Chapter Thirteen:

A/N: Talon isn’t being helpful in the least. She’s being incredibly hard to write for so until further notice I will not be writing her in the story, but on a different page. When she cooperates she will be added back in. This chapter which was supposed to be Talon’s shall now be Adena’s.

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The parchment in Adena’s hands felt unusually rough.

Something she had learned was not a good thing. It usually meant an hour or two at a large table eating food that made her gag, and a very long list of manners that absolutely had to be obeyed.

Adena didn’t like getting this particular type of letter at all.

She turned it over in her hands, for the hundredth time wondering if there was something she missed telling her not to come. But of course there was no such thing. The stone steps seemed to groan in dislike as she climbed them. The highly polished floor was dull in her presence and rang hollowly.

“Ma’am?” A butler attempted to direct her through a doorway.

She simply put up a hand telling him to stop. “Thank you but I know the way.”

She closed her eyes as she passed through the foyer, imagining where the stale furniture would be and listening for any steps but her own, she did not want to see those glistening walls any more than she had to. As she passed through a doorway she opened her eyes, sighing in relief.

“Adena?” The voice was soft and shaky, adding years to the woman it came from.

She curtsied, despite her most sincere wish not to. “Hello Ma’am.” It meant disrespect, not giving the woman her title, but last time she had been chastised for saying it.

“Please, you know you don’t have to be so formal with me. Come with me, we changed the chairs in the foyer, their very nice.”

Adena stood, sadness clinging to her eyes briefly. The woman was small but powerfully built, with long brown hair and shimmering blue eyes. The small crown resting on her head danced in the firelight. “I’d rather not. I’m sorry Your Majesty but your head butler would scold me terribly if I didn’t conform to his rules.”

The woman’s firm lips pursed lightly. With a wave of her hand two glasses of cold water in crystal were brought to them by a young maid. “Really you must see them.” She led the way into the foyer, selecting two of the ghastly old chairs and waving for Adena to sit quietly close to her.

The weight of the room was oppressive. It’s history turned her to rubble. It ate away at her slowly, making her wish she had never come. But no one could ignore the queen’s invitation, even if forceful. This was the queen’s form of punishment for her, that and a warped incentive to do what she wanted.

“Adena, you know why I’ve asked you here. Have you done anything to do what I asked?”

Adena looked away from the worn woman, worry creased her forehead, forced smiles lined her cheeks, bags clung to the underside of her eyes.

“Adena, please, look at me.” The woman grabbed her jaw, pulling her face toward her. “Find me my son. Find him, that's all I ask. Tell him that I miss him and it’s time for him to come home.”

“I’ve sent for you every year hoping you’ve found him, hoping that you would send my boy home, the king’s heir, our oldest son! But every year all you do is avoid this room and turn your eyes from me. Look at me!”

Adena looked at her quickly, their eyes met.

“He always listened to you, he would come home if you told him to. All I want is him at home, for him to take his spot in the Prince’s thrown, where he belongs. His brother can’t fill his shoes. Ever since that day—”

Adena broke away suddenly, standing in agitation. Her fists clenched and her temple throbbed. “No!” Despite her greatest attempts tears streamed slowly down her face. “No! I will not go and find him! Did it ever occur to you that maybe he’s happy where he is? No oppressive rooms or guidelines or cold stone mocking him in every room?”

“Don’t you get it? He ran away to get away, not only from that day, but from you and your rules and expectations. He HATED it here. Until you realize that I am not telling him a word of what you say! Good day Your Majesty!” She curtsied quickly, walking quickly away to the front door of the palace. Wherever she looked splashes of blood coated the walls and floor.

As soon as Adena left those groaning stairs she turned around a bush where no one could see her. Her head rested in her hands as she sat down, her shoulders shaking. “No, I’m not telling you where he is so he can see that over and over again.” She whispered between sobs.