Chapter 3
1301 Words
Jeorne was brought forward before the Cabinet Members like a common criminal. Everyone in the room wanted him to suffer before he met his death.
“Ser Daenilo, why did you bring this usurper?” Lord Omar Larva demanded. His voice was outrageous.
“I asked him to bring Jeorne here. There’s so much we don’t know to what is really going on, my lords.” Elizabeth’s voice was steady. She looked up at the windows, seeing the cold grey sky never change. The weather is only getting much colder and colder but it couldn’t beat the fuming lords who are about to explode at any moment except for Lord Daniel who hasn't arrived yet.
“Why?” Lord Knightfell said.
“Because there’s so much we don’t know about this war. We don’t know who’s the real enemy.” Elizabeth tried to explain the thing she fears.
“Your Grace, He is the real enemy and he’s the one who started this endless war!” Lord Larva straightened up, his voice roared. He had utterly forgotten that he’s talking to the Queen.
There was a knock on the door, and it opened. Daniel Wards entered with Trystane Knightfell, Lady Zelda Larva, Daemon, Lady Caroline Jem and Nikolas Disteel. All of them were co-novices of Elizabeth and Rhaena back in the academy.
Elizabeth waited until Lord Daniel took his place on his seat amongst the Cabinet members of the Queen. Daemon’s eyes narrowed at Jeorne, wondering how could this man become his real father. As soon as his mind wanders back to King Pol of Nister, the man he knew was his father. It’s true that they never had a good relationship, but he loved him and did everything to please him.
“The Fallens have returned.” Elizabeth started,
“Your Grace, this is madness! The Fallens no longer exist for a thousand of years, everyone knows that!” Lord Larva exclaimed.
“Father,” Lady Zelda interrupted, and her father glared at her. Yet she ignored him. No one knows how terrifying those fallens are except for the people who fought them. Dead people are supposed to be dead, that’s how nature scales the balance between life and death. No one should be in between.
“It’s true, I was there when the fallens attacked the Academy and so was everyone.”
“Zelda,” Lord Omar’s voice was threatening, yet she ignored him.
“Those monsters held so much vengeance with no remorse. Trust me, father, you don’t want to deal with this kind of monster.” She said. Suddenly everyone fell silent, as if the thought finally sank into them.
“Tell us,” Elizabeth said directly to Jeorne, who was staring at his shackled hands.
“As much as I don’t want to repeat what happened 20 years ago and I know that you don’t want to hear what really happened, especially coming from me.” Jeorne‘s voice was tight. He knows that the moment they know that truth, he may not even wake up tomorrow. But it's worth the risk. After all that he has done, he knows that he has a debt to pay.
“No one knows this except for my sister,” He began, and his eyes somehow landed on Daemon. The corner of his mouth was so much like his, and he found himself wondering. How could not anyone get suspicious of him. Daemon was the spitting image of Jeorne. Except for his dark raven hair. “I knew I had no chance of winning against Rhaul if I used what my father had left to me. My armies are weak and so was Vendetta! So, I sought out help from the most evil women in history and that was Athalia.”
Everyone moaned as if all of them were in pain. “This is certainly madness!”
“Let him finish,” It was Daemon who said that. Now he sounded more like a King, not because he is one. But, because he decided to be the better king, better than his own father.
“I did all what the spell demanded. I sacrificed 7 maiden girls,” He paused, as if he too was horrified by his own mistake. “When I was able to trap her inside the pentagram, I thought I could just channel her magic and it would become mine. I was wrong. I became too greedy and sacrificed the woman I vowed to protect before the Temple. Athalia struck a deal with me and she told me that I would be the most powerful man in the seven kingdoms If I were to agree with her terms and I did. Because all she was asking was that I should let her carry my unborn son and I let her host my wife’s body. I told myself that she’s just asking for a small payment and I finally had a chance to defeat Rhaul and get my revenge. I waited for 9 moon until my son came into this world and Athalia took a vessel of my body. I was still conscious and still had control of my body and mind. Yet her whispers were compelling. She brought me to the place where she hid the Infernal Scepter and her crown. The day I attacked Galapornea, I thought it was a thousand of powerful demons who heeded our call until thousands of pale skinned and charcoal eyes appeared and bowed to me. That’s when I realized that I didn’t just bring back Athalia, I also brought back the Fallen King and his dead armies.”
“But, why must we fear the Celarion Queen more than the Fallen King?” Said Lord Tony. Now he’s listening. They all knew the meaning of this war.
“Because it all started with her.” He answered, grievously.
“So, Jehaerys isn’t really your son but Athalia’s?” Asked Daniel.
All this confusion brings all of them at the edge of their seats. How could something like this happen to them? How could impossible things suddenly become possible?
“I honestly don’t know,” He says under his breath and looked at Elizabeth in the eyes. She felt her throat suddenly become dry. Her heart beat race and she suddenly doesn't know how to start telling them that she married the son of the devil herself.
“My lords,” She said under her breath, “The day I came back was the day Jehaerys and I got married by the oldest Templar.”
Everyone gasped in horror as if all of them had swallowed their own tongue. Lord Tony leaned back with a sigh as if he had already expected this. Lord Larva was flushed, his lips in a thin line as if he could explode any moment. But, it was the pair of blue eyes of Daemon that crumpled her heart in her chest. It was pure pain and he couldn’t even get himself to look at her in the eyes and greet her warm. He just looked at the wooden table.
Clearly no one was pleased with her marriage and she couldn’t possibly blame them. And this is just about her marriage and not even about the child she has in her womb. Lord Larva grabbed a dagger and thrust it on her belly as soon as words fell out of her pregnancy.
“And, did you have the knowledge about this?” Finally Lord Larva spoke. She was afraid that he might have a heart attack because of her.
She shakes her head, “No, not until that night when Jeorne was discovered. It was just the gold I found in my father’s secret room, but letters between my father and her sister, Rhaella. She told him that she gave birth to Athalia’s son. I ran to his room and found it empty. I knew right there and then, that there was something wrong.”
“Your Grace, how could you marry the son of our enemy?” Lord Larva exclaimed. “How could you not seek counsel or consent from us?”
“We are your advisors, for seven sakes!”
“Elaena doesn’t need consents from any of you. She’s a Queen, not a broodmare.” Rhaena snapped.
Daemon sighed. “So, how are we going to defeat Athalia?”
- Writer
