Cold. Dark. Despair.

[Alexandria Eveleigh- Demarais]

The eerie silence of the castle made Alexandria feel tense and uneasy. It was her own home, yet she felt wrong for being there. The war had killed off many of her people, and she couldn’t help but to blame herself. Now a stranger lurked through the halls and she felt sort of frightened by what was to come of it—what he would think of her land and if he would keep to his word or change his mind and return to Tresteria. But he hadn’t yet and so far, she and Aric had worked out a lot of planning, sketches and notes had been sent to the King of Tresteria, and work had already gone underway. The wedding would take place when Elysium was near its completion of restoration. Contracts had been signed and war, once again, hung over Alexandria’s shoulders should the contract be broken on her behalf. She felt trapped, but it was what she felt was best for her and her people and Elysium.

It was cold everywhere. Winter had fallen upon the island once again and Avalendor’s death was covered in snow. This made it a bit more difficult with the rebuilding and she knew it was delaying things quite a bit. Her fingers were numb but she didn’t move away from her spot at the window of her office room. Sapphire colored eyes stared out at her torn and burned land covered in blankets of white. She was thankful for at least that—it hid the ugliness of war, but did little to let her forget about death.

Part of her had died, she knew. That hope that lived for so long, had seemed to dim down and it left her feeling cold and shadowed in darkness that she couldn’t pull herself out of. There was this depression that hung over her and made it difficult for her to get out of bed every morning, and kept her awake all night. She felt tired, but numb to everything around her. Worst of all, she was avoiding those that she loved and cared about most and she hadn’t the slightest idea why. But she knew that she needed to pull herself together and stop hiding from everything that had happened and everything that was happening now. She was leaving everyone in the dark, and it needed to stop. It was so hard. She didn’t know how to do it anymore… How to keep her emotions hidden and stay strong as she had before. She felt weak and powerless, as if Lord Aramis and Saelis had killed that part of her, and left her in a fragile body that didn’t know how to fight back.
“I don’t know what to do anymore…” Her lips parted in her mumbled whisper to no one. She closed her eyes as she leaned against the window in self defeat. “What do I do now…?” She wanted to just open her eyes and see that everything was back to normal, that all of this had just been a very long nightmare she was finally waking from. But when she opened them, everything remained still. Her lips quivered as she fought back tears. And then quickly and suddenly, she pushed herself away from the wall and let out a loud cry, rushing over towards her desk and shoving all the books and paperwork off in a fit of despair.
The door to the room quickly opened and a wide-eyed guard stepped in, surveying the room. “Your majesty?”

Alexandria stood up straight, hands resting on her lower back as she stared down at the papers scattering across the floor. Her hands were shaking violently and when she spoke, her voice quivered. “Please find me Nemesis.”

[Nemeris Arundel]

. S i n c e. the coming of the war, Nemesis stayed within her dedicated chambers in the castle. It was safer and as ambassador, she knew that if she was needed, it would be easier for her rather than to travel back and forth what with her delicate condition.
Though she felt useless as an ambassador after the war had ended and she could not travel for the queen to their allied lands to seek for help. And the queen had gone and settled things in her own way without speaking it over with anyone else. Her profession was deemed useless in her condition, now. Or so it seemed. And she was left to watch her stomach grow while she wallowed in her own anger and bitterness that only grew stronger.

The guard led her down the hallways and their footsteps lightly echoed against the walls. She could no longer hide the fact that she was pregnant because it showed in obviousness. Her jaw clenched tightly in silent anger. What could the queen possibly want with her now? She had not once called for her after the war and when Nemesis had tried to be there for the woman, she was only pushed away and avoided. Still, though, there remained no emotion upon the features of her face as she stepped up to the door and placed a gentle knock upon it. But she did not wait for a response before she’d open the door and step inside, shutting it behind her and leaving the guard outside the room.

Her green eyes looked around the room, glancing at the mess of papers strewn across the floor. When she found the queen in her disheveled appearance, she inaudibly sighed and took a step closer. “ You’ve asked for me, your majesty? What could I possibly do for you now that you have not already taken care of yourself? ” She raised an eyebrow and folded her arms over her chest, eyes narrowing only slightly. She would not be weary of the queen’s feelings… And an argument was to be had, she was sure. There was very little compassion in her eyes, but then again, was there .e v e r ? .

[Alexandria Eveleigh- Demarais]

: Alexandria paced the floor as she waited, her mind raced with several thoughts about what she needed to say to and ask Nemesis. And when she heard that knock on her door, she stood up straight and turned her eyes towards the entrance of her office, watching as the pregnant woman stepped inside and shut the door behind her. Her sapphire eyes studied her briefly and just as she parted her lips to say something, Nemesis spoke. Her words were like a punch to the stomach and it caused her to stumble upon her thoughts of what to say in response. And without saying anything, Alexandria turned her eyes away and down at the mess of papers scattered about the floor.
She wanted to do nothing more but to break down and cry, but she could not allow herself to do such. A minute of silence went by before Alexandria shook her head and let out a deep sigh. “What else could have been done, Nemesis? There were very little options. The last thing I wanted was to lose Avalendor and force my people to move to different lands. What would we say the war was about, then? A fight for absolutely nothing…” She paused and studied Nemesis for a quick moment before she continued. “Now we will have a stronger alliance with Tresteria…Our strongest ally. It is for the best.”



: . S h e. was quiet as Alexandria tried to defend her actions, but at the last part, she felt she needed to cut in. “For the best? Yes. Keep telling yourself that. Now what if this man you are to marry decides he wants all the power and takes everything from you. He is king and men have more power over women. Not only that, but one wrong move and the king of Tresteria brings war to us, and then what?” Her arms shifted again over her chest and she shook her head. “We went into war with Saelis because you were being forced into arranged marriages that would ultimately lead to them taking over Avalendor. And now? Now after we have won, you fall prey to the same thing, just a different place and leader. Do you not see this?” Her brow rose again and she gave a stern look to the queen.
If only she had been able to go to the allied lands to ask for aid. Perhaps then, they would not be in such a .s i t u a t i o n .



: “Don’t you think I know all of this? That I don’t think about that or worry every single moment of every day about all that? Of course I do!” She lifted her hands, massaging her temples with her fingers. “But this is different, Nemesis. It is not the leader of the land coming into this marriage. Not even the heir of the throne. I do not know very much of this man, but I can see in his eyes that he is a good and honest man. And I hope to God my intuition is right…” Her hands dropped and she moved slowly to her desk, allowing herself to drop down into her chair. “…Please. Sit down.” She motioned to the chair at the other side of her desk.
“I am sorry that you feel I did not trust you to do your job in finding assistance. You are my ambassador, but you are in no condition to travel, first of all. And, I felt it would be more meaningful if it came from me, rather than just someone I send over in my stead. All of the other islands said the same thing: that the war set them back and they had struggles of their own to deal with before they could help out again. All of them offered for our people to move onto their land. When I went to Tresteria, I got the same story; only the queen was a bit more sympathetic for us. She convinced him to agree. But he wanted a returned favor…gesture…whatever in return for his help. So I agreed.” She scratched her fingernails along the edge of her desk, nervously. This was not what she wanted to discuss. It was done and there was no turning back.
A long sigh escaped her. “I have made my decision and I will pursue this… I cannot take it back or change things. Plans and rebuilding have already begun. And signatures have been signed. It is done.”



: . N e m e s i s. moved across the room and took a seat in front of the desk. She watched Alexandria across from her. She had already heard the story of why and did not know why she was deciding to fill her in again. But she listened, anyway, showing no emotion at what the queen was deciding to do. When her explanation was finished, she only nodded in response and allowed a short time of silence to linger amongst them.
“You feel that because Thais is gone it just does not matter anymore… You agreed to the marriage because he is gone. Would you have made the same decision if he had lived? What would you have done, Alexandria?”
She folded her hands together and set them on her lap, her green eyes watching the queen in deep curiosity. She knew that bringing Thais up would also bring up another discussion. The false vision she had given the queen in order to keep her hopes up at the start of the war. Avalendor needed it as did the queen herself. It was a false hope, but it was what she felt she needed to do. And as she watched Alexandria, she could see that storm forming within those blue .e y e s .




: Her words startled her. Mostly because they were right and she had never wanted to admit that. Alexandria stared at Nemesis for a long moment. Her eyes welled up with tears as the silence lingered on between them. When she spoke, her voice was hushed in a broken whisper.
“You told me that he would live…” She lightly cleared her throat. “Maybe. . . If he had, then. . .” She paused, honestly having no idea what to answer with. She shook her head and several tears rolled down her cheeks. “I. . . I don’t know, Nemesis. But he is not here and I do not know what else to do. All I can do is to fight to keep my land and my people alive now. Avalendor may be dead, but we will rebuild again and everything will get better. It has before and it will again. You even told me you had a vision of us winning the war and the lands looking beautiful again. Or were you lying about that one as well?”
She stood up from her chair and moved to pick up some of the papers, avoiding her glance. She was crying then, and in an act of desperation, she turned, allowing the witch to see her. “I need you to tell me that everything will work out. I need you to tell me what you see… That I am doing the right thing here… Please. I just need. Something…”

[Nemeris Arundel]

. H e r. expression never changed. No emotion was there. Even as Alexandria accused her of lying about her visions. The woman had a right to feel that way. Because she had lied about Thais surviving the war. The vision replayed in her mind of Orin, with Alexandria's necklace, dangling from his fingers. That expression he wore that was enough to tell her that Thais' dead body was right there under Orin's breath. He had seen him dead, she was sure of it. But actually, she hadn't been sure of it when it first came to her. It had been so vague that she even hoped the necklace had been ripped from Thais' neck and was mearly found. And now, only Orin would perhaps know. And it would be a conversation she'd soon find herself in some day, perhaps.

Her eyes followed Alexandria when she moved to straighten her mess caused by her little fit before. Jaw clenched and she lifted her chin, eyes blinking several times after that question was asked. Or rather, the demand.

Nemesis slowly stood, causing the chair to slide backwards behind her legs. "Right now, I see a lot of misery. A lot of loss." Her brow rose as she nodded her head, confirming her words. "You are not the only one who suffers, your majesty..."

Her arms snaked around her torso, over her swollen abdomen. "I saw Avalendor winning the war. And I saw its land in ruins. But I saw it beautiful again. I was not lying about this. How it happens, I have not seen. Perhaps what you are doing is for the good of the people... I hope so, at least. Because you and everyone else knows that we cannot afford another war... All I can tell you now is to be weary."

She stared at Alexandria for a moment and then suddenly turned. "Good evening, your majesty." And without another word, she left her alone in the cold .r o o m .


(( Sorry this took forever to respond to! Forgot all about it. Oops! ))