Prince of Eraedien

The War

Year 950 AD

Prince of Eraedien, Valentine, the son of King Henry and Queen Agnes was a handsome young man yet other people do consider him to be more mature than any other younger man out there. He grew handsomely as the years goes by. He was skilled in sword fighting and great in riding a horse. Blackie loved Valentine. Blackie was given by his father on his first graduation ceremony. A black horse with a white star on its forehead. Blackie grunts and neighs at other people who disrespected Valentine which often scared people off. 

It was the year of 950, winter in Eraedien was cold but the warmth by the fireplace made it better. Adults all over the village were singing Christmas carols and young children building a snowman and building a snow fort. It was supposed to be a wonderful time of the year with family and friends giving out presents and new year's greetings but all was destroyed by a group called the Black Moon Army. They were the ones who started the war.

The Black Moon Army, led by Prince Sylvian, consisted of at least thirty skilled assassins. Not only assassins but they also kept dark witches around so they can use their dark magic. Rosa was kept as a prisoner under Prince Sylvian because she was accused of being a traitor in the Royal Court. Prince Sylvian kept her under close watch because he thinks she belongs to him. Rosa was a beautiful young lady and loyal to the ones she loved. There was absolutely no way she could have been a traitor. Prince Sylvian didn't want her to go anywhere because he wanted her all to himself.

"Princess Rosa, we almost cleared everyone. We just have some young children left, what would you like us to do?" One soldier asked Rosa. Rosa clutched her hand and tears started to stream down her face. She thought about the past when she was perfectly happy with her own family in Eraedien and met someone she loved but it seemed like he never reciprocated. Rosa replied in a steady voice, "Don't kill them. Let them go. They are innocent." She didn't want to see anyone die in front of her again. 

"Who asked you to ask her? I'm your commander!" Prince Sylvian yelled at the soldier. He immediately bowed and apologized.

"Kill them." He ordered the soldier. Rosa went in front and blocked him. Rosa shook her head.

"That's enough!" She yelled.

Prince Sylvian looked at her and ignored her command.

"KILL!" Prince Sylvian galloped his horse and his assassins started to kill each and every child. 

Rosa cried. She didn't understand why he wanted to kill everyone. Wasn't she enough for him? Why would he destroy the livelihood of those poor people? As she looked into the distance, Prince Sylvian did not even touch a single hair on the children. Rosa went closer and saw a tall figure riding on a black horse. 

"Valentine." Her love. The man who rejected at first. 

Valentine looked at Prince Sylvian with his cold eyes. 

"That's enough, Prince Sylvian. You've done enough!" Valentine's manly voice gave Rosa the shivers. Valentine was the man she fell for first. 

"Ha, this is only the beginning of my world domination. HAHAHA! Try and kill me, you'll get killed first." Prince Sylvian started to provoke Valentine but he did not move an inch. He asked his soldiers to keep the children's safe. Valentine looked at Rosa then back at Sylvian. 

"Sylvian, you've changed. I never knew you stole my woman. Rosa, get over here." Rosa did not look back at Sylvian. She only wanted Valentine. 

"Valentine…" Before she could move another step, she passed out because of the poison that was given to her by the Queen and Valentine used his magic and went over to Rosa's side. Valentine wasn't the type to cry in public but his hands were shaking and his eyes were starting to get swollen.

"Valentine… forget about me. Live well… I.." Rosa pointed her fingers shakily and tried to warn Valentine. But it was too late. One of Prince Sylvian's men pierced the spear through Valentine's chest from the back.

Valentine spat out blood and coughed. While in pain, he held onto Rosa tightly.

"I… am… sorry." His voice shook as he tried to speak in sentences. 

"Valentine… don't talk." She whispered and held onto Valentine's hand. She raised her hand shakily and finally touched Valentine's face.

"Valentine, I'm sorry. I've hurt you in the past… if we meet again, pretend… you never knew me. Don't die, Valentine." Rosa took her last breath then vanished into thin air. 

In the months ahead, many people thought Valentine was killed but in fact, he remained in deep sleep. His news was kept away from the public. His vital energy was severely damaged and his death was only a matter of time. He was kept away in the Cold Room for recovering purposes. No one was allowed to go into the room except for the King and Queen. 

“He looked so peaceful.” Queen Agnes gently touched his son’s cold face and tears streaking down her face. King Henry went over to her and quietly took her hand, “Let’s go, My Queen. Let our son rest.” Queen Agnes followed him back to the castle.

“My King, it was my fault. I shouldn’t have sent Rosa to the enemy side. She wasn’t the traitor, I was mistaken. It was my fault she died. I killed her.” King Henry didn’t say anything but he remained quiet. The rest of the days, the castle was quiet. 

Queen Agnes locked herself inside her chamber and she barely ate any food. She blamed herself for Rosa’s death. She gave Rosa poison which slowly killed her. She wept and wept. All of the maids, servants, and knights went on with their daily lives. No one mentioned about the Prince and Rosa because they were required to keep their lips shut or else they could face torture and death penalty. 

Helena was in mourning. She couldn’t believe Rosa passed away so she went to see an old warlock she knew from before. The warlock’s name was Halius. Halius practiced magic for good cause and he also practices forbidden dark magic. Helena went into the enchanted forest located near the mountains. It was unreachable for mortal humans. 

Helena shook off dust from her tunic and wool cloak. She had waist long wavy brown hair when she wasn’t wearing a hood or when her hair was in a bun. 

When Rosa was still alive, she was very elegant and her hair was silky blond and wavy. She had a special birthmark on her neck. Nevertheless, Rosa and Helena were like sisters even though they were not blood related. She slowly walked into cave. Inside the cave was like a maze, it was hard to navigate. The tunnel was narrow in some places and wide on the other. Helena spotted a door with lights turn on. Halius knew it was Helena. The door immediately opened. 

“I didn’t expect you to come here.” Halius had a husky voice while he perfected some concoctions. Halius’ room was pretty dim even with candle lights on. He was pretty old to be a warlock. He wore black loose garment with golden strings attached to it. His black and curly hair was shoulder length. Helena sat down on the bench and waited until Halius was finished with his works.

“I wanted to ask you for help.” Helena stood up and faced Halius. Halius sighed and sat on the wooden chair.

“I… want you to save Rosa. I know she didn’t die. Please help.” Helena begged him. Halius shook his head, “You should leave. There’s nothing I can do.” Halius went back to work and Helena went on her knees. 

“Sir, please help. I know you can revive her. You know where her soul is. Please use whatever method you know. I know it’s forbidden. Sir Halius, I beg you. Please help my little sister! I’ll be responsible if anything happens.” Helena looked down and waited for any kind of response. Halius sighed. He knew this will require dark magic to revive dead soul. 

“Helena, I also wanted to help her. But, this dark magic I’ll do is forbidden over here. If the court hears it, it will be death penalty. I only use and practice certain dark magic and I kept it a secret from the royal court. If anything happens, I cannot do anything. It’s better if you leave. It won’t be good if you disturb a dead soul.” Halius knelt down beside Helena and gave her a pat on the shoulder. 

“Go. Don’t come back here.” Halius opened the door and waited for Helena to leave. 

“Sir, I won’t leave until you agree. Valentine isn’t dead. He loves Rosa. What if he wakes up and Rosa isn’t at his side? He will blame himself. The Queen blamed herself. All of the Royal court went silent ever since this war ended. Sir, what if I get their permission? Will you help me?” Helena begged Halius. 

Halius gave up eventually. 

“I knew you would be like this. Stand up.” Halius led Helena to another room and closed all window and doors.

“You agreed?” Helena asked him. Halius sat across from her and said, “I didn’t want to use dark magic. But I do know another way. Go to this temple and place this glass ball inside there. The glass ball contains the remainder of Rosa’s soul. Enchant this spell so her soul can rebirth. This spell isn’t bad but it does take some time for it to have full effect. While dark magic uses someone else’s lives, but this way it will be safer. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier.” Helena looked at Halius with a surprised expression on her face. 

“That’s all? You could’ve told me earlier.” Helena wiped away her tears. Halius chuckled, “My bad. I was too focused on the dark magic and I nearly forgot about this method. But in order for this to work, you must complete the ritual at midnight. After completion, we need to wait for the right opportunity. What I know is that her birth will occur at the beginning of Spring and she will not remember anything from her past life. I will let you know when the time is near.” Helena nodded and thanked Halius. But before she went out Halius stopped her, “When the rebirth is complete, she will gain back her magic as a healer like before.” Helena kept that in mind and went out to the temple. She clutched onto the glass ball and went to the temple before it darkens. 

The temple was built before the war and it has different sections. One for each gods and goddesses. Helena placed the glass ball besides Aphrodite as she was the goddess of fertility in Greece. She chanted the spell at midnight and completed right on time. She whispered to the glass ball, “My Rosa, see you soon. I’ll visit you each and everyday.”