TW THIS CHAPTER HAS DEPICTIONS OF BLOOD AND OTHER VIOLENCE
VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED
Richard woke up with a start, looking all around.
‘Wait...why is there a blanket on me?’ he thought, then looked to the bed where Helen had been laying.
It was empty.
“Oh no,” he whispered, “No, no, no.”
His heart nearly jumped out of his chest, panic gripping his heart as he momentarily thought of what might happen to Helen if he wasn’t near her.
Richard ran out of the room and throughout the castle, shouting, “Helen? Helen! Helen!”
He continued to panic, not even caring that a few royals walked by and gave him some looks.
His mind raced as he tried to rationalize where she might have gone.
Where would he go if he was Helen?
That was when he made the connection.
Helen loved flowers.
The garden.
Richard ran to the door that led to the garden, throwing it open before he saw Helen.
She was walking around the garden, tears running down her face.
Helen was…crying?
“Helen?” Richard asked softly, and Helen looked at him, quickly wiping the tears from her face.
“You’re awake,” she said, quickly trying to put a smile on her face.
“It-it’s not safe for you…to be out here,” Richard said, keeping his distance from the subject of the state he found her in. If she didn’t want to talk about it, he wouldn’t pry.
“What...what are you doing here?” Richard asked, crossing over to where Helen was standing.
“I woke up and started to wander, and then I found…this place. These flowers, this garden, I…I remember it. I’ve never remembered them before, but being here is bringing back more memories.” She looked at Richard, her dark blue eyes now dry of tears. “Richard, this really is my home.”
Richard offered a smile, just happy to find her safe. But could Helen really be a princess? What could’ve happened to her to leave her homeless and on the streets?
Before he could ask, however, two soldiers ran into the garden. “My lady!” One of them said, and they both bowed to Helen. “Their Majesties would like to speak with you and the boy.”
Richard rolled his eyes at the sound of the guards calling him, “the boy”, but he and Helen followed the soldiers back into the castle and into the throne room, where the king and queen were sitting once again.
“Helen!” Queen Hilary cheerily said, “You’re awake! Are you feeling better?”
Helen smiled at her mother. “Yes…mother.” The word sounded strange on Helen's tongue, something she would need to get used to.
Richard had never been able to use that word either.
King Harry, however, looked tired and dazed. His eyes looked slightly glazed and his body swayed as he sat on his throne. Richard thought he heard Harry mutter something about Helen.
Queen Hilary’s smile wavered a moment, her expression becoming broken and confused.
Everyone seemed to ignore it, though, and Richard began to ask if Hilgaria would help him and his friends like he’d been discussing with Queen Hilary while Helen was unconscious.
“Your Majesties,” Richard started, “We are the chosen ones on a quest to save Iddenu. Dueglestein has been on our trail since the very beginning and has killed anyone and everyone in their way as they try to stop us. We do not know why they need us alive, but they seem to know wherever we go. We come to your palace and humbly ask for your help.”
Hilary smiled at Richard, proud that he had remembered what she’d told him to say while Helen was asleep and Harry was busy with other business.
Harry, however, as he stared past the children, looked unsure about these recent events.
“We cannot bring the war to our country,” Harry said, although he wasn’t looking at either Richard or Helen, “If what you say is true, the Dueglesteiners could show up at our front door any day now! How do we know you are not Dueglestein spies? You, dear boy, look like a Dueglesteiner.” Harry looked intently at Richard, who felt his cheeks go red. He had always been self-conscious about how he looked different from the other Bellonese children, especially since his father looked nothing like him.
A loud knock on the door leading to the throne room interrupted his thoughts.
The guards by the door began to block it, although the door seemed to sway as if a great force was pushing it.
“They’re here!” Hilary exclaimed and began to cower in fear.
“Who’s here?” Richard yelled over the knocks on the door.
“The revolutionaries!” One of the soldiers holding the door shouted to Richard.
Revolutionaries? Hilgaria had revolutionaries?
The soldiers could not handle it anymore, and the doors opened, the room flooding with farmers and villagers, holding their pitchforks and other weapons, yelling at the king and queen.
It appeared that the people had finally had enough, storming the palace.
Queen Hilary screamed as she tried to hide behind her throne. King Harry stood his ground, but his eyes were full of fear.
“King Harry!” One of the revolutionaries shouted, he had a peach fuzz of a goatee, his bright blue eyes flashing with anger. His dirty blonde hair was pulled back in a messy tail.
“You have allowed the Dueglesteiners to raid our villages, destroy our farms, and take our wives! This has gone on far enough! We are done working hard to please you when we are constantly being robbed of our food, valuables, and people! When will it end?”
King Harry swayed a little, his eyes glazing again. “You can blame these children, my subjects, for they have brought the war to our country!”
Queen Hilary gasped, confused why her husband would blame their newly found daughter for a problem that was clearly of his making. “Harry!”
Richard was confused as well. This man had been so excited to see Helen, but now was putting her at the mercy of his subjects who were against him?
The revolutionary looked at Helen and Richard for a second, then shouted. “We have never seen these children before. You are the cause of our troubles! And you will fix them.”
King Harry shook his head, his eyes clearing for a second, revealing his dark blue eyes. Then they faded again and he said, “No. You must solve this yourself.”
“Then you will pay…” The revolutionary shook his head, reached into his jacket, and pulled out a throwing knife.
“No!” Helen shouted.
What happened next would haunt Richard for the rest of his life. It almost occurred slower than it actually played out.
The revolutionary reached back and threw the knife. Richard watched it fly end over end, growing closer and closer to the king. He watched in fear as Helen moved in front of the king, and...the knife struck her in the side.
Helen gasped.
Richard’s mouth fell open as he whispered, “No,”
Helen looked down at where the knife was lodged in her side, as blood bloomed on her shirt. She slowly turned to Richard, her eyes wide. Richard was frozen in fear, unable to move.
It was only when Helen began to sway that Richard snapped out of it. He ran over to Helen and caught her before she hit the ground.
She was losing consciousness fast, her eyes fluttering open and closed, open and closed. The blood was now dripping from her shirt and pooling on the ground below them.
“H-Helen…” Richard said, looking at her deep blue eyes. She looked at him, her body slowly sinking to the floor.
“Why would you do that?” he desperately asked through gritted teeth, tears filling his eyes. No.
No.
He couldn’t lose her.
“Because…” Helen said so softly Richard had to lean forward to hear her. “He-he’s my father…and I love him...I have to...protect everyone...I...love..."
Then Helen’s head rested on the ground, her breathing shallow. But Richard didn’t know for how long she could live.
The revolutionaries had left, but a new person rushed into the throne room.
It was the doctor who had helped Helen when she’d fainted.
“Carry her to the infirmary.” The older man ordered kindly, checking for her pulse.
He stood up, carrying Helen in his arms. She weighed barely anything. Richard carried her through the castle, wondering if Helen might make it through the night...
ns 15.158.61.54da2
