My World Flips
My eyes slowly open and blurs everything set in front of me. A couple of moments pass by while I blink my eyes furiously, and suddenly the space around me comes into view, as well as the noise. I hear screaming and wailing from all different corners and my mom is holding my hand, wailing while on my bed. My throat suddenly feels dry and I have shivers running all down my back and arms. A cold sweat begins and I try to open my mouth, but falter. My mother immediately notices me awake and I see she begins to shake even more. Finally I clear my throat and ask in the most serious voice I can muster, "Mother, what is going on?". She just meets my eyes and is slowly trying to regain her composure. "Ebony," she begins, "Early this morning the Human Kingdom was attacked by the Vampire Kingdom. The battle is still going, but Caspian has promised to turn this into a grand sized war," that last sentence made her voice shake. She takes another deep breath to try to regain control and composure in front of her only daughter, "Your father has already met him at the border and he is saying he will end this war only if he can obtain one thing." Tears begin to fall from her face freely now. I just look up, taking in all the information that was just given to me, "Okay well mother give him whatever he wants. Why didn't you guys wake me up sooner? You know I am going to be the ruler soon and I need to be able to handle this difficulties with grace. I need the experience." She just stops me and slowly shakes her head, "Ebony," she practically wails, "he's demanding you."
At this my blood runs cold and I have to retract my eyes from my mothers. I sit in my huge bed and feel a darkness and coldness suddenly creep in at my heart. My body freezes and I soon realize I stopped breathing. My mind refuses to think about what's going on around me and I feel like I am going to vomit. My mom holds my hand and I am brought back from that terrible world. I quickly look up at her and my sense of duty takes control, "Mother," my voice shakes, "you have to give me to him," is all I can muster without the tears escaping. This felt like the ultimate betrayal to my heart and to my parents. Everything I have worked for since I was born. All the hours spent memorizing the laws, the 3 different Kingdoms, all the names of the villages within the Human Kingdom, all of it shot out the window. My mother just shakes her beautiful red-haired head slowly and her blue eyes search mine. I realize I am memorizing everything about my mother since this might be the last time I see her. Her long wavy bright red hair, her very light blue eyes, the one freckle sits right under her eye, or the beauty mark she calls it, her low comforting voice. Everything about her was beautiful. I came to the realization my mother is perfect. Suddenly my door opens and my father runs through, and with that you can hear the screams even louder. Quickly he turns to shut the door. He makes his way to my bed and put an arm around my mother and me. I look up at him and see his honey colored eyes, his dark brown beard that is neatly trimmed, his dark brown hair that usually is neatly combed, but now is everywhere, and his rosy cheeks. My father was also so beautiful. "Ebony," he stops, "Ebony, I am so sorry baby. I am so, so sorry. I will die with this being my biggest regret. Baby please forgive your horrible father. It's just we're not strong enough to take on the Vampires and without you we will all die..." I quickly put my finger over his mouth, "I know dad, this is my duty, this is what I was born for.". And we all sit there in a small family circle crying into each others shoulders.
After what seemed to be hours, but as I look at the clock and see it's only 8 in the morning and realize it was only one hour, we get up and start packing my room. I look around first to take in my room, in which I grew up in. The cream colored walls, the plants dangling from every corner, the sheer curtains that open up to my balcony, the rose smelling incense drifting in my room, and of course the huge desk and bookcase that cover half of my room. Yes, I am a bit of a nerd. I will be leaving all of this behind. Of course, my room has changed a lot over the years, but I remember every time my dad would come into my room in the mornings when I was just a little girl and throw me over his shoulders yelling how I was late to etiquette class, or when my mother snuck in to scare the crap out of me right as I came out of the bath, and all the times when my parents would tuck me into bed. This was my safe house, this is the only place that I felt like me. The only place that was my home. And as I look around I notice my parents taking in the room as well, and know they are remembering all of the memories as well. I quickly break the silence, "We don't need to pack any of the things up in my room. Just the clothes and books. Everything else can stay put, as long as you guys promise to water my plants." They just stare at me as if in shock. They must think I have accepted what is to happen to me and I know I am just fooling them. I want them to believe I am going there with everything they taught me and am not scared at all. They both just take a deep breath and my mother heaves out, "You are the strongest woman I have ever met." And I see a twinkle in her eye that looks as if she is proud of me. Internally, however, I was in a dark corner crying. My insides were tugging at me and I was making my mind up whether to keep feeling all that I am feeling or go numb. I know though if I go numb now none of these memories will mean anything to me. I decide to wait until I reach the carriage to stop caring about everyone and everything around me. We slowly pack up all of my belonging and every so often rehash a fun memory and giggle at every opportunity. We are trying to make this last memory the happiest of them all. But, before we know it it's nighttime and my carriage is waiting for me.
My small carriage is all packed up and my mother and father have already hugged and kissed me about a million times. Finally I take a step back and look at them both, "I will never stop loving you guys. I know making the choice to give me to King Caspian for the entire kingdom was the most difficult decision, but I am so proud to be able to call you my mother and father." At that tears begin running down their faces at full speed, "I will try my hardest to be able to visit and come back, so don't worry. We can also exchange mail and send portraits throughout the years. Both of you will never leave my heart, I promise. I will do my best to protect the Human Kingdom, but in the mean time you both will have to be strong and take care of everyone here, they're depending on you guys. I love you, and I will see you soon." At that last sentence a tear managed to escape my eye and I quickly climb into the carriage. As the carriage pulls away I hear the uncontrollable wails of my mother and father. I, as well, could barely contain the waves of agony that hit my heart with every bump in the road reminding me of just where I am going.
