70 Eerika

"I love you more." Eerika brushes a few locks off of Ronald's face. He has his head on her lap while lying down on the grass. They have been coming to this secluded part of the garden ever since they discovered it on one of their walks.

"I think we have already discussed this matter." The prince says with a serious face. "And the result was that I love you more." Eerika giggles.

"What if your feelings change?"

"Never."

"What if you meet a more beautiful woman?"

"There is no woman more beautiful than you, my love."

"But when I am old and wrinkly, there will be plenty."

"I will also be old and wrinkly." Ronald chuckles.

"I am serious, Ron. How do you know you will love me forever?"

"Because my heart has no room for anyone else, Eerika." Ronald gently pulls his fiancee down to him and places a kiss on her lips. "We are destined for each other, my love." Eerika flashes him one of her beautiful smiles that he loves.

"Fine, I will believe you for now." Ron Chuckles.

"Just for now?" He sits up and grins at her.

"Maybe… wait what are you doing?"

"You know what I am doing." Eerika hurries on her feet, followed by Ronald.

"No." She giggles.

"You can't just say no, while giggling that hard." he lungs at her but she slips through his hands. She runs away from him still giggling, but Ron is faster. He gets to her and immediately starts tickling her.

"Ron, you're going to wrinkle my dress." She says between laughs. "Please… please."

"Your dress is perfectly fine."

"Well, we can't be late for tea with the queen." She tries to break free, but Ronald has her locked in his arms.

"Mother won't mind." He tickles her more.

"You're going to kill me with laughter." Eerika is laughing so hard that her eyes are tearing up.

"There is no such a thing, my love."

"There will be if you don't stop."

"Alright, alright." Ronald lets go of her. It takes her a few minutes to calm down.

"You are so mean."

"What do you mean? I just made you laugh."

"But I asked you to stop." She pouts.

"I know, I'm sorry. I just love teasing you." He throws his arms around her and hugs her.

"Meanie"

"Sorry, sorry, sorry." He kisses her cheeks a few times.

"Let's go, then" Eerika walks away from him. "Come on, Ron."

"I…" Ronald tries to follow her, but his feet are stuck to the ground. "I can't move."

"Ron?" Everything goes dark around him.

"Eerika? Where are you? Eerika!"

"Ron!" Her voice echoes in the dark voice space around him.

"Eerika." Ron can finally walk. He follows a sliver of light that looks like the end of a tunnel. When he reaches it, he finds himself in his mother's room.

"Mother." He rushes to her. She looks very sick.

"Ron, dear. Come closer."

"Mother." He takes the hand she offers.

"How is Eerika?"

"I… I."

"You have to protect her, son. She is the future of this nation."

"I will, mother. Just rest and get better soon."

"You are too sweet, my dear child. But I am afraid this is goodbye for me, the Gods are calling me."

"Don't say that, mother." Ron squeezes her hand. "Mother?" He looks at his mother's lifeless face, still smiling at him. "Mother, please don't leave me." Ronald kisses her hand as tears run down his cheeks. He feels a squeeze on his shoulder.

"She is with the Gods now, dear." Thyra pats him on the back when he hugs her and cries on her shoulder. "It will be alright." She wipes a few tears herself.

Suddenly, Ronald finds himself alone again, in the palace garden.

"Oh, Ronald." Eerika calls him. She is standing with a green-eyed young lady.

"I have been looking for you, my love." Eerika blushes a bit, like she usually does when he uses any words of endearment in front of others.

"I would like to introduce you to my friend, Lady Algar." The short woman curtsies and Ronald nods back at her.

"It is a pleasure, Lady Algar."

"The pleasure is mine, Your Highness."

"I hope you don't mind that I have invited her for dinner tonight."

"Of course not, my love." He kisses her cheek making her blush again.

"Ronald." She complains as her friend looks at them with envious eyes.

Their surroundings go dark again. Ronald is in Eerika's bedroom, now. She is standing by the window with Lady Algar by her side. She looks irritated.

"Eerika?" He calls, but no sound comes out of his mouth.

"I just don't understand." Eerika shudders. "I thought you were my friend, I trusted you."

"That is your mistake, not my fault." her friend answers.

"What do you mean?"

"You are so gullible, it is painful to watch." Eerika wipes her tears.

"What do you want?"

"I want to be you."

"Excuse me?"

"I want you to disappear, I want the prince to love me, I want to become queen, I want to have that powerful magic you don't deserve."

"You have gone mad, Ylva." Eerika takes a step back. "Guards-" She tries to call, but Ylva covers her mouth. Without wasting a second, she swiftly plants a dagger in her heart. Eerika falls to the floor, struggling to breathe.

"Eerika!" Ronald calls but again, he is voiceless. He tries to run to her, but his body can't move. "Eerika, no."

Ylva pulls her dagger out and hides it in her sleeve before running out of the room. Leaving the future crown princess on the floor as her life slowly lips away. Ronald watches helplessly as tears race down his face.

"Eerica!" This time, the voice is loud and clear, but it is not coming from him. He realizes that these are events from the past when he sees himself entering the room. "Eerika." He calls again holding his fiancee and bawling. "Call the royal healer." He orders, but there is nobody around to carry the order. "My love, my love, you can't leave me." However, Eerika was already gone. "No, no, no, Eerika, Eerika." He tries to shake her, but it is too late.

"Eerika!" Ronald cries as he opens his eyes. He finds himself in his royal chamber. He wipes a couple of tears left from his dream.

"I remember." He utters with a cracked voice. "I remember it all."