Diary of a Mad Woman

The Personal Ramblings of an Evil Queen

Dear Diary,

I’ve finally done it. Who knew the little princess would be the key to the whole spell. Well, former princess I suppose. What power I’ve gained by her loss. The second her life drained from her eyes, the spell began to work. The dagger in her heart began to glow, and I could feel the raw power emanating from the blade. The king and the queen burst through the doors, but it was too late. Too late to save their baby girl, and too late for them to stop my wrath. The enchanted blade accomplished its goal. In mere seconds, they were as dead as their tiny heir.

Of course, the guards tried to stop me, tried to avenge their fallen king, but with their deaths, my powers had grown. Magic flew from my hands and their throats were sliced as easily as a hot knife slices through butter. I had to laugh to myself at this new power I had found. Each death brought more life to me, each soul further enchanting the blade in my hand.

Before long, the guards stopped attacking me, seeing their fallen comrades filled them with sense enough to kneel at my feet instead. With a grand flourish, I swept into the throne room. The great lords and ladies of the court gasped when they saw me, of course, but it mattered not. A quick flick of my hand silenced their tongues in their mouths.

The thrones at the front of the hall, the larger the king’s and smaller the queen’s, would not due for me, for a being as powerful as me. I deserved a throne worthy of my newly acquired station. Black magic spewed from the glowing dagger in my right hand, and a new throne was formed, dark and glorious. I ascended the steps and took my rightful seat. The kingdom of Kalewen was mine.

Dear Diary,

It has been two weeks since I’ve assumed the throne of Kalewen. This is what I was born to do, and the spell that old wizard sold me has given me what a common birth did not. Everyone in the kingdom has come to pay fealty to me, bowing at my feet and leaving gifts to show their admiration. Just yesterday the baker brought in a dozen pastries and left them humbly at my feet. He was trembling and couldn’t look me in the eyes, he was so infatuated with my beauty.

I’ve seen many of the High Council members whispering to each other in the past days. I was initially concerned they were trying to come up with a way to be rid of me, but today I found out their true intentions: they wish to marry me off to a prince in order to strengthen the bond with a neighboring kingdom. I can hardly believe it! Becoming a queen and gaining a husband all in a fortnight? It seems to good to be true!

Dear Diary,

Today is my wedding day! The glorious day I’ve been dreaming of as long as I can remember. In the short month since I’ve been Queen of Kalewen, my Council has found the most charming prince to be my groom. His father is King of Nyderith in the east, who have long been enemies of Kalewen, but I am sure once they heard I was Queen, they decided to put aside their petty squabbles with our Kingdom.

I have only spent a few brief hours with my Prince, Alessor, but already I am infatuated with him. His broad, muscular shoulders wear his gleaming armor well, and his thick, brown hair cascades down his over his shoulders, begging me to run my fingers through it. When he first arrived, he asked for a tour of my castle, which I would have been alarmed at if he wasn’t so genuine. I spent the next three hours showing him every room, every square inch of my stronghold. He asked questions here and there, but mostly just gazed at me, studying my features. He seems as engrossed in me as I in him!

Dear Diary,

Two months of wedded bliss have passed. Alessor is more than I ever could have imagined. He is funny, charming and most of all, attentive! He follows me around like a lost puppy most days, never leaving my side. He is the most delicious of distractions! We have settled into a little game of questions that makes the hours in the day pass. It starts as an easy question, like what is my favorite color. Then the questions get progressively harder! Today he asked the hardest one yet! “What is my biggest weakness as a leader?” At first I was unsure of how to answer, it felt almost like a trick. But he assured me that he only wanted me to succeed in my role as Queen of Kalewen, and wanted to help complement my weaknesses with his strengths, so I told him all about how the blade gives me magical abilities far beyond imagination. He thanked me for being so open and I felt as though our relationship increased by leaps and bounds.

However, there is one major concern I have with my new King. Thus far, he has refused to spend the night with me. He tells me often how regal I am, and seems to enjoy my company, but every evening, will make some excuse to practice his sword work or meet with the stable master late into the night, and he never joins me in the royal chamber. Two months we have been joined in matrimony, yet he has not consummated the marriage.

It matters not though, he has my heart and my love. We are both still adjusting to the duties of running our Kingdom. The rest will come.

Dear Diary,

Alessor has been acting more and more strangely. We have been married six months today, and he now actively avoids my company. He no longer joins me in the throne room while I accept the commoners fealty. He holds private meetings with my High Council, and will not permit me to know the things discussed. I fear something terrible is happening. I asked what was troubling him today, and he told me not to worry, that it concerned his father’s kingdom and I should focus on running our own. But I then overheard him mumbling something about a wizard. I wonder if it is the same wizard who sold me my spell. If that wizard is troubling Nyderith, I should offer my aid! I am more powerful now than I was when I first met him.

I have noticed, however, there is one downside to this powerful spell. I must continue to replenish the souls captured in the dagger to keep my magical abilities strong. This hasn’t been an issue, as the former King had several prisoners in his dungeon. They met a swift execution by my hand.

Dear Diary,

Tonight is the most gorgeous full moon. Strangely, I feel as though my powers are weakened tonight in its shadow, but it is of no consequence as Alessor has requested we walk through the gardens alone this evening. He is a skilled swordsman, and my people adore me, so I know I have nothing to fear, even in my lesser, more human state. I must go quickly, for the hour we agreed to meet is upon us!

Dear Diary,

I have been utterly deceived! My beloved Alessor has imprisoned me in the highest tower of my own castle. The midnight stroll was nothing more than a ruse to get me alone. The full moon waxed me of my powers and I was captured by the members of the King’s guard. How have I been so blind for so long! Nyderith only sought to usurp my throne with my marriage to Alessor! My own High Council plotted against me to arrange the marriage. “Better a Nyderithian than a witch!” they said! Moreover, they have shattered my dagger, and the spell was broken. I am no longer the powerful woman who killed the King and Queen and young Princess. I’m just a commoner again, with no claim to a throne. They will pay for this, every last one of them!

Dear Diary,

Alessor visited me for the first time since my imprisonment tonight. He only did so to inform me of my upcoming execution tomorrow in the courtyard. All of the noblemen of Kalewen and Nyderith have been invited to watch. The look of contempt he gave me was nothing like the soft, loving looks he gave me during the first months of our marriage. Love turned to hatred and disgust.

I will not give them the satisfaction. This will be my last entry. The window in my “cell” is just big enough for me to slip through. Either I will escape to enact my revenge, or I will perish at the foot of the castle.

They are calling me the Mad Queen. And mad I shall be.