Epilogue
She sat in the throne and concentrated on keeping the balance on the world below. But, she could not help but drift into a haze of melancholy. It had been eight years since she became queen. Eight years since she had been truly happy. She felt like she would never be happy again.
She twisted the ring on the third finger on her left hand. She had already given her heart to someone, but her advisors were pressuring her to take a consort from among the retainers. She knew what her duty was, but she knew that she could never do this one thing. Her line would end with her.
Mandara watched her queen from behind a curtain that was across the room. After watching her queen for eight years, she had come to the conclusion that what she had decided to do then had been the wrong decision. She thought that her queen would need to sever all ties with the world below, but after watching her suffer from severe melancholy, Mandara wondered if she had done the right thing. She would rectify her mistake. She turned on her heel and, quietly, left the throne room.
A few hours later, she returned.
"Your majesty," she began, approaching the queen. "After observing your behavior these past eight years, I have come to the conclusion that I made a grave mistake in sending your friends and family away. Perhaps for some, a life of seclusion is acceptable, but you obviously need more human contact than we have provided. It is probably time that I informed you that, as your loyal subject, you only have to command me to do your wishes. This includes making new laws, directing the business of the palace, and sending me to bring others here." Mandara bowed her head and waited for the explosion she knew was coming.
"Why did you not come forth with this information sooner, Mandara?" the queen replied coolly.
"I should have, but I wanted you to be secure on your throne beforehand. Also, I wanted to make sure you had the magical forces under control before I drew your attention elsewhere. Please forgive me."
"In that case, I believe I need you to retrieve some people from the world below for me..." she said, rising from the throne and making her way to the door, past the kneeling Mandara, "you know whom I mean. I will be in my room until you return. Bring them to the throne room."
The queen walked distractedly to her room. Once there, she sat down on her bed, by the bedside table. She opened the drawer and pulled out a small, black box. The ring that was once in it was now on her finger. But the thought bubble that had been with it was still attached to the box. For what must have been the millionth time, she touched the bubble and listened to the message. She didn't bother to wipe away the tears falling down her face. She never even dreamed that she would see any of her old friends and family ever again. Now that she had the chance, she wasn't sure what to do with it. Would they even want to see her? What would she say? What had they been doing these past eight years?
- - - - -
He turned the key in the lock and walked into his apartment. He threw is bag on the ground and dropped his books next to it. "Guys, I'm back," he shouted, in case any of his three roommates was in, which they probably were since he had been working late in the library. Three of them had known each other since they were little. The other, they met in England.
Currently, he was finishing up law school. After the event eight years earlier, he didn't have much to live for. He went to college, majoring in political science. Then, since he still didn't know what he wanted to do with his life, he decided to go to law school. His two friends had majored in areas of engineering: one in electrical and the other in computers. They were currently getting their masters in their respective areas of study. The last, with glasses and a lighting bolt scar, had a job on and English sports team. He only lived here when he wasn't in training or traveling, which was infrequently. Their names were Jason, James, Jake, and Harry.
In the apartment next to theirs lived four girls. Two, he had known as long as his own roommates. They were twins. One was finishing her masters in chemistry, and the other was just finishing med-school. Their roommates he had met while in England on an exchange trip his sophomore year in high school. The one their age, with bushy brown hair that had been styled straight, was getting her masters in education. The one who was a year younger and had a deep red hair was in business school. She planned on helping her brothers out; they owned and operated a chain of internationally popular stores. Their names were Tori, Keri, Hermione, and Ginny.
Next door to the girls lived a group of guys who they also met in England. Three were the brothers of the girl with red hair, all with hair the same as hers. The twins owned their own chain of stores and were looking forward to having her help. The third was a journalist. He had a job writing for the local newspaper. Their last roommate had pale, blond hair and was finishing business school, as well. He was the twins' business partner as he used much of his trust fund to help them start their multiple stores. Their names were George, Fred, Ron, and Draco.
Harry and Ginny had been going out since he was fifteen. There were rumors that he was going to propose after she finished school. She was already wearing a promise ring that he gave her when he went off to play. George and Tori had been going out just as long. They were actually engaged; they had been for years, but they were waiting until she finished school. Draco and Keri had only been going out for a little over seven years. During the event, he had realized his feelings for her and they started going out. Ron and Hermione had been fighting like an old, married couple since they were eleven, but there wasn't even talk of them getting married. Of course, they could just be keeping it quiet. Fred, Jake, and James were the resident Don Juan's of the group. None of them had stayed with one girl for more than a month or so. And, Jason...well, during that same event he had lost the love of his life. He had vowed never to love again, and he hadn't been on a date in eight years.
Jason continued on to their sitting room where he was met by a strange sight. Thirteen people were waiting for him: his eleven good friends, the mother of his love, and a woman he would never forgive, who he had hoped never to see again. "What's up?" he asked as he made his way in.
The woman was the first to speak, "I know you will probably never forgive me, but I bring an invitation from my queen."
- - - - -
After a while, the queen got up. She wanted to look nice when they arrived, so she put on one of her nicer gowns. The red material with gold trim was floor length, and hugged her body tightly until the waist, where it flowed out. Finally, she placed a golden circlet on her hair, which was the deepest black and was currently flowing down her back.
She glided out of her room and headed for her throne room, where she sat on her throne room and began to meditate. Shortly, she felt presences in her realm that she had not felt in eight years. However, she waited with dignity until they entered the throne room.
The small groups stood and stared in shock at the woman who they had not seen in four years. The first to get over her shock took a small step forward and whispered, "Kayla?"
The queen nodded and replied, "It is I, mother." Hope ran towards her and engulfed her in a teary hug. Within moments, the entire group (except one) had converged upon her. A gigantic group hug ensued. Shouts filled the room. "We thought we'd never see you again!" and "You look good!" and "We missed you." After everyone had hugged her, they all stepped back and let the lone figure in the shadows to step forward.
Kayla held her hand out to the figure. When he grasped it, she said, "Follow me." Then, she led him out to the gardens where the two sat down on a bench. "This is a surprise, Jason. I expected you to move on, despite what you said all those years ago."
"Kayla...I would never be able to move on. You are the love of my life. That is why I left you the ring, which I notice you are now wearing. Mandara told me that you haven't been happy since you gained the throne. She thinks I would make you happy. That is why she brought me here. Without you in my life these past eight years, i realized how much you mean to me, how alive you make me feel. I don't want to take the chance that someone will ever take you away from me. Will you marry me?"
"Of course I will!" Kayla exclaimed without thinking for even a moment. Jason pulled her close and kissed her deeply. She pulled him up, "Let's go tell the others. I also have another proclamation to make."
Back in the throne room, Kayla stood on the dais with Jason at her side. "Everyone, I would like to extend a blank invitation to you for visiting at any time that you want. I especially hope that you come to my wedding to Jason." Chaos followed this announcement.
THE END
a/n: well, that's it. it is over. i hope you liked it. feel free to join my yahoo group at (replace spaces with backslashes) http: groups Aaye in order to vote on what fic i should write next.
She sat in the throne and concentrated on keeping the balance on the world below. But, she could not help but drift into a haze of melancholy. It had been eight years since she became queen. Eight years since she had been truly happy. She felt like she would never be happy again.
She twisted the ring on the third finger on her left hand. She had already given her heart to someone, but her advisors were pressuring her to take a consort from among the retainers. She knew what her duty was, but she knew that she could never do this one thing. Her line would end with her.
Mandara watched her queen from behind a curtain that was across the room. After watching her queen for eight years, she had come to the conclusion that what she had decided to do then had been the wrong decision. She thought that her queen would need to sever all ties with the world below, but after watching her suffer from severe melancholy, Mandara wondered if she had done the right thing. She would rectify her mistake. She turned on her heel and, quietly, left the throne room.
A few hours later, she returned.
"Your majesty," she began, approaching the queen. "After observing your behavior these past eight years, I have come to the conclusion that I made a grave mistake in sending your friends and family away. Perhaps for some, a life of seclusion is acceptable, but you obviously need more human contact than we have provided. It is probably time that I informed you that, as your loyal subject, you only have to command me to do your wishes. This includes making new laws, directing the business of the palace, and sending me to bring others here." Mandara bowed her head and waited for the explosion she knew was coming.
"Why did you not come forth with this information sooner, Mandara?" the queen replied coolly.
"I should have, but I wanted you to be secure on your throne beforehand. Also, I wanted to make sure you had the magical forces under control before I drew your attention elsewhere. Please forgive me."
"In that case, I believe I need you to retrieve some people from the world below for me..." she said, rising from the throne and making her way to the door, past the kneeling Mandara, "you know whom I mean. I will be in my room until you return. Bring them to the throne room."
The queen walked distractedly to her room. Once there, she sat down on her bed, by the bedside table. She opened the drawer and pulled out a small, black box. The ring that was once in it was now on her finger. But the thought bubble that had been with it was still attached to the box. For what must have been the millionth time, she touched the bubble and listened to the message. She didn't bother to wipe away the tears falling down her face. She never even dreamed that she would see any of her old friends and family ever again. Now that she had the chance, she wasn't sure what to do with it. Would they even want to see her? What would she say? What had they been doing these past eight years?
- - - - -
He turned the key in the lock and walked into his apartment. He threw is bag on the ground and dropped his books next to it. "Guys, I'm back," he shouted, in case any of his three roommates was in, which they probably were since he had been working late in the library. Three of them had known each other since they were little. The other, they met in England.
Currently, he was finishing up law school. After the event eight years earlier, he didn't have much to live for. He went to college, majoring in political science. Then, since he still didn't know what he wanted to do with his life, he decided to go to law school. His two friends had majored in areas of engineering: one in electrical and the other in computers. They were currently getting their masters in their respective areas of study. The last, with glasses and a lighting bolt scar, had a job on and English sports team. He only lived here when he wasn't in training or traveling, which was infrequently. Their names were Jason, James, Jake, and Harry.
In the apartment next to theirs lived four girls. Two, he had known as long as his own roommates. They were twins. One was finishing her masters in chemistry, and the other was just finishing med-school. Their roommates he had met while in England on an exchange trip his sophomore year in high school. The one their age, with bushy brown hair that had been styled straight, was getting her masters in education. The one who was a year younger and had a deep red hair was in business school. She planned on helping her brothers out; they owned and operated a chain of internationally popular stores. Their names were Tori, Keri, Hermione, and Ginny.
Next door to the girls lived a group of guys who they also met in England. Three were the brothers of the girl with red hair, all with hair the same as hers. The twins owned their own chain of stores and were looking forward to having her help. The third was a journalist. He had a job writing for the local newspaper. Their last roommate had pale, blond hair and was finishing business school, as well. He was the twins' business partner as he used much of his trust fund to help them start their multiple stores. Their names were George, Fred, Ron, and Draco.
Harry and Ginny had been going out since he was fifteen. There were rumors that he was going to propose after she finished school. She was already wearing a promise ring that he gave her when he went off to play. George and Tori had been going out just as long. They were actually engaged; they had been for years, but they were waiting until she finished school. Draco and Keri had only been going out for a little over seven years. During the event, he had realized his feelings for her and they started going out. Ron and Hermione had been fighting like an old, married couple since they were eleven, but there wasn't even talk of them getting married. Of course, they could just be keeping it quiet. Fred, Jake, and James were the resident Don Juan's of the group. None of them had stayed with one girl for more than a month or so. And, Jason...well, during that same event he had lost the love of his life. He had vowed never to love again, and he hadn't been on a date in eight years.
Jason continued on to their sitting room where he was met by a strange sight. Thirteen people were waiting for him: his eleven good friends, the mother of his love, and a woman he would never forgive, who he had hoped never to see again. "What's up?" he asked as he made his way in.
The woman was the first to speak, "I know you will probably never forgive me, but I bring an invitation from my queen."
- - - - -
After a while, the queen got up. She wanted to look nice when they arrived, so she put on one of her nicer gowns. The red material with gold trim was floor length, and hugged her body tightly until the waist, where it flowed out. Finally, she placed a golden circlet on her hair, which was the deepest black and was currently flowing down her back.
She glided out of her room and headed for her throne room, where she sat on her throne room and began to meditate. Shortly, she felt presences in her realm that she had not felt in eight years. However, she waited with dignity until they entered the throne room.
The small groups stood and stared in shock at the woman who they had not seen in four years. The first to get over her shock took a small step forward and whispered, "Kayla?"
The queen nodded and replied, "It is I, mother." Hope ran towards her and engulfed her in a teary hug. Within moments, the entire group (except one) had converged upon her. A gigantic group hug ensued. Shouts filled the room. "We thought we'd never see you again!" and "You look good!" and "We missed you." After everyone had hugged her, they all stepped back and let the lone figure in the shadows to step forward.
Kayla held her hand out to the figure. When he grasped it, she said, "Follow me." Then, she led him out to the gardens where the two sat down on a bench. "This is a surprise, Jason. I expected you to move on, despite what you said all those years ago."
"Kayla...I would never be able to move on. You are the love of my life. That is why I left you the ring, which I notice you are now wearing. Mandara told me that you haven't been happy since you gained the throne. She thinks I would make you happy. That is why she brought me here. Without you in my life these past eight years, i realized how much you mean to me, how alive you make me feel. I don't want to take the chance that someone will ever take you away from me. Will you marry me?"
"Of course I will!" Kayla exclaimed without thinking for even a moment. Jason pulled her close and kissed her deeply. She pulled him up, "Let's go tell the others. I also have another proclamation to make."
Back in the throne room, Kayla stood on the dais with Jason at her side. "Everyone, I would like to extend a blank invitation to you for visiting at any time that you want. I especially hope that you come to my wedding to Jason." Chaos followed this announcement.
THE END
a/n: well, that's it. it is over. i hope you liked it. feel free to join my yahoo group at (replace spaces with backslashes) http: groups Aaye in order to vote on what fic i should write next.