The King Aracnopar

Rebuild What's Lost

I sat cuddled next to Julian with her head on my shoulder and my head rested against hers in the horse stables as I watched multiple men, including Asmon,, veron and Zion carrying workers out from the still flaming castle. "I'm sorry Maria.." She spoke softly to me.. if I had any tears left to cry I would've began sobbing at her words but I just stayed silent and stared. Now that my adrenaline was wearing off, I could feel the skin around my ankles was burnt and it hurt by every slight movement I made.

After a bit, Zion approached me and looked at my legs. "You're injured.. you shouldn't be sitting in the stables." He spoke gently. "I think she's in shock." Julian spoke, not moving her head from my shoulder. "Maria." Zion said, placing his hand upon my knee and gently squeezing. I wanted to respond but all I could picture was my father's burnt room.. fire started in there due to how burnt it was.. not only that.. this kingdom will now need a new leader.. I can't be that for them. "They're going to expect me to step up and take the throne. rebuild." I spoke and they both looked at me. "We can help you." Julian sounded so sweet and sincere but her words didn't provide me any comfort. "I can't," I choked on my words as I spoke. "That's alright. Come on, let's get you out of the stables." Zion went to touch me but I pulled away from him. I didn't want to move. "Maria.. He's right." Julian agreed with Zion, pulling herself away from me and offering me a hand up from the ground. I took her hand and stood on the ground.

Zion guided us into one of the Inns closest to the castle, as if he already knew the entire layout of the kingdom. I sat on one of the chairs next to a round-table and Zion began tending to the wounds on my ankles, causing me to wince and hiss at the slightest touch. "Julian were you injured?" I asked her and she shook her head, "No, Veron carried me out a few moments after the fire started. He's very dependable." She said with a smile. "Yeah.. He always has been." I gave her a weak half-hearted smile in return, before wincing as Zion applied the last bandage. "I'm sorry," He spoke lowly. "It's alright.. after everything you've done, I should be the one apologizing." I softly cried. "I'm gonna go get us drinks.." Julian softly said before walking over to the counter leaving us alone. "I couldn't do the one thing you asked of me and look what it resulted in." Zion doubted himself, I leaned forward in the chair and used my fingers to lift his head to look at me by his chin. "Do not blame yourself for what happened here.. if it weren't for you things would have been a lot worse." I reminded him and focused my eyes into his hazel ones, offering him a slight smile before removing my hand. The inn door suddenly shot open and in walked the mayor of the kingdom followed by Asmon and Veron. His eyes scanned around and breathed a sigh of relief before seeing me. "Princess Rosaria.. I'm so glad you made it out alright." The mayor stepped toward me and I stood up to meet him. He immediately pulled me into a hug and I hugged him back. Zion stepped back to give us privacy. "My father wasn't as lucky.." He pulled back from our hug at my words and stared down at me in astonishment. "And Angel?" I felt my stomach twist at the mention of her name but I knew It would be best if they thought she didn't make it out either. "She.." I looked away unable to finish my sentence, the mayors eyes clenched shut for a moment before sighing. "Are you going to.. step up to the throne..?" He asked and I was taken back by the urgency of the matter.. but I understood. "She just lost.. everything.. can't everyone just chill out a bit?" Zion chimed in and I shot a hateful look in his direction. "Who even are you again?" Asmon snarled and I felt my head becoming swimmy at all the questions and argumentative phrasing. "Someone who doesn't concern you." Zion chipped back at him. "You've been spending a lot of time with Maria recently, so I think you do." Asmon continued their bickering and I shifted my eyes back to the mayor. "Why don't you take the throne?" everyone became silent and looked at me in shock including the mayor. "Me!? I'm honored.. but why?" He asked. "Your wife is already pregnant.. you know how things have been run more than even I do and I- I just can't. Just tell me what I need to do to change everything over to you." I was honest with him, I felt Julian's hand gently grab mine and squeeze, reminding me that she was there for me. "Get some rest.. we'll discuss this more tomorrow; if you're still sure then we'll start everything tomorrow to upkeep stability within the kingdom." He said before leaving me with the rest of the group who just stared at me waiting for me to say something. "If everyone except Julian doesn't go away I'm going to start gouging out eyes." Everyone except for Julian scurried away at my warning to different parts of the inn, her and I bought a shared room and didn't waste any time before laying down in the beds in the room. I tossed and turned through most of the night before finally being able to slip off into a peaceful slumber. I dreaded tomorrow.. I dreaded taking my next steps towards moving on from this.. I just wanted to be with my father at this point.