Chapter 9: Torment Above
A/N: I would like to take this opportunity to thank a few people. Firstly, to Mythers. I love ya babe & don't worry. You'll get your movie back soon, I promise. You know where I live & you know that it's in good hands. Also, to Lady Oloriel and SilverclawRose. I thank you both for your encouragement. It means more to me than I can say, really. And last but not least, thanks to everyone who has reviewed. Please keep the review coming. Hope you enjoy this next chapter of Half-Life. – IrethAnwarunya
Once the feasting was over, his Majesty and his bride-to-be rose from the ornate dining table and bid their guests goodnight. "Serana will show you to your room now Lady Amalthea. She also pointed out to me that you carried no luggage with you in your packs and therefore have no clothing. So she took the liberty of finding you something to wear until you can have some suitable dresses made in the morning," Ariana said and she felt envy course through her body as Amalthea bowed in the most graceful way she had ever seen.
"Thank you milady. You are too kind." With an incline of her head by way of bowing, Ariana retreated into an open doorway.
"Are you coming to bed now Lir?" she asked from the threshold.
"I'll be along in a moment dear," he answered and with two long strides, he was standing before her, kissing her gently on the lips. "You go on to bed and I'll be there shortly."
The heavy mahogany door quietly closed behind the future queen and Lir approached Amalthea.
"I hope that you find your rooms suitable milady," he said coldly and stiffly bowed to her. "Molly, is it all right if I steal Schmendrick from you for a little while? There are things I need to discuss with my old friend about the impending wedding." Without waiting for a reply, Lir placed his hand on Schmendrick's shoulder and firmly led him to one of the conference rooms scattered throughout the castle.
Hot tears formed in Amalthea's eyes as she thought of Lir's coldness and cruelty.
"Surely he must be curious as to why I have returned, but he treats me as if I were no more than a common courtier that he may order around to do his bidding," she thought to herself and brushing away Molly's gentle comforting hand on her shoulder, she followed Serana to her suite.
"Wait here just a moment milady. I'll go in and light the lanterns for you," Serana said when they stopped outside a closed door. Serana entered and Amalthea saw the flickering of candlelight grow brighter once the lamps were fully illuminated. "I've placed a couple of gowns in the wardrobe for you and I've also laid out a chemise for you to sleep in and there's a dressing robe for you as well," the petite girl told her. "Sleep well my lady," and with a bow, Serana excused herself and withdrew to her own quarters.
Amalthea stepped onto the thick cream carpets and quietly made her way into the suite. She stared in awe at the ornate décor around her but managed to change into the silken white chemise that she found laying on the large bed before her. Amalthea slipped beneath the velvety linens and suddenly she gasped when she saw the beautiful mural painted on the high ceiling overhead. She saw the most exquisite depictions of unicorns she had ever seen.
Amalthea was amazed at how accurate they were. They did not look like a simple white mare at all. Their magnificence, their grace, and their elegance stunned her. Her breath caught in her throat as memories of her eons as a unicorn came rushing into her mind. Guilt of her unprotected friends in her dying forest washed over her as tears came into her eyes. When she had recovered from her momentary shock, Amalthea could no longer stare at the torment above, these horrid beasts before her, these horrible creatures she had once been apart of.
Quickly, she threw on the silken blue robe that lay across the arm of the plump upholstered chair at her bedside and padded silently on bare feet down the cold stone corridors of Lir's castle and onto the rough sandy beach below.