The Royal Pawn

"Elena, when I say run you do as I say. Find your brother Anselm" her mother's tone was filled with worry and read. A tall woman in her thirties kneels, lacing her child's cloak. Subtly she tried to suppress her cough; despite the winter breeze, she was sweating. "Mother, are you alright?" "Tis' but a fever nothing more." It was firm with a hint of doubt as she shrouded her child with a long cloak too big for her. Elena, the first heir, had turned eighteen that day, but there were no birthdays to celebrate. There were only screams, screams that erupted from the town's village and soldiers marching outside with their battalions.  "I want to fight, I can show them what I'm capable of," she reached for her mother's hands, Elena so young and naive with her expression full of anger. It was cold and calloused. Queen Celestina shook her head. "This is no time for heroics. You are to be a queen tomorrow, stay alive no matter what". "Queen Celestina, a surprise attack, came from the east of the kingdom. I await your orders" the captain of the guards, Sebastian burst into the room with his shield and broadsword. His face pale as white, eyes that showed weariness and chapped lips bloodied. His weapon was stained with crimson liquid, and his breastplate dented.  Elena knew this was not a minor attack; it was an ambush. For Dreor is an impenetrable kingdom; its walls 20 feet high made of stone instead of half-timber filled with wattle and daub.  Elena peeked through her room's window; the once stood watchtower of the east destroyed. Her mother pulled her by her arms; her eyes darted towards a box. Her mother opens a box designed with intricate runes, covered in satin cloth, revealing a dagger with the House Dreor's emblem. "Take this Elena, use it only when necessary." Elena stood silent, her mother wrapped in satin and placed it on her cloak's pocket along with a waterskin and bread as ration. "You brought what I asked of you? Good. And what of the whole situation?" Celestina asked as Sebastian handed her a wooden crossbow. The queen coughed as if something was stuck on her throat. She reached for her handkerchief only to spew blood. She held her head; dizziness seemed to overtake her. "The east wall has been knocked over with an explosion and the archers from their respective watchtowers believe it was a mining attempt. Catapults had emerged bearing the insignia it was from the Kingdom of Tempestas. I've deployed my battalion after enemies stormed with their swords and torches. Your majesty, you seem sick must you go to war?"  "Sebastian, find my husband, tell him to meet me here along with the captain of the guards from North and East. Archers to the arrow slits and curtain wall bridge on every side of the castle." "Your majesty, I am your royal knight, I cannot leave you undefended let alone your health is ill." "Do you not see the town being burned down or the watchtowers? I am capable of protecting myself, fool. Defend the east side of the castle" Queen Celestina's voice rose with anger as she loaded the crossbow. She turned her back from him, retrieving her shield from the bed.  "Your majesty, I shall call the physician as well" Sebastian vanished on the left-wing of the corridor. As soon as he was out of sight, the queen pulled Elena out of the room.  Her hand gripped tightly on the crossbow. It was dark; the princess indeed remembered that it was half-past midnight. The torches lost their light, and only the pale moon guided her.  The corridor is divided into three sections; the left-wing leads to the meeting chambers and the Southern watchtower. The right wing leads straight to her brother's room parallel to it, a staircase leading towards the castle's backdoor. On the corridor itself, near the princess room, is a secret passageway that leads a shortcut through the food stock and the guests' room.  "Mother, stay alive for me will you?" Elena clasped her mother's shoulder as she turned for a hug. The queen who wore her serious expression sighed, returning the gesture. "I cannot promise-" As soon as she said the words, the door to the passageway broke open, revealing the emblem of House Tempestas. She loaded her crossbow as a soldier flung one towards her daughter. The arrow whipped past her hair, Elena's pulsed race. It was near her eye, and another came that aimed for her head. "Elena! Run, get out of here!" the queen screamed as she shot him through the chest. It was an unexpected turn of events when another two soldiers emerged from the passageway. Elena, out of breath, timely shut the door as the arrow hit it with a thud. Her brother's room seemed quiet. The door flung open with dead torches, and the only sounds she heard were the crack of wood, fire blazing outside, and people screaming.  "Anselm? We have to get out of here. The castle-" There was no response. She turned towards his doorway. His bed fixed, papers were all organized, and a boy younger than her of two years stood there facing the window. His hair as dark as night, skin pale as paper on the dead moonlight, and figure as small as a young boy Elena once took care of. Yet, oddly, there was no response, let alone he wore his cloak. The way he stood there sent chills down her spine. She called out again, "Anselm, stop being a fool. The kingdom is-" "Burning? Shh. I love every sound of it." "Anselm stop this nonsense! The passageway has been infiltrated and mother's life is at stake. We have to seek a physician. What if she's poisoned?" Elena rushed to drag him, reaching for his wrist. He jerked back, retracting his arm away from her. The door from the corridor opened with a loud crack. Queen Celestina rushed towards his son's room.  "If? Elena, so naive. You're always naive" His eyes met hers. There was a smile on his lips, yet he was emotionless. It was a smile without love, a smile that would burn the world down. Elena had suddenly wondered if she had lost her brother, and this was a haunting spirit. But he was real in flesh and blood. His eyes darted towards Queen's Celestina, turning his entire body towards her direction.   "Anselm, what do you mean?" He walked towards Queen Celestina, kissing her ring before reaching for a hug. He whispered in her ear, "who was it that said to keep your enemies closer to your majesty?". The queen was unaware that he pulled a shiny weapon, and in a flash, he drove the dagger on her chest. Celestina pulled away, the school and betrayal etched on her face. There was a gushing sound as he pulled it out. The crimson liquid oozed as he replied, "and who was it that told me the law of retaliation?" Elena was horrified that not only was it a replica of her dagger, but Anselm, a sweet and innocent brother of hers, would do such a thing. She rushed to her mother, pressing on the wound. "Mother, you'll get well. I will call the physician, no Sebastian shall be here in a minute." Queen Celestina reached for her daughter's face as she lay on the floor. She stuttered in reply, "No-, you have to get out of here." Elena checked her pulse that seemed irregularly rapid. Anselm dropped the silver dagger, and it clattered on the marble ground. His smile, still unwavering, was replaced with a laugh before he replied, "I thought she'd appreciate it if I learned how to brew the poison this time? It was a success wasn't it?" "You think this is funny?! You insolent brat! How could you do this to our mother?" Elena reached for his collar. His expression remained unmoved and unbothered. She slapped him on the ground pulling the knife before nailing him on the marbled wall. "I will have you beheaded by morning, watch me, you bastard!" "ELENA, PUT THAT KNIFE DOWN-" the door burst with King Alwyn along with lord Elijah, lord Desmond, and lord Heinrich witnessing the horrors of the situation. Anselm's eyes widened. "Father! Father! Elena killed her majesty. I tried to stop her. I beg of you please take her away!". Hearing this had further angered King Alwyn; his blue eyes sparkled with fury as he reached for the sword on his belt. A couple of soldiers, including the captain of guards from the north and west, came. Elena's eyes widened. She dropped the knife and moved towards the opposite door that leads towards the staircase. "Father let me explain-" "GUARDS TAKE HER AWAY! AND GET ME THAT PHYSICIAN!" Elena made a run for it through the door. This time she knew there was no turning back. She ran until she reached the stairs that lead towards the back of the castle. Only to have stumbled with her maid Mathilde who was about to open the wooden door. The back of the court was the stables filled with horses and manure.  "Princess, what on earth happened! This is no safe place for you" she gazed upon Elena, who had her foot bruised as she leaped a couple of steps down and, upon opening the door, revealed that her dress showed stains of blood. "My brother's the traitor, he led the ambush," Elena replied out of breath. Mathilde shook her head as she carried the basket of clothes pulling Elena out of the castle's sight. "I heard of such rumors, it's not safe here! Come on" she dragged the princess towards the thick trees where the moonlight barely shone. In a few minutes, she returned with a saddled horse tied to a rope handing it over to Elena.  "This is the best I could do, I left a few apples on the pouch attached. I trust you know where my brother lives. There is a cottage near the kingdom, tread lightly and find my brother Rodriguez. Stay safe, princess" Mathilde helped her get through the stirrup. Before she knows it, Elena found herself looking way past the castle and into the horizon, leaving her only home. From a distance, as dusk approaches, she heard the tolling of a bell, a symbol of mourning and a symbol of death. And thus, the fire died in the morning with the announcement of the assailants' capture. They were found guilty of treason who acted independently of the kingdom Tempestas. The kingdom mourns for the death of a benevolent Queen on the coronation day and the sickness that unknowingly fell to King Alywn.  The people tried to salvage what was left of the fire. Their home burnt to charcoal and babies wrapped in blankets on the cold winter morning. The kingdom had prepared its supplies of wood, rations, and restoration. At the start of winter, there was a gloomy atmosphere, but royal duties must continue. Royal duties are what kept the castle at its best function. With gold velvet and scepter, the younger brother Anselm crowned. With twelve lords kneeling upon him and captain of the guards who swore their loyalty. There was hunger in his eyes, an act of revenge that tasted like honey.  He knew he won the bottle. “Long live, King Anselm. in sanguine et igni!”