The Valley of Mysteries | Book 1: The Beginning

Chapter 28 - THE AFTERMATH

Christmas was only 10 days away. The town had been restored to its former glory. All the Vampires and Elves with Malum's mark were imprisoned for life. It had been a week since the cave collapsed and Natalie was still quiet. Garrett tried and failed to make her talk. She wasn't even crying.

Others weren't doing great either. Aaron had busied himself with the court work and council. Sean was helping him. Alyssia was leaving the valley with her mother to visit her mundane relatives.
"I'll be back before the coronation!" Alyssia told Sean, Aaron and unattentive Natalie.
"Coronation? They're still doing that?" Sean shook his head in disbelief.
"They have to! I've heard other magical realms might try to advance on us. We need a monarch." Aaron looked towards Natalie and sighed.
"He's right. But..." Alyssia looked away, thoughtfully.
"But?" Sean asked.
"Look at her. I'm not even sure if she's listening to us. Do you really think she's up for something like this?" she looked at Natalie.
"You're right. Hey, Natalie! You with us?" Sean placed his hand over her shoulder. She did not respond.
"Natalie!!" Alyssia sat next to her.
"This is messed up!" Sean sighed loudly.
"Messed up? She met her mother after months, met her best friend after months, and found out that he was actually her brother, Malum turned out to be Alastor - her father - had to kill him and then lost her mom and brother... all in one day!! What do you expect?" Aaron said angrily.
"I... Woah. I just... I'm sorry. But what do we do?"

"Someone has to take the throne!" Baldwin suggested. He was the newly appointed head of the council.
"But Natalie is in no shape to do that! And she's not even trained properly." Garrett said.
"I understand that. But the coronation ceremony has to be done on Christmas! With Edward gone and Caitlyn gone... Natalie has to ascend as the new Queen!"
"My girl hasn't spoken a word ever since... I'm not even sure if she's..." he sighed. Baldwin patted his back.
"Take your time. I'll... try to talk to the others. I'll see if we can... bend a little." Baldwin took his leave.

*THREE DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS*

"Hey, kiddo!" Garrett entered Natalie's room and sat next to her. "Listen, I know it's hard but... you have to understand. It's... it's difficult for all of us. I'm... not doing great either. But we have to support each other. Hey! Talk to me!! I lost Cate too! And even you aren't talking to me. What am I supposed to do?" Garrett buried his face in his palms. After a few seconds, he felt warm arms wrapped around him. Natalie finally cried.

She had been crying for almost an hour. Her head was in Garrett's lap and he was caressing her hair.
"You know, I'm here for you!" Garrett kissed her forehead as she sat up.
"I... I'm sorry." she sobbed. "I just... didn't know what to do. I felt so... lost."
"I understand, kiddo. You know, when your mother shifted into my building... all those years ago, she was a lot like you. She tried to fight all by herself. I remember asking her if she needed my help. And her answer was a slamming door in my face. That was shortly after she had found out that her parents were murdered while she was running for her life and yours. She finally opened up after a year, when my dad passed away. I had to get back to work after a week... duty calls. That's when she told me about her parent's death, your father and that her brother - Stuart - might as well be dead. The point is... life doesn't stop if we stop walking. It walks by! What you need to do is... well... your usual..." he half-chuckled.
"What?"
"Look it in the eye and say... SCREW YOU!" he laughed. "You're getting my point?"
"Yeah. I'll... I'll try." she smiled weakly.

*CHRISTMAS - 2018*

That morning, the palace flooded with people, preparing for the Coronation ball that evening. Natalie had declined the throne but agreed to help the valley until she was ready to take over. The throne was going down to the Elves. Natalie was checking the arrangements in the hall when she saw Aaron walk out of the hall. "Excuse me!" she said and followed him.