THAREN OF ELDORIA

THE SECRETE HEIR

Chapter 2 – The Secret Heir

The sun rose slowly above Eldoria's golden roofs. Inside the marble palace, King Lucarion sat at his chamber window, gazing out at the city below. The sounds of merchants, horses, and children filled the air, but he felt none of the excitement. For years, he reigned with strength, but his heart remained silent.

He and Queen Nerithia didn't have any children. Every year without an heir weighed as heavy as the crown on his head. He tried to hide his pain from his court, but in quiet moments, it broke through.

One evening, he walked through the royal gardens to find peace. The moonlight was shining and resting softly on the fountains. Flowers were swayed to and fro by the wind. There, near the roses, he saw a beautiful maiden " Avelora", she was tending to the plants. Her hands were gentle; her smile, warm.

King Lucarion spoke softly, and she bowed her head shyly. Soon, he found himself returning night after night, pretending to admire the flowers when in truth he wanted only to see her beautiful face . They discussed about so many things, they talked about the kingdom, the stars, and life beyond the palace walls. She was so free to speak her heart around the king , she even forgot that she was just a maiden .

As time passed, as time passed, their love grew . The King, who had known only duty, began to feel alive again. He had great trust Avelora and she loved him not for his crown but for his heart.

One beautiful night, as the moon shone bright over the garden, Avelora took his hand. “My King,” she whispered, “I am with your child .”

Lucarion’s eyes filled with both happiness and fear . “Are you sure?”

She nodded. “Yes, my lord.”

For a some moment, the King didn't say anything. Then, with deep emotion, he pulled her close. “The gods have shown mercy,” he said softly. “this must be between just the both of us until the right time. When the council meets at midsummer, I will make it known to everyone that you will be my second wife.”

her eyes was filled with tears of joy . “Thank you, my King.”

Lucarion smiled for the first time in many seasons. “Our child will be the light of Eldoria.”

They agreed to keep the secret. Avelora also to few of her trusted maiden friends , and they swore never to speak of it. But secrets are fragile things inside a palace filled with eyes and whispers.

Queen Nerithia soon noticed the change in her husband. He smiled more, often left the council early, and he moved round the gardens longer than before.She couldn't help but suspect something is wrong . She began sending her handmaids to watch him.

One night, one of her maids returned to her , trembling. “your highness,” she whispered, “the King meets often with a garden maiden named Avelora.”

Nerithia’s eyes turned cold. “And what goes on in this meeting ?”

The maid reduced her voice. “They currently have a thing together And the maiden’s belly grows.”

The Queen’s face twisted with anger. She dismissed the maid and locked herself in her chamber, pacing like a trapped lioness. “So this is how he is planning to pay me back ,” she muttered. “He shames my crown for a common girl.”

Her heart wants her to act openly but the King’s heart belonged to this woman, and any public move against her would cause suspicion. So she began to plan in silence.

One stormy night, Nerithia met with one of her most trusted guard in secret , Captain Jorren. “search for this woman,” she ordered. “When the moon sets, bring her to me. don't Speak of this to anyone.”

Jorren bowed slightly and left to carry out her will.

But fate had other plans.

That same evening, one of the younger maidens, Lira, happened to be sweeping near the Queen’s chamber. She heard whispers through the half open door, words that froze her heart. The Queen wanted Avelora gone.

Lira waited until the corridors were empty, then ran through the rain to Avelora’s small room by the servant quarters. Breathless, she knocked. “Avelora,” she whispered, “you must leave now. The Queen knows about you. She’s sending guards to take you before sunrise.”

Avelora’s eyes widened. “How did you get to know about this?”

“I heard her myself,” Lira said, trembling. “She plans to murder you and hide it from our King.”

For a moment, Avelora was short of words and was filled with fear . Her hands went gently to her belly. The child kicked gently inside her, as if reminding her to live. “Lira,” she whispered, with tears rolling down her cheeks, “you’ve saved my life and I am so grateful.”

Lira took her hand. “It's not safe here ,You must look for somewhere hide until it’s safe.”

Avelora wrapped herself in a cloak and followed Lira through the servant tunnels. They reached the edge of the palace grounds just as torches began to appear in the distance , the Queen’s guards searching.

“you must head east,” Lira said. “There’s a merchant road beyond the gate. Someone will help you.”

Avelora gave her a tight hugg . “May the gods protect you.” Then she ran into the night.

The rain fell hard. Avelora’s sandals slipped on the wet stones. She hid behind barrels and walls whenever she saw a lantern pass. Her heart kept pounding with fear all through but she kept going, whispering to her unborn child, “Hold on sweetheart, I won't let anyone hurt you, I will protect you .”

At last, she reached the main road outside the city walls. Our there, she saw an old man getting his chariot ready for the road . He was loading crates covered with cloth.

She ran to him. “Please, good sir,” she begged, “I need your help. I must get to the East District.”

The man looked at her, confused and wary. “The East? At this hour? Who are you?”

“Please, I beg of you,” she said again, voice shaking. “I am being hunted. My life and that of my baby is in danger.”

The man saw the terror in her eyes and the small swell of her belly. He nodded gently. “Get in the back. Cover yourself with those sacks. I’ll take you as far as I can.”

“Thank you,” she whispered, climbing aboard.

The chariot rolled out into the darkness. Behind them, guards shouted in the distance, but the sound faded as the rain washed their tracks away.

By dawn, they reached the first hills of the East District. The old man stopped near a small village. “This is as far as I go,” he said. “You’ll be safe here. No one from the palace comes this far.”

Avelora thanked him again and stepped down. Her clothes were soaked, her body weak, but her heart still beat with hope.

In the East District, she found shelter with a kind woman who took her in without asking questions. Weeks later, under a quiet night sky, she gave birth to a baby boy , strong, healthy, with eyes like the King’s.

She held him close and whispered, “Your name shall be Tharen.”

Far away in the capital, King Lucarion waited for Avelora’s return. When days turned to weeks, and weeks into months, the Queen came to him with false sorrow.

“My King,” she said softly, “the maiden Avelora has fled the palace. The guards found that she stole silver from the treasury. No one knows where she went.”

Lucarion’s face went pale. “That cannot be.”

“I’m afraid it is true,” Nerithia said, hiding her cruel joy. “She has betrayed you.”

The King said nothing. His heart broke silently. He dismissed everyone and stood alone in the garden where they once met. The roses she had tended were still blooming. He touched one gently and whispered, “Why, Avelora?”

He never knew that she was alive or that his son had been born in secret, far away in the East District.

And so, the story of Eldoria took a new turn.

The Queen’s secret was buried deep, and the King’s true heir grew up far from the palace, hidden among simple folk.

But the blood of kings cannot be hidden forever.

And one day, Eldoria would remember the name Tharen , the son of love and fate.