It has been four days since the king and the others left for the feast. Two days back, the black sign on the moon appeared, ever since they saw that sign, they never stopped praying, hoping that their love once will return home safely.
Queen Hazel tried to remain strong for her people. She encouraged them to never lose hope. " Don't lose hope because of the signs. Have faith, our love ones will return home safely." She often said to the people. She encouraged herself with her husband's promises to her before he left.
" He promised he will be back in one piece. I know he will be back. Hele has never lied to me, he will keep his promise, he will be back." His promise, kept her going.
She tried to occupy herself with work, so she won't think about the king too much. If she was not in the study room, she was in the shrine praying. She rarely eats. She was afraid to sleep at night because of the nightmares. Fega, tried to stop her from working too hard, but she wouldn't listen.
" Milady, you are working too hard, you should take a break. You haven't eaten anything since morning. Please milady, eat something, at least for the sake of your unborn child."
" I'm not hungry, Fega. I will eat something once I finish working. You can take the food back. If I am hungry, I would let you know."
" Milady, you might fall sick and it might affect your baby's health. Please you need to rest. You haven't slept for two days now."
" I will rest only after I see my husband's face. until then, I will continue working. He asked me to be strong, that's exactly what I'm doing."
" Your majesty! Your... Majesty!" A little girl called out as she ran into the throne room, interupting their conversation.
" Your majesty! They're... here!" She spoke trying to catch her breath.
" Calm down child. Tell me, who are you referring to?" Queen Hazel gestured for her to calm down.
" His majesty and the others are here!"
" His majesty?" Hazel eyes widened. She looked at the child in shock.
" He came back. He kept his promise. What are we waiting for, let's go and welcome them back home." She says, rising up on her feet without hesitation.
" But, your majesty, they didn't come back alone. Some strange men brought them back on horses."
" On horses? What do you mean by that? We should go and find out what is going on." She says, running out of the throne room, with Fega closely behind her.
" Your majesty!" An old woman cried out. " The worst has happened, your majesty." She cried louder.
" What's going on here? Why is everyone crying? Where is the king?" Queen Hazel asked.
" The King is dead, your highness. They brought his body along side the others." Another woman spoke, her voice quivering.
" What kind of joke is this?"
" Milady, it is not a joke, their bodies are lying helplessly on the ground." Elder Ella said. Her eyes were swollen, it was obvious, she has been crying for a while now.
" Where are they? I won't believe you until I see them!" She yelled.
" You shouldn't do that, it's not good for your condition. Elder Ella replied. Her voice quivered, she could bearly get the words out.
" Where are they! I beseech you to answer me now!" She yelled even louder. There was no hesitation in her eyes.
" At the entrance of the forest. Your majesty." The little girl answered.
Without hesitation, she ran with all her strength to the entrance of the forest. When she got there, she saw her people lying lifeless on the ground. She searched for the King's body, after searching for a while, she found him. His beautiful face looked pale, his hands we're cold, his skin color turned bluish- purple. She sat down close to his body, picking him up. She placed his head on her laps. Her eyes scan through his entire body.
After scanning with her eyes for a while, she screemed. She screemed so hard that her water bag broke.