The Four Realms

Chapter 20: Nicholas

1 year later:

The sound of a fist pounding on the manor door echoed through the house. I strained my ears waiting for one of the servants to open the door, yet no sound came. I huffed and strode down the hallway, my boots scuffed against the blood red carpet. I reached for the handle and pulled open the door. My heart dropped. What was she doing here? "Augustine?" I asked not sure if my eyes were deceiving me. She looked nervous, anxiously pulling on the collar of her navy dress. "Hi." she said looking down embarrassedly at her boots. Her face that was once full pink cheeks was now sullen and pale, her chin was no longer raised up defiantly instead it was lowered along with her shoulders. As she met my eyes, I saw the only thing that remained the same was the deep blue of her eyes. I had hated myself for what I put her through, she should never have blamed herself for Cassiopeia's death. I was the only one who could have prevented it. "What are you doing here?" I asked not letting my voice falter in anticipation for her answer. "The new queen had me released for the anniversary of Cassiopeia's...death." Augustine explained. Her voice was quiet. What had she been through? We stood in the doorway silently for a moment before I cleared the way and gestured for her to enter. She was shivering. Winter had been brought back after the King's daughter began ruling, she despised her father, something we had in common. As it turns out many of the Kings Land citizens knew all along that the curse was only a spell. Some enjoyed the drama of the choosing ceremonies and others were too afraid to speak up about the injustice, his daughter Justitia was finally able to stop the spell. She changed everything, brought back the seasons, let us wake all year round and, as it seems, released Augustine. I led Augustine into the sitting room, the fur carpet stretched out beneath the red velvet couches. I wondered if this is what Augustine thought my house would look like, animal heads lining the dark walls, curtains draped shut to block the sunlight and bottles of wine shelved in wooden cabinets. For a reason unknown to myself I wanted her to like it, I wanted her to be impressed. I offered her a crystal glass filled with rich wine swirling inside. She shook her head and sunk into the couch; I found my place across from her. "But what are you doing here?" I asked annunciating the last word. She rubbed the back of her neck, "It was the closet place to the castle." she said. "I see." I responded. "And you spent a year in the dungeons?" I clarified. She nodded. "Did they neglect to feed you?" I grumbled looking her up and down. She chuckled, a glimpse of her old self flashing by, "Perhaps." I shook my head, "Monsters." I said about the palace guards, I knew them to be unmerciful creatures. I chucked a log into the fire and poked it with a metal stick, I wanted her to stop shaking. "Have you seen Hunter recently?" she inquired. "No, my father brought me home the day after you killed the King." I explained. She shuddered at the mention of what she did. "Do you regret it?" I asked. "Never." she spat, "He deserved what he got." she finished. The King deserved what he got but she didn't deserve what they did to her. I would never admit to her that I knew what they did in the palace. My father told me they starved her for the first few months while they had King Cyafaels funeral and adjusted to the new queen. Then they brought her food and water but never let her into the sun or see anyone but the cruel guards. No one needed to explain to me that they probably hurt her. I wanted them to regret what they did, they took away Augustine's spark. She saved the Realms in the end, her act against the King changed everything, the Summer Court now worshipped her for what she did. "Do you want something to eat?" I asked reminded of how she must have not had a proper meal for a year. "Is your father here?" she asked, her eyes darting around as if he would suddenly appear in the doorway. "No, he has been away for a month." I reassured her. "A month?" she questioned. "A conference for the governors of the Realms in the Kings Land." I explained to her. "Oh." she said satisfied. I held out a hand for her, "Come." I said. Cautiously her hand crept into mine and I pulled her towards the kitchen. I hoped she had forgiven me even though she had every right not to. I gave her earth-shattering news after Cassiopeia died and I had lied all along. The time she spent alone in the cell had changed her. I just hoped she had found a way to forgive even if it didn't mean forgetting. In the kitchen she pulled herself to sit on the counter. "Um, I don't actually know how to cook." I explained and a smile crept onto Augustine's face. "I'm not much better but let's see what we can do." she said pulling jars off the shelves and lighting a fire beneath the stove. "If you want you can ride in my carriage with me to the ceremony for Cassiopeia in the Autumn Realm?" I offered. "Thats perfect thank you." She smiled at me brightly until her lips faltered and she looked at my conflicted expression . "Is something wrong?" She asked curiously. "No..." I said, "Wait...yes. Something is wrong." I sighed. She watched me expectantly. "I wrote to you. Every other day, my father said they were excepting letters. But you never replied. I knew you must have hated me after the things I lied about. Cassiopeia died because of me. And I apologized over and over again." I rambled. "Hold on-"she said as I cut her off. "Just let me finish, please." I insisted sternly before continuing. "I told you everything in my letters, but you neglected to respond, I just don't understand why you never answered me after I told you I  regretted what happened and I cared about you." I stuttered. "I don't get it? What letters are you talking about?" She asked, nearly shouting. My face dropped in embarrassment. "They never have them to you." I whispered to myself in realization, "I should have known." I was stunned, "You really feel that way?" She asked me. I nodded wishing she had seen the letters. "I should go." She said slipping away. "Wait!" This was my last chance to show her what I said in my letters. I grabbed her wrist, "Please forgive me Augustine, I never meant for anyone to get hurt. Especially not you." I whispered. She sighed and looked up to me. "I forgive you." She said slowly, reaching up and pressing her lips softly against mine. Augustine pulled away, the color coming back into her face. "I guess that settles that then." she laughed nervously. I looked down admiring her. "I guess so." I shrugged. "Come, I'll give you the tour of the manor. I'll have the cooks whip something up to eat." I explained, leading her out of the kitchen.

The carriage ride into Cassiopeia's home in the Autumn Realm, Aldea was nostalgic. The frost-bitten leaves of the familiar trees and earthy ground sent me back a year ago when we thought we had the fate of the Realms in our hands. Augustine had rested her head against my shoulder and looked out the small window as the scenery went by for the duration of the trip. When we entered the archway to the town the atmosphere changed. A choir and a symphony sat in the town square playing violins, flutes, cellos and other instruments somberly. Everyone was dressed in dark clothing in Autumn Realm design. I had dressed in my formal attire and Augustine in a warm dress and lavish cloak. Hunter appeared in the doorway of the clock tower with his five sisters running out in front of him. Augustine caught his eye, and she ran to him, and she jumped into his open arms laughing joyfully. "I've missed you." she chuckled tussling his hair. "It has been too long. I'm glad you are out of that palace; I was getting ready to storm in there and break you out myself." Hunter grinned. He nodded a hello to me, and I smiled curtly. "The ceremony is going to start soon; I'll tell you everything afterwards." Hunter said directing us to where a crowd of villagers was huddled around in a circle. The snow crunched under our feet as we joined the group and were handed a bright red rose. Anilyn held her mother's hand as they stood beside Cassiopeia's grave site. "A sacrifice we shall never forget." I heard a man whispered from next to me. In Autumn Realm tradition the funeral for the dead would be held a year later to allow full grieving and time for the soul to pass on. The choir began an ethereal tune and harmonized with instruments, the song was to symbolize the letting go of the person and continuing with your life. I don't think any of us would ever truly move on from Waking Time a year ago, but we still had each other to share our concerns with. Doves flew from a cage into the bright sky as snow fell in large flakes to the ground. One at a time each person placed their rose gently on Cassiopeia's plaque.  I released my flower and silently apologized to her. The three of us stood back to honor our fallen friend. Augustine looked up to me and smiled weakly, snow had landed on her eye lashes and framed her thoughtful eyes. I couldn't wait to show her summer. She put an arm around Hunter's shoulder and my shoulder and sighed, "Goodbye Cass." she whispered.