Elianna's ungrateful arrogance is one of the many things the king despised about her. Protecting her from harm, shielding her from the dangers of the outside world. It was a blessing, and what with her being who she is and what she carried.
He growled to himself while resting his arm on his knee with his head lying atop his palm. He was close, he could feel it. He already had one, albeit unable to be used, but he needed the other to be in full control.
The other half was the key, the key to bringing the 4 kingdoms under his command.
His face contorted to a nasty smile, and the King stared at his fiancée lying sound asleep next to him in their shared chambers.
His nose crinkled, eyebrows furrowing at the sight. He was only going through this for the alliance. To bring together the Northern and Southern Kingdoms.
He would admit, Cel was beautiful, her long brown hair stayed thick as it brushed her collarbones. Her mouth parted slightly on a face that time was kind too.
He sighed, the south had a great military unit, and combined with the North would provide enough men to smoke out that final desire.
The Western and the Eastern kingdoms however, are yet be brought under his control. Yet.
Soon, once he recovers what is destined to be his, he would take over and rein above all who dare oppose him.
The king, speaking only with darkness for eyes, was bored out of his hyperactive mind.
The sheets bundled against his waist as he leaned further back into the pillow resting against the headboard.
The room was the definition of lavish, luxury fabricated into every square inch of their enormous room.
A beautiful double bed with draped white silk covering the sides, bookshelves littering the walls and a carpet so fine against the glossy wooden floor, you could sleep on it.
But of course the king wanted more, frowning with hooded eyes.
His sleeping schedule was always disturbed, the night being the perfect cover for the reports.
And when none came every night, he expected the worst...
The Shadow. No matter how many low-life's he's promised gold in return for her, they always end up dead, slaughtered effortlessly. It made him sick. How could 1 person hold so much power?
He scoffed to himself, the hunt to get her was overbearing, he needed her expert skills to seek out the other half of the-
The Queen stirred beside him, a gentle caress of the cheek had her muttering, "Why are you up so late dear?"
He could barely hear her, Cel's voice just below a whisper.
He replied sweetly, "nothing Celimine, please rest, we have a busy day ahead of us"
She stretched a nod in agreement, her head turning slowly to bury further into the pillow.
He traced small circles on her exposed back, a kind gesture that a lover would do. It pained him.
"-My liege!" A distant voice sounded from beyond the doors, a hurried knock following shortly after.
The king shot up, the Queen awoke startled.
"Enter" he growled, annoyed at being disturbed.
It was a Northern guard who appeared out of breath. He stumbled into the room but kept his head low. He eyed where the king was slumped in his majestic silver bed, the Queen, adjusting the covers beside him.
The king nodded, a signal for him to speak, which the Queen scoffed at, eyes narrowing.
This was her kingdom. Her room. She held the power here.
"The Shadow was seen leaving the Prince's room!" he shouted, still retrieving back his breath, yet remaining upright in respect.
The kings dark pupils dilated, "why in the world-"
"It is her my liege, she is unmistakable"
The king threw the covers of him, rushing to the window that was left open for a cool breeze. "You expect me to believe such things?? Why in all of Caswor would she come here?" His wordings were rushed.
The floor was chilling to the touch but he didn't care.
He fidgeted with the curtains, pulling them back to see a moon as bright as the stars cradling it; adrenalin began thrumming.
"Are you sure it was her?" he asked, curiosity and excitement easing his tone. He was listening eagerly for a reply as he leaned further out the window, spying any possible entries or exits.
The guard continued, "Yes, without a doubt"
Her majesty glided across the room to her soon-to-be husband, brushing a hand on his back in a soothing manner.
Take it easy. Calm down.
"Why would she come here?" The king breathed rhetorically, "unless... it was for a purpose, something, she may have come here to assassinate!"
The king grinned, but within him there was a silver lining of fear- fear that The Shadow had come here to kill him...
The queen gulped, eyes worrying as she addressed the guard; her night gown swaying with her, "where is she right now?"
A simple, calm request.
"My men had pursued her, but she has alluded our forces-"
"Has she left the castle grounds yet?!!" The king howled, the leash loosening around his temper.
"-It's a simple yes or no!"
Leaning closer, on the verge of falling, his blood pumped, "Well? Tell me idiot!" He roared, immediately getting a reply.
"No"
The excitement faded and anger swept over him, causing his grip on the windows edge to tighten.
Celimine held onto the crazed man, his appearance fitting to his reputation.
"And what of the Prince?" She blurted, an undertone of deep concern, "Is he harmed?"
With a faltering smile, he said thickly, "we don't know your majesty"
Celimine slammed her eyes, her own chest rising and falling at the same pace as the wind rushing against them.
The king instantly shot her a death stare for interfering, knocking her stabilising hand of him.
He turned his attention back to the guard.
"What are you going to do about it soldier?" The king exclaimed, shouting so loudly that the room echoed like a tremor.
The guard merely retracted and stared into the void that was his king's eyes, still as a statue, awaiting a command.
"We await your word, my king"
He swallowed another growl.
"Seal off all exits, lockdown the castle, she is not to leave!"
The guard bowed, each muscle pulling him further down a strain. Even when he served this king, his time in the royal guard never meant a direct audience with him.
Now he knew why...
"Do you Understand?!!!! Go!!" He bellowed, sending him into action as he sprinted out the chambers, informing all guards to surround the castle, and warned all sentries posted outside to apprehend The Shadow at all costs.
The Queen was about to arise from slouching over in horror when a voice caught her attention, a small child's voice coming through, murmuring under a steady breath. By the looks of her fiancée, she was the only one to hear it.
Her eyes gleaned in the moonlight as she looked upon it.
Celimine gulped, her arms reaching toward that sweet sound of innocence. Where was it coming from?
Find her. Find me. Find her. Find me...
...Find her, it whispered.
Celimine could only hold onto the edge as she felt her knees wobbling, one step.. she would fall.
Her hands were shaking with a fear of time swallowing the task at hand and processed her thoughts.
The king, finally heading to the chamber door caught wind of a painting of the Queen and his son positioned near the entrance; thinking allowed, "I will get what I want"
The Queen was silent, once his stare fell upon the painting she knew very well, Celimine knew what had to be done.
He was going to use her son to find the stone, or at least a stepping-stone to power.
Being a princess long ago, she was always used as a tool, she knew that feeling, and didn't want the same fate to befall her son. He was his own person, not for someone to control...
Celimine knew there were rumours with the Kings power frenzy, but she never knew how insatiable it really was if he was willing to use people. Especially her son. Her dear Liam.
Perhaps this was the real reason for the arrangement? Grunting, a hand went to stabilise her hammering head. She was thinking too much.
The queen blinked back a tear as she held her heart, and slowly slipped from the room.
The king was conversing with a tally of guards, speaking strategy. He paused, eyeing her with a foul scrunched nose.
"Get back to your room at once! It is not safe for you!"
She turned, anger hardening all her features, "I am the Queen here, this is my kingdom and I suggest you learn that before this arrangement you begged for will be cut off" she seethed, arms clenched at her sides.
The guards stopped to watch.
"You may be a king, but not here, not while you remain within my borders! Here, you abide by my rules, and as such, I may do as I please!"
The King was gobsmacked, a new found anger flowing through him, bottling up. He would save it. Heading to the fitting room anyway to give him some sort of self- defence; a dozen guards accompanying him as his protection.
The Queen angrily thought to herself as she traipsed endlessly into the vast castle, that if she found The Shadow on the way, she would warn her of the kings plans. But... would she be dead by the same hands?
Having no destination in mind, only with a gut feeling, her legs carried her to a place unknown.
Find her.
Find me.
Find her.
She was a Queen, and a mother, she would do anything to protect both her kingdom, and son.
Find me.
Find her.
Find me.
His ideals were senile, ridiculous, and had to be stopped, at all costs.
Find her.
She should have never agreed to the arrangement. But now, Celimine would live with her mistake, and move on to fix them.