Lord Counselor Jeffrey hung on to the stout bedpost and tried to imagine the future of the small kingdom, but his mind could only think of one thing, the death of his queen.

* * * *

"Gentlemen, look at this." Graton's voice seemed to draw the two away from the bedside to where he stood. ..."What do you see?"

"You discuss jewelry when our kingdom is at risk, old one?"

It was Morran who sighed and stretched out one bony finger to touch the fragile looking ring with the huge crystal that lay in Graton's hand. "An amethyst. Celina would have loved that ring."

"Yes, my queen would have loved this particular piece of jewelry, but I never gave it to her. Instead I saved it, hoping never to have to use it." Graton passed it to the other two so they could examine it. "Every crystal holds power. The amethyst is no different. ...I must give her what she never will obtain naturally."

"What are you saying, Graton? The woman is dead. You can give her nothing now but a state funeral and begin preparations for the military to guard our shores, ready for the invasion that will come when other countries hear of her death." Jeffrey handed the ring back and stuffed his hands in the wide pockets of his jacket. "You speak in riddles, and frankly, I  am not in the mood today."

Morran seemed a bit more open-minded. "What can this ring do that the best medicines could not?"

Graton took back the magnificent ring and folded his fingers around it where it lay on his palm. For a second, he closed his eyes and seemed to meditate. As if he had made some monumental decision, he addressed his companions. " Amethyst is a healing stone. Its greatest asset is peace, but there are many other qualities that it can instill. Celina shall rise, filled with those traits she would have acquired over decades of maturation. She does not have that time any longer so I must give her those things she needs immediately... I shall do what the royal family wanted me to do, keep Celina in front of her people and able to make decisions that will safeguard the kingdom. When that is done then we will follow through with what began here today."

When Morran gasped, Graton sighed and finished. "While the purple power of the amethyst crystal can raise the dead to live, the person will not live long. Celina will live only long enough to serve our purpose...to ensure the safety of our country. That means she must marry Prince Walon. First however she must discover and annihilate the one who killed the royal family and seeks to undo our kingdom. ... One last thing before I do what I must. We must guard her against whatever evil lurks here. And she must know the situation."

"But..." Jeffrey did not think that wise.

"We will tell her all, except of her demise as soon as the marriage is finalized."