A/N: Sorry for the break between chapters. Been a little busy after the first one. Hopefully the rest will come closer together than these first two.
Chapter 2: Winter Solstice. Early Morning.
6:15 A.M.
Mae, after delivering the Chief Royal Healer to the Royal apartments, walks down the hall and knocks on a door. There is no answer, so she knocks louder. Still no answer. Mae uses her emergency key to open the door. She enters a dark apartment and walks to the door in the back right corner. She knocks on this door and hears movement within.
6:20 A.M.
Stockinged feet pad slowly across the floor from within. The door slowly opens to reveal a half-asleep black-haired man in his mid-twenties. Mae excuses herself for the intrusion and kindly asks the man to wake his wife, so she may speak to both to them at once.
6:25 A.M.
Crown Prince and Princess Roald and Shinkokami of Conte sit in their living room chairs and listen as the chambermaid explains to them what has happened. They are in disbelief. Roald stares blankly into the distance. Shinko grips his arm with white fingers. Neither moves.
6:35 A.M.
Without a word, the prince and princess slowly get to their feet. Shinko leaves through a door off the living room, Princess Lianokami's bedroom. Roald leaves through the entry door. Mae sits alone.
6:40 A.M.
Roald walks 10 steps down the hall to the right, and stops. He leans against the door to his brother's rooms. Shinko explains to Liano that grandfather has died, but she's too young to understand. Shinko leaves Liano in Mae's care, then exits her rooms.
6:45 A.M.
Shinko joins her husband in the hall. The two embrace, Roald's strong arms holding tight onto his bride. Both gather the courage to enter the King and Queen's apartments.
6:55 A.M.
Roald attempts to comfort his mother, but she does not listen. She waits. She shakes. Roald and Shinko leave to wake the others.
7:00 A.M.
The Duke of Conte is first to be woken. He opens the door to find his elder brother, a blank look on his face, but eyes shining with held back tears. Duke Liam wakes his sleeping wife and goes to be with the Queen.
7:05 A.M.
Prince Jasson is next. Shinko wakes him and delivers her terrible news.
7:10 A.M.
Princesses Lianne and Vania are the next to be awakened. Lianne's maid also rises.
7:15 A.M.
The family gathers in the Royal Bedchamber. No one cares about the cold or the nightclothes. They all wait.
7:30 A.M.
Warric concludes "causes unknown". Lianne's maid is sent to find the Duke of Queenscove and his son. They all wait.
