Coronation

>>Elayne (Sorin)

The weight of the golden crown was setting in on my head while I stood on the ceremonial balcony of the palace. A set up was made in the courtyard for the nobles to witness the coronation while the common folks stood outside the far off gate at the end of the long and huge courtyard.

When the crown was set on my head there was a roar of cheering from the common folks, from the people who knew nothing about me but bare rumors. It didn’t matter to them who their king was, they were just happy that they still had one.

But,

I looked closer down at the nobles who simply clapped for me with professional smiles on their faces. They were all staring at me waiting for me to speak. I could see none of them were here out of happiness just out of necessity.

I glanced at Leroy who stood to my left, a step back from me, “Do I have to speak?’ I whispered and he looked at me in shock.

“We practiced this,” He said and I felt my knees almost give in as a nauseating feeling came to me.

We practiced it?

Oh God!

You mean, you did with the real Sorin!

I nervously looked ahead again and took a few steps towards the edge of the balcony.

“Turn your magic on,” Leroy said from behind.

My magic?

I have magic?

For what?

I looked back at him, “You do it,” I said and he was baffled at my words. I looked at the people again and then felt something in front of my mouth. A cooler feeling, like there was a shift in a small part near my mouth and I noticed something misty with a purple color.

Is this magic? Oh thank God I have Leroy! He is beyond astonished at my actions yet he’s helping my sorry ass out.

I gulped and decided I had to speak. The crowd had quieted down now and so many eyes were on me. It was making me anxious, it almost felt like I couldn’t breathe, “Becoming a king,” I started speaking words without thinking, “May seem like a remarkable feat but it is also a responsibility,” My voice was booming, probably because of the magic, “Today, I have been given the responsibility of a king,” What am I saying? These words seem familiar, “And though I might not be worthy, I will still do the best in my power for my people.”

Ah…

Right.

This is the speech Leonidas is supposed to give when he unites his people and becomes king.

“I will become a king, the whole nation can be proud of!”

There was silence from the side of nobles, looking at them, it looked like they were shocked or something but the common folk were joyous. They cheered so loudly that the voice came to me clearly.

It made me feel better and it made me want to disappear within those innocent souls

But

I looked down in shame.

These people are all going to die soon. When the demons come to take revenge, they’re going to kill any human that comes in their path and well, many of them cross their paths. The streets are going to get dyed in blood and the screams of horror and pain will make the deaf want to lose their sight and the blind to lose their hearing.

I gulped.

Right, the demon lord is being held here in the dungeon. Cedric took great joy in this. He believed he had done something remarkable capturing the young demon lord and keeping him hidden in the palace dungeons.

It’s not going to be long before the other demons find where their king is and the moment they do it’s going to be hell.

I started feeling queasy again. My chest was tight and I glanced at Leroy in pain.

He stepped forward, “What’s wrong?”

“I can’t breathe,” I told him and he held my hand and I immediately felt a little calmer.

“It’s fine,” He said, “We can leave now, you’ve done good enough.”

***

We reach my room and I start to gasp for air while Leroy shut the door behind him. He then walked to me while I started taking my shirt off. He stood there while I did it till I was only wearing my binder.

“Feeling better?” He asked and I shook my head, “I’ll leave, take the binder off too.” I nodded and he started walking towards the door but stopped before he opened it, “That was not the speech we practiced.” He looked back at me, “What was that there?” He even seemed a little angry.

“Sorry…” I replied, “I’m really sorry Leroy.” What else could I say to him? I was at a loss myself. This all was messing with my mind really badly. I can’t even get my head straight because I know what’s waiting ahead for me.

“Sorin,” He glanced back at me, “What’s happening to you?” He was angry but I could see the concern in his eyes and the look of worry on his face, “After you drank that poison, you seem like a completely different person.”

I felt like I was going blue because of the suffocation but I had to answer him. He deserves some sort of answer.

“Leroy,” I tried taking a deep breath, “I died then..” I told him the truth from Sorin’s perspective. Now that I think about it, this is the best thing to say. I am Sorin now, I have to accept that and think forward. Leroy is the only person who could help me so I have to say something to him. Maybe mix the truth with some lies?

“What?” He wasn’t sure what he heard was right.

“When I drank the poison,” I gulped, “I died…” I sat on the edge of the bed, “I don’t know why or how I came back but- here I am…” I spoke softly.

He was looking at me with a confused expression, “What are you saying?”

“And I don’t remember stuff.” I looked at him miserably, “I can’t remember things.”

“Sorin…” He looked at me in horror, “What are you saying?” He started walking towards me but I couldn’t take it anymore. I grabbed the binder and took it off.

A breath of relief escaped my lips and Leroy stopped in his path and immediately turned his head away while my upper body exposed itself completely.

Oh My God!

I feel alive!! This binder is literally killing me! Oh poor Sorin, how long has she been doing this? For years?

I understand why she wanted to escape it all.

I looked at Leroy again. He was staring at the floor now but I could still see the expressions of hurt on his face and I know that he knew that Sorin drank that poison because she was suffering, “I know it’s strange,” I said, “But it did happen. My memory is completely destroyed.” I say, “I remember bits and pieces.” I bit my lips as I tried my best to say things that would make sense, “This is why I was confused yesterday and asked you-”

“If I was Leroy,” He had his head the other way but he nodded, “I get it…” He paused and there was a very awkward silence in the room, “Okay then,” He said softly, “At least you're still here.” He nodded to himself and I felt like he was comforting himself with those thoughts.

His words made me feel so guilty. So guilty I felt my eyes sting because I felt like I could cry.

He’s still thankful that his childhood friend is alive and here with him. I pursed my lips together in despair. He’s such a good friend, even in the book he was the only one Sorin had. The world was against Sorin but not Leroy.

This is one of the things I hated in the book. When I read Sorin’s spinoff story, my heart hurt so much for Leroy. He wasn’t a bad character. Unlike Sorin, he had never even harmed anyone. His only fault was being Sorin’s friend.

Oh…

My heart hurt.

My binder was off now, yet my chest was hurting. And it was because of him. The more I looked at Leroy, the worse I felt. Because he chose to stay by Sorin, he pretty much made everyone else his enemy.

Because he was loyal to a villain, he too is going to end up in a bad place.

In the book when the demon army attacks, Leroy baits himself just so that Sorin could run away.

I pursed my lips as I stared at his side profile. His face had so much hurt written on it.

I don’t think I’ll ever let this truth ever slip out of my mouth that I am not Sorin.

How could I?

If I tell him that, wouldn’t that destroy him? He spent all his life guarding Sorin and she was his only friend.

This is all so bad. Leroy is the type of person that should deserve the world but what did he get?

His head was cut off because he sacrificed himself just so his friend could run away only for Sorin to meet a horrible death too.

It pains me to see that he’ll do everything for me now, even though I am nothing more than an imposter.

“I’ll let you rest.” Leory said and then left the room but I kept my eyes on him.

As I saw him leave something inside me just woke suddenly.

It was a strong feeling.

No!

There was a sudden spark in me.

I have to be Sorin now. But I won’t be the same Sorin who dies miserably in the book.

I am already her anyway.

We’re not at the part where the demon king is found by his companions yet. I already know what’s the cause of the downfall of the kingdom.

I can do this!

I can change the future!

I have to do this! If not for me, not for anything else, at least I should try it for Leroy.