The Remembered (Elements II)

Chapter 2

Pacing in his room, door to window and back again, the young king grumbled to himself. He had pale skin, although he was dark tanned from the campaigns he had just returned from, but that only made his pale green eyes stand out more. His black hair was slightly on the long side, naturally wavy, and currently looked like he’d been pulled through a hedge backwards. As he walked yet another length of the room, he pulled his fingers through his hair once more, muttering to himself. She was late – again. His sister was always late, and he supposed that he couldn’t expect any difference, despite what day it was.

With a sigh, he stopped pacing, and straightened his shirt. Taking a brief glance in the mirror, he merely checked that the thin gold circlet that served as his crown was in place before leaving the room.

He strode through the palace, nodding absently at the servants who bowed as he passed. Today was different to the others, more special than usual. Making a decision on the spur of the moment, he took a detour on the way to the throne room, slipping into his and his sister’s childhood nursery.

“Oh! Your Majesty! Please, forgive me.”

He waved a hand, dismissing the flustered servant. “No matter. Leave, if you will.”

She bowed, and hurried away, leaving him alone.

He stood where he was for a moment, reliving memories as he took in these sight. It hadn’t changed – as per his orders – since Cat had grown out of it, and into a room of her own. The two beds were still there, the old cot in the corner, the tiny box of toys that they had been allowed. However, those weren’t what he was there for. Crossing the room, he went to the other door, closed tightly. He put his hand on the doorknob, and stopped, unable to move for a moment. At last, he took a deep breath, and turned the knob, pushing the door open.

The room was as he remembered, just how she’d left it. The bed was neatly made, and there was nothing lying around. The only difference was the window – the black bars had been removed as soon as he’d become king. Some of his most vivid memories were of her standing – as he now was – at her window, watching the moon, or the rising sun. Turning away, he roamed the tiny space, letting his fingers trail.

“Memories?”

He looked up seeing his sister in the doorway. Her amber eyes glowed slightly, and then she blinked, as if nothing had happened. She too was tanned, for she spent as much time as she could outside, overseeing harvests and the markets to the best of her ability. Because of that, she was much loved by the people, and her gentle and understanding nature only endeared her more to the population.

He nodded, looking down at the bed. “Yeah,” he replied softly. “Today’s different.”

She came closer, hugging him. He returned the hug, resting his head on her shining brown hair as he closed his eyes for a moment.

“I miss her, Pablo.” It was a murmur that echoed his own feelings.

“Me too,” he replied. “She said that she would come back.”

“But she hasn’t.” The princess drew back, and made a circuit of her own of the room, lost in memories. “She made our childhood a childhood.”

He nodded, sitting on the bed. “She did. She loved us, Cat. She loved us because our parents couldn’t.”

That earned him a sigh. Then she frowned, bending down. “What’s this?”

He stood up coming to join her. There was an odd note in her voice. “What’s what?”

“This.” She held it up, and he stared at it. It was an antler – the antler they'd found in the garden many, many years ago.

“She kept it,” he breathed, still a little confused. “Why did she keep it?”