GLIMMER AND DECAY [COMPLETED]

CHAPTER 13

KING FREDERIC CLENCHED HIS jaw, his hands forming into fists as he looked at her. He was mentally debating whether to believe the witch woman in front of her or whether to call the royal guards and drag her to the dungeon.

But then, he suddenly remembered the queen's current condition and her slowly deteriorating health.

"What do you want in return?" The king asked, unable to reject the tempting offer that will possibly cure his wife and child.

Gothel's lips curved into a wider smile before she emerged into a fit of high-pitched laughter. Dark smoke materialized out of nowhere again and it hindered the king's vision. And in a blink, Gothel disappeared and only a golden flower was left on the queen's throne where she previously sat.

"I will take the payment once it's time, my dear king," her voice echoed in his head as he picked up the flower.

King Frederic's heart pounded as he examined the golden flower and with no further delay, he rushed to the royal library to where the physicians were. His face was white and he was covered in cold sweats when he reached the library. Lord Allison and the others worried that the king might fall ill as well because of his pale complexion.

"Do not worry about me, Allison. Instead, I need you all to make the cure for the queen," the king commanded, handing the Sundrop Flower to them, which earned various reactions from the physicians.

Lord Allison and the rest of the physicians did not waste any time and did what the king had asked. They took extra care in handling the flower as they opened the book where the instruction on how to prepare the cure was written.

They first boiled two cups of sea salt and sprinkled a couple of medicinal plants before they carefully added the Sundrop Flower. It took almost an hour to have the flower boiled at the correct temperature before they poured the golden-coloured essence on a silver bowl.

"Here is the cure, Your Majesty!" Lord Allison exclaimed as they barged in the royal chambers.

The king squeezed his wife's hand before gently lifting her head a little. He then reached out for the silver bowl that Lord Allison was carrying.

"My love, please drink this," he whispered to her.

He placed the rim of the silver bowl between her slightly parted lips then he carefully tilted it up, slowly pouring the essence in her mouth. What happened next surprised them.

"The queen. . ." One of the doctors whispered as they witnessed the queen's body being engulfed in golden light.

The king placed the silver bowl down on the chair beside him and hugged his wife. He, too, was surprised by the sudden golden light imprinting her body, but he was more concentrated on how the flower essence will affect her.

Everyone was holding their breaths as they watched the golden lights die down and be absorbed back into the queen's body. And they were only able to breathe again when a small crease formed on the queen's forehead.