Princess Iris

Just then I remember what Nana told me once "Sometimes Iris, you need a little rebellion to change your fate." "No," I shout.

The hall quiets down.

Father turns to me.

"What was that Princess Iris?" Father asks.

"I said no."

I start walking toward my father. Mother talks towards me.

"Iris don't..."

I don't wait for her to talk as I push her hand away.

"You have no right to call my name. You lost that right when you chose to protect one daughter and leave the other," I say shouting. Mother looks at me surprised.

"I hate you, don't you ever touch me or come close to me," I say to her.

"IRIS," father yells.

I turn to father

"What did I ever do to deserve this? On every turn you constantly try to break me," I say.

My father looks at me, but there is no expression on his face.

"Answer me! Is it because I am not like Ri or is it because I don't behave like a Princess? ANSWER ME," I scream.

"You will get back to your stand now!" Father scolds.

"I am done taking orders from you," I say standing face-to-face with father.

"I am sixteen now, which means when you talk, I talk. All my life I have had to fight for your approval. I have done and said a lot just so you could notice me. But you never acknowledge I existed. You and Mother always find a way to try to put me down. You and mother never smile or laugh with me, you both don't care if I go into the woods and come back. You knew I liked Prince Jeffery but you gave him to Ri, you knew that harp is rightfully mine. Nana always wanted..." 'PRINCESS! Father yells.

I keep shut. We stare at each other and he finally says

"I will not be disrespected or questioned in my kingdom."

"You and your kingdom should go to hell," I say.

Just then I felt a hot sting pain across my face. I start to feel another pain right under my lips. I take my hand to touch my lips and it stings badly.

"He slapped me, my father slapped me," I say to myself.

"Matthew, what have you done? You went too far," Mother says.

I turn and look at him with my red face and cut lips. I watch him look at me surprised. The whispers in the crowd start to get loud.

"Constantine will you be so kind as to escort my daughter back to her chamber, the ball is over for her," Father says.

"Father please don't do this". Ri says walking toward me.

I turn to Ri, she walks to me and gives me her handkerchief, and takes hold of my hand. She looks up at father.

"I don't love Prince Jeffery, Iris does and you know that. She talks about him every breakfast. Iris knows of all Filamonda's military strategy, she knows all about Filamonda's secrets and territory, and she is the best for this union. While I do know how to play the harp, I am not as good as Iris. What Nana always talked about was Iris inheriting the Crystal Harp. I refuse to let you make Iris and I drift apart. Please, father, do what is right," Ri says.

I look at father as he looks from me to Ri.

"I am the King and your father, and just because you both like or do not like my decision changes nothing. My words are final and that is the law."

Thunder sounds loud as the rain continues to pour out heavily. Tears roll down my eyes and I turn to Mother who is avoiding my gaze.

"You might be the king but you will never be my king or my father," I say.

I hear gasps coming from everywhere.

"IRIS NO," Ri says turning me to her.

"You are royalty and a princess..."

"Not anymore, I will rather be a commoner than be related to this family," I say pushing Ri away as she falls to the floor.

I look at Ri and turn to Mother who is crying. I run down the podium, out of the ballroom, and not minding the rain I run out of the castle and make my way to the stables to look for Grenade. I find her in one of the stalls. When she sees me she neighs. I find a stable boy in a corner.

"You, saddle her up now," I say.

"Yes Your Highness," the stable boy says.

The rain gets heavy as heavy thunder is heard. I take the tiara on my head and throw it away. I remove the pins on my hair and toss them away. I let my hair down.

"I am leaving this place and never returning. Father and mother can have their way, and Ri can have the castle if she wants. I am done trying to fit in," I say to myself.

I stop for a while. I take in all that has happened for a moment. I break down and start crying. I fall to my knee and continue crying.

"What did I just do? What just happened? What am I doing? I just told mother that I hated her. I screamed at father and I pushed Ri away. "What is wrong with me?" I say to myself crying. "Princess Iris, Princess Iris."

I turn to the voice and Prince Jeffery enters the stable.

Just then I remember our conservation from earlier. He knew about this all along.

"Stay away from me," I yell.

"Iris, please hear me out," Prince Jeffery says walking towards me.

"I said you should stay away from me. You are just like them. You stayed away from me. You never replied to my letters, you didn't think I was worth knowing what was going on," I say. "No Princess Iris, my father..."

"I don't want to hear it," I scream crying as I can't help my emotions.

"Your Highness, she is ready," the stable boy says.

I hurry to Grenade and climb her.

"Princess Iris please you can't ride in this rain. It's dark out there and the rain is too heavy for you to see in it," Prince Jeffery says.

I consider what he said as I look into the rain, just then heavy thunder sounds following a bolt of lightning. I spot the old abandoned bell building.

"Princess..."

"You have Adrianna," I snap.

I see the hurt on his face but I don't care as I ride off with Grenade to the old abandoned bell building.

When I get to the building, I take Grenade inside and tie her to an old post. I start shriving from the rain. I look around the building, spotting some old dry wood I gather them together and light them up. I seat close to the fire so that it could warm me up. I recall the event that happened today and I break down crying again.

"Nana, I miss you. I miss you so much," I say to myself.

I lay on the floor and slowly I drift off to sleep.