The Illness

Adeline cracked her eyes open to a dark room as she listened to rain trickle down outside of her window. She closed her eyes and listened to the soft rainfall on the roof above her. Adeline held her head as the blood pounded through her veins. Her fingers traced down to the scratch on her face as it throbbed with pain.

Adeline rose from her bed, dragging herself through the covers. She stood on unsteady legs when her feet touched the floor. The wooden floorboards groaned beneath her feet as they seemed to sink through the splinters in wood. Adeline walked slowly to the window and looked out at the dark skies.

She could see the gray grass in the woods and the leaves that once overcrowded the forest were now bare and frail. Adeline took a long breath in and closed her eyes, hoping that not being able to see the death of her kingdom would make her feel better.

She turned away from the window and walked to her wardrobe. She opened it with her lanky fingers and pulled out a simple robe to cover her nightgown. Adeline slipped the robe on and tied it in front of her. She looked down at her legs which were thinning by the day to her arms which were weaker than they ever had been before. Adeline knew that her people were starving but she could not have guessed that she would starve with them.

She turned from her wardrobe and began walking out of her room. She walked down the stairs, dragging her feet. Adeline wiped the dust off the banister with her finger and blew it off. She continued down the stairs till she reached the bottom and began walking to the front door.

When she reached the bottom, however, she stopped. Adeline had forgotten to bury Dreyden's body and had left it in the dining room. It was even more decomposed than it was when she had first seen him. Adeline became teary-eyed as she stared at the skin peeling from his bone.

She decided that she would deal with him later and continued out the front door. The guards that once watched the front doors had left to be with their families before the war. Adeline was all alone in her death-like castle.

She walked down the bridge, slowly, looking at all of the dead plants and animals around her. The birds did not sing, the trolls did not run together, and the deer did not dance on the water.

Adeline looked over the edge of the bridge except for the waterfall that used to run clear with life was now gone. The water had dried in the river and there was nothing left but a skeleton of what used to be Astrean.

"Everything is so gloomy," a gravelly voice said, crawling up Adeline's spine. She turned to find Niklaus walking unhurriedly toward her.

She returned to the overlook and tried to find one beautiful thing. She could not.

"What more do you want from me, Niklaus?" Adeline said, resting her arms over the railing.

Niklaus came up next to her and followed her gaze. "I want nothing from you, but you might want what I have to offer,"

Adeline did not give him the satisfaction of seeming like she cared. Niklaus shrugged and turned away.

"Thought you might want to know how you can win this war," he offered, continuing to walk away from Adeline. She stood and turned to Niklaus but did not follow after him.

"Seems as though something I said has interested you," he taunted.

Adeline looked at her hands. "Enough games, Niklaus. If there is something you have to offer, offer it. If not, leave me be,"

"Oh, I have plenty to offer, Your Majesty. What is it worth to you?" Niklaus stepped closer to Adeline.

"It is worth my time. I have nothing else to give you," Adeline said, refocusing her attention on the cliff in front of her. Niklaus nodded slowly, gloating in Adeline's misery.

"You need an army, yes? I can give you an army. I can hypnotize the people of Astrean into fighting for you. Because we both know they will not fight for you. They are just as tired as you, Adeline,"

"I know," Adeline's head slumped as she thought about her kingdom. "Please, Niklaus, help my people,"

Niklaus nodded but clicked his tongue. "I do not imagine you have the right to call them your people anymore. But, I will do it. Give me until sundown to gather your army." Niklaus bowed and began walking into the woods, away from Adeline.

She glanced over her shoulder, watching him leave her. Adeling suddenly felt an itch in her throat and coughed slightly. She pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and held it to her mouth. She coughed and gasped for breath as she slowly pulled the handkerchief away from her mouth. The once-white tissue was now sullied in blood. Adeline closed her eyes and turned her face to the sky. She was growing more ill by the minute and she knew her child would suffer greatly if she did not get help soon.

Adeline began walking back into her castle, though there wasn't much point because it was dying and nobody was there. Maybe Adeline being with her castle would help her feel better. So she went inside and rested her eyes.

***

Illia sat on the bench in the courtyard, Selene sitting next to her. They both sat silently as Illia tried to process everything that had happened just yesterday.

Selene fiddled with her fingers as she thought about what to say to Illia. She had said everything she needed to yesterday, but she wanted to make this as easy as she could for Illia.

Illia stared at the rose bush in front of her, admiring its rich red color. She closed her eyes and breathed in a long, deep breath. She could smell every scent that surrounded her. The roses in front of her, the perfume of Selene sitting next to her, and the fresh scent of flowing water.

Selene looked at Illia, attempting to find any emotion that would tell her what she was thinking. Illia was good at hiding her emotions, just as Selene was. Selene admired that about her but also hated it because she did not know what to do. She did not know what to say, how to act, or how to apologize for not telling her all these years.

The truth was, Selene never did plan on telling Illia. She figured she wouldn't find out until Selene was long dead.

Illia looked at Selene. "We cannot hate each other forever, Selene,"

Selene nodded. "I do not hate you, Illia. You have every reason to hate me, but I could never hate you. We need to stay strong during this, both of us,"

Illia did not respond with a nod or even a smile but sat still. "I know. I am trying. But, it is hard because every time I look at you I see my mother, who lied to me for years,"

Selene looked at her hands in guilt. "I am sorry, Illia, you know that. I couldn't get you back until you turned of age, there was nothing I could do,"

Illia looked at Selene's hand as she fidgeted with them. "There is nothing we can do now to make up for the time lost. So dwelling on past mistakes will not help us at all,"

"That is where you are wrong. We do have time to make up for what time we lost. We will win this war and we will help Veraxin become the kingdom it was always meant to become,"

Illia looked up into Selene's eyes and noticed their blue color. She nodded slowly and zoned out as she stared at the roses in front of her.

"I am going to talk with Malaki about preparation for the war," Illia stood and nodded once to Selene, as a sign of respect.

Selene nodded back and offered an awkward smile. Illia turned and walked away, leaving Selene sitting alone on the bench.

Illia began walking on the cobblestone path that led into the castle. She began walking to the first-floor library where she told Malaki to meet her.

When she arrived at the glorious library, Malaki was waiting at a table. He smiled gently when he saw her and pulled out a chair for her.

Illia sat and rubbed her hands over her face. Malaki pitied Illia, but he knew that was her least favorite thing so he tried to tamper it down.

"Tell me what's going on, Illia," he said, placing his hand over hers.

She huffed frustrated. "This entire thing with Selene is going to drive me insane. I just can't believe she lied to me for that long. It's hard to believe that I grew up with my aunt who I foolishly thought was my mother,"

Malaki's lips tightened. "There is not much you can do now, Illia. It is said and done. She is your mother and nothing you say or do will change that. I am not saying that it is ok she lied, but now you have someone to help you, and be with you. I believe you should simply trust her and follow through with your plan. When we win this war, everything else will come. Do not worry about silly things like this right now,"

Illia appreciated his advice but wished he would have said something like, Selene is awful and you deserve better, let's run away from this place. But he didn't. Illia did trust him when he said after they win this war that all of this would be over.

They might even get to live a normal life. Queen and husband with a family. It was all Illia dreamed of. So she knew they had to win this war. Considering Astrean was dying, Illia knew the odds were in their favor.

"Their kingdom is ill," Illia said in response, referring to Astrean.

"Well then our chances are quite good," Malaki said, hearing the guilt in Illia's voice. "Illia, you said it yourself just yesterday, Astrean's fall has everything to do with Adeline and her inability to rule. None of their demises is your fault," he placed his warm hand on her icy-cold cheek. "So stop believing it is and show them what kind of Queen you are,"

Illia felt his inspirational speech encourage her to be the Queen she always knew she could be.

"We will win this war, Illia. Not for you, Selene, me, or anyone else, but for Veraxin."

Illia thought about what he said. She knew that her kingdom had been suffering and she also knew that this war could bring either abundance or more hardships.

Illia knew he was right and began planning mentally for the war they were to face that day.