Illia watched from her bedroom window as churchgoers, the people of Astrean, and even neighboring kingdoms poured into the church. She watched as a sea of people dressed in black attended her mother's funeral.
She sighed and closed her windows.
"Here child," Selene entered the room with a bowl of hot soup. "Drink,"
Illia smiled softly and accepted the soup. She tipped the bowl to her mouth and began drinking the warm broth. She closed her eyes, letting the spice and salt soothe her throat.
"Thank you, Selene,"
Selene smiled and watched Illia as she turned back to the window and watched everyone pay their respects to her mother, except her.
"Do not fret, dear. She will rest easy," Selene said, softly. "You did what you thought was best for you. I would have done the same. Your mother's death was a mistake and she would not want you to think of this for long," Selene combed Illia's hair as she stared blankly at the swarming guests.
Illia missed and loved her mother, and she knew Adeline would never forgive her for what she had done. However, Illia knew that a prophecy was destined to come true so she knew what she had to do.
***
Adeline stood in the back of the palace, watching as guests flooded the seats. She stared numbly at the casket that lay at the end of the aisle. She was handed a few flowers by her subjects as they fluttered in, offering condoling smiles and warm handshakes. Adeline smiled in return and bowed to Queens that came from other kingdoms.
The people of each kingdom were distinctly defined by their appearance. The people of Enchantra were tall with long, blonde hair. They all had pointy ears and piercing eyes. The men and women both towered over the people from other kingdoms.
The people of Zariya were all average height, the women were built to be warriors, while the men were built to be hunters. They wore dark purple, their traditional color a lighter purple. The women had their hair in braids and the men had their hair slicked back.
Nethermore folk were mostly elves and faeries. They were tall, but their pointed ears and long red hair defined them from the rest. They wore green to symbolize their love and respect for Mother Nature.
While all the kingdoms had distinct differences there was one thing they all had in common: a queen.
There was one kingdom that Adeline noticed had not come, Veraxin. She figured it made sense considering their queen killed Isabelle.
Adeline appreciated the other kingdom's attendance, however. The uniting of kingdoms, brought together by great loss. She was handed a handkerchief with her mother's initials on them by one of the guards.
"They found this in your mother's study, your Majesty," he said, bowing and returning to his post by the door. Adeline nodded in thanks and traced the letters. IS. Adeline tilted her head, studying the letters. IS? Adeline had always referred to Isa as 'mother' and she had heard everyone else refer to her as 'Queen Isa' or 'Your Majesty' so she didn't even know her dead mother's surname.
She exhaled sharply, bringing the handkerchief to her face, dabbing loose tears off her cheek. Adeline turned to see if any remaining guests had not yet entered the palace. There was only one. A man. He was tall with dirty blonde hair. He wore a deep green coat with medals decorating the left side. Adeline welcomed him in with a smile and handshake.
"Prince Dreyden of Enchantra, your Majesty," he bowed as he kissed her ungloved hand. "I am terribly sorry for your loss, Queen Isa was a great friend of my mother's and was one of the purest souls I knew,"
"Thank you, Prince. Your attendance is much appreciated,"
Dreyden nodded and smiled as he walked past Adeline to sit down.
She inhaled and exhaled, preparing herself for her speech. She had prepared it just the night before and had it wadded up in her hand. Adeline began walking toward the podium at the end of the aisle.
She walked slowly past the numerous subjects paying respects to their fallen queen. Mothers hushed their children. Children sat in their seats, calming. Adeline walked silently up to the podium and unraveled the paper in her hand.
"Um…" she said blankly, looking around the room. She spotted Dreyden making direct eye contact with her. He nodded once and Adeline looked down at her paper.
The room went silent as hundreds of eyes stared at Adeline, waiting for her to speak.
"My mother was not only a Queen," she started, slowly. She could feel the presence of the casket looming behind her and tried her best to keep her composure. "But, she was a friend, she was a good mother, and she was the best ruler this kingdom ever had. I cannot promise you all that I will rule as well as she did, but I will try my best. She was there for my sister and me in times of need. She taught me how to ride a horse, how to write, and how to be a proper Queen. The qualities that you may like about me came from her. She was my other half. And she would have wanted to be at my coronation, at my wedding, and she would have wanted to meet her grandchildren. But she will never know the joy of seeing your children continue the family name," Adeline choked on her words. "I loved my mother more than anything else in this world, and I know that she wanted me to be the best ruler I could be. So that is my new mission: lead this kingdom to success," she stopped speaking and dabbed her damp face with her mother's handkerchief.
"Thank you all for showing your support," she said quietly before stepping off of the platform.
Dreyden watched as Adeline quickly walked down the aisle and out of the room. He stood, shuffling past people. He ran out the door and after Adeline.
"Your Majesty!" he shouted, catching up to her. Adeline stopped just before the golden gates and looked down at the waterfall below her. She watched as white deer and little trolls hopped from stone to stone across the river.
She smiled softly, watching as they chased each other through the water. Adeline stood taller, lifting her chest as she inhaled a deep breath of the sweet river scent and the mist drifting off of the water flowing beneath her.
Dreyden smiled as he watched her face glow.
"Mother and I would come here quite often and drink from the waters. We would go down to the bank and paint and play in the water," Adeline's smile never faltered as she told Dreyden about her childhood.
Adeline reached into the rushing water below her and cupped her hands. She pulled up a handful of water and poured it into her mouth. The cold, pureness of it flowed down her throat and she felt almost cured. The sadness lifted from her body as a cold drop of fresh water dripped from her mouth. She looked at Dreyden and gestured to the water.
"Try some, Dreyden," she almost giggled. He smiled and leaned over the edge, cupping water in his hands. As he began to pour it into his mouth, he felt a cold splash wet his cheek. He turned his head slowly to see Adeline snickering with wet hands.
Dreyden swallowed the water and tried to keep a serious face but could not hold his laugh. Just as he reached to grab another handful of water, Adeline took off. She ran down the bridge and past the golden gates. Dreyden shook the loose water from his hands and chased after her.
Adeline ran down the hill that connected to the golden gates and ran through the second door that led to the bank of the river. She turned to make sure Dreyden was close behind. He was. He was laughing and smiling widely as he reached the door, chasing after Adeline.
She ran down the bank and right into the shallow water that went a little past her ankles.
"Your boots are too clean for this mucky kingdom water!" she taunted, watching Dreyden debate whether or not to go in too.
"You mean the water we just drank?" he shouted back. Adeline held her stomach as she leaned back, laughing. But she soon stopped when she heard a quick splash of water. She opened her eyes to find Dreyden, without his boots, in the water. She peered over his shoulder and noticed his boots lying against a tree on the bank.
Dreyden smiled, trudging through the water. He got closer to Adeline and took a handful of water and tossed it right at her face. She gasped as the cold shock slapped her.
"You're dead, Prince!" Adeline shouted, laughing. She dipped her hands in the water and splashed Dreyden multiple times. He held his hands up to his face and ran toward Adeline.
She yelped as he swooped her up in his arms and spun her in the air until they were both dizzy. Dreyden then put her down, right in the water, soaking her dress. She scoffed playfully, getting up. She ran at him at full speed and tackled him and they both landed on the soft grass of the bank.
They giggled and gasped for breath as they sat up. Dreyden looked at Adeline and smiled.
"That was fun, Adeline," he stood, brushing off his pants and offering a hand. Adeline took it but instead of using it to stand, she used it to throw Dreyden into the water.
"Indeed, Prince," she bowed before skipping away. Dreyden threw back his wet hair and grinned as he watched her dance her way back into her castle.
***
Adeline stared down at Dreyden's corpse blankly, a single tear falling from her eye. She smiled as she combed his hair back. She tilted her head and leaned down, placing a kiss on his forehead.
"Rest easy, my love," she whispered into the casket.
"Your Majesty?" a small, quiet voice called from behind Adeline. She said nothing but continued to comb Dreyden's hair. She could hear someone walking slowly from behind her.
"You have a guest."
Adeline looked up from Dreyden without turning. She turned her head over her shoulder to see Allison, Adeline's servant, standing next to Queen Adora of Zariya. She gave a tight smile and held her hands together in front of her.
Adora looked like a royal, like a queen. She carried herself with grace. Her dress seemed to flow with her movements. There was a light purple strand of hair that faded into the coils of curls that bounced on her head. Her dark skin complimented the streaks of light purple in her gown. Her rosy cheeks were dark pink, her lips painted a dark lilac.
It was excepted of all funeral guests to wear their kingdom's colors but darker. But Adora found the darkness depressing and she figured Adeline had seen enough of that today.
"Queen Adeline," Adora bowed her head to Adeline.
"Adora," Adeline said by way of greeting. Adora lifted her head and peered over Adeline's shoulder, to the casket.
"I did not mean to disturb you," Adora said, stepping closer.
"Nonsense. It is no good for me to stay a hermit for the rest of my days," Adeline smiled, walking past Adora.
She followed beside Adeline. "He was a good man. Noble, brave. Good looking too," Adora smirked, looking at Adeline. She snickered and looked at her feet.
"That he was. He might have seemed like a serious man but he was far from it. He was silly and childish. But that is why I fell in love with him,"
Adora smiled, examining Adeline's face. They were walking outside now, they had left the castle but had not yet reached the gates.
Adeline stopped at the waterfall and looked down.
"We met here. We both drank from the water and chased each other around the bank," Adeline smiled warmly and reached down for a handful of water. Adora mirrored her movements and too reached down.
Adora watched Adeline over her hands as she swallowed the cold water.
Adeline sighed. "Just wonderful isn't it?"
"Very refreshing," Adora smiled. "I have heard rumors," she said, turning her body to Adeline.
Adeline paused her drinking and looked at Adora. "Of what?" she asked, stepping away from Adora. She turned to walk alongside her.
"That you are with child."
Adeline's steps faltered as she swallowed the lump in her throat. "Yes, it is true,"
Adora smiled. "How joyous. You have been blessed by the God's with the chance to carry on Dreyden's legacy,"
Adeline looked to Adora as her eyelids fluttered, her grin a thin line. Adora reached for Adeline's hand.
"I have faith that this child will save this kingdom and its people from the evil that lurks beyond these very walls."
Adeline nodded as they continued walking down the marble path.
***
Illia smiled as she watched the people of Enchantra and Astrean flood the church. She held her hands together and tilted her head, observing the mourning guests that slowly stepped into the church. Illia sighed and closed her eyes, feeling the great success of taking away her sister's happiness.
She heard the creak of her bedroom door and craned her neck over her shoulder to find Selene. They both smiled at each other.
"You have done well, Illia. This is only the first step to taking complete control over Astrean," she said, coming up to Illia.
"Thank you, Selene. I am quite proud of myself as well,"
Selene smiled. "Have you heard the rumor of Adeline?"
Illia perked up, her eyebrows turning downwards. She cocked her head to the side, intrigued.
"She is to have a child come nine months,"
Illia smirked. "Well, it looks like I have something even better to threaten Adeline with. My new proposal will be if she does not comply within the remaining five days, her child will be mine,"
Selene nodded and smiled with Illia.
"I will not let Adeline win,"
***
"I have gathered you all here today to discuss how we will proceed with Queen Illia," Adeline said from the head of the meeting table.
The surrounding queens shared looks. They all looked back at Adeline.
"The rumors are true. I am with child. And knowing these kingdoms, I understand how quickly rumors spread. Also knowing my sister, I know she will try to use this against me. I found out just yesterevening that the beast Illia wishes to have is the only thing able to kill her. So I cannot just give this creature to her. It is the only thing that I have over her,"
"So what? You are to keep this beast and come seven days, Illia will take her wrath out on all four kingdoms?" Queen Nadya of Nethermore challenged.
"No, no. I will not give her what she wants, but instead something that looks like what she wants. I have a beast that looks like Valethar, the creature,"
Nadya scoffed. "You truly believe that Queen Illia will believe your foolish ploy?"
Adeline rubbed her forehead and leaned over the table. "I am open to suggestions, Queen Nadya. But if you offer none, then I will hear no further judgment,"
Nadya straightened in her seat and moved her lips awkwardly.
"Right, now does anyone have anything else, or can we-" Adeline spoke, but the door flew open and a messenger with wide eyes held a letter in his hand.
"What is the meaning of this, ser?" Adeline said accusingly.
"I have come with a letter from…" the messenger looked down at the name on the letter and paused.
"Well go on then, boy," Queen Nadya said.
"Queen Illia of Veraxin,"
All of the Queens looked from each other to the messenger to Adeline. She peered into his hand and looked at the envelope to see her name in big bold letters.
"Come, leave it here," she called him to her. The boy placed it in front of Adeline and scurried off. She stared at her name on the paper, blocking out all noise of whispers. She could feel the gaze of the Queens daggering her. She cleared her throat and opened the envelope.
Her hands trembled as she pulled the letter from the pocket. Adeline looked around at the Queens before reading the letter. She did not read it out loud just yet.
Adeline,
Dear sister, how I rejoice to hear your news of the child. Oh, and Dreyden, you have my condolences. Considering the new circumstances, I have rethought my terms. If you do not give me Valethar in six days' time, come time for your child to be born, I will strip it from your arms the moment it enters this world. You will have such a beautiful child. Dreyden was deadweight anyways. He held you back, dear. Bring me the creature or you and your kingdom will face the consequences.
Love, Illia
Adeline looked up from the paper to see worried faces. The paper shook in her hands as she sat it on the table.
"Well? What does it say?" Queen Nadya asked.
"Exactly what I thought it would. I will discuss options with my men and send letters to you lot when we have come up with something. But the one thing I can tell you, your Majesties," Adeline paused as she stood at the head of the table.
"Is that there will be war."