The Oracle's Warning
1057 Words
The bells continued ringing through the Hollow long after midnight.
No one slept.
No one even tried.
The entire fortress felt alive with nervous energy as soldiers rushed between towers and archers took positions along the walls. Torches burned throughout the ancient ruins, transforming the Hollow into a sea of flickering gold against the darkness.
War stood at their doorstep.
And everyone knew it.
Elira remained at the western wall overlooking the valley below.
From here she could see them.
Thousands of tiny lights scattered across the distant hills.
The royal encampment.
The Crown.
Her mother's army.
For eighteen years, that kingdom had existed only in stories and nightmares.
Now it was real.
Close enough to touch.
A cold breeze swept through her hair.
"You should be resting."
Elira didn't need to turn around.
"Nikolai."
The prince joined her at the wall.
Somehow he had become a strange constant during the last two days.
Dangerous.
Unwelcome.
Yet oddly familiar.
The realization bothered her more than she cared to admit.
Below them, campfires burned across the valley.
Neither spoke for several moments.
Then Elira asked quietly,
"Do you think she hates me?"
The question surprised him.
Not because she asked it.
Because of how vulnerable she sounded.
For the first time since meeting her, she didn't sound like a rebel.
Or a princess.
Just a daughter.
Nikolai looked toward the royal camp.
Toward the queen.
Toward the woman who had raised him.
"I don't know."
Elira laughed softly.
"That wasn't very helpful."
"It's the truth."
His gaze remained fixed on the valley.
"The queen hates many things."
The words carried more weight than he intended.
Elira noticed.
"What does she hate most?"
A muscle tightened in his jaw.
"Herself."
Silence followed.
The answer surprised both of them.
Because it was true.
The queen hid it well.
Most people never saw it.
But Nikolai had.
For years.
The guilt.
The nightmares.
The fear.
The loneliness.
Every consequence of a decision she could never undo.
Elira looked away.
Somehow that answer hurt more than hatred would have.
Because hatred was simple.
Regret wasn't.
A horn suddenly echoed through the valley.
Both looked down immediately.
Movement erupted inside the royal camp.
Soldiers forming ranks.
Banners rising.
Something was happening.
"What are they doing?" Elira asked.
Nikolai's expression darkened.
"Making an announcement."
As if summoned by his words, a rider emerged from the royal lines carrying a white banner.
The horse crossed the valley alone.
Straight toward the Hollow.
A messenger.
The gates opened cautiously.
Moments later, the rider disappeared inside.
The message reached the council chamber within minutes.
Every leader in the fortress gathered once more.
Elira stood beside Cassian while Adrian unfolded the sealed scroll.
The royal crest gleamed across the wax.
The room fell silent.
Adrian broke the seal.
Then read aloud.
"To the leaders of the Hollow and those sheltering the girl known as Elira Vale.
Surrender the princess peacefully and no blood will be shed.
Refuse, and the Crown will consider all within these walls enemies of Valerith.
At sunrise, Queen Seraphina requests a meeting.
Alone.
With her daughter."
The room exploded.
"No."
"Absolutely not."
"It's a trap."
"She's trying to divide us."
Voices filled the chamber instantly.
Only Elira remained silent.
Her eyes fixed on the scroll.
Her daughter.
Not the heir.
Not the princess.
Not the threat.
Her daughter.
Cassian stepped forward immediately.
"You aren't going."
Adrian nodded.
"Agreed."
Several others voiced support.
Elira looked around the room.
Then calmly asked,
"What if I want to?"
Silence.
The question shocked everyone.
Especially Cassian.
"Elira."
"I deserve answers."
"Not from her."
"Then from who?"
The words struck harder than she intended.
Cassian looked away.
Because there was no answer.
For eighteen years, everyone else had spoken for her.
Decided for her.
Protected her.
Hidden her.
But no one had ever asked what she wanted.
Until now.
And what she wanted was simple.
The truth.
The chamber doors suddenly opened.
A rebel guard entered quickly.
His face had gone pale.
"Adrian."
The commander frowned.
"What now?"
The guard swallowed hard.
"The Oracle."
Every conversation stopped.
The guard pointed toward the valley.
"She's coming."
Confusion spread through the room.
Coming?
Now?
Without soldiers?
Without protection?
The entire council rushed toward the fortress walls.
Elira among them.
Below, moonlight illuminated the valley.
The royal army remained in place.
Thousands of soldiers.
Hundreds of tents.
An ocean of steel.
But one figure had separated from them.
A lone woman dressed in black robes.
Walking.
Not riding.
Walking directly toward the Hollow.
Alone.
The valley fell silent.
Even the wind seemed to stop.
No guards accompanied her.
No soldiers followed.
Just the Oracle.
The woman who had started everything.
Elira's pulse quickened.
The blind prophet moved slowly through the darkness.
Yet somehow looked completely unafraid.
As if she already knew exactly how this night would end.
The fortress gates opened.
No one ordered it.
No one stopped it.
The Oracle simply continued forward.
When she finally entered the Hollow, hundreds of eyes watched her.
The old woman paused in the center of the courtyard.
Then smiled.
Not toward Adrian.
Not toward Cassian.
Not toward Nikolai.
Toward Elira.
Directly toward Elira.
Despite being blind.
A chill raced down Elira's spine.
The Oracle raised her head slightly.
"The kingdom trembles."
Her voice carried effortlessly through the silent courtyard.
Ancient.
Calm.
Terrifying.
Nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
The old woman took another step forward.
Then another.
Until she stood only a few feet away from Elira.
"You've grown exactly as fate intended."
The courtyard remained frozen.
Elira swallowed hard.
For years she had imagined this woman.
Blamed this woman.
Hated this woman.
And now she stood before her.
Real.
Breathing.
Watching with eyes that could not see.
The Oracle's expression softened.
Almost sadly.
Then she whispered words that stole the air from Elira's lungs.
"The prophecy was never about you destroying the Crown."
Shock rippled through the crowd.
Nikolai stiffened.
Cassian stared.
Even Adrian looked stunned.
The Oracle slowly turned her face toward the valley where the queen waited.
Toward the royal banners.
Toward Valerith itself.
Then she spoke loud enough for everyone to hear.
"The Crown has been destroying itself for years."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
And for the first time since the night she was born...
The prophecy began to reveal its true meaning.
- Writer
