Chapter 4: Betrayel

Lillian walks into Winston's bedroom prepared to go to bed. Before taking a step beyond the door she looks down and notices flower petals on the floor. She has never seen these particular petals and is unable to identify what kind they are. Although they seem to be black in color and not that large in size.

Nonetheless, believing Winston is doing something nice for her she smiles. She raises her head to see that the room is covered with them. Lillian's eyes widen in awe as the unusual candlelight seems to add a whole new atmosphere to the room. As she makes her way further into the room Lillian finally notices Winston standing in front of the bed.

He doesn't say anything. He only steps aside and prepares to pull back the curtains shielding the bed on all sides.

"Winston, what is all this?", she asks looking around the room again before bringing her attention back to her husband. Again, he says nothing. A smile comes across his face, but it is not one of warmth. It is a sly one full of evil intent.

Lillian becomes nervous all of a sudden. She no longer feels comfortable and the feelings of joy and awe leave her. Before she can say anything Winston pulls back the curtain revealing a pile of flowers covering the bed.

They are whole and are no doubt the flowers in which the petals on the floor come from. Each flower had multiple petals that overlapped each other. Lillian would love to say that they are beautiful, but the sight of them makes her sick. She looks to Winston who is just standing by watching her.

"What is this?! I don't like it anymore Winston! Please stop!", she says desperately, but Winston does nothing. "Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!"

Suddenly Lillian wakes in bed with a gasp. Huffs of breath escapes her as she attempts to catch her breath. She looks over to where Winston sleeps, but he is not there. It is then she remembers that he didn't come to bed before her. He came after. Which means it was a dream. Lillian can't help but to sigh in relief. At that moment Winston walks into the room. Lillian gets herself up to see him.

"Where were you?", she asks him. Winston looks at her in surprise.

"Oh, you're up. I just went out to get some water.", Winston answers calmly. He walks over to his side of the bed.

"Oh...okay.", Lillian replies somberly. She looks down to the covers. She tries to shake off what she just experienced, but can't get it out of her mind. The vividness of the dream disturbs her.

"Are you alright?", Winston asks with a look of concern. Lillian lifts her head to him and nods her head.

"I'm fine. Just a really…weird dream.", Lillian answers. She forces a smile on her face, but Winston doesn't buy it.

"Do you want to talk about it?", he insists.

"No, but thank you.", Lillian responds. What she really wants to do is forget it as quickly as possible if she can.

........

The next morning Lillian wakes with the dream still heavy on her mind. Even as she finalizes the details for today's dinner her concentration is anything but precise. Though it bothers her more that she can not bring herself to look at Winston. The sight of him only makes her relive the experience and reminds her of how he acted during it.

As Winston works to ensure the kingdom's irrigation system is ready to handle the coming rainy season Lillian avoids him in her chamber claiming to need rest. One detail that remains on her mind is that of the flower. It covered what she thought was Winston's bed, but she now knows was the bed in which they consummated their marriage in the dream and even more petals blanketed the floor. She ponders over it, for Lillian has never seen it before and knows not its name nor meaning.

Lillian has dealt with prophetic visions before and knows that symbolism is a common thread in them. Before she can give up on learning what her dream is trying to warn her about Lillian remembers someone who could help. She calls in one of the servants.

"Yes, my lady?", the servant says upon entering the room.

"Send word for my carriage to be prepared. I need to see a friend.", Lillian tells her. With a bow the servant does as she is told.

Lillian takes the carriage to Vincent and Selena's house. It is two stories, made of stone and seats alone near the Andreious forest. The surrounding land which is half an acre is also theirs. Selena meets Lillian as she exits the carriage having seen her come up the stone path.

"Queen Lillian, what are you doing here?", Selena greets her surprised by her friend's unexpected visit. Lillian hugs her with an air of relief.

"I need your help, I'm afraid.", Lillian breaths. The two come out of their embrace and look at each other. Lillian's eyes are full of worry. Seeing this Selena immediately becomes concerned.

"Come in.", she says, gesturing for Lillian to enter.

"Is Vincent here?", Lillian asks as they enter the living room with her guards behind her. She gestures for them to stay outside.

"No. He is at the academy.", Selena replies, closing the door.

"Good.", Lillian says relieved as they sit on one of the two couches around a wooden table. The table is on a rug in the middle of the room while a chair sits at its head upon entering. The colors green and dark brown dominate the room.

"Do you want anything?", Selena asks.

"No.", Lillian answers simply.

"What's wrong?", Selena asks, facing her friend. Lillian proceeds to tell Selena her dream and how it has made her feel uncomfortable around Winston. She also tells her of how she suspects the flower to be a clue.

Selena thinks for a moment before responding. "It's hard to deny that dream to be anything, but a warning and I understand your worry.", she begins.

"Do you know what that flower might mean?", Lillian questions Selena.

"From the description I would say it was a flower called a Dahlia. A Black Dahlia in fact.", Selena answers. "Now, I don't know the meaning, but I have a friend who is a florist that will."

"Really?", Lillian gasps with new hope in her eyes.

"Yes. She lives in Gordowe. We can see her today if you want?"

"Yes, of course!", Lillian responds immediately. She yearns to find out what her dream means. Though she also hopes that it isn't anything to worry about at all.