The vanishing Queen

The river ran backwards on the day the Queen vanished.

At first, no one noticed the shift in the River Elara. Dawn had barely broken over the village of Greenwood when a young fisher named Lina, casting her nets in the early light, was the first to realize something was amiss. She watched in shock as her nets drifted upstream, defying the natural flow of the water. The river, usually calm and steady, now churned and twisted as if an invisible hand were pushing it against its will.

The Queen’s mysterious disappearance had thrown the entire kingdom into disarray. Queen Aveline had been beloved, her rule marked by wisdom and compassion, and her presence felt as vital as the flow of the Elara itself. In recent years, her influence over the land seemed almost magical—trees grew greener, harvests were plentiful, and even the winters were milder. Some believed she held an ancient power, a bond with the very life force of the kingdom.

But the morning she vanished, that peace unraveled. Not only had the river begun to run backwards, but the animals in the forests grew restless, crops wilted as if touched by frost, and the sun rose with a hazy, dim glow. Word of her disappearance spread like wildfire, and the people grew anxious and afraid. In the heart of the capital, the council of elders convened, their voices filled with worry and despair.

Only a few miles from the palace, in a small village along the Elara, a young woman named Mira watched the strange happenings with a heavy heart. Mira was a healer, known for her knowledge of herbs and her gentle touch, but she harbored a secret that only a handful knew: she was Queen Aveline’s niece. Raised far from the palace to protect her from the politics and danger of court life, she had only met her aunt in secret, but their bond had always been close. Queen Aveline had visited Mira in dreams, imparting lessons of wisdom and courage that Mira carried in her heart.

When Mira heard of her aunt’s disappearance, a strange certainty filled her—she knew she had to find her. She felt an invisible thread pulling her, urging her to seek the Queen, though she did not know where to begin. Her dreams had been haunted by visions of her aunt standing beside the river, calling her name.

On the morning after the Queen’s disappearance, Mira packed a small bag, taking only what she needed, and made her way toward the capital. As she walked, she noticed that the trees seemed to bow as she passed, their branches leaning toward her as if guiding her. Animals emerged from the underbrush to watch her, their eyes reflecting a strange intelligence. It was as if the land itself recognized her purpose.

By nightfall, Mira reached the outskirts of the palace grounds. She could see torches flickering along the palace walls and hear the murmurs of the guards. The Queen’s disappearance had heightened security, and she knew she couldn’t simply walk through the front gates. She needed to find another way in.

Slipping into the shadows, Mira made her way to a hidden entrance she remembered from childhood—a small door concealed by ivy near the eastern wall, one her aunt had shown her long ago in case of an emergency. She whispered a prayer as she pressed her hand to the door, and to her relief, it opened with a soft creak.

Inside, the palace was eerily quiet. She moved through the empty halls, her footsteps echoing as she searched for clues. She was headed toward her aunt’s private chambers when she sensed someone following her. Turning, she found herself face-to-face with an old man in a tattered cloak, his eyes sharp and knowing.

“You’re Mira, aren’t you?” he asked in a gravelly voice.

Mira nodded, unsure of who he was. “How do you know my name?”

The man chuckled softly. “I’ve known of you since the day you were born, child. I am Calen, the palace mage. Your aunt spoke of you often, said you were her light in the shadows.”

Relief washed over Mira. She had heard of Calen, though she had never met him. He was rumored to be one of the most powerful mages in the land, a protector of the royal family.

“Calen,” she whispered, “do you know what happened to my aunt?”

Calen’s expression grew somber. “I have my suspicions. Queen Aveline was no ordinary ruler—her bond with the land was ancient, a gift passed down through her bloodline. But such power attracts darkness. I believe she was taken by an entity from beyond our world, something that seeks to unravel the balance she worked so hard to protect.”

Mira’s heart pounded. “How do we find her? How do we bring her back?”

Calen reached into his cloak and pulled out a small vial of shimmering liquid. “This is elara essence, distilled from the river itself. It holds a fragment of the Queen’s power. With it, we can journey into the Shadow Realm, where I believe she is held. But beware—the Shadow Realm is dangerous, filled with creatures of darkness who will not take kindly to our presence.”

Without hesitation, Mira took the vial. She felt the power within it, a warmth that reminded her of her aunt’s embrace. “I’m ready.”

Calen nodded approvingly. “Then let us go, child. Together, we may have a chance.”

With Calen’s guidance, they made their way to the heart of the palace, to a hidden chamber beneath the throne room. There, Calen drew a circle of salt and lit candles at each point, murmuring incantations as the air around them grew heavy. He motioned for Mira to stand beside him, and as they held the vial between them, Calen poured the elara essence onto the ground.

A shimmering portal appeared, swirling with shadows and light. Mira took a deep breath and stepped through, Calen close behind.

The Shadow Realm was cold and dim, lit only by an eerie blue glow that seemed to emanate from the ground itself. The air was thick, filled with whispers that clawed at Mira’s mind, but she pushed them away, focusing on the thread of warmth that seemed to guide her forward.

They walked for what felt like hours, the landscape shifting and twisting around them. At times, it felt as though they were moving through a dense fog, and Mira struggled to keep her bearings. But each time doubt crept into her heart, she felt a soft warmth, a reminder of her aunt’s presence.

At last, they reached a clearing where a figure stood, draped in shadows. Mira’s heart leaped—it was Queen Aveline, though her form was faint, as if she were fading.

“Aunt Aveline!” Mira cried, running to her.

The Queen turned, her eyes weary but filled with love. “Mira, my brave one. I knew you would come.”

Mira felt tears prick her eyes. “I had to. The kingdom is falling apart without you. How can we bring you back?”

Queen Aveline smiled sadly. “I am bound here by the Shadow King. He wishes to control the power of the land, to bend it to his will. But he underestimates the strength of our bond.”

As if summoned by her words, a towering figure emerged from the shadows, cloaked in darkness, his eyes glowing with a sinister light. The Shadow King sneered, his voice a low rumble that echoed through the realm.

“You cannot take her from me, child. She belongs to the shadows now.”

But Mira felt no fear. She looked into the Shadow King’s eyes and spoke with a fierce determination. “You cannot keep her. Her spirit belongs to the land, and her people need her.”

She raised the vial, the last drop of elara essence within it glowing brighter than before. Guided by Calen’s whispered incantations, Mira released the essence, directing it toward her aunt. The glow enveloped Queen Aveline, banishing the shadows that bound her.

The Shadow King roared, reaching for them, but Mira and Calen held firm, their combined magic forming a shield around the Queen. With one final surge of power, they shattered the darkness, and the Shadow King vanished in a scream of fury.

The world around them faded, and Mira felt herself pulled back, her vision blurring. When she opened her eyes, she was in the palace’s hidden chamber once more, Calen beside her. And there, lying on the ground, was Queen Aveline, her eyes open and filled with gratitude.

As the three of them emerged from the chamber, a cheer rose up from the palace as word of the Queen’s return spread. The river resumed its natural course, the land blossomed with life, and the people rejoiced.

In the days that followed, Queen Aveline shared her story with Mira, explaining the deep magic of the land and their bond with it. She named Mira her heir, passing down the wisdom and power that had protected the kingdom for centuries.

And from that day forward, Mira knew that no matter what darkness might come, she would stand as a guardian of the realm, a beacon of hope and strength for her people, just as her aunt had before her.