A Queen's Redemption

Chapter 1- Well...I'm home

The door opened just as I raised my hand to knock, and the sight that met me made me forget about my pain if only for a minute.

I doubled over in laughter. "Hi mom. What's up?" I asked between chuckles.

She stood before me covered head to toe in flour and I could smell my favourite cookies baking in the background.

"Child, stop laughing at your old mother and come give her a hug." She said smiling with her hands opened wide. Ignoring the catastrophe that was her current appearance, I buried my face in my mother's shoulder.

"Welcome home baby. Momma's gotchu now." She whispered while rubbing my back.

I held back my tears as everything from the past few months came back all at once.

NO! No more crying. You've done that enough.

I lifted my head and smiled at her as best I could. "Thank you momma."

~~~~~~

*At Asnuelia Palace*

"Amir." The woman smiled fondly at the man kneeling at her feet. She got up and approached him and reached for his hands. "Welcome home my son."

He smiled gently at his mother. "Thank you, mother."

~~~~~~

*Serene's POV

I took a deep breath as I stood in the field behind my home. Breathing in the fresh air, I marveled at how much this country had changed since I've been here. It had developed so much. It didn't have a royal house when I left...now it does...and I had no idea.

I guess I really was caged up there...

It had always been my dream to move to Mayuda. I wanted to be a textile designer, which I guess was a reason why I was picked on so much. Where most children wanted to further their magic and get stronger in their powers, I on the other hand wanted a much more simpler life.
One that avoided me being in the spotlight.
Mayuda Country was the perfect place. Or so I thought...

I shook what was becoming negative thoughts out of my head as I prepared to make my way into the town.

"Serene! You ready baby?"

I smiled, linked my arm with my mom's and we were off.

The streets were a bustling mess. My mother dragged me to store, after store, after store. Normally I wasn't one for endless shopping, I found it hella exhausting, but I indulged her. It's been a while since I spent time with my mother like this and I won't lie, I'm enjoying it.

There was one store in particular that caught my eye. I walked in and I was in instant heaven. I looked back at my mother and I'm sure my eyes were as wide as saucers.

She laughed and said, "I didn't bring you here for nothing sweetie. You have my card. Shop to your heart's desire. I'll see you in a bit." She walked off.

I practically ran into the store with absolute glee. Rolls, upon rolls, racks on racks of yarn. Yarn as far as the eye can see. Absolute. Heaven. I grabbed a shopping cart and started from the back and came up.

I was in the middle aisle when two things caught my attention.

One was the hooded man that was just walking up and down the place, clearly not interested in buying anything. I passed him and a gentle shiver ran through me.

What the hell?

He stopped and I felt him staring at me. I refused to look back, even though everything in me was saying I should. I ignored it, I wasn't about to get myself caught up in anything.