A royal Affair

Prophecy

"Your Highness? How come I didn't know about the invasion of the "Golden Horn" - Lord Dukan asked with a careful tone, like he was trying hard to choose his words. "Not only I, but the rest of the High Conseil didn't know anything about it until you mention it to the king Agon ambassadors" - he added, trying to fill in the long heavy pause between the two. 

"You should know nothing more than it's necessary, Lord Dukan" - prince Darius looked at him with a blank face, but in the corner of his lips, a mocking smile was formed. 

"Your Highness ... this is a historical event, many kings have tried before you and they all have failed. This changes everything about this war" - Lord Dukan replied in one breath as his brain was still was trying to process what had happened " Your plan is no longer cra...." - suddenly Dukan understood that he was talking without any filter, and immediately shut his mouth

"A crazy suicide plan? Say it Dukan, I know that's what you all have been thinking, and I don't blame you. I don't expect you to understand my vision, you just have to follow strictly my orders" 

"How... how could you manage? It's impossible... or at least it was until now" 

"If a single hair of my beard knew what I am thinking in my head, I will burn it all. " - Prince Darius replied, getting up on his feet. "What you should know is that I will take Amantia, and when I do a lot of things will change around here" 

"Your Grace... it will still be bloodshed. If we find an agreement, we can spare so many innocent lives. You already have your victory, what more could you want? I have lived a long life my Prince, and trust me when I say there is no glory in war, there is no honor in causing unreasonable sufferings and pain. When your day comes to be crown as the King, you will have enough power to satisfy your ego" 

"You are lucky that you are a confidential friend of my father, the King. That's the only reason I am not cutting off your tongue to feed the dogs right now." - Darius replied with a hard tone, looking at him with contempt and anger. 

"Than take this as an advice, from someone who loves deeply and is faithful to his King, your Father. You are young my Prince, the foolish desire for fame and glory is so very tempting, I know so myself. But when you'll come to my age you will learn the hard way, that life will do to you the same what you have done to others. Have mercy on those young boys you'll send to s*******r and death, have mercy on those mothers the heart you will burn... have mercy, my Prince so that God will have mercy on you when you ask for it" - Dukan voice was low and heavy, his hands were slightly shaking and his eyes got teary, thinking what hell awaited all tomorrow when the attack would start. 

"Get out! Get out before I order your execution!" - the building light in prince Darius's eyes terrified Dukan. He didn't fear for his life, after all, he had lived long and had cherished many happy moments. He trembled for the future, knowing well that the unquenchable thirst of a king for blood, glory, and power would only bring death and pain to many of his people who would be under his rule. 

"May God makes you a great ruler, my Prince" - Dukan said bowing down "And also merciful one, Darius"  - he left the tent, with a heavy heart.

Walking slowly around the military camp, looking at the young soldiers gathered around camping fires and feeling deeply sorry for them. 

"They poor mothers" - he whispered underneath his breath. They were still eating dinner, talking loudly and laughing, almost as if they were unaware of the shadow of death hovering over their heads. With the frivolity of youth, all of them dreamed of gold and glory, but Dukan knew that when the battle ended only a few of them would be alive.

 These thoughts were still hunting him, as he passed through the last line of the Dardanian soldiers, without them noticings and entered the small forest, at the side of city walls

"My old friend" - Sanders greeted him, patting his back 

"Hope I didn't let you wait for long' - Dukan forced a smile. 

"No, not at all. But the anguishment of what awaits my people is unbearable" 

"I  can say the same for my people, for my kingdom, Sanders" - Dukan replied with sad calmness 

"You couldn't do it? You couldn't convince your Prince to back off the attack?" 

"No one can! He is nothing like his father or anyone I have ever meet really. I tried, I am sorry Sanders" - Dukan said feeling a sharp pain in his heart, bitter tears were burning in his eyes. 

"A bloodshed awaits us, hundreds of thousands of people will die" - Sanders's voice was calm as well, but his heart was just as heavy. 

"I know" - Dukan replied nodding 

"Did you know about the "Golden Thorn"? A warning could have made a huge change in how things are turning up" 

"No one knew. No one, except the Prince. I still can't wrap my head around how he achieved such a thing" 

"Your Prince will certainly be in history books, at least, and many people will pay the high price of such an achievement" 

"Not if the prophecy is true! My Prince will pay dearly for the pain he is causing" 

"The prophecy?" - Sanders chuckled in irony "It's just an old tale, that people give too much importance..."- he replied, but suddenly he felt like he didn't even have the energy to speak or to think anymore "I guess this is the last time we see each other" - he smiled sadly at Dukan 

"You have been a great friend, and I am so thankful for all you have done" - Dukan could not hold back some tears this time, as he hugged him

"Farewell, my friend! It has been a good life" - Sanders hopped on his horse, walking away inside the deepest dark of the forest. 

"May God have mercy on your soul" - Dukan prayed underneath his breath, knowing that that was the last time he met his friend. 

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third pov 

"Stay near me, Isolda"  - Irene said to her daughter, fearing that she would lose sight of her. Since the preparation for the war had started, panic and anxiety had become her constant emotional state. 

"I am right here mother" - Isolda smiled softly, taking her hand over her and squeezing it tightly. Alongside many other women and children, they were gathered inside underground shelters. It was cold and laying down in the thin mattresses, was almost like lying down on the hard concrete, but that was the least of their problem right now. 

Even though it was late at night, the noise of people talking over each other was loud, almost like a busy day in a crowded market. It was their way to calm down the anxiety. 

"You know? Maybe the prophecy is true after all" - Grace, a young girl from the village said with enthusiasm. 

"God forbids! Shut your mouth" - her mother replied immediately with anger

"I am just saying that...." 

"Please Grace, we are already in a nervous breakdown. The prophecy is just an old tale, nothing more" - Irene said to her

"What prophecy?" - Isolda asked with curiosity, looking at their disturbed faces, just by mentioning it

"You don't know about the prophecy?" - another young girl talked over, just like Grace she sounded enthusiast as well

"No, I don't know what you are talking about" - Isolda was now feeling even more curious.

"Of course she doesn't know, she is all day with her nose in some big books like a rat, or practicing with sword like a man" - Grace said and all laughed hard, including Isolda, but Irene got so angry that her face turned red

"Will anyone tell me about the prophecy already?" - Isolda insisted, feeling impatient. 

"Well..." - Grace spoke up with a cheeky smile, the fire's light flashed in her dark eyes "The story begins hundreds of years ago when King Agon the first founded Amantia. The legend says that when he was at the peak of his power, the King met a beautiful woman, while he was hunting deep in the forests. 

The King fell so madly in love with this woman, he could not think of anything else. He would go to see her every day and stayed for hours and hours with her, neglecting his kingdom, his wife, his family... everything. The jealous queen almost became mad, feeling more and more the growing distance from the King. So she started spreading rumors, that the woman was in fact a witch, that had enchanted the King with dark magic spells." - Grace took a deep breath and looked at Isolda 

"And? Then what?" - Isolda asked curiously, wondering how came she never had heard such a story, even though she used to read a lot about history. 

"Nothing, nothing happened. It's just a story, most likely it never happened" - Irene said annoyed, but Grace cut her off

"As the rumors spread more and more people started to get worried about their King, and the future of the Kingdom. They were worried that the Kingdom would fell into the hands of an evil witch. Many of the king's advisors warned him about the growing concerns of its people, but he ignored them. The King and his lover were happy and inseparable, for a time. But then..." - Grace took another dramatic pause

"But then what?" - Isolda asked impatiently

"The queen finally bore the King a child, a son that he had been longed for. At the same time, the woman gave birth to a child too, a daughter. The King was so happy that he had now an heir, that he started spending more time inside his palace, and started forgetting about his lover, who would wait and wait for hours, for him to come. Now that she had no longer the King's protection, people were awful to her, treating her miserably. She was not only abounding, but because of her love, she was an outcast. 

During the first war with the Dardanian, the KIng had major losses, so much so people started fearing the shortfall of Amantia. And guess what the Queen did?" - Grace asked a cheeky smirk 

"What?" - Isolda asked fascinated 

"The queen started spreading rumors again, that the army was losing because of the King's lover. She convinced people that the woman was a witch and her spells were the cause of what was happening. Soon after, an angry mob was formed and they marched towards the small hut in the woods. 

Some people tried to warn her when the rumors started and insisted for her to leave and hide. But she refused because long ago she had promised the King that she would wait for him every day. And so she did. When the mob came she was still waiting. 

She tried to reason with the angry mob and begged for mercy, but they killed her mercilessly. They looked for her daughter, but the hut was empty. They threw her lifeless body into the lake and then they left.

The same night the King saw the woman in his dreams and almost made him mad. In his dream, the woman was still waiting for him, while he had forgotten his promise. The cause of his pain and misery was that the King had turned his back to his love, thirsty for more glory and power. 

The next night, the King had another dream, this time a vision.  A woman that looked exactly as his lover was sitting on his throne, she was victorious, crown in glory and grace. So the King thought to himself that his dreams were a message, for him to marry his lover and make his daughter and not his son, the heir of the throne. 

That gave him the push he needed to win the battle, end the war, and returned to the kingdom. Before meeting anyone, he requested to go to the hut, in the forest. His guards were too afraid to tell him what had happened, so when the King arrived he saw the place he treasured so many happy memories destroyed. When he entered inside, he found blood. 

He immediately understood what happened, and started crying and screaming her name. The King mourned his lover for a very long time, for months he did not leave the hut. So unbearable was his pain and regret, he decided to drown himself in the lake so that he would be reunited with his lover. 

But when he went there, the nymph of the lake showed himself to him

"King Aron" - the nymph said "You have broken the heart of a woman who truly loved you, and the promise you made to her. Your punishment will follow you in the afterlife also. Your line has been cursed" 

"What do you mean?" - asked the King

"As long as in the throne of Amantia, will sit an offspring of you and your wife, your family or your kingdom will not find peace. War and rumors of war will follow, making everybody's life troubled and difficult. You all will bear the pain you have caused." 

"Don't. I beg, you! Let my people live in peace. Isn't my regret and pain enough already?" - the great King cried out to the nymph

"An offspring carrying your name will be the destruction of the kingdom. A prince from far away will put your heir to his knees, the cities of Amantias will turn into ruins, and your name into dust. The glory you fought for, forgetting love will perish. 

"I'll do anything, but please spare my people" - the King begged "I am at fault here, no one else. Let me take the pain and responsibility for what I have caused. I loved her, I still love her. Please forgive me" 

The nymph was touched by his words, before she disappeared she spoke again 

"The greed will turn your kingdom to ashes, but love can save it. If an offspring of you and your lover will take the throne, your kingdom will be saved from the destruction" - she prophesied and disappeared 

Grace took another deep breath, but Isolda was feeling a little bit disappointed 

"That's it? The King did not save the love of his life? Did he at least found his daughter" 

"No! He searched for years and years, until his last breath. He could not found her." 

"Well, no wonder I have not heard of this! It's just a tale "- Isolda signed deeply 

"Don't you get it? Our king's name is Aron, just like the first King. And a faraway prince is the gates of Amantia. Not a foreign king, a prince. According to the nymph and the king's vision, a women-only can save Amantia" 

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