Elements of Glory: The Princess of Nothing
Epilogue: The Queen of Wonders

EPILOGUE:

The Queen of Wonders

’…No longer a Princess of Nothing… but a Queen, terrible and wonderful, leader of the Weral Kingdom, the most powerful woman alive… yes, not a Princess of Nothing… a Queen of Wonders!’

-Wilth, guardian of Emily Weral, in a quiet moment of weakness, two cycles ago, on the anniversary of the fall of the Weral Kingdom

As the sun set outside Grulem’s Kingdom, Emily stood out on a balcony, dressed in a white gown – of the same type that she’d always dreamed of wearing – staring out at the snowy world around her, down toward the lake with several floating icebergs, to the island where an old castle ruin stood. It was warm out, despite the snow, and a gentle wind caressed Emily’s bare shoulders.

For the past day, Emily had been healing, and had been becoming acquainted with Grulem, his castle, and those who lived in the castle with him. Emily missed her home, she missed her friends… she missed many things, but she knew, in her current state, without full control of her powers, she would only be a threat to those she cared about. Dark beings, and evil creatures – besides the Dark Master Servantt – would be looking for her, hoping to control her and her power.

They would use her friends against her.

But here she was safe, or so Grulem said.

Emily trusted him.

‘Milady,’ the Wasgician’s deep and powerful voice said behind her.

Emily turned from the beautiful scene before her and faced the Wasgician, who was clad so brilliantly in white and silver, his ice-like staff gripped in one hand.

‘Grulem,’ Emily greeted.

The Wasgician walked to the edge of the balcony, stood beside Emily, and looked up into the cloudy grey sky, at the pockets of breaking clouds where the descending sun was shining through. ‘It is so very beautiful, is it not?’ Grulem said. ’The grey skies and the snow... so beautiful… so peaceful.’

‘It is,’ Emily agreed, joining the Wasgician’s gaze. She glanced up at him. ’I don’t suppose you want to tell me where we are yet?’

Grulem smiled behind his beard. ‘In a far off land,’ he responded, and looked down at Emily. ’For now, you must just take solace in the fact that here, you are safe.’

Emily nodded and looked out at the scenery again, the wide forest below her, and the snow-capped mountains in the distance. ‘So, you’ve been to see the healers?’ she asked.

‘Yes,’ Grulem responded. ‘Your Gemgic wounds were grievous to be sure, but you’ve been given a clean bill of health.’

Emily glanced up at the Wasgician. ‘Then my training can begin?’ she asked.

‘Indeed it can,’ Grulem responded.

‘The sooner the better,’ Emily said with determination, ‘I want to be able to stand with my friends in what is coming.’

‘You will,’ Grulem responded, ’though the future will not be easy for any of you.’

Emily nodded grimly. ‘I know,’ she said.

Silence.

‘But,’ Grulem announced after a moment, ’you won’t face the future alone, and you will no longer be the Princess of Nothing.’

‘What?’ Emily asked, looking at the Wasgician, narrowing her brown eyes.

’My agents tell me that the Weral Kingdom has been restored,’ Grulem informed. ’You have armies and subjects, and your forests are no longer places of fear and loathing. The Dead Man has been destroyed. Despite the darkness ahead of us, there is great hope.’

Emily couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She turned away, and walked from the edge of the balcony, assimilating the Wasgician’s words. ‘How?’ she asked, turning back to him.

‘John and Samantha – the Elements of Glory – released the Weral people from the prison they’d been trapped in.’

‘My parents even?’ Emily asked hopeful.

The Wasgician’s face filled with sadness. ‘No,’ he whispered, ‘they were killed before the rest were locked away… I’m sorry.’

Emily turned away, fighting back her tears.

Grulem walked up behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders. ’You will be Queen when you return to your Kingdom my dear, and with your people, and with your friends, you will stand against all darkness, and together, you will save the worlds!’ Grulem turned Emily to face him, his eyes soft and kind. ‘No longer the Princess of Nothing, my dear, when you return to your Kingdom in glory, you will be the Queen of Wonders!’

Tears burned down Emily’s cheeks. ‘I’m afraid she whispered.’

Grulem smiled warmly. ‘That, my dear,’ he told her, ‘is a very good place to start.’ Gently he touched the end of her nose with his finger.

Emily couldn’t help but smile at him.

‘Now,’ the Wasgician said, ‘get some rest my precious dear. Tomorrow everything changes. Sleep well, dream big, and I will see you again in the morning.’ Grulem stepped away from Emily. She watched the Wasgician enter her bedroom and cross to the door. He pulled the door open, threw one last look back at Emily, and stepped out into the hallway, closing the door behind him.

When Grulem was gone, Emily walked back out to the edge of the balcony to gaze at the wintry beauty of Grulem’s lands. It was in part stark, in part lonely, but so warm and beautiful too. A pleasant wind blew across Emily and she sighed, wishing she knew how the Griffin King, Siri, the Dooys, John, and Samantha were doing… and…

She wondered about Aragam. She thought of him more and more, and in part couldn’t understand why. He wasn’t the most dashing man in the world, nor the bravest. He was, in fact, rather mundane, and not a very good Wasgician to boot. He could be rude... but it was a facade, under it all, he was kind and good, and loyal. There was something indeed wonderfully beautiful about that.

Emily hoped he and the others understood why she’d done what she’d done. She hoped she would see them all again. She hoped, when she saw Aragam again, maybe they might see through to growing their friendship, and... let that friendship grow into something... more.

The thought made Emily blush a little.

‘Wherever you are, my friends… and Aragam,’ she whispered, ’wherever you are, I hope you’re well, and I hope to see you again, soon.’

Emily stayed where she was until the sun was hidden behind the horizon and the stars were sparkling in all their brilliance high above. Finally, with slow and silent footsteps, she walked to her bed and climbed under the covers. She closed he sleepy brown eyes her eyes, and drifted, peacefully, into dreams.

TO BE CONTINUED…

IN

ELEMENTS OF GLORY:

The Queen of Wonders

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