The Queen's Guard

Chapter 26

News of the triumph reached the castle first. Relief and celebration rippled through the halls, but for Carina, it brought only a storm of anger and worry. Before Maya left for battle, she placed a necklace on Carina's pillow—a delicate piece she had crafted herself. It had always been meant for Carina, but Maya was too shy to give it when Carina first admired it. Maya wore it herself, even during their time apart, hoping one day she'd find the courage to finally give it to her love.

In her fury, Carina had thrown it to the ground, unable to bear the weight of what it symbolized. For days, it lay abandoned, a painful reminder of the love she feared she might lose. But as the battle raged on and the hours stretched into endless, torturous days, her anger slowly transformed into a gnawing worry that consumed her.

When news of the victory finally reached the castle the following morning, preparations for celebration were already underway. But Carina's worry only deepened when she learned that several commanders remained unaccounted for.

It was Ben who finally brought the news to her, having received the devastating message from Jack, who had returned wounded and weary. Ben found Carina in her chambers, staring blankly at the necklace now resting on her vanity. The room was silent, heavy with the tension of what was about to be revealed.

Ben took a deep breath, steeling himself for the painful task ahead. "Your Majesty," he began, his voice breaking through Carina's thoughts like a stone shattering glass.

Carina turned to him, her eyes wide with a mixture of hope and dread. The look on Ben's face—the sorrow, the deep sadness in his eyes—told her everything she needed to know before he even spoke. "She didn't make it," he said softly, the words heavy and cruel.

The world crumbled around her. Carina felt as though the ground beneath her had vanished, leaving her suspended in a void of despair. The words echoed in her mind, each one a dagger to her heart, slicing deeper until she thought she might die from the pain. The room spun, her breath caught in her throat, and her vision blurred with tears. "No," she whispered, shaking her head violently as if denying the truth could somehow make it untrue. Her voice was a broken plea, a desperate whisper against the reality she refused to accept.

Ben stepped closer, his hand resting gently on her shoulder. "I'm so sorry, Carina," he said, his voice trembling with grief.

Carina's legs gave out beneath her, and she collapsed to the floor, her body wracked with uncontrollable sobs. The pain was unbearable, a raw, searing wound that she feared would never heal. The world outside continued to celebrate, oblivious to the agony that had taken root within the castle walls, but Carina felt nothing but emptiness.

Eventually, she asked to be left alone. Ben, knowing there was nothing more he could do, quietly obeyed, leaving Carina to her grief. For hours, she wandered her chambers like a ghost, clutching the necklace to her chest as if it were the only thing keeping her tethered to reality. She whispered Maya's name over and over, as if the sound of it might bring her back, might undo the horror of what had happened.

But no amount of whispered pleas or desperate prayers could change the truth. Maya was gone. The reality of it hit her like a tidal wave, drowning her in sorrow. She collapsed onto the bed, curling into a ball, the necklace pressed against her heart as if it could fill the void Maya had left behind. The pain was relentless, tearing through her with every breath, and she let herself be consumed by it, her tears flowing freely, her sobs echoing through the empty chamber.

The hours stretched into what felt like an eternity, each moment a battle to keep breathing, to keep existing in a world without Maya. Her sobs echoed through the empty chamber, a haunting testament to the depth of her loss. And as the night wore on, Carina realized that the world would never be the same. Maya was gone, and with her, a piece of Carina's soul had been ripped away, leaving a void that nothing could ever fill.