DILEmma

Carolene hurried down countless flight of stairs, racing her way past many who turned in her direction to watching her go.

She did not bother pausing to catch her breath or turn to cast a glance at anyone.

Suddenly she bumped into someone,the impact from their head contact sent both staggering in opposite directions till they fell to the ground.

Both held her throbbing head.

"You!"Mia looked shock pointing at her as they both stood to their feet.

Her eyes studied Carolene's favorite outfit,a purple dress laced with golden and purple embroidery on a black pair of shoes to match her black hair.

"Where are you off to in such a hurry.... what's the occasion?"Mia asked.

"Umm...this...what about you you hit me too?"

"I have to see for myself if he's alright"Mia said before turning to take off.

Carolene froze for a moment wondering what she meant by that before running after her.

The Imperial palace gates were opened as people flocked in an out.

In a short while,Mia had blended with the crowd and out of sight.

Carolene pushed her way through the crowd, through the field surrounding the imperial palace,when she found an opening,she turned down an old lane following the sound of the trumpet.

The lane was a short cut to get to their location,filled with old houses and there was barely anyone in sight.

She went ahead of the marching company,since Gerald was the Emperor's Knight she was certain he would march beside the Emperor in front as usual.

Seeing a ladder attached to an old building,she smiled at the brightest idea.

Carolene made her way up the ladder unto the roof.

The roof gave her a good view of everyone above their heads, from above she could sense the atmosphere of mourning that hung around them.

She watched the Kings March past them,the generals following closely from behind, Gerald wasn't there,neither the Emperor or the King of Urah.

The Chief Knights and Knights marched past moments later but Gerald wasn't among them.

Carolene sat staring at the sky for a while, praying he wasn't there because he was with the emperor who was probably too exhausted to take part in today's after-hunt march.

As she slowly went down the ladder, Carolene sighed softly to calm herself,her chest pounding.

She quickly made her way back to the imperial palace, and hid by one of the stone statues in the imperial field,the place everyone gathered to be addressed by the Emperor after each hunt.

The gates of the imperial field flew open and they marched in,the people of Urah following thereafter.

Carolene fixed her gaze at the balcony of the only closest building in the imperial field, awaiting Tyran's appearance along with the usual announcements but five kings showed up instead.

Loud chatter and side talks erupted from the crowd immediately while casting glances at the Knights occupying the other half of the field.

"There will be no after feast today...the Emperor and the King Maxmillian are gravely ill and..."King Zephron paused,shut his eyes, reopened them and the crowd fell silent.

"We lost our very own,a Knight loved by all,the Emperor's Knight".

Gasps arouse all over the field and the chatter resumed along with silent wailing from women.

Carolene covered her lips in shock,her hands trembling.

She sunk to the floor as tears leaked from her eyes rolling down her face.

Last night she hadn't been mistaken, Ramses knew something had happened to him and had tried showing her.

She stared at the green carpet grass as memories flashed through her mind.

His face,his smile,touch and what he had told her at the garden before he left for the hunt,he had sounded frightened, confused,all which he hid under a smile.

She was certain it was connected to that,He had told her all that because he knew they were coming after him.

Carolene staggered to her feet wishing she had died in his stead.

She did not know if he could have lived without her but she could not live without him, nothing else mattered to her any longer,not her life,her whole family was gone and now a man she loved,he had no one else,no light and she didn't want life either.

She wandered off the path to Fiona's quaters,staring aimlessly at the sky with no destination in mind as countless thoughts ran through her mind.

Carolene stopped walking when she percieved who stood few paces away,with eyes read and swollen from crying.

She stared down at her before looking up at the sky again and walking on.

"Go ahead and report what you like anyone...or you can just kill me instead.."Carolene stared into Mia's enraged eyes.

"Kill meee!..kill me!! "She yelled out,stumping her foot on the ground while shaking vehemently.

Carolene slumped to the ground crying.

Raising her face to the sky she screamed out her pain but it wouldn't go.

Her heart ached in a way it had never did.

Carolene held her chest and sobbed loudly.

"He's gone... he's gone...if he didn't go he won't be gone...Arrrrrrrggghhhhhh!!"she yelled out.

"Kill me Mia...kill me!"

"If you wanted to die that badly am not stopping you but why not get revenge first".Mia said before squatting at eye level to Carolene.

"I have a feeling and I am never wrong no monster could have killed the Emperor's Knight,he was killed because of something he knew wasn't he!"she barked into Carolene's face eye widened.

"And it has something to do with the imperial prince doesn't it?"

She placed both hands on Carolene's shoulders shaking her vigorously.

"You know something don't you?...Tell me!!!"

Carolene looked into eyes which spoke the pain she felt.

"Tell me!!"Mia yelled.

"I..I"Carolene stammered.

"I can get revenge for him!...just tell me huhh....tell me what you know".

"I..I have nothing to tell you"she said dispiritedly.

Mia stood up straight and hit her head angrily.

"Why?"She barked.

"I don't trust anyone...for all I know you could be one of them"

"Stupid!!...how could I_"Mia paused,her chest pounding heavily.

She bit her lip,inhaled deeply then turned to Carolene.

"I'll kill them all....I swear I will!!"She yelled before stalking away.

"And I know just who to begin with"