Francis got up from the bed, he could not look back, not at the crinkled sheets where Adeline had once lay beside him, or at the bed that was supposed to be his final resting place. He had been so desperate not to die and had clung to life, his mind wanted to relive what he believed were his final moments, his powerless body limp in his wife's arms for hours they had uttered their devotion to each other until his eyelids would no longer keep up the fight and his lips shut tight against his will. All he could do was listen to the sound of the room around him, of Adeline call for Alozie his oldest friend, the gasping sound she made when he stabbed her in the heart, he closed his eyes for a moment to compose himself.

"Your Grace?" Said Alozie with a Frown. Francis' blonde eyelashes almost touched his cheeks, Alozie couldn't help but marvel at them just for a moment, he ached in his chest for so many reasons that he couldn't find the root of the pain. Francis' eyes flashed open with a glare that shocked Alozie, he was so used to seeing kindness behind those eyes that the anger that raged beneath them took him back for a moment.

Francis strode across the room, Alozie took in his Kingliness now, there had been times when they were alone that he had forgotten Francis was King of France. They would be laughing together or riding together, and the world would melt away just as it had when they were boys but now the King looked like a giant. Golden haired and dressed head to toe in velvet and leather his  fur cloak flying after him,  Alozie knew nothing would ever be the same. The King had not died tonight but he might as well have.

"Guards!" cried King Francis.

Alozie Panicked, but did nothing, he just followed behind Francis, walking in his shadow a place that felt so familiar it was like a second home.

As Francis strode down the empty corridor, he listened to his boots connect with the marble floor the pounding kept him focused, everything was clear to him. The fog of death had been washed away by Adeline and he was going to get her back, he was going to find her whatever the cost.

The guards swarmed the King's chamber corridor, their armour was gold and each had a red or blue cape depicting weather they had been sworn into the King's or the Queen's guards. Their eyes widened when they saw the king and each guard fell to their knees. Francis made a simple rise gesture with his hand and they each got to their feet stunned to see him sanding in front of them.

"The Queen is missing," said Francis, his speech short and clipped.

The blue cloaked guards stood forward, their eyes wide and full of regret, not that there was anything they could have done, they had all been dismissed hours earlier and were starting to wonder why.

"I want every Druid in France brought to the palace for questioning, there are to be no exceptions and there are to be no lies."

Francis walked away from the guards, who placed their swords against their chest in perfect unison. He did not look back, Alozie went to follow him but a guard, stopped him, the guard was tall and thin for a kings guard who were normally quite muscular he had a full head of mousy curls which fell in front of his eyes as he pulled his fox helmet off his head to talked to Alozie. On any normal day this guard and Alozie would have been friends, talking and laughing, sharing bread and wine in the kitchen after dark but not today, today they were both the only Druids in the castle today was different. Alozie felt Mark's hand on his chest and looked down at the familiar hand holding him in place.

"Every Druid?" Said Mark his grey eyes filled with concern.

Alozie turned to face him, his big dark eyes wild under his cloak , he pulled his hood down to reveal his face and long black eye lashes blinked back at Mark, a little pang went through Mark's chest it had been weeks since they had spoken.

Alozie just sighed, he closed his eyes for a moment at the memory of the sword going through Adeline's heart, the sound of her cry, he tried to imagine her safe and well somewhere but he knew the best he could hope for was alive.

Please god let her be alive.

He said nothing.

Mark pulled Alozie away from the crowed of guards and servants that had now gathered in the halls.

"She wasn't just a Druid Mark," tears filled Alozie's eyes, the Queen was a Shadow,"

Mark reached up and stroked Alozie's face, he looked deep into his guilt ridden eyes looking for the answers.

"You and the Queen you went through with your plan then?" He said his hand dropping from Alozie's cheek. He touched his own forehead in exasperation, remembering all the times he had begged Alozie not to go through with his plan to save King Francis.

Alozie pushed out of his arms, "What do you think?" Alozie felt frustrated they had had this fight so many times and all it had brought them was misery.

"She never should have asked that of you," spat Mark he knew what it meant to be a druid, to be a Shadow was her responsibility to drag Alozie into something so dangerous was selfish.

"We will all be held accountable now, King Francis he will kill us all trying to find a way back to his lady and both you and I know there is no way back Alozie, Queen Adeline is as good as dead." Mark spat.

Alozie thought he could see the beginnings of tears roll down Marks porcelain cheeks. Mark was the one who had first worked out why the King was getting ill of course he never intended Alozie to take it this far. Now it was Mark along with Alozie who would have their families brought to the palace and questioned by the King. Alozie pulled away from Mark and did not look back as he walked he could not, he just walked away from Mark, and after the King.

Francis pushed two grand heavy arched doors open this was the formal entrance to throne room normally used for ceremonies like when the King was crowned or a less important occasion like a ball. Francis could have used the other entrance, slip in the side door like he would on any normal day of the week, but this day was not a normal day Queen Adeline had been stolen from her people, from her King. Embedded in the doors was the Zelouis Fox sigil, with a force that he had forgotten could even come from his arms they crashed against the deep red velvet walls that adorned the throne room and the crowed of people who had been waiting for him to die looked up at him astonished to see their King standing before them.

The last time Francis had been in this room, Adeline had been holding his body upright, the whole court preparing for his early death, it had been her thirty third birthday and he had made her celebrate. Normally Adeline would have loved a ball, the whole court laughing and dancing but not this night. He still felt her arm in his, she clung to him gently humming the music that was playing around them. Yesterday that had been only yesterday.
Francis locked eyes with his mother, the soon to be Queen Regent or so she thought, pacing the throne room waiting for news of her ailing son. The room was surrounded by light the large ornate windows encasing the throne room.

 As the beginning of a new day dawned and Francis stormed into the room that had crowned him King and celebrated his wife's birthday only hours ago, he could not have looked more regal. The light danced across his blonde curls when his mother laid eyes on him, she erupted into tears, she saw her eldest son standing in front of her, strong, well, like new. She moved towards him cupping his face in her hands.

"I had not believed it till this very moment," her hands holding on to his face tightly, but his eyes turned away from hers.

"What am I to do Mamon?" Said Francis.

Queen Catronia stroked her son's face and made sure she looked desperately sad but on the inside Catronia struggled to contain her smile, she thought of Adeline far away, in another world, as good as dead and all she could feel was happiness. Adeline had given her son the gift of life and the gift of power and she thanked her for it.

Each courtier one by one tried to talk to Francis but he batted them away like flies, finally sitting upon his throne, both arms resting on each of the long oak arm rests, one arm had his own fox sigil and the other Adeline's mermaid he let his thumb run over it again and again. He stared out among the advisers and trusted courtiers who had been allowed to be present for the kings death, he felt a jolt of irrational irritation run through his body.

"Leave me," He said with a wave of his hand.

Queen Catronia looked at Francis in shock.

She ran forward lifting the layers of her red and gold taffeta gown as she moved.

"My son..." she started.

"I will wait here until the druids arrive for questioning," Said Francis and waved the room clear. Alozie looked on as if he had known what was going to happen before Francis even opened his eyes. As Alozie left with the crowed, Francis looked after him as if he was going to ask his friend not to leave but said nothing.

"You are dismissed Mamon," said Francis with the same wave.

The Queen Mother feigned sadness at being parted from her son, she bowed and quickly exited the throne room her extensive satin skirts ruffled behind her. Her hair was golden like Francis and her daughter Marie. She was dishevelled with worry but the fear and anguish of nearly losing her eldest child had all but left her body. She had already straightened her back and filled herself with poise and a swagger in her walk that had always made Alozie nervous, the Queen walked away and he could have sworn was grinning from ear to ear.