Chapter 17: THE MESSAGE

“Here, you will be needing this,” Grandma said, placing some cookies in front of me.

“Thank you, but it seems I'm about to hear a very long story.”

“Yes, you are.” She said this and sat on a cushion opposite mine.

"Okay, grandma, I'm all ears. Why did you say Alma doesn't care about me? I have been with her all my life, and she protects me a lot.”

“Well, have you ever wondered who Alma’s mother was?”

“No, I have asked Alma about her mother on a few occasions, but she told me she doesn't know much about her since she was just a baby when her mother died.”

“Very well, then, let me tell you about Eleanor Alma's mother. She was once from a royal home, but she was rejected by the stone of life.

Eleanor wasn't a bad person, but the stone didn't find her worthy. After which, a new queen was chosen, and her family turned against her.

Her own family disowned her just because she wasn't found worthy by the stone. They pushed her away and disowned her.”

“That was so unfair; it's not like she created herself.”

“I know, but some families want to continuously rule forever and ever, as long as the elves are concerned. We are one of the families that have ruled our kingdom for hundreds of years.

But do you know the funny and annoying part?” Grandma asked.

"No, I don't.”

“It turned out Eleanor wasn't actually the reason why she was rejected. The stone of life cannot be placed in the wrong hands, or all the elves kingdom will perish.”

“Grandma, I'm confused. What do you mean by Eleanor not being the reason why she was rejected by the stone?”

“Well, the stone probably sensed a strange presence around Eleanor.” 

“A strange presence; what kind of presence would the stone sense to reject Eleanor?” I asked curiously.

“You tell me, what do you think?” I couldn't quite wrap my head around the answer, but then it hit me. The stone can see a little bit of the future of every candidate selected. 

“Death. Eleanor died after giving birth to Alma; is that what the stone saw around her?”

“No, when the stone picks its candidate, it means to protect them from any harm.”

“So what did the stone feel among Eleanor?”

“Alma's presence.” I was confused. How can the stone sense the presence of a baby that wasn't even born yet, or was Eleanor pregnant at that moment?

“But if the stone was able to sense Alma, then Eleanor must be pregnant at that moment. Wait, if Eleanor is not from Álfheimr, then how did she meet dad?”

“She wasn't pregnant at those moments, but the stone was still able to see through Eleanor and was able to read Alma's future and how it would be.

Eleanor was rejected by the stone because of Alma, and all the queens that have ever ruled that came from Eleanor's family were deprived of their ability to use or communicate with their spirit guard.

After much pension, they all had their stone taken from them.”

“What? But why would the stone of life do such a thing because of Alma? Was her future that bad?"

It didn't make any sense to me; what did the stone see in Alma to cause such chaos to her family?

“That doesn't make any sense; Alma has been nothing but a good daughter to our parents. I'm the one with the sorry behaviour.”

“That's why I said, What if she has been pretending to be a good girl just to get the stone to choose her as the next queen of Álfheimr?

Alma already knows that her mother was disowned because of her, and she is angry at your mother for giving birth to you.”

“I don't understand, and I don't believe any of these. Alma is no such girl; the stone must have mistaken her for another person.”

“The stone never lies, nor rather does it choose a long candidate. Haven't you ever wondered why your mum banned me from the palace?” Grandma said, leaving me in more confusion.

“Alma?” I questioned her, and she nodded in response.

“When your mum first introduced your father to me, he came with Alma. That was the very first day I was shown things behind my limit.”

“Things like what?”

“Alma can never be the queen of Álfheimr, or the world of elves will never be the same.”

“But why can't she be the queen? She trained so hard for this.”

"Siofra, don't be blinded by her kindness like your mother. And your mother is still blind to this day. Alma is not who you think she is.”

I couldn't believe it. I just couldn't believe that my sister, Alma, the one that always looks out for me, the one that always finds a way of making me smile, has just been pretending all this year's just to get the throne of Álfheimr.

“If she can't be the queen, then who is the next queen of Álfheimr?

"Isn't it already obvious? It's you, Siofra. You were born as the next leader of Álfheimr.”

“What? You are joking, right?” I asked as I let out a laugh. Me? The next queen of Álfheimr? That is impossible. Have you seen my mum trying to get me to do one of her royal duties? I suck at anything that comes with royalty.”

“Your mum was the same until she was chosen; I thought her older sister was the perfect figure to be queen.” Did she just say older sister?

“Mum has an older sister.” I asked in shock.

“Yes, but she was killed a few days after your mum was crowned the queen of Álfheimr.” Grandma's eyes were filled with sadness.

“Did you say killed? But who killed her?”

“I don't know; her death remains a mystery to us. We had to bury her at the seaside, as requested by the stone spirit.

All her belongings and pictures were told to be burned into flames. No one knew what happened to her.”

“And you didn't bother to investigate.”

“The stone said not to; I think she brought her fate on herself. You don't know the level of greediness one will possess only to turn against her own family.

But then again, I believe Alma would rule Álfheimr more than I could. What can I possibly do as a queen? I can't even take care of myself, not to mention the idea of ruling a kingdom.

“Grandma, I'm so sorry, but Alma is nothing like what you described her as. I believe the stone will pick her as the right candidate.”

“Okay, we will see about that. I'm glad I have already relayed my message to you.” I was very glad this conversation was over. I need to rest.

“Today has been nothing but a very long and most disappointing day of my entire life. Thank you, grandma, but I will see you later.”

“I will call you when dinner is ready. You can use the first room to your right on the first floor.

“Thank you, grandma.”

“You are welcome, sweetie.” I grabbed my backpack and luggage and headed upstairs.

On the farm, Siofra's grandmother was approached by her spirit guard, who ordered her to tell Siofra the truth behind Alma.

"Why didn't you tell her the truth?" The spirit asked her.

"I never lied to her; I just couldn't bring myself to tell her that Alma, whom she trusts so much, once lifted a knife to stab her. My daughter didn't even believe me; do you think Siofra will?"

"Leaving her in the dark will only hurt her when she discovers the truth. And you also didn't tell her that she was already chosen by the stone of life."

"I don't think I owe you any other explanation, old friend. I am no longer your pupil. I am now an old woman who is waiting for the afterlife to come so I can rest."