Chapter 1
The Queen was dead. There was no warning. No indication of any prior sickness. She was just gone. She would never walk the palace halls again. Her new home was the cold vault she would be buried in.
Dozens upon dozens of people arrived to pay their respects. Many in shock and disbelief over the tragic circumstances. Most of them wondered what would become of the queen's children. Their eyes locked on the two teenagers in the middle of the floor.
Daniel, the eldest child of Leopold and Eva, and his younger sister Snow, felt the never ending stares. Daniel put his arm around Snow who was trying to maintain some composure. He felt her body go rigid before relaxing a bit.
He had no idea how long they remained rooted to that spot. It wasn't until Joanna said it was time to go that they moved. They walked to her prostrate form and Daniel heard the choked cries coming from his sister. He forced himself not to break in front of her.
Snow bent down and placed a kiss on Eva's forehead. "Goodbye mother," she said. She moved away to stand by Joanna.
"Daniel, are you coming?" Snow asked.
"In a minute Snow," Daniel answered. He directed his attention to Joanna. "Please take Snow to her room." He waited for the doors to close before turning to Eva.
All he wanted was for her to open her eyes. To hear her say his name one more time. He would have paid any price to save her but he knew she wouldn't want his heart to grow cold.
"Mother...I don't know what I'm supposed to do without you. I wish you could tell me what to do. Snow needs me. Father needs me. How am I going to take care of them?"
He waited and waited for some type of answer but of course received none. He felt an onset of tears coming but blinked them away. He breathed deep to regain some composure.
"I promise you I'm going to be the son you want me to be. Goodbye," he continued. He left the room and closed the double doors behind him.
Daniel headed to Snow's room to see her laying sideways on her bed. She was holding on to an old crown and staring at it intensely. She finally acknowledged his presence and slowly flickered her eyes to him.
"Daniel," she called her voice shaking. He sat on the edge of the bed and combed his fingers through her hair. It must have reminded her of when Eva used to do it because she broke down.
He let her cry and rocked her. This was the first time since that night Eva died that she let her guard down completely.
Daniel repeatedly told her everything was going to be okay. She drew strength from his words and quieted down. Snow sat up and held up the crown in her hand.
"Mother was right. The crown is heavy," she whispered. He took the crown from her. It was heavy indeed but he understood the deeper meaning. The crown held already made burdens for them. Responsibilities already laid at their feet giving them no time to enjoy their titles. They had a land to rule. People they owed to make this kingdom safe from outside forces.
Daniel put the crown back in its case. "Will you be alright for a while?" he inquired.
Snow nodded her head. They hugged each other before Daniel left her room.
He walked the halls until he ended up in front of his father's room. A flare of anger rose up within him because Leopold failed to show up. He knocked on the door and went inside.
The room was dark. He had to adjust his eyes before lighting a candle. Leopold was sitting in a chair staring blankly out the window. He seemed oblivious to Daniel's presence.
"Father," he said. Leopold swiftly turned around in his chair. The anger disappeared when he saw Leopold's weary eyes. They seemed tormented and confused.
"Daniel," he responded without emotion.
"We missed you at mother's funeral," he started. He was searching for the right words to say. "It was...fitting for a queen. I'm sure mother was watching us from above."
Leopold said nothing in return. He just continued to stare out the window. Daniel stood there awkwardly.
"Where were you?" he finally asked.
Leopold stood up and faced Daniel's direction. "I went for a walk in the garden. I'm sure my presence wasn't needed."
Daniel shook his head. "Snow needed you to be there. I needed you to be there. I don't understand why it was so hard for you to see her."
"Son, let's not get into this discussion now," he said.
Daniel ignored the request. "Why not?"
"Because," he shouted. "I'm trying to grieve in private. I lost my wife. My friend. She was my queen in every way and I'm going to remember her as she was. Not as the lifeless shell that was laid for others to see. I can't picture her like that," he finished quietly.
Daniel said, "Alright. I'll leave you alone to grieve." He turned and walked towards the door. "You don't have to grieve alone though." He shut the door behind him.
