A Castle of Ashes (The Fifth Kingdom Book 2) (7 page)

She opened the door to his room.  “Just look!  You can see her kingdom in the distance.  In time she will return to us.”  She departed and Matthew went to the one window next to the bed in the room he was given.  He stared out and looked at the castle that had emerged in the distance. He would stay a couple days in good faith, and depart the East Kingdom.  He needed to start over. 

When Matthew awoke, to his surprise it was daylight outside. He had only meant to rest his eyes a moment, but he had slept straight through the night.  There was a platter of uneaten food left by his bedside.  He looked out the window.  The light that usually shined through the tower of the castle could not be seen the past few days.  He strained his eyes to see if the daylight was masking it.  Since the tower erupted through the waters, the light had gone on and off from the tower, but he did not know what it meant.  He washed and changed his garments, and went to search for his uncle.  As he left his chambers, a young, beautiful woman stepped into his path.  She had Lucinda’s same complexion and black hair, braided to one side of her face. 

“Princess Drissa?” Matthew guessed.

“You are not welcome here.”  She answered coldly.

“My lady, how have I offended you?” 

“You are not welcome here.” She said louder.  “The rumors are true, aren’t they?  My sister is following the same path as the Ancient Queen. The first queen destroyed her life by loving a prince from the West and my sister did the same.  Are you the reason why she was so eager to leave our kingdom?  How long did you court her and feed her your lies?  What did you promise her to make her leave us?”

Matthew did not know how to respond.  Drissa was a young girl of eleven when Lucinda disappeared.  Now she was a woman of eighteen throwing accusations at him.  “My lady,” he started carefully.  “I swear to you, your sister and I did not know each other before she came to my kingdom.  We grew fond of each other, but nothing more.  I swear it.”

“Liar! She was always a sensible girl.  You and your kingdom drove her to this madness!”  She took a commanding step toward him.  “If my sister is dead, her blood is on your hands!” 

“Drissa!”  Her stepmother appeared behind her.  “What are you doing?”  Drissa kept her gaze locked on Matthew as she addressed Denalyn.

“Why would Father allow them to come back here?  I want them to leave!”

“I heard your words to the Commander.  You are disgracing your father and our kingdom. He will hear of this. Now apologize.” Denalyn turned Drissa toward her and looked at her with such planted dark eyes, that Drissa was forced to submit.

“I apologize.”  She said in ill temper to Matthew.

“Excuse yourself.” Denalyn commanded her.

“I beg your pardon
dear
Prince, but I must leave.”  She shot Denalyn a disgusted look before stomping away from them.

“Commander, I am so sorry.  It is not you really.  The girl has been in an awful mood ever since her father refused to betroth her to Prince Andreas.”

“King Adelphi’s son? He asked for her?”

“They came here themselves a few weeks ago. The girl became smitten over the Prince. My husband told them that he would need time to consider, but in truth he plans to refuse.  He fears there is an ulterior motive.” She sighed.  “The girl is well into marrying age, but she is awfully immature.  Her father spoiled her too much.”

“Your Grace, would you know where my uncle is?” 

“Of course,” She turned around and gestured him to follow her.  “He’s spending time in the mourning grounds.”  The mourning grounds were stationed in each of the kingdoms where royal families were laid to rest.  Matthew found Jonathan by an unmarked tomb near to where the late Queen lay to rest. Scattered across it were hundreds of white roses.

Matthew picked up a rose and studied it. “Your Grace, I have noticed an abundance of picked white roses all throughout the kingdom.  What is the purpose?”

“They were Lucinda’s favorite.” Denalyn started.  “Our people shower them around the kingdom in memory of her, hoping that if she is alive, she will take notice of their devotion and return to us.  It is really a sweet gesture.”

Matthew looked down upon the mountain of white roses by the unmarked tomb.  A sudden realization came over him and he stepped back from the tomb. “No, this isn’t—“

“Yes,” Denalyn said softly.  “The people wanted a place to mourn for her. I told my husband that putting a marked grave of an undead person into the ground would anger the earth god.  So, the King would only agree to an unmarked tomb.”

Even unmarked, the tomb was hard to bear.  The one thing he did not allow himself to consider throughout the years was the possibility that Lucinda was dead.  What if what he saw at Narka wasn’t trustworthy?  What if he saw simply what he wanted to see?  What he wished to see for so long? He fell to his knees amongst the roses and placed his forehead against the tomb.
No, she is alive.  I know she is.
He thought.
But why won’t she make herself known?
He did not know how much time had passed, but when he lifted his head from the tomb, Queen Denalyn was gone.  His uncle was a short distance away, with a hand upon Queen Lucille’s tomb.

Matthew approached him. “How did you know the late Queen?” Matthew whispered.  His uncle said nothing in response, but kept his eyes shut. “It is clear that you had a history with her.”

Matthew took out Lucinda’s necklace and placed it on the Queen’s tomb. His Uncle sighed.  “When I was a young commander, a little younger than you, I traveled to the East to mingle with the Eastern Guardsmen.  She was a part of the guard herself; a young woman of nineteen.  I hardly met any women knights. I assumed most would look manish, but she was more beautiful than any maiden I had ever seen.” His uncle stopped and continued.  “I was only in the East for a short time, but I quickly loved her.  She was fascinating.  She was so interested in the legend of the Ancient Queen.  She always knew she would have a part to play in the Fifth Kingdom’s return.”

“Is she the reason you know so much about the Queen’s story?”

He nodded. “I think she believed that perhaps she was the reincarnation of the Queen herself. She told me of a prophecy that was given at her birth.
‘You will bear the power that will restore the Kingdom.’
  She always knew it was the Ancient Queen’s kingdom, though those around her believed it was the East Kingdom she would make prosper.  That’s why her mother had her presented as a prospect for Queen.”  He paused again.  “She wrote to me often when I left the East, and eventually asked me to have my brother speak to her father for her hand.   Your father refused me of course.  The girl believed in the gods of the elements and our kingdom believed in the One God.  The West is unrelenting with its beliefs as you know.  I was part of the royal line and I could not marry a woman who believed in other gods.  I knew that she would not give up her beliefs.  The Ancient Queen believed in the gods of the elements after all, so Lucille would not change.” He grabbed the necklace off the tomb and clutched it tightly.  “I traveled to the East and told her I was refused.  She told me it would not matter once she restored the kingdom.  We would be free to marry and need the permission of no one.  Yet, there were tears in her eyes and a sense of desperation in her voice.  I knew it was too late.”

“She was chosen.” 

His uncle nodded.  “Even if your father had agreed to let me marry her, her father would have refused.  She would be Queen.” 

“Did you ever see her again?”

His uncle looked up at him with tears in his eyes, as if awoken from a nightmare.  He opened his mouth to speak, when the blasts of large trumpets filled the air.  There was a commotion coming from outside the kingdom gates. 

“Battle blasts?” He asked his uncle, as they ran from the mourning grounds to the entrance of the castle.

“No,” His uncle responded.  “That is the sound of a return.  Someone has come after a long departure.”

The King was standing by the entrance of the castle doors when Matthew and Jonathan arrived. He was leaning on his queen looking into the distance with the two young princes.  The princesses joined them shortly after.

“Is it true? It is true father?”  They exclaimed.

The King pointed toward the gate.  “Look.” He said quietly. In the distance a woman in a green gown was walking through the castle gates.  An eruption of cheers and white roses were thrown around her as she took each step. “Yes, it is true.”  King Hamlyn said breathlessly.  “Lucinda has returned.”

Chapter 6

Lucinda approached the castle steps with caution. She decided to take a ship with a small crew of her knights by her side.  She knew that just entering the water and appearing at the shore would draw too much attention.  She left Geenessa as first in command, and had Zekiel as her second.  The man was quiet and hesitant around her now but was honored to continue serving her. 

It was midday and the shores were busy when her ship reached land.  When she stepped out onto the shore no one took notice at first, thinking that she was just another traveler returning from a journey.  Yet, soon they saw her green eyes.  Gasps surrounded her followed by subtle whispers.  To her surprise, no one dared approach her, but many went running toward the kingdom.  A path started forming on both sides of her, creating a wall as she approached the castle gates. 

“Princess!” Somebody yelled. “Our Princess!”

Lucinda was concerned about the reception she would receive from the East Kingdom, wondering if they desired her return at all.  Yet her concern was put to rest as the wall of people around her started to lower to a knee as she passed them. An overwhelmed feeling came upon her and she resisted the urge to cry.  She wanted to approach the people and her father with confidence and courage.  As she neared the gate, a group of guardsmen came before her.  She recognized her personal guard growing up, Jax, as he approached her.

“Identify yourself.” He said with sternness, but Lucinda knew he recognized her.  Tears started to well in his eyes.

“I am the eldest daughter of King Hamlyn of the East Kingdom. Princess Lucinda of the East.” She hesitated before continuing. “Queen Lucinda of the Fifth Kingdom of the Kingdoms of the Green Sea.  I have been missing for over seven years and I wish to see my father, the King.”

He studied her.  “There are only four legitimate kingdoms of the Green Sea, my lady, but that is not for me to argue. If you are who you claim to be, the King will take audience with you.”  He turned to the men behind him. “Open the Gate!”

A distance away at the castle doors, she could see them.  Her Father and Denalyn were clear to her.  The others she was uncertain of but she knew her sisters and her young brothers must look different after so many years.  As she stepped closer to the castle entrance, those around her father had disappeared. It was only her father waiting for her.  She continued her steps, each one heavier than the last until she was within a few feet of him.  She bowed to the ground.

“Your Majesty, Father.” She said in a voice that she hoped sounded strong.

He lifted her face to his and studied it. He spoke in a low voice heavy with emotion, “Lucinda, it truly is you.”

“Yes, Father.” She confirmed.  “It is me.  I have returned to you, and I am so sorry for the pain I caused.”  She felt herself breaking inside.  She held on to so much guilt for making him suffer for all these years. “I am sorry to have hurt you, but I had to go.  I did not want to leave you but I needed to restore the castle, and my kingdom.  Mother always knew it.”

Her father pulled her to her feet.  He said nothing and led her inside to the throne room. There was a crowd of people flooded into the room.  She recognized her father’s council men who gasped and whispered when she entered. A few steps in, she saw Denalyn, two young beautiful women and two young boys by the throne. 

“Lucinda!”  The two young women cried in unison as they ran to her.  They embraced her fiercely.  “Why did you leave us?  We were so worried about you?  Where have you been?”  Lucinda pulled away from them.

“Drissa, Erica.” She said in disbelief.  The two little sisters she had left behind had grown into beautiful young women. 

“Boys,” Denalyn said in a soft voice.  “Greet your eldest sister.”  Lucinda looked at the boys clinging to their mother.  She had left when her half-brothers were only two and one in age. She was a stranger to them, only heard in stories and memories.  She extended her hands to them and they tentatively approached her.  She held them tightly and embraced her stepmother next. “I knew you would return to us, our sweet Lucinda.” Denalyn said tenderly.

She turned back to her father who was staring at her intently.  She waited for him to speak, but her sisters broke the silence and repeated their inquiries.  “Is it true what they say?  Did you bring back the Ancient Queen’s kingdom?  Are you a Queen?”  Erica whispered.

“You have made us worried to death about you for seven years.  You return to us now like a ghost and we deserve an explanation. What happened the night of the celebration?  Where have you been?”  Drissa demanded.  She looked to something in the distance and lowered her voice. “What did he do to you?”

Lucinda looked at Drissa in confusion before returning her gaze to her father.  “The castle that you see in the middle of the Green Sea is mine.” She said in a loud voice, addressing the crowd as well.  “For seven years, I have been building my kingdom, the lost Fifth Kingdom last ruled by Queen Nycilla.  The night of the celebration I entered into the sea to escape from the false accusations against me.  I did not start the fire in the West Kingdom, but knew I would be held accountable for it. In fear I walked into the water and the sea guided me to the ruins of the old Fifth Kingdom. I was chosen to restore the kingdom.  This was the prophecy given to me at my birth. I was lost, and I pleaded for help, and then before me were followers who believed I was chosen. At least a hundred came at first who traveled into the sea from all kingdoms to pledge their allegiance to me.  That first year I was gone, we built my kingdom together out of the ashes of the old kingdom.” 

She took a deep breath and then continued. “Yet, I was scared to make it known.  So I started with one tower, and as the years went on and my kingdom had more structure and became stronger, I continued to make more and more of it visible to you and the other kingdoms.  I was hoping it would give you hope that I was alive.  Through the years, more and more followers came to me.  They believed in my kingdom and the sea brought them to me.   When I finally found my confidence as Queen, I feared if I looked to my past I would lose everything I had.  So I never looked back.  Until now.  I was reminded that my kingdom would never be a true kingdom if it was not recognized by the other kingdoms of the Green Sea.” She paused.  “And I would never be a true Queen.  I have missed you.  I am sorry for the pain I caused you.  I am truly sorry.”  She went to her knees again, in respect for her father, the King. The throne room was silent.

Her father allowed the silence to sit between them for a long moment.  “I have mourned you Lucinda.” He said slowly.  “I mourned you like I mourned your mother.  Seven years you were dead to us.  We endured stories of your sightings.  Every day we would allow ourselves to have hope, and every day we would be disappointed when you did not return to us.  In my heart I knew you were alive, but it was easier for me to believe you were dead.  It was greater pain for you to be alive and for us to accept that you just did not want to be with us.”  She had no words to respond.  His words were true and they cut her deeply in her heart.  He said nothing for a long moment. She did not separate her eyes from his.  Finally, he continued.  “Now that you have finally returned to us,” His voice broke. “That is all that matters. You are your own woman, and you will have to plead with each kingdom to have your castle legitimized, but for me and my kingdom, my daughter and our princess has come home.  Nothing else matters.  You can keep your castle in the water and your title as Queen.  You are my daughter.  You are the Princess of the East and you are home. My precious one has returned to me.”  He left his throne and embraced her tightly as he wept into her. After several moments, he turned her around to the crowd in the throne room.  “My daughter owes us many answers and I will see that she gives them, but now we will celebrate.  The lost princess has returned to us.”

Denalyn and Erica embraced her again. Her brothers stood shyly at a distance and Drissa stood away from her looking unmoved.  Her father’s men cheered although Lucinda saw the blatant fear and mistrust in their eyes.  She looked around the throne room to try to recognize their faces.  Tears were starting to blur her vision but an overwhelmed smile came to her face.  She was home.  Her father was in shock now, but it would calm tomorrow. He would interrogate her about her disappearance, but tonight she could rest.  Her father continued speaking, but Lucinda could no longer focus on his words.  The smile slowly dropped from her face as she focused on a man by the throne room doors.  He was a tall man in his late forties.  He had hair a little longer than she remembered; now more gray than brown.  He had matching hair outlining his mouth.

Commander Jonathan? 
She thought.  What was he doing here?  She looked to his right and realized the commander was not alone. Standing next to him, staring back at her from the distance, was Matthew. 

The celebrations lasted seven days, a day for each year she was gone.  She had addressed the entire kingdom everyday sharing different bits about her disappearance into the water and her whereabouts the past seven years. The people were gracious, and if they thought of her as the evil Green Eyed Witch, they were courteous enough not to say it to her face.

She had not spoken to Matthew directly since she returned. There was always a crowd of people around her and it was difficult for her to find a moment alone. From what she knew, her father insisted that Matthew and Jonathan stay for the celebrations.  Matthew retired to his quarters early every day, before the nightly banquets began.  He had come to report that he had seen her in the sea and now he would return home to the West Kingdom and give the news of her return.  Messengers had been sent to all the kingdoms already to address her return. How receptive the kings would be, she was uncertain. She would have to visit and address each king individually and make a plea for her kingdom to be legitimized, as her father had said.  Then the kings and their councils would come to a decision together. 

Lucinda approached the Prince’s door cautiously on the night of the seventh day.  It was late and improper to call upon him at this hour, but she feared he would depart before day broke.  She gently knocked upon the cold stone door of the guest chamber.

The door opened and the Prince presented himself, still clothed in his day attire.  His eyes widened upon seeing her.

“Lucinda,”  He started in surprise.  “What—“

“I know it is indecent to come at such an hour,” She started before she lost her nerve.  “But I couldn't think of you leaving without speaking in private. May I enter?”  He hesitated a moment, then looked cautiously around the outside hall to his chambers before stepping aside to let her enter.

The guest chambers within her father’s kingdom were always bare besides a bed and a large window, which admitted moonlight upon the dark compartments.  It was improper across the kingdoms for an unwed maiden and man to be in a bedchamber together. The West Kingdom was known to be stricter in upholding these rules than the other kingdoms, so it did not surprise Lucinda when Matthew left the stone door of the chamber open wide, as not to incriminate himself. He went and stood by the window, his arms crossed around him as he faced her from a distance. 

From the first time she met him in the West Kingdom there was a feeling of recognition.  It was not a feeling that came from her, she knew, but from the beginning she was drawn to him.  She had not planned any words to say to him now.  She had prepared to face her father but thought she would have more time before she had to face Matthew. “You look well.” She started clumsily.    He grew into a striking man.  She had no doubt that he would as he was handsome as a youth.  He wore his hair a little shorter than she remembered it.  His face was still clean shaved, but she could not ignore the dark lines that formed under his eyes.  She wondered if she played a part in putting them there.

He gave a fleeting smile. “As do you, Princess.  Or do you prefer Queen now?”

“Matthew, you must understand why I departed—“

“Yes, I understand. You owe me nothing, Lucinda.  I have heard your reasons over the past seven days, and they are indeed reasonable.  I need no further explanation.”

“You do not know the truth of it.  I said that I feared and that is true.  I feared returning.  I feared my abilities, I feared everything would be taken away from me, but that is not what I feared the most. Fear the people understand, but what can I tell them about the shadows? What can I tell them about the memories?” She drew in a deep breath. “What can I tell them about you? And how I fear you?”

He looked at her in confusion. “I don’t understand.  Why?”