The Handmaid was our Queen's first love. It began in youth, quietly in corners, secretly on long walks, and precariously in the garden.
Letter from Our Queen to her Handmaid
My Dearest Treasure,
As the stars pierce the velvet night, so too does my heart long for the gentle warmth of your presence. Though I am adorned with the crown of this realm, it is your quiet grace that reigns sovereign over my soul. In the solitude of these chambers, your absence lingers like a shadow, and I am left bereft of the light only you can bring.
When you walk through the corridors, my eyes betray me, seeking the soft glow of your countenance amidst the drudgery of courtly affairs. It is not the splendor of jewels nor the whispers of the noble council that sustain me; rather, it is the thought of your touch, light as a dove’s wing, that breathes life into my weary spirit.
I marvel at your strength, your beauty, the quiet resolve that sets you apart from all others. Though the world may deem you a humble servant, to me, you are a goddess incarnate, veiled by modesty, and bound by duty. How cruel this life, that our stations should divide us as the river divides the land. And yet, my heart, rebellious as a child, crosses that current unbidden, again and again, to find you.
I have written this letter with trembling hand, fearing that it may never reach you, for how does a queen confess her heart to one she should not desire? But I can no longer keep silent, for my soul is afire, and its flame grows ever fiercer with each passing day. If only I might hold you, speak these words into the curve of your neck, and feel the world itself fade to nothingness.
Pray, do not think me mad, for love often makes fools of even the wisest. Should my words cause you discomfort, cast this letter into the hearth and think no more of it. Yet, should your heart echo mine, let your gaze linger upon me but a moment longer when next we meet, and I shall know.
Yours,
Now and Forever,
Your Queen