“What were you thinking?!” Fadiya demanded that night as Ralof stood in their bedchamber, donning his armor she had not seen him wear since the day he’d arrived at the palace. It was shocking it still fit him. But, then again, it seemed as though he hadn’t aged a day since then, either. “When I set forth this quest, I had no intention of you joining it! I may need a purpose, but I also need my husband!”
“My darling,” Ralof said gently, in that tone she both loved and hated, “did you not see the way they were looking at you? They would have been calling for your head before dawn. Four men is not enough for this endeavor.”
“You’re the one that suggested I do this!” Fadiya cried, accusatorily.
“Yes,” Ralof conceded, “I did. However, I thought we might think it through a little more before you announced it.” He shushed her. “What’s done is done, Fadiya. I have volunteered, and I am going on the first patrol with Ulfric and Zamarak.”
“I won’t allow you to go! As your queen, I forbid it!”
Ralof pulled her into his arms, kissing her. “We cannot ask our subjects to do things that we ourselves would not do, my love. I am sure my queen will understand this after some sleep.”
“Sleep?!” Fadiya roared. “You expect me to SLEEP?!!? While you are out there risking life and limb against…. against… the Divines know what?!” She scoffed, glowering at him. “How dare you,” she hissed. “Just go. Go on your little adventure. I’m so sorry you’ve felt so… so… tied down here with me and the children all these years.”
He looked visibly wounded at that. Good.
“Fadiya…”
She turned her back on him, her arms crossed. He would grovel.
After some time, the clinking of metal resumed as Ralof returned to putting his armor on. And when she heard the door to their apartments a half an hour later, she realized neither of them had said another word. Panic gripped her like a vise around her chest. How long had he left? Could she still catch him before he disappeared into that doorway… possibly forever?
She dashed from their apartments as fast as her feet could take her, hearing something crash and shatter behind her. It didn’t matter. Nothing mattered. Only getting to Ralof before he left.
She ran to the war room. No one was there. The throne room, empty. Finally, she went to Ulfric’s apartments to ask his husband where they had been to meet. Aryon looked at her sadly.
“My queen…” he said sadly, “they were meeting in the cursed chamber. I fear they have likely already entered.”
Fadiya’s heart stuttered as she fled from Aryon, racing towards the haunted wing, the towering stairs, and the cursed chamber. When finally she entered the room washed in ethereal purple light, she was not surprised to find it empty. Stupidly, she went straight for the glowing, screaming-mouth doorway.
An invisible wall hit her and Fadiya found herself flying through the air. She landed on the floor, back by the door she had entered by, in a crumpled heap. Everything on her person ached, but she pulled herself up. She wouldn’t sleep. She would roam the halls, pace this very chamber, until her beloved returned.
Inktober 2024, Prompt #14: ROAM🧡🖤👻🎃
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