Key To A Goblin's Heart

Michael's POV

"The Queen Passed away"

Those were the words that changed everything that's happening right there. Personally speaking, I never liked her. Yet, her death seemed harder to digest. All this that we were doing, it was to save her right? Victoria and Cassie, their desperation stemmed from saving their own mother… then what now?

I looked at Cassie and Victoria who stood there still, frozen… devoid of any expression while their eyes focused on some piece of ambient furniture. Should I say something? I knew I wanted to, but what? What was the right thing to say? Speaking from my personal experience, it was nothing. Nothing I say would make this situation any better.

Meanwhile Sofosys simply seemed to be lost in his own deep thoughts, glancing at the girls from time to time. And Jake… he kept looking at me as if waiting for me to make the next move. "We must go see the queen," Declared Sofosys, once his trance broke.

The girls simply nodded, but refrained from saying anything. I was unsure whether to go or not to go, until Sofosys looked at me and gestured for me to follow. Upon reaching the queen's resting chamber, I stared at her lifeless pale body. It seemed as if she had been lifeless for days, which might be true given she had been unconscious the whole time.

Cassie's father, upon noticing us, hugged Cassie who seemed to finally come to terms with her mother's death and broke into tears. Meanwhile, Rathaerys extended his hand to Victoria as well, but she denied it. Taking one last glance at her mother's dead body, she stormed out of the room. Knowing how devastated she might feel, I ran after her.

"Victoria!" I called out. Either she didn't hear me, or she chose to ignore me. So, I called again, "Victoria stop! I know you are upset, but please talk to me"!

"Upset"! She turned back and snarled at me. "No, Mike… the king consort.., or my father is upset. Little Cassie is upset. Me? I am outraged"! She huffed.

"I know… I know you. But, shouldn't you be there with them. Running away won't bring her back" I tried to reason with her.

"You are right, Mike" She kept shouting at me, but her voice started to quiver at the end. "The forest, it was supposed to save her. If only I hadn't been stubborn and asked for Sofosys' help from the start, she would have had a chance. But no" She scoffed at herself. "From someone with good instincts I can't believe I pulled such a stupid plan" Her eyes brimmed with tears as she let it out.

"It wasn't your fault Victoria. You were trying your best, I knew you were" I tried to counter her but she snapped again.

"Doesn't matter now, does it?" She scoffed. "She is gone… and I couldn't save her. Just like I could never save anyone" She threw her hand by virtue of which a small ornament flew across the corridor. It was as if her magic had gone out of control.

"Vicky, I know you are hurting. I know, more than anyone, what it is like to lose your family, but we're here for you. You are not in this alone." I tried to reach out.

She shook her head before she spat, "No, you don't. The people you lost were the ones you loved. I didn't love the queen, I loathed her. Her questionable ways, her dictatorship… I hated those" Her voice got stuck in her throat, failing to continue anymore. A few tears glided down her cheeks and her eyes became cloudy.

"You risked everything, you put your faith in Magnus, you travelled to the dark realm just to find a way to go to the enchanted forest. You put everything you got these past couple of days to save her life Victoria. You may have hated the queen's judgements, but you never hated her." I tried to reason with her. "No one would do so much for someone she hated this much"

She bit her lips before bursting into tears. Victoria was one of the strongest people I knew, and seeing her break down like that, broke something in me as well. "I finally found my family, Mike. I can't believe I lost her this soon" She let out in between her sobs.

"She was not your only family Vicky. Cassie, the king… they are your family too. And so am I! We might not be related by blood, but you have always been my sister." I hugged her and patted her back in a soothing manner. "I know it's not the same thing, but we're here for you" I sighed. "I am here for you".

She hugged me together and sobbed. She cried her heart out and I simply stood there as I let her. I knew Victoria won't wanna break down in front of others, and I respected that choice of hers.

When it seemed that she was finally done she looked at me, red eyed and gave me a faint, hollow smile, "Little Mikey is all grown up now" she chuckled. I wanted to snap at that, I did, but I restrained myself. I didn't want to come off as a jerk. "Let's go," she whispered.

I nodded and followed her as she walked back into the Queen's chamber. This time, Victoria joined the hug and tried her best not to wallow her heart out. I saw some other messenger approach Sofosys, and whisper something. When he was gone, I waited for Sofosys to say something but when he didn't I cornered him and asked, "Is everything alright"?

"Apparently not. The news of the queen's demise has spread to Arpholeus. The throne is left without the queen, and they want to snatch it while they are at." he mumbled. "At a time like this I can't even force these girls to take charge."

"Cassie told me that the queen was sixteen when she took the throne," I recalled. "They are Queen's progenies, and they are strong. They might be able to handle this better than you think. After all they are of queen's blood." I recalled.

"I suppose that's true," Sofosys mumbled. 

"You okay"? I ended up asking. From the moment this news was delivered to us, I could tell Sofosys felt a bit… lost. "The death of the queen, it must not have been easy on you".

"I have lived a long life, dear Michael. I have learned to let go of people" He gave me a faint smile.

"Every person is unique. Just because you have lost someone doesn't mean it's easier to lose the next person. You and the Queen had a special bond. She entrusted you with the care of her only daughter. I can't imagine what you must be feeling" I mumbled.

"I appreciate your concern, Mike. But I am fine. With the current situation of war, I am just concerned about our next step. That's all. But, as suggested by you, I'll let the girls know of the situation." He nodded lightly and walked away. 

"Cassandrei" He called out, "Victoria" he paused. "There is something else I must tell you". He elaborated in detail how Arpholeus was planning to take advantage of their vulnerable situation. Once he was done, the girls had stopped crying as they looked at each other.

"Victoria is my mother's firstborn, therefore she is the rightful choice for the throne" Cassie declared.

"You are more experienced than me, you must take the lead" Victoria argued.

"As much as I appreciate that, I can't dishonor my mother's, my ancestors' legacy. I'll aid you with my experience, but the throne… you must take it" Cassie declared.

"Very well then" Victoria nodded. "But, before we do it, we must do one important thing." She paused. "We must bury our mother. We might not have enough time to go through the entire funeral process, but she deserves a proper send off" She mumbled. 

She looked around the room for our consent, to which Cassie nodded at her and the king mumbled, "I couldn't agree more".

As it so turns out, all the members of the royal family were buried at the cemetery behind the sacred garden of the highcastle and therefore it was arranged by Victoria and Cassie for the same for the queen. 

Sofoys pulled off a minor charm and turned the clothes we were wearing into their black version. "This is temporary, this shall be gone within a day" He declared. 

At the cemetery, after burying her properly with a bit of magic and a bit of effort, we remained quiet, to pay respect to the queen. After a minute or so, Victoria finally spoke, "With our queen gone, her kingdom is upto us to protect. We must give everything we have to protect it. Let's honor her memory by saving her kingdom. May she rest in peace" She sighed. "Amen"