68 Answer to the Crown (2/2)
Michael said nothing more as he climbed the staircase. He knew just how impossible it sounded that a meer teenager from earth would be all they needed to turn the kingdom around. He had watched Will from a young age and see the responsibilities he had taken on.
Looking back, he remembered when Will was in public school in Minnesota. He was always a loner, reading his books and watching the other kids play at the playground.
Michael had often watch the young William from the rooftop of the school, seeing a boy who secluded himself from others.
To his dismay, he saw a normal boy who had a hard time relating to others. The young William kept to himself, reading whatever book he had brought along with him for the day. It wasn't until a young child with a mess of brown hair and glasses that seemed to big for his head came up to him that Michael saw any chance of the boy interacting with others.
He later found out that the boys name was Leo. He had recently moved from another school. He had known no one within the first week, but Michael could see him looking at the hill where Will always sat.
At first, Will would only engage in conversation while looking at his book, but much to Michael's delight, it seemed that Leo was able to draw him out of his fantasy world long enough to go to the playground.
Days turned into months, then into years. Will had grown into a young man who was a natural leader. He was the quarterback in football, everyone seemed to look up to him. His demeanor had always shown that he could talk charge of a situation.
Even after his mother disappeared, Michael saw strength within the child. He did not see a grieving child, instead he saw unwavering strength.
When he finally let himself be known to his nephew, he threw him into one impossible situation after another. He watched closely as Will gained support, and lost a few friends. He saw determination which could only be described as unyielding. He knew Will had no knowledge of the world around him, yet he kept his eyes forward and continued whatever he started.
”He can do this.” Michael whispered, determination gleaming in his eyes.
Maya
The kingdom protested for their rights to the aura for a solid month. Every day there were citizens crowding the court outside the castle, yet no one had heard from or seen the king once. He remained within his office for so long, Maya had a hard time believing he was even there. Were it not for the six consecutive trips to his office, seeing maids bring trays of food and taking them away, she wouldn't have even guessed.
At the end of the first month, the people outside the castle slowly started going back to their normal routine. Though they wished for their words to be heard, words alone would not pay for the food on their family's table.
Hundreds of people turned into a hundred, then to fifty while Maya stared out of the window. Her ragged black dress remained adorned every day. Maids had brought her many different dresses to try on, yet she would turn them away. The ragged dress forever remained a promise to Will. She would wear it until he awoke. She would wear it until he took her to his world.
As the kingdom returned to normal, she stayed by the window. Her only source of entertainment being the people below going about their every day life. Every once in a while, she would turn around when she heard a twitch of movement coming from the bed behind her.
As the days turned to weeks, and weeks to months, she would sit, waiting and hoping for her love to come back to her.
”Maya?” A soft yet stern voice was heard from behind her making her jump slightly. No one had broken the silence for months of her sitting and waiting. The sound of someone else's voice was unnatural to her. Not even Jake seemed to bother her since he spoke to her months ago.
Turning around, Maya saw the king perched in the doorway. Reflexively she jumped from her chair and bowed deeply. ”Your highness!” She exclaimed in a raspy voice. She hadn't used it for much lately. It was unnerving how her own voice was considered alien to her.
The king said nothing, but raised a hand and gave her a warm smile. ”You needn't bother with such formalities young lady. You're practically family.” He said as he gestured back to her chair. ”I would tell you to sit, but I feel we have been doing much of that these past few months.” His smile wavered as he took a look at his son who looked to be in a blissful sleep.
”Maya,” He said as he cleared his throat. ”We need to be prepared for the idea of Will remaining asleep for a long time to come.” He sat next to his sleeping boy. Maya could see his eyes turn slightly glassy as he looked at the mess of long dark brown hair which was usually kept in a ponytail. ”We can't just waste away behind these walls while we wait for my boy.” His voice crackled as he spoke.
Maya could hear the raw emotion in the kings voice. She knew full well why he confined himself in his study. Were it not for her daily walks around the castle, she would feel like the recluse the king had become.
”He promised to show me his world.” Maya said in a less raspy voice, finally becoming familiar with the sound of it once more. ”I need to wait for him to wake up, so he can take me to a movie, and to eat pizza. He promised to buy me a new dress.” She repeated everything Will had promised her before his final showdown with Aremesis.
To anyone else, Maya may have sounded like a needy girlfriend. Yet King Ragnos understood. It wasn't a promise of world things she was concerned with, but more of a promise of time with him. A promise that only Will could give her. A promise which when fulfilled, life would be normal once more.
”I know how you must be feeling.” He said without taking his eyes off his boy. ”My life stopped the moment my wife left with my son.” He said simply, yet Maya knew just how hard it must have been to voice those words.
”For years I had stayed in this castle. I had stopped ruling this kingdom and fell into a stupor.” He brushed a bang away from Will's eye much like Maya had done thousands of times. ”I kept playing the day over and over in my head. I remember the time of day when the castle guards came to tell me that my wife and child went missing. I remember sending out the kings guard to find them.” He finally looked up from Will. ”I don't remember the last fifteen years.” A tear formed from the corner of his eye. ”I don't remember the shame or the worry. I don't remember orders I gave to my kingdom. I only remember my wife and child leaving, and it felt like I just came back to life when seeing him again.”
King Ragnos rose from his son's bedside and went to Maya, taking her hand in his. ”Please learn from my folly.” He looked into her eyes. ”My son would not want you to waste away in this castle. Not when you are meant for so much more.”
Seeing such emotion from the king, Maya couldn't stop the tears from falling. She couldn't stop her heart from aching. Slowly she fell into her love's father's arms. She sniffled a few times before heart wrenching sobs left her. ”I need him back!” She cried out while forming a fist upon King Ragnos's chest. ”I love him too much!”
The king just stood there, cradling the powerful yet fragile girl in his arms. Tears came freely from his eyes as he rested his cheek atop her head. ”I know.” He said while patting her shaking back. ”Me too.”
While they comforted each other as if they were father and daughter, their love and affection for Will so evident, they didn't notice the smile which appeared upon the sleeping man's lips.