When You Return (The Lost Princess)

Chapter 2: Memories

Akali
I watch as the healer lifts Eric onto a litter, two soldiers carrying ether side, taking him away. Quietly, I turn back to my papa, rushing into his arms. He stumbles back a bit, but then tightens his arms around me.
"My sweet daughter,"he mumbles in my hair. Tears slide down my cheeks.
A throat clears.
"Your Majesty, Prince Eric is asking after Princess Akali,"he says. Papa pulls away, cupping my face with him hand.
"Of coarse,"he says. He grabs my hand, placing it in the crook of his elbow. "I will take her there myself." I smile, feeling especially happy to be with my papa. It feels as if I have not seen him in years.
My thoughts ring back to the painful cell ride with Rathina.
Has it really been 6 months since the ambush? Did I really lose my memory? It feels as if the ambush has happened yesterday.
Papa clears his throat, pulling me back to the present. "Do you remember who I am, my dear?"he asks. I look into his deep blue eyes. I smile, nodding slowly.
"Of coarse, Papa,"I say. I cock my head to the side. "Why wouldn't I?"
He sighs. "Do you remember the ambush?" I again cringe at the thought. I slowly nod.
"Yes,"I speak quietly. He stops us both, wrapping his arms around my shoulder.
"Oh, my poor daughter,"he whispers, kissing my head. "What is the last thing you remember?" I sigh.
"The ambush,"I say. He pulls away, looking into my brown eyes. It was always surprising that mine and Rathina's eyes were so dark when my papa's were almost as blue as Eric's crystal eyes.
"You don't remember if you attended your own funeral?"he asks quietly.
My mind goes numb. My funeral? They thought me dead?
I swoon, leaning against Papa's solid form, everything around me spacing out....
Several guards on horses ride into town. The captain of them gets off his horse.
"A proclamation from the king and queen,"he says loudly. "Yesterday evening, we were given information about the missing Princess Akali." Whispers of excitement could be heard throughout the town. "They have found Princess Akali, but she has passed on. Her funeral will be held tomorrow. All the people of Albis is invited to attend. Mourning will start tomorrow and end at the end of the month." The guard gets back onto his horse and rides off.
"Akali!"
I jerk my head up, an ache in my head forming. I look into Papa's worried expression, groaning softly, tears streaming down my face. I know not why I envisioned that of someone else's memory, but all I could really ponder about is what it meant. They have indeed had a funeral.
I cannot return to Albis, my home.
🍃🍂🍃🍂🍃🍂🍃🍂🍃🍂🍃🍂
Luke
Rathina and I walk back into main room to find it empty, save the dead bodies of the soldiers.
"Where is everybody?"she asks. I turn to look at her, a thrill rushing through me as I remember that she is mine.
I shrug. "They must have left with Eric and Princess Akali." She giggles.
"You do not have to call her Princess Akali,"she says, nudging my shoulder with hers. Chuckling, I turn her to face me, reaching a hand to her hair.
"I have yet to get used to it, love,"I respond. She sucks in a breath, gazing into my eyes. I pull away and grab her hand, leading us towards the exit. Silence holds between us, each in deep thought. I glance at her, studying her from her long lashes to her curved lips.
I try to imagine how her childhood was.
"Have you and Pri.....Akali ever switched roles?"I ask, breaking the silence. A smile breaks on to her face.
"All the time,"she says, a hint of laugh on her lips. Wanting to hear her sweet laugh, I push further.
"I can see the mischief in your eyes,"I say. She laughs.
"When we were in our twelfth year, we were so accustomed to our maids mixing us up, so we would turn it into a game and see how long we could get them to believe that we were each other. On our thirteenth birthday, a suitor wanted to court Akali, but was too cocky, so to make things interesting, we kept switching roles. We were asking the same questions and giving different answers. He was so confused until he saw me giggling behind Kallie when it was her turn. Mama was furious, until we told Papa."
I laugh. "And why would telling your papa changed your mother's mind?"I ask. She laughs again.
"Because he could not, for the life of him, stop laughing. He had seen us switching roles and said he didn't want a son-in-law who was too interested in himself than his wife.
Anyways, my mama always agrees with Papa, so when he laughed about it, she joined, admitting that she would have done the same."
I look at her, amazed. "Your mother didn't get angry at him?" She looks at me, confused.
"Why would she? He is her husband, and would never get angry with him."
I shake my head, relieved she didn't have parents like mine, whose marriage was arranged.
"My mother would have been furious at him,"I admit. We stay silent for a while. "Has Eric ever mixed you up with her?"I ask, trying to change the subject. She laughs again.
"Once. When he first came here. But never after that. He claims he can tell the difference because Kallie glows, but we both know it's my scar on my forehead. The same goes for our parents too."
I stop us again.
"What scar?"I ask. She reaches a hand to her hair, pulling it back, revealing a small scar right in the middle of her forehead.
"Pox,"she explains. "When I was little, I picked a pock, hence, leaving a scar."
I smile, lifting a hand to it, caressing it.
"You are so beautiful, Rathina,"I say. The temptation to kiss her becomes strong. So strong, I almost just do it, but instead, I kiss her cheek.
She blushes, resting her head on my chest.
"Papa will not let you marry me if you don't follow his rules,"she says warmly.
I laugh. "Then we had better marry fast. I become weak around you and cannot resist the urge to kiss you."
She laughs as we near a carriage that has not left yet.
"If Eric can do it, so can you,"she says.
"Eric must not have loved Pr...Akali as I love you,"I say back.
"You are mistaken," a deep voice says. I jump a little. We turn to see Akali and Eric on their way to the carriage. Eric's arm is around her shoulders as she helps him walk.
"It was hard, but worth it,"Eric continues, gazing into his wife's eyes.
I chuckle, walking towards them to relieve Akali of the weight. She gratefully moves aside, but then glares at me.
"With such a declaration, I expect you will ask for her hand?"she says.
Rathina laughs as she embraces her sister.
"Oh, Kallie, he's courting me,"she squeals. Her expression changes from expectation to excitement. They start their own small talk, raising their voices in excitement.
Beside me, Eric laughs.
"I will never fully understand their little talks,"he says. He turns his head to me. "I was hoping I wouldn't have to strangle the man who claimed Rathina's heart." I laugh.
"No, you do not,"I say.
We stay silent, just watching as they talk about children.
"What are you two still doing here?"I ask, breaking the silence.
"Kallie didn't want to leave without the healer present, in case something were to happen,"he say. I nod, looking back over at Rathina and her sister. "They are a real treasure."
I nod in agreement.
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