The Mountains Blade

Chapter Fifty Four

Chapter Fifty Four- Deaths parting

The next morning Elwyn awoke to a loud pounding on her door. She hurled herself out of bed in exasperation and flung open the door. To her surprise Avelina was who she found.
Her sisters eyes were droopy as if she hadn't slept, eyebrows pinched together, lips set in a firm line. Her hair wasn't brushed but flowing in its natural curls. She wore a simple white gown as if she had /dressed herself. "We need to have a meeting be ready in ten minutes." She commanded.
Elwyn would have had a mind to argue with her but she had never seen her sister so unpresentable.

Her heart beat rapidly as she ran through the possibilities of what could be at stake. She said nothing and shut her bedroom door, stripping her nightgown and changing. She slid on a pair of black pants and sweater before throwing her hair into a clip.
It wasn't five minutes later that she was taking the steps two at a time for the throne room.

Elwyns steps slowed to a halt as she found her father and sister. She looked between the two, scoping the room for their mother. "What happened?" She asked quickening her pace.
Avelinas face contorted into pain before she turned away and buried her face in her hands. A sob shook through her, startling Elwyn. She rocked on her feet slightly, looking to her father with widened eyes.
He smiled sadly at her before gesturing to the back of the throne room. Elwyn followed, leaving Avelina as Markarious entered the room, immediately pulling her into his arms'.

Elwyn stared at her mother, red hair stark against her ghostly complexion. "Mom?" She asked. She felt so small as she spoke, addressing her mother other than 'your majesty' was a rare occurrence for her.

Hope Greywater opened her eyes from where she lay in bed. She pushed herself up into an upright position, Ashered coming over to help her against the pillows. "Be gentle, my love." He muttered.

Hope smiled softly at her husband and patted his arm placatingly. He sat beside her, letting her lean her head on his shoulders. She let out a sigh of a relief, as if his very touch alleviated some of the pain that she felt.

"Whats happening?" Elwyn asked, her voice trembling.

"There are things we need to discuss Elwyn."

Elwyns eyes watered at the sound of anguish in her father's voice. "I have cancer Elwyn. There is nothing that can be done."

Elwyn blinked dumbly at her mother. "How?" She managed.

"I used my magic in an effort to leave Goldmoon, so that your father and I could go after you and your sister. I had already been told my diagnosis and knew that it would speed up the process but-" Hope sighed, rubbing her forehead. "It doesn't matter, but I have a limited time left. I can feel it and Opal has confirmed it."

"Why can't magic heal you or dad?"

"She's human, Wynn. Her body was never designed for magic, she developed the ability to absorb magic and use it after she died." Hope squeezed her father's hand lovingly at the despair he presented.

Elwyns eyes widened as she stared perplexed at her parents. "I'm sorry you've died before?" She asked incredulously.

Hope nodded somberly. "A long time ago." Elwyn held in her questions for that topic and ran her hands through her hair in an attempt to calm her growing anxiety. "How, I'm so confused." She breathed, pacing the room. She chewed on the inside of her lips, making lap's from one side of the room to the other. Her parents watched with heavy expressions. "What about chemotherapy, the human worlds medicine. That should help!"Elwyn exclaimed.

Her father shook his head sadly. "We've already tried to investigate other options. There isn't anything we can do."

"I can look, I'll find something." Elwyn burst out.

"Elwyn, come here dear."

"I can fix this." Elwyn pleaded. "Tell me what to do and I will do it."

"Elwyn." Her mother coaxed.

The girl walked to her parents, shaking her head, tears filling her eyes. "I can fix it." She croaked. Her lip began to tremble as she sat beside her father. Hope pulled Elwyn into her and Ashered gathered the two of them in his arms. Elwyn sobbed, her nose running, vision blurring at the sheer number of tears that eluded her. She hiccuped and grasped tightly onto her parents. The  world felt as if it had scooped her up and swallowed her whole. Hope Greywater, the queen and most of all her mother was dying.

~

Life didn't stop even though it felt like it should have. Avelina sat on the steps of the castle facing her city. Soon all of this would be hers, she would be crowned once her mother died. They had told her this and Avelina had stood there wordlessly.

Markarious came and sat beside her, bringing a warm cup of tea with him. He placed her mug beside her on the steps, letting his warm his hands.

"I'm sorry, Lina." He whispered, reaching over to clasp her hand in his. His grip was strong, attempting to give her a reassuring squeeze. Avelina did not face away from the runied city. She had left and now her mother was dying and her city too. This was her job, to fix all of this.
"I'm right here Avelina." Markarious said placing a hand on the heirs thigh.
Avelina looked down at his hand. The callused knuckles and broken skin.

He had fought and continued to do so to be here with her. "Why are you still here? You can be home, away from all of this." Avelina said roughly.

Markarious grabbed Avelina gently by her chin, facing her towards to him.
Her eyes were wet as she took in the intensity of his gaze. "You know why, Lina. You are my home."

Avelina pushed his hand away setting down the hot drink roughly onto the steps.
Its contents spilled over as she turned angrily back to him. "Don't say that. I have a kingdom on my shoulders and you don't need it on yours."
Markarious grasped Avelinas shaking hands. "Avelina, you are my mate, my special. You are mine eternally from this world until the next. I am yours and I will not go anywhere else unless you are with me."
Avelinas heart thumped in her chest. She didn't have words.
And as she tried to rake her brain, screams tore through the morning air.