The Red Roses

Chapter 6: The truth of Rickett

*note: Hey everyone, it's Jayuchiha16 with an important announcement: Since last chapter was as far as the manga Berserk went, I'll be winging the rest of the storyline. So if it doesn't make sense or something, don't get mad. Thank you sauce.

P.S. I didn't get to say this in my first story or in this one but…I DON'T OWN BERSERK OR IT'S CHARACTERS! I ONLY OWN APPLE! Thank you.

/

The sun's rays shone on the lovely flowers in the Garden of Eden, my personal garden here in the palace. I have been tending to the flowers ever since the erection of the palace and I will admit it is nice to have something that solely belongs to me and me alone. I was tending to the Gardening while all the while I thought of that boy from yesterday, if Sir Locus did as I asked of him than the boy will be here any minute for tea and then I will get my answers. The nightmares will not quit and they all point in the direction of Griffith having to do with my lost memories, then this boy comes and proclaims that during the rescue everyone died when Griffith told me they all split up after his rescue. Someone is not telling me the truth and I don't like it, it don't like it at all.

Today I wore my hair down in wavy patterns with flowers sewn into them and two braids going down my shoulders. I wore an all-white silk gown that hugged all of my curves flowing down to the ground flowing behind me like a wedding veil with sleeves coming off my shoulders and flowing to my fingertips. I wore white suede pumps with a crystal butterfly on the toe and on my head laid a white gold and diamond crown planted securely on my head with the diamonds in the shape of butterflies.

As I flowered my azaleas I ended up getting drawn into thought by the appointment I had today with Rickett. 'For the last few months, the dreams of my memories and the ever growing curiosity of my forgotten days have plagued me greatly, now just like a gift from God, He sent me a break. The young ex-soldier Rickett from back in the days of old Midland. He knows what happened that day, and I will get to the bottom of this and if I find out Griffith was lying to me, lover or not, he will face consequences'.

As I finished, a servant girl came up from behind me and said "Your eminence, the boy has arrived in the parlor for tea"

I turn around smiling gently at her while handing her the watering can saying "Thank you Elizabeth, I will head over immediately, please finish water the flowers for me and then continue on with your regular chores if you can please"

As I walked down the hall to the tea parlor, I felt my heart thumping louder and louder as I drew closer and closer. I can't say that I was nervous, because I was on the inside. I was scared about the information I might have to process, maybe it'd be nothing, maybe it's something bad but either way, I needed to know the truth about that night, no matter how gruesome it may have been. As I approached double doors to the parlor, the two guards at the doors salute me while I odd to them in recognition. They open the door and at the table near the bay window balcony was Rickett. He looked nervous, the way he continuously fidgeted with the teacup handle, staring at it intently, probably wondering what it was I called him for.

When I cleared my throat, he jumped and looked at my direction before getting up and bowing while saying "Your Majesty"

I gave him a small bow and replied "Rickett, it is a pleasure to finally meet you"

I walked to the table where a maid pulled out my chair for me to sit. When I sat down I nodded to the maid my thanks before more maids came in a set down some tea and cake for us.

I picked up the tea pot to pour for Rickett as I spoke "This is a sweet honey lavender tea to promote relaxation. I don't want you to feel nervous around me Rickett. I am sure you have questions as to why I have called you here today."

He snapped out of his gaze and said with a bit of nervousness in his voice "Yes Your Majesty, I was quite surprised when you invited me here for tea, especially after yesterday…."

I poured Rickett, as well as myself, some tea as I spoke "Yes, yesterday was a debacle, but it is not what you did yesterday the reason I called you up here, but because of the things you said. You said that after the rescue of Griffith, something happened am I not correct"

Rickett looked surprised at me and said "well, yes Your Majesty but you should know, you were there, and it makes me question as to why you are still besides Griffith….especially after what he did to all of us….especially to you"

My eyes widened a bit at that statement 'So something did happen and Griffith must have known. I will dig deeper to get the truth than'.

I looked to the maids and waved my hand to dismiss them. I told the closest one to have the guards outside door and she nodded in understanding.

After they left I swiftly turned back to Rickett and spoke "Rickett, what I am about to tell you must never leave this room, no one is to know the information I am about to reveal to you."

I looked back at the door to make sure no one was listening before I leaned in closer to Rickett and whispered to only where he could hear "While it is true I was there, I have no memory of what happened after we safely delivered Griffith back to the band of the Hawks. I was put in a coma for five months the day of the rescue. My father said I was found in the Palace church and ever since then I have had no recollection of what happened that day. Griffith told me after he was delivered back the Band of the Hawks went their separate ways and went into hiding. He also told me he had been hiding in another country under the care of Miss Casca….."

"IT'S A LIE!" Rickett bellowed as he stood up knocking over his tea cup, anger crossed all over his face.

A guard came in and asked "Is everything alright in here your eminence? Shall I escort him out?"

I waved my hand at the guard and said "no, that will not be necessary, thank you, please return to your post"

He bowed his head and closed the door. I looked at Rickett and his face was so angered. I put my hand on his quivering knuckles on the table and said "Something happened, I want to know about what happened Rickett, refresh my memories"

He looked at me with shock and said "are…are you sure your Majesty, if I tell you, your whole outlook will change"

"It already has changed my dear, look out there, look at the world we live in right now. Two years ago all of this would have been nothing but a fairy tale that adults would tell their children to behave. But it's real, this is reality and I have had no choice but to accept what is in front of me and adapt. Then look at me, everything about me has changed, physically and mentally. At this point in my life nothing else can surprise me, I have already prepared myself to hear the worst of the worst of the worst about what happened that day. So tell me, what happened the day I lost my memory" I relayed calmly to Rickett with all seriousness laced in my voice.

Rickett's shock soon wore off as he nodded with understanding sinking back into his chair as he began "It started when we were all resting, we all decided we would follow Guts from now on since Griffith was….out of commission. Only an hour later the carriage Griffith was resting in was went out of control and ran away. Guts, Casca, everyone and you went after them, with the exception of me and a couple of others. You all were gone a very long time, it was nighttime and I had decided to get some water, and when I came back…everyone was dead, they were feasted upon by those monsters of hell"

This caused my eyes to widen 'my dream, my dream of those monsters, they weren't dreams at all were they? I must have been unconsciously recalling what was happening in my dreams…'

My thoughts were interrupted as Rickett continued "Only I survived and so I took refuge with an old blacksmith and his granddaughter, who I still protect to this day since her grandfather's passing. It was only a couple of months ago I had finally heard what happened to everyone from Guts. He told me the day Griffith's carriage ran away and everyone went after them, the sky eclipsed and in the eclipse were monsters worse than any imagination could dream. Then the monster's ring leaders, four demons calling themselves the God's Hand appeared and offered Griffith a new beginning as an supernatural king, with you as his queen…."

My eyes widened even more as flashes of memories started spraying through my head, I started to feel a bit lightheaded as Rickett explained. I touched my head lightly as a felt a small pang on the left side.

Rickett noticed my slight discomfort and asked "are you alright your majesty, if you want we can stop here….."

"No, I did not come so far to stop now, I want you to continue from beginning to end what you recall on that day" I said lightly, staring at him with deadly determination.

I came too far to be stopped by a small headache, especially since this may be my only chance to learn about my lost memories.

Rickett looked uncertain until I put my hand on his from across the table and said "Please Rickett, ease my curiosity, I need to know what happened"

He gulped a bit and then continued on "well your majesty, as Guts recalled to me, the ground then rose and took Griffith, Guts and you high to the four demon's but Guts ended up falling off half way. I have no idea what happened up there, but suddenly these curse symbols that were placed on our comrades, and well…..it didn't take a genius to figure out what happened next."

The small headache started to grow as visions flashes in front of my face, it was as if while Rickett told the story the memories of what happened was becoming clearer and clearer as he went on.

"My friends…my comrades…everyone I cared for was eaten, save for Guts and Casca who survived…if you can call it that" Rickett said with his head down, face consorted as if he was about to go into shock himself.

My head felt as if it was about to be split into two halves, I knew I was close to finding out everything. But the pain was starting to affect me as my vision started to blur and my eyes were glassy with tears threatening to escape me.

I trembled in pain, hunched over the arm of my chair, which caused Rickett to panic "your majesty this may be too much! I will stop…"

"NO DON'T YOU DARE, FINISH IT, WHAT HAPPENED!?" I shouted, ignoring the pain in my head rolling over my body making me feel numb.

He looked at me in shock and uncertainty, but continued on anyway. "Griffith transformed that day. According to Guts into a terrifying death creature. His eyes were red, his skin was leathery, and as far as we know he was a demon, an evil devil."

He looked at me to go on more and I nod, he sighed deeply and continued on "Guts said the first thing he did when he transformed was…He rapes Miss Casca and Guts tried to save her but He was in the jaws of a monster and his arm was sacrificed to get out. You were present but unconscious and when Griffith left he took you with him, and Guts and Casca was rescued by the skull knight."

I couldn't take it anymore, that last bit of information really did me in. The flashes of memories was too much for me to take, everything Rickett just told me was the truth, and the truth was flashing in front of my eyes and consuming my body with pain. I screamed in agony, quickly alerting the guards, but as they came in I collapsed out of my chair and onto the ground, fading into the darkness.