Realism Fan Fiction / Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Dirge of Crisis ❯ Captive Queen ( Chapter 1 )

Dirge of Crisis

By: The Crimson Archer

Chapter 1: Captive Queen
Emma silently walked down the red corridors of the Manse as her morning ritual allowed her to do so. What a beautiful morning….she thought silently to herself with a growing sense of melancholy. I wish that Dallas were here with me to see the wonderful job I did with the garden. He would marvel at the sight of it- the sight of my love for him. But, he wouldn’t even look twice, would he? Ever since the growing controversy with the handling of the U.S. Senate has been brought into view, he’s been so stressed out and he refuses to come to dinner. When I ask him what the matter is, he only lashes out at me- like the world itself is out to get him. I have to know what’s really wrong for myself; if only these two would allow me….She thought this while she glanced to the garden, a spectacle of roses seeming to be of fine silk, and this brought her into a distant reality far from her husband’s paranoia, and far away from the house arrest that he had placed her. Reality had a way of crashing itself into her, and its downfall made her enslaved by the man she loved; a caged bird she did appear- a bird with clipped wings that cannot fly from this injustice. She could not step foot outside her own home unless she was escorted, and that, she could not stand. Emma then moved her disheartened gaze from her pride that filled her wreaked heart with love and looked at her new freedoms that were given the title of “Private First Classes”. Both men walked on either side of her, appearing authoritative and cunning in their desert camo uniforms. In their hands, they gripped their assault rifles with a death hold, apparent in the freshly ripped innocence which was untimely strewn as cruelty in the form of military menacemnet- the two were still kids, fresh out of high school. The older of the two men, a charming blond haired youth caught notice of Emma's misery and with a staid, military trained tone, he asked, "What's the problem, Ma'am? Is there anything you need us to do?" Emma forced a weak smile from her hardened face and answered delicately, “No, Madison. I don't. Thank you for your concern, though. I had enough air from yesterday's outing." "Really? Ok, Ma'am, that's fine. You seemed a little upset, that's all. I noticed that you've been depressed lately. Do you mind telling me what's wrong with you?" Madison asked in he same stoic manner. Emma became quite upset by this and balled up both fists to impede her fury from exploding to the world and lashed out, “Do you want to know what's wrong?! I'll tell you then! Over two years I have fallen victim to my husband's mistrustful mind set. And...and...It’s all because he is far for worried about his oil assets and his job in the Senate! He used to be so kind, so loving, but that's when he became a foul mouthed monster that I don not recognize anymore; and then, that's when Leigh Walker came into the picture. He's told Dallas nothing but the lies he accepted as truths. How could he just sit there as his own wife, the woman he loves, suffer as he falls apart to the threats of a man over thousands of miles away? And to top it off, he supplied me with two men who act as my wardens and nothing else. I am not a prisoner in the home that Dallas and I built...I am a woman and I deserve more respect!" Madison conceded, “I... I'm only doing what I was ordered to. I'm sorry, Emma, I’ll..." "You'll what? You'll just do nothing! If you respected me as your employer, you'd allow me to figure out why Dallas has been acting like this." Emma cried with the new burn of hot tears welling in her eyes. Madison quickly stopped his protective march in front of her, folded his arms, and a placid crossness spread across his face, “You know I can't do that, Emma. It's against our procedure. We can't allow you out of our sights for even a second. Even if I allowed you to go on this personal quest of yours, it could mean that Jessie and I will lose our jobs! And if we lose our Army status, they WILL NOT pay our way into college. I can't take that risk." Emma started to cry softly, clearly hurt, and in between sobs, she managed to utter out, “I...I...How could you? I just wanted to find out...I-" The raven haired man now known as Jessie(who throughout the conversation did not show a decent respect or awareness of the two bickering and quarreling over the former incidents)finally spoke in the manner at which a parent would with unruly children," Madison! What the hell has gotten into you? Can’t you see that she's hurting? Each time Dallas refuses to spend if even 5 minutes with her, she dies a little inside. You can't deny what you see. Emma's right, the Senator has been acting rather unusual lately; you yourself said that his and Congressman Walker's behavior has changed over the last little bit. Things like his are always hidden from us all the time- don't you want to know the truth for once?" Madison studied Jessie's face for a second and confessed,"Yeah, I'd like to know as well. I have noticed Emma's ache and it pains me to see her in this way. How could Dallas push her away like that?" He then looked to Emma, “Please forgive me for acting like an ass lately. I have been so caught so much into my duty that I couldn't see the wrong we have put you through. You don't deserve to be treated like a child. Because of us, you missed out on everything you felt was important." Emma smiled brightly through her tears, reached out and warmly embraced Madison, whispering softly in his ear," I know you're sorry, honey. You have done more for me than I have ever asked. Madison, you don't need to act so stiff around me...." He pulled away from her embrace, and spoke softly as to not allow Jessie clearance to the secret, “Jessie doesn't know about us.... I can't....If I were to let my guard down, it would be suspected. Please, understand me, Emma."