Friday, July 13

Friday Flash Fiction #12

Every Monday Dottie over at Tink's Place posts a picture and on Friday we share a story to go along with the picture. The story has to be about 350 or so words.

Happy early Friday! I really wanted to post this yesterday, but I contained myself to wait until Friday. The moment I saw this picture, I knew what I would write about! It is the conclusion for my past FFF called 'The Raven Queen'. I hated how I left it, but I knew that someday I would be able to finish Anabel's story. ^.^ Hope you enjoy! It is a smidge dark. 

The Raven Queen - Conclusion
by: Carole Rae
“Yes, Councilor Iago?”
The wonderful thing about being who we are was that we age slower than average humans. Councilor Iago still looked the same three years later even after the bloody war with King Monrtesor. His face looked grim, however, “May we talk in private my Queen?”

This could not be good. I waved my hand and the room was cleared. The last to leave was my now three year old son, Edgar, and his nanny. Once the room was clear, I looked at him, “What is it?”

He took a deep breath and looked me right in the eye, “Your true love, you-know-who, is dead. He died last night....he was killed by someone and made to look like he died from alcoholism or such. I am truly sorry my Queen.”

I could feel the blood drain from my face and the world spin around me, “No...no...who would want to hurt him! He has done nothing! No one but my late parents know of our love!”

“My Queen, I have reason to believe it is your ex-husband, the past King Elizar.” Councilor Iago ran up to my knee and grabbed my hands. With such tenderness, he kissed my hands and murmured, “I am sorry...I will have the past King Elizar hunted down and ki--”

“No...no...don't bother. Since I banished him from my kingdom no one has been able to find him. It is useless.” I replied with a voice I didn't recognize. I could feel my heart crashing into little pebbles with every second. Moments passed before I asked, “Iago, is there anyway to smuggle me out of the kingdom to visit his...” I trailed off.

Councilor Iago sighed, “You gave the blood oath and tied yourself to the kingdom. There is only one way...”he too trailed off. He didn't have to continue, because I knew the penalty to leave the kingdom for reasons that wasn't connected to the well-being of the kingdom.

“I know the penalty, councilor, and I'm willing to pay it.”

Without objection, because Councilor Iago knew when I made my mind up, it was made up for good, he stood and kissed my forehead, “You must have really loved your first husband, Anabel. Too be honest, I wished you loved me that way.”

I smiled up at him, “Maybe in another life Iago. Perhaps then we could be together.”

“Before...before I get the...could I ask one favor?”

“Anything. Your loyalty to me and my family deserves much more than I can give.”

“Just one kiss, my Queen.” Iago kneeled back between my legs.

I smiled and massaged his cheek, “Of course.” Leaning forward, I kissed his lips gently. He moaned and I could feel the grin across my lips. If I had never met Edgar, I know that my heart might have been stolen by my faithful Iago. However, my heart did not exist and neither could I.

He broke the moment first. Standing, he put his shields back up and business was etched back into his mind, “My Queen, I will have the alchemist create the potion. The paperwork will be done and you will leave tonight.” He bowed and I waved him to be gone.
It felt like an eternity before the sun set and my smugglers came to fetch me. I quickly said goodbye to my son and to my kingdom. This mission would be my last and I was actually doing something for me. With the vial in hand, we departed.

--

It didn't take much time for us to arrive in the other dimension. I still found it odd that this world was so void of magic. It's sad actually...how empty their lives must be.

My smugglers/bodyguards lead me to the graveyard where my beloved was stored for all of eternity. With a curt nod I ordered the smugglers away and not to return for a couple of hours. They unhappily agreed. Each in turn kissed my hand and said their goodbyes. With each kiss I could feel the blood oath melting around me. I forgot how it felt to not have the fate of a kindgom balancing on my shoulders. What a liberating feeling!

Once I was left alone, I ran and ran until I found my beloved's grave. I threw myself down on it and cried! All the tears I held back over the years came flooding over me. I could feel myself drowning in my sorrow, “Oh Edgar! Edgar my love! I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry!”

“Dearest Virgina, you have found me.” The voice I have missed for so long sighed.

I turned and there stood Edgar's ghost, “Edgar!”

“I thought you would be waiting for me, Virgina.”

“I'm sorry I wasn't there for you when you died, my beloved...but I am coming too.” I declared, taking out the vial.

He smiled as I popped the lid off and downed the poison. The penalty for breaking the blood oath was either death by hanging or suicide. Of course I would pick the latter. As much as it hurt me to leave my son and my friends, I knew that I couldn't live with the knowledge of Edgar not being alive. Slowly, but surely the poison did its work. After a moment or two my world went black and I was gone............

THE END

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<3CR  








6 comments:

Anachronist said...

Oh a nice suicide! It does fit the pic, thank you!

Carole Rae said...

hahaha. I never thought I would see the word 'nice' and 'suicide' together. But thank you. Originally I was going to have someone kill her, but I found suicide a better option for her

Blodeuedd said...

Oh no :/ Couldn't she just wait and hook up with iago :/ Sad sad

Carole Rae said...

Love makes us do crazy things. I agree though...

carol said...

Wonderful ending, it fit well. I do feel sad for Iago though.

Carole Rae said...

Thanks! I originally didn't plan for Iago to love her but while I was writing this he kept bothering me to add that.