The next morning, Rosalyn woke at dawn. She needed to talk to Queen Camellia as soon as she could. Quietly she got dressed and slipped out of their bed chambers, as to not wake Adrien. She crept through the halls of the palace, trying not to disturb anyone. Her grandmother always rose early to begin her day in her study, so she knew it would be no trouble to talk to her so early.
As Rosalyn approached the queen's study, she heard shouting.
"How dare you threaten me! I want you out of my court! Get out and don't ever show your face in my castle again!" Queen Camellia shouted. Rosalyn was about to turn and head back to her chambers when the door to the study flung open and Lord Chancellor Elias stormed out. A wicked smirk spread across his lips as he passed Rosalyn, then disappeared around the corner.
Rose swallowed the lump in her throat and timidly entered the study. Though Elias had left, she felt the strong tension hanging in the air. Perhaps she should wait to tell the queen of her plans to return to Amouria. "Good morning, your majesty," she greeted.
"Good morning, Rosalyn. I am sorry if you heard my argument with Lord Chancellor Elias. He is not very happy about my decision to name you the heir to my throne. But alas, what is done is done." The queen ran her frail fingers through her thinning hair and smiled softly at Rosalyn. She gestured to a chair on the opposite side of her desk. "What bring you here, child? I was certain you would be quite tired of last night's events."
Rosalyn took a seat across from Elonia's queen. "As much as I have enjoyed my stay in Elonia, I am afraid it is time for Adrien and I to return home. It had been nearly a month since we left Amouria and it will be at least another two weeks before we step foot in our own kingdom once again," she explained. She hoped the queen would understand, that would not argue with her decision to return home.
The look that came over Queen Camellia's face was that of sadness, defeat, and fear. "Rosalyn, this is your kingdom."
Rose shook her head. "I do understand, but Amouria is my home. Elonia still has a wonderful queen and right now Amouria is without both its king and queen. With your permission, I would like to return home with my husband, until I am needed here once again."
The queen stood and walked slowly around the desk. She gently laid a hand on her granddaughter's shoulder and smiled down at her. "Yes. You may return with your beloved. I am proud of the woman you are, Rosalyn. And I am sure your mother would be too." The queen placed a soft kiss on Rosalyn's forehead. "Go. Prepare for the long journey ahead of you."
As Rosalyn left, the queen's smile fell. During the weeks they had been in Elonia's court, she had grown fond of the young woman. She was kind, intelligent, powerful. She hated to see her go, but she was a queen of her own. She had her own duties. Camellia returned and rested in her own chair. She had made the right choice.
Rosalyn left the queen's study and started back to her sleeping quarters. She rounded the corner of the next hall where she was jerked to the side and a hand placed firmly over her mouth. She struggled and fought against her captor, but it was no use.
"My poor, dear, Rosalyn. What a shame it had to come to this," they said. Rose recognized the voice immediately. Lord Chancellor Elias.
Meanwhile, back in their bed chambers, a loud knock sounded on the door.
. . . . .
Adrien stirred to the sound of the knock upon the chamber room door. "Pardon a minute." He stated and hurried to get fully dressed. When Rose was not in sight and her side of the bed not warmed, he thought that maybe she was in the bathing chamber.
"Enter." He voiced, granting permission to whomever had knocked to enter into the bed chamber room.
. . . . .
Lord Chancellor Elias pushed the door to their bed chamber's open. "Good morning, King Adrien. I overheard Rosalyn speaking with Queen Camellia this morning. It's a shame that you two must part from Elonia so soon," the man said. He kept his hands founded neatly behind his back and his eyes focused on Adrien.
. . . . .
The sight of Elias and the 'greeting' he gave Adrien filled his stomach with dread.
"A shame you say, do explain why that is Lord Chancellor Elias? I am certain you have grown weary of our presence here in Elonia." He countered with a casual tone of voice. His sword lay just out of reach against the sofa. His dagger was at the square of his back if he got desperate with the Chancellor.
Adrien's main concern now was Rosalyn. For she clearly was not here as he initially thought. Adrien now had to take the word of Elias that she had spoken to the Queen about their departure back to Amouria.
. . . . .
"I know how much my queen adores your wife," Elias continued. "I wish you could extend your stay, for her sake. She is an old woman and Rosalyn gave her a sort of...new life." The man shook his head and walked further into the room. He went over to one of the grand windows and peered out at the land beneath them.
"But for the safety of the DeLavergne bloodline, it is best that the both of you leave. The tone in his voice turned dark and almost deadly.
. . . . .
Adoration was not a word Adrien would have chosen when asked to describe how Queen Camellia felt towards Rosalyn. The old woman had certainly softened towards her but he would have thought Camellia admired Rosalyn over adoration.
Rosalyn had told of her upbringing and at the point her fate crossed his he too told of his curse and how Rosalyn helped him become human once more.
Adrien's expression turned beastly as Elias told him it was best for both of them to leave if the bloodline of the DeLavergne was to be safe. Adrien's mind reeling in what felt like infinite span of time that couldn't be any more than a few heartbeats. How could the Delavergne bloodline be threatened by Elias? Adrien had the DeLavergne blood in his veins. Rosalyn was married into the DeLavergne line. She was not a blood descendant. She held no child in her womb who held the DeLavergne bloodline. The way the Chancellor worded this threat meant something.
"You are a curious man, Lord Chancellor. Why threaten Rosalyn and myself to leave? When it is you who said you overheard my wife state to your queen this morning that we would ve departing from Elonia soon. Your threat seems unnecessary. Furthermore you have threaten my very bloodline if we do not leave. A bloodline that can only be threatened if my being is put at risk. Or if the risk befalls upon my wife who has potential to carry a child that would further the DeLavergne bloodline. So, tell me where is Rosalyn and how it is you plan to truly threaten my bloodline when you have yet to bare a weapon at me? "
. . . . .
Elias smirked and the strange twinkle in his eyes returned. "There is so much those books in the library cannot tell you. So much that hasn't and will never be written. So many secrets, so many lies. I do not threaten your stay in Elonia, I threaten your return."
The man turned and faced Adrien once more. He threw his hand out to his side and the bed chamber door slammed shut. "As for Rosalyn, I'm afraid she has been caught up in other matters."
Rosalyn struggled against her captor, but she found it was no use. His grip was strong and relentless, no matter how hard she thrashed.
"Come now, my dear. There is no need to fight me. You wont win."
Elias' voice echoed in her head. It haunted her, torturing her every chance it got. She wished she would have just stayed in bed next to her husband, where she was safe.
. . . . .
"The books may not tell all, but they do tell enough. As you said Queen Camellia has found some vitality. It would be most peculiar if she died soon after her heir departed. Such a tragedy would force our return all too quickly for my liking or yours Lord Chancellor. I suggest you enjoy the time you have left before Queen Camellia passes." Adrien warned.
Adrien turned to face the Lord Chancellor, his hand grasping the hilt of his dagger behind his back. Suddenly with a wave of his hand Lord Chancellor Elias made the chamber room door shut with contact. There was only one explanation: magic. When he gave some irritant remark about Rose being caught up Adrien withdrew the dagger from its hiding place against his lower back. "Magic will not deter me Lord Chancellor, I demand whatever you have done yo have her 'caught up' she be freed. Or so help me you will rue this day you threatened her."
Elias smirked, he had figured Adrien was familiar with magic. With the rumors of the Beast of Amouria and all. "Or what, your majesty? You will turn into a beast and attack me, just as your wife bears scars upon her leg from such brutality. You fail to understand me, King Adrien DeLavergne. If only you and your Queen Rosalyn had stayed away from Elonia, I would have happily enjoyed the time left before my beloved Queen Camellia passes. However, you are a young and ambitious king. Upon hearing that Rosalyn was of noble birth you lunged at the opportunity to expand your power and came here. Amouria has been in questionable circumstances for nearly a decade after all. What better to help it recover than becoming a king consort of the very wealthy country of Elonia. Rosalyn's presence has cost me almost everything I have worked so hard for."
Adrien grew tired of the chancellors ranting and took a step forward with the blade in hand. He paused only when Elias withdrew a sapphire from a pouch. A sapphire as crimson as a bloodied battlefield. A cursed sapphire. "I recommend King Adrien DeLavergne that you leave Elonia and never return. Be content with what you have. Your wife...well she must return for her grandmother's funeral. I think she will have a change of heart on ruling Elonia without you near. Do this and I have no reason to make good on my threat to either of you. Farewell."
Adrien lunged at him in fury, only watch the Elias vanish from his sight, like a shadow. Adrien hurried out of the room and called for the closest servant.
"Queen Rosalyn is missing. I want her found. Search the entire castle, the grounds, the stables, everywhere NOW." The servant ran away to deliver the news to fellow staff and castle guard.
. . .
Elias's voice tormented Rosalyn while she was held against her will. "Listen carefully, I had the power to curse you and your husband today with a crimson sapphire and I didn't. You two will leave Elonia today and only you will return when Queen Camellia passes and proclaim me your steward over Elonia. Cooperate with these terms and you can return to your husband and live out your natural life times, content with ruling Amouria only. Should your husband come...the consequences will be dire for his longevity. Farewell."
The restraint that held Rosalyn disappeared.
. . . . .
The Chancellor spoke gravely in her ear. He had threatened Adrien? When? How? If he was here, how could he be there? Rosalyn's eyes grew wide as realization struck her.
It was him. Elias, tall, gangly figure, midnight black hair and pale skin. He had been Lord Chancellor for centuries...because he was the sorcerer that the king bargained with so many, many years ago. He cursed Elonia's sapphire mines. Stole life from all those who handled them to lengthen his own.
His grip released on her and she stumbled away from the darkened corridor. She looked behind her, looking like a deer being hunted. When she stepped out into the hall, a guard immediately rushed towards her.
"Queen Rosalyn has been found! Inform his majesty King Adrien immediately!" The guard shouted. Carefully, he took the queen's arm and looked her over. The woman looked terrified. What within the palace walls could have done this to her? "Are you alright, your majesty?" He asked softly.
Rosalyn knew she was not alright. She and Adrien would not spend a second longer in Elonia than necessary. A queen should not run from her problems or fears, but her love for Adrien outweighed any thoughts of "what a queen would do." No matter what threat Elias posed to Elonia, she would take care of her husband, of her family first.
"I am not injured," she said vaguely. "Please, I need to see my husband." The guard nodded and led her quickly through the castle, keeping a light grip on her wrist.
It was not long before Rosalyn was returned their bed chambers. Several guards were already posted outside the door, and the one which found her joined them. Quickly she entered the room, closed the door behind her, and pulled the lock tight.
. . . . .
Adrien rushed to the door when he saw Rosalyn enter. "Rose! Did he hurt you? Touch you with a sapphire? Anything?!" Adrien asked in a rush his voice filled with concern and mild panic.
He gave her a thorough look over, she did not appear harmed or aged. "Locking the door won't help. It appears Sorcerer Lord Chancellor Elias has many talents." While he had been forced to wait in his chamber while the search for Rosalyn was underway he had packed their things and was ready to go.
. . . . .
Rosalyn shook her head in response to his questions. He hadn't harmed her, only frightened her. "I am aware of Lord Chancellor Elias' abilities. More so than you, my love. Queen Camellia told me of the nasty things the Sorcerer has done to Elonia, but she was never able to piece together that it was him. Hes been waiting decades, centuries, for a break in the royal line. With my mother presumed dead, my grandmother is the last Fuyez."
Rosalyn was careful not to mention Elias' threats to her. If he returned to Elonia with her, then they would both be put in danger. If something were to happen to him because of her...
She took a deep breath and glanced around the room. "I see you have packed our things. Perhaps it is best to leave as quickly as possible. I spoke to the queen this morning. She is sad to see us go, but understands completely."
. . . . .
"I think that is best." Adrien agreed. He summoned a couple of servants to assist them with their luggage and they swiftly departed Queen Camellia's castle, on their way back to their kingdom of Amouria.
. . . . .
They departed immediately. The two boarded the next ship sailing across the Great Sea and headed back towards home. The voyage home was not nearly as enjoyable for wonderfilled as the journey there. Dark clouds poured rain over the sailing ship and followed them to shore.
Though they vacated Elonia, Rosalyn still feared for her and Adiren's safety. Elias was a sorcerer who wanted rid of her. Where would his lust for power stop?