OF CROWNS AND THRONES
by KingdomsFalling & Eydis Star
DISCLAIMER
Everything in the Falling Kingdoms world belongs to Morgan Rhodes.
NOTES
Chapter one of the collaboration between I, beccaylaa (KingdomsFalling), and Eydis. Neither of us know how this is going to end or where it will go so I hope everyone enjoys it. :)
Chapter I. The New Ruler
Althea didn't know what to say as Magnus's body was carried in. All she could do was watch, her eyes focusing for a moment on his eyes. For a moment they were scrunched up and then they opened, filled with sadness and despair. Then pain would course through him again and the cycle would continue. Althea broke her trance with her son's eyes and focused on the damage.
His face was bloodied and bruised. He moaned clutching at his chest while coughing harshly. He had bruises along his throat, this was what caught Althea's attention most of all. The knight who carried him laid the prince down in his chambers with Althea and Lucia following behind. Lucia was frantic, wringing her hands together and pacing by the bed as the healer inspected her brother. But Althea's expression held no emotions. Lucia didn't know why but neither sadness, worry, nor anger were apparent on her mother's face. The queen simply didn't know which emotion she should feel.
Lucia fell beside her brother clutching his hand and whispering comforts to him. Althea stood silently, her lips kept in a thin line and hands clenched to the point her knuckles were white. Her worry over her son's health was the only thing keeping her from breaking everything in her path or breaking down in sobs.
The healer turned to the queen. "He seems to have broken his nose, jaw, and a few ribs, my queen."
"And what of his throat?" Althea's voice was firm and regal, the way it only became when her son was involved. Magnus turned his head away, not wanting to admit what had exactly transpired in his father's study but the healer who had saved his life already knew.
"When we entered the king was in a panic. He was caught in a rage and must not have realized he was choking Magnus…we were able to draw breath back into the prince before it was too late but had it been only a moment longer…" The healer trailed off, obviously seeing Althea's pained expression. He didn't need to say it, the queen already knew.
"Oh, Magnus…" Lucia gave a soft whimper as she cleaned the blood from her brother's face. He wished to tell her he was fine but his throat hurt too much to speak.
Althea stormed from the chambers and walked, and walked. She didn't stop until she found herself in Lucia's maze, turning sharply in circles with a sudden panic of feeling lost within the green walls. Suddenly everything crashed down on her. The years of a cold marriage, the physical and mental abuse upon herself and her son, and the ever watchful eyes from her subjects, crying out to her and helpless to assist them. She began to run, running to hopefully relieve the pounding ache within her but all it did was free her of the maze but even now she still felt trapped. Althea felt a sob rising in her throat but she pushed it down. She had cried enough in the past years.
Tonight was all she could take. She walked over to the fountain and inspected her reflection. She'd been so beautiful once, long raven hair and with shining eyes. Gaius stole that from her too. He had ruined everything. He had not just hurt her but her children as well. Althea knew tonight would be it.
She returned to the palace, raising her head high and placing her hands in front of her. She fixed her skirts and tucked back a piece of graying hair and made her way for Gaius's study. Upon entering she saw only the back of his chair, but underneath she saw his boots and one foot tapping slightly. He stared intently at the fire as if watching the dance of the flames could burn away the memory of his half dead son. The queen closed the doors behind her.
"I thought I made it clear I didn't want to be disturbed." Gaius said to the intruder, but Althea made no move to leave.
"I'm disturbed.." Althea said. Gaius looked around, surprised to see his usually quiet queen standing in his study defying him with her presence. "Our son lies in his bed nearly beaten to death and, according to the healer, he had been seconds from the clutches of death. He would have died by your hands."
Gaius gave a scoff and turned back to the inferno. "Do you expect me to beg for your forgiveness? Get out…"
"Ever since we were bound together, the only thing I swore to myself I'd stand up to you about was our children's life." She wanted to run so badly, back to her chambers and hide from her monstrous husband but she did not. She kept even steps and approached the king of blood as brave as any champion ever could. "I cannot stand for this." She stood at his side now, looking down upon him.
"And what do you intend to do?" Gaius chuckled. "I could have you taken to the dungeons and whipped for such insolence. Do not think this marriage protects you."
"No such delusions reside within my mind. I know your favor lies far from me. But Magnus is as much my son as he is yours and he is the exception to my silence." Her tone turned venomous. "I've thought much about what will transpire tonight. I've doubted myself.." She stepped forward, emptying a vial she had within her hands into Gaius's wine without the king noticing as he kept his eyes trained on the fireplace. "…but I know what I do is right."
"And what exactly are you doing, my valiant queen?" Gaius jeered, taking the goblet between his fingers and bringing it inches from his lips. Althea felt as if her heart would burst from her chest.
"As Magnus's mother…." She bit her lip and tightened her hands. "I command you to never hurt him again!"
The strike came quickly as expected and Gaius bellowed a laugh making her cringe as she pushed herself off the floor. Her fingers touched her lips and brought them back to see blood upon them but suddenly her breath hitched as she watched the king gulp down the last of his wine.
"Bitter Limerian wine.." He grumbled and threw it at her. It hit its target upon her forehead making her cry out. Gaius suddenly gripped her shoulders and pressed her against the wall. "You don't command me to do anything! You've done nothing to help this kingdom! You don't get to command anyone!"
"I just did the best thing this kingdom could ask for…" She said, she felt laugh rise to her lips and soon it became hysterical as Gaius's raged eyes became confused but he soon felt himself grow hot and his chest tightening. He dropped Althea and she kept laughing as the king heaved and fell upon his back.
His eyes began to redden and bulge, he scraped his fingers at his chest to open his clothes and perhaps relieve the pressure. But it did nothing. He writhed on the floor in agony making the queen look upon with a pleased smile.
Althea regained her composure as she watched him cough blood upon his lips. She ran from the room, with fake tears forming in her eyes.
"Help! Please, the king needs help!" She cried out, falling upon her knees. Her acting performance was phenomenal. Guards rushed past her along with healers, she stayed on the floor sobbing. Soon Lucia's arms wrapped around her with her own cries creating a chorus of grief, but the difference was that's Lucia's tears were genuine.
"My queen and princess…" The healer said, reaching out to take Althea's hand. She accepted and rose to meet the physician's gaze. "The king seems to have suffered some sort of burst within his heart. He died soon after we came into the room."
"Oh father.." Lucia cried, she felt into Althea's embrace and cried upon her mother's bosom.
Althea rubbed her hand along Lucia's fine hair. This was the most intimate moment Althea had ever shared with Lucia. "Go to bed, my daughter." She spoke with genuine care making Lucia's eyes widen slightly as she pulled away. "I shall inform Magnus of your father's passing. We will deal with the means of his burial in the morning."
Lucia nodded and retreated down the corridor holding her face in her hands. Her handmaidens began offering her tissues and rubbing circles on her back. Althea began walking in the direction of Magnus's room. She did not know how her son would react to this but the only pain she felt in this death was the grief her children would feel. Surely Magnus would mourn his father whom he'd been trained to become. But soon Althea would change that and Magnus would become who he had always meant to be.
Althea saw Sabina sprinting down the corridor towards the study where Gaius's body laid lifeless. Althea almost chuckled at the thought of Sabina's face when she realized her source of power was gone. Magnus was but sixteen with five years till his twenty first birthday, the age he'd be permitted to take the throne. She was queen now and Sabina would find no home in her castle.
Things were going to be different under Althea's reign. Magnus would be happy. Lucia would be able to practice her magic freely and learn to control it. She'd be free of Sabina. No one would look down upon her. She will not allow the tyranny caused by her husband to continue.
Under her guiding hand, Limeros would be brought into a new age.
