In Love With The Ebony Queen

Goodbye, My love

"Come here, my darling." Serena's mother reached for her princess from her hospital bed. "Mommy!" Serena jumps into the bed to her mother's arms. "When are you getting out of the hospital? I want you to play tea party with me."

Little Serena is a 7 year old princess. Her mother, Queen Liandra has been battling an illness for the last 3 years now. Princess Serena doesn't quite understand what is happening to her mother. She only knows that she wants her mother with her. 

"My dear, sweet Serena. Mommy will not be able to play tea party with you." Serena's brow furrowed. "Why not? Aren't you feeling better?" Queen Liandra's eyes began to fill with tears. 

"Mommy is not feeling better. Mommy is very sick my love." the queen tells her small princess. "I must leave you now, my dear. I am so sorry. I hope you can forgive me." Serena stares at her mother a moment, trying to process what she is saying. 

"Mommy, I do not understand. Where are you going? Can I come with you?" The young princess begins to cry. "No, sweetheart. You cannot come with me. I am going somewhere where sick people go. But once they are there, they feel so much better." the queen said.

"Can you come back after you feel better?" Serena asked her mother. The queen nodded. "No, my dear. I must stay there. If I leave, I will get sick again." Serena stared down at her hands and tears began to fall.

The queen placed her frail hand under the young girl's chin and gently lifted her head to meet her eyes. "But just know that mommy will be with you, always. I will be watching you." The girl looked at her mother and smiled through her tears. 

"I love you so much mommy. I am going to miss you." The queen let her tears fall as her only daughter wrapped her arms around her neck and squeezed tightly, crying into her mother's shoulder. "I love you too my sweet, sweet girl. Mommy loves you more than anything in the whole wide world."

Serena finally let her mother go, and turned to see her father in the doorway. Queen Liandra smiled at her husband as he scooped up their tiny princess and held the crying child close. 

"My dear, please go with your grandmother. I am going to say goodbye to mommy now, okay?" He wiped the tears that coated her face, then placed her on her feet. 

Serena ran to her grandmother who stood near the door. She buried her face into her grandmother's gown and began to weep. "Come now, Serena. Let's go get you something sweet to eat." Her grandmother gave her a light pat on the head and smiled. 

"My love, I know you will take great care of our sweet daughter. Please, do not let her stay sad." Queen Liandra begged her husband. The proud king looked down at his queen. Even in this state, she was still a beautiful vision to him. 

She was a tall woman- about 5'10", with beautiful brown, honey colored skin. She had brown eyes that always had a shine to them. Her long curly hair met her lower back, and her frame was thin. Although now, her frame was even smaller because of how sick she has become. 

Even so, the king looked at his ailing wife with such adoration and love. "You are so beautiful." King Alexander said to his queen. She giggled. Not now I do not. I am a mess." The king nodded, tears now forming in his bright hazel eyes. 

"No. You are a vision. I only wish I could have spent my entire life with you, my love." He kissed her hand a nd the queen smiled at him. "We will meet again, a very long time from now. We will be together once more. For now, I need you to take care of our little girl.

Keep her happy. Do not let her lose her shine because she is missing me. Promise me." The queen begged him once more. The king nodded and smiled. "I swear it. I will make sure Serena stays happy. I will shower her with all the things I know you wanted her to have. 

She will be the happiest princess in all the world." The queen smiled at her husband and he leaned down to kiss her lips. "We will meet again, my beautiful love." he whispered into her lips. 

"I love you so much Alex." The queen closed her eyes for the last time and fell into an unawakenable sleep. The king continued to hold his queen close as the realization of his loss hit him. 

He began sobbing, uncontrollably. He stopped holding back his tears and let them fall freely. He cried out for his beloved wife, but she never opened her eyes. His heart shattered into a million pieces. He would never be the same again.

************6 MONTHS LATER************

"Serena! Serena, come here! It is time to get ready for your party, my love. So many people are here to see you and wish you a happy birthday!" the king walked into the princess's room, but he could not find her.

"Serena, come on now dear. You mustn't be late. There are a hundred people here to see you. Don't you want to get your gifts?" The king looked everywhere for his young, rebellious princess. 

"Gifts?" she said as she poked her head out from under the bed. He laughed. "Yes, my dear. Lots of people have come to wish you a happy birthday and shower you with gifts." He picked up the small child and carried her over to the window. 

"See? All these people are showing up just for you." He pointed down to all the cars that were pulling in through the large golden gate in the distance. 

"I don't like big parties. I never know anyone there, daddy." She wiggles out of his grip and looks up at her father. King Alexander is a large, intimidating man, standing at 6'4", with broad shoulders and well built. He had deep brown skin and light hazel eyes. 

His hair was long, which he kept in a single braid and pulled away from his face always. Today was Serena's 8th birthday. She is a small child, with beautiful ebony skin, and dark brown eyes just like her mother had. She had raven black hair that was also textured with tight curls, just like her mother as well. 

"It will be fun. There will be plenty of children your age to play with. Now please, put on your new dress now. I will send your grandmother and Linda in here to help you get ready, okay?" 

Linda was Serena's nanny. She had been helping to raise her since she was an infant. Serena loves Linda like a member of the family. "Okay, fine daddy." Serena crossed her arms and huffed. 

King Alexander looked at his stubborn daughter with a raised eyebrow, before stepping out of the room. Shortly after the king left, the king's mother, grandmother Rose, and Linda came in to help the little princess get dressed for her 8th birthday party. 

After an hour, her hair was done, and she was in her new party dress. "How do I look, grandma?" Serena did a little twirl in her white ball gown dress that was adorned with crystals all over. "You look beautiful as always my dear." Her grandmother gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"Now let's finish this look with your favorite tiara." Linda walked over to Serena with a box and placed it in her grandmother's hands. Serena opened it and gently picked up her tiara and handed it to Linda.

"Will you do it for me?" the princess asked. "It would be an honor your highness." Linda placed the tiara onto Serena's head, careful not to mess up her high bun that her hair was in. "There. You're perfect now your highness." Linda said as the little princess did a little twirl once again. 

"Okay I think I'm ready. I hope this party doesn't take a long time like the last one. It felt like it went on forever!" The two ladies chuckle at the girl, then step out of the door to summon the king. As he walked back into the room, his eyes lit up.

"Well! Serena you looks so beautiful!" Serena is in awe of her father. He stepped into her room wearing a matching suit truly fit for a king. He had golden accents through out his coat and shoes. His beard was perfectly trimmed and he wore a single red rose on his jacket, in memory of his wife, the queen.

Classic red roses where her favorite flowers.