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Wolvmbm - thanks so much! I'm glad that you trust I have a plan, if I hadn't have had this finished - I would be wondering the same thing myself XD I only finished this story within the last few days, xD but trust me - the plan is in motion! Thanks for reviewing x3

Thanks everyone! Enjoy :)

A Royal Gone Rebel
Chapter Twelve

The Queen wasn't blind. She knew that her illness brought tremendous amounts of feelings that whirled through every one. Her husband was a very complex man at the best of times - her having fallen ill only made him tense and his soul dark with anger. He wanted the very best of doctors to cure her and if they couldn't, they were banned from the Kingdom.

He was wise, but very stubborn. She knew she had an illness that no medicine could cure, and it'd only be a matter of time before she would be no more - but she had already been okay with that. She didn't want to leave her family behind, but at some point or another it would be inevitable.

She let out a soft sigh as she let her thoughts roam within her mind. There was nothing else better to do day in and day out, lying there - trying not to cry out when she felt pain all over. Some days there were hardly any, but others she wanted her life to end immediately.

It wasn't until she heard a small knock and the door open and then close. "Um, hi?" A tiny voice was heard, one of the only other familiar female voices in the entire castle.

"Ashlynn?" The Queen echoed softly.

"Yes, it's me." She answered, drawing back the soft material as she took a seat at her bedside. "I just know that if I were, um. . ."

"You can say it dear, it's no secret." She urged the younger.

"Alright, if I were sick I would want to spend time with someone instead of being alone all the time." She honestly felt lonely most of her days, having company wouldn't be such a bad idea from time to time. "I brought a book with me."

"Oh books," The Queen gave a weak nod. "I always loved a good read. One of the things I would do all day is read wondrous literature. Stories upon stories - they can take you anywhere and you don't have to step outside the door. Not once."

Ashlynn gave a warm smile, she felt near exactly the same. "Right?!"

Her enthusiasm was bright, unlike the room itself. It was a very nice change rather than the treatment she'd been given. It wasn't that she was being alienated by her son and husband - the doctors thought they knew everything and told them that she needed lots of rest, so she was mostly left alone to do just that. "Correct."

"This is one of my favorite stories. It's about a young girl who's tired of the same old village life and wants to go on an adventure of some type. She just wishes her life wasn't so routine and boring." She flipped to the beginning of the book, getting ready to dive into it right away. "Once upon a time. . ."

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There had been many weeks pass by and every single day, Ashlynn would go and spend time with the Queen. She read stories out loud, they often talked about 'girl things' - similar discussions Ashlynn had with her own mother. This was the best part of her newlywed life, her mother-in-law. From every loss, there was always a gain. Even if what's gained is yet to come, or what's lost is puzzling - everything happens or has happened for a reason.

After taking a new book from the library, Ashlynn was making her way to the very familiar part of the castle until that stern doctor was standing outside the door talking to Roland's unfriendly father. "Her condition has worsened nearly triple since early yesterday morning. I'm afraid it won't be long now."

"You imbecile! Can't you do anything right?" His fist hit the wall, Ashlynn swore it shook slightly.

The doctor didn't seem to appreciate what he'd been called. King or not, it wasn't the nicest but his heart was in pain seeing his wife so sickly - part of Ashlynn couldn't blame him for feeling so angry.

"Her illness is beyond medicine's control - it's not in my hands, your hands nor a peasant's hands, it's in the hands of the heavens. Do as you wish, good day." With that, he stormed away and the King opened the door lightly. Leaving it open, he walked in.

It was the perfect opportunity to get closer without being seen, Ashlynn seized it. "I'm so sorry my love," his voice was the most gentle she'd ever heard him speak. "I promise something will be done to cure your sickness, we'll be a normal family again-"

"Darling," she coughed weakly, "shhh. Don't speak such hopeful words with false pretenses. The doctor is right. I won't be here much longer and it's alright. You know I'll always be with you - just in your heart. You won't forget me now, will you?" She laughed a bit, she'd been doing that ever since Ashlynn came around.

"How dare you brush such seriousness off? It's not right. . ."

"Look at it with truth, not as a lie. I'm dying and there's nothing anyone can do about it." There was a brief pause, but continuation. "You're not going to terrorize the Kingdom with inner darkness. I forbid it."

"But-"

"No you listen to me, I'm not finished yet." She told him sternly, it seemed to work. Although she was the only one who could talk to him in such a manner. No one else dare even try. "Roland is frightened of you, along with the rest of the Kingdom. You never used to be like this. I know my illness came as a sudden shock and I know it scares you, but you can't act so harshly. Please, try not to take my death so hard. I love you, I love Roland and Ashlynn is a dream come true. Especially with how she's been keeping me company during my darkest days, but I'm looking forward to a place with no more pain. When I breathe it hurts me." She sighed in a defeated manner. "Do you understand me, love? If you don't, can you try to?"

There was no response, not that Ashlynn could hear anyways. The Queen did have a point, a very good one. She couldn't imagine feeling pain to the point where death seemed to be an option of bliss.

"I love you with my entire self, more than I've ever loved anyone. It won't be easy, but for you I will try my hardest. I love you my wife."

"I love you too, husband."

Before Ashlynn could move out of the way the King crossed her path, she was frozen with fear. She hugged the book she held tightly to her chest. She flinched when he looked down upon her. All that Ashlynn came to know, was that he was unpredictable.

He didn't say a single word to her as he walked away. Well, she wasn't quite expecting that but she'd take it. Turning into the room, she approached slowly. "Hi, are you feeling up to another story?" She asked softly. "I found a really good one I think we'll both like."

The Queen smiled just hearing the sound of Ashlynn's voice, "Well, not exactly. But I would like to just talk - if that's alright?"

Ashlynn walked right in as she always did, sitting down and getting comfy on her usual end of the bed. "Sure, anything you like."

"I'm not daft you know," she began - much to the Princess's confusion. "I know that you aren't in love with my son. He adores you, but it's not love. Not the love a husband and wife should share."

"I - I'm sorry." she sighed. Had she not been convincing enough?

"Shh, let me explain." She shifted, hardly without pain and started to sort out her train of thought. "You and Roland don't even sleep in the same bed, I know this marriage was on a whim. I also know it's because his father heard me say that I wanted to see my only son married before I die. My illness and I have caused a lot of mess, and sorrow and I wish it hadn't. But there's not much I can do."

Ashlynn nodded, the only thing she felt that she could do was listen.

"I just want you to know sweetheart, that what you've done is a very selfless thing. You've given a dying woman her last wish and I cannot thank you enough for that. You've been the light of my darkened days. You've made them brighter, listening to you talk, reading to me - it's been very. . . enjoyable. Fun. I adore you my dear, but you cannot live your life forever here. It's not right. You need to find your inner happiness and though it's not here - it's somewhere out there." she stopped to take in a much needed breather. "You are beautiful inside and out for everything you've done Ashlynn. I appreciate everything and so does Roland. Promise me you won't stay here."

She attempted to reach for Ashlynn's hand, who inched towards her and took it - so she didn't have to extend further and hurt as result. "But. . ."

"Ashlynn, please. Promise me that you won't stay here, that you'll go back to find your own happiness. Our lives aren't long enough, so make every moment count. And spend as much of your life being as happy as you can be." She reached up despite much pain and hugged the smaller. "There's nothing more you can do, but I thank the heavens for you."

Ashlynn felt a stinging sensation within her eyes, she knew tears threatened to fall and she didn't want to let them. She'd try her hardest not to, but wasn't sure how long she could keep it up. "I don't know what to say. . ."

"Don't say anything. Sometimes there's no need for words." She brushed back Ashlynn's soft hair, "From the bottom of my heart, thank you."

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