Hello everybody!
It's me Atlandim with a new chapter! :)
Hope you all are excited for this chapter where we get to know more of Helga. Hope you enjoy!
P.S I have no idea why I called this chapter 'Bare Essentials', maybe because it is absolutely necessary for Helga to be guilt-free and Kida wanting to find someway to torture or punish her. Yeah, that's it!
Please Review!
Milo James Thatch
"Yes, Mr. Thatch. It's me," The cool, feminine voice that he had heard five years ago had not changed. In fact, Helga hadn't changed at all! The same golden braid and red lipstick. She had changed into a more fashionable and elegant change of clothing, but she still looked young and didn't seem to have aged at all. That is when he realized that she was wearing a crystal necklace around her neck. She must have had it all these years and gained longevity like him! He didn't know where in the world she could have gotten a crystal necklace, until he remembered Baldek was next to her. He must have had something to do with this. Both were tied up in chains.
"I thought you were dead," Milo murmured.
"Sorry to disappoint," Helga gave a sinister smile.
"What is the meaning of this? How is this vile woman alive?" Kida yelled to her guards. Milo noticed that Kida seemed to be in an alarmed state, and he didn't blame her. He was feeling as shocked and appalled as she was.
"You better ask him, your majesty," One of the guards pushed Baldek to the ground. Baldek got to his knees, but he kept his head down. He was staring the concrete not daring to look at Kida's rage. "He was walking alongside this criminal. Both were walking towards the palace."
"He is not guilty. Let him go! The only one that should be arrested is me," Helga bellowed.
Kida walked a few step toward Baldek and asked him quietly, "How is she alive, Baldektesh?"
Baldek finally looked to face her, "A few days after the great battle to rescue our crystallized princess, I went to what was left of the battle site to recover anyone of our own that might have lost their life from defeating that mercenary named Rourke."
Upon hearing the name, everyone stood still and grew quiet. It was as if an uncomfortable chill was around the room. Even the mention of his name was unwanted in the throne room.
Baldek continued, "I found her inside a protective crystal shield. Like the one that protected the city from the lava that day we rescued the princess and saved the city. When I touched the shield, it vanished and found that she was inside it and alive. She had severe wounds and I took her to my dwelling to heal her. When she regained consciousness, I discovered that she regretted her mistakes and decided to let her go to the surface world by giving her a fish vehicle. I also gave her a necklace with the hopes of her returning one day, and she did. She came back because she still feels the guilt and has decided to pay for her past mistakes with whatever form of fair punishment you decide to give her."
"He is a traitor," One of the guards yelled. "He helped this woman escape!
"He must be executed! Both should be punished," Yelled another guard which made the rest of the guards yell and shout in agreement.
"Quiet!" Kida yelled at the top of her lungs. Silence filled the throne room once more.
Kida walked up to Baldek and murmured, "Baldektesh Dasanat. As a citizen of Atlantis, I never thought that you would ever betray me in this manner."
He looked up to the queen with eyes filled with remorse. Milo had a feeling what Baldek's fate was going to be.
"I sentence you to prison. There shall be a trial later on to decide on your punishment. Send him to the dungeons. The Atlantean police will take good care of him," The last remark seemed sarcastic and uncomfortable. Milo couldn't help but feel a bit of pity for the man.
A few guards grabbed Baldek and left the throne room. The rest were still heavily armed and pointing their spears at Helga. They were prepared for any kind of attack, but right now Helga wasn't a threat.
Helga seemed to notice all the spears around her and smiled, "I don't remember the last time I had so many men pointing at me with their weapons."
Milo got the remark, especially when she winked at him. He couldn't help but blush. Helga was always that kind of woman towards men, sensual. He looked at Kida and she just had the same angry expression in her face. She was a bit naive to what Helga was referring to.
Milo changed the subject, "So you left your freedom and came back to plead guilty?"
"That is correct. I had to clear my conscience. It wasn't getting me anywhere, and when I heard that this place resurfaced I acted quickly," There was a change in Helga's eyes and Milo saw that it was shame. "Rourke was an idiot, and I feel that part of what happened was my fault."
"It is too late for an apology," Kida snarled.
"I am not apologizing. I'm just giving up. I was never one who begged for forgiveness or for mercy. Justice needs to be served and that's why I'm here. I can't live with this burden any longer, and if you want to execute me for what I've done even better!" Milo saw that for the first time in his life he looked at Helga with teary eyes.
That is when Milo realized that Helga wasn't being facetious; she meant every word that she was saying. That thought scared him until Helga spoke again.
"So am I going to share the same jail cell with Baldek?"
.a.
Lucille Rose Thatch
Jani, the head servant, ordered her to help around the kitchen to cook the food for lunch. Lucille had no idea what all that Atlantean food was, so she was having difficulty in her first day of working. Thank goodness Jani was being patient and kind with her. She was around her age and seemed to be working here at the palace for a long time. Jani was teaching her a bit of the food that she was cooking while Lucille was getting all the plates.
"We serve the King and the Queen first, along with their guests. They eat in the throne room while we eat here in the kitchen," Jani was telling her about the routine for the royal family and its staff when it came to eating when suddenly Samie came running into the kitchen.
"Jani! Jani! I was walking into the throne room and something terrible is happening. You better come quick," Samie was yelling and looked terrified like she had seen the devil.
"Samie, what is it? You are scaring me," Jani grabbed her by the shoulder telling her to calm down.
"She is alive! All this time! She is not dead!" Samie was gasping and seemed to be out of breath.
"Who?" Jani demanded.
Samie whispered into Jani's ear and Jani's eyes grew wide in shock. She had the same terrified expression that Samie had.
"It cannot be," Jani murmured. Lucille was confused about what was going on.
Jani looked at Samie, "You must tell Mr. Whitmore and the rest on what is going on. Go now!"
As soon as Jani started yelling Samie obeyed and left the kitchen. Jani looked at Lucille and lowered her voice with her, "Lucille, you must find the King's daughter. Ms. McGrath should be in her room in the company of Ali, the young girl that also works here. You will find the King's Daughter in this corridor and turn to the right and turn in the left corridor. The first door in the left is her room. You must go now and tell her to not leave the room unless the Queen says otherwise. Go now!"
"Are the King and Queen in danger?" Jani asked with concern. If something happened to her son, she wouldn't forgive herself.
"I know not. They must be. Helga is a dangerous woman and a threat to the city."
Helga? She heard that name before. Mr. Whitmore said that woman along with the Commander named Rourke, betrayed his son and made the city face great danger by stealing the crystal and the princess.
If that woman was alive then she was a danger to her son and to the Queen. It must mean that maybe that evil man was alive too. She prayed to God that everything was going to be alright, and that Milo would be safe.
With that Lucille went to find the room of Ms. McGrath and tell her to not leave the room under any circumstances.
She approached the room and knocked on the door.
"Come in," She heard the voice of a young girl say and opened the door.
She saw two young girls; both seemed to be around the same age. They were both petting a white cat sitting in the bed. One was Atlantean which she assumed was Ali, the young girl that also worked here at the palace. The other one had beautiful golden brown hair the same as Lucille and had green eyes. She smiled at her in that smile she saw her son!
This girl was her granddaughter, and she was speechless. She had completely forgotten at that moment the urgency of why she came here.
"You must be the woman who is now working with us! Samie told us the Queen hired someone new," The Atlantean girl smiled.
"Nice to meet you," She said politely to the young girls. She looked at her granddaughter who was still smiling.
"What is your name?" Her granddaughter asked.
"Lucille, young miss. At your service," She curtsied to her granddaughter.
"Samie told me that Lucille is a friend of Mr. Whitmore. Mr. Whitmore asked Kida to hire Lucille to work here at the palace, and she kindly said yes," Ali explained.
"Well nice to meet you too. My name is Elisa McGrath, but you can call me Ellie." She offered her hand and Lucille took it gently.
Lucille didn't know what else to say. She was just excited to be with her granddaughter. As they were shaking hands, she had to let go quickly because she remembered the real reason why she was here.
"Forgive me, but the real reason that I am here is because Jani ordered me to tell you to not leave the room at all for a while. There is trouble going on in the throne room, and it would be safe for you to stay here."
"What is going on?" Ali asked.
"Apparently a traitor showed up in the palace, and she is a threat to the King and Queen. They are trying to figure out what to do with her."
"A threat? Is my father alright?" Elisa asked.
"I don't know. I hope not," Lucille found quite touching when her granddaughter said the words my father.
"Who is the threat? We have never dealt with a major threat like this that we had to stay indoors." Ali had asked.
"Her name is Helga," As soon as Lucille said her name, Ali gasped. She murmured something in Atlantean.
"Is that the woman that worked along Rourke?" Elisa had asked Ali.
"Teeg. He was a horrible man, and this woman is just as bad as he was. I must go to the throne room."
Ali was about to leave when Lucille yelled, "Jani said to stay here unless the Queen says otherwise."
"Lucille is right, Ali. Better not disobey her orders," her granddaughter said softly.
"You are just afraid that Kida is going to get mad at you again. What if they are in danger? We must go to the throne room to know what is going on," Ali suggested.
"I rather stay in here. I don't want to disobey again," She sat in the edge of her bed. Was her granddaughter truly afraid of her stepmother?
"Your father could be in trouble!"
Elisa was thinking for a second. She seemed concerned that something might have happened to Milo, and she knew how she felt.
"Perhaps Ali is right. We should check if everyone is alright and then return back to the room once we take a quick look," Lucille suggested.
Elisa looked at Lucille and she couldn't help but smile and agree that it was better to see if their loved ones were safe.
.a.
Helga Sinclair
Helga could tell that Thatch and the princess were quite shocked for paying a little visit. They were indeed surprised. The little princess still looked at her with a disgusting look. Thatch was just shocked. She would advise him to close his mouth before any flies went into his mouth but she preferred being silent than to get in any more trouble.
The awkward silence seemed to have lasted forever until an Atlantean servant girl entered the throne room along with Mr. Whitmore and the rest of the crew.
"I can't believe you are alive," Mr. Whitmore murmured as soon as he laid eyes on her.
"Hello Mr. Whitmore, and likewise," Helga replied. By now she would have expected the old man to be dead by now, but she noticed the crystal necklace around his neck. She honestly was content that Mr. Whitmore was alive. She was one of the few people that she respected and always treated her nicely back when she was working for him.
"How did she survive?" Audrey remarked in a very stern tone. She hadn't changed at all as well.
"I'll tell you later," Milo whispered to her.
Kida then asked, "After Baldek rescued you from the cave, how long did you live in Atlantis?"
"I lived with him for about a month until I decided to leave," She stated. "By the way, before I left he told me about your betrothal. Congratulations. I'm sorry, I missed the wedding."
"Enough," Kida yelled. "In that month you didn't decide to steal the crystal anymore, why?"
"I had no more reason to do it. I didn't have Rourke anymore."
"What about now? You did not bring men or forces like Rourke from other origins to help you get it back?"
"That sounds like an excellent idea," She smirked at her. "But no, I didn't."
"Why not?"
Helga exhaled, "Because when Rourke threw me down that zeppelin I realized that everything that we did was pointless!"
Another silence filled the air. More people seemed to have entered the throne room. Two of them were young girls, one was Caucasian and the other looked Atlantean. There was an old woman next to them who was wearing Atlantean clothing.
"Money isn't everything. It can't buy happiness. I thought it did, but it doesn't. " She finally stated.
"Oh Helga," Milo murmured. "I never thought I would ever hear you say that."
Helga didn't respond, she just stayed silent after hearing Milo's words.
"I'm not as bad as you think I am, your majesty," She turned to Kida. "I just want to set things right, and clear my conscience. I'm not going to be able to do that in a jail cell."
"Well as much you want to prove you are innocent, I am afraid you will be thrown into the dungeon. You started as a criminal, you were always a criminal, and you are going to die a criminal."
"If we are going to predict my future then I can assure you that I won't die, and I'm going to live to prove you wrong."
Kida got enraged "How dare you!"
Kida went up to Helga in a heartbeat. Infuriated as if she was about to hit her, but Milo quickly grabbed her by the arm.
"Kida," He whispered to her. "I think Helga is being honest. We should not put her in jail."
Kida looked at him bewildered, "What? Why?"
"Because," Milo started. "Everyone deserves a second chance. She should prove herself to us. If she betrays us then give her whatever penalty you want to give her. Just give her the freedom she wants so she can show us that she has redeemed herself."
Kida sighed. She realized that for once in the longest time, she agreed with Milo.
Helga carefully listened at what the Queen had to say in front of the guards, the servants, and the crew, "Your king is right. We must give this woman a second chance."
With this words, Helga smiled. She might just have hope after all to be free and be guilt-free forever.
"But," Kida continued. "I will not be giving her the freedom she desires. Not yet."
Helga frowned. She heard loud gasps in the throne room and whispering.
Helga barked back at the princess, "What is the point of a second chance if you won't give me my freedom? Are you still putting me in jail?"
"No," She walked back up to the steps and joined Milo. "I read in one of my husband's books to keep your friends close and your enemies closer, and that is exactly what I'm doing. You will be a prisoner, but where I can keep a close eye on you. From now on your prison will be this palace."
Helga was confused, "I'm going to be living like a royal? That doesn't seem like a prison."
Kida laughed and smiled at her, "Qwahm. Not living like a royal, but working like a slave. You will be a servant in this palace."
"I prefer the prison. I don't want to be cleaning dishes," Helga frowned.
"That is not your choice to make! I have the authority, so that choice is mine," The princess yelled at her.
She continued, "You will be working right under my nose for an entire year. Then there will be a trial which will decide your fate. For now you will be given your work clothes and a small room to sleep in. You start working here immediately, and you will not be leaving the palace under any circumstances!"
Helga immediately had more reasons to hate her. She never liked her from the day she met her. There was something about her that she never liked, and she didn't want to remember those reasons.
"Jani," Kida yelled and an old woman appeared immediately.
"Teeg, your highness," She gave a quick curtsey.
"Take this woman to her room so she can change and start working at once." The princess murmured.
"Yes, my queen." She whispered and went up to the guards that were surrounding Helga. The old hag said something in Atlantean and immediately were starting to release the chains in Helga's wrist.
While they were doing so, the caucasian girl with golden brown hair quickly went up to Milo and hugged him. Thatch had a surprised look in his face.
"Sorry about that," She let go. "I just heard that you might be in trouble, and had to check if you were alright."
"Yeah," Milo smiled. "No danger, and you can hug me anytime."
"Forgive me, your grace," The servant woman said. "We got very nervous about the trouble here in the throne room. We just wanted to make sure you were safe and the Queen as well."
"We're fine, thank you," Milo smiled to her as well. "I want to talk to you about your new job here. I would like to see you as soon as you can. Will you meet me in my office sometime today?"
The servant woman nodded, and seemed very nervous afterwards.
The guards finally freed Helga from her chains and Jani started leading her out the throne room. Not without passing by Kida first.
The Atlantean servant girl asked, "Are you going to execute her?"
"No, she will be working with you." The princess told her.
The excitement that the girl had a few seconds ago suddenly diminished and turned into a look of complete disappointment and fear.
"And I can't wait to start working here," She stopped walking and gave a stern look to Kida.
"Hope you enjoy it, because it will be your misery." Kida got so close to her that she felt her breath.
"Sounds like fun," Helga whispered. She continued to walk to follow Jani, but not without purposely crashing into the Princess's shoulder first. Whatever fight Kida wanted to give her, she would fight back. Even if it costs her the freedom she wants, she was never a woman to back down.
.a.
Kidagakash Nedahk
Kida was lying down in her throne. The events that had occurred earlier gave her an intense headache she needed to close her eyes for a while.
Milo had gone to his office with the crew to explain everything that happened when Helga first arrived to the palace. The rest of the palace staff was now gone, and she was all alone. She was so relaxed that for a moment she thought she was going to slumber for a while, but then the doors of the palace opened.
She opened her eyes and entering the throne room was Leena and her husband Siphon. Leena looked well, but Siphon looked unwell. He had bags under his eyes as if it had been years since he has had a good slumber. His hair was messy and his entire physique looked unhealthy and malnourished.
Leena bowed to the queen. Siphon bowed right after her after a moment's hesitation.
"Forgive me, your majesty," Leena started. "I wanted to talk to you about my situation with my husband. Something is wrong with him and I don't know why. I brought him with me so you can talk to him and see if he will tell the truth to you."
"Leena no need to be so formal. We are friends after all," Kida smiled at her and Leena smiled back.
The queen looked back to Siphon and frowned, "I've heard from Leena and your sister-in-law that you have been disappearing into the night without your wife knowing where in the world you are going.
Siphon frowned and stayed silent.
"I have been told that your wife has asked you where you keep going off to in the middle of the night, but you don't give her a response. You yell at her and you leave in an angry state."
"Forgive me your highness," Siphon stated.
Kida yelled back at him, "Let me speak!"
Siphon stayed silent.
"You do know that infidelity is a serious crime here in Atlantis. I wish to remind you of that right now."
Siphon murmured, "I am not being unfaithful to my wife, my queen. She knows very well since we were married that every now and then I go to the caves and check on their state. I do it in the middle of the night because I am too busy to do it in the day with the crystal merchandises such as the necklaces and the items that are necessary in the city."
Leena interrupted, "He used to visit the caves rarely at first, but now he goes occasionally. Kida, I do not know why it is affecting his health and his behavior. He does not eat and he doesn't sleep! He is hiding something I know it!"
"I am not hiding anything," Siphon yelled back. "I am just doing my job. She does not understand that the crystals have to be well maintained until they are ready for use. They are like some of the plants we eat. They need to be nurtured constantly and gather them when they are ready to eat."
Kida sighed, "I understand what you are saying Siphon, but you need to tell your wife where you are hiding. It is natural that Leena panics for your well-being when you do not wish to tell her where you are going. You are also working too hard, you need to take a few days of rest to compose yourself. Just look at you! Your health comes first. A working man must be healthy in order to raise his family. Do not work whatsoever for the next few days. I am sure the crystals will be fine."
"Yes, your majesty," Siphon looked at her directly. "I will stay away from the caves and do my best to clear my head."
Kida did not know what he meant when he said that to her, but the way he said it gave Kida a cold feeling through her skin. The way he was looking at her was so dark and intense. It was as if in those dark eyes Siphon was hiding something from her, and she was too afraid to know what.
She decided to ignore it, "Very well, you are dismissed. I will like to advice you that small marital problems like these should be resolved by you two and not by your queen unless it is a crime."
"Yes, thank you Kida," Leena bowed one last time and left. Siphon did not bow and stared at Kida coldly before he left and joined his wife.
Her headache grew worse thanks to that man. Kida did not know what the problem of that man was. It was probably because she was a little too harsh on him, but how could she be when Samie had told her that he was most likely cheating on Leena.
She would say that it was the same with Milo, but Jani was right. That affair ended before she had ever met him. Milo had never cheated on her at all.
After all, it was Milo's first love.
She remembered she had a first love once. She loved Jonek with all her heart, but a first love always ends in a tragedy.
Who knows maybe if Jonek was still alive she wouldn't be married to Milo. Things happen for a reason, and she had to admit she was happy to be with a man like Milo.
Milo was the greatest blessing the spirits could have given her. She knew how to love again just like she did when she was a younger woman, maybe even more.
She lied down in the throne again and thinking about Milo made her headache diminish. She smiled to the thought of his beautiful smile before she closed her eyes and fell into a deep slumber.
Her last thought was that she was going to let Milo sleep with her that night.
Will Milo and Kida finally reconcile?
How will Helga do with her new position as servant?
What does Milo want to talk to Lucille about?
Why am I asking so many stupid questions?
Find out about this and more in the next chapter of The King's Daughter!
Coming Soon...