Queen Miraza Rainbow. Part One. The Message.

I’m going to tell you this story, because it happened to me, and it sort of happened to Queen Miraza Rainbow of Robinson Land.
As you might guess, Queen Miraza Rainbow was Queen of Robinson Land. She was really pretty and really lovely, and everyone loved her. Robinson Land was a country where summer reigned eternally; it was always sunny, because Queen Miraza was such a warm, loving soul.
Now, I have already mentioned that everyone loved Queen Miraza, but she had one enemy. Queen Azarim Thorn of Dark Land.
Queen Azarim was a really nasty person, who nobody liked because she bullied everyone. Like Queen Miraza’s personality showed in the weather at Robinson Land, Queen Azarim’s personality showed in the weather at Dark Land. It was never summer there. In fact, the sun never went there; it was always dark because of the black clouds that hung in the sky. And instead of pretty flowers everywhere, there were menacing, poisonous thorns everywhere instead. Queen Azarim wasn’t happy with being queen with just Dark Land, she also wanted to rule over Robinson Land as well. Of course, Queen Miraza wouldn’t give up her queendom, so the two had been enemies ever since, and they’ve been at war for a very long time.
Now, Queen Miraza had a secret. A deep dark secret that she never told anyone. Except for me. Who am I? I hear you ask. I am Queen Miraza’s handmaiden. My name is Rahc. I wasn’t as lovely, or as pretty, as my mistress, but she absolutely adored me, and we told each other everything.
Now, Queen Azarim had been quiet for some time, but there did come a time when she plotted once again to take over Robinson Land from Queen Miraza. She sent over a messenger from her court, a hunchbacked ugly dwarf called Odom. He told the queen that his mistrees, Queen Azarim, wanted my mistress, Queen Miraza, to go over to Dark Land, to ‘talk things over’.
“But you can’t go!” I insisted. “It would be too dangerous for you!”
“Hush, Rahc,” Queen Miraza soothed. “Odom, would you kindly please leave my court for a few minutes, while I think things through. And then I’ll let you back into give you the message for your mistress, Queen Azarim.”
“Are you going to kill her?” One of her bodyguards, Notna, asked, once Odom had left.
“No,” the queen answered. “I shall go over to Dark Land, just to see what my - what Queen Azarim would like to talk about.
“Well, isn’t it obvious?” I exclaimed. “She wants to kill you, and become queen of Robinson Land. No, I won’t let you go, my mistress, it’s too dangerous!”
“I admire your concern, Rahc,” Queen Miraza smiled.
“If I could, I’d gladly dresss up as you, pretend to be you, and go in your place!”
The queen pondered this for a few minutes, then she clicked her fingers.
“That’s a great idea. You can be my decoy.”
“But, your Majesty, she doesn’t look like you,” Queen Miraza’s other bodyguard, Azzet, protested.
“She’ll doesn’t have to,” Queen Miraza answered. “I’ll dress Rahc in a cloak so big my - Queen Azarim won’t be able too see her face. If she asks you to remove your cloak from your face, Rahc, you can say you have an infection on your face, and it’s so infectious, anyone can catch it just by looking at you.”
I nodded.
“Azzet! Notna!” The two bodyguards sprang into action. “You will escort Miss Rahc to Dark Land, and see that she doesn’t come to any harm.”
“Yes, your Majesty.”
“Now, send in the dwarf, so I may tell him the news.”
Odom the dwarf was let back in.
“Go back and tell your mistress, that I will indeed come to Dark Land to talk things through with her,” Queen Miraza told him. “I shall leave here at the crack of dawn tomorrow so I can get to your country in three days time. Do you understand?”
Odom nodded, curtly. Then, without another word, he turned left the court to go back to Dark Land.
I looked at the queen nervously, and she smiled at me, not knowing that I felt nervous inside. Dark Land was a dangerous place, with poisonous thorns, and ten foot vultures who could gobble twenty human beings in one go, and still go looking for more. And then there were invisible creatures that could kill you instantly with one bite. It wasn’t at al like Robinson Land, with it’s rose bushes everywhere, two foot phoenixes who gave pretty firework displays for the children, and we had invisible creatures as well, but ours were friendly. Some children even kept them as pets.
“Mistress,” I said. “Does it take three days to get to Dark Land?”
“It takes one day to actually get there,” Queen Miraza replied. “But you have to travel for another two days to get to my - Queen Azarim’s castle. But there are many dangers on the way, poisonous thorns, those nasty ten foot vultures, and those horrible invisible beasts, not at all like ours that can be kept as pets. It’s a possibility that you may get killed”
The queen looked at me, looked at my horrified face, and smiled again. “Don’t worry, Rahc. I have confidence in you. You are my trusted handmaiden. I know you will get there safely. Plus I know you will not betray me to my - Queen Azarim.” She pointed to the two bodyguards. “Plus, you have these two to protect you.”
I smiled weakly. Even though Queen Miraza had trust and confidence in me, it didn’t make me any less nervous.
The queen must have seen my face, because then she said: “Rahc. In my private bedchamber, a gold plated sword, and a gold plated shield. They were left to me by my mother and father in case of enemies usurping my throne. They have been handed down through the family for many years. I shall give them to you tomorrow, for you to take on your quest. They are a magic sword and shield, and they will protect you from any dangers. I shall also give you a magic ointment that will heal any wounds you may receive. All you have to do is drink it. But remember, drink only a little bit, because the bottle is very small, and the magic ointment, Loplac, is very hard to get hold of nowadays. It is very rare.”
“Thank you, my Lady,” I said.
I started to feel a little better about my quest.
I knew that I had to do this, for Queen Miraza, for Robinson Land. Even though it was going to be dangerous, and I might get killed, it was my duty.