Concealed Memories

An uneasy silence encompassed every soul inside of the dining room, only broken by the occasional hoarse breaths of Yavanna.

"See! Don't you see, Amory! I was right, I was-" The deranged ravings of Velio were cut short by the young man rushing over at an inhuman speed and punching him in the stomach.

Yavanna gasped and raised herself from her seat. Stumbling back a few steps as she watched the young man—whom she now realized must be the general, as no one else had joined them—debated something angrily in Noth with the king, who argued back.

The general appeared to have won because in the next instant the king had somehow manifested beside her and grabbed her arm. She groaned in protest but it went unheard as she was forcefully dragged from the room. She turned her head to catch a glimpse of Prince Velio laughing as he knelt on the floor clutching at his stomach. The general said something in that same language, but she could catch the deadly tone in it.

She swivelled her head back to look forwards and saw that the king was hauling her to his private library. He threw her aside and slammed the door behind them. He turned to her slightly dazed figure with a fuming expression, "What was that?" His tone matched his face.

She stared at him and quickly looked around for something to write with; her mind in the meanwhile was desperately trying to account for those few seconds that had been blackened from her memory. While she was distracted the king began stalking towards her and she immediately backed away. He didn't stop and she panicked when she felt her back press against something solid and immovable.

"Answer me." He ordered and she met his eyes, pleading with him to let her write her answer. She couldn't speak, he knew that. He pressed forward and she forced more panic onto her face in the hope that he would let up. But he didn't, and asked, "What just happened in there?"

She brought her hands up to protect herself covertly, she felt naked under his ice-like eyes. Opening her mouth she met his eyes hesitantly, warning him that it would not be pretty to force her to speak. "I…" She forced out, exhaustion overcoming her lungs and vocal chords instantly, "Do… n't…" She glanced up from his black tunic to his impatient eyes as she tried to finish her pained sentence, "Know…" She now longed for water to soothe her damaged throat.

He tilted his head with annoyance and disgust clear in his eyes. She retreated further within herself, curling her body to escape from the wretched she was beginning to feel towards herself. "You don't know?" He practically spat, "How do you not know?"

She looked around despairingly. She couldn't go much longer speaking, she felt as though she had used up her words for the day. Shaking her head she forced her mouth open once more, "Everything…" She strained out, "Skipped..."

Intrigue entered his eyes, "What do you mean? You blacked out?" She pondered his question for a moment before she nodded. "So… you don't remember what happened at all?" She shook her head. He took a step back and she breathed out a breath of relief. "Have you ever blacked out before?"

She shook her head, but paused. The king noticed this and tilted his head in interest. She put a hand to her temple as a memory tried to surface but stayed just out of reach. He abruptly took hold of her shoulders and stared into her eyes, a fog pervaded her senses as she stared longer into his eyes and slowly her tense limbs slackened.

"Tell me about when you blacked out before." He whispered and she felt something unlock within her mind and began to pour the story out, as best she could with her bruises.

"I… was young… and my sister… and I were playing." She paused to catch her breath, but wanted to finish telling him, there was no question about it, she had to finish the story for him. "Sh-she took my doll and everything… skipped."

"Which sister?" He whispered in the same tone.

"Mirella."

Silence filled the strange fog that enveloped her and she could only stand listlessly in his grasp as he processed her words. "What happened when everything skipped?"

"She… was on… the floor. Crying." Yavanna whispered the last word in surprise. The memory felt new, and yet, well-known to her.

"What did you do to her?" His tone frightened her and she panicked when the answer didn't come to her.

"I don't know. It's all gone."

"Amory."

The haze disappeared and she blinked at the king slowly before her senses returned and she backed away. Her throat felt as though she had swallowed fire repeatedly. She looked to where the voice had come from and saw the general standing in the doorway.

"What are you doing?" He asked with a look that Yavanna guessed was exasperation.

"Getting answers." The king snapped at him as though it was the most obvious thing.

"Answers about what happened in there? It's pretty obvious-"

"She doesn't remember what happened."

Yavanna felt as though she was intruding on a private conversation, yet it was about her.

"What do you mean, she doesn't remember?" The general asked shutting the door behind him, effectively cutting off her slim chance of escape. She had a feeling that the two men wouldn't let her pass until they got their answers.

"She says that she blacked out." The doubt in the king's voice caused a frown to appear on her face.

The general narrowed his eyes as he took the information in, "I… so wait-she blacked out when she used magic?"

"Yes."

Yavanna's brows creased. Was that what had happened? But… that was impossible. Her breathing increased and she dashed out from behind the king and to the desk in the corner of the room. Both men had silenced by the time she'd turned around to show them her large printed words, spelling, "I cannot use magic."

They shared a glance, and the general spoke first, "I believe you can, your majesty." She was grateful for his softer tone, much gentler than she had ever heard the king speak. By this point, she had assumed they were related.

She shook her head, 'That's impossible. It's impossible."

"How do you explain the incident when you were younger?" The king asked and she raised her head.

'What incident?'

"Amory, why can't she speak?"

"Velio strangled her."

"He what?! And you've done nothing to stop him?"

"I stopped him. Both times he's tried to attack her."

"Well. Isn't that wonderful."

Yavanna couldn't pay attention to what they were saying anymore, her vision swam with black dots and she was doing her best to stay standing when the floor rushed towards her. No one caught her and she landed on her side, on the furs and carpets.