ONE DARK QUEEN ❖ (A Three Dark Crowns Tale)

CHAPTER SIXTY FIVE: UMBRA

"Only until you become Queen Crowned," Ebony replies.

"If I become Queen Crowned."

Arwen could if she wanted. If she truly wanted. She is powerful enough, she knows that. But revenge is the only thing motivating her - what is left after Carina is dead? She will have nothing but her pain to focus on, nothing but a grim darkness.

"When you become Queen Crowned," Ebony insists, a burning intensity in her pale lilac eyes, "I swear to you that I will do everything in my power to get you on that throne, your grief will never truly pass but you will find other things to live for, you are so young and so powerful, but no longer the sweet little girl I once knew. I sense a change in you, but that change will push you to greatness, as it did me all those years ago when I lost my dear child ... sometimes pain is necessary to unlock a shadows full potential."

Ebony means well Arwen knows but she would have rather been a giftless nobody than had this pain and greater power. Though she will tread carefully, Ebony has lost her sister and her baby all those years ago.

It almost makes Arwen feel sad. Ebony would have been a great mother. As Arwen would have been a good wife. But fate had other plans. The Goddess always has other plans.

"I have risen in station and so shall you, and when all our enemies are dead and you have taken the throne, I swear you will be safe and happy," Ebony says, stroking Arwen's cheek who just looks through her with hollow black eyes.

Ebony is right in one thing.

All their enemies will be dead. Or subjected to fates much worse.

3 Days later:
The aftermath of the funeral

"It is with a heavy heart we mourn my dear sister," Ebony Raduron laments, "she was a strong capable and fierce leader of our great city and her loss will never be forgotten nor shall it go unpunished, together we will get through this loss."

Together.

The word stirs something sour in Arwen. She cannot help but remember.

"I don't care where we go as long as we're together."

Together. It makes Arwen beam to hear him say it. Yes they would be together. It might have been naive of her but some part of her thinks that together they could face anything. Take on the world even.

As they pull apart he raises an eyebrow, "but before we leave I need to ask you one more thing."

"What?" Arwen asks puzzled but still all smiles.

"Will you marry me?"

She had been naive indeed. A cruel reversal of fortune, if the Goddess had a heart Arwen would not be standing her, pretending to mourn the monster who raised her. She would be in Centra. Or some other far away land. Happy with her husband.

It wasn't supposed to be like this, a small voice whispers. No it was not. But the game the island plays is an ugly one and thanks to fate she will not stop playing. Not until the next funeral's is Carina.

And after that, what does she care? Nalani could end her after that, drown in fire so she could rise again and reunite with him in the next life. Though a small kernel in her recoils at the thought, telling her that she must live to take the throne. But that voice is unfamiliar and she does not wish to listen to it. The old her could've been a good queen but this version, Arwen can see nothing but darkness in her future.