The words that came out of the queen's lips rendered us utterly speechless, leaving an eerie silence in their wake. My thought process was shattered into countless pieces, like a glass mirror smashed with a club.
All I could do was remain seated, engulfed in an overwhelming sense of disbelief at what I had just heard. Sure, she said it when we first introduced ourselves, but it seems like everyone else, including myself, thought we misheard her. I thought she had a similar last name, but no, I heard correctly.
"What's the matter? Do you all need me to repeat myself?" The Queen asked with a confused look.
"No... but... I..." I couldn't even form complete sentences as I fumbled over my words as if speaking a tongue twister.
"Thought that you had no family left? Why didn't I make the effort to seek you out sooner? Why didn't I leave some sign to tell you that you had someone out there secretly looking after you?" She questioned.
In return, I could only nod unsightly, almost like a twitch or a jerk.
"Because I figured it would be better to stay distant. Your future doesn't end well. It would only hurt to get close when knowing... no, it's nothing. In any case, I was in a rather... difficult mental space due to clan matters. However, that doesn't mean I didn't help keep you safe as a child. In fact, I helped keep you all safe from this chair as you all: Sam, Mason, Arnold, Elaine, and yourself from supernatural forces while you all "went on a great journey" as children. As little munchkins, y'all were so cute!" The Queen cooed, but a pint of sadness washed over her face before disappearing.
Arnold and Mason turned their faces away, clearly embarrassed, while Elaine waved her flushed cheeks to hide her face. I remained silent, perhaps the only one to notice the subtle shift in her expression as I gazed at the figure before me, allowing my imagination to wander freely.
She was there the entire time, watching over us? Was she the one Sam called our "Guardian Angel?" If so, then that would make ALOT of sense. The queen is strong enough to sit dimensions away and affect any situation's outcome. Sam handled most threats easily, but anything Sam couldn't handle was more than likely dealt with outside our line of sight. If that's true, then I'm thankful to her.
However, I've always strived to have a family and give my kids what I couldn't have, and despite this, I am a little jealous of my child and future children.
Why was I denied that experience? Why couldn't I have a nurturing mother, a caring father, loving grandparents, or even an affectionate aunt or uncle? Sure, I have those who love me, but I can't help but wonder what my life would be like if I grew up in a loving environment.
Once I had cleared my throat three times and pushed all unnecessary thoughts out of my head, I straightened my posture and expressed my heartfelt appreciation.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," I said, my voice tinged with a hint of jealousy and sorrow. Catching this, Elaine gently squeezed my right hand, which rested beneath the table, and I unconsciously clenched it into a fist.
The queen seemed to notice this as she raised both hands and made a gesture to those gathered around the table.
"Why do you sound like that? You already have a family who loves you deeply, and it only grows by the day. I am not so important that you require my love, attention, or affection. Me giving you all of that would only put you in danger. You would be used against me, further hurting my already shattered heart..." She paused, resting her left hand against her forehead.
"I'm sorry, but I want to stop here for now. Please use your manner however you like until you make a decision. Just exercise caution and steer clear of the... chained door and the 'pictures.' " A soft sniffle escaped her as she concluded her words.
Signaling for us to leave, our chairs slid back, granting us the space to bow respectfully. After completing this gesture, we proceeded to make our way out.
The haunting, sorrowful wails of a grown woman reached our ears as we moved away, the sound of our shoes clicking against the gazebo's floor somewhat muffling the distressing, sorrowful cries. Her cries, accompanied by sniffles and hiccups, reverberated in my mind, enveloping me in an overwhelming wave of sadness.
Looking up, I noticed the murals shimmering with life, depicting two dragons creating a family. Various dragons of all sizes and shapes frolicked around their parents, radiating pure joy, love, and an unmistakable sense of happiness.
They embarked on a journey through the ancient world of Terra, exploring breathtaking locations such as a lush and colorful forest, a breathtaking landscape adorned with spiraling rock formations that seemed to reach for the heavens, a mystical realm that felt like a dream, teeming with ethereal spirits, and a vibrant land inhabited by humans.
Every mural depicted the two dragons deeply in love, contentedly perched together as they reveled in the magnificent views surrounding them, observing their children as they frolicked joyfully, embracing the carefree essence of their youth.
Their adventure was nothing short of magical, seemingly something from a fairytale.
As I distanced myself from the weeping queen, I noticed a gradual decline in the quality of the murals that adorned the walls. What had once been the hallmark of a masterful artist seemed to fade, as if the creator's skill had diminished over time. No, that's not it. The person who made them slowly was becoming overcome with grief or insanity. The starting murals were seemingly crafted by a world-class artist, slowly degrading to doodlings comparable to a child.
The warmth of affection I had felt earlier faded with each step I took away from the queen, replaced by a rising tide of sadness.
In the next scene, the entire family had vanished, leaving only one member behind, who wept silently in a storm of raw fury, howling at the sky and wreaking havoc upon her surroundings.
Tears fell quietly from my tightly scrunched-up cheeks, dripping off and touching down with the cold, unforgiving floor.
How could I have been so foolish? Her family was gone, and yet here I was, asking for more. I must have sounded so ungrateful, devoid of compassion, and self-centered. Why wouldn't she cry? If anything, I proved to her that mortals were never satisfied with what we had.
I bit my lip in silent anger, the sharp taste of blood mingling with my emotions as it trickled from my mouth. Some of it escaped, falling onto the onto the floor.
Seeing this, Elaine gently wiped away the blood with a handkerchief that appeared to have appeared from nowhere.
"You mustn't blame yourself for this," she reassured me as we ventured onto the first floating stone slab that extended beyond the gazebo floor.
"I don't even have an emotion to describe how I feel. If I had to guess, it would be... worthless. I'm not ungrateful to you all, who are my family. That's not what I'm saying, but..."
"I'm sure everyone understands what you mean, Leon. We know you weren't trying to hurt the queen. Right guys?"
"Of course," both Arnold and Merlin said in unison.
SMACK!
The sound of something smacking could be heard as a yelp followed after.
"OWWW! WHAT THE F- Oh. It really wasn't your fault, Leon! It's just a big misunderstanding! Yeah, that's it! You can always say sorry later!"
A faint and somewhat unsteady smile swept across my face as I scratched my left cheek. I could feel the warmth rising in my face, a sure sign that I was blushing. It warmed my heart to know that I had such compassionate people surrounding me, even if their kindness sometimes felt a bit forced.
Times like this are when I needed them, and they were right here with me.
I often wonder what my life would have been like had Sam not discovered me during my childhood. What fate awaited me if Arnold and Mason hadn't stepped in to protect me from Abaddon? Would Abaddon have found me intriguing enough to spare my life, or would he have chosen to end it? And what if I hadn't experienced the gentle care of Elaine during my hospital stay? Would I have been able to leave the hospital at all without that motivation to get better?
The sounds of our shoes echoed against the floating stone steps, each step causing them to rise and fall beneath us, creating a gentle melody of CLINK! CLINKK! CLINKKK!
"I believe you all understand who I am and why I am me. I wanted the simple joys that most people take for granted, yet they remained just out of reach for me. I couldn't have a loving mother who would read me bedtime stories while I drifted asleep or a father who would play ball with me. I didn't have anything until I met you all," I said as the tiny smile on my face whisked away.
"I'm grateful for Mason, who has shown me the joy of embracing my inner child; for Arnold, who taught me how to balance enjoyment and responsibility; and for Sam, who taught me to be honest with women. If I didn't have you all, I'm unsure where I would be now."
As I set foot on solid ground along the stone path that lay just beyond the floating steps, I turned to Elaine and offered her my hand, which she took with a warm smile. Shortly after, the others descended and joined us, creating a sense of togetherness.
As my heart steadied, clarity washed over my mind, and the tears that had once flowed so freely dissipated. A confident smile emerged on my lips as I declared, "I couldn't imagine a life without my dumb, duty-bound, and woman-crazy brothers that I have. I'm thankful to you all and to the love of my life. I love you with all of my being. You are my family, and that NEVER change. But despite this, I still want more, even seeing the consequences of my poorly judged actions. If Christina is family to Sam, then she's my family as well. I want to get to know my mysterious grandmother and show her that she still has family. She has US: four helpless brothers who can't function without each other, a wonderful woman who will make the perfect mother and a knowledgeable and well-kept woman who is nicer than she appears...
You all heard Christina. She's not that much different from us; in fact, she's more human than most of us," my free hand grabbed my chest, squeezing at the fabric of my shirt.
"Hearing her cry like that destroyed me for wanting more, but even still, I want it. I sound selfish, but I am for a different reason. Now, I want more for someone else. I want to give her what she doesn't have anymore: a loving family. I want to be there for her when she wants someone to laugh with. I want to be there for her when she's sick and can't get out of bed if that's even possible for a dragon. I want to be her shoulder to cry on when she needs it," I unclenched my shirt and raised my hand to the others.
"The point is that I want to join her. She was honest during the entire conversation, answering all possible questions without putting us in danger. Sure, she could be lying, but that's not what I got from her. What I got from her is that she's just a lonely woman with no one coming back to her. How could I not say yes to those eyes? In fact, who wouldn't say yes?"
A surge of confidence washed over me, returning me to my normal self. A smug smile crept onto my face as my heart spoke with conviction.
"I will be joining her side, believing in her, the woman who earned the respect of my father, mother-in-law, and brother Sam. They are people worthy of standing next to, people who I will stake my life on. If they believe in her, then I will believe in the them that believes in her. However, just because I do, it doesn't mean you all should. Come to your own decision and meet me back here in four days. That's an order," I ended with putting a clenched fist on my chest.
Arnold and Mason stood up straight, returning my smile with equally as bright ones.
"When you put it that way, how could I possibly refuse?" Arnold echoed my sentiment, placing a determined fist against his chest.
"We made a pact that where one goes, we all go. If you ask me, on death's door, to step through it, then I will. Wherever you go, I shall go. If ordered to, I would wage war on Hell itself for you. So yes, I shall follow you once more to see the end of this," Arnold put a rare, child-like smile on his face before continuing.
"Besides, even without the pact, I would follow you to the end."
"I don't have the stomach to say no after you gave such a speech. Honestly, you possess the qualities of a great politician. The faces of the opposing parties, when they hear you drop a bombshell of a speech like that, will send them packing!" Mason chuckled softly, placing a fist over his heart before he continued.
"I said this once and will say it again: I am your sword and shield to use as you wish. If you ask me, on death's door, to step through it, then I will. Wherever you go, I shall go. If ordered to, I would wage war on Hell itself for you. So yes, I shall follow you once more to see the end of this," a wild smile rippled onto Mason's face.
"I speak for all of us when I say nobody is more worthy to follow into Hell than you. You alone deserve that right."
Merlin, who watched us carefully, put a fist up her chest like the others.
"I may not be the most useful in a fight, but my medical skills and insight will be at your full disposal to use as you see fit."
Elaine, to my left, lightly smacked me on the back before walking over to the others and facing me with an embarrassed smile.
"Of course I'm following you, silly. You are the love of my life. Ever since we met when we were little, I have been by your side and always will be. Plus, I'm not letting you leave me with two kids to take care of by myself," Elaine said, clenching her fist against her chest.
"I wouldn't have it any other way, and of course, I wouldn't leave you alone to take care of two kids by yourself... TWO!? So that means..." This realization struck me, and I instinctively covered my mouth in disbelief.
Once the information finished processing in my head, a magnitude of warm and cold sensations hit me like a horse-drawn carriage. My knees shook slightly, increasing in intensity as if the ground under me was shaking due to an earthquake. I began to sway back and forth like an ocean current as my legs violently shook. My body was in disarray as a well of emotions overflowed inside of me, causing me to tear up.
"Two kids. I have... two," my legs buckled under me as I fell to my knees and started wiping away the downpour of tears that came out of seemingly nowhere.
"I did it. We did it... finally," was all I could say as sniffles began to come out between my words.
I've longed for this for so many years that I couldn't contain my happiness. My prayers, to whoever or whatever, have been answered. Thank you to whoever is listening to my pleas. I have what I've wanted for so many years now, even if it started as something from a childish wish. I will cherish and protect what I have with my life until the day I die.