Michrinor: The Fates of The Heirs

Chapter 41 - Heart to Heart

The throne room of Smoreri Hold was as imposing as the rest of the castle, a vast chamber filled with darkness and cold grandeur. Tall pillars lined the walls, their surfaces etched with ancient symbols and harsh, angular designs that seemed to tell stories of conquest and power. The floor was smooth black stone, polished to a mirror-like finish that reflected the flickering torchlight, creating the illusion of depthless voids beneath their feet.

At the far end of the room stood the throne itself, carved from the same dark stone as the castle, its edges sharp and unforgiving. The seat was elevated on a dais, a symbol of the authority and dominance that Queen Segulah wielded over her domain. Above the throne, a massive tapestry hung, depicting scenes of battle and victory, a testament to the relentless force with which Segulah had ruled.

Ava followed Segulah into the room, her footsteps echoing in the vast space. The Queen moved with purpose, her white hair flowing behind her like a river of snow, her presence commanding and regal. But Ava couldn't shake the memory of the vision they had just witnessed in the grand hallway, the image of their parents, the words of love and forgiveness that had hung in the air like a fragile promise.

Segulah led Ava to the center of the room, then turned to face her, her expression unreadable. The Queen's sea-green eyes were cold, calculating, but Ava could see a flicker of something deeper—a hint of the vulnerability that had surfaced in the hallway, quickly buried beneath layers of bitterness and pride.

"This is where it all began," Segulah said, her voice echoing off the stone walls. "This is where I reclaimed what was stolen from me, where I built my power and secured my throne."

Ava looked around the room, feeling the weight of history pressing down on her. She could sense the darkness that had been cultivated here, the years of anger and pain that had fueled Segulah's rise to power. It was overwhelming, but she refused to let it intimidate her. She had come too far to turn back now.

Segulah's gaze locked onto Ava's, and the tension in the room grew palpable. "You wish to speak of love, of healing," the Queen continued, her tone laced with disdain. "But you stand in a place where love has no place, where only power endures. Do you truly believe your words have any meaning here?"

Ava took a deep breath, steadying herself. The vision had shaken her, but it had also given her the strength to face what lay ahead. She looked up at her sister, meeting her gaze with determination. "I do," she replied, her voice steady despite the fear gnawing at her insides. "Because no matter how dark this place is, no matter how much pain it's seen, I believe that love can still reach you, Segulah. I believe it's not too late to choose a different path."

For a moment, Segulah said nothing, her eyes narrowing as she studied Ava. The silence stretched on, thick and heavy, until, the Queen spoke, her voice cold and sharp. "You speak as if you know my heart, as if you understand the choices I have made. But you are a child, Ava, and you know nothing of the world I have built."

Ava didn't flinch. Instead, she stepped closer, her eyes filled with compassion. "Maybe I don't know everything you've been through," she said. "But I do know what it's like to be hurt, to feel abandoned. I know what it's like to be so angry that it feels like it's going to tear you apart. But I also know that holding onto that anger only makes things worse. It doesn't heal you—it just keeps the wounds open."

Segulah's expression hardened, but there was a flicker of doubt in her eyes, a crack in the armor she had built around her heart. Ava could see it, and she pressed on, her voice filled with quiet resolve. "I'm not saying it's easy. I'm not saying it will happen overnight. But I do know that if you let me, if you let us, we can help you find a way through this. You don't have to carry this burden alone anymore."