The Royal Guardian
By: Sokai
Disclaimer: I, Sokai, do not claim ownership to the workings of W.I.T.C.H. -- I leave that honor up to Elisabetta Gnone. Nor do I own Meg Cabot's "The Princess Diaries" series (even though this story isn't even really related to the series. Just don't want to hear law suit claims LoL). However, I can and DO claim to own this story and its inspired ideas FROM said series.
Note: I'm sure A.J. Is going to be most happy with this chapter, since the suggestion to have Will talk to Elyon had been brought up. I suppose great minds think alike, because I'd always planned to have her do so since the start of this story. So, yay.
Oh, and if there's mistakes, don't tell me cuz I'm sure I'll see them regrettably after I post this, even though I'd spent literally twelve hours finishing and editing this entire thirteen page chapter (and I'm about to pass out and am dead on my feet as a result).
So I hope you appreciate this chapter and actually review! LoL
This chapter was created/written in August 2007.
Chapter Twenty Eight
Sunday, November 5th, 4:36 am,
Vandom Loft, My Bedroom
Which is also now my prison!!!!
This is so unfair!!! I cannot believe that even Mom, my own mother, who knows Matt like the back of her hand (kind of) by now, had taken freaking Eli's side!!!!
God! I cannot wait until I get my own place, where I'll have my own rules and get to decide whom to let into my life, let alone through the front door!!!!
Obviously, a boat load of crap and drama has happened since I'd last written in here, and as pissed off as I am about it, I'm not really all that surprised (because I'm surrounded by extremely anal people all the time now).
Let me make the list before I get into grander detail:
Matt is now officially on the "hit list" of my mother, Eli and every Marsilian bodyguard within existence.
Matt is no longer allowed over to the loft for forever, apparently. (Or, at least whenever my grounded sentencing is over, and even then I'm sure that he'll need to have some sort of "supervision" at all times)
Matt is beyond angry and fed up with me and my lies, (At least he seems to be, and I guess that I can't fully blame him. But, to be fair, he was the one who hadn't declined in coming along with me to Meridian) and despite having been gravely pained by the fact that my family now views him as some sort of sexual predator, he incredulously agrees with their reaction, apparently. (Yeah, easy for him to do so, since he's not the one on punishment for all of eternity now.)
On the Meridian front,Elyondid not say (nor later do) what I'd hoped she would. And being that I thought that she could understand better than anyone what I'm going through right now (which she had later verbally confirmed), I thought that she honestly would have. (Done what I'd asked, I mean.) So therefore, in summation, my trip had been an utter waste of time (outside of the whole catching up with a friend thing).
But, I digress.
Well, no, I really don't. Not really, because I'm about to continue on with it, anyhow.
Whatever. My mind is too jumbled, I'm so irascible right now. (But at least I'd used a "big word" to convey my anger, though. This new thesaurus I got is working, after all.)
But let me get this over with, and go in reverse order of how I'd created the list. That is, start with what happened with Elyon.
So, okay. I told you how I'd gotten there with Matt late, right? (The completely separate time dimensions or whatever you want to call it between Earth and Metamoor always seems to slip my mind most of the time, because I still don't honestly know precisely what the calculated time difference is. But I'm going to say around eight hours or so. I say this because I'd come back here and it was about four o'clock in the morning, and it was only around noontime according to Elyon after having observed the sun's position within the sky over there. That, and because her royal agenda for the day was full, as always, and at "noon" she said that she was expected to give audience to the royal agriculturists about their annual Harvest Festival.)
Okay, so then, the following morning, I feel myself being lightly stirred awake by one of the palace's lady-in-waiting whom I'd recognized to be Luned.
Now this Galhot and Escanor halfbreed was always very kind and helpful by nature (as far as I've always known and seen thus far, anyway). However, whenever it dealt with we Guardians, Luned was extra "kind and helpful" (which I'd always found pretty cool, because most of the other palace attendants, although still pleasant in his or her own right, of course, are more so "by the book." That is, they do what they have to do and then are done with it. But I guess that's understandable -- Not that that means that Elyon works them to the bone, and so they can't wait to get home at the end of each day or anything as a result, no. Just saying).
So waking up to her pale, cheerful face that I hadn't seen in a while was an extra treat for me (to have added to my previously elated mood).
"Good morning, Miss Will! I had heard from the other ladies-in-waiting that you'd arrived during the course of the previous evening! It is so good to see you again!" Luned said to me with a broad smile while I groggily rubbed the sleep from out my eyes before slowly rising out of the grand bed.
After having collected myself, I gently smiled back at the older, taller woman before hugging her tight.
"I have. And it's great to see you again, too. . . Hey, um. Do you happen to have any idea what time it currently is right now, by any chance?"
Luned's head lightly bobbed against my shoulder as she nodded in reply, before pulling away to release me from our embrace.
"That I do, of course! It is a few moments past sunrise, Miss Will. Which means that the morning meal will soon be served," she said with another smile, her soft silvery eyes twinkling. "Her Majesty the Queen has already arisen, of course, and is in the process of her usual morning rituals as we speak. Today's royal agenda is rather busy, you understand; however, with her unparalleled grace and generosity, she has managed to swiftly set aside half a day's worth of time just for you -- And your friend, Matt!"
I then felt a tad stricken with guilt. I mean, because in my haste to get in touch with Elyon, it'd completely slipped my mind of how extremely busy her life usually was now that she's a queen, yet still somehow manages to make it look easy and make enough time for everyone. (Will I be that busy? Lord, help me.)
Now, she deserves to be queen, and was so seriously made for the job.
As for myself, I was just thrust into my princess position by cruel circumstance. Because, otherwise, no one within their right mind would have ever appointedme one by choice.
But anyway. Snapping back to the present. . . Er, past. . . Whatever!
"Really? Now I feel awful to have just popped in on Elyon like this," I affirmed my chagrin to the silver, long haired half-blood, running a hand through my no-change-in-messiness hair.
Luned just waved a hand at this and smiled at me once more.
"Not at all! It is good that you have come to see Queen Elyon. She may not be aware that I've noticed, but I can tell that she has missed you -- You and the other Guardians," she revealed softly. "I say this as merely more of an assumption, of course, but lately I sometimes observe her staring off into space as though in longing or deep contemplative thought. . ."
This really wasn't news to me.
I mean, since Guardian and universe-protecting business has been next to zilch for a while now (and thus, less trips to Meridian), I can imagine that it'd only be natural that Elyon would begin to miss her best friends.
And then, of course, after having heard this admission upon the young queen's behalf began to make me feel all the more pleased with myself all over again (that I'd decided to come visit).
Because now, my being there would serve to benefit the both of us.
Lost in thought once more, I can hear Luned repeat my name a few times before I'd finally caught on.
"Huh? Oh, I'm sorry, Luned. I guess that I'm just a bit sleepy still," I lied. (Well, sort of -- I really was still kind of tired, because it felt like I'd only been asleep for maybe three hours or so last night after I'd finally succeeded in falling unconscious.) "But, no. I'm glad to be here for Elyon, then. . . if the other Guardians could not -- U-uh, that is, because they were all unfortunately previously engaged, I meant to say. . ."
Luned surprisingly only nodded gently in understanding.
"Absolutely. Although it is a shame that they could not have joined you. I do so enjoy to see all five of you wonderful Guardians -- Our saviors! But I am sure that I will see them when next you visit, and they are not as. . . busy as you'd said."
Geez. Did I have it written all over my forehead or something, my having decided to ditch my friends before having come here, because I've also decided to keep them in the dark about everything?
I just offered an apologetic smile and lightly shrugged at this, before Luned continued.
"Now! Let us hurry and get you bathed and dressed for breakfast, before Queen Elyon tans my hide for keeping her in wait of your presence!"
Without protest, I just allowed Luned to lead me to the. . . I guess we'll just dub it the "royal bathroom" (since it is within a royal palace, after all. Although, there's really not super much to it despite Elyon's "magical assist," given that Metamoor is technically a bit like a Medieval type of world. Still a beautiful "bathroom," though) to get "groomed" for breakfast, which I assumed Matt was then doing the same.
And since we obviously hadn't brought any change of clothes, it wasn't so bad to have to have gone through (the grooming, I mean), even though we did both end up having to wear Meridian clothes (which are also kind of on the "Medieval" side) as a result.
But that's okay, I guess. That is, since I at least, am used to it a bit, after I'd had to wear it as undercover attire once, during a Guardian mission of the past that had gone wrong. (Although, I shouldn't call getting trapped inside of a painting of Meridian, without the use of my Guardian powers at my disposal and getting hunted by Lord Cedric and his goons a mission that had "gone wrong." I should call it a monstrous catastrophe.)
Matt looked pretty funny, though, since he usually wears "cool clothes," like semi-baggy pants and jeans, grunge-type tees and sweatshirts, and with his hair normally free and loose (if he isn't wearing one of his bucket hats, anyway).
Now, however, he looked liked an olden time horse buggy driver, or something, or like that old majordomo dude from that one cute mermaid cartoon movie.
And you'd better believe that I'd called him on it.
"Tch -- Whatever. At least I'm not a liar, not a scaredy cat. . . Oh! Not a blackmailer, not --"
"-- Okay! All right! I'm sorry, okay? Fine, you look. . . clean?" I interrupted Matt's character onslaught against me, at a loss for words of what compliment to offer to him about his (bizarre -- For him, anyway) newfound appearance.
Matt scoffed and rolled his brown eyes, while tugging upon his newly slicked back and braided (and ribboned) hair in annoyance.
"More like a poodle, I look like -- They do know that I'm a guy, right?. . . Remind me again why I wanted to come with you to Meridian?" he asked in exasperation, as the two of us continued to stand outside of my bedroom door to wait for Luned to return (so that she could escort us to the grand dining hall where Elyon was).
"Because you've only been to Meridian just a handful of times, and always enjoy coming along with us whenever you can? And, I guess to offer moral support?" I answered my friend's question with another question, struggling to fight the urge to purposely muck up my own, now smoothed out hair, or rustle around with my gold colored gown.
Matt stopped fussing with his hair at this as his cheeks gained a light rouge to them.
"Yeah, well. . . Can you blame me, though? How many opportunities does one have at visiting other worlds? This place is always a trip to visit when and if I can," he replied with a forced frown to conceal his embarrassment. "And anyway, I mainly came, besides to see an old friend again, because I wanted to make sure that you don't try to feed her some one sided story when you tell her all about your being a princess."
"You are a princess, as well? Oh, well as Queen Elyon used to be, I mean? Oh, this is certainly a surprise! Why hadn't you ever told us before, Miss Will?" I could hear Luned suddenly gush with excitement from behind us.
I knew that she was coming. I'd written that I had and that Matt and I were waiting for her. But I had been so focused upon my conversation with him that I hadn't thought to shush him about the royal business before we'd gone to see Elyon.
And I should have been more mortified to know that yet another person knew my secret. I suppose that I was, a bit. But it was Luned, and I really like her a lot -- Plus, she was one of the most trustworthy citizens within the Metamoorian world. (And I was technically there to let the proverbial cat out of the bag anyway, so to speak.)
I just hadn't planned on it coming out in that fashion, that's all.
Or, to be announced in such a different manner than I normally am whenever me and the girls visit the palace.
What am I talking about? Sigh. See, commonly, the palace servitors will bring our presence to Elyon's attention by announcing we Guardians as:
"Now entering, the Most Honorable, Guardians of the Veil!"
And if Luned hadn't found out about my princess. . . ness, then I would have most likely been announced as:
"Now entering, Her Ladyship, Miss Will of the Guardians of the Veil and Keeper of the Heart of Candracar!"
Or something close to that effect, at least, since the girls and I have often been referred to as "Ladies" or "M'Ladies" and stuff by various Meridian citizens.
Now, however, I was regrettably proclaimed as:
"Now entering, Her Royal Highness, Princess Will of the Guardians of the Veil and Keeper of the Heart of Candracar, and her honored companion, Sir Matt!"
You can imagine the shock and surprise by this sudden change in addressing.
Matt smirked in amusement at me as I slapped a hand to my face from behind the usual Galhot dude who did all of the official announcements for Elyon as the three of us stood within the entranceway to the dining hall.
"Now, this is going to be a great breakfast," I could hear him say as he playfully pinched my arm before we were led into the huge, lavish and brightly lit area where Queen Elyon patiently sat (at her usual place at the head of the elongated, golden table).
"Oh! Uh. . . 'Her Royal Highness, Princess Will?' H-have I missed something?" she asked softly in confusion as she rose from her seat and once Matt and I were close enough.
I merely just sighed heavily and gave my old friend a generous hug in response, being careful not to wrinkle the beautiful lavender colored robed gown that she had on. (I personally always preferred the traditional soft green colored one she'd normally wear more than any other. But then again, all of her other gowns and robes are as equally stunning. I'll be lucky to look just as "stunning" within a burlap sack once I'm queen. . . Sigh.)
As I released her and Matt took my place to give Elyon his own greeting in turn, I could see that her cool blue eyes were still fixated upon me, obviously waiting for answers. I'd wanted to delicately somehow segue into it later on, after we'd all gotten all of our pleasantries out of the way. But I guess at that point, there was no longer a point in doing so, especially since Elyon could be just as persistent as Cornelia. (Plus, I don't really think it's. . . copasetic, I guess you could say, to try to deceive a queen. At least, not one who could easily and quite literally imagine you into a world of pain.)
So, taking a deep breath, I opened my mouth to begin, when Elyon suddenly interrupted me (sort of, since I hadn't said anything yet) and goes,
"Oh, it's so good to see you guys! So good! Even though, Matt, you look like. . . u-uh! Anyhow! I'm sorry that I could not have better entertained you last night, but I was far too fatigued to be good use to anyone, you understand."
There goes that "true-queenish" shining forth again (negating that flustered cover at almost referring to Matt's dark colored attire as most likely something I'd already written). Maybe I should have Elyon be my princess lesson coach instead of Eli, with his pontificated self.
Choosing to ignore the soft giggling that I was emitting at that moment, Matt had to unfortunately counter (against me) with,
"Uh. . . yeah. Will and I understand completely, your majesty. Don't we, Will? Queens and princesses and such always need their beauty rest for their busy schedule lives. . ." he said with an air of mystery and a generous smile upon his face after pulling away from Elyon (who gazed at him with renewed perplexity).
Despite this, however, what she had instead touched upon next was: ". . .Are the girls not here with you because you and Matt are back together again now, and this is like, some sort of mini-retreat for the two of you? Because you two just suddenly seem more. . . 'in sync' again like back when you were dating."
I couldn't help it.
I didn't mean to.
But the next thing I know, I'm laughing to the point of hysterics at this. And needless to say, everyone present within the dining hall (and especially Matt) were not amused as well.
Seriously. I really didn't mean it. I didn't. It's just that it's been so long since I'd honestly thought of Matt in "that way," that to hear it again from someone else is sort of foreign.
And I'd said so.
"Sorry, Ellie -- Matt. That's just. . . 'eww' for me now, now that I see you as mainly just a part of my family or something," I explained in apology after having calmed down and wiped a stray tear away from my eye. "So, no, Elyon. Matt and I are definitely not back together. . . It'd be a moot point, anyway, really, given. . ."
Caught myself just in time. Elyon doesn't know, either, that I'm now in love with Caleb. And of all of the people I wish not to know, besides obviously Cornelia, she's at the top of my list because she's her best friend. I don't really think Elyon would honestly take sides between the two of us (since we're both her friends), but I'm also not an idiot. I know that she'd most likely "look down" upon it and myself, and fear that I might eventually crack one day and try to come between Cornelia and Caleb or something. (But Caleb's the one who's done something to that effect, though, and not I, with that e-mail. And as risky as it may be in regards to my relationship with Cornelia, as soon as I lay my eyes upon that beautiful guy on Monday, God help me, I am going to thank him for sending the message and see where that leads us. That's a promise.)
But, anyway. Moving on.
Before Elyon could focus upon the last that I'd said, I quickly added,
"Oh! A-and the girls aren't here too, because they were. . . Um. . ."
There I was, again, about to concoct yet another mendacity. I'm getting to be a pro at this, damn it. But like I said, I refused to do so, not just because she was of royal blood and I wanted to continue on with the respect that I've always given to her, but because Elyon was my friend (which I suppose didn't bode well for Taranee and the others, since they too are my friends, but I've been slinging fairy tales at them left and right in the last few days).
". . .'Because?' Why aren't they here with you, Will? And hey, yeah, why did Obed announce you as a princess? You know that I hate being left in the dark," Elyon said anxiously, motioning for Matt and I to take our seats at the vast table after she'd first done so, herself.
Matt didn't say a word, but just looked at me with a hardened glance as though to say: "Do it now, or I will. And trust me -- I won't make it be pretty."
So. . . I finally did.
After clearing my throat, I looked sheepishly at Elyon (who'd just then picked up her spoon to begin eating the breakfast meal that'd been already laid out for us) and hollowly began to tell her everything.
". . .I. . . don't really know how else to say it. . . So, here goes: About a few days ago I'd found out from my mom and her whacked out, long lost younger brother who'd come to visit that not only has she been a princess all this time -- and he's the current king of their shared native country of Marsily, a country which I'm sure that even you've heard of and I haven't until now, sadly, because I've been living under a rock -- but I'm also royal, a fellow princess, and apparently 'destined to rule' over said country. . . even though there's like this choice that I have not to have a choice in the matter or something like that. . ." I gushed without a breath in between, succeeding in causing both Elyon and Matt to stop eating and stare at me as though I were on medication, what with all of the run-on sentences that I'd created. (Might as well have been on something -- Couldn't have hurt, anyway, because then it might have helped to make me forget about the entire incident.)
After a few moments of dreadful silence that seemed to have elapsed into eons, Elyon had at last regained her composure before anyone else, and gently smiled and waved a hand at the dining attendants surrounding us not too far away.
". . . That will be all for now -- Thank you," she expressed kindly and then patiently waited until every last handmaiden and steward had left the dining hall and sealed the grand double doors shut behind before speaking again. (Like that mattered, the wishing to seek privacy, as I'm almost certain that every last one of them had rushed off to tell every citizen within Meridian the latest news. But, eh. Better in Metamoor than on Earth, right?) ". . .Y. . . you're serious. . . aren't you? I mean, I can't imagine why you wouldn't be. That is, as much as I love you and her both, I could never picture you to be the one to say, 'Hey, I'm a princess!' and maybe not Cornelia instead. . ."
"Thats exactly what I said when Will told me, after I'd gotten over the initial shock," Matt murmured softly with a smile, obviously trying to help ease the growing tension that was collecting within the room.
All I could do was slowly nod in acknowledgment. After letting it all out in one swoop, there was not much else to say at that moment. Plus, I'd wanted to allow Elyon a chance to properly digest it all. At least she hadn't laughed in my face in the way that Matt had (and he'd obviously negated to mention), and as I'd honestly expected.
But I guess after seeing, hearing and living through the things that she has, Elyon's disposition was now set onto believing anything.
It certainly seemed that way, because the next thing out of her mouth was,
". . .And the girls aren't here with you. . . because they most likely don't know about any of this. . ."
Now it was my turn to be utterly surprised. However, I only smiled softly afterwards for a moment or two before responding.
". . .It hasn't been that long since I'd seen you last, has it? Because you're becoming more and more. . . 'queenie' everyday -- Seriously," I said, the simper upon my face growing as I gazed at the teenage yet profoundly astute queen seated before me. "Because it's getting to be that absolutely nothing can get past you, Miss Omniscient. . ."
Elyon giggled softly, revealing a momentary glimpse at the younger, a bit more naïve former incarnation of herself as a result.
"Is that so? Well, then that's certainly a good thing for me and the rest of my kingdom -- And bad for you, who obviously thought that she'd be able to pull a fast one on me when she'd thought to come here," she countered playfully, lightly tapping my hand while turning her crowned head to wink at an equally amused Matt. "But, Will, honestly: You of all people should know that, for the sake of the Guardians of the Veil remaining as cohesive as they've managed to be for this long, you can't have any sort of secrecy -- No matter how small, or apparently humiliating. . . Especially not now. . ."
I raised my eyebrows at this, suddenly flooded with both concern and intrigue at the last of Elyon's words. Her formerly vibrant face was suddenly clouded with apprehension.
And you didn't have to be a brain surgeon to realize that that didn't equal something pleasant.
"Hey. . . Forget about me and my problems for a minute: What did you mean by 'especially not now?' Have there been troubles here within Metamoor again, Elyon?" I asked with soft urgency, as both Matt and I gently seized each of the young queen's hands.
As concerned for Elyon and her world as I was right then, I also was admittedly feeling a bit selfish as well. That is, I was starting to worry that she was about to tell me that there were new creatures, or someone currently attacking the city yet again, and that she'd obviously need to call upon the Guardians for active duty once more.
Yes, I know that it's my job, responsibility and obligation to do so.
I get that.
But in case you haven't noticed within my past entries, I'm practically falling apart at the seams here with this princess drama. I can barely handle my regular life, let alone whatever might have flown out of Elyon's then pursed lips next.
And I know, I know that that's horrible for me to say (and I also know that I've already reflected upon all of the "what if?" angles to if ever I'd get a new mission to deal with with the girls, while simultaneously trying to decide how much money to tax the people of Marsily over or something in the future). But things have honestly been extremely "dry" and quiet around here in Metamoor (as far as I've always known all this time before now), that I figured that I'd have (hopefully) would have gotten through and out of this horrible mess with Eli before anything could happen, you know?
But, anyway. Let me shut up and get back to what Elyon was talking about. Or, about to talk about.
Or did.
Arrgh! I have got to stop writing in this journal so late (or early) in the morning!
So, okay. Elyon's looking kind of like she'd accidentally swallowed a fly or something, and looks from me, to Matt, and then to the large double doors of the dining hall (I suppose as a precautionary measure) before responding.
". . .Well, no. Not necessarily. It's my hope, anyhow. I have been careful to keep this to myself up until now, of course, just in case it turns out to be mere fabrication and then I've just riled up my people for nothing, you know?" she began, blue eyes downcast at her plate of half eaten food. "But I've actually heard a few rumors that there is some sort of underground revolt against the Royal Family. . ."
I gasped at this, honestly then feeling more outraged than regrettable that I apparently would have some new problems to tackle, while Matt frowned deeply in reflection across from me. Either he was thinking the same as I was (about having to "go back to work"), or was just really shocked and appalled that anyone within this world could honestly be displeased with the drastic progress and change for the better that Elyon had managed to accomplish, after all of the years of her twisted older brother, Phobos's rule of tyranny. (I kind of wonder if he would get along with Eli. What do you think?)
But, either way, I verbalized it.
"How or why would anyone wish to go against your kingdom and ruling, when you've been nothing but unanimously -- or so we'd thought, anyway -- the best thing that's ever happened to Metamoor in an extremely long time?" I asked, trying to wrap my mind around the new turn of events.
"Exactly. It's not possible. I mean, I obviously haven't really been as involved with this whole back history and development of this world or anything, no, but anyone can clearly see that you really are a fantastic ruler, Ellie," Matt added, trying his best to cheer up the still visibly down and out Elyon.
She exhaled softly at this before gazing upon us both and managing to smile.
". . .Thanks, you guys. And you're right. As hard and overwhelming as it's been, it's also been very rewarding to be Meridian's queen. I know that I've been doing at least a better job at ruling than my. . . brother ever had," she agreed, her confidence obviously returning to her as her eyes briefly narrowed with hurt and betrayal at the thought and mention of her older sibling. "Still. . . it does not change the fact that there are the rumors still about."
"Well, what are the rumors exactly? That is, what have you heard and from whom?" I asked a bit urgently, admittedly eager to compile the list of recent events so that I could be able to say "yay or nay" more swiftly upon whether or not this was something we should all be worried about.
The Light of Meridian cleared her throat.
"I wasn't exactly forthright when I'd told you guys that I've managed to keep this to myself. I mean, I have in the sense that I have not declared this as some sort of 'state of emergency' or anything yet with my people, no. But I had confided within Vathek and Aldarn, who both actually should be acting undercover within the city about the matter as we speak."
"Well, then, that's a good thing, right? Then now maybe either one or both of them should be able to find out more about this to help put your mind at ease," Matt offered, unconsciously beginning to tug at his braided ponytail thoughtfully, which caused we ladies present to gently smile at to witness.
"Perhaps, Matt, but I am actually hoping and leaning more towards them not finding anything out, which would then in turn prove to me that it really is nothing but some monstrous hearsay that's only in circulation just to fluster me -- Which is sadly succeeding in doing so," Elyon murmured, gazing down at her plate once more a moment, before stubbornly fixating a more resilient expression upon her countenance. "But I refuse to give any satisfaction to whomever might have started it. Then that would only make the words become reality, and I really would have a revolt on my hands."
I scowled deeply at this, feeling myself remember less and less about my "Earthly troubles" back home, and sliding back into my old, yet comfortable proverbial shoes as Keeper of the Heart of Candracar more and more.
"Not gonna happen, Elle, and that's a promise," I avowed with a small nod for emphasis. "As soon as Matt and I get back to Earth, I'll let the girls know about it and see what they think. And then we'll all come back to visit just to double check on things if you'd like."
Both Elyon and Matt gasped at this, which I completely didn't understand why until the other girl spoke again.
". . .Well, I'm happy to hear that, of course, Will, and honestly will feel a bit better knowing that you guys will at least be alert to the rumor if nothing else comes of it. But. . ." she trailed off, color returning to her creamy face the moment she began to softly grin at me.
I just blinked a few times in honest perplexity as I looked back at her. Matt, however, seemed to have caught on (I swear that boy's way too smart for his own good, sometimes, honestly), because he suddenly starts laughing for a few seconds before smirking at me as well.
"What Her Royal Majesty the Queen is trying to say is, how will you be able to tell the girls about all of this and your visit to Meridian, period, without also having to explain why you'd come without them. . . your highness!" he delivered with a bit too delicious gusto, playfully tossing a piece of the bread roll that had been upon his plate at me.
Elyon squealed with glee like a little child by the act, rather than be upset (As though she ever would be), and followed suit. Clearly, all of her woes and worries over her beloved world's possible direction within the future had completely evaporated (if only for the time being).
And I would have been more happy about that, if it didn't mean that we were now about to talk more about all of my woes and worries (even though it was why I was there in the first place, I had to remind myself once again).
"H-hey! Watch it! This isn't any way for a proud and proper queen to behave!" I teased, sounding a bit like Eli as a result. Blocking that out, I instead lightly chuckled as I barely dodged Elyon's stray baked good projectile that'd almost made its mark upon my forehead. "And I thought that I'd told you to stop calling me 'your highness??'"
"It is what you now are, after all, right? So Matt's not wrong to call you it," Elyon defended thoughtfully after calming down within her fits of giggles.
"Well, whatever. Doesn't mean that I like it -- Like any of it," I muttered with a light grimace, staring darkly at nothing and no one in particular.
Elyon cocked her laureled head to the side, causing the usual pigtails of her (now much longer), platinum blonde hair to sway a bit in the process.
"I feel guilty now. I mean, here you are, obviously stressed out beyond belief about the news of your being royalty all this time -- Something that would rattle anyone's psyche to learn of so late, as it had mine for a little while, of course, after learning about my heritage -- and wanting to talk to me about it, and I haven't even let you yet," she apologized heavily, straightening her posture as it was then her turn to cup my hand within her own. "Now, go on. Please. I've got all morning and some of my afternoon to dedicate to listening all about lucky Marsily's newest princess."
I cringed at the last comment, which I'm aware was meant to have been non-sarcastic and a genuine compliment.
But I didn't take comfort within it.
Because I don't honestly believe that all three million-plus citizens of Marsily are very lucky to have to welcome me as their latest monarch.
However, the more I'd talked about all of it to Elyon throughout the rest of breakfast, and then later on while Matt and I accompanied her on a stroll within her vast countryside before her meeting for the Harvest Festival, I got to thinking:
Maybe they won't have to. (Welcome me, that is.)
Because by that time, after it was clear and unfortunate for me that Elyon was actually ecstatic about the prospect of me one day becoming queen, myself ("Because I evidently have more faith within your capabilities than you do, yourself," she replied as an explanation when I'd asked her why she was so enthused. Ha. Sure. "Capabilities" to constantly trip and fall and scrape even more parts of my body, while I simultaneously end up destroying treaties, or something important and historic like that, with whatever allies the country has because I might have ended up offending them with my natural stumblebum tendencies, you mean), I started formulating a new, definitely beyond selfish plan. (And for those of you who might not have caught up, or weren't aware of the "original" plan, it was to get Elyon's opinion on what I should do next. And by get her opinion, I mean have her take my side, and tell me and Matt that it's okay for me to want to keep this to myself for as long as possible -- Even if it is ostracizing me from my friends. But like I said, she basically didn't see eye to eye with me about that.)
And so, taking a deep breath for the umpteenth time, I placed myself within Elyon's direct path as the three of us continued to walk and said,
"Then, your majesty, I'm going to have to ask, as your loyal Guardian of the Veil and protector, that you please use your powers over reality to make it so that I never was a princess. Make my mom and Eli forget or something, I don't know."
As incredulous as this request sounded (and it honestly was, I will admit), I'd delivered it surprisingly calm, as though it were an everyday thing to ask.
Elyon and Matt, on the other hand, were both not finding anything "normal and everyday" about it, because they'd ended up simultaneously launching into yet another lecture (on Matt's part, I mean, anyway, about it being "yet another lecture" from him) about how it would be immoral, egocentric, and irresponsible a thing for Elyon to do, even if she'd wanted to.
"Well, why not? I'd bet that if it were Cornelia and she had been the one to ask, you'd at least consider doing it," I countered a bit childishly, knowing that there was no truth at all within my claim. As close as those two girls may be, when it came to Elyon's tremendous, and frighteningly powerful magic, she didn't mess around nor leave anything to chance.
"Now that was just stupid, I'm sorry, because number one, you know quite well that I never would, and number two, that if it were Cornelia, she never would," the blonde queen said forcefully, although with a small but growing smile upon her face, knowing the obvious jest that she'd made in regard to her best friend. "In any case, I suppose that I have wasted your trip here, Will, in terms of wishing to seek the fast-and-quick help you were so plainly looking for."
I scoffed at this, folding my arms across my chest in defeat, tapping my slippered foot upon the soft and luscious green grass beneath us.
"Chyea, no kidding," I mumbled, at the same time that Matt playfully messed up my hair for me (since I was just going to finally do that later once I got back home) from behind as all three of us about-faced and began to make our way back to the palace.
And as the last bit of input (for now, anyway, I guess) to my "royal plight" before I'd Folded Matt and I back to Earth, Miss Queen Elyon goes:
"Listen, Will. I'm sure that it's rough, what your uncle's been putting you through -- From the sound of things, it has been. And it really does suck that your mother had kept your lineage from you all this time, thus leaving you ill-prepared to handle and adjust to everything a bit better.
However, if I could just say one thing? Speaking as your good friend, I wholeheartedly and one-hundred percent agree with your feelings of negativity, and just wishing for things to go back to normal -- and to be normal again. Or, at least, just to have your 'Being Will and being a Guardian' life back again, anyway. If it were me -- and again, it sort of was, 'once upon a time' -- I would react and behave just about the same way. So I'm very glad and honored that you felt that you could come to me to talk about it.
But. . . and I know you're not going to like this, but speaking as a queen -- and from one monarch to another -- I would gravely advise that you do not keep on as you are. That is to say, keep on with all of your secrecy and prevarication in regards to the girls. Take a page from your mother's book, if I may say so: Look at what's happened for her and her formerly close relationship with you, as a result of her choosing to keep you in the dark for as long as she has. Please, Will. Please don't you continue to do the same, or else you might end up regretting it. . ."
And that was that. Well, I mean obviously me and Matt politely escorted Elyon back to the palace before we'd parted ways and all that. But I mean that was that as the "final thought" and parting gift on the matter.
HOW INCREDIBLY "CREEPY" AND CRYPTIC WAS THAT????
Is the girl trying to jinx me or something????
"Speaking as a queen" is right! She sounded completely like Eli right there when she said all that she had about no longer lying to Taranee and the others any longer!
I mean, cripes. She's definitely completely assimilated into the life of a queen and what is expected of one for sure, I'm telling you (I'd already said this or something like this, haven't I? Okay. Repeating myself, now. Time to close out this entry, and fast before I no longer make any sense), what with her "grown up" attitude and oodles of wisdom I unfortunately realize to be true but didn't wish to hear nor deal with.
I KNOW SHE'S RIGHT, OKAY, "DEAR DIARY????" YOU DON'T HAVE TO RUB IT IN!!!!
Matt did that enough for me after we'd left Elyon's presence and I'd summoned the Heart of Candracar from out of my right palm, thank you very much. (Oh, and after we'd swiftly changed back into our "Earth clothes" and Matt had ecstatically freed his hair from his beret-accessories, for sure, yeah.)
But it was still greatly annoying and unappreciated, nonetheless.
So, okay. We'd gotten through number four on my list.
Now for the icing on the cake, which is causing me to get agitated all over again to think upon.
But first, let me explain how I'd managed to get out of the loft -- out of Earth, period, without getting caught by Mom or Eli and his crew.
I'd honestly planned on feeding everyone the excuse that I was tired and was going to stay in, remember that? And obviously not to bother with protection since I'd just be at home. And then, if worse came to worse and my mother might have knocked on my door to check on me from time to time (as she often does), I guess I would have then created my usual doppleganger backup, my Astral Drop (which I usually and generally try to avoid in doing so, since it mainly only causes me grief as a result).
But when I got back to the loft, Mom's surprisingly rushing out of the door, telling me that she won't be back until probably early the next morning, because she'd just gotten a call from work. Said that things were getting backed up and haywire within her division, and that her new (pretty bitchy) boss, Gloria, was barking at her to get there on the double.
"It would figure that the first time in a long time that I'd actually taken a day and a half off from work that all Hell would break loose, right?" she said sarcastically with a faint smirk as she hurriedly threw on her jacket before leaving. "Now, I've left you a few slices of pizza I'd gone ahead to order for you while you were out, and bought you some of that chocolate spread that you like so much. Oh, and I've also instructed Eli to leave you be, because he has no business being here at all today. So you won't have to worry about him showing up, or your bodyguards. But! You still know the rules: No one is to be allowed over without my knowing, and lock up everything after I leave. I love you, sweetheart!"
And that was it. No need to hurl lies or anything into her face yet again.
I couldn't believe it. So you can guess at how happy I was already beginning to feel at that point, since I felt like it was a sign or something for me to go see Elyon that day.
So after I'd made sure that Mom was gone (and Sprita, Ernest, or even Tegan weren't hanging out around the outside of the building somewhere -- which they hadn't been, from what I could see, anyway), I called Matt on my cellphone and told him that it was safe to drive up, but to park behind the building just in case.
So yeah, he did, and after I let him in through the back door of the old laundry room that used to be here for we residents before the new one had been constructed, I brought him up to my room to Fold us over to Meridian, blah blah blah.
This was around. . . about a bit after five o'clock or so, again, yeah? And I honestly didn't plan to stay long like I also said before, but now that I knew that my mother wouldn't have been back anyhow, I wasn't stressed about the concept of time and all that. (Clearly not, if I'd slept over, thinking that we'd be back before Mom was by morning and such.)
Boy, was I sorely mistaken!
It had been my fault to have been so confident and "cocky" enough to spend the night in Meridian, and it had been my mother's fault for having any sort of faith within her moronic brother. (I mean, after all, they no longer get along or like one another, so why should she?)
Because, low and behold, what do I find (and feel) when Matt and I had returned to Earth? My bedroom in disarray (which was why I said "feel," because we'd ended up landing on my desk that someone had apparently moved a bit in frantic haste or something. Well, I landed on the desk. Matt had landed hard onto the floor).
Needless to say, I started to freak out and think that the loft had been broken into while I was gone because of this, and because the lights within my room were on (when they obviously had been off before and after I'd left).
And before Matt nor I could even ask ourselves what might have happened, in comes Eli's four bodyguards, bounding through the door with their king (and Mom) in tow. Oh, and yes, S & E.
Oh, right. And Tegan. (Well, what? So many people had come into my room at once, it was hard to keep up.)
"What is going on, here?" I'd actually blurted out heatedly without thinking, before catching my mother's face. It had gone from "Oh, my God, I was so worried!" kind of look, to "You just wait until everyone leaves so that I can tear you a new one!" sort of expression.
Which I instantly knew meant that I was in deep. . . you know.
And I definitely was. Because of all of the dramatics that I don't care to repeat since it will just make me scream. So I will just very quickly summarize what had happened, which is basically that I've been massively grounded (as I'd said before).
As it'd turned out, Mom had managed to get things back under control back at Simultech rather easily, and so came home around one o'clock in the morning (which would be. . . I guess around the time that Elyon had treated me and Matt to brunch before our walkabout).
Lucky me, right? And of course, once she'd seen that I wasn't in my room or anywhere to be seen, and didn't answer my cellphone (nor had taken it with me in the first place, as she'd later found out after hearing it vibrate underneath my bed -- which I mainly hadn't taken with me just in case one or all of the girls had called me. Wouldn't have mattered, anyway, because I highly doubt that long distance calls could be had between Earth and Metamoor), she started to go ballistic.
Thought that I'd decided to go out for a walk or to a movie at first, which mainly just annoyed her, because I'd told her that I was going to stay in that night (and then didn't bother to leave a note to say where I'd gone at the very least).
And then, once I hadn't come home for the rest of the night (which was really only three hours that I'd been gone, from the time that my mom had returned and waited up for me, honestly), that's when she started to go the kidnapper route and was cursing herself that she hadn't let Sprita or Ernest stay with me, after all.
Who cares? When it had turned out that, even though Mom had asked Eli not to have anyone from his employment to look after me (clearly out of trust for me, which now Mom obviously no longer has towards me for the next decade or so), he'd agreed. . . but only on the surface.
That is, as he'd explained it, he'd said that he wouldn't have had anyone guard me from inside the loft, or post themselves outside of the building. But he also never said that he wouldn't have basic surveillance set up to monitor who went in and out of the building by act of general suspicion. (And I thought that I was growing more and more insane.)
And this, dear journal, was when it'd all gone horribly downhill even further from here.
Because Eli had to go and open his fat mouth and say that they'd spotted Matt's car in the back alley and eventually recognized it to be his. And once he'd said all of that and had succeeded in painting the poor guy to be some super bad influence upon me and trying to take advantage of me or whatever (because he wouldn't shut up about it), Mom actually agreed!!
"Well, while I don't believe all that your uncle has said -- or the way that he'd said it, no. . . I don't really think that it's a good idea for you two to be hanging out together so much anymore -- At least not for now, Matt, because Will here is unbelievably grounded," she revealed with an icy tone, as she and I glared at one another, and Matt was visibly trying to contain his own anger and offense to both my mother and Eli's harsh accusations. (I could imagine that he was then feeling disgusted and thinking how he could understand Eli distrusting him. But my mom didn't really have much excuse, since she knew him rather well by now as stated at the start of my entry. But whatever.) "I don't know if this is the two of you trying to rekindle your former relationship, this sneaking around, but --"
"-- Oh, my God! Why does everyone keep saying and thinking that?? And what is so damned wrong about hanging out with your best friend, who also happens to be a guy?? It isn't a complete miracle to be friends with your ex-boyfriend!!" I exploded as I interrupted Mom, yearning for her to just shut up (as rude as that was to think).
"Hey! Watch it, young lady, or you'll never see any of your friends ever again!" she countered, pointing her extended index finger directly into my face as Matt and I sat impatiently upon my bed, and everyone else hovered around us as though worried we'd make a run for it ("again") or something. "And that's beside the point! The point is that you'd lied! And on top of that, had all of us nearly sick to death over where you might have gone! And here I thought that things were a bit out of hand with you always having your bodyguards with you everywhere that you went! Now I'm beginning to think that it's exactly what you need!"
I was about to object to that and say something "clever" about how much that's a crock for her to attack me about my lying (even though it was true and warranted, I suppose) when she had done it to me as well (as Elyon had pointed out for me), but I'd stopped myself.
Well, technically, my mom had when she'd just waved her hand feverishly into my face and continued on.
"Now, I know that it's stupid of me to ask this, since it's clear that you won't tell the truth about it, anyway -- A nasty habit that I'd honestly thought you'd gotten over by now -- but where exactly were you all this time?" she asked bitterly, while Eli tapped his foot upon the carpeted floor expectantly with a deep set frown upon his tanned face.
I could feel Matt looking at me, most likely wondering if I'd either take a chance and finally come clean with my mother about "who I really am," or try to buffer out the continued chaos that was surrounding us.
Yeah.
Sure.
Tell the truth? Not in this case. It'd be impossible to get Mom to believe me right then, even if I wanted to tell her everything, she was so mad. Not to mention that Eli would just probably manage to convince her that her only daughter had lost her mind and needed to be admitted into the nearest mental institution, post haste.
But I honestly didn't want to lie, even though I knew that I had to. Only because I knew that it really wouldn't make things better, and it would only prove my increasingly distrusting parent's point that I really am still a beguiler.
So, instead, I just scoffed, folded my arms across my chest and turned my head away from Mom.
Not the best thing to have done (with so much attitude, I mean), but there was nothing for it. (I'm already in trouble by this point, anyway, right? So what did it matter?)
And then, seeing that I obviously wasn't going to say anything more, Mom just exhaled sharply, and paused a moment before turning her attention back onto Matt.
". . .I think that you should head home now, Matt. I'd called your grandfather after learning that your car was still here. I'm sure that he'll be happy to know that you're safe and sound," she said hollowly, suddenly sounding tired. "And as soon as Will's punishment is over -- Whenever that will be, I haven't yet decided -- then we'll see about when next you can come over to see her again. . ."
Matt only stared back at her with a fatigued, yet hardened gaze of his own as he slowly rose from my bed.
". . .Yeah. Sure. . . I understand, Ms. Vandom," he replied with a stiff nod, before looking back down at me for a moment. ". . .'Bye."
It was only for like a second, but that look from him basically said what I'd already told you in the beginning of the entry: That he's incredibly aggravated about this whole thing (including my princess crap, I'm sure), at the accusations, and mainly and specifically at me, myself.
I tried to call him to apologize after everyone finally left my room, but he didn't pick up. I'm sure that he's now thinking of how yet another one of my lies (even though this one was technically a lie of omission) had gotten him caught up into one of my messes again.
. . .And now that I've had time to think about it all as I was writing it all down, and I'm honestly a bit more calmed down, Matt is absolutely right.
Because I have screwed everything up. Well, I mean, Eli and Mom have screwed up my life first, but I've only added to the pile.
So that's it. Regardless of what happens, I'm going to tell Cornelia and everyone about my being a princess, come Hell or high water. (Who would have thought that Elyon's advice actually would have come in handy for me, after all?)
That is, on Monday, I suppose, since I highly doubt that Mom will let me see the light of day later on today, let alone actual visitors.
But wish me luck.
-- End of Chapter Twenty Eight
(A.N. I'll address a few things I might have done/not done in here in the next chapter, and in a note or w/e. So don't ask me about it yet. Until then, UGH! SALVATION! Thank you, sweet Jeebus! Finished! And yeah I know it was a bit overwhelming at times, but what do you people WANT from me?? I give short chapters, you want more. I GIVE you more, and you say you have a headache. Get over it. LoL But no, seriously. And I know now you'll also ask "Why didn't Susan call the girls and ask?" Who said she hadn't? She just didn't mention it to Will yet. OR, maybe she had, but Will was too lazy to write that yet. . . cough. LoL EITHER way, just please wait for the big "climax" coming up in the next chapter. Well, chapter thirty, actually, which will be another "long" chapter. Thanks!)
