Please forgive me for my terribly long absence! I've had the worst writer's block on the face of the earth, and a few of you might have thought I died. But I am here, so I'm just making an effort to finish this monstrosity.

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After the day long shock had worn off, I woke up the next day in a frenzied panic, terrified from my dream.

It had started off like any other nightmare would if you discovered you were dying- reliving every horrible moment when you were finding out- but then it took a frightening turn when I ran outside. The clouds had opened up with great lightning and thunder, and the head of the Lord himself appeared from the heavens.

"It is your doing…when you thought of only your own wants; you brought the sickness upon yourself. It is up to you to make things right."

When I woke, adrenaline had seized my heart and I knew that I had to get away from here as fast as I could. I had no intention of ignoring a direct order from God himself, and heaven help the poor soul who tried to stop me.

There was no way I could go back in borrowed clothes…I clumsily tied on the long forgotten white corset that had proved nearly fatal, and pulled on the white wedding gown that I had once been eager to be rid of. The ring was still securely on my finger, and I left all of my belongings Gramma had so generously given me.

It tore at my heart to have to leave Gramma and Jack, but if God had told me to murder them in their sleep, I would have, if He willed it so.

A hastily scribbled sentence on parchment was the only explanation of my absence. I couldn't bear to have to tell Gramma face to face. The scanty 'I have left to resume my God given duty…I cannot abandon my country any longer' would have to make Gramma and Jack understand, and I hoped they weren't upset.

The frigid air tore at my throat like icy knives, and even as I tried to cough into my hands, tiny blood flecks marked my path.

The trip took near an hour, and when I reached the palace gates, my fingers and toes had been long numb, along with my ears and nose.

"Halt! Who asks permission to enter the Royal Palace?" A guard asked, and I, painfully, drew myself up to my tallest and most impressive stature before I replied.

"Tis no one but your long absented Ruler, Crown Princess Lolly Frostine Amelia Geneva Kandy…Licorice."

The guards seemed to notice my attire for the first time, and they near fell over themselves trying to let me in.

"Princess, it has been so long…" "Madame, the palace has been so empty and desolate without you…"

Their mindless babblings which had once been so annoying were now like reassuring promises. No one had died and forced a distant cousin to take the throne. Thank God.

They led me inside, into the warmth of the stone castle, and my limbs tingled as my blood began to circulate again.

Although the feeling of numbness was ever so slowly creeping away, I wished that it wouldn't leave me, because as the numbness slipped away, a feeling of sadness took its place.

The looming doors of the King and Queen's private chambers were thrown open by a surprised looking Cecilia when one of the guards announced my arrival.

"Princess!" she gasped, and I tried to force a smile, but I didn't find much to smile about.

"So it's true!" I heard a familiar voice say, and the Queen was suddenly there with wide arms and a broad smile to match.

She caught me up in her arms and squeezed me hard. I felt a catch in my throat and the itchy feeling that was unpleasantly familiar.

I backed out of her embrace hunched over, a particularly violent spasm taking over. Although I couldn't see the Queen, Cecilia or the two guards, I could mentally see them with horror struck faces as a few drops of blood fell on the polished floor.

After what felt an eternity, the fit subsided and I stood up straighter, my mental imaginings proven right, only the King had arrived.

"Darling…what happened?" The Queen asked, and I shrugged nonchalantly.

"Consumption."

In the next second there was a scream from the Queen, and she collapsed into the king's arms.

"Call the physician at once! Now!" The king bawled, and I wondered exactly who he was yelling for, me or the Queen.

There was a great scurrying, and I was whisked to the physicians quarters, having him examine me.

"You don't have to do this you know…I'm perfectly aware of the situation…" I said, even as I was being hauled off to the physicians quarters.

"But perhaps there is some way that he could heal you…we cannot allow ourselves to fall into interregnum." The first guard said, and I sighed.

"There is no need for an interregnum, if I am unable to take the crown, there is still Licorice…where is he, by the way. I would have thought him to be called to see his bride." I struggled out the last word, trying to keep an even face.

"Crown Princess…I don't think that now would be a good time…" He said, looking everywhere but at me.

I stopped dead.

"What do you mean." I demanded, and he and the second guard stopped too.

"Madame…perhaps you should wait until you are seated…" He said, and for once I was stubborn.

"No, tell me." I said gruffly, and the first guard shifted on his feet uneasily. "Uh…he…uh…well you see…"

"He's dead." The second one said abruptly, and I felt lightheaded. Dead?

Everything sort of span fast, and the polished marble rushed up to meet me.

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Short?

Yes.

But it's a chapter none the less.

Reviews would be nice, but if you're sore at me, I can understand why.