* Heart Brake *
"This cannot be!" Kida said quickly looking at Milo. "I must see my father!"
"Kida, wait...!" Milo said as she bolted from him and ran towards the stairs leading up to the throne room. "...Great. Just great. She doesn't know."
Dr. Sweet crossed his arms looking at Milo with a razed eyebrow, "Well...? Are you gonna go after her? Or are you just gonna stand there and let her find out on her own?"
"Um... How about you? I mean you're the doctor here."
"Now, lets see." Dr. Sweet put his hand to his chin looking up for a moment then looked back to Milo. "You spend all day and night with the girl. You like her. She likes you. Her father gives you his crystal and asks you to save her with his dying breath. You save the girl... Now, who do-ya think she'd rather talk to... Me, or you?"
Milo put his hands in his pockets and sighed as he looked back at Kida, who was almost to the top of the stairs. "I want to but... I mean it's just that..."
"Just go already," Mrs. Packord said, pushing Milo from behind. "You'll do fine."
Milo looked back at the group and all of them motioned to him to go after her. Then with a heavy sigh, he headed for the stairs, slowly at first but quickly picked up the pace.
"I'm hungry. What do-ya say we get something to eat?" Dr. Sweet motioned to the group as he started to walk off.
One by one, Mrs. Packord, Mole, Vinny, Cookie and Audrey took one last look at Milo heading up the stairs then turned and followed Dr. Sweet. They all understood Milo's hesitation. It was never easy to console someone over the death of a loved one.
***
"No... Please no, do not let this be true." Kida said approaching the still shuttered doors to the throne room. "Tahbtoap must be okay... He must." The words choking her as she spoke them.
Kida entered her father's ancient throne room, which like most of the city was in partial ruins, stopping at the edge of the indoor lagoon that covered most of the floor. Kida could see her father's two bodyguards kneeling on either side of the King's throne holding their spears in front of them in silent tribute.
Kida's heart raced as she slowly made her way over the flat stones that dotted the lagoon. "Ta...Tahbtoap?"
The King's guards, having heard Kida's voice, quietly stood up and moved away from the throne never looking at the Princess as she approached.
Kida began to shake in fear as she climbed the five steps up to the large carved stone throne with soft plush pillows and hand woven blankets on which her father lay motionless. She took her father's hand into hers and knew instantly that her vision was true. The King was dead.
"Please Tahbtoap, do not leave me, you cannot leave me, I do not want you to... Tahbtoap please do not leave me here all alone." Kida desperately pleaded.
Kida felt the anguish grow within her as her heart filled with pain. The amazement of seeing her new city, the feelings she had for Milo and the vision of her mother all left her. Pain and anguish consumed her. "What will I do now?"
Milo entered the throne room stopping when he saw Kida standing next to her father. He wasn't sure what to do but he wanted to help her. After all, he knew first hand how much it hurt to lose a loved one. But he had no idea what to say. Pacing back and forth, he began talking to himself. "Okay, okay... What do I say to her...? What do you say to a Princess who just lost her father? Come on Milo, think... Sorry about your father but hay! Look at the bright side, you get to be Queen... Gees, I can't believe I even thought of that! I'm just going to make things worse."
Milo stopped pacing and sighed as he looked at Kida. "I'm no good with this kind of stuff... But, I need to say something to her..." Milo sighed once more. Then mustering up all of his courage, he began to navigate his way across the lagoon towards Kida. Just then, he saw her collapse as if her legs could no longer support her weight, coiling up into ball as she fell to the floor. "Kida...!" Milo said running to her. He reached her and was kneeling beside her before the guards could react. Concerned, he softly put his hand on her arm. "Are you okay, Kida, say something." Milo stared at Kida's face hoping for some kind of response but there was nothing. Her eyes were open but she showed no expression, she seemed to be as distant as a ship drifting past the horizon.
Milo felt more than just concern for Kida; he was deeply worried for his friend. It hurt him to see her this way. In the short time that he had known Kida, he had seen a beautiful young woman who was self confident, strong and caring. She was full of life and had a curious nature that matched his. The day he had spent with her was the most wondrous he could ever remember having in his life.
But now as he looked at her, all he could see was an empty shell which tore into his heart like a knife. Milo would do anything to help ease her pain. If only he knew how. "The crystal!" Milo pulled King Kashekim's crystal from his pocket and held it to Kida's forehead. "I hope this works... Kida?"
As Milo waited intently for a response, he felt the soft touch of a woman's hand on his shoulder. He looked up to see an older Atlantean woman standing next to him. A tall slender elegant woman dressed in a long light blue robe with her hair pulled back, held in place with a decorative comb. Judging from her tattoos she had to be a woman of some importance. "The crystal cannot stop the pain that Kida's heart feels." The Atlantean woman softly said with a kind look upon her face.
"I just... I mean I thought." Milo sighed as he began to put the crystal back in his pocket.
"The crystal should be kept close to your heart. To do otherwise would be an insult." The woman said gently taking the crystal pendent from Milo's hand and placed it around his neck.
"Oh, um... I didn't mean to... I'm sorry but, who are you?" Milo stuttered.
"My name is Rosha." She said bending down to check on Kida.
"I'm..." Milo started to say.
"Milo. You are known to me." Rosha gently moved the hair from Kida's face to get a closer look at her.
"Is she going to be okay?" Milo questioned.
"That will depend on you." Rosha said looking at Milo as she stood up.
"Me? But I..."
Rosha interrupted, "You do wish to help her, do you not?"
"Yes, of course, but I..." Milo started to answer as he looked down at Kida.
Rosha looked at the King's bodyguards, Toka and Impesh. The twin brothers had served the King since the time of the great flood. Both where large powerful men with sharply honed fighting skills. Both wearing blue togas, off the left shoulder, with a wide light blue sash around the waist. Their white hair was short and tied with a band at the top of the head forming a short bushy tail that stood strait up. The only way you could tell them apart was by their tattoos. Toka's was on the right side of his face and Impesh's was on the left. "We serve the Queen as we once served the King. Go and guard the doors, let no one in this room." The two guards nodded to acknowledge Rosha and proceeded to take their posts just outside the throne room doors.
Rosha returned her gaze back to Milo and Kida. "I will leave you two alone now."
Milo snapped his head back. "Wait, you just can't leave her like this! You've got to help her!"
"You are the one who must help her Milo."
Milo looked back down at Kida, tears beginning to form in his eyes. "I don't know how."
An aura of calm seemed to radiate from Rosha as she spoke to Milo. "Yes you do Milo. The King gave you his crystal, did he not?"
Milo looked up at Rosha, no longer able to hide his emotions. "But you said the crystal couldn't heal."
Rosha smiled at Milo. "The King would not have given you his crystal if you did not have love in your heart. It is your heart that will heal Kida, not the crystal."
"My heart...? I don't..."
Rosha interrupted, "Just hold her Milo. Hold her so she knows that she is not alone."
With those words, Milo understood what to do. He turned back to Kida and drew her into his arms lying her head on his chest then softly whispering. "I'm here for you Kida, I'm here." Milo felt Kida's arms slowly wrap around him, her body starting to gently quiver. He held her tightly as she started to openly cry for the first time. The healing of her broken heart had begun.
***
Outside the throne room a figure cleared the top of the stairs and approached the guards. A young man that appeared to be in his late twenties in surface years, of course being Atlantean he was centuries older. He was of average height but had a chiseled body of an athlete. The young man's white hair was shoulder length and worn loose. Dressed in a blue sarong, with scaled armor on his right shoulder held in place by straps that crossed his chest, and arm guards that covered both forearms. He was marked with the tattoos of a warrior and hunter.
"Stop! You may not enter Redic."
"Stand aside Impesh, I must speak with Kida."
"No one is to disturb the Queen." Impesh said, this time in a more commanding tone.
"You cannot stop me from..." Redic started to say but stopped when he saw Rosha emerging from the throne room.
"What is going on here?" Said Rosha, angered by the commotion.
"Rosha... Please forgive me but I must speak to Kida about the outsiders. I believe they may still pose a threat to us." He moved so he could see behind Rosha and into the throne room, catching a glimpse of Kida lying in Milo's arms.
Rosha stepped in front of him to block his view. "The Queen is in morning. She will not see you now."
"She is with one of the outsiders now, the one named Milo, is she not?" Redic asked knowing the answer.
"Who the Queen chooses to spend her time with is up to her Redic." Rosha said crossing her arms.
"So she seeks comfort in the arms of an outsider?" Redic said with disbelief, "This is not right!"
"It is for the Queen to decide what is appropriate and what is not. Not you." Rosha said now placing her hands on her hips.
"Rosha, the outsiders are dangerous."
"All of the outsiders with dark hearts have been eliminated, those who remain do not threaten Atlantis."
"As we talk the outsiders are walking the streets of our city, free to do anything they wish. They could be stealing our treasures and planning our destruction!" Redic pleaded.
"Redic, you are not thinking" Rosha said dismissing his concern. "They fought side by side with our warriors to stop the evil ones. You yourself fought by their side. I cannot believe they would harm anyone."
"Yes I fought by their side, and that is why I know the outsiders cannot be trusted. They committed treason against their own leader!"
"If they had not committed this treason, our city would have been destroyed." Rosha reminded him.
"If Kida had listened to me in the caves and killed the outsiders before they reached the city none of this would have happened. The King would still be alive and the city would still be safe!" Redic was starting to become agitated. He believed in the old ways of Atlantis, the way King Kashekim Nedakh had ruled. Outsiders, no matter who they were, were to be eliminated on sight. But what upset him the most was that Kida had been the one to let the outsiders live, for no other reason that he could see, than an unfounded fascination of a scrawny outsider named Milo. Worse yet, she now looked to this outsider for comfort. He had to make Kida understand the threat! "This is a waste of time. I must speak with Kida now!" Redic demanded as he took a step towards the throne room doors.
Rosha again stepped in front of him. "This is not the time for this Redic."
"Out of my way!" Redic pushed Rosha aside causing her to lose balance and fall into Impesh. But before he could take another step, Redic felt the blade of Toka's spear against his throat.
"Take one more step Redic and you will not live to see another day." Toka bluntly informed him.
"Are you okay?" Impesh asked Rosha as he helped her to her feet.
"I am unhurt, thank you Impesh," Rosha said turning back at Redic, astonished that he would do such a thing. "Have you gone mad Redic?"
Redic slowly backed away from Toka. Both men's eyes locked on each other, Redic's face full of rage. He then looked at Rosha. "I am not the one who has gone mad here, nor am I the one standing by and letting our Queen be corrupted by an outsider!"
"Milo is a good man with a kind..." Rosha tried to explain.
"He is an outsider...! Mark my words Rosha. If Kida does not deal with the outsiders, I will!"
Rosha watched Redic turn and walk down the stairs that led to the courtyard below, stunned at what just happened. Redic had always been a bit of a hothead but this was out of character even for him. "He must be mad." Rosha said.
"Should we arrest him?" Toka asked.
"No. Only the Queen may give that order." Rosha said turning back to the guards, "Toka, take as many guards as you need, find the rest of the outsiders and escort them to the palace guest quarters."
"What should I tell them if they should ask why?"
"Tell them they are to be our guests and that we are preparing dinner for them in their honor, but do not say anything of Redic. Impesh, stay here and watch over the Queen and Milo. Send for me when they are ready. I must make preparations for our guests."
***
The light in the throne room began to dim as night fell over the city. Kida had cried until she had no more tears left. Milo had never once let go of her. He had been relieved when she stopped crying, as he had felt Kida's pain as if it was his own. During that time, Milo's only thoughts were of taking care of her. He begun to realize for the first time that he felt something more than just friendship for Kida. He looked at the beautiful young women resting peacefully in his arms. Nothing like this had ever happed to him before and part of him wished that this moment could go on forever. But he knew it couldn't, it was time for Kida to get back on her feet. Gently nudging her, "Kida...?"
"Hmmm," Kida slowly stirred.
"It's time to get up." Milo said in a gentle tone.
"I do not wish to," Kida complained.
"Kida..." Milo nudged her again.
"Very well." Kida sighed as she reluctantly pulled herself up, taking a moment to kiss Milo on the forehead before standing.
"What... what was that for?"
"For being a friend." Kida said as she lit a nearby lantern with her crystal.
"Uh Kida... Help." Milo's legs had gone to sleep and he couldn't stand up.
Kida helped him to his feet and as he stood she noticed the crystal he was wearing. Reaching out she cradled it in the palm of her hand. "Tahbtoap?"
"Oh... umm..." Milo started to remove the crystal to give it to Kida. "Your father gave it..."
"Gave it to you." She stopped him from removing it. "It is a very special gift."
Milo had a confused look on his face. "How... how did you know he gave it to me?"
"I saw him." Kida said as she sat down on the throne. Then looking at her father she whispered, "I will miss you Tahbtoap."
Milo sat next to her. "I'm sorry about your father, I tried to help him but he wouldn't let me."
"It is okay Milo. My father is in a better place now. He is with the Kings of our past, with my mother. He had suffered for so long, now he is at peace."
"Wait a minute, back up. You said you saw him. I don't get it, I mean you were merged with the Heart of Atlantis?" A bewildered looking Milo asked.
"I cannot explain it." Kida said as she covered her father with a blanket as if to make him comfortable for a long nights sleep. "I saw many things. I saw my father, my mother, and your brave friends." Kida turned to Milo gently placing her hand on his cheek. "And I saw you Milo." Kida had that strange feeling again as she gazed into Milo's eyes and it was stronger than ever. She would have reacted on it, but before she could Milo quickly stood up, saying. "Rosha...!"
Kida stood as well. They both felt like a couple of kids that had just been caught doing something wrong by their parents as they watched Rosha and Impesh approach. Milo took a step back as Rosha hugged Kida. "We all share your loss. Your father was a great man, and will be sorely missed."
"Thank you Rosha." Kida looked back at her father and sighed, "I only wish that I had been able to say goodbye. The last time we spoke, we argued."
"Your father knew how much you loved him."
"Yes..." Kida said looking back to Rosha, "But it still hurts."
"I know child, I know... You should try to get some rest, you will feel better in the morning."
"Yes... I will try." Kida agreed. "But first I must make arrangements for my father's funeral."
"You need not worry of that. I have made all the arrangements needed to honor your father. You need only to rest now."
"Thank you Rosha, I will do that." Kida looked over to Milo and said, "Will I see you in the morning?"
"Uh... I guess so." Milo said shrugging shoulders, "I'm not going anywhere."
"Good..." Kida began to step around Rosha to leave the throne room only to find Impesh kneeling before her. She stopped and looked down at him, crossing her arms and with a raised eyebrow asked, "Why are you on your knees?"
Without looking up, Impesh answered, "You are my Queen."
Kida's arms fell to her side and her jaw dropped as she heard his reply. She hadn't thought about it. She was the heir to the throne, and at the moment of her father's death, she had become the Queen. Rosha reached out putting her hand on Kida's shoulder. "Kida...?"
Kida waved her off. "No! This cannot be. Stand up Impesh; do not kneel to me. Do not ever kneel to me again!" Kida started pacing back and forth muttering something in Atlantean.
Rosha tried to approach her once more. "Kida...?"
Again, Kida waved her off and started running towards the rear of the throne room, through the open column wall and up the stairs that led to the rest of the Palace. Yelling as loudly as she could, "I am not Queen, I am not!"
Rosha sighed as she watched Kida run off then turned back to Milo and Impesh. "I had not expected this from her."
"Should I go talk to her?" Milo asked.
"No..." Rosha shook her head slowly and sighed a second time. "I will speak with her in the morning. Are you hungry?" Rosha asked, changing the subject, "I believe your friends are still in the dining hall."
"Oh... Uh, not really. I'm kind of tired actually. I think I'd rather just get some sleep if... if that's okay?
"Of course it is okay Milo. Impesh will show you to your room."
Milo thanked Rosha and followed Impesh out of the throne room taking the same path that Kida took just moments before. Rosha waited until they were both out of sight then sat down next to the King. Leaning over him and with one hand, she began to gently fix his hair. "You have chosen well my brother. Kida likes him, and he cares for her... Yes, he is perfect for your daughter. I think, with a little help, they will accept each other."
Rosha sighed and paused for moment. "I am concerned though my brother, I fear that Kida will not accept her new role as Queen. Your daughter still has some growing up to do."
Rosha leaned down and gently kissed the King, saying goodbye to her brother and whispered. "You have left me with a lot of work to do. But do not worry my brother, I will take care of them."
Then as she stood up to leave she noticed something on the floor, a bracelet.
"This cannot be!" Kida said quickly looking at Milo. "I must see my father!"
"Kida, wait...!" Milo said as she bolted from him and ran towards the stairs leading up to the throne room. "...Great. Just great. She doesn't know."
Dr. Sweet crossed his arms looking at Milo with a razed eyebrow, "Well...? Are you gonna go after her? Or are you just gonna stand there and let her find out on her own?"
"Um... How about you? I mean you're the doctor here."
"Now, lets see." Dr. Sweet put his hand to his chin looking up for a moment then looked back to Milo. "You spend all day and night with the girl. You like her. She likes you. Her father gives you his crystal and asks you to save her with his dying breath. You save the girl... Now, who do-ya think she'd rather talk to... Me, or you?"
Milo put his hands in his pockets and sighed as he looked back at Kida, who was almost to the top of the stairs. "I want to but... I mean it's just that..."
"Just go already," Mrs. Packord said, pushing Milo from behind. "You'll do fine."
Milo looked back at the group and all of them motioned to him to go after her. Then with a heavy sigh, he headed for the stairs, slowly at first but quickly picked up the pace.
"I'm hungry. What do-ya say we get something to eat?" Dr. Sweet motioned to the group as he started to walk off.
One by one, Mrs. Packord, Mole, Vinny, Cookie and Audrey took one last look at Milo heading up the stairs then turned and followed Dr. Sweet. They all understood Milo's hesitation. It was never easy to console someone over the death of a loved one.
***
"No... Please no, do not let this be true." Kida said approaching the still shuttered doors to the throne room. "Tahbtoap must be okay... He must." The words choking her as she spoke them.
Kida entered her father's ancient throne room, which like most of the city was in partial ruins, stopping at the edge of the indoor lagoon that covered most of the floor. Kida could see her father's two bodyguards kneeling on either side of the King's throne holding their spears in front of them in silent tribute.
Kida's heart raced as she slowly made her way over the flat stones that dotted the lagoon. "Ta...Tahbtoap?"
The King's guards, having heard Kida's voice, quietly stood up and moved away from the throne never looking at the Princess as she approached.
Kida began to shake in fear as she climbed the five steps up to the large carved stone throne with soft plush pillows and hand woven blankets on which her father lay motionless. She took her father's hand into hers and knew instantly that her vision was true. The King was dead.
"Please Tahbtoap, do not leave me, you cannot leave me, I do not want you to... Tahbtoap please do not leave me here all alone." Kida desperately pleaded.
Kida felt the anguish grow within her as her heart filled with pain. The amazement of seeing her new city, the feelings she had for Milo and the vision of her mother all left her. Pain and anguish consumed her. "What will I do now?"
Milo entered the throne room stopping when he saw Kida standing next to her father. He wasn't sure what to do but he wanted to help her. After all, he knew first hand how much it hurt to lose a loved one. But he had no idea what to say. Pacing back and forth, he began talking to himself. "Okay, okay... What do I say to her...? What do you say to a Princess who just lost her father? Come on Milo, think... Sorry about your father but hay! Look at the bright side, you get to be Queen... Gees, I can't believe I even thought of that! I'm just going to make things worse."
Milo stopped pacing and sighed as he looked at Kida. "I'm no good with this kind of stuff... But, I need to say something to her..." Milo sighed once more. Then mustering up all of his courage, he began to navigate his way across the lagoon towards Kida. Just then, he saw her collapse as if her legs could no longer support her weight, coiling up into ball as she fell to the floor. "Kida...!" Milo said running to her. He reached her and was kneeling beside her before the guards could react. Concerned, he softly put his hand on her arm. "Are you okay, Kida, say something." Milo stared at Kida's face hoping for some kind of response but there was nothing. Her eyes were open but she showed no expression, she seemed to be as distant as a ship drifting past the horizon.
Milo felt more than just concern for Kida; he was deeply worried for his friend. It hurt him to see her this way. In the short time that he had known Kida, he had seen a beautiful young woman who was self confident, strong and caring. She was full of life and had a curious nature that matched his. The day he had spent with her was the most wondrous he could ever remember having in his life.
But now as he looked at her, all he could see was an empty shell which tore into his heart like a knife. Milo would do anything to help ease her pain. If only he knew how. "The crystal!" Milo pulled King Kashekim's crystal from his pocket and held it to Kida's forehead. "I hope this works... Kida?"
As Milo waited intently for a response, he felt the soft touch of a woman's hand on his shoulder. He looked up to see an older Atlantean woman standing next to him. A tall slender elegant woman dressed in a long light blue robe with her hair pulled back, held in place with a decorative comb. Judging from her tattoos she had to be a woman of some importance. "The crystal cannot stop the pain that Kida's heart feels." The Atlantean woman softly said with a kind look upon her face.
"I just... I mean I thought." Milo sighed as he began to put the crystal back in his pocket.
"The crystal should be kept close to your heart. To do otherwise would be an insult." The woman said gently taking the crystal pendent from Milo's hand and placed it around his neck.
"Oh, um... I didn't mean to... I'm sorry but, who are you?" Milo stuttered.
"My name is Rosha." She said bending down to check on Kida.
"I'm..." Milo started to say.
"Milo. You are known to me." Rosha gently moved the hair from Kida's face to get a closer look at her.
"Is she going to be okay?" Milo questioned.
"That will depend on you." Rosha said looking at Milo as she stood up.
"Me? But I..."
Rosha interrupted, "You do wish to help her, do you not?"
"Yes, of course, but I..." Milo started to answer as he looked down at Kida.
Rosha looked at the King's bodyguards, Toka and Impesh. The twin brothers had served the King since the time of the great flood. Both where large powerful men with sharply honed fighting skills. Both wearing blue togas, off the left shoulder, with a wide light blue sash around the waist. Their white hair was short and tied with a band at the top of the head forming a short bushy tail that stood strait up. The only way you could tell them apart was by their tattoos. Toka's was on the right side of his face and Impesh's was on the left. "We serve the Queen as we once served the King. Go and guard the doors, let no one in this room." The two guards nodded to acknowledge Rosha and proceeded to take their posts just outside the throne room doors.
Rosha returned her gaze back to Milo and Kida. "I will leave you two alone now."
Milo snapped his head back. "Wait, you just can't leave her like this! You've got to help her!"
"You are the one who must help her Milo."
Milo looked back down at Kida, tears beginning to form in his eyes. "I don't know how."
An aura of calm seemed to radiate from Rosha as she spoke to Milo. "Yes you do Milo. The King gave you his crystal, did he not?"
Milo looked up at Rosha, no longer able to hide his emotions. "But you said the crystal couldn't heal."
Rosha smiled at Milo. "The King would not have given you his crystal if you did not have love in your heart. It is your heart that will heal Kida, not the crystal."
"My heart...? I don't..."
Rosha interrupted, "Just hold her Milo. Hold her so she knows that she is not alone."
With those words, Milo understood what to do. He turned back to Kida and drew her into his arms lying her head on his chest then softly whispering. "I'm here for you Kida, I'm here." Milo felt Kida's arms slowly wrap around him, her body starting to gently quiver. He held her tightly as she started to openly cry for the first time. The healing of her broken heart had begun.
***
Outside the throne room a figure cleared the top of the stairs and approached the guards. A young man that appeared to be in his late twenties in surface years, of course being Atlantean he was centuries older. He was of average height but had a chiseled body of an athlete. The young man's white hair was shoulder length and worn loose. Dressed in a blue sarong, with scaled armor on his right shoulder held in place by straps that crossed his chest, and arm guards that covered both forearms. He was marked with the tattoos of a warrior and hunter.
"Stop! You may not enter Redic."
"Stand aside Impesh, I must speak with Kida."
"No one is to disturb the Queen." Impesh said, this time in a more commanding tone.
"You cannot stop me from..." Redic started to say but stopped when he saw Rosha emerging from the throne room.
"What is going on here?" Said Rosha, angered by the commotion.
"Rosha... Please forgive me but I must speak to Kida about the outsiders. I believe they may still pose a threat to us." He moved so he could see behind Rosha and into the throne room, catching a glimpse of Kida lying in Milo's arms.
Rosha stepped in front of him to block his view. "The Queen is in morning. She will not see you now."
"She is with one of the outsiders now, the one named Milo, is she not?" Redic asked knowing the answer.
"Who the Queen chooses to spend her time with is up to her Redic." Rosha said crossing her arms.
"So she seeks comfort in the arms of an outsider?" Redic said with disbelief, "This is not right!"
"It is for the Queen to decide what is appropriate and what is not. Not you." Rosha said now placing her hands on her hips.
"Rosha, the outsiders are dangerous."
"All of the outsiders with dark hearts have been eliminated, those who remain do not threaten Atlantis."
"As we talk the outsiders are walking the streets of our city, free to do anything they wish. They could be stealing our treasures and planning our destruction!" Redic pleaded.
"Redic, you are not thinking" Rosha said dismissing his concern. "They fought side by side with our warriors to stop the evil ones. You yourself fought by their side. I cannot believe they would harm anyone."
"Yes I fought by their side, and that is why I know the outsiders cannot be trusted. They committed treason against their own leader!"
"If they had not committed this treason, our city would have been destroyed." Rosha reminded him.
"If Kida had listened to me in the caves and killed the outsiders before they reached the city none of this would have happened. The King would still be alive and the city would still be safe!" Redic was starting to become agitated. He believed in the old ways of Atlantis, the way King Kashekim Nedakh had ruled. Outsiders, no matter who they were, were to be eliminated on sight. But what upset him the most was that Kida had been the one to let the outsiders live, for no other reason that he could see, than an unfounded fascination of a scrawny outsider named Milo. Worse yet, she now looked to this outsider for comfort. He had to make Kida understand the threat! "This is a waste of time. I must speak with Kida now!" Redic demanded as he took a step towards the throne room doors.
Rosha again stepped in front of him. "This is not the time for this Redic."
"Out of my way!" Redic pushed Rosha aside causing her to lose balance and fall into Impesh. But before he could take another step, Redic felt the blade of Toka's spear against his throat.
"Take one more step Redic and you will not live to see another day." Toka bluntly informed him.
"Are you okay?" Impesh asked Rosha as he helped her to her feet.
"I am unhurt, thank you Impesh," Rosha said turning back at Redic, astonished that he would do such a thing. "Have you gone mad Redic?"
Redic slowly backed away from Toka. Both men's eyes locked on each other, Redic's face full of rage. He then looked at Rosha. "I am not the one who has gone mad here, nor am I the one standing by and letting our Queen be corrupted by an outsider!"
"Milo is a good man with a kind..." Rosha tried to explain.
"He is an outsider...! Mark my words Rosha. If Kida does not deal with the outsiders, I will!"
Rosha watched Redic turn and walk down the stairs that led to the courtyard below, stunned at what just happened. Redic had always been a bit of a hothead but this was out of character even for him. "He must be mad." Rosha said.
"Should we arrest him?" Toka asked.
"No. Only the Queen may give that order." Rosha said turning back to the guards, "Toka, take as many guards as you need, find the rest of the outsiders and escort them to the palace guest quarters."
"What should I tell them if they should ask why?"
"Tell them they are to be our guests and that we are preparing dinner for them in their honor, but do not say anything of Redic. Impesh, stay here and watch over the Queen and Milo. Send for me when they are ready. I must make preparations for our guests."
***
The light in the throne room began to dim as night fell over the city. Kida had cried until she had no more tears left. Milo had never once let go of her. He had been relieved when she stopped crying, as he had felt Kida's pain as if it was his own. During that time, Milo's only thoughts were of taking care of her. He begun to realize for the first time that he felt something more than just friendship for Kida. He looked at the beautiful young women resting peacefully in his arms. Nothing like this had ever happed to him before and part of him wished that this moment could go on forever. But he knew it couldn't, it was time for Kida to get back on her feet. Gently nudging her, "Kida...?"
"Hmmm," Kida slowly stirred.
"It's time to get up." Milo said in a gentle tone.
"I do not wish to," Kida complained.
"Kida..." Milo nudged her again.
"Very well." Kida sighed as she reluctantly pulled herself up, taking a moment to kiss Milo on the forehead before standing.
"What... what was that for?"
"For being a friend." Kida said as she lit a nearby lantern with her crystal.
"Uh Kida... Help." Milo's legs had gone to sleep and he couldn't stand up.
Kida helped him to his feet and as he stood she noticed the crystal he was wearing. Reaching out she cradled it in the palm of her hand. "Tahbtoap?"
"Oh... umm..." Milo started to remove the crystal to give it to Kida. "Your father gave it..."
"Gave it to you." She stopped him from removing it. "It is a very special gift."
Milo had a confused look on his face. "How... how did you know he gave it to me?"
"I saw him." Kida said as she sat down on the throne. Then looking at her father she whispered, "I will miss you Tahbtoap."
Milo sat next to her. "I'm sorry about your father, I tried to help him but he wouldn't let me."
"It is okay Milo. My father is in a better place now. He is with the Kings of our past, with my mother. He had suffered for so long, now he is at peace."
"Wait a minute, back up. You said you saw him. I don't get it, I mean you were merged with the Heart of Atlantis?" A bewildered looking Milo asked.
"I cannot explain it." Kida said as she covered her father with a blanket as if to make him comfortable for a long nights sleep. "I saw many things. I saw my father, my mother, and your brave friends." Kida turned to Milo gently placing her hand on his cheek. "And I saw you Milo." Kida had that strange feeling again as she gazed into Milo's eyes and it was stronger than ever. She would have reacted on it, but before she could Milo quickly stood up, saying. "Rosha...!"
Kida stood as well. They both felt like a couple of kids that had just been caught doing something wrong by their parents as they watched Rosha and Impesh approach. Milo took a step back as Rosha hugged Kida. "We all share your loss. Your father was a great man, and will be sorely missed."
"Thank you Rosha." Kida looked back at her father and sighed, "I only wish that I had been able to say goodbye. The last time we spoke, we argued."
"Your father knew how much you loved him."
"Yes..." Kida said looking back to Rosha, "But it still hurts."
"I know child, I know... You should try to get some rest, you will feel better in the morning."
"Yes... I will try." Kida agreed. "But first I must make arrangements for my father's funeral."
"You need not worry of that. I have made all the arrangements needed to honor your father. You need only to rest now."
"Thank you Rosha, I will do that." Kida looked over to Milo and said, "Will I see you in the morning?"
"Uh... I guess so." Milo said shrugging shoulders, "I'm not going anywhere."
"Good..." Kida began to step around Rosha to leave the throne room only to find Impesh kneeling before her. She stopped and looked down at him, crossing her arms and with a raised eyebrow asked, "Why are you on your knees?"
Without looking up, Impesh answered, "You are my Queen."
Kida's arms fell to her side and her jaw dropped as she heard his reply. She hadn't thought about it. She was the heir to the throne, and at the moment of her father's death, she had become the Queen. Rosha reached out putting her hand on Kida's shoulder. "Kida...?"
Kida waved her off. "No! This cannot be. Stand up Impesh; do not kneel to me. Do not ever kneel to me again!" Kida started pacing back and forth muttering something in Atlantean.
Rosha tried to approach her once more. "Kida...?"
Again, Kida waved her off and started running towards the rear of the throne room, through the open column wall and up the stairs that led to the rest of the Palace. Yelling as loudly as she could, "I am not Queen, I am not!"
Rosha sighed as she watched Kida run off then turned back to Milo and Impesh. "I had not expected this from her."
"Should I go talk to her?" Milo asked.
"No..." Rosha shook her head slowly and sighed a second time. "I will speak with her in the morning. Are you hungry?" Rosha asked, changing the subject, "I believe your friends are still in the dining hall."
"Oh... Uh, not really. I'm kind of tired actually. I think I'd rather just get some sleep if... if that's okay?
"Of course it is okay Milo. Impesh will show you to your room."
Milo thanked Rosha and followed Impesh out of the throne room taking the same path that Kida took just moments before. Rosha waited until they were both out of sight then sat down next to the King. Leaning over him and with one hand, she began to gently fix his hair. "You have chosen well my brother. Kida likes him, and he cares for her... Yes, he is perfect for your daughter. I think, with a little help, they will accept each other."
Rosha sighed and paused for moment. "I am concerned though my brother, I fear that Kida will not accept her new role as Queen. Your daughter still has some growing up to do."
Rosha leaned down and gently kissed the King, saying goodbye to her brother and whispered. "You have left me with a lot of work to do. But do not worry my brother, I will take care of them."
Then as she stood up to leave she noticed something on the floor, a bracelet.