5. The Leaf Crown





''Please leave us.''

The request had been for the three advisors of the queen and if they found the request as strange as Lita did, Luna, Artemis and Helios hid it well. Without a word, they made their respects and left the throne room.

The queen did not wait around to see if they had left before she stood up. ''Come with me, Jupiter.'' She said over her shoulder as she headed for the inner chamber.

The use of her formal name, made the dread Lita was feeling strengthen ten times. She could feel sweat sliding down her back. Whatever plans the queen had for her, Lita was sure it was going to be far worse than what the others had been dealt with. She did not need to be clairvoyant like Rei to know that. If it wasn't bad, the queen wouldn't have hesitated to talk in front of everybody else.

They entered the inner chamber of the queen's throne room. It was the room she often used for counsel with the other monarchs of the solar system. A less formal place than the throne room.

Ignoring the round table, the queen headed for the large mahogany desk that graced the platform to one side of the room. The desktop was neat as always, unlike her daughter, queen Selenity was an efficient and tidy person who liked her things in an orderly place.

Lita's eyes were immediately caught by the bundle at the center of the desk. The thing wasn't large barely half a feet wide or tall, bundled up in fine dark forest green wool. She was pretty much sure that it was a Jupitan cape, she owned a twin like that, which was neatly folded in one of her drawers upstairs in her room.

Dread slid up her spine, its cold finger clutching hold of Lita's heart as she watched the bundle and she barely heard the queen asking her to take a seat in one of the two deep high backed chairs facing her desk. But the words registered after the second time and she perched down on the edge of the chair, her eyes never leaving the bundle on the desk.

Without word, Selenity gently lifted the bundle with both her hands and walking around the desk she handed it to Lita. Like a zombie, Lita accepted the bundle and settled it on her knee. The content was solid and metallic to the touch, and heavy.

The dread clutching her heart intensified.

Slowly Lita unwrapped the bundle and as the soft fabric fell aside revealing its content, Lita stared. The crown was made of platinum, forged together with intricate small carved laurel leafs. The front of the crown was slightly higher than the back and a tree was carved there. The crown of the tree was made of one exquisitely carved emerald, the size of child's fist. There was only one such crown in the entire universe and though it was one of the most precious treasures in the world and therefore well known, Lita would have recognized it anyhow. She had seen the crown all her life, gracing the head of a handsome auburn haired man with dark eyes and ready smile. The only time he had taken the crown away had been when he went to sleep.

Through her shock-filled sensors, Lita heard Selenity say. ''I'm sorry, Lita.''

There was a lump in her throat and she had to clear her throat before she could utter any sound. ''How?''

Her eyes never lifted from the crown. Gently her fingers traced each carefully crafted line, each detailed smooth surface of leaf. The metal felt cold to her touch. Devoid of life.

Knowing that the girl would not be seeking comfort in that way from her, Selenity did the only thing she could. She told Lita how her father had died.

King Gregor and Queen Magda had been on their annual tour on the moons of Jupiter when their ship had been ambushed by bandits, last week. Granaid the outpost closest to them had received the distress call right before the plane crashed down on one of the moons. By the time the dispatch sent to their aid arrived to the place it was already too late to save the king. The queen was alive but just barely and she still hasn't woken up yet. Words were immediately sent to the Moon requesting Lita's homecoming, which was how Selenity got alerted to her disappearance as well as the other girls'.

''I have asked Artemis to make preparations as soon as you feel up to it. He will teleport you both back to Jupiter.'' Selenity finished off her story, her pale blue eyes sad.

Lita listened to the whole story silently without interruption. After a while she asked, ''What about the bandits?''

''Kayoko has managed to capture some. I'm sure he's questioning them even as we speak. The leader is still on the loose however. I've sent my best people there as well. They are waiting for you to join them. I thought you might want to be part of the investigation team.''

For the first time since she had learned about her father's death, Lita looked up at queen Selenity. It pierced Selenity's heart to see that those beautiful green eyes were dull and lacked the usual spark of life. Having had a hand in raising the girl, Selenity felt Lita's pain as clearly as her own. Despite her early spurt of growth, that made her look older than her age, Lita was still a girl of fifteen and she had never looked more vulnerable or small as she did then.

Selenity was about to make a move to reach out and comfort Lita, but something in the girl's eyes stopped her. ''If it's all right with you, could you ask Artemis to wait for me in the teleport room in an hour? I would like to say goodbye to Mina and the others first. I gather I will be stationed in Jupiter until further notice from you?'' Lita asked with a controlled voice.

Watching her with steady eyes, Selenity nodded her head once. Part of her was proud of the way Lita was holding herself together. Instead of breaking up, she was taking her responsibility like the princess she was born to be. Another part of Selenity's heart however broke at the sight. Because she knew that from now on, that fun loving passionate girl with an eye for trouble was never going to exist again. Tonight Lita had just left her girlhood behind her. A change had also occurred between them. They were no longer an aunt and a niece, but rulers of two separate kingdoms each with their obligations, status and roles. Like the way she had done before because of who she was, Selenity accepted that loss. ''Take your time. Artemis will be waiting.'' Selenity told her.

Inclining her head in thanks, Lita rose and after having made the customary bow, this time without having to lower herself as much as she did before, due to her change of status, she left the room. Her steps were steady and even as she walked the familiar hallways back to the eastern wing where she shared her quarters with her friends. She held the Leaf crown close to her chest, its presence giving her both comfort and pain.

Just as she had expected her friends were waiting for her in Amy's room. Mina and Rei were perched on one end of the bed while Amy was busy packing her things methodically and speaking at the same time. They looked up as Lita entered and immediately sensed that something was wrong. Alarm and fear crossed their features.

Lita looked at the girls, her best friends and sisters, and she said the words for the first time out aloud. ''My father is dead and my mother is dying.''

Silence fell heavily on the room, while shock painted their youthful faces.

''Oh Lita. I'm so sorry.'' Mina, cornflower blue eyes filling with tears, immediately left the bed and hurried to Lita's side, embracing her. Amy and Rei joined her with less than a heartbeat later, tears already streaming down their cheeks.

Feeling their love and support for her as well as their genuine sorrow as they shared her pain, Lita felt something melt deep within her. The coldness that had surrounded her ever since she first laid eyes on the crown on the queen's table, left her body and with the coldness gone so did the numbness. The pain, each sharper and fiercer than the one before came crashing home on her. Letting go of the crown, she wrapped her arms around her friends and leaning on a supportive shoulder, she didn't know who's and it did not matter, she let the tears fall.

The crown fell down on the floor, the thick carpet muffling the metallic sound nearly completely as it connected. A heart wrenching sob tore through Lita's mouth and then another. Her friends hugged her more tightly, each sharing her pain and her loss. No words were said between them and none were needed either. Because no words can be said that could change reality. All they could do was to hold on to her and become her strength, their love and friendship being the pillars for her to hold on to in the chaos of pain that was filling her, threatening to suck her into its empty vortex.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

An hour later, Lita walked down the same hallways as she had earlier that day towards the circular room. This time however she went alone. Dressed in her state clothes of forest green tunic with golden emblem across her shoulder and dark voluminous trousers, Lita held her head high and regal. Black boots reaching to her knees with slight heels announced every step she made against the marble floors and the emerald cape with the golden leafs sewn along the edges flowed down her back. The emerald on top of the Leaf crown glinted in the torchlight. It was the only thing that Lita carried.

Just as promised, the white feline Artemis was waiting for her when she arrived. He gave her one worried look but didn't say anything. Instead he joined her by the crystal and rubbed himself against her boots in a gesture that was supposed to offer comfort. Lita leaned down and scratched his ears absently but she did not speak either.

Her friends support and help had managed to restore some sense of equilibrium to her but she did not trust herself quite yet. The wound was still too raw. She might be finished with the crying but the pain will take far longer to fade and now more than ever she needed to be strong. Not just for her mother's sake but for her kingdom as well. So taking a deep breath, Lita reached out with her hand and touched the crystal. Since Artemis already set the coordination all she had to do was to utter the magical phrase that would trigger the teleportation. Immediately a bright silvery light flashed and surrounded them.

As the last part of the bright light dimmed, Lita used the opportunity to blink away the last moisture of tears from her eyes. By the time the room adjusted to normal light, her emerald green eyes were dry and her face was collected as she faced the group of people greeting her at the Transportation room.

There were two guards wearing the clothes with the golden Ancient Oak emblem on their clothes that announced their position as part of the Royal Guards, the elite guards of the royal family. Lita didn't recognize their faces and she knew that these were most likely replaced recently. Another wave of pain touched Lita's heart as she realized that a lot of those familiar faces that had watched over her while she grew up won't be around. The Royal Guards only consisted of a dozen of men and women, the absolutely best of the soldiers of Jupiter that held their position for life which usually just meant that as they were killed on their job protecting the royal family members. But that was neither here or now. With a great effort Lita forced herself to push the thought of those loyal soldiers aside and concentrate on the five men facing her.

The man at the center moved forward first and made an elegant bow. ''Welcome home, your highness.'' He greeted Lita.

As one the other four men bowed and murmured their greetings to her. Lita nodded her head to them but it was to the man in the middle that she focused her attention on. Partly because he was the only one that she recognized, all the others were only vaguely familiar to her as her father's dozen of advisors, and partly because the man was aside from her father's right hand also a close family friend.

"Please uncle Joran, there's no need for formalities." Lita pleaded. "How is my mother?"

Joran Riverdale was just like most of the population of Jupiter a tall man well above six feet. He had a typical patriarch face but unlike Lita's father who had the great warrior size, Joran was of the slender lean type that looked more comfortable sitting behind a desk than wearing sword and leading army. Then again he had always been more of a diplomat than a warrior.

Joran's usual somber face turned even graver as he replied with regret. ''There has been no change. We've had the best physician to take a look at her and even her Majesty Queen Lysanna of Mercury came by, but they all say the same thing. It's only a matter of time.''

Hearing those words, Lita felt another foundation fall from beneath her feet. Part of her had feared for this very news but she had held on to the hope that when she finally returned Joran would be able to tell her otherwise but now even Amy's mother, probably the best physician in the solar system with the probable exception of Helios, expected the worst.

"Take me to her."

The crown will have to wait. Her people will have to wait. For just a little while longer she will remain just Lita of Jupiter, daughter of Gregor and Magda. Just for a little while longer.

Joran as if understanding her wish, excused himself and the group of advisors while the Royal Guards escorted Lita to the Royal Chambers. Two other Royal Guards were posted both inside and outside of the bedroom. They were not happy when Lita asked to be left alone but thankfully the one in charge was one of the Guards that had been around Lita's life and understood the urge for privacy that she wanted, so she got her wish through.

The woman lying on the king size bed was not someone that Lita would have recognized at first sight. Though her mind and heart told her it was her mother lying there, her eyes told her a completely different story.

Magda of Jupiter had always been a sturdy woman, more handsome than beautiful with a slightly round face, shining with health and warmth. Tall like most Jupiter women, Magda had a body that was more curvaceous than slim but the woman lying on the bed was neither of that. Her face was sunken and pallid, with none of the luster of health she always wore. Her whole body, outlined by the heavy covers, looked shrunken and tiny. The arms were nothing more than twin sticks and as Lita knelt down beside to bed to take one hand, she very much feared that it would break under her grasp.

"Mom, it's me Lita." She whispered softly as she lifted her mother's hand to rest against her cheek. "I'm home now. Please open your eyes."

For a moment there Lita held her breath and waited with anticipation. Moments came and past and the woman on the bed slept on. Her breathing shallow but even, the only indication of life that was visible.

"Come on mom, it's time to wake up. You've slept long enough." Lita coaxed. "Didn't you always tell me wake up early and grasp the day while it was young? The sun has risen a long time ago. Look."

Lita's green eyes looked out through the glass-covered balcony door and the spectacular view outside of the lake and the lush greenery, that was bathing in the brilliant sunlight. It was a view clearly taken out of a story book, as her mother often said. It was Magda's favorite spot in the entire castle and just by the lake was also where king Gregor had proposed to her.

At the thought of her father, Lita felt a lump form in her throat and unconsciously her hand tightened its hold over her mother's. There were not going to be any fishing trips to that very same lake with the auburn haired ruler anymore. Nor will there be any hunting trips to the great forests just beyond the lake. But worst of all she will never get the chance to make up with him.

Aside from grief at loosing her father, Lita felt also shame when she thought about him. Shame because they had not parted on good terms the last time they saw each other. She had been too angry because he had broken up her relationship with Freddy by buying him off with money and a position he just couldn't say no to. She had felt both angry and betrayed by her father because it wasn't just what he did as the way he did it. He had acted like he was okay with the whole relationship up to the point of encouraging Lita to invite Freddy home to dinner only to spring the trap on her later. Her heart as well as her pride had taken a too big of a hit to be appeased easily. Lita had not spoken to him for months after that and even afterwards things had been strained with Magda acting as the mediator between father and daughter. And now it was too late.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect either of you." Lita whispered to her mother. Then her eyes turned as hard and cold as emeralds as she continued. "I swear to you I'll find those responsible for this and make them pay. No matter how long it takes and how far I have to go to dig them out I'll find the culprits and bring them to justice. You would like to see that won't you? Right?"

There was no response. Queen Magda slept on. Whether or not she had heard her daughter's words, only the Gods knew as she gave no sign or response. Lita didn't give up however, everyday when she was not busy searching for clues to her father's murders and handling her dozen of her father's former advisors (now hers) Lita made sure that she went by her mother's chamber at least three times and stayed an hour there. She talked to her even as she exercised her mother's arms and legs by moving them up and down and massaging them, just as the physician had taught her to do to keep the blood circulation going. Yet however time Lita pleaded her mother to wake up, she kept on sleeping.

"Mom, you have to wake up. You can't keep on sleeping forever. The kingdom needs you. I need you. I can't do this on my own." Lita begged from her kneeling position by the bed one afternoon.

The palace was quiet. It was nearing dusk and through the massive windows decorating two sides wall the fading sunlight streamed through casting orange and dark shadows everywhere. Lita had just finished another tiring meeting with the dozen of advisors and she was feeling a headache building in her head. The burden of rulership mantle rested heavily on her shoulders and she was starting to feel really weary. And yet she knew that once she was finished here she needed to go back out there again to face the world, to face her duties. The only one she was able to talk to about her problem, her worries and her fears was her mother.

"The advisors won't listen to me unless Joran backs me up and the guards all think I'm a child that needs to be guarded from her shadow. Most of my time is being wasted into convincing one or the other to do as I say and not what they think in right for me, when I should be out there looking for dad's killers. I know that they would listen to you. But you have to wake up and help me out. Please, mom. Please wake up! I can't go on like this!"

Against herself, Lita burst into tears and burying her face in her mother's dark hair, she wept like the girl/woman she was. Confused, alone and scared she wanted her mother to wake up and fix things for her and make the hurt go away. Because she just couldn't go on like this. The situation was just unbearable and she just didn't know what to do.

Five days later, the situation changed for Lita. Queen Magda of Jupiter finally stopped breathing, with her body dead, her spirit was finally set free to pass on to the other realm to join her husband.