Drip. Drip.
The sound of water rung in her ears but she could not say where it came from. Perhaps from over there? She slipped out of bed to find herself nearly ankle deep in water! The room was dim and she stumbled around searching for the light switch only she remembered with a sigh she was not in Denvile anymore. And Gauberhodgy had not yet developed such technology nor seemed to want to. Suddenly she heard a melody, followed by a frightful tune. The voices were low still, the words echoed inside her cranium and sounded as if it came from all around her.
We are awake, wide awake
We've seen your fears and come to feast
Were troubled waters run deep
Our roots will spread and take!
The song ended in a threat that left her hair standing on end. She felt a cold wind breathe against her cheek and a shiver ran down her spine. Spinning around, she made for the door but it was getting harder to move and in no time, she was rooted to the floor. Literally. Some thin white roots had wrapped firmly around her ankles, grounding her.
"Not even waiting around to greet me, my Queen?" The voice, though foreign filled her with sudden dread. The roots slackened allowing her to face the speaker. "At long last we meet, again".
The creature before her was unnaturally beautiful, unlike any she had ever laid eyes on. He had a sharp face with pointed elf like ears and appeared much like a human only his skin, lucent as the moon was of the palest gray and his hair that fell like the waters at the river's end, of the finest silver. He appeared to be attached to the roots yet at the same time independent of them.
At that hour, the roots snatched her up and brought her to his outstretched hand.
"I've heard the rumors and now I see the truth. You are not the queen you once were!"
Alia flinched away and tried desperately to tug herself loose of the vines. They let her fall in a flick of the wrist from the tree creature.
"You don't wield your scepter as you once did". He cackled gliding closer.
"You have fear..." He reached forward, snatching the crown from her head. It shifted in his hand, forming a silver crown of spikes which fitted neatly upon his head. "We will break your throne, trample your people and take back what's rightfully ours!"
Her tongue had suddenly loosened.
"What do you want!?" She shouted back.
At which he only laughed.
"Don't act so ignorant my Queen, it doesn't suit you well ". He faded away along with his laughter.
And she was glad to be rid of the nightmare and would have put it behind her excepting it was made impossible as she was no longer in her bed chamber but standing barefooted in the throne room. Her crown laying on the floor a few feet away. Speaking of feet, hers were still bruised at the ankle were the roots had grabbed her. This was more than a dream!
"I will not stand for conversations like these!" Silverus was adamant. His Queen had only just returned and wether or not she felt herself, she was the true queen and he believed, the only one who could save them.
Both creatures were conversing within the secrecy of the Royal lobby,
"Sir Saddlepaw you know her better than any of us you can not allow your vision to be cloudy. This kingdom needs a ruler, not some Queen who has forgotten herself".
"I expected better from you Oldin or else I would have kept my mouth shut. Should have kept it shut!"
"The people's hearts will faint and we will be defeated if action is not taken swiftly , we must have her relinquish the throne!"
"And give it to who, you Lord Oldin? Why I thought you better than a slippery snake!"
"You, me what does it matter, as long as it is to one who has the kingdom's best interest at heart. We can not only depend on her Saddlepaw. Decisions have to be made!"
"You stay away from the queen!" Silverus growled and it was quite the show to see the little cankey baring his teeth at the bigger cat.
"The truth will not remain in the dark forever, Saddlepaw and we are short on time as it already is. See the waking willows have crossed the moor, they are at the door and a little while now..."
"La la la la la lahh!" the cankey had diminished in his anger and hopping around on a footstool, he sang on top of his voice fingers over his ears. "I can't hear you!"
"Mercy!" Oldin gasped "You have definitely gone batty!"