The Green Amulet

"In and out the mulberry bush, the monkey chased the weasel, the monkey thought that it was fun, pop goes the weasel!"   Diana laughed heartily as the baby comically  struggled to sing along to her melodious tune.  Dressed in a miniature white linen, the tiny princess had been bobbing her head as the song was being sang, her enigmatic jungle green eyes wide with delight.   "It's time to sleep little one, it's important that you do now. I have a feeling that in future, sleep will not be a necessity to you."   The latter part was uttered with utmost grimness. Diana had never been wrong in the past,  after all she was the kingdom's most skilled witch. She watched as the princess yawned successively, a little pout hugging her facial features. Diana chuckled, the princess was disappointed because their bonding session had come to an end.   "Do not worry little one, I will always be by your side."   She was not sure how, but the princess seemed to fathom the comfort in these words. Without missing a pulse, she began showing signs of falling into deep slumber, her tiny figure tussling  beneath the warm bundles of white sheets. Diana waited until the baby's breathing was even.  A tear escaped her grey eye as she stood up and  sauntered  towards the enormous window of the princess' chambers. She slowly raised her forefinger to wipe the stray tear but instead her vision became blurry as a pool of tears formed in her eyes.   "I-I am s-sorry L-lyra, I-I am s-so s-sorry."   The baby woke up with a start, her wailing awakening the whole kingdom.        *         *         *         *            *          *         "Fetch them Theresa, he does not have much time."   Theresa nervously twiddled her thumbs while chewing her bottom lip. These miniature  actions she was demonstrating were all but distractions from what she yearned to really do, cry.   "Those children are a bunch of rascals, how could they be up and about in the kingdom while their father remains ailing within the walls of the palace?"   Theresa snapped out of her own pensive to look at the person who had uttered those words. Louis Martin Junior  was the brother to the king,  a handsome burly lad with a sour personality. His very presence gave her hives. Theresa was not quite certain how he had known of his brother's ailing considering they had not spoken to each other in nearly half a decade.   "Theresa is your hearing impaired? The physician has specifically instructed you to fetch those midgets yet you still stand there transfixed to the spot! Shoo, go, go, go!"   Theresa mentally rolled her eyes at the deviant command and she could have sworn that the physician had literally done it.   "Are you aware of the vastness of this Kingdom Louis? Those children could be anywhere at this very moment and if anything should happen while I am out there scouring for them I'd never be able to forgive myself!"   The room remained unbelievably still from Theresa's outburst, the physician's mouth hanging open from the bold action of the nanny.   "Besides...have you ever interacted with them? Particularly your niece? She is probably somewhere in the forest swinging like a monkey from tree to tree while cackling carefree with her nitwit of a friend Michael...or is it Mitchell or maybe Midget?"   The physician's mouth now remained forcefully closed as he bit his inner cheeks to cage in the monstrous bubble of guffaw threatening to escape. He was not sure what had stirred his humor bone. Whether it was the fact that Theresa had just done an elaborate monkey mimic or the clever twist of young Mitchell's name. Theresa's palm swiftly flew to cover her mouth, unsure why she would speak so candidly to the King's brother.   "Well then Theresa I hope this castle has served you well over the decades because you are certainly going to miss it when you leave. "   A painful gasp echoed the room as Theresa went on her knees.   "P-please L-louis...I know nothing else b-but to c-care for this f-family and the children n-need me especially now that the King is d-dying..."   Sobs encroached her being, overwhelming her completely. Theresa crawled towards the King's shriveled  white draped frame. King Thaddeus laid still on his bed. He had been a buoyant attractive man once and now...now he was but a shell of himself, barely recognizable. His breathing was ragged, his spirit slowly slipping away from his body. Was the Kingdom doomed to perish as Louis took over the seat with glee and gluttony? It was the reason he was back after all these years right? Even though the seat belonged to young master Earl, Theresa was sure Louis had devised a well schemed plan to take the Kingdom right under their noses and the first step to this was eliminating her, the oldest member of the family.   "As a last task you are to swing from tree to tree in fervent search of Lyra and Earl. They should at least have a last glance of their father before he breathes his last breathe."   Theresa choked at his latter words, although they held truth, they didn't lessen the pain of loss. King Thaddeus was perhaps the best ruler the Kingdom had ever had. The physician walked towards her and placed his right hand gently on her shoulder. He muttered lowly as Louis pretended not to eavesdrop.   "Theresa, I do not mean to be prude and I detest him as much as you do but the children do deserve a chance to bid their father goodbye."   Theresa bobbed her head in agreement, the physician was right. She stood up from her kneeling position, careful not to harm the King in any way.   "Hurry now, before it's too late."   Theresa threw daggers at Louis, if only looks could kill. She then scurried away from the King's chambers silently hoping that she would come back with the children in time. They would never be able to forgive themselves if their father died without their presence.   "L-lyra...w-where is L-lyra?"   It was the first time the King had spoken since he fell ill and the physician couldn't help the shock that he was currently feeling. Louis curiously peeked at his brother wondering if he was in the right state of mind to notice his unwanted presence. The physician swiftly tended to him, lowering his ear to meet the words that would possibly be the last for him to utter.   "L-lyra is to b-be queen, no one e-else."