Chapter 6
The reinforcement from the Kingdom of Clarines arrived late in the morning. They helped bury the eight criminals from Alcatraz. They also helped with bringing home the bodies of the five royal guards who died last night.
It was a difficult day for everyone. It took them another day to go back to the Kingdom of Clarines. Althea made sure she was with King Izana the whole time they traveled, silently giving her condolences to him. She knew losing Knights is the same as losing a family.
The moment they arrived, they realized that they do not have much to begin with. It did not take too much time for Althea, Gareth, Gavin and Percy to get all their belongings prepared. Gareth decided for them to stay another day. It was so that they could join the rites to honor the dead. They would leave for Florin the next day.
"It was also to give time for Althea to finish her unfinished business with the King." Gareth said a matter-of-factly to Gavin and Percy.
"I do not have an unfinished business with the King." Althea denied.
"Just say your thanks and good-bye to him, okay." Gareth said, kindly.
The three of them looked at her almost with pity.
In the Kingdom of Florin, people believed that once you found someone you love, it will be forever. So, for her to give-up her love means she would never find another. Never in her lifetime would she love again. Such tragedy, really, especially to a Queen like her.
"All right, I will thank him for all the things he did for us, as well as to say good-bye to him properly. It's the least that I could do." Althea acquiesced.
"And I'm okay. Don't worry." She added, telling it more to herself.
The day started with King Izana presiding over the burial rite for the honored five guards. He grieved with the families left behind. He then ordered the Captain of the guards to investigate the incident with the Alcatraz criminals. He arranged another meeting with his constituents. He had to set another time to visit the Kingdom of Tanbarun. And he hadn't had any sleep.
She could have given him a reprieve, but Althea knew she had to say her good-byes.
They had to go home.
She had to go home.
The Kingdom of Florin needs her.
She is their Queen.
And maybe she doesn't have to tell him tonight. She could tell him tomorrow morning before they'll depart. Maybe she doesn't have to tell him anything at all. They're practically strangers. They have known each other less than a week. What does he care?
They've known each other too well for such a short time. Does he care?
That night she went to the Study Room. She was prepared to tell him that they'll be leaving. She had already prepared the words that she will say to him. If he was there.
He wasn't. The room was empty.
She sighed a relief.
She was such a coward. She knew he wasn't going to be here. She went to the Study Room because its apparent that she doesn't want to tell him they're leaving.
Because she knew that the goodbye was forever. She will never see him again. Her King.
She entered the room that she was most familiar with in the whole palace. She will miss this place. The structure, the furniture, the books, even the scent that it emits. She will miss her chair. She will miss their nightly discussion. Oh, how she will miss him terribly.
She noticed the book that she was reading the other day. It was placed on the table set in the mini-sala of the room. The spot where she had exactly placed it the other day. She had a few chapters left to read.
Althea checked the time. She could probably finish the book by midnight.
As if taking her natural place, she sat on the couch where she usually sat, and resumed reading the book.
…
He woke up in the middle of the night.
Izana was annoyed at first. He thought he could get a good night sleep specially when he was so exhausted but three hours seemed to be enough. He tried to sleep again, but to no avail.
He was now wide awake.
He decided to work instead and proceeded to go to his study. To his surprise it was already occupied. And he already knew who it was. She was seating in her spot, concentrated on reading the book she was reading the day before. He smiled. That small couch was now a place the Lady Scholar can claim her rights to.
When he entered the room, she looked completely shocked.
"It seems you are not expecting me?" He asked with a smile.
"Your Majesty!" She breathed as she stood. "It is…" she glanced at the clock "… past midnight."
"Yes, it is."
She checked up on him for a full minute. He let her. It was something she usually does, unconsciously. Openly observing, assessing, and scrutinizing.
"Did you have a good rest?"
"I had my sleep."
"Was it a good sleep?" She insisted. He smiled. She was asking another question.
"I had three hours of sleep." He answered. "Was that good enough?"
She scowled. "No."
"I can't go back to sleep anymore." He supplied. "Can I ask my Lady Scholar why she's in my study in the middle of the night?"
It took Izana every muscle in his face not to wince at his possessiveness. Lady Althea doesn't seem to mind though. If she did, she did not show it.
"I have to finish the book." She said. "I couldn't sleep."
He motioned her to sit as he sat adjacent of her. Somehow, he knew she was upset with something.
"You can continue reading the book." He said. Lady Althea nodded.
For a full fifteen-minutes, there was just comfortable silence in the study as she reads her book and he looking at her. With all her glory and beauty, he can sense her agitation. It's something he has never seen her before and he started to worry that he was the one who was causing her to feel such. He noticed she's in the same page for several minutes now, which was also unusual. He was about to ask her, but she suddenly spoke without looking at him.
"Its unfortunate that our short trip is over. I want to whole-heartedly express my gratitude to Your Majesty for your kindness and generosity with the four of us."
Izana squinted his eyes at her. What she said was obviously rehearsed, but he knew she wasn't jesting. "You are leaving?"
"Yes, we have to go back."
"When?"
"Tomorrow." She answered without looking at him.
Silence.
Izana could feel his heart palpitate against his chest. The feeling doesn't sit well with him. He doesn't like this one bit. The feeling of loss was so palpable, he did not bother to hide his expression.
Lady Althea closed her book, placed it on the table and looked at him.
"Are you angry?" She asked surprised.
There's no point in denying it. Ever since she came, his world turned upside down, but he can't stop her because she's not his. He is the King of Clarines and he is bound by its rules and responsibility. That's what makes him angry. He must be cautious and must act with rationality. He wasn't expecting that these things will restrict him to have something… someone… he might never have again.
"Yes."
His answer made it clear to the both of them what was never clear before. Something they could obtain with simple words, but both knew will never say.
She made a sad smile.
"Your Majesty, do you believe in destiny?"
"What do you mean?" The sudden change in topic confused him.
"Well, you see… In the Kingdom of Florin, the royal family has a unique way of choosing their ruler…"
"Lady Althea, are you sure?"
She was about to tell him her story. Her real story.
"Yes. I'm sure."
"You're not going to tell it all, are you?"
"Well, not all."
They both smiled.
She proceeded with explaining how she got chosen by the ring, about her father's brother Moria, about the Army from Alcatraz, about the conflict of her country. The fact is evident that she is the destined ruler of her Kingdom. She is the queen.
When he asked about why they travel, Althea refused to answer. Izana assumed that she was looking for help, hoping to forge relations with another Kingdom to aid her with her cause.
"Are you not going to ask me then...?" He asked, leaving the remaining phrase in the air.
For help.
Isn't she going to ask him for help? Engaging in a war is a huge risk for all the players but it's not impossible for other Kingdoms to help another. If she asked, he would help her. Complications be damned.
But he already knew the answer before it could escape her lips.
"No."
He then asked the question he was afraid to ask. When she told him about her story, he somehow knew it already. But there's something about hearing it from her. Maybe he is hoping for a different answer.
"Will I see you again?"
"No."
The embrace in the forest suddenly makes sense. He heard his heart shattered into pieces.
They both knew what they felt for each other, but as rulers, they must act with caution and rationality.
"Once again, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Your Majesty. And… this is farewell." The queen of Kingdom of Florin said.
