Aragorn and the Phoenix of Caspian (ENGLISH)

Chapter 15

CHAPTER 15

After eating the meat stew prepared by her mother’s servants, Aragorn went upstairs to head to his room. He asked permission to his companions and royal mother if he could go alone in his room to get some things he needed. But no, he won’t go to his room. He’ll go alone in the upper part of the royal palace, observe his uncles and cousins who might be the one who did the fire.

Instead of heading to his room, he went upstairs on a higher deck where most of the king’s brothers live. They rarely see each other. It’s either they’re in training as early as possible or they’re not going out on their room.

The walls of the royal palace were made of polished cobblestones with gleaming diamond pieces on it that shine when struck by sunlight or moonlight. The texture feels rich and is unique from the houses of the other upper class in the palace of Caspian. The royal palace was specially made for the king, queen, and the king’s family. It is the stronghold of the palace and it is said to be indestructible.

Many storms already passed the palace, but no cracks were formed on it for one-hundred years. Generation of king’s family had lived there, but it remained it solemness and richness.

Aragorn could easily differentiate Leo’s small hut to the royal palace. Aside from it being free from mosquitoes, the bed in his room was soft and there’s a room full of weapons. Floor by floor, servants who can assist and help him were able to find.

“Aragorn?” a guy asked. Aragorn looked on the source of the voice. His youngest uncle, son of his grandfather’s concubine. Enzo, a forty-year old prince, youngest brother of King Argon. He was the only illegitimate son on the past king to a servant/concubine in the palace. Everyone discriminated him except his royal brother, King Argon.

Kings could have a concubine to have a big possibility of having a crowned prince. King Argon was the only one who didn’t look for a concubine. His love for Queen Amira was irreplaceable from wealth and position. If they will only have one son, it’s fine for him. At least he’s with her, with her one true love.

“Greetings, Uncle Enzo,” Aragorn said and slightly bowed to her uncle.

“I thought you were in Leo’s hut because you chose to train. Glad to see you here.” Enzo has a family, two sons which were younger than Aragorn, and a beautiful wife which was a daughter of a rich businessman in the palace.

“I have to get something that’s why I paid a visit. I also miss Mother and Father. You don’t have work for today?”

Uncle Enzo has the guts to fight for the position, Aragorn thought, but his father was his only brother who didn’t discriminated him. Enzo was known to be secretive even to his wife and children. He might be doing illegals, but no one knows. Above all the king’s brothers, he’s the only one who wasn’t famous to the citizens of Caspian. He wasn’t noble for them since he’s a son of concubine.

“I don’t have. Veneer wanted me to train him in using sword and other weapons. Hope you’ll have some time to train with your cousins. Take care of yourself, Aragorn. I know that you can handle the phoenix even though she’s dangerous.”

“I’ll do it, Uncle.”

Enzo left him alone in the hallway. Aragorn brisk walked around that floor, then he went down, back to the dining room where the Queen and his other companions were.

The three of them stayed in palace until the sun sets. Aragorn packed of his things, props that will prove that he got things in his room.

“Path’s dangerous. The five of you must stay here for the night. You can go back tomorrow,” the king suggested. After hearing the rebels attacked his son, he thought it would be dangerous for them to travel back to the Garden of Pleas with only five of them. The royal palace has empty rooms specified for guests. They could occupy these rooms if they decided to stay here and not go on to the dangerous path back to the Garden of Pleas. He also knew that the phoenix is active and more dangerous at night.

“We can still go back safe, Father.”

“The king’s right, Prince Aragorn. We should stay here for the night. It would be safer for us to stay here rather than traveling back. The rebels might run away earlier, but they might attack us on our way. It’s dark and it’s difficult for us to fight a high quantity of them.”

“Leo’s right. My son stays here. We have another spare room. Some should stay in the prince’s room and others could stay in the spare room.”

“Hideo, Azrael, and I will stay in the spare room. Yosef stay with Prince Aragorn,” Leo suggested.

“I agree,” they said in chorus.

 Yosef followed Aragorn as the group split into two. His eyes were roaming around the palace. Everything that he’s seeing was marvelous and incomparable to the things he had in his room and his home. They were made by expensive gems and stones.

Aragorn opened the door to his room.  He let Yosef enter. The young boys’ eyes were sparkling like stars in the night sky. His mouth was continuously dropping and closing.

“Wow, you have a really great room. Full of gems, especially jade. I thought my room was one of the best since it’s made of stone and not wood. Now that I saw your room, my room sucks compare to this.”

It wasn’t Aragorn’s choice. It must be his choice because any room in the royal family must show their novelty on their clothes and room. If Aragorn would choose a simple room, people might think of him like a servant.

Yosef jumped to Aragorn’s comfortable bed. Aragorn wasn’t comfortable seeing other people doing that thing to his bed, but let this young boy do that. He was so pure, and his mind was young.

“Your linen feels rich and the cotton of this bed was so soft and comfortable. My bed in my room was hard and it causes me backache. I wish I will have a bed like this in the future.”

“You will.”

Instead of being annoyed to Yosef, Aragorn felt a warm k****e in his heart. Seeing Yosef enjoying his room was a big compliment and place to his heart. He was used to his room after living in the royal palace for two decades and three years. But other people, like Yosef, sees the room extraordinary.

Beside the bed was a wooden box carved down south. Yosef carefully pulled it and opened it. It was a box full of jewelry: necklace, gems, bracelet, and rings. All this jewelry was made of expensive stones Aragorn bought when traveling.

“These looks great and they’re a lot. I only have three jewelry at home. They aren’t as expensive as yours, but they are my treasure given by my grandfather.”

“Anything given by the person you love the most was far more important than anything else.” Aragorn walked to Yosef, placed his hands on the back as he gave him a quick tour of the gems he owns. “This one was the one that I got when I traveled with my father and my grandfather on the northern part of Caspian. I got this when I was the same age with you.” He said while staring on the jade bracelet.

Aragorn pulled Yosef’s arm, place the jade bracelet on his palm.

“What does this mean, Your Highness?”

Aragorn smiled at him. “I’m giving it to you.”

Yosef’s eyes and face sparked joy. “Really, Your Highness? This bracelet must be too expensive to become a gift to me.”

“Take it. I have a lot of gem and accessories. Giving one to you wouldn’t be a burden. Treasure it and I’d like to see it when we grew older.”

Yosef couldn’t help but to hug the prince. It was the first time that someone hugged him except for his parents. He wasn’t affectionate or sweet to any of his cousins and he don’t have a brother and sister to do that to him.

Yosef released the hug. “By the way, Your Highness. I’m curious about this question. Do you only become a king once your father had died?”

“No, if my father decided to retire, then I’ll take over the position.”

“Where’s the old king and queen?”

“They were also in this palace. Alive and well.”