A lone shadow stood on the terrace, gazing up at the once white with clouds sky. The terrace has noticeably vines of flowers crawling, majestic roses sprouting, even the pillars that holds the roof in place has them climbing on it. The sky where the figure is staring moved, no, the creature that resides the sky moved, creating a distortion as its figure swims fast away.
"... Regina meis," a man called as he approached the standing figure. "I see that what they said is true. You're awake..." he stopped not so far away, "But why?"
The queen didn't answer right away; instead she closed her eyes and drew a silent breath. She then faced the man, her rod that thorny vines crawl up placed between them.
"Meus Rex..." she called, "Are you not delighted to see your queen awake?"
The king did not answer her, not amused.
The queen smiled and laughed softly, "What a king you are," all she said before turning her back to him once again and gaze up at the deep blue sky; the water. "It's been a hundred year, isn't?" she asked to no one in particular. Knowing this, the king didn't answer but stepped to stand on her side, gazing at the same sight.
"... Meus Rex, I can already feel it. My hundred years of living is coming to an end." A small smile crept on her lips, "It's coming to an end, Meus Rex."
"... So that's why you've awaken only just after eight years, isn't?"
"Quidem," the queen agreed. "She needs to be awakened."
The king gazed at the queen for a long time, noticing that she, even after a hundred of year, did not age at all. But she looks tired. Her skin is paler than before, and her eyes are losing its light. Her jet-black hair that flowed gracefully down the floor shone under the dim light of the moon that is far, far away from them, making others question why its light can even touch the city. Atop her head was a crown that was seemingly made from bunch of beautiful roses that the on lookers would like to take and try wearing it. It was majestic to the point that it hides the thorns. The crown is no ordinary crown. It was a crown of thorns.
"Can't you..." the king trailed of, holding the left hand of the queen. "...Even just for a little bit more... Stay, Regina meis?"
The king knew the answer, yet he still asked, tightening the grip of his hand on top of her delicate hand. The queen bore her gaze at him, to the king who lowered his head for her. She smiled, clutches his hand without much strength and said;
"Meus Rex, no, our king... You absolutely cannot sacrifice your people just for this dying queen. If my death can save our people within this underwater kingdom, I am willing to perish and give the baton to the next. Besides, meus rex," the queen softly stomp the thorn rod on the floor, making the small vines crawl on it at fast pace, holding it up, she then let the rod go to face the king and hold his both hands.
"Everything is already decided from the very beginning, I hope you did not forgot. My term is already ending and I am entrusting everything to the next queen." She smiled, and her eyes smiled along with her. The king met her eyes, "To our child, the next protector, as well as the next flower of the sea."
They were enveloped with silence after, but both understood what was going on inside their minds.
-
Deep down below, there is a room that the personnel of the temple keep on going in and out. Some can't help but smile in excitement, while the others keep on breathing in and out to ease the anticipation building up inside of them. The room was crawled by many green vines, vary in every sizes, they were on the floor, the four walls of the room and even on the ceiling, they were there. The room was like a forest of vines and colorful roses, it was breathtaking enough, but nothing can beat what was in the center.
"The king and queen are here!" a female announced, suspending the movements of the people present. "Bow down before the presence of the king and queen!"
There was nothing heard after the declaration but the footsteps of the said important people. Almost immediately, the two entered the room at the same time, carrying their selves as the ruler of the place. The king stood tall and proud, not leaking any emotions on his face while the queen, who was walking on his right, carried herself softly, her face was solemn and on her right hand was her rod.
Like a choreograph movement, everyone except the two kneeled on one leg, bowing their heads at the same time. Both acknowledge them, but no one stood not until they passed them. And as soon as the two reached the center of the room of vines, everyone was already standing, watching their every movement. The king stopped mid-way, but the queen didn't. She continued walking until she's arm-length of the glowing large bud of flower. The bud was glowing soft purple, reminding everyone who's present of their mother's gentle touch.
The queen transferred her rod to her left hand, using her right to touch the bud. It was warm, gentle; like it was alive. Everyone was on their toes, waiting for something to happen. But the queen just stood there, eying the bud for a long time. They thought that something was wrong, but no one dared to interrupt but the king.
"Regina meis, is something wrong?" he asked.
"...No," she said softly, "of course, there's none..." the king was confused. "It's just that, I wished to witness her growth, but it will just remain a wish, I know..."she mumbles more on herself rather than answering the king.
If it is possible, the room turned more silent, the silent was deafening. Even not understanding fully, the witnesses felt their queen's pain. No one really knows the queen except her husband and the people hundred years ago, but everyone except the king is not here to witness this moment. They are all dead due to old age.
The queen tightly closed her eyes before inhaling deeply. And as soon as she opened her eyes, she saw the silhouette of a baby inside the glowing bud. Just the sight of it comforted her heart; the queen regained herself, smiling at the silhouette.
Did I make you wait for too long? The queen asked inside her mind. Were you afraid being left alone inside this bud? Fret not; you'll see the outside world soon.
The queen stepped away from it, and then stood proudly before stomping her rod on the floor. "Excitare, puer meus."
As if on cue, the flower began to bloom, the petals growing big every second. The watchers stood agape, fascinated with the things slowly unfolding in front of them. The flower grew in size and slowly, it opened itself. The giant bud became a giant lovely rose. But It was not what the people present there made their eyes bulge. It was what was on the center of the red big rose.
"B-bow down before the royal family!" the female earlier said, also bowing after her words but sneaking a peek on the rose.
She can't believe it, it was once just a glowing big bud at fist when she saw it. She was assigned to monitor it, and she was confused why. She thought it was the temple's treasure, so when her curiosity won over her rationality, she looked at the bud closely. To her amazement- or was it shock or fear? She does not know. There was a shadow of a child! That was eight years ago.
She could not believe, she thought she was only hallucinating. But she proved herself right, because it was indeed a child.The queen looked down on her child who was sleeping on the soft petals of the rose, noticing a rose pattern on her abdomen like a tattoo. She kneeled down; the queen kneeled and put her rod on the floor before scooping her child on her arms. Even though the child did not grew in her womb, she can still feel their connection since she was the one who's nurturing the child's body even if their away, monitoring her breathing and heartbeat even she's asleep. And not undoing her spell of stopping her growth until this time comes.
"Regina meis," the king also kneeled besides her, gazing at the child, his eyes soft in delight. "A name, give our child a name."
The queen smiled down at the sleeping child on her arms, "Of course... "She whispered, "This child, our child is named... Octavios Rosalia Maris; the next queen, the next holder of the rose and as well as the eighth flower of the sea."
The next day, the city celebrated the birth of their next protector. There were feast and dances. The king was there, but not the queen or the princess. The princess is not allowed for public appearance, while the queen went back to her chamber; continuing to protect the smiles and laughter of her people, sitting on her thorny throne while wearing her crown of thorns.
The barrier of the city looked like a shining blue crystal, shining brightly while looking down below.
-
Regina Meis- My queen
Meus Rex- My king
Excitare, puer meus- wake up, my child.
Octivios- eighth
Maris- of the sea
Quidem- Indeed