A Sacred Bond

The Truth That Binds

Tension filled the air, heavy with every breath Elena inhaled, weighing that little more than the last, pulling her deeper into the weighty new truth just exposed. She hardly noticed Lord Cedric's larger-than-life presence filling the room. His ears burned with anger as he watched Simon.

"What is the situation?” His voice cut in sharp, with doubt tinging it. "Elena, what is happening here?” “ What have you been told?"

Simon stood, a mask of calm defiance on his face.

"My Lord Cedric, nothing but what you ought to know. Like the rest of us, her father has lied to Elena."

If anything, it was like Cedric was weighing between Simon and Elena, and for the first time since their engagement, Elena saw something like weakness flash through his eyes. It made her turn away; she couldn't look at him as he came over slowly. Behind her, her father stood stricken and pale, an almost forbidding silence resting upon the air.

"Elena," Cedric offered softly as he drew close. "What is this about?” “What is he saying?”

Each syllable threatened to crush her more as she looked up at him.

"Yes, Cedric.” “All of it.” “I don't know who I am."

The trembling in her voice threatened to start the tears she had held back.

“My father has deceived me.” “All my life... he has used me."

Although Cedric did not look away, her father winced at this remark. Even then, he knelt before Elena, his black eyes searching for answers just inches away from her face.

"Elena, what did he even tell you?"

The metaphorical walls of the room were bearing down on her, heavy with everything she could no longer deny. She had always known her family represented strength and power throughout the kingdom; she had never thought even once that they could so profusely betray her.

"Elena, this is not true, what you believe," her father said desperately. "Your upbringing has been for the sake of the kingdom. To protect it, to unite it. We have sacrificed, truly, but in the protection of Valerium!"

"Good?"

Standing, Elena's voice broke with fury as she felt her temper boil.

"You made use of me.” “All I've been in your games is a pawn, a bargaining tool in your politics! And now I understand why.” “Haven't you always known, then?” “You were aware I wasn't only your kid. I was—" She stopped; she could not finish.

Simon stepped forward, his expression cold.

"She's more than just a pawn. She is the heir to the throne of Valerium...the rightful heir...from a long-lost bloodline." “Everyone—your father included—knew that and kept it from you. He manipulated you."

The floor beneath Elena felt like it had gone missing beneath her feet. She had never doubted her lineage; never in her life had she considered the nobility of her family. But each more shred of revelation seemed to signal her ungluing, bit by bit.

"Cedric," Elena said, "don't touch me," and she pushed him away.

Wild disbelief danced behind her eyes.

"How could I, Cedric?”How would I tell you when I no longer knew who I was?” “I had been living an entire life of falsehoods.” “Driven into this marriage and this alliance I didn't even want, I now discover my blood has been exploited to control the realm.”

"Stop," her father screamed, his voice rising with desperation.

“Elena, you don't get it. Valerium has required sacrifices. For the Crown. For you.”

Guilt twisted his cheeks as he approached. “I believed I was safeguarding you.” “I never wanted you to find out the truth. I never wanted you involved in this struggle for the crown.”

“Elena, the reality is that you are Valerium's future key.” “The throne was never intended for me, Kaelen, or anyone else. It was intended for you.”

"What?" gasped Elena, imagining a hot vacuum stifling her chest with the onset of panic.

Myself?

Her father shook his head thoughtfully.

“Certainly. Elena, you are the actual heir.” “Your mother was part of the royal family, and the Wella bloodline had been hidden for years. It was meant to be concealed as a dread for the disorder it would create. But now it's going towards conflict and can't stay concealed much longer.”

Her head was spinning. The heir was she? The legitimate ruler of Valerium was she, merely a modest daughter of a noble family nurtured inside a convent. The idea lived in a tale – impossible – whatever she had ever known about her existence had suddenly been destroyed.

Half-whispering, she continued, "If that is true, then why have I stayed in the dark all these years?" “Why not let me know?”

“It wasn't the moment for my daughter,” her father murmured, his voice heavy with grief. “It was to protect you, then.”

“Given that this monarchy has always been in turmoil. I could not let anyone – especially you – know the truth. The Morvannis have orchestrated everything since they know your actual bloodline.” “They have been claiming your birthright as their own through this marriage.”

Still reeling from what he had just spoken, Elena was the rightful successor. Her entitlement. Her ancestry. She was the prize, not just a pawn in some political game anymore.

Her father said sadly, "I never wanted that for you, Elena." “But now it's too late. The war has started. The Morvannis will never stop until they have Valerium in their hands; they will do so by busing you.”

Once more, the door burst open, heralding the entrance of yet another person into the gloomy room.

Suddenly, silence filled the room like a breeze through trees. The familiar figure walked in, his chilly eyes surveying the room, making Elena's pulse skip. Lord Darius Morvannis, the father of Lord Cedric, stood at the door, where a shadow loomed, his dark cloak trailing behind him.

"I believe we have all been dancing enough about the truth," he remarked, his voice silky and deadly.

“Elena, maybe it's time for you to understand exactly how far this game actually extends.”