Ascardia

((9)) A Bird Falls

Seconds felt like years. A foot felt like miles. A scream felt like a knife to the chest. Nyx pushed through the remaining crowd until she nearly fell onto her mother who was on her knees. A man in her lap.

No.

"Papiso? Papï?" Onyx fell to her knees across from her mother. It was indeed her father's head her mother cradled.

Onyx felt her hand move on its own accord as it felt for a pulse in her father's neck. Finding nothing, Onyx formed a giant fist with both hands and pounded on her father's chest.

Nothing was working. Tears streamed down Nyx's beautifully made up face as she processed what had happened.

Her father was dead.

Her father had died.

Her father died on her wedding day.

The stress of the celebration and the wedding being crashed...and not to mention Edmond's gift of a promised war. It had been too much for his already weak heart.

What the worst part of it was, was that he had died before the father daughter dance. The one part of the wedding Aragorn had been looking forward to.

Tears fell onto Aragorn Hawthrone's golden tunic as his beloved daughter, his Finesse and his Queen, his Lissa cried over him.

A scream of anger and agony ripped from Onyx Rose's lips. Enoch rushed through the crowd to his wife.

Seeing what had made his love scream in anguish, he knelt next to her and pulled her into his arms.

***

The funeral for King Aragorn Hawthorne was overcrowded and lavish. Citizens of Nightingale, Cantenburg, and Omarion all crowded into the throne room of Finesse Castle. Onyx sat between her grief stricken mother and her husband. Who was next to Emmerson, Gloria, and Maddox. Silk gold tapestry hung from the factors and emerald green runners made up the aisle between the rows of pews.

The coffin was made of glass and was encrusted with his favorite jewels. Inside the coffin, King Aragorn was in his best clothes, reserved for balls and coronations, along with his crown. Onyx had to blink away her tears, for after the funeral, she would be named Queen.

Elder Onelius of Omarion stood on the stage where usually three thrones resided, today in their place was her father's coffin. The ancient elf was wearing black silk robes with silver embroidery. His platinum hair was slicked back so his elven pointed ears were on full display. His spidery pale fingers were clasped over the Book of Allecta, the Holy Book of Ascardia. His throat cleared, and his narrow lips parted with his first words.

"We are gathered here today, this day of moarning to say good bye to the benevolent king that for so long ruled this land of Nightingale. He was more than a ruler, more than a king. For so long he was a father figure to many. He welcomed all with good intentions into not only his kingdom, but his family. King Aragorn Maximus Hawthrone the Fourth was to many a friend, a brother in arms, a father, and a beloved husband. He always put his kingdom first, even going as far as to train his only child, his daughter, his jewel, to be a kramaka and she is the most gifted warrior we have ever seen in Ascardia, I believe she is the mortal reincarnation of Zedora, and her new husband to be Marrick...her warrior consort.

Aragorn you did well raising your daughter, may she rule over Nightingale with the same empathy, love, and bravery as you did for over forty years. May you rest peacefully now in the fields of Allecta."

Onyx let her tears flow freely after Onelius ended his eulogy. Her mother had been crying since yesterday, and judging from the bags under her eyes she hadn't slept well, she hadn't slept alone since she married Onyx's father at sixteen...forty years ago.