The Mother

Illia looked at herself in the mirror, leaning over the sink. She closed her eyes and let out a deep breath. She continued to think about what Malaki had said just a few hours ago. Illia was confused as to why Selene had not told her anything about her past or her family but now she knew why. Maybe Selene's past was just as dark as Illia's.

She ran her fingers through her hair and sighed. She looked at herself in the mirror once more before blowing out the candle that lit the bathroom. She climbed into her bed and pulled the covers to her chin. All she could think about was Selene. Why had she lied all those years? Who was she? Is there more she is hiding? Illia continued to come up with possibility after possibility. She spent the next hour tossing and turning, unable to keep her eyes closed. She eventually gave up and just stared at her ceiling.

Illia decided that she would make some warm milk and try to fall back asleep. She tossed her sheets off of her body and slipped off her bed. Once her feet were on the cold hardwood, she slowly walked to her door, not wanting to wake anyone.

Illia slowly opened her door and jumped back.

"What are you doing?" she whisper-yelled, Malaki standing in front of her. He clenched his teeth together and offered an apologetic smile.

"Sorry, I just wanted to see if you were awake. I figured that you might be considering how well you took the news I gave you," he said sarcastically.

Illia rolled her eyes and stepped out of her room, closing the door behind her.

"I just wanted to get some warm milk to see if I could sleep any better," she told him, walking quietly down the stairs.

He followed behind her like a puppy. Once they reached the kitchen, Illia pulled a jar of milk from the ice where it was cooling. She lit a flame underneath a pot and poured the milk in.

"So, has this ever worked for you before?" Malaki asked, walking closer to Illia.

"What do you mean? Warm milk?" Illia asked, stirring the milk with a wooden spoon.

Malaki nodded. Illi shrugged. "I suppose. My mother would make it for me when I could not sleep as a child and it would put me right to bed,"

Malaki smiled as he watched Illia remember the good parts of her childhood.

She turned to him. "And you? Did your mother ever make you warm milk?"

Malaki looked down at his feet. "We did not have enough gold for milk, so I wouldn't know. That was only because the merchant was a scheming man,"

Illia frowned. "You must try some. It is the quickest way to sleep on a busy mind," she said, smiling. The milk in front of her began to boil. She quickly took the pot off the hook and set it down on the counter. She stirred the warm liquid and grabbed two jars from the shelf beside her. Illia lifted the pot by the handle and poured two glasses. The hot steam drifted out of the glass, wafting into both of their noses.

"It does not have much smell," Malaki said, holding his glass and sniffing the milk.

"Just drink," Illia smiled as she tipped the glass to her lips. Malaki shrugged and tipped his back as well, letting the warm milk soothe his throat. When he pulled it away from his lips, the milk left a white line above his lip.

Illia giggled into her glass and put it down on the counter. She didn't want to laugh too much, so she held her hand over her mouth.

"What?" Malaki said, smiling. Illia's nose scrunched up as she tried to contain her laugh. She decided to do him a favor and took her thumb to wipe the milk off of his face. She showed him her thumb and he giggled.

"You had a milk mustache," she said, grinning.

"A milk mustache?" Malaki's head cocked to the side.

Illia nodded and smiled. Just as they were grinning at each other, they heard the sound of steps creaking. They looked at each other and didn't say anything but ran out of the kitchen. They hid beside the stairs until the person was all the way down. Once Illia saw the person walk into a different room, she waved Malaki with her and ran upstairs. She ran into her room but before closing the door, she looked at Malaki.

"Thank you for the milk," he whispered before tip-toeing off. Illia smiled and shut her door. The warm milk and conversation eased her mind and she fell asleep peacefully in her bed.

***

The next morning, Illia woke up with a stretch and a tired groan. That day, she decided that she would visit her mother's grave. She wanted to talk with her mother. And give her flowers, as much as Illia did not think she deserved them.

She rose out of bed and put on one of her purple and black skirts with a black blouse underneath. She laced up her riding boots and headed out of her room. She ran down the stairs quickly and looked around the corner, hoping no one would follow her. Before Illia ran out of the front door, she grabbed two apples out of the basket on the dining table.

She quietly left the castle and gazed over the cliff. It was still early in the morning, so nobody was working yet. She opened the gates and walked down the path to the horse stalls.

She walked past three stalls before finding her horse.

"Good morning, old girl," Illia said, patting the horse's neck and feeding her a big apple. Illia smiled as she opened the door to the stall. She quickly saddled her and mounted the tall horse before riding off.

Horse rides were part of Illia's calmness routine. It was one of the only things that brought her true happiness and calmness anymore. She rode down the path to the left that led to the cemetery. Illia closed her eyes for a brief moment, letting the wind blow her hair back and the leaves brush her face. She laughed as she held her hand out to the flowers that she passed beneath her. Illia pulled the reins and grabbed a few before riding off again.

The cemetery is placed on the top of a large hill. It took her horse a little longer to make it up. Illia tied the horse to a wooden pole outside of the cemetery and gave her the other apple that she hung onto. She patted the horse's neck before picking up her skirt and walking the rest of the way up the hill.

Illia walked down the rows and rows of gravestones, leaving a flower for those who had none. When she reached her mother's grave she had one flower left. She placed it on the dirt in front of the stone and placed her hand on the top of the cold rock.

"Mother," she talked quietly. "I have so many questions. For you, for Selene, and even for Adeline. I know that we did not get along well, but I do miss you sometimes. I miss Adeline even more. The way we would play with the horses and roll in the grass," Illia smiled.

What Illia did not know was that Adeline had also come to pay her respects to her mother that morning. But, instead of confronting Illia, she decided to listen instead.

"You lied to me. Selene lied to me. And now, I am lying to Adeline by not telling her. I do not owe it to her, however. She betrayed me and my trust and you paid the price instead. But now, knowing what I know, maybe it was better for you to die,"

Adeline peered around the tree she was behind. Illia knows that Isa was Selene's twin? Adeline thought to herself.

"I never meant to hurt you, mother. But, you were the one that had your very daughter banished because of a silly prophecy. That hurt me. And it still hurts me. There will be war because of you. Between Astrean and Veraxin. I know it just as much as you did. Maybe if you had not continued to lie and keep secrets, we would not be here. I know that you loved Adeline more than me, but I never did find out why. I loved you, mother. But, I know now that you never did and I will find out why someday," Illia rose from the ground and knocked the dirt off her skirt. She smiled at her mother's grave before turning around.

Adeline watched her sister walk away and almost pitied her. Illia walked down the hill and to her horse. She untied her and mounted her, then rode off down the hill.

The following person she needed to talk to was Selene. And she needed to talk to her now.

Illia rode the horse back to the stables where she tied her up and patted her goodbye. Illia marched back into the castle and immediately began looking for Selene.

"Selene?" Illia shouted when she stepped through the threshold. Selene appeared from behind the dining room wall and began walking toward Illia.

"Yes?" she asked sweetly.

"We need to talk," Illia almost ordered Selene. She looked worried but followed Illia anyways. Illia led her into the kitchen and gestured to the seats surrounding the table. Illia sat adjacent to Selene and looked at her intently.

"Is everything alright?" Selene asked, worried.

"Do you know who Malaki is? The soldier that used to serve for Astrean" Illia said, not answering Selene's question.

Selene paused, thinking. "I don't believe I do,"

"He worked for Queen Isabelle," Illia said, trying to hint at where she was going with this.

"Is that so?"

"Yes, it is. You do not know him?"

"I am afraid not. Illia what is-" Selene started to question but Illia interrupted her.

"What about Queen Isabelle? Did you know her?" Illia gave Selene the perfect opportunity not to lie to her and was hoping she would take it.

"I know of her, yes," Selene was growing more and more concerned with every question. Illia sighed.

"Did you ever talk to her? Ever get to know her?" Illia pressed on.

"I cannot say I did. I only saw her a couple of times. Why are you asking me all of these questions, child?"

"Because I know that you lie," Illia's anger grew by the second.

"Excuse me?" Selene said, offended.

"I know that you are lying about my mother. You knew her very well. Shall I say it or shall you?" Illia snapped.

Selene remained still and silent.

"Nothing?" Illia scoffed. "You were her sister. Her twin sister,"

Selene stiffened and wet her lips nervously.

"How did you-"

"That is not important. What is important is why you lied to me. All these years, why?"

"It's just…" Selene tried to come up with anything to say. "I did not want you to know that part of my past. I did not have the best relationship with my sister and I did not want you getting involved,"

"She was my mother!" Illia shouted, almost jumping across the table.

"Illia, listen to me," Selene cupped Illia's cheek with her hand. "There are more important things going on around you,"

"Like what?" Illia asked, Selene's hand still on her cheek.

She then put her other hand on Illia's other cheek. "Your kingdom is dying," Selene's voice began cracking.

"What?" Illia said, concerned.

"Your people's livestock is dying. Their fruits and vegetables rotting. Wheat has stopped growing because of the constant snow and frigid temperature. The people are dying, and living in poverty. Because whatever food they can grow is twice as much as it was last year. For once, Illia, do not rule for the crown on your head, but rule for your people. This feud between you and your sister has killed hundreds of people because you have stopped paying for their food and the weather is getting colder every month. The more hate that grows in your heart, the more the people of your kingdom will suffer. Indeed, a kingdom is not a kingdom without a crown, but without the people, the crown is worthless. They need you, Illia,"

"I-I had no idea," Illia stuttered.

"Of course, you did not. Because this constant war between you and Adeline has consumed your life completely,"

Illia remained silent before speaking once more. "But, I don't know what to do. Or how to help. I cannot stop this constant winter," she hung her head in embarrassment and guilt.

"I want to tell you a story, Illia," Selene dropped her hands from Illia's face and held them together in her lap. "It is a story of when I used to rule this very kingdom. When I first started ruling Veraxin, it was a completely different place. With different people, different creatures, different everything. It was sunny every morning and dark every night. The summers were a comforting warmth, the winter a frigid cold, and a cool breeze would flow through the air during autumn. And people were happy. Plants would grow, livestock would sell, people would eat, and families would dance at the markets as the lively music would fill the streets. People enjoyed living here! Even though they all came from banished families and poverty, they were happy. But, just before you became queen, a dark shadow was cast upon this kingdom that froze our crops, killed our livestock, and the winter became year-long," Selene paused and allowed Illia to think about her words for a moment.

"But you, Illia, you have the power to undo what was done! You have the power within you, you just need to use it,"

"Will you tell me what happened?" Illia asked, referring to the dark shadow.

"You will learn someday, but not today. Today you will focus on one thing, saving your kingdom. Before it is far too late,"

"I do not know how," Illia's voice shook.

"You will figure it out, Illia. You are resilient, and you persevere," Selene smiled, taking Illia's hand. "Do you know of the creature named Valethar?" she asked her.

Illia nodded. "Yes, the only creature that can kill me,"

"You need to possess that creature to reach your full potential,"

"I know. I have been trying. Adeline is not willing to comply,"

"She does not need to. You have the power to take this creature yourself. You do not need her to hand it to you on a silver platter. Just take it,"

Illia nodded. She stood from the table and Selene watched her as she marched off and up to her room. If Illia wanted to take this beast, she needed a plan first.

She sat down at her desk, rummaging through papers and books. She suddenly realized exactly what she needed. She needed an army.

Illia quickly left her room and ran down the stairs. She ran into the guard's quarters and burst the door open. The chatter within the room paused.

"I need an army," Illia said frantically. The guards looked at each other.

"We are ready to fight, Your Majesty," the general stood.

Illia looked around the room. "Is this all of you?" she asked, worried.

"No, Your Majesty, some of the other men are at their posts or training," the general said.

Illia nodded. "Good, gather them and tell them to begin training for war, I will go into town with a couple of you and ask for any volunteers,"

The general nodded and bowed. "Go gather the rest of the men," he told one of the soldiers beside him. The man saluted and nodded as he walked out of the room.

Illia pointed to two other men. "You two come with me," she ordered, walking out of the room. The men followed her out of the room and down the stairs.

They all mounted their horses and rode down the path in the woods and into the market. The trees that used to cave over the track were dead and frail. The dirt below them was dry and loose. The sky above them was gray and the clouds were low.

Illia frowned as she looked around her and compared the woods in front of her to the description that Selene gave her.

Illia and the soldiers following her entered the market and tied them to the wooden poles just before the entrance. They walked into the market and Illia looked around.

There were no hanging banners, no lively music, no dancing families, and no brightly colored apples. The merchants seemed gloomy as the fog drifted through the market with an eerie slowness.

Illia nailed some of the posters that said they needed fighters to the poles around the market.

"Why would we help you?" a man said to Illia after reading the poster.

One of the guards stood in front of Illia.

"That is your Queen you're talking to!" he said aggressively.

Illia put a hand in front of the guard. "Enough. He's right," she said, stepping up to the man.

She wanted everyone in the market to hear the speech she had so she gathered shoppers and merchants.

"The army of Veraxin needs your help fighting a war against Astrean! For too long they have stolen from us and made us look like fools. We cannot let them win this fight. I know what you all must be thinking. Why would I help them? I know that things have been very difficult for you and I vow to help. If I get enough volunteers to help fight in the war, we will win. And when we win, there will be no more famine, no more gloom or despair, and the creatures of the mountains that used to be feared will be loved by all. I can promise every one of Veraxin the life they always wanted if they help me fight this war. We can fight, win, and live long and healthy lives,"

People started talking and whispering between themselves, thinking of the offer.

Illia saw the contemplation of her people and inhaled. "If you wish to fight, come to the castle within two days and we will train. I will fight alongside any willing to fight with me,"

Illia left it at that and mounted her horse. She took her men and went back to the castle.

When Illia arrived back at the castle, Selene was waiting for her at the front door. She smiled and welcomed Illia back to the castle.

"I am very proud of you, Illia,"

Illia smiled. "You will be the savior of Veraxin, child," Selene said as she reached out for Illia's hands.