SOPHIA’S POV
I could not believe that it had to end this way. After all that we passed through just to bring Lalic here now the queen is about to walk away and not do anything to help us.
It is over.
My whole world came crashing before me. I should have known that this was going to be nothing but an effort in futility. Yes, I knew it was an effort in futility but I failed to accept that fact.
I failed to accept the reality and now the consequences were glaring down on me. Lalic is going to die even before we get to the borders but if I had not suffered him to come here, he might have lasted a couple of days more. I know that may be nothing but then, he will be with me some more.
What is a mother without her only child?
I pulled my eyes away from the queen as she made to stand and gazed at my dying son. His pulse was faint and I could barely hear him breathe. Even his constant whimpering had died down and now his eyes are gradually starting to row back. His palms are purple and his face blue.
His was dying slowly in my arms.
I wanted to scream and wail out loud. I wanted the heavens to hear my voice and give me justice if there was still any left, but I could not find the voice to do that. My voice was rickety and it was barely audible as a result of the persistent crying and mourning.
Maybe I should not wail, I should not do that yet. I need all the strength I can get. I need the strength to bring him back to Wild Cloak and also some to enable me to cry as much as I want to when he is finally laid to the earth to rest in peace for eternity.
I deserve to mourn him after he is no more.
Over there, he will have no suffering and all his pains would be no more. But I will join him soon, immediately he is gone, I will follow behind him. I will still be his mother over there to watch over him and I vow not to let any harm come to him, never again.
I failed him this time, but it will not be so over there.
He tried to speak, I could see his lips move but the sound that escaped from it was faint. He blinked and then closed his eyes. I put my face into his body to conceal my agony. I had to be strong, strong for the mourning ahead.
“And what is his name?” I heard the queen ask.
The queen, but she should be gone. This must certainly be a hostile nightmare.
I raised my face and the queen was seated on her throne. But… I saw her standing to leave, what happened?
“Lalic… his name is Lalic” I murmured weakly as soon as I was able to recover from the shock.
“Lalic,” she paused. “That is an unusual name. It’s pleasant” she said.
I looked at the glorious queen, and rays of hope filled my spirit.
I could not be wrong, that was a smile I saw curled up in her lips as she looked at Lalic. The smile had not lasted long but I can bet my life on it that I saw it there for a brief moment.
But what is happening here, is she about to change her mind? Does she want to have pity on my dying son? These questions ravaged me as I waited to hear her next words.
SCARLET’S POV
I was going to leave when I saw an eye pierce at me.
Those eyes.
They were gazing at my soul and were ready to shred my heart to pieces. I quietly sat back and made it as if I was only adjusting to my seat.
But this is Pixolands, and anyone should know better than coming to the Pixies with an empty hand, especially with such magnitude of request, to raise a dying boy.
But who am I to go against Mama Ruth? It was her eyes that had brought me back to my seat while Chamlee watched in a state of dilemma.
Looking at her eyes, I remembered it all, all she had taught me. And how could I even forget those days when she had on countless occasions stood up for me even when it was too obvious that I did not have the means to pay her for her kindness?
If I don’t want to contend with Mama Ruth, then I better let go of the rules of the Pixies for the first time and do justice to the poor woman and her dying child.
“And what is his name?” I asked after I plopped back into the throne.
Everywhere practically froze, they were all intrigued and even Leon and Athena could not find their voices, they stared at me with shooting eyes and opened mouths. Sophia pulled away from her son and looked at me. It was as if she had heard a ghost speak.
“Lalic… his name is Lalic” she murmured weakly after what seemed to be like forever.
“Lalic,” I said. “That is an unusual name. It’s pleasant” I commended with a very quick and almost unnoticeable smile.
Sophia brightened up, she was not smiling yet, but the pains were gone from her face, and her pretty facial shape became obvious. For once, I noticed that she is a pretty woman who has been brought down by the chains of endless pains and tribulations.
She continued to stare at me, hoping that it was not all a dream and she would not be made to return to the ugly and undesirable status quo.
“And how old is Lalic?” I smiled for real this time.
She smiled back. She was even more beautiful than I had initially registered and I would want to see her smile even more often. “He is nine, my queen” she murmured.
“Nine…” I murmured. “The sickness must have taken a great turn on him. bring him here” I ordered.
Chamlee reached for my arms and looked at me. “Don’t worry, Chamlee, I know what I am doing” I whispered with a smile. He smiled back and returned his gaze to the crowd.
The Pixies have long been looked down on and constantly taken advantage of, especially as a result of their petite size. Hence, they have made it a policy to always ensure that they are valued and never taken for granted by strangers.
But today, I will relapse a bit of that rule. Lalic would be attended to for free and for his sake, his land would be healed.
Sophia walked up to me and handed Lalic over to me very carefully.
“He will be well again, Sophia” I assured her.
She knelt down before me. “Thank you, my queen. I will do whatever you want” she replied in obvious gratitude.
I reached for the mouth of Lalic and placed my finger on the tip of his tongue. At first, he started to cough, but gradually, the coughing died down and he opened his eyes and rose to sit on my body.
His colour was back and the pains were gone.
“Mama” he called as soon as his eyes landed on his mother.
“Lalic…” Sophia cried and laughed at the same time as she looked at her healed son.
“Lalic…” Athena called and made to come for the throne but a guard stopped him. I gave the guards a signal and they allowed him passage.
Athena came and knelt beside the wife and looked joyfully at his son. His joy could not be contained.
“We are ready to pay with anything, my queen. We would remain as your slaves forever, together with Lalic. We all will serve you all the days of our lives” Athena said in excitement.
“I will not accept payment from you” I revealed and they were stunned.
I continued. “I will send some people with you to Wild Cloak. Your land will be made whole again”
Sophia nearly screamed but quickly covered her mouth while her eyes blinked in excitement.
“Thank you so much, great queen, we are very happy about this” Leon knelt down and bowed with his head hitting hard on the ground.
I turned to a guard and ordered. “Get Kendra and Mia, they will be going with them to Wild Cloak, they know what to do”
I would have asked Lara to join them, but then I want her to be with her husband, Rich for as much as she could before he goes off to war.
“You are merciful, my queen, what can we do to please you?” Athena said.
“I need Lalic here with me. I want him as my son. You can always come to visit him” I replied.
This time, the couple could no longer contain their excitement. Sophia got up and started to dance around, while Athena rubbed his hands over his shoulder and made joyful sounds.
“Thank you so much, my queen, I hand over Lalic to you from today henceforth. He is yours and I release all claims on him” he said.
“He is your son, my queen. What more can he ask for? You have a good heart and I have no doubt that under your care, he will grow to become powerful someday. Thank you, my queen” Sophia beamed from ear to ear.
I handed my newfound son to Chamlee, and we both stood up and left the couples who were still finding it hard to believe their luck.
It was a good day, and I left fulfilled.