Chapter 24: An Icy Heart

I nodded my head, having expected this moment days before, dropped Matthew's hand gently, promising I would return as soon as possible, and swiftly followed the Princess Nzinga out of the open door and into the hallway once again. I had not left Matthew's side for the past week or so, and it felt awkward being anywhere other than his recovery room within the palace, "I'm happy that you were successful in finding him," she whispered, gently closing the door behind us.

I nodded once again, and then realizing that it didn't have to be my only response, whispered, "Thank you… Where will I be meeting the Queen?"

"In her chambers," she replied, still sounding genuinely kind and not her usual snotty self.

"Oh," I replied, my voice a timid whisper when compared to the loud booming voice of the Princess, "I never got the chance to thank you for guiding me to the Land of the Shaska-- for bringing me there in one piece."

"I think it was implied," she smiled, as the hallway ended, and we were in the Grand Ballroom once again.

I turned to her, not knowing the way, "Just follow me," she whispered in response to my wide eyes, and we entered the larger hallway, opened the seventh door on the right to reveal a long staircase, and we immediately began the ascent. I panted from lack of exercise as we continued-- well, not exactly that-- probably because of my condition… Eventually, the long plight of stairs ended, and we were in yet another hallway, "How many of these are there?" I asked, gesturing towards the hallway.

"On last count, seven hundred-- there might be more now. Mother can't seem to stop building for more than a decade or two."

"Oh… That's very-- urgh…"

"I know what you mean," we shared a long laugh, and then Nzinga pointed to one of the larger doors; its frame was decorated with gold and rubies-- I immediately realized that it had to be the Queen's bedroom, "Just knock two or three times, and she'll answer-- no doubt she's had a formal tea for the both of you."

She turned to leave, "Thanks again," I called, and she gave me a warm smile before disappearing halfway down the staircase again.

I stared at the door, and formed a fist.

After knocking four times in close succession, it opened to reveal REHtoMna on the other side, "Good afternoon," she whispered, ushering me inside, and gesturing towards a large chair on which I was expected to seat myself.

As I did so, she closed the door behind her, and joined me upon a similar seat that appeared out of nowhere beside me.

"Tea?" she whispered, gesturing towards a large tray laden with a steaming pot and many baked delicacies; I politely refused, and she herself took a small cup of tea and a few of the small cakes.

She sipped her tea, delicately; quite lady-like-- it all seemed like something out of a low-budget film dealing with the Renaissance. I felt like laughing at the spectacle, but refrained as it was REHtoMna; and I deeply loved the woman, "You have returned to my Kingdom," she whispered.

I nodded, as she paused tot take a sip of the hot tea, "You have returned here changed… As I knew you would. Before we discuss what happened to you in the Shaska world, I would like for you to tell me what you learned about yourself-- your destiny, when you found the second half of the prophecy."

I paused, having tried unsuccessfully for days to block the memories of my discovery out of my mind before I started to speak, "I learned that it is my daughter-- not I who must be burdened with overthrowing the shaska once and for all."

She lowered her eyes; her gaze became more intent, and she set down the white cup upon an equally white saucer, "So, she will be the final decider in all our futures?"

I nodded, "And I'm so frightened, REHtoMna. So very frightened. I fear that she will die-- that she will be unable to--"

She raised a single gloved hand to silence me, and I instantly opted to do so, "It is natural to be frightened, but these fears are not well-founded, Beatrice. If you raise her to be like you as she matures, she will never be in any mortal danger. Our people-- your people-- all the mortals in the universe depend on her to save them now."

I bit my lip in order to restrain the urge to begin screaming or crying again. I slowly nodded, and REHtoMna gingerly picked up her cup to sip again, "Now, tell me," she whispered, "after my daughter left you in Mrayzeppa-- The Land of the Shaska," she explained, after noticing my confused expression, "--what, exactly happened there?"

I opened my mouth, and in a few seconds, related the story to her with minor details; opting to leave out the parts when I had performed magic to kill Jacqueline, and when I had been reunited with my family and friends before their souls ascended to the afterlife. It was still strange and frightening to even think about-- let alone discussing it with the woman.

"I am not surprised that Jacqueline was resurrected-- I had my suspicions… I'm so sorry for deciding not to share them with you-- I didn't want to worry you, and neither did my sister."

"It's quite all right," I replied, "All that matters is that she's completely dead now, and won't be able to come back again-- will she?"

REHtoMna nodded, "But that does not mean that you and your daughter will not be exposed to equally powerful shaskas. After Jacqueline's death, a new leader will be appointed-- and he or she may be just as or more powerful than Jacqueline ever was."

The Queen and I shared a long silence that was at last broken by her as she spoke again, "Well, thank you for sharing with me all these truths, my child-- I know how difficult it was for you," she smiled.

"Wait," I whispered, "I have one more question-- about your daughter."

"What about her?" she asked.

"Well, she's a very nice person-- under the surface, of course-- it's just, why is it that she seems so cruel, and then there are small moments when she seems caring and kind towards others?"

REHtoMna sighed, and once again set down her tea, "Once-- a few decades before you were born-- she was married to a man-- a man of nobility from another world whom she loved deeply, but he was murdered, and she was left all alone on this world, so she transformed from a beautiful person to a hardened shell of what our kind represent. Her heart became icy, and her soul seemed to blacken, although she still remained deeply compassionate miles beneath the exterior."

I nodded.

"Beatrice, you must promise me-- whatever happens to you and your family in the future… Don't change. Don't succumb to a heart of ice. If you do, your daughter will become the same."

"I promise," I murmured.