The Guardians of Time

Chapter Twenty-Five: Together

Ayden was awakened by the sound of rain beating against the windows of his room and he lay in bed for a moment as the events of the previous night came flooding back to him. He remembered the exchange between he and his wife. Immediately he jumped from his bed and headed around the corner from his room to see if Kathryn was still in hers.

He ran to her door and tossed it open only to see her bed was made up perfectly and her pillows looked undisturbed. He slowly entered the room and could smell her perfume that reminded him of the fresh strawberries that grew in his parent's garden back home. The rest of the room was untouched as well.

None of her things remained behind and her closet was empty. Ayden's soul collapsed and internally he felt as though he was dying; suddenly he was back in the convenience store on earth, laying with her lifeless body.

She's really gone. He thought to himself sadly.

He thought about Skylar and headed to his son's room where he found, it too, was clear with the bed made as if it hadn't been slept in. Ayden's heart sank and he felt a sudden rush of emptiness consume him.

Hobbling back to his room, he lay down on the soft mattress. He pulled the covers to his chin and for the first time in two days, he cried. The tears flowed as he thought about her leaving with their child and he wondered if she would be willing to at least let him see Skylar. He sobbed with the regret that came from his words to her the night before. They had cost him everything.

Ayden lay in his room for the first hours of the morning as the rain outside pelted the entire planet with large heavy drops. Thunder and lightning shook the castle and he wanted to do nothing more than stay in bed and feel sorry for himself.

In the midst of his wallowing it came to his attention that Maylo had not contacted him either. It seemed his world was suddenly falling apart. As dawn became late morning, his bedroom door opened and Jakoba walked in.

"Forgive my interruption, Your Majesty, but you've been in here all morning." The little man said with a smile as he walked in and threw open the curtains. It was still raining.

"Just go, Jakoba. I don't want to do anything today." Ayden stared out the window.

"Nonsense, Sire." The little man replied.

"Have you seen her?"

"No."

"She's gone then." Ayden said.

"Maybe she isn't far. She might come back." Jakoba said, pulling the blankets off the bed.

"I pushed her too far. She doesn't love me anymore, Jakoba." He began to sob openly again.

In a flash of movement, the little assistant jumped up on the bed and slapped the king, his eyes wild with irritation.

Ayden could only stare at the little man with shock in his eyes. He didn't know Jakoba was capable of such action that many monarchs would consider insubordination. Jakoba shook his head and jumped down.

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty. I know that isn't my normal mentality but the way you have been acting is ridiculous. I understand what's happened and I know that it hurts but you have no idea if she is even gone for good. Is this how you plan to run your kingdom when nothing goes your way? From your bed?" Jakoba's gaze was piercing.

"N-no, of course not." Ayden said as he stared at Jakoba, rubbing his cheek. He was taken aback by the way his assistant had acted but, secretly, he was grateful for it as he seemed to return to his sense.

He had spent the morning losing his mind and being slapped around was just the dose of reality he needed to come crashing back to the planet.

"Why don't we do some more training?" He asked his king.