A/N: sorry sorry sorry sorry, and once again I'm SORRY about the lack of
updates!! But heres a new chapter. on with the story. finally!! Oh, and I
just realized, I HIT PAST THE 100 MARK FOR REVIEWS!! You guys are AWSOME!!
I LOVE YOU GUYS!! Thank you soo very much for all your comments!!
::Chapter 12: The Funeral::
The petit blonde girl smiled nervously, staring first at me, then at Father. no, wait, OUR father.
I didn't know what to say. let alone what to say to HER. I nervously averted my eyes away from her to Mandy, who was busy giving directions to a few maids.
I wanted to just get out of there, I wanted to be anywhere but here, I just wanted HIM out of my sight. But I didn't want to seem rude. although that is what I had been since they arrived. After all, it wasn't actually HER, what did Mandy say her name was?? Oh yes, it wasn't actually Mayleah's fault.
So I mumbled a soft "Hello. . ." and walked out of there, making sure I didn't catch anyone's gaze.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
(The next day. . .)
I gazed up at the high cathedral ceiling of the funeral house, wondering why they decorated the dreaded occasion so beautifully. There were ribbons a jewels hanging from the ceiling, and pink rose petals sprinkling the marble floor. Pink rose petals. At a queen's funeral. Give me a break.
Mandy continued to squeeze my hand while the High Chancellor Thomas gave some sort of boring speech. Every once in a while she would dab her eyes with a handkerchief and squeeze my hand even tighter.
I wanted to look back and see everyone who had attended, but I was too afraid that I might catch Father's eye. . . Mandy had not made me sit next to him, but we were still sitting in the same row.
I closed my eyes, trying to drone out the sound of the monotone voice with my thoughts. I thought upon the last time I sat in this room. I have only been to one other funeral before this, when I was young. It was my grandfather's Sir Peter of Frell. I've never met him before, so it wasn't much of a big deal for me. All I remember is Mother sobbing uncontrollably when she stood up to close the casket. I kept that picture in my head, when I heard my name being spoken.
"Now, may I call up the young future queen of Kyrria, Princess Amena!"
I broke out of my daydream. What did he say??
Mandy leaned in and whispered. "He wants you to go up and say some sort of speech, then close the casket." She choked on her sobs every few syllables. She chuckled lightly when she saw the horrified expression on my face.
I took a deep breath, and stood up, trying not to think that most of the kingdom was here, watching my every move. I walked up to where the High Chancellor Thomas was standing before, and looked out. More people than I thought had attended, most of the mourning and grieving for their dead queen.
I cleared my throat. What was I to say?? High Chancellor Thomas had spoken of all his good memories he had with Mother. What memories did I have?? I tried to think back. . . there were the times when she and I would slide down the banister. but. . . no. . . the maids would have a fit if they found that out.
"Are there any last words you would like to share with your late Mother?" High Chancellor Thomas spoke in a monotone, nasal voice.
"I-I-"
I thought of the times where we would play harmful (usually) tricks on the kitchen maids. . . and the wonderful rides down the banister. . . I thought of the times where she used to hug me and sing me to sleep every night when Father first left. Then, I thought of how as I grew older, we grew further and further apart. Then, a voice echoed in my head.
**Mena, I miss you. What happened to that little girl who would play harmless tricks on the kitchen maids with me? What happened to that little girl who used to love sliding down the banister with her mother every night until the cleaning maid scolded us? Mena, I miss you.**
It sounded familiar. . . where had I heard these words before?? And then it hit me. It was mother's words, on the night of the last ball when the betrothal was announced. (A/N: chapter 4 for those who want to check back.)
**I miss you. . . Mena, I miss you. . .**
Then, the scene from when Mother closed Grandfather's casket flooded my mind. The people sitting in front of me were beginning to blur, almost like when I try to challenge the curse, only different. This time I wasn't lying. I heard Mother's sobs as the scene when she closed her father's casket played over and over in my mind. Finally, it started to fade, and the grieving people seated in the rows in front of me started to clear up, but I still heard Mother's sobs.
I looked over to my right, and the sight I saw will forever stay with me. There laid Mother, dressed up in her most beautiful dress, her hair wrapped in delicate braids around her head, a golden tiara resting on top of it all. She was smiling, although all the color had drained out of her face, leaving a pasty whitish/yellowish color to replace her normally rosy cheeks. And that's when I realized it wasn't Mother's sobs I was still hearing. They were mine.
"I-I-" my voice sounded croaky, but I didn't care. I stepped down in front of the casket, my back facing the crowd. I stared down into Mother's empty face. I brushed my fingers gently over her pale cheek, shivering when I felt the unnatural iciness. And that's when it fully hit me. She was gone.
"I-I miss you. . ." I whispered, warm tears pouring down my cheeks. "Mother, I miss you! I'm sorry for everything I've done, for pushing you away, for complaining, for keeping you up at night, I'm so sorry! I-If only I knew-" I heaved, slowly losing my breath, but I continued anyway. "If only I KNEW I would lose you so soon. . . please, come back! I promise I'll be better, I'll take over all the scullery maids chores, I'll help Mandy in the kitchen, I'll stop complaining about the betrothal, I'll even live with this stupid curse! Please. . . just open your eyes for just a second so you can hear me say that I miss you. . . I LOVE you. . . I know I've never said it, but I love you. I really really do." By this time I realized my whisper had grown to a loud cry.
I held my gaze on her face one last time, hoping that just MAYBE she would get up like nothing had ever happened. But it didn't happen. I leaned down and gave her a soft peck on the forehead, and slowly creaked the casket closed.
click.
The click seemed so. . . final. I couldn't take it anymore. Without warning, I ran out of there, shoving through the crowds of gasping people. I needed to get away. Away from EVERYTHING. Maybe life wasn't worth living anymore. I mean, what's the point?? Since, Father's back, Kyrria doesn't need a new ruler. And, if something happens to happen, there's always Mayleah, right? Maybe SHE can marry Nate.
I ran out of the building, and into the cemetery where previous rulers of the kingdom were now resting peacefully under the ground. A storm had started up, and the piecing rain was pouring everywhere. I continued to run. I didn't care WHERE I was going, as long as it was away from here. Suddenly, I tripped on something and fell to the ground, face first. I laid there, alone, with my head buried into my crossed arms. I didn't even bother to wipe away the mixture of rain, mud, and tears from my face. I just laid there alone, oblivious of the cold and wetness of the rain splashing on my back, repeating the same words over and over to myself.
"I miss you. . . I miss you. . . I miss you. . . I miss you. . ."
A/N: HEY!! Hope you enjoyed the chapter! I'll try to update again soon! Once again, sorry for the delay in updates, and thank you all for your awesome reviews! DON'T FORGET TO REVIEW THIS CHAPTER!! Thanks, bye bye!!
::Chapter 12: The Funeral::
The petit blonde girl smiled nervously, staring first at me, then at Father. no, wait, OUR father.
I didn't know what to say. let alone what to say to HER. I nervously averted my eyes away from her to Mandy, who was busy giving directions to a few maids.
I wanted to just get out of there, I wanted to be anywhere but here, I just wanted HIM out of my sight. But I didn't want to seem rude. although that is what I had been since they arrived. After all, it wasn't actually HER, what did Mandy say her name was?? Oh yes, it wasn't actually Mayleah's fault.
So I mumbled a soft "Hello. . ." and walked out of there, making sure I didn't catch anyone's gaze.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
(The next day. . .)
I gazed up at the high cathedral ceiling of the funeral house, wondering why they decorated the dreaded occasion so beautifully. There were ribbons a jewels hanging from the ceiling, and pink rose petals sprinkling the marble floor. Pink rose petals. At a queen's funeral. Give me a break.
Mandy continued to squeeze my hand while the High Chancellor Thomas gave some sort of boring speech. Every once in a while she would dab her eyes with a handkerchief and squeeze my hand even tighter.
I wanted to look back and see everyone who had attended, but I was too afraid that I might catch Father's eye. . . Mandy had not made me sit next to him, but we were still sitting in the same row.
I closed my eyes, trying to drone out the sound of the monotone voice with my thoughts. I thought upon the last time I sat in this room. I have only been to one other funeral before this, when I was young. It was my grandfather's Sir Peter of Frell. I've never met him before, so it wasn't much of a big deal for me. All I remember is Mother sobbing uncontrollably when she stood up to close the casket. I kept that picture in my head, when I heard my name being spoken.
"Now, may I call up the young future queen of Kyrria, Princess Amena!"
I broke out of my daydream. What did he say??
Mandy leaned in and whispered. "He wants you to go up and say some sort of speech, then close the casket." She choked on her sobs every few syllables. She chuckled lightly when she saw the horrified expression on my face.
I took a deep breath, and stood up, trying not to think that most of the kingdom was here, watching my every move. I walked up to where the High Chancellor Thomas was standing before, and looked out. More people than I thought had attended, most of the mourning and grieving for their dead queen.
I cleared my throat. What was I to say?? High Chancellor Thomas had spoken of all his good memories he had with Mother. What memories did I have?? I tried to think back. . . there were the times when she and I would slide down the banister. but. . . no. . . the maids would have a fit if they found that out.
"Are there any last words you would like to share with your late Mother?" High Chancellor Thomas spoke in a monotone, nasal voice.
"I-I-"
I thought of the times where we would play harmful (usually) tricks on the kitchen maids. . . and the wonderful rides down the banister. . . I thought of the times where she used to hug me and sing me to sleep every night when Father first left. Then, I thought of how as I grew older, we grew further and further apart. Then, a voice echoed in my head.
**Mena, I miss you. What happened to that little girl who would play harmless tricks on the kitchen maids with me? What happened to that little girl who used to love sliding down the banister with her mother every night until the cleaning maid scolded us? Mena, I miss you.**
It sounded familiar. . . where had I heard these words before?? And then it hit me. It was mother's words, on the night of the last ball when the betrothal was announced. (A/N: chapter 4 for those who want to check back.)
**I miss you. . . Mena, I miss you. . .**
Then, the scene from when Mother closed Grandfather's casket flooded my mind. The people sitting in front of me were beginning to blur, almost like when I try to challenge the curse, only different. This time I wasn't lying. I heard Mother's sobs as the scene when she closed her father's casket played over and over in my mind. Finally, it started to fade, and the grieving people seated in the rows in front of me started to clear up, but I still heard Mother's sobs.
I looked over to my right, and the sight I saw will forever stay with me. There laid Mother, dressed up in her most beautiful dress, her hair wrapped in delicate braids around her head, a golden tiara resting on top of it all. She was smiling, although all the color had drained out of her face, leaving a pasty whitish/yellowish color to replace her normally rosy cheeks. And that's when I realized it wasn't Mother's sobs I was still hearing. They were mine.
"I-I-" my voice sounded croaky, but I didn't care. I stepped down in front of the casket, my back facing the crowd. I stared down into Mother's empty face. I brushed my fingers gently over her pale cheek, shivering when I felt the unnatural iciness. And that's when it fully hit me. She was gone.
"I-I miss you. . ." I whispered, warm tears pouring down my cheeks. "Mother, I miss you! I'm sorry for everything I've done, for pushing you away, for complaining, for keeping you up at night, I'm so sorry! I-If only I knew-" I heaved, slowly losing my breath, but I continued anyway. "If only I KNEW I would lose you so soon. . . please, come back! I promise I'll be better, I'll take over all the scullery maids chores, I'll help Mandy in the kitchen, I'll stop complaining about the betrothal, I'll even live with this stupid curse! Please. . . just open your eyes for just a second so you can hear me say that I miss you. . . I LOVE you. . . I know I've never said it, but I love you. I really really do." By this time I realized my whisper had grown to a loud cry.
I held my gaze on her face one last time, hoping that just MAYBE she would get up like nothing had ever happened. But it didn't happen. I leaned down and gave her a soft peck on the forehead, and slowly creaked the casket closed.
click.
The click seemed so. . . final. I couldn't take it anymore. Without warning, I ran out of there, shoving through the crowds of gasping people. I needed to get away. Away from EVERYTHING. Maybe life wasn't worth living anymore. I mean, what's the point?? Since, Father's back, Kyrria doesn't need a new ruler. And, if something happens to happen, there's always Mayleah, right? Maybe SHE can marry Nate.
I ran out of the building, and into the cemetery where previous rulers of the kingdom were now resting peacefully under the ground. A storm had started up, and the piecing rain was pouring everywhere. I continued to run. I didn't care WHERE I was going, as long as it was away from here. Suddenly, I tripped on something and fell to the ground, face first. I laid there, alone, with my head buried into my crossed arms. I didn't even bother to wipe away the mixture of rain, mud, and tears from my face. I just laid there alone, oblivious of the cold and wetness of the rain splashing on my back, repeating the same words over and over to myself.
"I miss you. . . I miss you. . . I miss you. . . I miss you. . ."
A/N: HEY!! Hope you enjoyed the chapter! I'll try to update again soon! Once again, sorry for the delay in updates, and thank you all for your awesome reviews! DON'T FORGET TO REVIEW THIS CHAPTER!! Thanks, bye bye!!
