They didn't have to wait long. The queen soon entered and Alexis swore loudly. It was lucky she couldnt talk because all the others only heard such growling noises. Queen Brazillia gave them a sickly smile, and settled into her throne.
"as you all know, my husband Chastos is sick. I am hoping you will be able to heal him. He has strange symptoms that none of our healers know of. You will all see to him now. Follow me please!" she said and set off at a brisk pace. They followed her down the corridor, through a room full of artworks and up a staircase, that winded around and around.
This isn't the way to the kings chambers, Alexis thought, this is his old chambers. Alexis had been there but only at night time it when brazillia wasn't in the castle.
they entered his room and Alexis looked around. It wasn't different, except that the bed looked as if it hadn't been slept in for days, and the was a layer of dust over everything, except an armchair in the corner, in which the king was sitting, starting out the window. It took all her willpower not to rush over and hug him, but she did inch around so that she could see his face, but ran into another healer, and gave up.
"Chastos, sweetie, there are more healers here to meet you." brazillia said quietly in that same sickly voice and Alexis' insides boiled with rage and hatred for her. But Chase didn't move at all. He did nothing to signify that he had heard his wife. His queen.
"come on Chastos wear your crown, you are the king and they are here to meet you." she said, putting the heavy gold crown that was lying on the bed onto his head. He still made no movement. Alexis wondered if he was asleep, but soon realised he wasn't, because after some time, he sighed, stood up and put the crown back on the bed. Then he sat down again, facing the healers and Alexis this time. She gasped, and luckily it wasn't noticed by the shuffling of movement as people bowed down before him, and Alexis hurried to do the same, her heart pounding. He really did look sick, his face was pale, his eyes were blank and he had dark circles underneath them. His gold hair was dull and almost colourless, and he made no movement, just sat and watched them.
"Chastos, introduce yourself. These people are here to help you" brazillia tried a third time and was cut off by the sharp voice of one of the healers.
"I think," he said, "that his Majesty does not wish to be spoken to." he said. And brazillia stuttered, looking mad.
"I am king Chastos." he said. His voice sounded different. They waited for a speech but he said no more, simply looking at each of them. Alexis avoided his eyes. Staring at the ground. She hated how much he had changed, he definitely sounded sick. The healers nodded around brazillia, but she didn't look up from the floor. The floor she once lay on with Chase, kissing because they had fallen over, and stayed there. The four that she had, on many occasion landed on, after climbing the rope ladder he had lowered so that she could come in. Why had she come back? This just made her feel worse. She moved over to listen to Brazillia and the healers.
"when did he get sick?"
"around two months ago."
"Was there any cause?"
"well, I don't really-"
"but and when did he get this bad?"
"about a month ago, he barely eats, stays in here during in that chair. He doesn't come to bed at night and barely ever talks anymore. I don't know what's wrong with him."
"yes you do." Chase's voice cut in, and the healers turned back to him. He wasn't looking out the window anymore, he was looking at brazillia.
"what happened then?" one of the healers asked
"she left." he said, now glaring Brazillia. Alexis shrunk further back, lowering her hood again.
"and where did you go?" One of the healers asked Brazillia. She looked furious.
"he's not talking about me." she said.
"then who?" another healer asked gently.
"some filthy peasant he had an affair with." brazillia said, disgusted, and glaring at her husband. Suddenly they ask jumped back, as Chase had leapt up and was yelling now, his fists clenched.
"No! she was not a filthy peasant and it was not an affair!" he yelled, and his eyes were no longer blank, but filled with anger at her. If looks could kill, brazillia wouldn't have survived even with the four real healers in the room.
"what happened to her?" the sharp voiced healer said quietly, and chases eyes went blank again. He sank back into his chair.
"she died." he said bluntly, returning his gaze to the window.
Alexis felt horrible. She didn't know why they thought she was dead, but it was clearly hurting Chase deeply. She had tears in her eyes but she only looked back at the floor. Maybe Chase was just mourning. Brazillia left the room and the healers stayed, but didn't approach Chase.
"king Chastos?" one of the healers said tentatively and he looked at him
"king Chastos, how did she die?" he said and Alexis looked up
It was a second before he answered though.
"I don't know.. She ran away, the search party's found a body. they came back, and then..." Chase inhaled deeply and shut his eyes.
"it's okay, i'm sorry for asking, I'm sorry" the healer said but chase didn't hear. Or maybe he ignored him, Alexis didn't know. But he continued anyway.
"It was horrible. must have been attacked. Blood everywhere, Barely recognisable. I refused to believe it was her. But there was no one else that it could have been..." Alexis edged around to look at him, just in time to see a tear slip down his pale cheek.
Oh, What have I gotten myself into?