Autumn Blossom

Amie's dreams that night were filled with strange magical realms and things she could never fathom existed. First she was walking through a doorway that was actually a portal to another world. There was a city entirely designed around the use of magic with mages walking openly all over. A tower that seemed to reach the sky stood in the center.

Then she suddenly found herself swimming in lunar waters. She emerged and saw her reflection, but it wasn't her. The woman looked so much like Amie, but with blonde hair instead of brunette. The facial structure, the amber eyes, everything else was the same. Something within her told her it was her great-grandmother, but she couldn't figure out how she knew that.

Another world found her running from an erupting volcano. Yet another one found she was swimming deep underwater without holding her breath. Another one after that found her on a pirate ship, directing a crew to steer directly into a storm.

One more dream saw her looking into her mother's memories once again. Amie was looking into a mirror that reflected her mother's face back at her. The reflection called a name, Lucien. Her father appeared, he called the woman in the mirror Estelle. Amie had never known her parents' real names. She was so young when they died, she only knew them as Mommy and Daddy.

They were talking about something, but Amie couldn't tell what. Her dreams were slowly starting to become hazy and distant. She struggled to hear what they were talking about. Something about 'the necklace.' Were they talking about Amie's necklace? She looked down and in her mother's hands was the necklace Amie's aunt gave her before sending her to the orphanage.

She looked back up into the mirror again, but instead of seeing Amie's mother's face, she saw Isabella's. She looked so youthful and full of life. Isabella smiled and waved. Suddenly a swirl of green stellar mist appeared and engulfed the mirror. It took the formation of a carnation before bursting into a stream directed towards Amie's abdomen.

***

The sudden flash of light in her dream was enough to wake Amie. She looked around her room and found that she was alone. The sun was already starting to rise. She looked out the window to see a strange and beautiful sight. It was autumn, but all of the flowers were in bloom. It was enough for Amie to know Isabella was gone.

Amie decided she was going to enjoy Isabella's last gift. She got dressed and walked down the stairs. At the bottom, she bumped into Jacques.

Jacques was panicked and excited at the same time, "Amie! Did you look outside? It must have been someone powerful to do that!"

Amie's voice was weak, "A goddess died last night."

Jacques' enthusiasm quickly disappeared, "What do you mean by that?"

She was still in a daze from waking up after such a harsh night, "She died, a goddess died. The world is dying too. Jacques, would you like to go for a walk with me? I'm going to go look at the flowers."

Jacques looked at her with concern before nodding his head. He answered softly, "Yeah. Yeah I'll go."

They walked through the gardens where the recently wilting flowers had suddenly come to life while other plants that weren't set to bloom until spring came alive.

Amie whispered in a voice that sounded like a ghost, "Such lovely flowers."

Jacques had been walking behind Amie the entire time. Instead of admiring the flowers, his attention had been focused on her. He had been thinking of only himself for so long, he just now realized Amie might not be doing alright.

"Amie, are you okay?" The concern in his voice wasn't enough for Amie to stop looking down at the flowers.

She was in the middle of watching a row of flowers. Without looking up, she nodded, "Yeah. I just want to enjoy this wonderful moment, it's going to be the last one." When she was finally done looking at the row they were in, she looked up at Jacques. She reached out her hand to him, "Jacques, come here."

Jacques was fighting back tears at Amie's melancholy words. He didn't say anything though and just took her hand. They walked together hand-in-hand through the gardens all morning. Everything started to look like a normal autumn day again by noon. Amie still wanted to keep walking though, "Autumn is beautiful too. The flowers have the spotlight in the summer, but the trees have their moment to shine just before the darkest days."

Jacques was still uncomfortable with Amie's behavior, but he just kept holding her hand and walking with her, hoping she'd go back to normal soon.

She didn't. They spent the entire afternoon admiring the changing leaves and the scent of autumn. Finally, the sun set and Amie was ready to go inside, "What a perfect day."

Jacques nodded. He couldn't think of a single word to say, not even when they went back inside and Amie made her way back to her room. He didn't follow her like he normally would.

While Jacques was terrified of Amie's sudden behavior change, Amie didn't seem to notice anything at all. She got back into her bed and went to sleep as though it was any other ordinary day.

***

The day after the autumn blossom, Amie went back to her routine she had built to cope with her heartbreak. Now it was being used to keep her sane while she grieved the loss of another goddess friend as well as reliving the grief of the loss of her parents. A few weeks went by until a morning came when Amie received news of her plans for marriage.

That morning, Julia had rushed to Amie's room before anyone else could and told her how Prince Charles' new wife had died suddenly while horseback riding. Prince Charles was meant to be made King in a month's time, and due to the concern of a weak king sitting on a throne without an heir or even a wife, the plan was made for him to marry Amie the week before his coronation.

When Amie heard the news, she was unusually stoic. Julia was far more panicked and couldn't understand Amie's mood, "Amie? We have to do something, we can't go there! What are we going to do?"

Amie's voice was filled with weak resolve, "Nothing."

Julia was taken aback by her sister's sudden lack of willpower, "Amie, please. This doesn't just affect you."

Amie turned to look Julia in the eyes, "Julia, go to Jacques. Get him to transfer you to be a regular servant. Don't worry about me, I've spent the last two years preparing for the worst."

Julia was disheartened at Amie's words, "Don't say that! You've spent this entire time fighting to be with Prince Pet-" Suddenly it clicked, "Is that why you're acting like this?"

Amie was silent before answering, "Julia, you need to keep it a secret. The timing is close enough it can pass as King Charles' child."

Julia gasped in shock, "Amie, you poor thing." She reached her arms out to hug Amie and comfort her, "I didn't realize you had gotten that serious with him."

Amie allowed herself to be held in her sister's arms while she dropped fresh new tears, "None of this turned out how it was supposed to."

Julia broke down in tears as well, "I know it didn't. It's like some cruel joke."

Amie spoke through her cries, "Julia, I haven't treated you with the same care and respect you have shown me. Please don't allow yourself to fall with me. Talk to Jacques, he'll be able to help you, just don't tell him about this."

Julia still had tears rolling down her cheeks as well, "Don't ever allow yourself to think you haven't been as good to me as I have been to you. You've been the best sister anyone could ask for. Are you sure you want me to go to Jacques, though? You're going to need help with the baby."

Amie pulled away from Julia to hold her hands and assure her it was alright, "It would hurt more knowing I sacrificed you for my selfishness. Please, go to Jacques."

Julia thought for a moment before nodding, "Okay. Yeah, I'll go to him. And don't worry, I won't tell him of your condition."

Amie felt a sense of relief for once, "I'm so glad there's at least one thing going right. If you don't mind, I'm feeling a little tired, I think I'm just going to spend the day resting."

Julia replied, "Okay, I'll let you be. I'll be downstairs if you need anything. Just remember to get up and at least walk around in the room for a little bit, it will be good for the baby."

Amie smiled, "Thank you, Julia."