[ E D I T E D ]

♕✿~♕✿~Chapter 28//: Remembrance Gathering ♕✿~♕✿~

The next morning, breakfast is probably the most awkward thing ever.

I eat my food quietly, the food for once tasting bland. Besides me, Rose and Addaline are just as silent. Rose has avoided looking at me after what I said yesterday, and Addaline didn't bother saying anything because it was obvious there was a tight tension between Rose and I. To make it more awkward, none of the other girls were their chatty selves. We all ate in solemn silence, the memories of the night of the ball still fresh in our minds.

All of a sudden, Ahren stands up from his chair. Thank goodness for the distraction, I think as all the girls pin their eyes on him. He stares straight ahead, not making eye contact with any of the girls. As I stare at him, I notice him swallow slightly and see the small purse of his lips. Is he nervous about something?

"Ladies, I do not mean to disrupt your breakfast. However, I am forced to take actions because of the Rogue Dawn," Ahren starts saying. I feel the gears turn in my head, like it is in the other girls, at his words. Then it hit me. Taking actions because of the Rogue Dawn? An elimination?

It looked like some of the other girls suspected this too because there were whispers around us and the widening of eyes. Ahren waited for a couple of seconds for the whispers to die down before speaking again.

"Will these ladies stay here after breakfast while the rest of you go to the Women's Room for your day off? Lady Bailey, Lady Lilly, Lady Hannah..." As Ahren started listing names, most of which I have never heard of, girls started getting teary-eyed. These tears either came from the girls whose names were called or the girls whose friend's name was called. I found myself silently counting in my head as each name was listed off one by one. 8....9....10....11.

That was it. I felt myself sigh in relief as Ahren excused us from the table and the eleven girls whose names were called went up to him. I distractedly got up from my seat but stopped when I noticed Rose still sitting in her seat, looking thoughtful. Worry creeps through me. She wasn't called up, right? She couldn't have been eliminated. I rack my memories to try to remember if Ahren called her name. I don't think he called Rose up...

"Rose?" I call out to her tentatively. It was still awkward to talk to her after what happened. She looks like she's ignoring me for a second before her head snaps up to look up at me.

"Hm? What?" She asks in confusion. I feel myself get a bit nervous for some unknown reason.

"Are you...you know, going to come to the Women's Room?" I ask her. She's silent for a bit, her eyes dropping to the fancy plates in front of us, before looking up back at me.

She shakes her head. "No, I have to ask Prince Ahren something. It'll only take a minute. I'll join you and Addaline in the Women's Room later," Rose tells me with a determined look in her eyes. I feel myself falter in confusion as I nod at her and turn to leave the room.

I'm still stuck in my thoughts as I exit the dining hall when I hear someone hiss my name.

"Madison!"

A bit startled, I look up and notice the remaining girls in the competition huddled in a corner. I realize that it was Alexis who called out to me. Bewildered, I look around and then point to myself, mouthing 'me?' Alexis rolls her eyes and nods her head, beckoning me over to the girls.

I feel suspicion rise up in me. Don't blame me, Alexis is known to be evil. For a couple of days, there was a rumor going around that she put glass in another contestant's shoes and some people were saying it was Tara who was the victim of this prank. I really didn't know, but I had a feeling that wasn't just a rumor.

Besides Alexis and Emily, who's standing next to her, I see Addaline there. She seems perfectly fine and unharmed, and she nods at me to come over. Everything must be fine if Addaline wasn't hurt, right?

I purse my lips as I walk over to them, my arms crossed over my chest. When I reach them, Alexis grabs my arm and pulls me over, impatient at my slow walk over to them. I feel myself flinch, expecting her to claw into my mind at any second, but surprisingly she doesn't do anything.

"Madison, we need to talk to you about something," Alexis says in a serious tone. I involuntary gulp at this.

"O-ok. And what do you need to talk about?" I try to sound fearless, but it isn't working that great for me.

"We," Alexis gestures to herself and the other girls around us, "are planning on doing a remembrance gathering for Tara in the Women's Room this afternoon."

I feel myself freeze up at her words. Well, I definitely didn't expect her to say that. "What?" I ask, my voice small.

Alexis, for the first time that I've seen her, looks down at the ground, a look of guilt and remorse painted on her features. The girls around us have similar expressions.

"It's a tradition Silvers have. A remembrance gathering is a way for us to say our final goodbyes to someone who has died," Emily murmurs softly, her eyes downcast. I feel myself swallow at this new information, the sadness building a lump in my throat.

"We want you to be a part of this because you were friends with Tara. You, Addaline, and Rose," Tiana Viper says. I feel myself nod at this.

"Yeah, of course. I mean, I would love to be a part of this. Tara deserves this," I murmur. I look up to see the Silvers and Addaline smiling gratefully at me. I feel myself smile back at them.

"Now that that's settled," Alexis says, "We need to explain how this gathering works to you guys. You can explain it to Rose later because I don't know where she is right now." Alexis glances at the dining hall doors where Rose is at. I remember then that Rose wanted to talk to Ahren about something. I hope it was going well.

"First, you have to bring a farewell gift for Tara. It can be anything really." Mariss Nolle explains. "This remembrance gathering will be held in the Women's Room maybe before lunch. Usually it's held outdoors, but His Majesty doesn't want us to go outside yet. It's usually not too big, just a couple of people. Once everyone gives their gift, we'll have a moment of silence and then..." Marissa trails off in sadness. That't it. It's the unspoken words.

I nod in understanding. This is the first time I've heard of this Silver tradition, but it was beautiful. Culturally beautiful. I was beyond happy that I could be a part of this.

The Silver girls break off and chatter, looking a bit better. Addaline and I stand in the corner, both of us deep in thought.

"Who knew Silvers could be...kind," Addaline murmurs as she stares at the retreating girls. I nod in agreement. "I know, right? It's surprising."

Suddenly, the doors open behind us, and I jump in surprise. Rose rushes out, looking flushed but a grin was still on her face. She looks around and her eyes land on Addaline and I. She rushes over to us, grabbing our arms with excitement.

"Rose? What happened?" I ask her, a bit worried might I add. She went to talk to Ahren about something and came out with a huge smile.

"Madi, I've been thinking about it a lot." At my confused look, Rose clarifies. "About telling Ahren my relationship with Nick." My mouth pops open in and 'oh' state while Addaline's eyes widen in shock.

"Excuse me, but what the heck did I miss?" Addaline asks us hurriedly, wanting the details. I quickly explain to her how throughout this competition, Rose has been seeing Nick. By the end of my explanation, Addaline looks shocked.

"Rose! That was a risky move! You could've been executed!" Addaline exclaims. Rose laughs, still giddy about something.

"Yes, yes, but after Madi confessed she knew about it, I was just thinking about how unfair it is to Ahren that I'm still here when I don't even feel anything for him. So after breakfast, I went up to him and confessed," Rose says in one breath.

I stare at her, shocked. "Everything?" I ask in a whisper.

Rose nods. "Everything. I didn't leave anything out. I wanted him to know the truth."

Addaline looks her up and down. "Well, you came out alive so I'm guessing everything went according to plan?" She asks Rose. Rose nods excitedly, a grin spreading across her face once more.

"He thanked me for being honest with him. He's not going to execute me or punish me at all." I gasp along with Addaline, and I can't help my own grin. After being worried for Rose and Nick all this time, it was good to have that fear taken off of my shoulders.

"That's great, Rose!" I exclaim while Addaline nods in agreement. Rose giggles, unable to contain her excitement.

"That's not even the best part! He said that I could stay in the palace so I can see Nick! Since I'm out of the competition now, going back home would really just suck because Nick has to be here so-"

"Wait." I cut Rose off, a frown making its way on my face. "You're out of the competition?" I ask. For a second, Rose's smile falters and she nods solemnly.

"Yeah I am, but it's for the best. I could stay in the competition and have no feelings for Ahren whatsoever, but it's riskier that way. If I'm still in the competition and it gets out that I'm seeing Nick, Ahren will have no choice but to execute me. But with this way, I can stay in the palace and still be with Nick and no one will care so long as I stay out of the public's eye." Rose clasps both of our hands. "You guys can understand, right?"

I don't like it, but she's my best friend so I nod my head at her. "Of course we do. It's just...you leaving is so sudden," I tell her with a sad smile. She smiles back at me.

"I know. It sucks. But you know this doesn't change the fact that we're friends, right?" Rose prompts. Addaline and I nod out heads and smile. "Right."

"But what about your parents?" Addaline asks. "Won't they wonder where you are if you're not in this competition and not at home?"

Rose looks down, some tears forming in the corner of her eyes. "I'm going to have to tell them that I'm taking a little break after the Choosing. They'll understand. Now that I'm a Three after this competition, I'll most likely pursue teaching. I'll have to tell them I'm traveling around to learn more about teaching." I hear her sniffle a bit. "I hate that I have to lie to them but...." She trails off and looks up at us. "At least I'll have my friends and Nick with me." I feel myself smile at her. I pull her and Addaline into a hug.

"Don't worry. Everything will work out. I wish you and Nick luck, Rose," I tell her as we pull apart. Rose smiles.

"Oh! I should go tell Nick now!" She turns around and rushes down the hall. But before she turns a corner, she stops and turns to face us. She smiles as she says, "I hope to see you guys around."

We're let in silence, the sound of Rose's heels hitting the tile floor fading away. It's a while before the silence is broken by Addaline, who says, "I hope she has a happily ever after with Nick."

~♚♡♚♡~

I let my maids help me into a dark purple day dress. It reaches just above my knees and has thin straps around my shoulders. It has no design on it; I felt like going to this gathering in a simple outfit.

Before leaving my room to go to the gathering, I grab the music note necklace from so long ago. I laugh a bit at the memory of Sydney running to the Services Office to give this to me. It seems so long ago, and maybe it feels like that because it was a long time ago. Almost a month ago.

I clip the necklace onto my neck and exhale deeply. I didn't know what the other girls were bringing as their gifts to the remembrance gathering, but I hoped mine was good for Tara.

Grabbing the viola that my maids had brought up for me, I slip on some simple flats and head out of my room to go to the gathering.

~♚♡♚♡~

When I get to the Women's Room, it's solemn. The girls are dressed in similar dark colors like me and they each hold their gifts for Tara in their hands. I feel myself get a bit teary-eyed as I see there's a little space set up for where the girls can place their gifts. Besides this space, there's a picture of Tara. She looks so happy, smiling at the camera with a blinding smile. She didn't deserve what happened that night at the ball.

I find Addaline and walk up to her, smiling at her tightly. She nods her head at me in acknowledgement.

Soon, we start the remembrance gathering. I watch this Silver tradition unfold in front of me with curiosity. I've never seen anything like this in my community. Each girl goes up and places her gift next to Tara's photo. Afterwards, they say a small speech about Tara.

The girls have slightly different speeches. Marissa Nolle, dressed in a dark shade of purple that compliments her dark hair and olive skin, talks about how they used to play together when they were younger. Tiana Viper, dressed in a dark copper color that compliments her sun-kissed skin, talks about how Tara would be the only one willing to make her less bored at the Silver events they would go to together.

When Alexis went up, she had tears in her eyes. I stare in shock because I've never seen the hard, vicious girl tear up like this. Her speech doesn't include fun memories, but includes her apologies to Tara. How she was sorry for every mean thing she had said to Tara and every prank she pulled on her. It honestly made me smile a bit. Alexis wasn't so tough as she wanted everyone to think she was.

Soon, it was my turn. I take a deep breath as I go in front of everyone. "Tara. You were one of the few people in this competition that I had spent some fun time with. You were the friend who wanted to keep everything in control and organized." I smiled a bit. "I remember when you introduced me, Rose, and Addaline to a bath bomb. It was crazy cool." The girls around me smile a bit, some chuckling.

"You didn't deserve your death. You had a bright future ahead of you, but it was cruelly taken away from you. I'm sorry for that." The last part comes out in a whisper. I feel tears prick the corners of my eyes and I quickly move on to my gift.

I pull out the viola from its case. Resting it on my shoulder, I raise the bow and draw it across the viola's string. A note comes out. Then another. Soon, I lose myself in the sad music I am playing from memory. I close my eyes as I imagine Tara and her smiles, the hidden kindness she had.

The last note hangs in the air. I keep my eyes close and my viola raised before slowly dropping my arms to my sides. I open my eyes and see with shock that some girls have tears coming out of their eyes. I can't help my own tears falling down my face as I think back to the moments I had with Tara.

A sudden gasp makes me raise my head. I feel my mouth drop as I notice a figure standing by the door for who knows how long. He probably was here while I played.

Ahren Calore has never looked so uncomfortable in his life as he takes in the scene. It looks like he suddenly noticed the crying girls in the room, and he immediately jumps up from his slouched position on the door frame.

"You guys are crying? Oh no. Uh, wait do tissues help in this situation?" He murmurs to himself frantically as he hesitates at the door, not sure if he should come in and help us or leave.

Suddenly, a pillow is thrown at him. It hits him squarely in the face, and I can't help the snort of laughter that escapes my mouth. Ahren looks shocked as he stares at the darn pillow that hit him. He looks up and his eyes rake over us, searching for whoever threw the pillow.

"Your Highness, this is the Women's Room! You can't be in here!" Alexis says while laughing. Around the room, the girls start smiling crazily and start to chuckle.

"I feel so violated! A man in the Women's Room without the approval of the Queen!" Someone else shrieks as laughs come from us all. I let my laugh come spilling out of my mouth, and soon I'm doubled over in laughter.

More pillows are thrown at Ahren and he swats them away playfully. "Ok, ok! I get it ladies!" He tells us with a smile. He chuckles as he stumbles out of the room, closing the door behind him.

Even after he's left, we can't stop laughing. After everyone gives their gifts, we still chuckle and bond over what we did to Ahren. And in that moment, as I laugh with Alexis and the other girls, I realize they aren't so bad. Throughout my lifetime, I've been raised to think that Silvers are vain and arrogant. But that was before I let myself get to know them. Sure, they could be those things, but they were so much more than that.

They were people just like us, our brothers and sisters. Our different blood color couldn't change the fact that we are meant to connect with each other, interact with one another.

In that moment of joking around with the Silver girls, I realized they weren't so bad as everyone made them to be.

♕✿~♕✿~♕✿~♕✿~♕✿~

I have slightly gotten out of my writer's block. I still felt a bit uninspired to write this chapter, but I pushed myself to do so because you guys have waited far too long for this chapter. I'm sorry about the wait, by the way.

Right now, I'm on Winter Break so I might have some more time to write. Obviously, I won't be writing on Christmas and New Year's but other than those days, I can write. I'll do my best to write more chapters during my break.

Have a great week everyone!

Glass_Sword