Warning! Contains spoilers for The Crown, The One and Happily Ever After and future children! Read at own risk, I am not to blame if you read the story and hate the spoliers.
Eadlyn and Erik watch in silence as their daughter, whose's expecting a sibling soon, read to Maxon Schreave, otherwise known as the former king. As Kerttu turns the page over, and gives the same treatment to the next page for no apparent reason, Maxon chuckles, a sound so rare, if it was a solid object, it'd be a block of gold.
"It's good to see him happy."
Eadlyn's coment hangs in the air between the couple as she falls back a year, remembering the deceased Queen America of Illéa. (America doesn't die in the books btw) America was already sick, as heart problems run in the Singer family line, before she took the bullet for her husband. It hurt to say goodbye to a queen of just 48 years, all because of the single, last Southern Rebel.
Just the night before, Garvil Fayde, had asked the controversial question that would bring him in to custody, still wearing his star shaped pin. After that, other known former Northern Rebels were brought into custody, such as Kriss Ambers and Jacob Digger on suspicion of the murder of the Queen.
In the end, it was revealed that it was a cousin of Amberley Schreave, who wasn't quite right in the head and believed that America had usurped the throne. Now fit that into two weeks, and fill any gaps with emotional friends and family, and you'll get a small sample of the pain that she'd been through.
"Aunty Cam!"
Kerttu's excited shout echoed through the room, breaking Eadlyn's flashback.
"Come on, my dear."
Erik takes her hand and leads her over to her twin.