All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another.

~Anatole France

Chapter 25: The Wish.

She watched the white flags of mourning fly from every window in the wingdom, saw the white ribbons wrapped around the ruins of war. So many people had lost their lives, so many lives destroyed. She should feel remorse and sadness but all she could feel was bitterness and pain.

'My husband,' she thought. 'My Skyler, dead…'

Skyla startled awake, her face wet with tears and her throat tight as she had cried. In a wild moment, she reached out beside her feeling only relief when she touched Skyler's warm and familiar body beside her. He stirred, but didn't wake – the grief of the previous night keeping him lost in sleep.

Skyla let out a slow, relieved breath and carefully slipped out of bed, scared that she might wake Skyler. She wasn't surprised that she had a nightmare that featured his death. The queen's pain at loosing her husband was so acute, so palatable, that it seemed to have ingrained itself on her own soul.

She wrapped a robe around herself and left the room, pausing one last time to glance back at her husband who was sleeping peacefully. When he woke, she knew that he would loose that peace, reminded again that his father was dead and that he was to take up the responsibility of king. The responsibility already lay very heavy on her heart because she knew that she could officially dismiss all her ideas to open the Dance Academy. She would have to be here a lot more now, and it would be impossible for her to do both the duty of teacher and wife. One would have to bend and sadly, her career would be it.

Sighing to herself, hugging her body as she walked to the queen's private chambers, Skyla pushed away all the lingering feelings of fear that her nightmare had instilled in her. Although she was not naïve enough to think that tragedy will never touch their marriage, Skyla was confident that she and Skyler would have a long and happy marriage together. There was no war in the wingdom and no political power struggles that could harm them.

When she reached the queen's room she was surprised to find it open, despite the early hour. She wanted to go in, but paused when she heard voices inside.

"He was dying Skyclone," Alima's voice was strangely calm and filled with grief. "I could see it, feel it. What would you have had me do? I had it within me to give him some peace, so I did."

"But, you lied to him!" Skyclone snapped. "You lied to him on his deathbed!"

Alima sighed softly and shifted. "The world's full of lies Skyclone," she said softly. "We have all done so to a fashion. That I did it to a dying man would no doubt come back to haunt me, but I take comfort in the fact that it gave him peace. I will not explain myself to you because there is nothing to be said. Your father is dead, he was a good and honourable man who didn't deserve a wife who could never love him."

Skyclone all but growled, and when Skyla shifted slightly to look inside, she saw him standing before his mother with his fists balled. "You said that you could love him," he said. "You practically implied that you did. You gave him false hope, false peace. Where will that lead to? You lied in front of us! Your sons! You always have, you and your double life."

The queen, who was sitting by the window, stood up slowly and moved to touch her son. "I will not speak ill of the dead Skyclone," Alima said softly. "But, I would like to point out that by his own admission he also kept me locked in this loveless life when he could've ended it. You see, he too lived on false hope, it was perhaps what our marriage was build on. It does not make a greater or a lesser man of him. It makes us both foolish, foolish children who had played a game with each other. But, hear me Skyclone, your father was a great man and although I could not love him as a lover, I loved him as a wife, as a friend and as a companion. I respected him more than anybody I have ever met and his death is a loss this wingdom will always regret. You are the son of a great man."

Skyclone stepped back sharply and turned around, his face a picture of dark fury. "And a foolish woman!" he yelled. "A lying, twisted fool!"

When he stormed towards the door, Skyla quickly backed away so that they wouldn't get the impression that she had been listening. When Skyclone saw her in the corridor though, his face twisted again, from anger to pain.

"Love is a lie Skyla," he told her. "It's a lie."

Pained, she reached out to touch him. "No it isn't Skyclone," she said softly. "Love is real sometimes it's just different than what we expect."

He allowed her to touch his shoulder, to briefly trail her hand down to his and squeeze it but then he jumped up and flew down the corridor away from her and away from his mother.

Fighting tears, Skyla went back to the door and knocked lightly before pushing it open and going in. Alima was still standing in the middle of the room, her face a picture of anguish. When she saw Skyla her face twisted in grief and she turned around to the window to hide her tears. Murmuring soft words, Skyla went to her and slipped an arm around her body, resting her head on her shoulder.

"I'm sorry Alima," she said softly. "He's grieving; he doesn't know what he says."

The queen chuckled bitterly, her tears trailing burning paths down her cheeks. "You know as well as I do Skyla," she said softly. "That pain and grief brings clarity to one's soul that always reveals the truth. He knew exactly what he was saying, and he was right. I did lie to my husband on his deathbed, I don't think there's any forgiveness for that."

Skyla sighed softly and held her more tightly. "I knew you did," she whispered. "And, I know why you did it. I think in your position, I'd have done the same. You cannot haunt him now in death, don't let him haunt you in life."

Alima sighed softly and rested her head against Skyla's, touching the young woman's arm in gratitude. "I wish that life was different," she said softly and grew quiet, staring out of the window at the white flags that were being put into people's windows as news of the king's death spread. Skyla shivered as they reminded her of her nightmare and closed her eyes, wishing that her mother was here to comfort the queen.

They stood like that for several moments until she felt the queen sigh softly and pull away from her. She turned to face Skyla and cupped her face, leaning forward to kiss her on the forehead.

Skyla squeezed her wrist and sighed, thinking about her dancing and how she was supposed to be on her way to New York right now. She wished that life was different as well, but she had long since come to realize that things never worked out the way you wanted it to. Sensing her thoughts, the queen grimaced and gave her a brief hug.

"I'm sorry about New York," she said softly. "I know it meant a lot to you."

Skyla shrugged and moved away from the queen to the window, looking up at the sky to avoid looking at the white flags.

"It wasn't meant to be," she said softly. "Something else will come up, a different path, a different life."

"It doesn't have to," Skyler's voice startled them as he walked in behind them, having given them space when he saw their soft, kind exchange. "You can still go."

Skyla blinked as she turned around to find her husband in his robe with them in the room. She went over to him immediately and hugged him, wishing to wipe away his grief with her touch. He returned her touch gratefully and briefly kissed her on the cheek.

"I send Faolin to your home last night before coming to bed," he said quietly. "She said that she could come in contact with your dance troupe and tell them that you will be a day or two late due to a family emergency but you are still coming. You've worked too hard for this Skyla for me to see you give up this dream."

Startled, Skyla touched Skyler's face and shook her head. "It's okay Skyler," she said. "What sort of an image would it send out if I abandon you now? You will probably be coroneted and assume all of your father's duties. I have to be here beside you to help you. The dancing and the academy don't matter."

Skyler swallowed, hiding his grief, and hugged her again. "It does," he said. "It matters more to you than you let on, and because of that it matters to me. As you said in the beginning, this is your chance and we have given up a lot for you to pursue it. I want to see you in this performance that you have worked so hard at. Otherwise, we have really given up so many things and so much time together for nothing."

Alima moved up behind Skyla to lay a hand on her son's shoulder. "My love," she said softly. "I hate to say this but Skyla's right, she will have to be present for your coronation. It's not debatable and the image that it would send if she's not by your side during your first ruling period would be… disastrous for both of you. The wingdom needs to see unity in what might be a very unstable time."

Skyler looked at his mother and nodded - his eyes older than his years. "I know," he said quietly. "And, I intend for her to be by my side when I start ruling officially – but, I don't have to do so immediately."

Pinching the bridge of her nose, Alima shook her head and frowned at her son. "I'm not following Skyler," she said carefully. "You will probably be coroneted by the end of the week, a month at the latest."

To her surprise, her son shook his head and smiled sadly. "Normally," he said quietly, "there's a six months 'handing over' period between two kings. Despite father's illness, I haven't actually entered that period yet. If you look at father's original will and testament, he said that – if something was to happen before I had come of age, you were to take over as regent until I was able."

Al of a sudden, Alima became very pale and took a step back. Seeing her sway, Skyla quickly moved to the chair and put it in behind her as Alima sat down, her head in her hands.

"Mom!" Skyler's voice was laced with panic as he quickly reached out and touched her shoulder. "Mom, are you alright?"

Alima swallowed dryly and nodded, her hand covering her mouth in surprise. "He…" she swallowed. "Your father never told me of this arrangement. Never."

Skyler blinked then sighed softly and hunched down beside her, taking her hand in his. "He trusted you mother," he said softly, tears thick in his voice. "What ever you might've thought of him or how your marriage was… He loved you and respected you, he believed that you would make a good queen in his absence, as do I. I realize that it's a lot to ask, but if you take the regent position for six months it would give me time to set up a few things that I've been working on and Skyla time to dance her part. Then, when all's done we can have it done properly and not in the shadow of my father's death. I don't want to take the throne like this, I want to feel that I'm ready before I do it."

Alima swallowed and shook her head. "Skyler," she said in a hoarse whisper. "There are a lot of people here who would not want to see me hold this power and responsibility. I am not popular in the wingdom for I had chosen indirectly to turn my back on it. To step in now…"

Skyler chuckled softly and touched his mother's cheek, leaning forward to kiss her on the forehead.

"You'll surprise yourself," he said. "This is your chance to prove them wrong mother and perhaps to remember why this place is home." He looked sad. "I would also like to have you here, by my side. It's going to be so difficult without Father."

Alima, with tears brimming in her eyes, nodded slowly and leaned her head forward so that she could touch Skyler's forehead.

"For you my dear son," she said softly. "I'll do it. If it isn't met with general disapproval, I'll do it for you."

&&&

Skyler recalled Faolin that evening, who gave them the news that Skyla's dance troupe understood her circumstances and could give her a week's absence. It gave Skyla time to attend the funeral and help Skyler set everything up so that it would make it easy for her to leave.

The night before she was meant to go and three days after the funeral, she found herself lying in bed with Skyler, her head resting on his shoulder as they stared at the canopy in silence, their breathing blending in unison. Skyla, who could just faintly hear his heart beating against her ear, found herself wishing that few months that she's going to be away would pass quickly so that she could come back to her husband and be a proper wife to him. She found herself aching to have his children, to know that she could be with him whenever she wanted. She closed her eyes and found herself trying to imagine what life would be like then and what it would be like to be a mother…

Smiling suddenly, she felt Skyler touch her shoulders and hug her closer to his body.

"What?" he whispered softly and smoothed her hair as she looked up to his face.

Unable to keep herself from grinning, Skyla traced a small pattern on his bare chest and smiled seductively.

"I want to have your babies," she said mischievously. "All of them."

Skyler blinked surprised and laughed. "Subtle," he said. "Very subtle Skyla." He chuckled and started turning so that they could lie side by side facing each other. Skyla moved from his chest to her pillow, but after a moment's thought put her head on his. Skyler smiled at her and touched her cheek, his eyes vast and full of love.

"I want to make your babies," he whispered softly. "I always have."

Skyla grinned and took his hand in hers. "We can start practicing…" She suggested and to which he laughed again and cupped her cheek.

"Subtler and subtler still," he said and leaned closer to her to kiss her lightly on the lips. "I'm all for practicing Skyla, but I need to talk to you about something first."

Skyla raised an eyebrow and made a considering sound before leaning in to return her husband's kiss. "What is it?" she queried, chuckling softly when he took both her hands in his.

"It's about Faolin," he said softly and let her go when she sat up surprised.

"What has she done?" Skyla said with a touch of anticipation in her voice. "Is everything alright?"

Skyler smiled slightly and sat up with her, pulling their robes closer that had been lying at the foot of the bed so that he could put it round both his and Skyla's shoulders.

"It is," he said. "You know as well as I do that her work is outstanding. She's been a great help these past few days."

Skyla smiled warmly, feeling a rush of love for her friend. "I know," she said softly. "I always wish that there was a proper way to thank her, I know that this isn't always what she wants to do."

Skyler smiled and nodded. "That's why I have a suggestion," he said quietly. "When I become king Skyla, I want to implement a few things."

Skyla blinked. "And Faolin will be a part of this?" she queried to which her husband nodded.

"With your leave," he said. "I know that she is in your employment and I won't offer her anything without your blessing."

She swallowed and felt a touch of anticipation, recognizing that change was in the air. "Okay," she said hesitantly, "what do you want to do?"

Skyler's face twitched as he clenched his jaw and reached out to touch her hand. "I wish to create a council," he said. "A party of people who can, for lack of a better word, rule the country in my absence if need be. That way, I won't have to be here all the time and maybe, sometimes, go and see this wonderful world of yours. I'm not creating them just for that of course, but it's one of the motivations. Things have been the same for too long, we've stagnated politically and people just assume that the king's choice is the best one because there's never been a deliberation of any other kind."

Skyla blinked surprised and gave her husband a wild look. "Skyler," she said levelly. "What you're suggesting is democracy."

He laughed. "Don't make it sound like such a curse," he said. "I've been playing with the idea for a while and with my father's death, it might be a good time to start to implement it."

Skyla frowned and crossed her legs so that she could sit easier. "You have to be careful not to change too many things too quickly Skyler," she said softly. "People are very resistant to change and might take it as a sign that things will be very unstable with your rule."

Skyler smiled slightly. "I realize that," he said. "But the people that I've discussed it with seem to think that it's a good idea."

She frowned again and gave him a questioning look. "And who would that be?" she queried.

"My brother for one," Skyler said. "I want him to be on the council, that would give him some political power and, indirectly if something happens to me, a chance to rule. Father wasn't against it when he was still alive and Master Anwar also thinks that it's a good idea. I want him to be on the council as well."

Still feeling a touch of anticipation Skyla pinched her brow, wishing that – instead of having this discussion, they had opted for making babies instead. "I don't think he'll do it," she said quietly, thinking of the King's aid. "He was fiercely loyal to your father… He's going to need some time to recover from his death. And, I'm not sure he's so politically motivated."

Skyler sighed and nodded. "Granted," he said. "But, as I said – he thought it was a good idea to create the council when I mentioned it to him."

Skyla raised an eyebrow and sighed, pushing some of her hair behind her ears. She had a strange, bad feeling about this but couldn't put words to it to justify it. It seemed like a good idea and it was a good back up to have a party that could politically step in and rule the country if the king was unable to. She shuddered suddenly, thinking of her dream. Skyler, seeing her shudder, reached out and rubbed her shoulders.

"Are you cold?" he queried to which she nodded, not wanting to explain herself.

"Yes," she said. "Let's get under the blanket again. Where does Faolin fit into all of this Skyler?"

Her husband smiled and lay down again, pulling the blankets over them as she did the same.

"I want her to be on the council," he said. "You said yourself Skyla, she wasn't made to be a Lady-in-Waiting. In some ways, she's terrible in it because time and again she's become involved in small, political tiffs with some of the other Lords and Ladies. She's always had to back down because she doesn't have a wing to fly with in that area, but you must know that it killed her every time. She's smart, painfully neutral and can consider a matter from every side. I think she would be perfect for my council."

Feeling a sudden ache of loss, Skyla realized that Skyler was correct and that if his plan succeeded, she would loose her Lady-in-Waiting. When she didn't speak immediately, Skyler looked at her curious and touched her shoulder.

"What do you think wife?"

Skyla bit her lip and sighed, taking her husband's hand in hers. "I think it's a good idea Skyler," she said softly. "But, it will be difficult to implement. You see, when you choose this council, you can't just put anybody on it. The wingdom has a hierarchy system that stretches a little bit further than the royal family. We have higher ranking lords and lower ranking lords. I should remind you for instance that I would never have been able to marry you had it not been for your mother. Faolin comes from a family similar to mine, farmers who hold the title of Lord only in name. You have to consider that when choosing your candidates. To now ignore that ranking system would be disastrous."

Skyler turned introspective as he studied her features. "I'll think about it," he said. "But, you haven't told me yet Skyla – would you give your blessing if it was possible to put Faolin on the council."

Her heart ached, but she couldn't say no. Nodding, Skyla sighed softly and touched her husband's cheek. "Yes," she said. "I would do so gladly even if it means loosing her. I want to see her… Happy, not just content."

Skyler smiled gently and touched her cheek, leaning forward so that he could kiss her on her lips.

"I don't think you'll loose her Skyla," he said softly. "Or anybody else who loves you. People are willing to walk through fire for you, I don't think that will ever change. It's a unique quality that you have."

Skyla chuckled softly and shook her head. "I don't want people to walk through fire for me," she said. "I just wish for them to be happy."

Skyler smiled and squeezed her hand. "You know what will make me happy?" he queried. "Right now?"

She could guess, but she was willing to let him answer. "No," she said – playing stupid. "What?"

Her husband smiled and leaned over to kiss her again.

"Practicing," he whispered…

&&&

Although he couldn't see them, he knew what they were doing and it filled him with jealousy and love and rage. Skyclone abruptly flew away from the window and out into the gardens where he sat down on a bench.

'Love is a lie,' he thought as he pushed the image of his brother kissing Skyla out of his mind. 'It's a lie. And they are living it…'

He growled and kicked a nearby stone, sending it tumbling into the bushes. For a second, he remembered the spectre that had haunted him, and remembered its promise. He felt a touch of fear, wondering if it would come again, now – after what he's done. But, he had not harmed his brother. He did not touch the boy.
No.

And, he couldn't think that he had done the old man any harm… He had been ill anyway.

That man, his father, had lied as well. Just like his mother. And his brother.

The only person who had never lied to him was Skyla, beautiful, graceful and kind Skyla. She could love him, he knew. She saw him for who he really was. A prince of the wingdom, perhaps a future king.

In her eyes, he wasn't just her husband's brother or his father's son.

No, he was a person in her eyes, and he wished that somehow, someway, he could make her see what he felt for her.

&&&

To Be Continued…

AN: Betcha you thought that I was never going to come back! (laughs) Well, I'm back! Sorry for the long delay with this. RL's been crazy I can't even begin to describe it or tell you of everything that's happened. All I can tell you is that you won't have to wait so long for the next one, I'm sure. I'm back into writing in full force. For interest, if you like to see what I do on a day to day basis, I have a blog and it's fairly popular. Feel free to drop by, just click on my homepage.

Also, I have to point out, there's a new story here in the genre in which the author says that it's in collaboration with myself. This is not the communal story that I had planned to write. That sort of died due to lack of response. I helped Lady Saffron with well, lol, I don't know. :) She came to me with her story and I encouraged her to put it on the site. I think it's going to be a fun read. You need a break from my dark and gloomy. Where it's going is all in her hands, I might give some input there, but it's her call.

Thank you for reading as always! I missed you guys.

Alyss

3-;--