Wither of Thornes

Chapter 12: A Gray Past

Arine woke up to the sound of screaming. Arine jumped from her bed, not bothering to change her nightclothes. She heard it from downstairs so she raced down the stairs. When she looked up she saw Marvin going down the stairs too. 

"Did you hear that?" Arine asked him.

"Yes, it sounded like Eden," he winced. "It sounded like it was from the kitchen..."

Arine flinched. "Oh..."

Quietly, they went to the kitchen to see Eden, her mouth agape and clothes lightly powdered with flour. Her face was furious at the mess in the kitchen.

Arine leaned over to Marvin. "We forgot to clean this up, didn't we?"

Marvin nodded, abashed. 

"How did this happen?" Eden yelled, not facing them. "What caused this mess?"

Arine gulped. 

"Uh well, you see Eden..." Marvin trailed off.

"I KNOW WHAT I AM SEEING." Eden shouted.

Marvin took a step back. 

Eden took a sharp breath in and out. "Did you do this at night?"

They both nodded reluctantly.

"What were you doing?" 

"We tried to find the Graydown ring," Arine supplied. "And...while looking in the kitchen, we may have spilled the bag of flour and had forgotten to clean it up."

Marvin pointed at Arine. "It's her fault it was spilled."

"What?" Arine huffed. "It was dark! I couldn't see because you wouldn't make your light brighter."

Marvin opened his mouth to say something but then closed it.

 "Fair enough." he said. 

Everyone was silent for a while. 

"So...are we forgiven?" Arine asked.

Eden blew at the flour on her shoulder. "Fine. But only if you clean—"

"I nearly forgot to tell you!" Marvin interrupted. He raised his index finger with the ring. "I found the Graydown ring. Well er, me and Arine did."

Eden's eyes brightened and she seemed to forget about the mess in the kitchen. "You did?"

Marvin nodded, looking relieved.

"Oh this is wonderful!" Eden squealed, beaming. 

"It is," Marvin said, excited. "I could place the ring today at night and then all of the seasons will be restored in its correct order."

Eden's face darkened. "No."

Marvin crinkled his nose. "No?"

"You heard what I said, no." Eden declared.

"Wha-why?"

"Because you need rest. You just came back yesterday. It's too risky for you to go now when you're powers are just being restored." Eden reasoned. 

"But—"

"I don't want any further arguments."

"Eden..."

"Marvin I told you, do not argue anymore."

"Maybe if I came along—" Arine started.

"NO!" Eden screeched. 

Arine and Marvin jumped, afraid.

Eden let out a growl. "You will not go. I am the head of this castle and I will not grant you the permission to restore the Graydown ring."