Death-Bound

Gift of Suffering

Chapter Fifteen

I wanted to sigh in a dramatic kind of way but I was in fact in a center of a black abyss inside my head. Until a blinding light came to eliminate my dark abyss, I heard him, calling my name…Geoffrey.

I tried opening my eyes. was it just another illusion? Or maybe just another dream. I was in a bed covered in white linen. Somehow the smell was familiar. Blood? What happened…I looked at him. His sad eyes, guilt? I didn’t try to speak. I was so worried of talking and ruining this moment. I closed my eyes once again, to a deep sleep this time.

I was dreaming, I know…or maybe I was just looking at me way back on my seventh birthday. A simple gathering of royals was ordered by my father, the king of our land. I sat there looking at myself as I enjoyed and played with the other children, be it a royal or a plain servant. I wasn’t in my childhood interested on the hierarchy of the people I play with. I saw myself being happy…smiling…it made me sad that I couldn’t even smile with my whole heart. Sadness crept to my heart, until I heard a woman speak to me.

“Young princess, I offer my greatest gift to you in use. I am Samaria a gypsy of the south peak of the mountains of Menevolence. I have come to you to present you with my gift. It has been a tradition on the Jem of Desert that every princess would receive a gift from the head of gypsy of our land. That is why am here.” She was dressed in the most colorful clothing that I had ever seen, with strings of gold dangling from the arms and head. She smiled at me and held my hand. I gave her a puzzled look I was surprised. Then I saw her eyes glittering. And a very strong kind of bond was between us. “I grant you the gift of suffering.” All of the nobles grasp! They haven’t heard of anyone being given such gift. “You shall endure suffering which will strengthen this kingdom. And through your sacrifice a new hope will be born not only to this kingdom but to the whole empire.” She paused, “Your name shall be endeared by a man who will forget his self and gain all this. And he shall love you to the end of his days. And only him can give you seeds.” The gypsy gasp for air, as if she’s being possessed! “And you shall love him, but not know this. A tragic queen holding a young child you are…alone and in pain, yet you will endure everything. A gift of suffering shall be given to you, a curse that should be seen yet, a blessing in disguise.” At my age I didn’t understood what she said to me that day. I myself still do not understand what she means by the man she told me about.

“Excuse me, ma’am, I was playing with my friends. Can I go now?” I asked her, she just nodded and let go of my hand. I ran toward where all the children were, and started playing again. I sighed to myself as I watched how careless I was. I followed the gypsy woman. She met with my parents. They were wearing the same worried expression that most of the attending royals were wearing. They were worried about the kingdoms future. Gypsies have the power to see through the future. She assured them that I shall be in rule of our kingdom alone. But my father demanded answers which the gypsy gave with all willingness. His worries subsided and smiled as the gypsy told him everything he wanted to know.

After that my vision blurred until all was turned black once again I stood in the middle of the darkness, sacrifice…pain…suffering…all of those things I am already doing. Is my gift a curse? I wanted to believe that everything would be over soon. And the only thing I have to do now is to embrace my gift of suffering with my whole heart.

I woke up inside my chamber. I saw my flowering plants and their scent made my soul calmer. I smiled realizing that I am still alive. Margaritta was not in my room. I sat on my bed, as I looked around. I was back in the castle. And I saw freshly cut flowers on the vase. Roses? Not only just roses, they’re roses from our kingdom. I gasp as my hand covered my mouth. I saw a gold string holding the roses together. Gold strings, same as the once worn by the gypsy. Did she made me remember? Or maybe she thought I would understand her gift and prophesy. I sighed, I haven’t figured anything about it yet. I looked at the bedside table, a box adorned by gold and silver carvings was neatly placed on top of a napkin. Perhaps the box was so delicate that it has to be on top of a napkin. I wanted to pick it up. But someone entered the room before I could do so. It was the Emperor. He was dressed in a simple leather pants with his boots neatly tucking it inside up to the half of his lower leg. He was just wearing a plain white long sleeved buttons up shirt not tucked in on his pants. He looked miserable and pathetically like a god. When he saw me awake he almost run towards me, but I guess his self control was more stable now. He walked towards me. I looked away. I do not want to talk to him.

“Do you really want to marry Solom?” he then asked.

“I am not marrying any one. But if he’s the only way out of this I’ll be willing to be his bride.” I said, I know I was being cold-hearted. Doing that to Solom is never going to be fair. And it will never make me happy to see our marriage in the verge of destruction once my true reasons would be revealed. My master grasped my wrist.

“I will not let you do such.” He said voice full of dominance. He looked at me with fury. “I will not let you hurt my brother!” I grinned. Was he saying that he cared for Solom that much? Or maybe he was afraid that Solom will take me away from him permanently. I gave him my blank emotionless face. “Please I beg you, you will be free from my service. Just wait for it.” I didn’t bother on believing him.

“Is that another one of your peaty lies?”I asked. “Solom loves me…and perhaps I can learn to love…as a death-bound. and perhaps it won’t bother you now that you are occupied with all the princesses you’ve invited from all the kingdoms.” I looked down, “And it’s a shame that you’d rather talk to a death-bound than those girls.”

He let go of my hand and walked to the door. “You can leave the castle as long as you don’t see him, he’s been insisting on staying for he was a donor of your blood.” He looked at me with his compassionate eyes once again, “only the two of us has matched your blood, you know, perhaps maybe that was why we hated each other too much.” He gave me a grin before closing the door and left