Elemental Kingdom

He shook his head.
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She nodded. "Thank you."

"Then if you could sit and be quiet that would be appreciated."

---

"Not even Nathan would get in," Blaze muttered.

"That ould be perfect."
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Ethan nodded, doing as his father said.

"Give me time, and I could shift the plane it's on. No one aside from us would be able to see it if that were the case."

---

Nathan entered the side room that led to the throne room and hesitated briefly before rummaging in a nearby desk, pulling out a tightly rolled parchment, a quill, and an inkwell. "If you're careful, you may draw or practice your writing. The throne room has a side table, or the floor is smooth enough to write upon would you prefer to sit by the throne."

"Lets just stop Nathan from finding us for now."
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Lloyd nodded. "Te table will be fine daddy."

Blaze nodded quietly. "For your sake, I hope Delilah rides fast to find this healer. I know you and Garnet were closer than any sister could be, let alone simply friends."

---

"The one to the left then. I can see you better there, and there are no doors nearby for sudden entrance."

Lloyd nodded, taking his things from his father and he bowed his head to him since he was almost if not King now, before he walked away to the table, setting his things down before he sat himself in the chair.
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"Delilah won't be able to find her."

Nathan watched him closely, before his expression shut down into emptiness and he retook his place on the throne.

---

"Delilah is one of the most frightening creatures to walk this forsaken earth, Snow. If there is help to be found, she will find it. She and Nathan are of a dying breed. The only reason they are royalty is because this land was taken, not by an army, but by their ancestors. You didn't hear it from me, however. I was just a bystander when the old king fell."

"Not that easy." Snow told him. "Believe me Blaze, only I can find her, scary or not no one else will want to help."
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Lloyd made no noise and no movement, he was kept watching the piece of parchment, before he picked up his quill and dabbed it into the ink, starting to draw.

"Delilah will give it a damn good try, and send other healers back, too. She's faster than us too, when given motivation. If you give her an idea how to find this healer, she'd be here within a day, two tops."

---

Nathan attended to those who had come to see him, voice blank and clipped as he addressed the problems given to him.

"Even if I said anything...The healer would ignore her...She will only answer to me."
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Ethan still hadn't moved but he had froze when a man walked into the room, one of Nathan's guards and he walked too close to the young prince, who suddenly lashed out, hitting the man pretty hard, though Ethan didn't seem to realise he had done anything.

"Then let Delilah take a lodestone. When she finds the healer, she can summon you. I will have the other stone. I don't want you travelling. I don't want you away from me for so long, and with the kingdom in quiet turmoil, I can't leave. Nathan cannot care for himself, Ethan and Garnet's body by himself."

---

"You will stay away from him," Nathan said, the first hint of emotion entering his voice as he addressed the guard. The emotion was cold, quiet anger. "And you will tell the others, that no one goes near my son. Corporal punishment for those that break this order."

By now Ethan had suddenly walked off, his eyes glassy as he pulled open the door closest and was about to walk out of the room, he was almost in a trance.
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"Blaze, don't you understand, she won't come to anyone but me." Snow told him. "The healer is my mother, only I have the powers to bring her back, Delilah's searching is useless right now."

Nathan dismissed the most recent person and abruptly moved to Ethan's side, gripping his shoulder gently with a murmured, "Ethan."

---

"With a lodestone you will be there. She'll have to accept that much. But if you're convinced it won't work, you're not leaving until Delilah returns, so she can mind the castle while I travel with you."

"athan won't let you go, we both know that."
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Ethan looked at him, his eyes like glass. "Can't you hear them...They want me to come ith them daddy."

"He doesn't get a choice."

---

"You don't have to do anything." Nathan leaned down to scoop him up, holding him close. "And you aren't going anywhere."

Lloyd leaned away, still trying to follow what he could hear.
__________

Snow sighed.

"Tell me where you want to go, Ethan. You are not to be unattended."

---

"I'm not above removing Nathan from his station as king by murder. Delilah would rule just as well and is less likely to be meddlesome. The fact that Garnet would be hurt, and by extension you, is the only thing that stays my hand."

"It's not like Garnet can feel anything now." Snow sighed.
_________

"It's stopped..."

"If that's the go ahead to kill Nathan, I'll be more than happy to oblige."

---

"If you hear it again, block your ears immediately and come to me. Then, so long as I'm there with you, you can follow and we'll nip the problem in the bud."

He nodded. "Okay daddy."
____________________________

Snow just shrugged.

"What would you like to do for the rest of the day?"

---

Blaze sighed. "Let's just go home."

She nodded.
_______________

Lloyd shrugged.

Blaze moved to gently squeeze her fingers and then led her from the castle.

---

"What would you normally do in the afternoons?"

"Mummy would read to me..."
________

Snow went with him.