Tears of Angels:
The castle was busier than ever that day, servants bustling up and down the stairs and in the hallways, cooks working in the many castle kitchens, visitors from everywhere arrived each hour. This was unprepared for. The king's death was unexpected.
It started as any other day, the Jack was dressed and making his way through the castle at sunrise. When he came close to his majesty's quarters, he heard a murmur, then a faint gasp, followed by a stream of wails and screams. The queen was in her favourite purple gown- one that wrapped over her shoulders beautifully and lined her body smoothly- she was draped over the king's side, shaking him hysterically and calling his name over and over. Yet there was no answer, not even a flinch. The Jack ran towards her and grabbed the queen's hands to soothe her, but she yanked him away, eyes lit with madness, and returned to the king's side then started mourning him.
The king had died; But why and how? It wasn't known yet. It was a great shock for the kingdom for the king to die so fast, he had barely taken the throne ten years ago, and the prince was in no near age to rule, leaving the kingdom with a Jack and a broken queen. All what the Jack could do was call for the doctor and send messengers to the other kingdoms, as much as it hurt him to write that the king was deceased, but he had to. The official mourning started a few hours later and the 6th of September was recorded as the king's memorial, it is tradition for the descendant king to mourn the previous one and so on- each king mourning the one before him. This time sadly, there was no king to mourn him, for his child was barely 9 years old.
The Jack had much trouble with the queen rather than the preparations themselves, she was in a miserable condition and he feared that someone might make use of her condition and the chaos that filled the castle. You don't wake up every day to hear that your king died and expect to continue your day normally. She didn't want to see anyone at all, and ordered to stay in her room alone for the rest of day or at least till when she feels better.
"Jack Yao, I will have you and the servants leave me alone for now. I want to stay alone for today and all after until I feel better. This is a shock to me; tell the visiting couriers that since the queen is not feeling well you will greet them."
With that, she walked out and closed her quarter's doors behind her. She left her child and an entire kingdom behind her, but she was not aware as grief overtook her and ripped her of her senses. It was a black hour that of after the mourning was announced, visitors from everywhere came and the castle staffs weren't ready for them. Yao was trying to maintain order as things slipped out of his reach, but could not do much.
He was mostly alarmed of the other kingdom's replies, not knowing whether they would stand beside the Spades or leave them, or even neither of both- they would oppose them. The Clubs kingdom was one of the deadliest kingdoms, since it was strong and didn't make many friends, all other kingdoms had to make a profit relation with it and it was usually more to the Clubs side. There were also tribes and divisions that Yao had to be aware of, these belonged to no kingdom and spread over vast lands that separated each kingdom from the other. They could form an alliance and take over a weakened kingdom such as the Spades easily.
After the death notice was released, consolations reached the castle en masse. The Jack had hoped for some help from the royal families and dukes, but it was a festive season, and each had their own issues to deal with. Most of them were out of country for vacation or schools, but a few, and one of those few were the Kirklands. They were a very essential group of people for the country- for known and unknown reasons- they had preciseness and were very perceptive when it came to law and international affairs, and they have been holding the name of law keepers repeatedly. They were the ones that Yao needed and wished desperately for, but they lived in the far countryside of the kingdom, so he had to wait to the afternoon to know if they were coming or not- due to the post delay and travel distance.
Arthur couldn't keep his heart steady as he entered his enchanted forest, he looked around all the while he was there, but was only met with shy animals and some playful pixies. He grew more anxious as he got closer to the hub of the forest, where he could find the unicorn if he were lucky, and most probably his friend. The forest's heart was a spring that came out of an abiding olive tree, pouring out of its extended branches and into the lake that surrounds it; leading to that little island was a path of huge water lilies- framed with simple river plants. It was a soothing and simple, albeit a magical place that had its own greatness and the inhabitants there respected it immensely- guarding it from everyone and keeping it secret from strangers. Even Arthur, at the beginning, had to win their trust for a few months for them to show him this place, and since then had been going there whenever he went to the forest.
His usual spot was occupied by a green female spirit; she was full waist-up and a ghost down her legs and had long thick hair- green like her eyes and the rest of her body. Arya. Arthur ran wildly to her side and hugged her back tightly, digging his face in her hair.
"Oh! Arthur you scared me!"
"I scared you? You're the one that scared me with disappearing like that! What happened Arya?"
"I'm sorry for making you worry like that little rabbit, but you see his highness passed away today, and I had to go to the castle to check things out."
"Oh and… were they fine?"
"*sigh*, well they were tolerable at most. The poor Jack is trying his hardest to keep order and the queen- oh the queen! She had given up and locked herself up in her quarters. I fear that she might die soon as well of her grief."
"She must've loved him very much. But what about the prince?"
"What hit her most was that he died suddenly, I guess she did very much. Hmmm… the prince is yet another story, he's very young and reckless, I'm most curious at how he'll do as king." Arya said playfully.
"Is he that young?"
"Only one year your junior Arthur."
"Will we be alright Arya?"
"Of course we will Arthur, don't be afraid, the kingdom is not on loose. That is why we have high class families such as yours- to maintain order inside and outside the kingdom."
"Oh… so I guess that father would be gone to the castle by now- If not all of my brothers too."
"Don't sound so bitter Arthur; it's no place for you there. You're only ten."
"Well Scott first went to the castle at nine."
"Scott is different and you know that, also, things were not the same back then. Things were better for us and for the country."
"That's just not fair, like this I'll never be able to visit the castle!" Arthur huffed out angrily, but it came out as an adorable child's rant, which made Arya and the pixies smile at him.
"Oh don't say so sweetheart. You will have your time to shine soon. Patience and hard work Arthur, all you miss is patience."
"I try…" he said and grabbed his violin. "I really do try, but with all of them like this with me, it's becoming hard."
"Oh Arthur… Play something pretty, will you?" She smiled apologetically at him.
Back at the castle, everything was a daze for Yao, even though it was calmer inside the castle, but the action had started outside. When the Kirklands arrived later that noon, he felt as if a miracle had befallen him.
"Oh thank God you're here! Finally someone to help me! Thank you, thank you Lord Kirkland!"
His sons were with him as well, dressed and ready to help with stern faces. Once greetings and condolences were given each went to his assigned job: Two of them were to go and deal with the public, while the father and the one left stayed in the castle to help Yao.
He was in desperate need of help, especially now that the prince was making an enormous mess himself. The young royal was shocked enough to find that his father had died, and then to find his mother had left him was too much. He was crying and banging at his mother's door, calling out for her not to leave him.
"Mama! *hic* please come out! Mama, mama! Don't leave me alone! No! Mama! Mama Mama! I don't want to be all alone now that Papa isn't here, don't do this… *hic* please…"
But it did no good; the queen never came out nor even made a sound in protest. Alfred kept knocking at a closed door. Yao's heart sank at the sight of the prince, and the ears he had been hiding all morning quickly found their way to his cheeks. He hugged the prince and sat crying with him at the queen's doorstep, oh how they needed patience right now at this calamity that had befallen upon them.