3. All I Have
1625 Words
The next 2 weeks are just Kina trying to get me stronger. I never leave the royal wing. I get strong enough that I can walk around on my own. I'm eating as much as I can. The food is so much different though. Alden stays close, always trying to take care of me. But that's Kina's job, and she's not afraid to tell him. So they have to work together to make me stronger.
The shock seems to be less now. It's still hard to believe that me and Kina are the only people left. I miss everyone. I miss my friend. I'm lonely. Kina tells me about when my brother had the throne and how bad it was.
Alden mostly stares at me when he's not doing paperwork. His room is right next door. He's always close. I like that he's close, but I don't feel connected to him at all. We never really talk. It seems he has lots of friends. People I've never met. They come to the wing to get papers and stuff signed constantly.
I sit at my little table by the window and watch the morning suns. At least some things never change. Kina made me some eggs this morning. Even the eggs taste different than they used to.
Alden knocks and pokes his head in. "I have to go to class, sweetheart. I'll still be in the castle. I'm just in a different wing. Tell a guard if you need me."
"Of course sir. Thank you for letting me know."
He rubs his eyes and leaves.
I go back to watching out the window.
Kina comes back in after a bit. She picks up the dirty dishes. "You want to walk around the castle? They are redoing a lot of it. It seems nice."
"I don't have anything to wear. I don't think my dresses would have lasted 500 years. Could you ask the king for some money to buy me some clothes?"
"You do have your own account still."
"A new dress please. I would love to see the rest of the castle."
"Of course. I'll get you 1. The normal queen style?"
"Yes please. Thank you Kina."
"My pleasure. I'll have it ready by lunch. And you know there are other people here correct? The 8th year students from the school are here. You could talk to them as well. I know you're lonely."
"I'm fine. Still in a bit of shock. I need some more time first."
"Of course, ma'am. I'll get that dress for you."
Lunchtime rolls around and Kina comes in with a gorgeous dress and some food. I eat all my food, then put the dress and shoes on.
The dress is floor length burgundy and gold. It's so full on the bottom. I am in love with it. Then it has long sleeves and a big collar. She rolls my hair and pulls it up like she used to. I stare at myself in the mirror and feel so pretty. I'm like a real queen. Then she gives me some red and white powders. I put a little on my cheeks and lips. I'm all grown up. I excuse Kina and decide to explore the castle.
I get over to a wing they redid, and they left all the built-in bookshelves. That's convenient. I flip the switch and enter the servant's walkways. I make my way to my hidden office.
Kina kept it clean all this time. My jewelry is still displayed on the shelves. The papers seem to have faded away to nothing. And there is an old painting of my parents in here. It needs cleaning, but it may survive. It was always my favorite painting of them. They were done up all fancy with the crowns on. They were so happy. I stop for a second and wonder if I'll ever have that with my mate.
Then I snap myself out of it and check out my desk. The box with the compass necklace is sitting on it. It hasn't aged a day. That is so weird. I open it and the compass is still not pointing north. I laugh for a second and then swallow the tears away. I'll never really know who sent it.
I pick out some gold and ruby jewelry. The necklace I pick has a huge ruby. It's easily as big as a plum. It's heavy, but it's perfect with the dress. I pick up the painting and shut my office. Maybe someone can save it. I would like to display it somewhere.
I get turned around in the tunnels. It's hard to focus when everything appears the same. But I find a door. I hear someone talking on the other side, at least I found someone. I flip the switch and carry my painting out, right into the 8th year students' classroom. The teacher glances at me about 8 times. I close the shelf with the switch.
"Pardon me for interrupting, sir. I didn't know what wing you were in. I was simply trying to get out of the tunnels alive."
"It's no problem, ma'am. What do you have there?"
"A painting of my parents. I was hoping to find someone who could fix it."
"Is that real?" One of the girls is staring at me.
"Yes, it's really my parents."
They laugh.
I glance at Alden and he's rubbing his eyes.
Whatever.
"I'm sorry for interrupting. I'll see myself out, sir." I nearly run out the door. I don't know why they were laughing at me.
I run down the hallway and nearly knock another person down.
"Are you ok?" The nice woman smiles and bounces 1 of my curls.
"They were laughing at me." I start sobbing. I can't even help it.
"Ok. I'll figure out what's going on. But what is this? What were you doing? Where are you going?" She rubs my back.
"I was going to try and find someone to fix my painting. It's my favorite of them." I hold it up and she smiles. "I love this. I miss them."
"I know you do, sweetie. Come on. I think I know who can help with that and my name is Emberlynna."
I follow her to a door, and she knocks on it.
"ENTER"
"Good afternoon. Queen Mayra is trying to find someone to fix a painting. I thought you might know of someone."
I hold up my painting for the man.
He looks from me to the painting about 10 times. Then he says, "Oh... Ok." and stands up. He comes over and takes my painting. "Yes, I know the perfect place to restore this. I'll have them come here and do it. And I'm Mr. Aver. This is my office. If you ever have questions or need to talk, you are always welcome to stop in."
"Thank you, sir."
"Do you have any others that need to be restored?"
I turn around and run. I do, but I don't want to give him all of them. What if I don't get them back or the place ruins them? I can't give him everything I have.
I hear Emberlynna laugh. "I would call that a yes."
I'll hide. I go back to my hidden office and smile at the paintings left on the walls. I don't have much left of my life, but at least I have a few things. I check the drawers. Not much survives 500 years. A piece of fabric that shreds when I touch it. I don't even remember what it was.
Then the alarms sound. I guess I'm safer here than anywhere else though. I keep going through the desk. Then I pull my swords off the wall. I twirl them a bit. I still remember the swords classes daddy sent me to. It was about 10 years ago for me. 510 years for everyone else.
Kina runs in and stops.
Alden runs in the door behind her and doesn't stop. They fall over.
"Why are you following me?"
"I figured you knew where she was."
"Well, you didn't have to knock me over."
"I didn't know you were going to stop."
I twirl my swords and watch them argue.
Kina stands up and brushes herself off. "Sorry, ma'am. The alarms went off because they lost you. I figured you were in here, so I ran. I didn't know he would chase me."
"Yes, here I am. Please shut the alarms off."
"Of course." She turns around and walks out.
Alden looks at me then the jewelry. "What is this place?"
"My hidden room. Well, it's not so hidden now. But it was."
He sits on my desk. "Nobody was laughing at you. When she asked if it was real, she was talking about your necklace. You answered about the painting. It was a misunderstood question. It was funny. That's all."
"Thank you for clearing that up, sir."
"I take it these are the other paintings that need to be restored. Why did you run?"
My eyes fill up with tears. "They're all I have. If they steal them or ruin them, I will have nothing from my whole life."
He nods slowly. "Everyone knows about the tunnels now. We're going to have to move all of this to the royal wing. We can't chance having it stolen." He stands up.
"Of course, sir. I'll let Kina know." I take a few steps out the door. Then I run for it. I make my way to the roof this time. I sit and watch out over the fields. Everything is different now. I can even see big roads in the distance.
I lay down and feel myself falling asleep.
- Writer
