Chapter 7:Help From Beyond the Grave
It was another beautiful morning back in Eblan. Yet, since the chamberlain's departure Edge had not once left his chambers. Like every other gorgeous day that week, Edge lay on his back, staring at the ceiling, an empty bottle or two haphazardly tossed on the floor. Too many worries bogged him down, forcing a depression upon him so powerful that he hadn't even the strength to lift himself out of bed anymore. His thoughts were always the same; overwhelming grief at the loss of his parents, feelings of insecurity as Eblan's newly appointed king, and most prevalent, lovesick worry about his unresolved issues with Rydia. She seemed to be the only good thing he had going in his life, and he was 99.99999999… sure he had blown his chances at a happy relationship with her.
Today he was thinking about what Edward said at the party. As usual, Edward was right. Edge couldn't let her go—it would mean misery for the rest of his life. But he had treated her abominably. He was certain she would never speak to him again.
Unable to resist it anymore, Edge allowed his pent up hurt and rage to spill. He cried. Edge cried for the first time in his adult life. Pitiful, powerless, and grief-stricken, he could not control the flow of tears. At one point, he thought he would die from lack of air, but alas no. He gradually calmed, and the all familiar pain settled itself somewhere in his abdomen once more.
Oh Father, Mother, I really wish you were here!
Thoughts of his parents brought more tears. Life sucked. He'd lost his mom, his dad, and now he was pretty sure he had last the woman he loved too.
The second tearful session was shorter-lived than the first. As he calmed he picked up a strange vibe in his room. He wasn't alone. Mortified, he kept his head buried in his pillow until the last of his tears dried and he could breathe normally. Finally, he turned over, expecting to berate a serving girl for disrupting his solitude. Instead he noticed two creatures in his path of vision. Recognition dawned bringing about an immediate change in his demeanor.
"Mom! Dad!" he shouted. Not even thinking twice about how they got there, he ran and grabbed the grotesque monsters he recognized as his parents. "You're here…" His relieved expression immediately became one of concern, "But how?"
Queen Eblan looked sadly at her only son. She reached a mottled tentacle toward Edge's face and wiped away at a dry tear trail. "We sensed your loneliness, son. But it wasn't until Asura contacted us that we could understand."
Edge perked up at the mention of the queen's name. "Queen Asura? The monster from the underground?"
"Yes, son." spoke King Eblan. "She told us of your touchy relationship with Rydia, the way you treated her at the wedding, and of your behavior now. It seems that she and the chamberlain have been communicating over the last few months. Both are concerned about your depression as well as Rydia's."
"Rydia? She's upset?" Edge backed toward his bed once more. "Oh…it's all my fault…" Sitting down, he moaned, "Mom, Dad, I never wanted to cause her pain. I just…" Edge stopped. He knew there was no justification for the way he had been acting toward Rydia.
"Honey," began his mom, "Rydia loves you. She's hurt and confused, but unlike you she isn't moping about the changes in her life. Without you and without her mother, she is moving on."
"Moving on? You mean I have lost her…?"
His father confirmed with a brief nod, "She just received a letter from a secret admirer and she will be meeting him in Kaipo's inn tomorrow afternoon."
All grief miraculously forgotten, Edge's fists clenched in anger. "Who is this admirer? If I find out, I will run him through with my Masamune!"
Seeing his spirit revive, his parents found new hope for their lovelorn son. "Edge, you may be able to stop the meeting."
"Yes. Yes I have to." He moved determinedly toward his closet in search of his traveling cloak. But in reaching for the closet door handle, he abruptly stopped his movement. "If I go, can you wait for me to return?"
Queen Eblan looked to the floor, and the king shook his head sadly. "We cannot stay here in this form, my son. We belong at rest." Edge moved away from the closet, back toward his parents.
Sad eyes opened wide, Edge pleaded with his parents like a young child begging for a toy. "Oh, please don't leave me again." Tears threatened Edge once more. "I…I am not ready for all this. I have to be a husband, maybe a father one day…and I have to be a king. The king…I don't think I can do it without you, Father!" Embarrassed at his childish outburst, Edge lowered his chin and stared at the floor.
Reaching for his son's shoulder, King Eblan spoke with compassion, "Son, you have been a king at heart since the day you were born." The deceased king looked fondly upon his son as he said, "Royal rule is a duty you have known you would assume all along, and you have been aptly prepared. I have all the faith in the world that you can handle the throne."
"But…I…I miss you both so much."
"It is likely that you always will, but the pain will lessen," Queen Eblan assured him. "If it helps, we may not be here, but we are always with you. You carry our blood, you are part of us, and we are part of you." She stopped, wiping a tear from her own eye. Continuing, she said, "Yes, you are never without us, but memory of us is not enough for you, Edge. You need real love, you need real companionship."
Edge walked to his mother, and she welcomed him into an embrace. King Eblan joined into the group hug. "I know I do." He was quiet for a moment before asking, "Mom, Dad, do you really think I stand a chance with Rydia?"
"Son," spoke the once human king, "If there was no hope, than I strongly doubt that Queen Asura would have gone to the trouble of finding us. We may be monsters, but we are past living. We do not dwell with those in the Land of Summoned Monsters. She braved great distance and great danger when she brought us here."
"Besides, dear one," spoke the queen, "Your feelings for Rydia are true. Once she knows how you feel, it is not likely that she will turn from you." Pulling her son into an embrace once more, she continued, "Go to Rydia Edge. Bring your bride home, and you will never again know loneliness or despair. With her you will find happiness and the security to be a strong leader." Queen Eblan released her son, glanced lovingly at her husband, and returned her eyes to Edge. "Go."
Momentarily Edge contemplated the words of his parents. Hmm…a lifetime pining after my lost parents and love, or a lifetime missing my parents but sharing life with someone I care for deeply. It seems so obvious what I need to do…why wasn't this clear to me weeks ago?
Edge looked upon his parents one last time, determination evident in his expression. "I love you both," he whispered, "Thank you." Then he turned, stepped resolutely into his closet, donned his trusty orange cloak, and left his chambers without once looking back.
