War of the Heart

Emilee

When Lavia had attempted to poison her sister, Emilee had thought that would be the worst moment in her life. Detruienn's reveal had trumped that. Now she no longer dealt I absolutes because she couldn't guarantee that nothing worse was going to come along.

During the attack she'd been fortunate enough to be in Allard's proximity. He ran around, helping people up, rushing into dangerous areas to save children, although he did get a little green in the face. However, the whole time, it felt like some divine power was protecting them. Emilee knew now of course. After Medea had left, Merari had pulled her aside and brought her up to speed. About the prophecy, about Indra. The sweet foreign princess who had been so desperate for a meaning to her life she'd agreed to marry a strange. So desperate to protect her name that she'd endangered her own life.

For most of her life, Emilee hadn't committed many wrongs and when she had, they were innocent practical jokes or tiny fibs. When she'd felt guilty, it had been like tugging a petal out of a flower. A surprisingly soft ache. Discovering she'd taken all her hatred out on someone who was innocent though, triggered a new kind of guilt. It was like an apple gone rotten. It's flesh grew mushy, mold infected the skin, worms gnawed through the once white flesh. It was shame, it was pain, it was regret.

Emilee was no stranger to regret, she knew full well how to treat it. So, she knocked on the princess' doors. The guards and doctors were sceptical and hesitant since the patient had lost a great deal of blood. Emilee didn't need to see her though. She just needed to be there.

They let her into the apartment and she stayed in the front room. A maid brought her a small rug and apologised for the claw marks. Emilee thanked her for the considerate gesture and knelt, hands firmly gripping one another. With her eyes closed, she began to pray. She begged Ellux, with all her light and generosity, to guide Indra to recovery. To mend her frail body and the life within.

As exhausted as she was, she stayed awake all night. At dawn, she watched as streaks of sunlight gradually began to illuminate the door. Emilee rested a hand on it.

'I'm begging you, Ellux...'

She knew she couldn't stay forever. A new day meant new duties and as much as she wanted to stay here, it was time to start putting some heart into her work as an Eseterrian. So many people she'd internally accused of treason had suffered greatly and shown their loyalty yesterday. It was time she gave something back.

The next hours she spent brainstorming, searching for ideas. Every now and again, she'd throw a glance onto the clock. Nobody had fetched her yet, but surely they'd come. Defeated, she realised she wouldn't get any news on Indra. Somehow that was what gave her the idea.

As if on cue, a guard appeared. One of Indra's from Kraspos. They nodded to her, leaving the door open. Emilee's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't expected to be the princess' first visitor.

Indra lay on her back, arms hanging losely at her side. For a moment, Emilee thought she was looking at a corpse, but then the princess smiled. Weakly, she reached across and patted the chair beside her.

'Thank you for praying for me.' Her voice was hoarse and from such close proximity, the sadness in her smile strained through.

'It was the most I could do... I'm sorry I wasn't here...'

'I'm glad you were not... I hear it was...' Her voice trailed off. She seemed a little disorientated.

Emilee let her head hang in shame. 'Maybe I could have helped somehow. I mean I doubt it but...' She took a deep breath, readying herself to confess. 'I didn't come because I thought you were a spy for Detruienn. I've secretly loathed you this whole time, but you never did anything wrong.'