Before the Last Snow

Chapter 21: El Comienzo (The Start)

The clouds were grey, as they would be for the next few weeks in Moondlanders' Kingdom. Lexon had yet to figure out what he was to do with his brother-like traitor. Nebula was equally, if not more, shocked than the rest of the family. Lurnara felt a sting in her heart, but she genuinely believed Hedwig's innocence. As for Hedwig and Crystal, their relationship had been a bridge between the thin ice of vengeance and possibly unrequited love.

Under more normal circumstances, Lexon and Nebula would retire to bed earlier, but nothing about this situation was anywhere near normal. No, far away, very far away.

"Is everyone just going to stay silent, hmm?" Lurnara tickled the tense atmosphere, she loved doing that.

"Hedwig is genuinely sorry! Why can't you see that, anyone? He loves Crystal-. He loves all of us, he cares about us. I know it. I know it for sure."

"How do you know?" Crystal finally said something, well she asked, so she finally asked something.

"Crystal. I know the glances and subtle look-aways someone in love does. He does it all the time. He could have escaped, but he didn't. You punishing him for being honest is nothing good!"

"Lurnara. What has he done to you? Why would you take his side, and not ours?" Nebula queried, for good reasons.

"Because-"

"Because what?" Crystal pushed her to the brink. More secrets were to come out tonight.

"Because I like him. and I love you."

Lexon was half-shocked, Nebula's mouth so wide open that a bee would fit inside. Crystal, on the edge of sobbing and breaking down into tears.

"There, I said it! I love you, Crystal and I like him, too. I cannot see him with anyone other than you and vice-versa. You don't understand how precious it is to have someone reciprocate your feelings. None of you do!"

"Lurnara..." Crystal tried.

"No, don't touch me. None of you. Leave me, just. It is so hard to keep my feelings closed, you have no idea! To keep such a huge part of me in the dark from people I love is so difficult. Crystal, I have never asked you for anything but promise me, please promise me: you will not lose Hedwig. I am not asking you to swear to love him, but don't lose him. Not when his hand is so close to grabbing. Not when you can have a love so lavender."

"Okay, I-I promise. But remember when the time comes, you must promise me something too."

"I will remember that. Now, if you'll excuse me, I should get myself together."

"Will you be okay, Lur?" Crystal smiled gently, after the entire situation.

"I always will be. Go and take care of him for me, hmm?"

She nodded.

"We still need to figure out what to do about Hedwig's father and the attack they have planned," Lexon's logical mindset had kicked in.

He was raised to be this way, a King who could patiently lead his people. Of course, nothing disastrous had happened before to test his patience, but now that things were getting chaotic, he was showing the lack of patience he so awfully needed.

"We could have Hedwig tell us of the plans and maybe sabotage it?"

"Yes, I agree with Crystal. Lexon, dear, we need to let him help us."

"I cannot trust him one bit!"

"I know it is hard, but it is the only way."

He scoffed, walked around the halls, scoffed again, and stomped his feet too loud. The Elder Royals would have instantly put Hedwig to death, they were brutal that way, but Lexon wished to be a different King, a better King.

"Fine. We will set him free, temporarily. But he hasn't been forgiven yet. He will help us fight the attackers, sabotage their plans, and depending on how much he helps us, we will declare a final verdict."

meanwhile.....

They're going to kill you. You need to escape Hedwig.

The voice inside Hedwig's mind had to awaken, of course, and Hedwig knew better than to listen to him. He knew much better. The cold walls were eating away at his sanity, the spiders mocking him, the lowly lit lights taunting his sheer appearance in these prison cells. He knew what had to be done and that it had to be done at the right moment.

When Lexon came to the jail cell to free Hedwig, Hedwig immediately stood up and ran to hug him as if he had never really hugged Lexon, but he did many times.

"What are you doing?!"

"Please. Just for a minute."

Lexon eventually melted in the wax-mold of Hedwig's innocence.

"I need to tell Crystal something, please."

"Okay, let's take you to her, then."

They walked hurriedly, coincidentally matching their pace and steps with one another, and when Crystal seemed close, Hedwig grabbed her wrist, dragged her to a room, and shut the door close. 

"Hedwig! Leave me at once. What are you doing?"

"Crystal, I'm really sorry. I need your help, please."

"What?"

"Long ago, my father took half of your soul to give to me because I didn't have one. I was cursed to be hollow, to be born dead, I was built differently, but my father thought it was unfair. It was unfair. He wanted to seek revenge and he took half of your soul."

"Wait, Hedwi-"

"Now, that half of your soul has become evil. It is taking over me and my thoughts and you need to take it from me. Please."

"Hedwig, none of this is making any sense. You need to slow down, for the love of magic."

"Okay, okay. Slowing down, I shall do. Basically, my father told me that I would have been born evil if he didn't take half of your good soul and merge it within me. But, the evil soul has been strengthening itself and the point is-"

BOOM. 

They paused, Hedwig wished for this nightmare to never occur, but it was happening right now.

Another BOOM. Screams. Yelling. Shouting.

Was this the end of it all, or the start of the Battles?

A/N

Hola hola! So, I have finished plotting the entire thing. I just have to keep updating the chapters now and yes, this book is going to be happening very fast at this point. I hope I don't rush it ahhhh anyways take care of y'all I missed you guys 😕🥰 and yeah, fingers crossed. I only plan to kill two characters, for real. But, I gotta say I don't like writing happy endings so :(

Also, shoutout to @Rose_kn for the phrase 'a love so lavender'!!!!