Chapter 19: Home at Last!

"Rini...where are you?" murmured Neo-Queen Serenity in her restless sleep. She was resting in a chair in Rini's room, as she had done for three nights, since Rini had vanished. Although the King had sent his finest men out to search for Rini, the poor Queen would try to stay up all night in her room, hoping that her daughter might come back, somehow. The Queen tossed her head from side to side as she began to dream again. Dream about her beloved daughter and of seeing her once more. "Rini," she began to call out. "Rini! You came back, you came back!" She was yelling so loudly now that King Endymion had come running into the room. He found his poor wife in the same chair, dreaming of their daughter. It broke his heart so much to see her this way.

"At this rate, she will surely die of grief," the King thought to himself sadly, tears beginning to form in his eyes. He went over to his wife and gently shook her to rouse her. "Love, wake up," he told her gently. "Darling, you must wake up."

Neo-Queen Serenity slowly opened her eyes and looked into the loving and sad face of her husband. "I was dreaming again, wasn't I," she said to him.

"Yes, you were," he responded. "Come, my queen, you must leave this room and come to bed."

"No!" she yelled unexpectedly at him. "Rini may come back and if she does, I want to be here."

"Darling, you cannot keep doing this to yourself," he told her, concern in his voice. "You will make yourself sick."

The queen put her hands over her face and began to weep. The King gently approached her and then held her in his arms, comforting her. "I miss her too," he told her soothingly. "We will see her again, I promise you that. We will see our daughter once again."

No sooner had he said this than, without warning, a strange burst of light filled the room. The King and Queen both jumped back as they noticed that this light was gold and it was getting brighter by the minute. The light seemed to be getting stronger right in the center of the room and then suddenly, the light began to shape into two figures. The King and Queen could not tell who these two figures were until the light had finally vanished. As the King and Queen gazed upon the two figures, they were both shocked and speechless. There, right before them, stood Rini and Helios! They were standing together arm in arm, smiling. The Queen finally spoke up and asked, her voice quivering, "Rini, is that really you?"

Instead of answering, Rini rushed over to her mother and father and embraced them, crying tears of joy. "Mother...father...I missed you both so much!"

They both held her close, everyone crying and speaking all at once, not wanting to let go of each other. "Oh Rini!" cried out the Queen. "You have no idea how much we missed you, too! I had almost given up hope!"

As they all were embracing, the Queen noticed Helios standing there, watching them with a smile. "Oh my, we seem to have forgotten Helios!" the Queen exclaimed.

Helios stepped forwards and bowed properly before the King and Queen. "Your majesties," he began politely, "Your daughter saved my life. I had been captured, but thanks to her, I am back now."

The King and Queen stood there, stunned by his words. Their Rini had saved Helios! Rini had finally matured into a courageous, young woman!

"There is one more thing we need to tell you," Helios replied to them again. He smiled and at Rini and motioned for her to come stand by him. She was smiling back as well as she walked over to him and he put his arm around her waist. "As you know, your daughter and I love each other very much. We have always loved each other and I don't intend to ever leave her behind again. We wish to spend the rest of our lives together. We wish to marry and we humbly ask for your blessings."

The King and Queen gasped, but not with shock, but with pure happiness and surprise. The Queen immediately went up to the both of them and hugged them closely. "I always knew the two of you belonged together! You have my blessings, entirely!"

"And you, father?" Rini asked unsurely.

The King approached Helios and immediately gave him a big hug! Rini and the Queen laughed as Helios began to gasp for air as the King hugged him tightly. Finally, to Helios' relief, the King released him and said to him, "She is a very special girl, my daughter. No, she is a very special woman. You are a lucky man to be marrying her! She loves you very much, you do realize that don't you?"

"Of course I do!" Helios responded.

Now everyone was laughing and the whole room echoed with the sounds of pure joy and happiness. Their sounds soon caught the attention of the entire palace and soon all of the servants had come to the room, confusion clearly written on their faces. The King and Queen knew it would take a long time to explain everything that had just happened and laughed to each other once again.

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AN: One more to go. How do you like it so far? Review and tell me.

Dream Sovereign