still {on HOLD}

chapter four

{Etanna-Prior Kingdom} (POV of Madison Etanna-Prior)

The night that Adela arrived at my kingdom, she was greeted by my fleet of soldiers, banner-men, and guards. Her party was treated with an extravagant feast and an amazing celebration. She was seated with my husband and I at the long table. She didn't bring her husband, as I had ordered.

At the end of the night, when I had showed her to her quarters, we made our pardons and decided to meet the next day to attend to business.

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I woke at about four hours until midday. I dressed and headed downstairs to see my family for breakfast. They were all seated at the long table, which was now rearranged from its position of last night's feast. I saw Adela sitting next to her queens-guard. As I got closer to the table, Adela rose from her seat to greet me.

"What are you doing?" I asked, watching a puzzled look spread across her face.

"Well, you are a queen." she spoke.

"Yes, I am. However, bowing is for peasants, townspeople, servants, and anyone else who fits there. Bowing is not for royalty. After all you are a queen, aren't you?"

"Yes. I am, your highness." she says, brushing off her dress and sitting back down. I saw her queens-guard tensing his grip around his sword.

"Oh, there will be no need for that, sir. Am I understood?"

"Yes, your highness." he said laying both of his hands upon the top of the table. I then turned to my husband.

"How long have I kept you all waiting, my darling?" I said, smiling.

"Not that long, my love. Only less than an hour." I then turned to the rest of my family and my guests.

"My sincerest apologies to all of you." I said as I sat down in the seat next to my husband, Quincy.

That morning, my cooks had prepared a traditional meal of porridge, sausage, diced vegetables, and elderberry pies. My youngest children, the twins; Kanya and Anya, were very delighted in the presence of two queens. They both asked her a numerous amount of questions about where she was from or what it feels like to only have the cold winds once a span.

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After breakfast, the table was cleared and I led Queen Adela to where we would speak; the Consideration Room. The Consideration Room was mainly used for private meetings or council meetings.

Once we were both inside, I shut the heavy iron door.

"First off, I'd like to say that I'm sorry I haven't been up to see you sooner. I just figured that after what happened between you and Hartley that you'd never want to speak to me again. I also think that its quite foolish of us to remain apart so long. I should've listened to what you had to say about Hartley. It's not that I didn't believe you. And we've been not only friends, but allies, for so long. I'm just so sorry." She spoke. I could see the tears building up in her eyes.

"I'm sorry too. And you're right, we shouldn't have been apart so long. I want you to listen to what I have to tell you about Hartley, and if you still don't believe me, it's fine. I understand that you two are in love, but I do believe that what I have to say will let you know a different look at your and Hartley's relationship.

On the night that everything happened, Hartley asked me to speak with him in the high chambers of your kingdom, alone. It was just he and I. He told me if I did not do what he'd asked he'd kill both you and I. He tried to persuade me to join him and he would help me kill you off, so that I could rein with him. Then, when I had tried to leave, he grabbed me. However, one of the guards heard me scream and saved me, just in time. I had preceded to run down the stairs and he yelled and called me horrible things. I'd then waited to meet him and the bottom of the stairs where I struck him and when everyone had seen. They don't know the truth, Adela. Together we must tell everyone the truth."

She then turned her teary-eyed face toward me.

"But how? I understand we must tell them but, how? We can not just come out and say the terrible truths about Hartley." she paused. A gleaming streak grew bright in her red, drowsy eyes.

"It must be done, Madison. We must kill him."