Suspended in Darkness

The Return

Elle.

"My youngest memory of this place is looking down from the balcony and seeing the vast stretches of trees"

"My lady, with all due respect, I hardly think that is your first memory." Louie replied. I looked back and smiled at him. "Good Luck on your journey, madam. Hope you shall return in this state."

''Of course. Louie. I do not know for when I shall be back-"

"Madam. Before the.... Mishap, I promised to my late Queen that I shall be here for as long as this family requires me."

This 'mishap' changed my life. I am not comfortable talking abut it just yet. But the fire of images burn fresh in my mind.

"Thank thee Louie"

"My Queen." and he bowed to me.

I was NOT used to that at all. I artfully spread my dress and was about to curtsy when Louie stopped me.

"My Lady!" He was shocked. "You are no more a mere Princess. You are her Majesty Elizabeth Rhea Sabrina Alexandrine Adolfine"

"I have not accepted the crown yet, Louis."

"Nor has her majesty declined it."

I gave a long hard stare and he started right back at me. "Fine, I take my leave now."

"Be safe, and remember. your people need you"

~.~

Here I stood. One that I'd been running away from a 100 Centuries. Yet, it seemed like I was never gone. The Fifteen thin, round towers piercing the sky are the first saw of the castle which are connected by huge, narrow walls made of stone.

Grand windows scattered here and there around the walls in seemingly perfect symmetry, along with symmetric crenelations for archers and artillery.

A great gate with large wooden doors, a draw bridge and large crenelations guards a tranquil city within this extinguished volcano and it's the only easy way in, any other side would be futile.

Lush gardens, which were once lush fields of crops surround the castle walls and provided the inhabitants with food all year round . This castle had been around for at least a 20000 Centuries, but it didn't seem like it would collapse any time soon.

I entered the grand doors and made my way inside, to be greeted by silence. "Anyone?" "No one?" I slumped my rucksack down and it fell with a gentle 'thud'.

"My Queen! You are back! I knew, she would come back! Oh! Mark your calendars!"

"Louis, good to see you too, and thank you for that over-enthused greeting" I replied, gently pulling him into a hug.

He pulled back, still linked to me by the arm, and viewed me up and down. "Miss Elizabeth, do not mind for me speaking, but that is not how a lady must dress!"

"Louie! I cannot walk around in a corset anymore! Those days are long gone!"

"Forgive me Miss, Louis has not been to the outside world in a long time! The only ones I see are Mr. Ryker" Louie, with a face of understanding replied.

"What about Sabrina?"

Louie looked down. Luna Sabrina, was killed 15 years ago in another deadly m******e.

"Why wasn't I informed?" I demanded with authority.

"It's because, Elle, You never bothered sending us any letter! The last letter I have of you was from, New Holland,dated 1606" A voice boomed through the house. "Tracing you hasn't been the easiest either."

Ryker. My. Ryker.