The Light amongst the Shadows

The Throne Room

"The king wishes to see all of you in his Throne Room," Richard said to us as he entered the room.

His face was grave and serious. I nodded and helped Gwen to her feet.

"There, there, Gwen. Everything will be alright," I kept saying to her over and over again. Edwin would have helped me try to pacify her but he dragged along behind us, looking at his feet the whole time. We finally arried to the throne room. I stood beside an old man and a boy. The boy looked so familiar. I was shaken out of my thoughts when a voice said:

"Hello, young lady," the old man said to me. Maybe he caught me staring.

"Hello, sir," I replied. I didn't know who he was andhe looked far too old to be the boy's father. I looked over to the boy; it was Collin.

"Hello Collin," I said. He turned and smiled.

"Oh, hi there, Brigit," he said," do you know why the king called us here?"

"No, not entirely," I replied.

He sighed and muttered, "I wonder."

"You and I both, Collin, you and I both," I breathed.

All of a sudden a deep voice boomed, "Where is my wife?!" which interrupted the conversations going on. Gwen stepped forward and told her story in between sobs. The king was just as outraged as Edwin seemed to be when he heard the news. However, through all the rage and anger, I swear I could have seen tears welling up in his eyes. Prince Griffin burst through the room.

"We will find her, father," he said. His voice seemed to want to come across as strong and in control, but it ended up more of a terrified, shaky voice. Prince Henry came strolling along behind him.

"And I intend to help," he told the king strongly as Marigold threw herself at him.

"Oh, Henry, dear," she sighed. He held her tight and looked back up at the king.

"No, no. I could never ask you to do such thing. It is too dangerous," the king, King Gregory, said. 

"No! I insist! You are my father now," he said smiling down at Marigold. That would be the first time I've ever seen him smile, and mean it. "Therefore, my family. Your wife is my mother. I will do everything in my power to get her back," Henry insisted. For once I agreed with him. I wanted to do everything in my power to find the Queen, or at least find out what happened to her. She was like a second mother to me; always so kind, caring, motherly, and sweet to me even though I was a dirty, rotten peasant. Even I couldn't believe what came out of my mouth next.

"I'll help," I squeaked.  I cleared my throat. "I'll help find Queen Isabelle," I said more strongly. The court room overflowed with a wave of laughter. I felt myself blush a little, but I tried to keep strong; I clenched my fists. Collin put a hand on my shoulder and smiled.

"Thank you, darling, but-" Gregory said in between chuckles.

"But, you really thing? Ha! That a little daisy like you could be able to help? Is this sme kind of joke?!" Henry spat giving me a snotty look that I would have oh-so enjoyed wiping clear off his face. I clenched my fists even tighter, but became a little calmer when Collin to a step up next to me, leaving his hand on my shoulder. He looked at me and smiled, then looked back at the king.

"I'll help too. We could do all the dirty work, like cleaning the horses, sddling the horses, things like that, yeah?" Collin said. Gregory had a look on his face as if he were actually considering the thought.

"Father, they want to help and who knows, they could know more than we do. Not only that, but it would be nice if they could help us with those chores. You know how I dread chores, father," came Edwin's deep, soothing voice. I loved how he tried to lighten things up a bit; it was gettin awfully tense in the room. He looked over at Colling and me an gave a little smirk, "If they really want to help, why can't you just let them? Collin can come along with me and Brigit could go with-"

"Me," Guinevere interrupted. Is this how conversations went around here? Interrupting every two seconds? The room burst out in gasps and I thought I heard a couple of snickers. She sneered. "And what's the matter 'bout a girl going? Is that it? I'm a girl and that's why I can't go? She's just as much my mother as she is the boys', father!" Gregory looked really uncomfortable as he tried to confront his own daughter.

"But, darling-" he started.

"But darling, nothing, father!" she shouted. There was an awkward moment of silence. She calmed herself and started over. "Why won't you let me go Father? She's my mother, too. And I want to find her as much as Edwin, Griffin, and Henry do. Father, please," she said more softly. Gregory shifted in his throne chair again and cracked his knuckles nervously.

"Well?" Gwen urged. "What's your answer, father?"