Saturday story time!

Hello, readers. This week has been difficult and long for me and I could certainly use your prayers. I was able to finish my story about a princess facing her mortality during a raid on her castle. It was suggested by an anonymous reader so thank you, anonymous for this suggestion. Here's what I came up with:

  Princess Alyssa ran up the stone stairs as fast as she could. The screams of the peasants outside pierced her ears and sent chills down her spine. She ran breathlessly to her room and threw the door open. Inside, she saw her head lady in waiting huddled in the corner her eyes wide and frightened.

 “Princess, thank goodness you are alright,” the lady, Isabel, said, rushing forward and embracing Alyssa.

 “I was in the gardens when I heard the ruckus,” Alyssa told her, trembling slightly. “The guards came and told me to go inside and lock myself in my room.”

“Their screams are so loud, there must be hundreds of them out there,” Isabel said, leading the princess over to a chair and helping her sit. “Thankfully the rest of your ladies are off in the fields picking flowers and safe from this madness.”

“What do you think they want?” Isabel asked.

“Our lives,” Alyssa replied, slumping down in her chair and putting her face in her hands.

“My father has pushed them too far. He has been raising taxes for months and taking more and more of their food. He has even sent his soldiers out to scout for strong young men who they will force to be part of the army.”
 Isabel gasped.

“What a horrible thing to do,” she said, then covered her mouth and blushed realizing she was speaking against the King.

“I am sorry, my lady,” she quickly apologized. But Alyssa shook her head.

“You are right, Isabel. It was wrong of him to do those things. He has become so greedy. All of us have. It seems as though the royal family seeks nothing more than riches and wealth.”

  The princess looked up at Isabel with despair on her face.

“What if I die today, Isabel? I have always avoided thinking of death because I could not bear the thought of parting with such a luxurious life. Now it seems it will be forced upon me.”

“That is not certain, my lady,” Isabel soothed, gently rubbing the princess’s back and shoulders.

“But what if I do die?” Alyssa squeaked, her voice choked with sobs. “What do I have to show my Maker other than riches and wealth I cannot take with me? That will not impress Him.”

“None of us can take those things with us. That is why we cannot live for worldly possessions. We enjoy them for a time but then they are gone.”

  There was a loud crash from downstairs and Alyssa gasped and jumped out of her chair.

“The peasants have made it through the front doors,” she said, horrified.

  Isabel stood next to her and took her hand, struggling to remain calm for the princess’s sake.

“We should go into your bedchamber, my lady. You will be safer in there,” she insisted. The princess allowed herself to be led into her bedchamber and watched numbly as Isabel quickly closed and locked the door behind them.

“Why are you not frightened, Isabel?” the princess wanted to know.

 Isabel smiled and helped the princess take a seat on the side of her bed.

“I am frightened, my lady. But I wish to be brave for you. And I know if I die I will be with Jesus.”

“I am not sure that Jesus wants me anymore,” Alyssa admitted, looking guiltily at the floor.

“My life has become a quest for riches and even though I knew my father should not tax the people as he did, I said nothing to him or my mother because I wanted more and more wealth. God cannot be pleased with such selfishness.”

“God is always willing to forgive if one is truly sorry,” Isabel explained comfortingly.

“I am truly sorry,” Alyssa insisted. “And I am thankful for his forgiveness but I still do not wish to die.”

“No one wishes to die, my lady,” Isabel told her. “But all of us must leave this world someday.”

“I am only seventeen,” Alyssa sighed. “I have barely had a chance to live my life.”

“That is not true,” Isabel insisted with a smile. “You have done many exciting things and have many happy memories.”

“Will anyone remember me?” Alyssa wondered.

“Of course they will, princess. But you must stop talking like this. The guards will protect us and the peasants will be sent home.”
“I hope so,” Alyssa said, wincing as she heard more screams from downstairs. They were getting closer and the princess imagined it was only a matter of minutes before they would be right outside her door.

“Would you like some water, my lady?” Isabel offered.

“No thank you, Isabel. My stomach is in knots and I do not believe I can eat or drink anything till this is over.”

  Isabel nodded and sat back down next to the princess.

“If I live past today I will strive to live a life more pleasing to God,” Alyssa decided. “I do love all my fine things but I do not wish them to be my idol. And I do not wish to be remembered as a princess who boasted in her wealth while the people of her realm starved.”

“Perhaps you can return some of their money to them,” Isabel suggested.

“My father has been quite generous to me these last few weeks. I am sure I do not need all the money he has given me,” Alyssa mused aloud.

 “I can visit the peasants and show them that I do care for them by returning the money my father unjustly stole.”

 “That would be a very kind thing to do,” Isabel agreed with a smile. “The people will be encouraged to know they have an advocate in you.”

“They will never know such things if they kill me however,” Alyssa whimpered, straining to hear exactly where the fighting and yelling was occurring.

“My lady, be at peace. God is watching over us.”

“I do not wish to die,” Alyssa squealed. Isabel took the princess’s hand in her own and squeezed it tightly.

“Pray, my lady. Pray for peace,” Isabel encouraged.

 Alyssa closed her eyes and Isabel could see her lips moving but her body still trembled. Suddenly there was a loud pounding on the door of the princess’s outer chamber. Alyssa’s eyes flew open and she screamed.

“They are here. They’ve come to kill me!” she cried hysterically. Isabel wrapped her arms around the princess feeling tears forming in her own eyes.

“Do not fear, my lady. It shall all be over soon.”

 They were both silent listening to the ruckus and pounding outside. Alyssa was convinced at any moment the peasants would flood into her room eager to punish her for her misdeeds. Then, just as she had lost all hope she heard a familiar voice calling to her.

“Princess Alyssa, are you well? The peasants have surrendered and are being sent home. The castle is secure.”

 Alyssa squealed with delight.

“The captain of the guard! He is safe and we have won,” she exclaimed.

“Praise God!” Isabel breathed, embracing Alyssa in an excited hug.

“I must ensure my parents are safe,” the princess decided, sliding off the bed. “And I must speak to my father. I should like him to reconsider his heavy tax on the peasants.”

“I am sure after today’s events he will not need much convincing,” Isabel said.

 Alyssa nodded in agreement and left the room with Isabel right behind her, both thankful God had spared their lives. 

Thanks for reading and feel free to comment and tell me what you liked/disliked and why. Keep the comments focused on the writing and not what you thought of the topic/subject matter. 

Happy weekend!