OOC: Tags to
@Draconian
For long days and long nights the Grand Duke was unseen. It was his wife. He had been called away- away to wherever she was. He had left her alone too long, and it wasn't like he hadn't known it was coming. From the drinks, to the depression writing heavy in the letters. Yet he ignored it, even well after she was gone.
He supposed he shouldn't have been surprised to get the news. Duty brought him to her side, and away he spent the rest of her days at her side. Though he knew his apologies were empty, they spoke of the good times- of when they met, when they were young, and how each of the other simplified and brightened the other's world.
She too... apologized, for he knew far too well of her own quieted acts. But he told her not to apologize. And oddly enough, he knew which day she was to pass. She had been sitting there, grey as the skies, and eyes sunken like shadows. Too much to drink, and too little to care. Her daughter had only come briefly, but then they were alone.
How long? He wondered. How long before she'd pass. How long before it was official- that Kathryn was no longer there? Not away... but... gone?
He noticed she held something when he moved to sit beside her on the bed. She turned to him, smiling weakly.
"Can you give this to him?"
He stared at her. She looked like death.
"What is it?"
She smiled wearily.
"A letter for him. I.. need to apologize to him, too." She swallowed thickly, and turned away. The pain was immense, and he could only silent appraise her for keeping herself so dignified, even in the end.
"What if I never see him."
"He'll be around," she assured him, her smile side, her eyes dimming.
He looked down at the paper, then back to Kathryn as he took her hand. She was cold, and clammy. He moved to secure a blanket around her. "It's chilly."
She closed her eyes.
The chill never went away.
*******
For the entire week, the country was in mourning. Black flags scripted from the capital, and those from her home of Highheart, were flown throughout the kingdom. Each sunday, the bells would ring for her, and each sunday, her coffin was set through the town, the Grand Duke riding at the front to lead the way.
It was a dark day for them all, to be surrounded by so many people, common, rich, and the small; all wearing greys and blacks. The skies, he noticed, were chilly, and the winds, stronger than he'dve liked. Kathryn would have preferred a sunny day, and to be outside.
But here it was, the day she was set to be buried, the coffin blanketed over witht he flag of her people. She had felt she had done them wrong, but he felt he had done a greater wrongness. She was the sweetness to him that kept a certain peace. She was a friend at times he wasn't looking for one. And she was also never there when he never needed her to be, and never tried when he did.
Kathryn Allarrick.. the mother to his two sweet daughters, whom he cast just a single glance to, pouty faced and uncertain what was going on, or fully understanding why 'mummy' wouldn't hug them back when they said goodbye.
'She was gone' he'd tell them. 'She is gone and will be... Forever.'
And into the crypt he went, and the next Sunday, the bells told the last time for her and ever since...
The entire great hall, the entire palace itself ceased. No sounds, no music, not even from an entertainer. He refused to let anyone in his music room, and told them to lock the door.
He never even visited Hope, or his mother. But he also never sent them away.
And it had been almost 5 long months since she'd been there- the last 4 of them with him in abandon; staying wtih his sick wife and ignoring her and any other presence that she remained.