Episode 9 + 3 - Husband!
529 Words
Minutes stretched. Then more. The king’s chest moved. Shallow. The same. No change. No color returning to his lips. No strength in his throat. The paste was gone. The miracle was not.
Elowyn’s face didn’t change. But her patience did.
She turned. Slow. The crown was heavy on her hair. "Guards," she said.
Two guards moved. Fast. Trained. They took Ayla’s arms by opposite sides. Her bare feet slid on the rug. She didn’t fight. Not yet. Her eyes were still on Father. Waiting too.
Elowyn stepped close. Close enough that Ayla could see the lines at her mouth. The sleepless nights. The crown that had not been light for years.
She spoke to Ayla rudely. No silk now. No queen’s mask. Only fury kept tight.
"You brought this into my territory," she said. "You brought this leaf. You brought this word. Time Echo. Miracle. You made me choose." Her voice cut. "Do you know the far-reaching consequences if this fails, girl? If he dies with your paste on his tongue? Every house will say I let a forest witch touch the king. Every border will move. Every blade will come out."
She turned on me then. "And you," she said. Blame hot in her throat. "I blame your judgment too. You, the heir with no sense left. You vouched for her. You let her in. If my husband dies tonight, it is on your name first."
Icelynn, glad than ever, cut in.
"Exactly," she said. Sweet. Poisoned.
"A forest girl. Unknown. Unvouched. She plays with the king’s life and we are to call it mercy?" Her eyes flicked to me. "But of course," she added, softer, "it isn’t your fault, Prince Aiden." A lie dressed as mercy. "You were blinded. Blinded by what you thought was love for her or perhaps even a spell."
The word love landed like a slap.
No one knew me to ever love anyone other than family. No one believed. So naturally no one paid much attention to her.
Ralph returned to the humble seeming son. Head bowed again. Hands folded. "We only wanted what’s best for Father," he murmured. "We only wanted safety." His voice was silk again. The mask back on.
The room shifted. Everyone a little pissed it was a waste of time. Shoulders dropped. Breaths exhaled. Outlanders looked at each other.
Nothing. No change. We sat for a leaf. Levi’s brow went flat. Oliver’s lip curled. Flora’s hope died in her face.
Elowyn’s hand lifted. The order was coming. The order against Ayla. Arrest. Chains. Maybe worse. The guards’ grips tightened on Ayla’s arms.
Ayla didn’t look at Elowyn. She looked at Father. Her mouth moved. No sound came out.
Please, she wasn’t saying. Please.
And then—
Elowyn hears her name behind.
"Elowyn."
The room froze.
She turned. Guards half-dragged Ayla, but she turned.
King Asher was on his feet.
As fit as a fiddle.
He stood beside the bed. No paste on his lips. No weakness in his knees. Color in his face. Storm in his eyes. Surprised himself. His hand was on the bedpost like he’d just remembered he could grip it.
The silence broke.
"Husband!"
- Writer
