Rifiuto: Non Miriena
A/N: Written: 2005 Found: 2017- Licia
Elphaba heard the car before she saw it out the window. Slipping into her heels, she rushed from the bedroom. "Locasta! They're back-"
But it was Trism's voice that caused her pause on the landing of the stairs. Locasta joined her daughter-in-law, features paling.
"Mother! Mother, fetch the doctor! Hurry!"
The women watched in horror as guards carried Traper into the palace, towards the study on the first floor. Locasta's cry horrified Elphaba, and she watched as her mother-in-law hurried down the stairs. A moment passed, before her own gaze finally landed on her husband- shaking, covered in dust and debris, but alive- and she rushed to him.
"Trism!" She threw her arms around his neck. "Thank the Unnamed God you're okay! I thought I'd lost you!" He pulled her close, burying his face in her hair for several minutes before she pulled away. "Trism, you're bleeding!" He reached up, feeling the cut on his forehead. At some point during the second explosion, he'd been hit with something, but he couldn't remember what. It was all a blur of smoke and blood and silence...
The second explosion.
"Father." He pulled away from his wife, hurrying into the study, Elphaba hot on his heels.
"Trism? Trism, what's wrong? Tris-" They skidded to a stop in the doorway; Elphaba covered her mouth with her hands, choking on a sob. Glinda, who'd been up for hours in the library reading, came in to see what all the commotion was about, but stopped at the sight before her.
Features mutilated, stomach ripped open and legs torn off thanks to a bomb, Traper was bleeding to death. Locasta, who sat on the sofa he was lying on, held him in her arms; she was holding tightly to his hand, whispering to him softly in Vinkun, as the doctor- who had arrived moments later- assessed the damage. Any attempts to stop the bleeding failed; he no longer had legs beneath the knee, and even if the bleeding could be stopped, he wouldn't survive the night. Without a word, Trism pulled away from his wife, rushing to his father's side. He knelt by the sofa, reaching out and taking Traper's other hand, tears coming to his eyes.
"Father." Traper's eyes shifted to meet his son's gaze. "I'm so sorry." The king's gaze flicked to Elphaba, who had come up behind her husband. Slowly, the young empress knelt behind her husband, wrapping her arms around him from behind, stroking her fingers through his hair, doing her best to try to calm him, for she could sense that he was getting frantic.
"How long will it be?" Locasta asked, and the doctor sighed, watching the young prince and his wife. Silently, Elphaba covered the hand that held his father's with hers. She slipped her fingers between his and Traper's, the gentle stroking of her fingers against the king's hand seemed to calm both him and his son. She was giving him her strength, because at that moment, he had none.
"Up to fifteen minutes. I'm sorry, Your Majesty, but there's nothing more that I can do except try and make him comfortable." He replied, as the priest that had come with him began to administer last rites to the dying king. Locasta nodded, turning back to her husband.
"I love you, Traper. I love you, so, so much. My darling... oh, my darling..." Trism watched as his mother shared one last tender kiss with his father; she either didn't notice or didn't care about the blood, the flesh burned off his bones, for she continued to stroke his cheek and kiss his lips anyway. Traper's eyes remained fixed on Locasta; the young Evian princess, the woman who had bore him two sons and ruled by his side for the last several years, was the last thing he saw as the damage from his wounds finally claimed him fifteen minutes after arriving back at Kiamo Ko.
The once brilliant Vinkun king, who had earned the moniker "The Peacekeeper" for having managed to keep the Vinkus from war during his reign, drew his last breath in his wife's arms, with his son and daughter-in-law by his side. Upon realizing that he was gone, Locasta burst into tears, resting her forehead to her husband's. "No... Traper... my darling... my love..."
Trism choked on a sob, resting his forehead against his father's hand, shoulders shaking with silent sobs. Elphaba curled around him, pressing soft kisses to his head, tears in her own eyes. The rest of the household who had been there to witness the passing of the king, knelt in prayer.
Though no one spoke, everyone knew that with Traper's passing, the throne now went to Trism.
"I could have stopped it." She remained silent, preferring to focus on running the brush through her hair, though she was listening intently. "If only I'd insisted we return to Kiamo Ko-"
"You couldn't have stopped it, Tris." She replied, setting the brush down and getting up. "When revolutionaries or anarchists want to eliminate someone, no one will get in their way." She pulled the covers down and slipped underneath, shifting to lie on her side.
He shook his head, pushing back the covers and climbing out of bed. "You don't understand, Elphaba."
"I don't understand?" She sat up. "I don't understand what it's like to have your family ripped apart by revolutionaries? Have you forgotten who I am, Trism? Have you forgotten that I lost my entirefamily? In a basement! In a locked basement in the governor's mansion in Fliaan ten years ago!" She cried, getting out of bed and going to him. "I watched my parents die! I watched my sisters die! I watched my brother and our servants!" Once she was close enough, she jabbed him in the chest. "I slipped on their blood as I tried to escape! I watched Sophelia's head explode from the bullets! I watched Papa and Mama draw their last breaths before they even realized what was happening!"
Melena's prayers were cut short as bullets ripped through her skull; Sophelia's head exploded- brain matter splashed against the back wall, and Frexpar... he stood, reaching for his son, only to be cut down by a bullet to skull, leaving only the servants and his four youngest children alive to suffer what would become known throughout history as the Thropp Massacre.
"So don't you dare accuse me of not understanding what it's like to watch someone you love die, Trism! I watched six members of my family die that night! I listened to Nessa's screams as guards took advantage of her, I slipped on Rainia's blood and tripped over the bodies of our most trusted servants! At least your mother is still alive! I'm the only survivor of my family!"
She turned away, trying desperately to regain her composure. "I'm sorry, I just-"
He began to crumple, and she rushed to him, grabbing onto him as they hit the floor. "I understand, my darling. I understand what it's like to lose your father! Look at me, Trism, look at me!" He lifted his head, she took his face in her hands, forcing him to look at her. "I know what you're going through! I know what you're going through..." She held him close, rocking gently back and forth. "You're not alone, my darling. You're not alone." A soft knock sounded, and Elphaba looked up. "Come in."
Locasta slipped into the room, stopping at the sight of her son and daughter-in-law. A moment passed, before she knelt beside her children, reaching out to stroke her fingers through her son's hair. "I'm so sorry, my darling."
"At least he still has you." Elphaba whispered, and the queen knew that the meaning was clear. He still has a family; he isn't like me, who has none.
"And you have us, Elphaba." Locasta whispered; the young empress nodded. Slowly, the queen turned to her son. "Trism, my darling, look at me, please." Very slowly, the prince turned to meet his mother's gaze. She took her son's face in her hands, resting her forehead to his. "The crown goes to you, my son, if you want it. Whatever you decide, know that we will be right there with you."
Breakfast was a solemn affair.
Locasta had donned black that morning; her choice of attire would eventually earn her the title of the 'Dowager in Black' for she would wear black the rest of her life, but at that moment, she was simply mourning the loss of her beloved. It had gone from an arranged marriage to a love match in a few short years, and the former Evian princess would never recover fully from the loss of her soulmate. Though her son and daughter-in-law would help, nothing would truly heal the pain she would feel.
Everyone looked up as Trism entered the sitting room; instantly, everyone rose, bowing or curtsying to the young man. All except Elphaba, who hurried to take his hand. Once everyone was seated, Trism looked around, finally catching his wife's eye. She reached beneath the table to take his hand, squeezing gently. You can do this. I'm right here, darling. I'm right here.
He took a deep breath. "I won't allow the Tigelaar dynasty to die with father. We've ruled this land too long; I'm not going to allow the dynasty to die by walking away from it." He glanced at his wife, who squeezed his hand. "And... if Fabala and I are so lucky to bear a child, then when the time is right, then crown will go to him or her. The Thropp dynasty was nearly wiped out, in one night in a basement; I won't allow the Tigelaar line to suffer a similar fate."
Elphaba leaned over, pressing a kiss to his cheek. "You will be a wonderful king, my love. You will make your father proud."
He met her gaze. "Say you'll rule by my side, Fabala." She started shaking her head.
"I am no queen, Trism. My mother was no queen, and neither am I-"
"I know." He replied, taking her face in his hands. "I know, my love, you're an empress, the most powerful woman in Oz. I'm not asking you to give up your throne in Fliaan, I would never ask you to choose between Fliaan and the Vinkus. But I can't do this without you. Please, Fabala. I want you by my side. Women throughout history have ruled more than one land; I'm asking as your husband, not as your king. Please."
She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. "You have always been my king, Tris."
"I can't win without you, Fabala. I can play the game, but I can't win without you by my side. Check is not an option, remember?"
A moment passed, before she nodded. "I remember." She kissed him softly. "If that's what you desire, my love. I won't let you play it alone."