The First Queen

9 - Live and Let Die

My ears started ringing as everyone looked at the guard with a shocked expression.

"Heresy!" Some shouted.

"Liar!" A few others screamed.

"Treason!" A couple howled.

I staggered forward to the guard who offered me his hand and I took it as he guided me out of the ballroom and up the perilously tall staircase towards my father's quarters.

Outside were a few frenzied royal guardsmen who stood at attention when the saw us. I entered and saw a horde of guards and the golden hair of their captain who were all nervous and frantic.

I bulled past the lot of them and gaped at the lifeless form of my father on the bed, his eyes puffy and saliva dripping from his lips. Athena's eyes met mine over the body and instead of her common coldness and restraint, I saw worry and concern deep in the pools of her eyes.

I gazed back down at my father and looked at his now-dull eyes which were full of pain. I felt the onset of tears but pushed them back.

"Not yet..." I murmured so no one would hear me. "I can't do this without you... We were just beginning to become close..."

"Elia..." I heard her gulp, "Please, allow me to take you back to your quarters..."

I nodded solemnly and let her haul me out of the room and down the halls.

We arrived in my quarters and Athena just lingered in the doorway, constantly asking if I was well every five seconds but then saying nothing else; neither of us did.

You could cut the air with a knife it was that thick but neither of us had the nerve to speak up.

"...Perhaps I should leave you in peace..." Athena choked and I nodded, "Good afternoon, Elia."

Once the door shut behind her, I flopped onto the bed and stared at the flagstone ceiling for what felt like hours until there was a gentle, rhythmic rapping against my door.

I peeled myself off the bed and staggered to the door where I was met with Julius and I didn't even try to hide my distaste.

"I apologise for the news but our coronation is on the morrow's eve and we have another visitor... Except... This one comes with an army..." He coughed and I furrowed my brows. "You see, there isn't a battle or anything... Just that the Deneith family and their forces have visited Azumond and the Head of House, Marcon, wishes to speak with the new royalty."

I rolled my eyes and wiped my nose, "Lead the way..."

He offered me his arm but I waved him off and he shrugged before leading me to the armoury where an older man with a salt and pepper beard and in a familiar dark steel suit of armour.

"And the royal couple arrives!" He chuckled, his eyes full of mirth as his cheeks nearly covered them with folds of skin.

"Name's King Julius Summergarde and this is my wife, Queen-Consort Elia," Julius informed him, putting in the same amount of glee that the man gave out.

I almost gagged and bit my tongue, willing to say 'he's not the king' but decided it was best not to.

"I apologise for the lack of company, my daughter was meant to be here but she's probably off galavanting with drunkards. My name is Lord Marcon Deneith from Aurelia." Marcon sighed and rubbed the back of his neck as Julius and I rounded the long table with a map of the Eastern World pinned to it so we faced him.

"The Conqueror was going to visit us? Well, that would be a sight, eh, Elia?" Julius chuckled and nudged my shoulder.

"Sure," I grunted, gazing off into a corner of the room.