15 Chapter 15: The Kingdom Of Wolves

We were led to the palace quickly, as the rain pounded down upon us. They led us into the main hall, where the queen of wolves sat upon her throne.

"What in the world is the matter at this late at night?" The queen cried, holding a cup of tea. She hears us and looks up. She studies us for a minute, as I pull my hood back so she could see my face.

"Rose" She says, her tea cup falls out of her hand and shatters onto the tile. She lunges forward, and pulls me into her grasp. "You came back,'' she cried, '' after twenty years of waiting you finally return."

"Sadly, that is not Rose" The guard tells the queen.

"What do you mean?" She questions.

"It's her daughter, Alicen," The guard replies.

"I have a niece" She squeals with happiness, "Where have you been all this time, and where is Rose."

"We have been in the country of Amendale, and my mother died a few years back, she was murdered" I say, tears coming to my eyes at the thought. The queen stood there horrified at the news of her sister's death.

"She's dead!" She cries out. "Those bastards killed her didn't they, just like they killed our father."

"They did, and they tried to kill me too, so escaped and broke the curse that they made in our blood" I say. Before the queen could ask anymore the head woman piped in.

"We should get these kids warmed up before they freeze to death, we have plenty of time in the morning to talk Lily" She says.

"Your right Astrid, I'll make sure to arrange rooms for them and get them something to eat" Lily says. Astrid and Lily seemed on friendly terms when they talked to each other even when Lily was the queen. Lily seemed saddened by the news of her sister, but also happy of her niece. "I will just have to wait till morning to hear there tale." The Queen gives me a hug. "It's good to finally meet you." She says to me, before being escorted out.

After a warm bath, I was shown to my room. I didn't see Benjamin since we where separated after the queen ,Lily left. Turning on the lights to my room, I'm surprised how massive it was, with a wall filled with shelves of books and a fireplace that hasn't been touched in decades by the thick dust that laid on its benches and window pains beside it. This was definitely not a guest room.

"Lily thought you should have this room, It's a little dirty, but this used to be Rose's room" Astrid says, walking over to one of the bookshelves, which was covered in thick dust. "We'll clean it up for you tomorrow and you can decorate it how you like, since you are the princess of wolves, but is it okay if you stay here tonight?"

"Yeah, It's fine. I've stayed in places way dirtier than here before" I say, walking over to the fireplace and examining the crystal figurines of forest animals.

"I will send a maid tomorrow to clean up the place" Astrid says "Well tomorrow will be a long day, so good night princess Alicen." Closing the door behind her, I was left alone. Looking around I examine my room more closely. I could definitely tell it was my mothers old room. It had her touch to it, with her love of the forest and cats. The walls were a light green with light flowers tracing throughout the room. Everything was hard wood from her bed to the trim, above my head the ceiling was painted with constellations (that I found out later glowed in the dark). I was amazed by how much detail there was, even the bookshelves had carved deer and flowers entranced on it's oak shelves. Turning up the covers to my bed, I was happy to find that they already changed the bedding so it wasn't dusty. My light pink nightgown brushed against the floor as I slipped off my slippers. Once my head hit the pillow I was fast asleep.

"Good morning Ali" Benjamin says, spotting me in the halls, as I was making my way downstairs for breakfast.

"Good morning Benjamin" I say, as he runs up to me. I was wearing a long dress the color of a light blue, with flowers stitched into the ruffled sleeves, with my hair done into little braids and my crown placed upon my head. "Are you going to breakfast to?" I ask.

"Yup, I was also looking for you, I wanted to ask you-" Benjamin says, but before he could finish, Lily came running up to us.

"Good morning Alice and Benjamin" She says smiling. Her short blonde curls bounced as she ran toward us. Lily didn't seem like a queen, but more like a light hearted girl who loved her family and kingdom. I could tell she seemed really sad about her sister's death, but she did expect it after Rose had been gone for so long. We told Lily our story over breakfast, she was amazed that Amendale was such a cruel place. She heard rumors, but could never imagine the horror stories that we told her.

"This matter should be dealt with immediately, before this gets out of hand. After the death of my father and sister, we need to put an end to this before they start taking over kingdoms' ' Lily says, "If you please will excuse me I have matters to discuss. Feel free to wonder and explore the place, after all this is your home too." With that she was gone leaving me and Benjamin alone.

"Send word to all the kingdoms, the council will be decided what the next step is. If we don't hurry there will be no choice but war" Lily says, striding down the palace halls. Astrid beside her.

"Yes, I will send word before nightfall. From then we will see who's on our side."