I own nothing.
Chapter 24
"Well done…the king will be pleased," sneered the Magpie as she looked over Meggie's potion ignoring the smile that crossed the girl's face. The Magpie had expected her to have trouble learning how to make her potion, but it was as Capricorn said.
"Meggie is very smart…she'll learn quickly," said Capricorn both women remembering when he said that though one with pride while the other with contempt as they stood in front of their three-year supply of that very same potion. The Magpie didn't pretend to act happy about it as she left the room, but that made Meggie only happier.
"Now he's that much closer to leaving me," whispered Meggie after she had left the room her eyes running over her work still though now she was far less happy about it.
The potion, the enchanted notebooks next to them, they all represented her impending separation from the man she loved. He was here now, but soon he wouldn't be. Soon he would be back between the pages of Inkheart and she would be here waiting. Waiting for him to either return to her or for the news to come that he never would. Their time together, possibly their very life together could be ticking away, and it made her want to smash it all to pieces. But she couldn't. It would keep him from doing what he thought he needed to and if she did that Meggie feared he would grow to hate her for it. And she couldn't do that either. It was something she knew he needed to do, but it wouldn't make her heart miss him less.
"It won't be the same here without him," thought Meggie holding back tears in that moment for she had promised herself she wouldn't cry anymore though she had already broken that promise more than once since this whole thing started.
"You better work," whispered Meggie in that moment looking down at the potion part of her afraid they would find it didn't work when they needed it to and Meggie knew she would be heartbroken if that happened because she would miss him so much. Meggie knew she would miss him anyway.
In fact, she was sure it would. Meggie had more to worry about though, for as much as she wanted to be with him while he was away another thing scared her more. It was something that unlike this she couldn't control. Meggie was so afraid something would happen to him and despite all of this she was afraid no one would tell her or get word to her if it did. Like while he was gone, would Capricorn be honest with her about everything? If he got hurt, seriously hurt, if something happened would he tell her? Meggie wasn't so sure he would, she thought maybe he would omit the truth to protect her, and the thought bothered her. She needed to know everything no matter how much it might upset her.
"My queen, the king wishes to see you," said Basta in that moment appearing in the doorway.
Meggie felt like a switch was flipped in that moment as his voice filled the room. Her eyes landed on the notebooks and suddenly she had an idea. An idea that could be the only way she could make sure Capricorn was alright while he was away. Basta was her answer. He was going with Capricorn to the Inkworld, he could tell her if something happened to him, but if she asked him to do that, would he? Meggie knew how loyal he was to her husband, so she wasn't sure if he would agree to something like that. She knew that she had to ask despite what his answer may be.
"I'll be right there…Basta, could I speak to you please. It is very important," said Meggie finally turning to face him. Basta looked at her then not noticing the notebook she held in her hand. It was one of the enchanted notebooks.
"Close the door…I want to keep this between us for now," whispered Meggie giving him a smile as he did so. In that moment, Meggie felt like she could trust Basta, at least more than she could trust any of the other guards. He was more then she had thought he was when she first met him.
"Is everything alright, my queen?" said Basta his concern clear.
It made Meggie smile, when they first encountered each other, he had scared her, but as time passed that had all changed. Now this man was not someone who frightened her. He was like a brother to her, she had never had a doubt since beginning her relationship with Capricorn that Basta would protect her, and he had proven as much over time. He was very much her friend now. That was why he was the only one she could ask this of. And Meggie knew she needed him to do this. She needed to be assured that she wasn't sending the man she loved off only to have him never return. She needed to have that peace of mind and she hoped he would understand that.
"Everything's alright, Basta…I just needed to speak with you privately to ask something of you. Something very important," said Meggie choosing her words carefully. Part of her wasn't sure how to ask this of him. How to make him understand her feelings, but in the end, she knew that maybe she just needed to tell her truth. Maybe that was the only way to do it. So, taking a seat by his side she leveled him with her gaze one hand covering his.
"What is it you need, my queen. You know I live only to serve you and the king," whispered Basta making her smile. Meggie had expected him to say that and when he did it made her glad. As always, she could depend on him.
"I know, that is why I need you to make me a promise. You are going with him back to your world and it would help my heart greatly if you would keep him safe for me. I know he is more than capable of taking care of himself, but he is human. Capricorn is a man and something could happen…knowing you will be there will help me breath," said Meggie looking deep into the man's eyes to convey her fear to him.
"My queen the king will be fine…he is a warrior," whispered Basta taking her hand firmly in his as she started to cry breaking her promise once again.
"He is king to you, but he is also my husband. The idea of losing him is very real to me all the same," exclaimed Meggie breaking down before his eyes.
"I will, my lady, the king will not be harmed. You have nothing to worry about, I will sacrifice myself for him if I have to," whispered Basta taking both her hands.
"I've always known that, Basta, thank you, but there is more," whispered Meggie.
"None of the other guards know of our scheme to stay together…only you…I want you to take one of the notebooks like Capricorn and I will have and when…if the time comes I need you to use it. If the king should be hurt, please, use it to tell me, so I know at least," exclaimed Meggie her tears falling even at the thought. In that moment Meggie released his hands and peering into his eyes she thrust the notebook into his hands. She watched then as he stared down at it and suddenly she wondered if he would take it or hand it right back. She would let him make that choice no matter what it may be.
For a moment Basta stared down at it as if not understanding until finally their eyes met.
"My queen…you are asking me to spy on the king?" exclaimed Basta his eyes going from her to the notebook and back again. He knew why she was asking this, but somehow that didn't make him feel right about it. It was spying all the same and to him that was practically committing treason against his king.
"I'm asking you to protect my husband even from himself…and I know this may seem like I'm asking you to spy on him, but I'm not. I just need you to take this and hopefully you'll never have to use it, but if he is hurt in any way all I ask is you do what he won't. I ask that you at least let me know," exclaimed Meggie letting the tears spill down her cheeks. A silence fell as Basta considered what she was saying. She was not doing this for any bad reasons, but out of love. He knew that as he looked at her, as he watched her tears descend down her cheeks, and that more than anything made up his mind for him. He knew she was right, Capricorn wouldn't tell her if he was to be hurt, but he still didn't know if it was right for him to tell her.
"I don't ask much of you, Basta, I never have. Only this, please," whispered Meggie one of her hands gripping his. Basta stared down at her crying form then the whole idea of keeping such a secret from the king still bothering him. He had never done such a thing before and if the king should find out. What would he say? What would he do? Would it even matter that he was doing it for his queen? Basta had no answers even as he gave her his. "I will do as you ask, my queen, but I must ask something of you as well. When the time comes that the king must know about this, you must tell him of this. I fear he would not understand otherwise," said Basta hoping she understood. Capricorn was not always the easiest man to deal with. When he found out about this Basta feared he would not stop to listen to the reasons for doing this if she were not the one to explain it. Meggie smiled at that moment nodding to him as her answer. After a moment, they rose to their feet nothing more to be said. Meggie wanted to say thank you, but part of her felt like it was something that was implied that he didn't need to hear. So, drying her tears she simply let him leave with that notebook safe in his hands already feeling peace of mind knowing he would be by Capricorn's side the entire time he was gone.
"Don't forget the king is expecting you," said Basta turning to face her in that moment giving her a bow.
Meggie watched him leave her heart beating a little slower and with a little less worry. She was about to follow him, but she held back. The time was still ticking by, she had known that wouldn't change, and soon she would be in this castle all alone. A queen separated from her king. The sadness of that would never leave her not until they were reunited again. Part of her wasn't sure she was doing the right thing, but then she had a thought. What she was doing, what she was having Basta do was out of love, and deep down she could feel that it made it right. That thought pushed her forward and leaving the room Meggie went in search of her husband. She found him in his favorite place other than their bedroom, the throne room. He already looked the image of a warrior as a materialist got him all dressed out in his armor. For a moment as she watched him, Meggie was proud because that warrior was her husband. It made her smile even as thoughts filled her head. He was being fitted for armor, the armor he would leave her in, the armor he would fight in, and maybe even die in.
"You make quite the picture, my king," said Meggie drawing his eyes to her as she stood in the corner making him give her a smile she returned.
"What do you think, my queen? Do I still fit the picture of a warrior?" said Capricorn smiling. Meggie crossed her arms over her chest then as she moved closer to the diesis where he stood.
"Yes, my king, I believe you do," whispered Meggie stepping up to stand in front of him.
"But not just a warrior…you are the image of a king now," whispered Meggie taking his face in her hands to caress his cheeks.
"You look very handsome too. Though I might be a bit biased," whispered Meggie leaning up on her toes. Capricorn closed the distance between them accepting her kiss. He couldn't move, he had to remain absolutely still as the materialist did his work, and in that moment, it was the hardest thing he ever did. Capricorn had never simply kissed her before, not in a long time, since long before they were married.
"I love you," breathed Meggie.
"I love you," breathed Capricorn.
