An old idea

This is an old idea I had for how to write the books. Well, the first one or two, at least. I've since decided against it, but it couldn't hurt for you all to see.

The cold wind blew in through the nursery window, alerting Rhia's attention from the book she was reading. Marking the page in the book, she set it aside and rose to close the window. On the way back to her seat, she stopped by the crip to look in on the young master.
"Master is quite right to be proud of you. Your mother would have been proud, too."
As she returned to her seat, she adjusted the heavy collar around her neck; the mark of a slave. How long had it been now? Four generations with the Wong family. But those generations had only been the latest, happier chapter of her time as a slave. There had been many cruel masters before, though she put up with all of them obediently. The collar around her neck was a sign of how futile fighting back would have been. Besides, none of their torture came close to the torture her adversaries, the Hunters, caused.
She leaned back in the armchair. She let thoughts of the Hunters escape her, thinking instead of days earlier. Of a time when she could be as peaceful as the child whom she watched over.
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"Rhini? Rhini, are you listening to me?" The impatient Drow tapped his foot, frustrated gaze rested on the young girl in front of him.
She sighed, tossing some of that silver hair over her shoulder. "Yes, Jason, I'm listening. Though I don't see the point."
Jason ran a hand through his short-cropped hair. "How are you going to become Queen if you don't know what to do?"
"But why can't I just stay with father? He's king, isn't he? That's basically the same thing, right?"
"I don't think Uncle would appreciate you being his shadow. And there are differences. Your father does things quite differently from how a queen should do things."
Rhini pouted, arms folded over her chest. "But I want to do things just like father. Why do I have to do things differently?"
He smiled and ruffled her hair. She'd make such a wonderful queen. "Like my aunt said: 'It isn't about what you want, it's about what's best for the colony.'"
"Father says Aunt Katia's a croak..."
Jason laughed. "Those two don't care much for each other. Aunt Katia's still sour about your mother's death."
Rhini looked down at her feet. "Did you know mother, Jason?"
His smile faded. "Yes, I did."
"What was she like?"
"She was a wonderful person. Maybe you'll be a queen just like her."
Her eyes lit up. Be like her mother? "Yeah! Okay!"
He grinned, taking the opportunity to dive back into the lesson.
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The soft sound of a baby's whimpering brought Rhia out of her daydream. She got back to her feet and moved over to the crip. The baby had woken up, fussing for attention. She smiled down to him.
"Good afternoon, young master. Have a nice nap?" She lifted him up and brought him close to her. Ever since his great-grandmother had died, Rhia had taken on the responsibility of taking care of the children. She'd had no objection, even able to forget she was a slave sometimes. Granted, this one's father could be very cruel ever since his wife died, but she could forget it whenever she was taking care of the boy.
She wrapped a blanket around him, to keep him warm in the drafty hallways and chilly courtyards.
"Ready for a walk?" She giggled at the boy's cheerful face, nuzzling her nose to his as she left the room.
It was early October, and the afternoon air had just recently turned cold. The wind reminded her of another October, ages ago, when the nip in the air seemed so much harsher.
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There was a loud knock on the door, quick and distressed. Rhini lifted her head from the pillow, tired eyes turned to the door.
"Rhiannon, your presence has been requested in the Great Hall. Get dressed and report immediately."
Jason had woken up at the knock as well. His eyes met Rhini's giving her a shrug. "Do as they say. sooner you do, the sooner you can get back to sleep."
Rhini nodded and smiled. Her cousin was so wise when he wanted to be. She got up and slipped on a tunic and the breeches she'd worn the day before. She moved out into the hallway just as the men knocked again. She gasped at suddenly being grabbed on either side.
"What's happening?" she cried, fighting against their grip.
Her cries roused Jason from his bed and he hurried to the door. "What's the meaning of this?"
"Stay out of it, Jason. These are Katia's orders."
Jason frowned, following them out into the hall. "My aunt?"
"What does Aunt Katia want?!" Rhini was getting fantic, wide eyes turned back to Jason. This didn't make any sense. Why was her aunt dragging her out of bed in the middle of the day? "Did I do something wrong?"
When the men didn't answer, and Jason saw the pained look on their faces, he ran around in front of them to get in their way. "The princess asked you a question!"
"I said stay out of this!" The man knocked Jason aside with a punch to his face and continued on.
"Jason! Why did you do that?! He didn't do anything!" She fought harder to get free, but to no avail. She fought all the way to the Great Hall, but stopped as soon as the scene hit her.
The Great Hall was built like the Collesium, a small stage in the center of the room with stadium seating all around. It could fit the entire colony, and then some. The place was full, not a seat left, and people standing all along the back wall and in the aisles. That meant the neighboring colony was there, too. "I don't understand..."
Suddenly, a familiar, icey voice came from behind Rhini, cold hand taking one of her wrists. "Well, well. Rhiannon, you finally decided to join us."
"Aunt Katia? What's going on? I didn't hear an announcement about a meeting..."
The woman laughed. It sent a chill down Rhini's spine to hear such a cold, empty laugh. "Of course you didnt, it was a surprise, just for you."
"For me? What for?" Her voice quivered, shaking as the woman led her down one of the aisles.
"I'd like to direct your attention to the Floor, princess."
She stumbled as she pushed her forward. It wasn't until she recovered that she'd be able to look down at the stage. Her eyes widened at the sight.
There, chained to a pole that had been raised from the floor, standing on a small plank of wood with his hands raised over hsi head, was her father. The King! Chained up like a traitor! He was even still wearing his crown!
"What's going on..?" Her gaze shifted to the figure beside him. A rage flared up in her blood, gazing upon the fare, pale features of a Wood elf. A female. Was that a crown in her hair as well? Then she was a queen... But who was she? And why was her father looking at her like that?
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Rhia's thoughts were torn from her at the sound of her name being called from down the hall. She slowed and turned around to watch as two young slaveboys came running up to meet her.
"What is it, boys?"
They slowed to a stop once they reached her, one of them doubled over to catch his breath. The second managed to gasp out his message. "It's Master!"
Rhia's eyes widened. "Master? But what about him, what's wrong with Master?"
"Sick," the first boy said, still gasping for breath. "Passed out. Doc says he's dying."
The second boy would speak up again, standing straighter. "Master...he called out for you."
She caught her breath in her throat. She wouldn't wait any longer as she held the baby close to her and broke into a sprint down the hall. She had to get to him.