothes away. Hand you the keys.. And?"

"I'll hand the keys at the entrance. I've re-checked the schedule with your convoy head. All you have to do is wait inside. Naked. Okay, here I go." Bella opened the side door as the carriage stopped at the Capital gates. Queen quickly got into shedding her garbs. She needed this to work, desperately. Yet somehow she kept wearing her under cloths, locking everything else inside, including her shoes.

Soon Bellatrix rode away in her horse ahead of the convoy, with the only key to her Queen's dignity. Elanor felt her cheeks blush red. It helped with her shame that the lamps inside were not lit. She had the darkness covering her nakedness for now. Even then it felt deeply exhilarating for the first ten minutes, risky for the next fifteen minutes.

Then the reality of the situation kicked in. This is going to be just another usual carriage trip.

Once the doors closed, pretty much no one knew what went on inside. Elanor understood that Bella didn't want to push too hard for the maiden attempt, but this is boring. Part of her kept telling her to open up both the windows wide, and risk letting the world see her state, but it was not like there were people outside. The road to Templeton is bare barren land, with a few meadows between. The path doesn't even run through a forest, at least the risk of bandits would have exhilarated her. Yet for all the big talk, Elanor still kept the windows shut tight. She was beginning to have second thoughts if Bellatrix was even qualified for the task. 'Two more hours of this?', she cursed to herself. She had a hectic few days before, and the toll was hanging over her. In fifteen minutes she drifted to sleep.

The sudden jerk of the carriage woke her up. Clearing her throat, with a half sleepy mind, she asked her coachman, "Jokshun! How much longer?"

"An hour and half more Her Highness" She heard him reply faintly through the tightly shut carriage window. Elanor realized it wasn't the jerk that made it uncomfortable, but the temperature. The sun was blazing outside. And the closed coach, out there on the barren land, with no shade from the trees was turning into a fuming oven. Sweat had covered her whole body in shiny little beads, and dripped down her sides. The seat cushion was soaked, and the stench within was turning unbreathable. Elanor knew what she had to do.

With no choice, she opened her left side window. The sudden intrusion of light almost blinded her, but the breeze felt heavenly. She kept a finger of the window pane, making sure the opening gap was never more than an inch. She could see the head of her long convoy in the curve up ahead. She felt the geography seemed a bit different than what she remembered, but blamed it on the weather. The summer was particularly harsh this time around. Even the meadows seemed more brown than green. The royal carriage was much higher than the normal ones, so she knew even if the windows were left open, it's not like she could be seen from the ground.

Then there was another sudden jerk. The terrain had gotten worse. And her finger slipped, letting the window pane fling wide open. Elanor felt a lump in her throat, and a fire lit up in her abdomen. Like a fawn she ducked down, crawling the floor in an instant. How the hell did this happen?! She didn't move a muscle for a minute straight, her eyes bound shut, and her pussy lips puckering for no reason. Evening her breath, she slowly crept up along the right wall of the coach, slowly extending her naked arm out to grab the window pane. It felt soothing, not the naked display, but the wind against her flesh, contrasted by the sun above heating her arm. It had been a few months since Elanor had left the Palace premises, that the sudden outing was quite refreshing.

It felt good, and it was hard to distinguish how much being naked played into it. Slowly Elanor understood, there is no one out looking in to see her nakedness. This was probably the most freeing she had felt, since her fateful coronation. Emboldened by the positive affirmations from nature, Elanor slowly sat back in her seat, now much more comfortable with her state, even with the light shining through. The noon sun was cooking them all, and one open window was not enough to cool the carriage. It was only a matter of time, but soon both the windows were wide open, the wind blowing through the curtains. The Queen kept telling herself, it wasn't her exhibitionism but the tiring, sweating heat. Deep down she knew, heat was the root cause of it all, after all.

She sat on the wooden floor, feeling the polished grain against her naked ass cheeks. She had angled herself such that she will be least visible when viewed from outside, even at a higher vantage point. Even with the windows open, only hot air blew now. Desperate, she had even kept the driver-side window slightly open, just enough for a narrow stream of air to hit her face directly. Even if the driver turned and looked, which was highly unlikely, he won't be able to catch much of a glimpse, as the small window remained shut for the most part.

Well, this was a much tiring week, Elanor thought. Somewhere deep she felt thankful to be sitting there unclothed, and not in a sweat-drenched royal garb. Then again, normally she'd be accompanied by her maids, fanning her to comfort all the way. The only reason she was alone, was the nature of the task. Somewhere in there, between those thoughts and fatigue, Elanor drifted back to her nap. It felt short, yet deep and restful. And in a few breaths she dipped into a dream.

She was back in the Annual celebrations with Barthomius. They were on their way to the famous Templeton Horse show by the pier, accompanied by the town chieftain. It felt good cozying up to him. And he smelled magnificent. God, she missed that smell. Trumpets filled the background playfully, accompanied by the drum beats. And the music just got louder and louder, as shadows moved before them. She hugged on to Barthomius, as he covered her ears with his palms. It helped, but very little. The trumpets grew louder, and louder. And Elanor woke up, disturbed and disoriented.

She noticed, still sleepy, that she had climbed back on to her seat. Probably it was for the comfort of cushioning, or probably to avoid the direct hit from sunlight, that lit up the floor boards now. Still in the grips of slumber, she noticed even the driver-side window pane was fully open. Had he taken a peek she wondered, playfully, thinking it's still a dream. Elanor felt the sunlight hitting sharply at the tip of her raised knee, through the gap in the curtains. It glowed like pure milk, and even stung slightly. She noticed absent mindedly how she was laying. Her hair sweaty and disheveled, her left arm hugging her torso, bunching up and bulging her beautiful ripe bosoms, while her right palm supported her head. Her toned belly was adorned with beads of sweat, and her legs stayed splayed, thighs apart, and a cooling sensation at her perineum. Her beautiful pubic garden looked lush and dense, glistening with sweat as the light hit it from an angle.

Wait, her pubes were out in the open. Elanor woke up to the sudden realization that the dream was far gone, as the trumpets screeched outside welcoming their Queen. 'Oh no..!' She rolled down and curled up in the floor, her right hand searching for the spare blanket usually kept under the seat. This cant be real, this just can't be. She was already within the city walls of Templeton. How did they reach so fast? She couldn't have slept that long. And where was Bellatrix? She was supposed to intercept them at the gate. Oh. no!

As she peeked out the right window, wrapping herself in the blanket, she saw out at the corner. They just passed the Clock Tower. That can't be. They were supposed to enter through the north gate. But if they passed the Clock Tower, that could only mean one thing. This is their welcoming party at the Templeton East gate. She raised her left hand and gently closed the driver-side window, hoping Jokshun had kept his gaze forward. Just to confirm, she asked to her driver.

"Jokshun, aren't we a bit early?"

"My Queen, our guard patrol informed that the usual route had some recent incidents of banditry. We were adviced to take a detour, and enter through the East gate instead. By luck the routes were much clearer, and I thought it's best to help Her Highness reach faster, especially in this sun. So we sped up, and in fact reached early by about thirty minutes."

Elanor had never been more annoyed by her staff's competence. "And how much longer to the Town hall?"

"Fifteen minutes at most my Queen. The crowd is rushing to meet you, hence the traffic is a bit tight from here."

"Call Sadim, tell him to fetch my maid Bella for me."

Jokshun replied politely, "Her Highness. Lady Agrafena had instructed us to find her upon nearing the gates. But due to the change in schedule, I'm afraid she's stuck at the North gate. Sadim informed me earlier that the city guards wouldn't let her in, if she's not accompanying the convoy. And it'd take her at least an hour to reach us, since the streets are filled with throngs of people. Sadim had left to fetch her anyway, the moment we entered."

'NO, no! This can't be happening. Not now, not out here..!!' Elanor felt like kicking the trunk next to her out of frustration. The same trunk which held all her clothing, her shame, even her under clothing. This was no arousal inducing scenario of her dreams, this was terror! What explanation was she to give, to those who found their ruling monarch wrapped in nothing but a flimsy blanket, now stenching and steaming in sweat?! And this was her first public appearance after swearing in, in a long time. People had rushed in to get a mere glimpse of their beloved Queen. And there she was, ready to offend their respect, and fire up their perverted fantasies offering more than an eyeful. In fifteen minutes, she'll have no choice but to step out of the carriage, and greet the welcoming chieftain. That was the custom. Failing to do so would be offending the chieftain and disrespecting the province. Elanor is not just a Queen now, but an all powerful monarch. And it comes with it's own set of rules, expectations and obligations.

The way the drum beats changed to the ceremonial welcoming song told her that they were ahead of schedule. Her trembling fingers measured the corners of the blanket, checking its dimensions, making sure it covered her well, and all around. She can either tie it around her neck, but the bottom will end three inches above her knees. She had no memory of any royalty ever exposing even their shin out in public. Or she could tie it around her bosoms, making sure it stays well past the knees, but then the show will be her ample cleavage. And with no under clothing for support, those mounds will just jiggle and wiggle. This is shameful. What would the chieftain, a dear friend of her husband, think. This would tarnish not just her reputation, but the memory of her beloved. How will the people react to their Queen dressing so salaciously, if you could even call it a dress. All the dilemmas however ended once she sensed the carriage coming to a halt.

It hit her like a jolt, the reality of the situation. And then, she found the way out.

What was she thinking, walking out to them clad in a single blanket?! So as to not disrespect their hospitality? She is the Queen. Their BLOODY QUEEN!! They bowed to her Queendom, not the other way around. And, no one! NO ONE, plays the tunes to which she must dance. And if she deems it time to leave, it's time to leave.

No explanation required.

"Jokshun!" She roared at the coachman. "We are leaving, now! Signal the convoy."

And just like that, it was done.

As the whole convoy rushed their way back to the capital, Elanor couldn't help but wonder. What possessed her to act so docile, so subservient to the pressures of the instance. So submissive..

The people of Templeton were baffled, and greatly saddened. What could have upset their beloved Queen, so much that she left without saying a word? Even the town administration and the elders didn't take any offence, instead feared and debated what they did so as to offend Her Majesty? An offense so deep that she left without even stepping out. Was it because the streets were lacking in the celebratory spirit? Was the decorations not grand enough? Did she doubt them for skimming on the budget? Many of them had personally met the Queen, so they knew very well that it could not have been one of those unruly royal tantrums.

Not their Queen. She wouldn't do something so wrong.

Not that the royalty could ever be wrong.

Fool me once..

Elanor calmed her breath as the servant informed her that Lady Agrafena is here as summoned. The Queen waved okay, she hadn't spoken to Bella since the events at the convoy. It's been two days, and last she saw Bella was on her knees begging for mercy and her walking away without clearing the air. Elanor had enough time to reflect on the incident properly, and she knew well Bella was not to blame. If anything it was on her men, for changing the route at the last minute. Luckily they had found Bella and brought her to the Queen soon after they left Templeton. If not Elanor would have no choice but sent one of her men to fetch some new garb, as all her clothing was locked safe in the trunk leaving her in just her underclothes. She had felt furious sitting there sweating, with all the windows shut tight, waiting for Bella to be back, in that hotbox of a carriage. Elanor tried hard to push away that memory, it made her unreasonable.

Bella was already before the Queen kneeling, waiting her permission to speak. Elanor said.

"Before you start, know this. I don't hold you guilty, nor responsible, for the mishap that happened in Templeton. Although I think you should have considered the possibility of uncertainty. I'm sure my men wouldn't have informed you of the rerouting even if they had the chance, for security reasons. So do not keep apologizing for it. You still have a job. I hope you learn from this experience, and plan better for the next task."

Bella felt as if she was just released from a choke. This is such good news.

"Much grateful Her Highness. Your mercy knows no bounds." She continued looking up. "Regardless the hiccup I hope the experience wasn't too unbearable for you. If needed, we can take a week's break before continuing the procedure. I'm much appreciative of your confidence. Was there anything in particular that was not your liking?"

Though she realized the sincere curiosity in Bella's voice, Elanor couldn't couch her reply as her blood boiled. "I was stripped to nothing but my sweat-soaked underclothes, and left in a fuming hot box for two hours! Afraid of facing even the lowest of my men, the driver. I still feel apprehensive facing him, my favorite carriage still reeks of sweat, I legs cramped so bad from kneeling on floor soaked and cooked. And you still are curious if it was to my liking?"

Bella stood with her jaw dropped, her shoulders crumbling, as the Queen continued in an almost command.

"You appreciate my confidence, huh?! We are not taking a break, and that's not for the faith I have in this. I have no confidence in your plans, I hate every second of it. But we ruled on it, so I'm doing it. And we'll see from there."

Elanor looked right in the Horse whisperer's eyes and spoke in the way only a royal could." The rule is the rule! You are dismissed."

There was pin drop silence in the whole Imperial chamber for a whole minute.

As Bella walked out the Palace gates still in shock of her narrow escape, she wondered again and again in loop, muttering to herself. "..the rule is the rule... The rule is the rule..!? What does that even mean?"

A few days had passed by. The Templeton administrative heads had visited the Queen personally, apologizing for anything that may have caused her any displeasure and pleading her to bless their final festival day with her presence. Elanor tactfully remained, letting them believe it was their fault. She remembered the annual celebrations final from few years back. It was to be the largest gathering of the city, and a great religious ceremony. Everyone in the city will group around the church grounds for a midnight prayer and other ceremonial rituals, before starting the final party. She informed them that her schedule is too packed, but she'll try to find time, and visit. As Elanor delved into the administrative headaches, Bella sure had headaches of her own.

She was on thin ice. Part of her brain kept blaming the Queen's men for ruining her maiden attempt, part of her blamed the Queen for how she kept interfering with what Bella had originally suggested. Bella had insisted beforehand for her presence within the carriage, but the Queen said she'd be too uncomfortable to strip in front of someone. Also most of her requests and ideas kept getting shut down, until this one. Elanor's reasoning made no sense at times, but saying no to the Queen was simply not an option. But Bella knew, part of her firmly believed, it was her fault alone. The Queen had entrusted her, on High Priest's word, a highly delicate job. If it failed by even a bit, it was on her.

That was the attitude that helped her go all these years. That made her the much revered Horse whisperer of today. She was determined to make it work the next time, at any cost.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

It was five past midnight.

Elanor was back in Templeton, waiting for Bellatrix under the veil of darkness, in the town 'Horsemen's club' stables. She had some idea of what's expected of her. She decided upon this task after rejecting five others. Some were too risky to her liking, others too boring. She almost felt manipulated, like Bella offered a mixture of outrageous and dull ones upfront, making her jump at this one as soon as suggested.

Two hours before, Elanor had just lit the ceremonial torch, inaugurating the Templeton Annuals finale in front of the Church. The townspeople were all present, and will be there celebrating for a few hours. So she was positive the deserted streets provided a perfect venue for the task. Bellatrix had insisted on doing this back at the Capital, but Elanor was not comfortable doing it in the Palace grounds. Elanor was aware how this impeded with Bella's work, the sudden suggestions and insistence, but the Queen was simply not comfortable leaving things to fate yet. There was one more reason, but she tried her best not to remind herself that. Despite the horrible memory of the first attempt, the thought of tonight's task itself made Elanor giddy. It was easy for her to slip out without alerting her own guards, she was motivated enough.