The Queens Lost Crown (Book 1)

Chapter Twelve

During the journey, it took only two days, but it seemed longer for poor Gloss. Her wings were no longer there, yet she felt this burden of weight and emptiness overwhelm her. Nothing made her smile or laugh like the little jokes Link did to cheer her up through the journey. Zelda managed to clean the black smudges of ash from her wings, but the feathers still looks like they were burned.

When they reached Arendelle, the whole crowd went silent. Instead of smiling for their heroes that came back with the Queen's crown, they frowned with concern and horror to what happen to Gloss' elegant wings. 

"Oh my Heavens," Most said. "What happened to the innocent dear?"

"Were they attacked and wounded?"

"Did they come to warn us of a danger?"

Gloss wished she could fly out of this situation and sit on the castle roof, but her small, ruined wings did nothing but flap in a sideways manner. The five came into the castle, and they immediately saw that most of the intern guards and wizards were there- including Dalton and Aldis.

"Oh.... my.... what happened to you, my poor Gloss!" The Queen said with shock and sadness while running off her throne. "I knew this was a mistake to send you five.... I should've just sent the other guards, not you children."

Gloss held her hand up in protest. She looked to her left, closed her eyes, and pursed her lips. Taking a sigh, she spoke up.

"Your Highness," she said with a hoarse and slightly sorrow voice. "I understand that you feel horrible for sending us and seeing me like this, but we- I told you that we would be fine. I didn't know that my wings would... become burned by a Jeweled Dragon-"

"They were burned?!" The Queen gasped. "Oh my..."

"And by a Jeweled Dragon!" One of the interns shouted

"Again," Ashtrin intervened, "Gloss didn't know what we were up against. We're young warriors that are loyal to our Queen. And if anyone would disagree that we shouldn't go, then that's something that we disagree on. This request was something that we wouldn't turn down. We would never turn down any request by Her Highness."

Everyone stood a stance of thought. The interns looked at each other with shock and surprise. Ashtrin, obviously being one with loyalty, she knew when one makes an ignorant mistake and a loyal agreement. When she stepped back, Ash's hand went over Gloss' shoulder. Gloss looked at her older sister, and she noticed her wings began to glow. Kenya, Zelda, and Link gave small smiles when the light reflected a golden glow from their weakened and tired faces. 

Gloss glanced over to where Dalton and Aldis were and noticed that they were walking over to Link, who was their mentor, and murmured something to him. Shockingly, Gloss could hear it all.

"Why did all the others come so soon?" Link asked. "I thought you interns would return later than us."

"The Queen called all guards and wizards to the castle," Aldis replied matter-of-factly. "Turns out that you five came back when we were about to host a meeting about looking for the crown."

"What happened to Gloss, Link?" Dalton asked abruptly

"Yeah," Aldis noticed. "Isn't she invincible to fire or something?" 

Link glanced over to his friend, but her distant eyes reflected nothing. "She's just a guard with wings," he replied. "Although..." he smirked at the two. "Who was the one that keeps being called 'Angel Lover?'" Aldis thumbed towards Dalton, and a red tint ran across his face. "I hope that your interest hasn't gone down because of the fact that she doesn't have her wings anymore."

"W-w-what?" Dalton whispered. "I-I-I don't- I'm not- I don't see Gloss in that way."

Gloss' face heated up, and it made Zelda giggle. Gloss nudged her with her elbow, and when the guys looked over, it just looked like the girls were talking to each other about something. Gloss looked at Dalton and saw he was entranced by... her? He shook his head out of it and returned to the conversation.

"How is she?" he asked. "She doesn't seem as cheery as usual."

"Losing her wings was hard on her," Link replied while sighing. "She was born with them, and she used them every single day. It was a part of her scouting, after all."

"Will she be okay?"

"Dear Lord, Dalton," Aldis said exasperated. "Are you going to constantly going to ask about Gloss? You really are in love with an angel."

Link pursed his lips to keep from laughing, and when he looked to the others, he noticed his angelic friend playing with what was left of her wings. His brows furrowed as he looked back to his apprentice. He lost interest in laughing and talking.

"We'll talk at a different time, you two," he said. "For now, listen to what the Queen has to say. We've done what we needed to do."

Dalton and Aldis bowed to him and went back with their group. Gloss saw Dalton give a look of solemness to her, and although she's been through a lot, her lips managed to pull a sad smile on her face. However, when Gloss turned to leave to her room, the Queen stopped her midway.

"Gloss," she said softly. "May I speak to you for a moment." 

Gloss glanced over to the group, but they all shrugged with confusion. She just shook it off and followed Her Highness. When they stopped, she turned to look at her wounded warrior. The Queen held up this light purple necklace that was shaped like a heart. 

"Do you know what this is?" she asked.

"No, Your Highness," Gloss answered when studying the jewelry. "Must I know of it?"

"I asked the priest to get me this necklace from Loyla. It was said to protect the wearer from any harm. Although it doesn't heal what damage has been done, I'm sure it'll protect you from any other harms." She put the necklace around Gloss' neck and fastened it for her. 

"But why give it to me when you could give it to someone more important such as your son?" she asked. "I'm just a mere-"

"You are anything but mere, Gloss," The Queen said. "Please. You mustn't think of yourself as lowly. The Queen of Themos told me amazing qualities and features in you that she never thought she'd see in a child ever. Now please, again, do not think of yourself as a low-ranked guard. You and your sisters are like daughters to me, and a mother would be heartbroken to hear that one of her daughters thinks that she is lower than she is."

Her words hit Gloss like a wave of emotion. Her eyes glistened, and she had to wipe them off. But some of them were able to get out. Her Highness gave the angel a hug, and soon Gloss felt no longer lowly without her wings.

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A/N: I swear my sister just does not keep her nose out of my things. SHE READ ALL OF MY DRAFTS AND SHE'S MAKING FUN OF ME WITH MY TASTE IN ROMANCE! GAH! Help me now. I am going to explode. THE FEELS THOUGH! I swear Coora made me tear up while she edited this. HER VOICE IS THE PERFECT STORYTELLER'S VOICE! All she has to do is read something in the correct tone and BOOM! Best thing ever. Lucky butt. Anyways I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and see ya later! Cheers~