Queen Tiaret

I hadn’t meant to bring it up again. Not when my mother’s breathing was still fragile. But when the thread wound close to the scorpions, the evil queen’s haunting shadows in my dreams, the banging headaches and literal heartaches, I couldn’t swallow it anymore.

And when my gaze flicked toward Pan, sitting so quietly by the window. He was steady, patient, waiting for me to lean on him.

This was something I had to give to my mother first.

‘Pan,’ I said softly.

He looked up immediately. ‘Yes, princess?’

I forced a smile, ‘…Could you give us a moment?’

I do not know who helped the queen send me to earth yet. Pan knows the story but he doesn't know who I suspect…

‘Pan,’ I said softly.

The air shifted. I saw it land heavy on him, though he covered it well. The faintest crease touched his brow, then smoothed as he bowed.

‘Of course.’ His voice was even, but I caught the hurt beneath it. Like I’d just asked him to step out of the one place he belonged most.

I almost called him back. But I didn’t. I locked the door behind him, and silence bloomed.

Turning back to my mother, I clutched her hand tighter. ‘There’s more,’ I whispered, lowering my head so no one beyond the walls could possibly overhear. And I told her everything.

The visions. The way Marik’s mother haunted me, her shadow curling through my sleep, watching me with eyes I could not escape. The moment I realized, through Marik’s own broken visions, that the figure who stalked me in my dreams was not a warning, but memory. Memory of when I was attacked.

That my memory seemed to waver when exposed to her venom. A promise bond that came about from Marik’s attempt at saving my life.

My mother listened without interruption. When at last my voice cracked and died, I waited. My heart hammered so hard I could hear it in my ears.

She was pale. Paler than before. Her fingers tightened faintly on mine. Her eyes, so like mine, yet wiser, sadder, flickered away for a moment.

‘Ina…’ Her voice was soft, uncertain. There was something in her silence, something in the way her gaze dimmed and lingered on the far wall.

She knew something. But she hesitated. And the hesitation itself was enough to make me feel sick.

At first, I thought she hadn’t understood. But then, her hand flew to her mouth. Her breath hitched. Her entire body shook.

‘This… this is my doing,’ she whispered, voice breaking.

My heart lurched. ‘No!’

‘Yes!’ Her voice rose, harsher than I’d ever heard it, and tears slipped from the corners of her eyes. She gripped the bedpost as though to anchor herself to sit facing me.

‘You have suffered because of sins that were never yours to carry. You, my precious girl, you are nothing but love. Do you understand? You were born of love. And yet, it is you who bears the cruelty, the hauntings, the venom meant for me.’

‘What do you mean?’

Mother’s tears streamed openly now, and her body bent as if the weight of the years pressed her down all at once.

‘If only you knew… if only you knew what that woman desired, what she lost, what hatred she has carried. It is not you she wants destroyed. It is me. It is what I hold dear.’ Her eyes locked on mine, shimmering with grief and something more, a secret she was still holding back.

’I had a nagging feeling that she was the reason you died a few times.’ She cried into her trembling hands.

What do you mean died a few times?

Her words struck deep. I wanted to ask some more, to argue, to soothe her, to say no, I’m fine, I can handle this. But it wasn’t true. I wasn’t fine. I shot up and the chair I was sitting on fell back, hitting a vase, the crash sharp and jarring.

‘What does she want?’ My voice was small, raw.

‘She once loved your father. And I was in the way.’

A knock came from the door.

Mother shook her head fiercely. ‘We must speak with your father first. He…he must be the one to explain everything.’ She reached for me, clutching my hand in both of hers with surprising strength.

Then why did it feel as though I carried too much burden?

‘But hear me, Ina. None of this is your fault. Not one breath of it. You are innocent in this. Do you hear me?’

I nodded, though the tears blurred everything. My chest was heavy, but her words removed a weight inside me I did not knew existed.

Innocent.

That was when the door rattled. A sharp knock, then another, louder, more urgent.

‘Princess Ina!’ Pan’s voice, tight with worry. ‘Open the door! Please!’

Mother quickly wiped her face with her sleeve, straightening though her shoulders trembled. She looked at the door, then back to me. Her lips softened into a smile. ‘It’s all right. Let him in. He won’t harm this moment. He only wishes to protect you.’

But I don’t know who to trust yet…

After a few more frantic knocks from Pan, I eventually unlocked the door and I hurried back to my mother’s side, afraid she might fall.

Pan stood there, breathless, eyes darting from my wet face to my mother’s tear streaked one. To the wreck on the floor. His fists unclenched the moment he saw we were together, unharmed. The panic in him dimmed, replaced by quiet relief.

Still, my heart was thundering. Because I knew then. My suffering wasn’t born of chance. It was the legacy of a love triangle turned venomous.

What about Marik? Will he be safe from his own mother?

Pan did not hide his intentions. With lengthy strides, he reached me and his hand clutched mine almost too tightly, thumb brushing over my skin.

‘My princess…’ His voice cracked, though he masked it quickly. ‘I heard raised voices and commotion. You…’ His eyes darted over me, then landed on my mother. ‘…both of you.’

You’re embarrassing me in front of my mother.

Before I could answer, I saw the way my mother studied him. Her gaze softened in a way that made my stomach drop.

No. Not yet. I need time to see where everyone’s heart and loyalty stands.

She saw not only her healer, my companion, my friend. She saw something more. A man she acknowledged. For me. Heat rushed up my neck.

Raiona did say in her journal that she intentionally acted up at times to see her mother laugh… indeed this mother is easy to please…

‘Pan,’ I said, my voice gentle as I tried to take my hand back. ‘I’m all right. I promise. But…’ I glanced at my mother, who shifted back to a more comfortable position, still breathless. ‘She’s not. Can you…?’

‘Do you truly wish me to let go of you?’ He whispered. His fingers lingered on mine before he drew away. He then turned his back to me as if he didn’t say anything.

He bowed slightly, moved to my mother’s side, and began fussing over her. And then, another knock. Heavier. The unlocked door opened without waiting.

‘May I come in, your highness,’ came Riye’s voice as the door swung wide. ‘I heard a crashing sound. I had to investigate without delay.’

His words were meant for the queen, but his eyes went first to me. A flicker of tension passed through him as he took in Pan bent over my mother, my mother smiling faintly at him, and me… blushing far too much for my own good.

My mother nodded and Riye walked in, directly towards me. He carried a treasure box. His face looked diplomatic, but I knew he wasn't in that mood anymore.

This is the second time today Riye walked in after Pan had made me red from embarrassment. 

His golden eyes flicked once to Pan, and then they settled on me with that emotion and intensity that got me drooling just the other day. The air thickened. My mother noticed it immediately. I saw the gleam of amusement in her tired, teary eyes. She said nothing, of course. Queens don’t meddle, they observe.

Shit… awkward…

But before the tension could solidify, a sound cut through the room. My mother laughed.

The kind of laugh that makes you ask, “what is she laughing about?”, just to join eventually.

So, she is liking this fighting-over-me debacle, huh? Like her own private Love Island or Singles Inferno of sorts?

Pan froze mid motion. Riye’s usually controlled facial expression broke, eyes widening. I too, was concerned.

This laughter was too huge for someone too small. She could run out of air…

The door creaked again, and this time the king entered. King Arye’s presence was like a wall of steel. Measured, commanding. Riye was a lion cub compared to the pressure of the king’s aura.

I wonder how scary his lion form would be?

He stopped dead at the sound of my mother’s laughter. His brows rose, his lips parted. The mighty king looked lost and bewildered.

‘...Tiaret?’ His voice was low, hesitant.

She turned toward him, wiping the corner of her eye.

‘Ina’s presence had lifted a stone from my chest. Excuse my undignified cackle.’ My mother covered her mouth with her hand in an adorable fashion.

The king stood unmoved for a while, struggling internally, and eventually found the courage and the right words. He strode to me, laid a strong hand on my shoulder, and looked into my eyes.

‘You’ve given your mother back her smile,’ he said, voice firm, proud, and…just a little choked. ‘For that, Ina… you have my thanks.’

Not soft, not weak, not openly sentimental. Just acknowledgement. My heart squeezed at the recognition.

So this is the king. My father?

Though he didn’t embrace me, though his hand fell after only a moment, I felt like a crown was placed upon my head.

So… I really am the princess huh? Can I take all my orphanage siblings here? So they too can live a luxurious life.

The king went to my mother’s bedside and looked at her longingly. His hand touched her face and she responded by leaning on it. A vision that made even me jealous.

Awww… So this is why I had to suffer. These two are obviously soul mates…

Pan turned his back to give my parents privacy, only to almost bump into me. Riye, who had just set down the treasure box, was also finishing up with tidying the mess I’d made on the floor. I was unintentionally sandwiched between two forces who are both looking down on me. I had to stop breathing and just stay motionless, another NatGeo moment where maybe if I didn’t move, the predators won’t know I was there.

If I move a single inch towards one direction, they’d take it as a win or that I had chosen the one over the other.

‘Ina.’ The two of them called at the same time.

I felt like the announcer in the middle of a face-off prior to any sort of close combat sports.

Ok… this is not a boxing match.

’Guys… will you…’

*Ahem*

The cough cracked through the tension like thunder. The king.

He folded his arms, gaze leveled at the two men. It wasn’t even stern.Just mildly disapproving, as though he’d caught two boys arguing over who gets the only slice of cake. In an instant, the tension evaporated from them both.

That reaction could only come from a real father… My father…

I couldn’t help but feel very special. Pan looked down at the floor, suddenly intent on checking a nonexistent wrinkle in his sleeve. Riye cleared his throat, adjusted my fallen chair, and moved a step back as if that had been his intention all along.

Where is the strong and poised stance just seconds ago huh? Looking like the guilty little boys that I had to give extra chores back on earth for quarrelling.

The sight was so absurd I couldn’t hold it in. I laughed. My mother joined me, light and bubbling. A sound made her look ten years younger. Even my father’s lips twitched, though he hid it with a shake of his head.

Is this what it feels like to have a family?

After taking a moment to let the ridiculousness of it all simmer down, my father’s low voice cut through. 

‘Step out,’ he said. Not a request.

Me too?

The king lingered only a breath longer, his hand brushed once more over my shoulder, grounding with the briefest acknowledgment befoe he turned to my mother.

Ah ok. So I stay?

And just like that, I was dismissed, not as a princess, but as a daughter.