Chapter 4 - The Unwelcome Guest, and the Stranger in Her Room

Morgan had only gotten a bit of rest before an initiate informed her of the time. She thanked the girl and quickly headed back to the castle, climbing into her room through the still open window. She had to do this often, had grown used to it, even. It was a small thrill in her dull life.

“You know,” she said to herself as a thought struck her. She paced the room as she voiced her thoughts. “I could just leave, pass myself off as a servant for a while, perhaps... I could finally go on an adventure. It would be wonderful. I wouldn't have to deal with all this any more! I always dreamed of being an adventurer... I never actually considered it before, though.”

She glanced around the room with distaste. “Hmm.. stay here, and be miserable. Or, leave, and be free...” She held out her hands like a set of scales, weighing her options. The lock on the door clicked, and the door opened, startling her. Muttering an expletive under her breath, she dropped her arms to her sides. Having nothing better to do, she sat on the bed and feigned examining the Prince's gifts.

“You're sure up early,” Geoffrey stepped inside the room, a skeptical eyebrow raised at her. A soft breeze blew in from the window and Morgan's heart dropped. As calmly as she could, she stood up and turned toward the desk, and set the gifts upon the wood surface. He eyed her suspiciously as she sidestepped in front of the window with her hands behind her back. She kept a pleasant smile plastered across her face in a shabby attempt to divert his attention.

“I couldn't sleep,” her fingers fumbled for the window pane and eased the window back into place, silently cursing at the soft click it made. Trying to hide the sound of the lock, she cleared her throat as she reached to lock it.

“Come away from the window, dear,” he gestured for her to step away. Not wanting to invite questions, she stepped towards him. It annoyed her he still treated her like a clumsy child. She supposed it was because he had been at the Palace since before she was born. He had changed much since then. His orange hair had dulled with age and his deep blue robes hung off him in an ill-suited manner. He always wore his hood halfway up his head. She liked to think it was to hide the balding patch on top of his head. In recent months, he had to lean on his staff, which was carved like a dragon's head set with icy moonstone eyes, for support.

“What do you want, Geoffrey?” She looked at him and slowly edged toward the bed more. Folding her legs under her, she sat and looked up at him, hands in her lap.

“King Phillip wanted to see you as soon as you woke, and you're awake.”

“So? I don't want to see him right now.”

He shuffled forward and looked her in the eyes. “He wants to see you. Do not defy him.”

I know he’s right, but I still hate it. With the reluctance of the setting sun, she got up and followed him out of the room.

The painting of her mother caught her eye, and she faltered, stopping to admire it. The late Queen truly had been beautiful, raven hair, deep blue eyes, a kind smile. Many claimed she was the best Queen Dallek had had in centuries. She was much like her own mother in looks, but they couldn't have been more different in personality. Her grandmother was strict, cold-hearted and cruel. Morgan's mother had been kind, understanding, and helpful, until her dying breath.

Her heart ached as she thought about her, that gentle smile haunting her memory. She could remember sitting in her mother's lap while she brushed her hair so clearly. Could recall every note of the tune she hummed. But she couldn't remember her voice, the way her mother's eyes would light up when she saw her. Of all the things she wished she could forget, it was always what she wanted to stay that vanished instead. Leaving her alone with the bitter memories and the sorrow.

The late Queen died a tragic death, along with the captain of the Dallek army, among others, on an emissary voyage to Widow's Moor. Their ship supposedly sunk in the middle of the Dark Sea, but they found no remains of the passengers or the ship itself.

She sighed as she tore her gaze from the painting. As she walked toward the King's Chambers, memories whirled around in her head. The old days, walking along the streets with her parents, the sun smiling down on them, never having a care in the world... Now she could barely go a minute alone. She hadn't seen the streets as a Princess in years and barely saw her own brother. An outcast in her own home, that's what she'd become. To get away from it all was what her soul yearned for. The thought of roaming the Kingdom free of responsibility and care, to see the people again, to be free, was one of great joy to her. The doubts in her mind told her it would never happen. That those stone walls would be her tomb.

She knocked on the door, wringing her hands while she waited. It wasn't a long wait; the door opened and Phillip stepped aside to let her in. Straightening up before he chastised her, she dropped her hands to her sides and lifted her eyes to meet his gaze. The servants kept his chambers tidy, but the large space felt lifeless... It reminded her of her parents. Succumbing to the weight their memory brought, she let her gaze drop, where her eyes stayed fixed on the floor.

With a sigh, he led her to the main subdivision of the room, where a small table with a map of the province and a few small benches sat empty.

“Sit down,” he waited for her to take a seat on the bench and cleared his throat. “I know this is hard for you. I didn't want you to have to do this. You must understand this, surely. I am doing this for the good of the kingdom. The war... has gotten worse and I shall have to leave soon to help the armies. High King Aaron has sent for all the Kingdoms and their armies. Seeing as I no longer have a proper captain of the Dallek army, I must go myself.” He laced his fingers together, hands resting atop the map as he stared unfalteringly at her.

She looked at her feet and nodded numbly; the war had gotten worse, much worse. They all knew it, long before anyone said a word. This only confirmed the inevitable.

“I suppose it was only a matter of time, then.”

“You must marry so you can rule the kingdom while I am gone. I fear I won't make it back. While I would leave you to rule alone, it simply doesn't work that way. Edward isn't old enough, and you’re barely old enough to even marry as it is. I would leave you be as you are if he could rule. I know I haven't mentioned the seriousness of the war until now, and for that, I am sorry.” He reached towards her, but she pulled back, looking dumbfounded at him.

“I-I... Why can't I rule alone? What does the Empire have against a Queen ruling alone? It's not fair! Leave someone else to rule. Isaac, Geoffrey, someone other than me! I don't want this. I don't want any of this. I just want to be free of this...” She looked at him, slamming her palms onto the table as hot tears welled up in her eyes. He flinched at her words, pain clouding his eyes. She felt guilty for it, but regretted nothing. She deserved a say in her own fate.

“That's just not how it works. You are young and not fit for ruling alone. You are not of age either. Whether or not you like it, you will be married!” Philip’s tone rose, matching hers as his eyes hardened again. Any sympathy he held for her was long gone.

“Fine then, if that's how it is,” she fled from the room and down the stairs. She ignored his pleas for her to come back. Hot tears ran down her cheeks, overwhelmed with emotion. Her footsteps echoed across the hall towards the North tower of the castle, where she often sought an escape from her duties.

“It's not fair...” She sank to the floor and buried her head in her hands. “Mother, why can't you still be here? I need help. I don't know what to do,” she looked up toward the sky and a whistling wind blew around her. The sound merged into several voices, whispering the same thing over and over again in a language she couldn't understand. Each time it grew louder, little by little. It sounded like someone calling for help. Unease crept through her whole body. Slowly, she stood up and looked around. She saw nothing. An icy breath on her neck sent shivers down her spine, the hair on her arms rising as her heartbeat picked up. She took off down the stairs, skin crawling.

I need sleep, that’s all it is. It has to be.

The voices grew louder the closer she got to her room. Her body ached from the sound until she could hardly bear it, but her steps continued toward the room, like she was being pulled. Unnerved, she opened the doors to her room and glanced around before she stepped in and closed the doors behind herself. A soft breeze blew around the room.

“That's odd... I thought I closed the window,” she drawled as she looked toward the window, flung wide open. Looking around, she saw nothing out of place. Moving towards the vanity to grab something to defend herself with, she glanced around. A cold swept over her as a shadow moved across the room. She only glimpsed it and whirled toward it. Nothing was there.

Strange... She thought and walked over to close the window, caution and care in every step. As her fingertips grazed the windowpane, a hand covered her mouth, and she found her back against a hard, muscled chest.

She tried to scream, but nothing came out. Her heart raced, threatening to explode out of her chest. The arms tightened around her as she tried to squirm out of her attacker’s grasp.

“Don't try to call for help, no one will hear you.” The man's breath caressed her ear as he leaned in against her. She stopped her fruitless attempts to break free and stared out the window, terrified. Every instinct told her to jump out of that window and run. Away from him, away from the palace. To be as far from him as possible.

“Listen to me, I know you desire to leave this place. I do not come to stop you, I come to tell you to leave. Not now, but in three days' time. Plead with your King to give you more time to choose a suitor. If you do not leave by your eighteenth birthday, terrible things will befall you. Child of Darkness, I warn you now, heed my words. If indeed you leave, I will find you and give you further information. For now, worry only about leaving and your next contract. Bring the one named Kylon with you. Do not mention this conversation to him. Or anyone.”

The room darkened around Morgan as she fell limp like a rag doll. Shudders ran through her body like they dumped her in a lake in the dead of winter. She stared unblinking at the wall, unable to move until the darkness claimed her.