Rise of the Shadow Queen

Kaelira Ashwyn – Ten Years Old The autumn festival had turned the Queen’s Garden into something from a dream. Golden leaves drifted through the air like lazy butterflies, and the scent of honey cakes and spiced cider made my stomach rumble even though I’d already eaten three pastries. Mama laughed at something Queen Seraphine said, the sound bright and musical, and I thought that nothing in the world could ever be wrong when she laughed like that. “Kaelira! Come catch me!” Little Prince Theron’s voice rang out across the garden, high and excited. He was only four, all chubby cheeks and wild dark curls, and he ran like his legs couldn’t quite keep up with how fast he wanted to go. I grinned and chased after him, my own dark hair streaming behind me. “I’m going to get you!” He shrieked with delight and tried to hide behind a rosebush, but his giggles gave him away. I tagged his shoulder gently. Mama had taught me to always be careful with smaller children, and he immediately declared, “Now you hide! I’ll count!” He covered his eyes with his pudgy hands, but I could see him peeking through his fingers. It made me smile. I darted behind a marble fountain, crouching low, listening to his enthusiastic counting. “One... two... five... um... eight!” Queen Seraphine called out, her voice warm with amusement. “Theron, darling, it goes one, two, three,” “Oh. One, two, free!” I pressed my hand over my mouth to keep from laughing. Mama always said the prince was precious, and she was right. He was like a little brother, even though he was a prince and I was just... me. Mama waved over to me.“Kaelira, sweetheart, come here for a moment.” I peeked around the fountain. She was standing now, brushing off her deep green dress, the one that made her eyes look like emeralds. Queen Seraphine sat on the stone bench beside where Mama had been, her blonde hair catching the afternoon light. I started to stand, “Coming, Mama!” Mama took one step toward me and simply... crumpled. It wasn’t like sitting down or even falling. Her body just folded, like a puppet with cut strings, and she hit the ground with a sound that made my heart stop. “Mama!” I was running before I knew I’d moved. Queen Seraphine reached her first, already kneeling, her hands glowing with soft golden light, healing magic, the kind Mama had been teaching me but I couldn’t quite manage yet. The Queen’s voice was steady, but I could hear something underneath it. “Lyanna. Lyanna, stay with me.” Mama’s eyes fluttered open. “Sera... I’m sorry. I thought I had more time.” “More time?” Queen Seraphine’s hands moved over Mama’s body, the golden light pulsing, searching. Then her face went pale. “No. No, this can’t be—Lyanna, this is Shadowvein Disease. How long have you known?” I didn’t understand the words, but I understood the way the Queen’s voice broke. “Six months,” Mama whispered. “Maybe seven. I thought... I thought my magic could hold it back. I thought I’d have years.” “You should have told me!” Tears streamed down Queen Seraphine’s face. “I could have—we could have—” “There’s no cure, Sera. You know that.” Mama reached up and touched her friend’s cheek. “I wanted... I wanted every normal moment I could have. With you. With Kaelira. I didn’t want to spend my last days in a sick room.” Guards had appeared, and someone was shouting for the royal physicians, but I barely heard them. I dropped to my knees beside Mama, grabbing her hand. It felt cold. Too cold. “Mama, you’re going to be okay. The Queen will fix it. She can fix anything.” Mama’s eyes found mine, and she smiled. That same beautiful smile, even though I could see pain in every line of her face. “My brave girl. My beautiful, brave girl.” The physicians came with their instruments and their worried faces. They examined Mama right there in the garden while I held her hand and refused to let go. I heard words like “advanced stage” and “weeks, perhaps days” and “nothing to be done.” Queen Seraphine sent everyone away except the guards at the garden gates. She helped Mama sit up against the fountain, then sat beside her, taking her other hand. I stayed on Mama’s other side, pressed against her, feeling her heartbeat. “Do you remember,” Queen Seraphine said softly, “when we were seven years old, and we snuck into the Crystal Caves?” Mama laughed, but it turned into a cough. “Your mother was furious. We were grounded for a month.” “But we found that geode. The one that glowed in the dark.” “We split it in half. Made a blood pact that we’d always be sisters, no matter what.” They were both crying now, holding hands, and I felt tears streaming down my own face even though I didn’t fully understand what was happening. I just knew that something terrible was breaking, something that could never be fixed. “I’ll take care of Kaelira,” Queen Seraphine said, her voice fierce despite the tears. “I swear it, Lyanna. I’ll raise her as my own daughter. She’ll want for nothing. She’ll be a princess in everything but name.” But Mama shook her head slightly. “She’ll be your handmaiden, Sera. She’ll serve you and protect Theron and any children you have. It’s her path. I’ve seen it.” “No.” The Queen’s voice was sharp. “She doesn’t need to serve anyone. I’ll adopt her properly. She’ll be…” “Sera.” Mama squeezed her friend’s hand. “I’ve seen it. In my visions. This is her destiny. But...” She took a shaky breath. “Let her choose. When she’s old enough. Let her choose her own path. Promise me.” Queen Seraphine was quiet for a long moment. Then she nodded. “I promise. I’ll let her choose. But I’ll love her as my daughter regardless. I’ll train her, protect her, give her every opportunity. And if she chooses to serve, it will be because she wants to, not because she has to.” “Thank you.” Mama’s voice was barely a whisper. “Thank you for being my sister. For being my friend. For every moment of joy you’ve given me.” “Thank you for the same,” Queen Seraphine whispered back. “I love you, Lyanna. I always have.” “I love you too.” They held each other, crying, and I held onto Mama and cried too, even though I still didn’t want to believe what was happening.