MINE TO HOLD

THE PROTECTOR HAS AWAKENED

EPISODE 11

Night swallowed the forest beyond the the palace walls,the wind hissed through dead branches as the moon glimmered faintly,,five of the assassins arrived at a clearing lit by a single burning brazier, they were terrified and their breath ragged, a tall man sat beneath the Great twisted oak ,his cloak was black as raven feathers with his face hidden the only thing seen was his pale mouth.

"Master....we failed" one of them said shaking but the hooded figure did not move

"There was a beast....we thought he was a mere guard but ....he...he changed...fire surrounded him and he roared....that roar shook our bones " One of them explained in fear,,,

"The protector...." the hooded man finally spoke

"Yes he is awakened "One of them managed to answer

The hooded person remained calm and steady

"So you ran?" Like frightened dogs because of a mere man?"He asked still calm.

"He is not a man....he is a monster" one of them said ,the man gave a gesture and he was instantly chocked to death the remaining stared in horror as the hooded person stood up.." You disappoint me...but you brought news worth hearing,,the protector lives ,,that mean the heir lives unfortunately..but no matter what the children of the lion will fall and burn in hell....Gather more men ,,stronger one this time we hunt the lions not rabbits" He turned his cloak swirling like a shadow and left.

Back at the palace bodies had been cleared, blood washed away ,,Aurora stood across the stone path, her sword still in hand,,face pale from combat and fear turning into the lower vaults corridor she almost slammed into Grace who was crying breathless

"princess Aurora...he is safe" Grace sobbed hugging her as she spoke,,Aurora stepped past her after the hug and froze ,,Lucas was standing protectively besides Harlot

"Aurora...." Harlot shouted,,she went to him and kissed his hairs hands and cheeks.

"Thank the gods you are safe "

"Am safe because of you" He said looking at her.

"Because of me???It's because of Lucas..." Aurora snapped.

"Remember this from today ...if l die you die...or if you die l die" Harlot said shakily

"That's impossible ...who told you that??" She asked surprised

"Father did" He said calmly as Lucas and Grace looked surprise

"When?" Aurora asked shocked

" The night before your birthday party,,he came to my room he seemed troubled, he told me that our ancestors made a pact binding the heir's life to the true royal blood ...if one falls ...so does the other" Aurora shook her head slowly

"No....am not the heir" Aurora continued refusing.

"No you are..." Harlot said giving a hallow tired smile to her.

"When father came to me..he apologised he also said he had hidden many truth from us...he told me if danger ever come Lucas had to protect me because if the enemies knew you are the true heir they will reject and kill you" Aurora felt cold in her bones what was going on?

"Stop...Harlot stop please..." She tried stopping him but he pressed harder

"The seer came for Lucas that day...but the whisper she gave you wasn't a lie,,," Aurora's eyebrows rose in disbelief .

"When Lucas roared it wasn't just for me...it was because the life of the true heir was threatened and that was you.."

"No ....Lucas tell him he is wrong" Aurora said looking for Lucas's support

"The roar and the fire it awakened because your life was threatened,,,if Harlot is in any form of danger..then so do you" He said looking at Aurora. She grabbed the wall for balance but Harlot voice continued

"Sister...am not meant to sit on the throne ...l was never meant to..." He said looking at his legs.

"But why will father lie ?" She asked angrily

"Because if the enemy knew you are the heir they will kill you first" Harlot explain the truth that hit Aurora so hard. Aurora could not believe them..she ran towards her mother's chambers in a hurry,,the room was filled with the scent of healing herbs the queen was sitting quietly on the chair..

"Mother...are you alone??" She asked still breathless from running

"Something strange is happening...Harlot says that..."

"It's true Aurora...l know what he told you" Her mom cut her smoothly

"So it's true??" She asked

" Yes it is" Queen Margaret answered

"No mother...it can't be" She said kneeling beside her mom

"You father wanted to tell you himself but he feared for your life...you were always brave...too brave he feared if you knew the truth you would go looking for answers" The Queen said touching her hair

"Why did Harlot say that if l die he dies and if he dies l die??" She asked confused

"Because your brother was sworn to the rock of the oath,, when Harlot was born he was frail, too frail the priest feared he will not survive ,,,to survive your father took him to an ancient sacred rock living relic that chooses guardians for the heirs of the throne" She paused lifting a glass of wine

"Guardians??" Aurora asked

"Yes...he was bound body and soul to protect the future of the throne"

"But that's the king" Aurora snapped

"The rock chooses the next destined ruler...long before the world know who it is"

"Are you saying it chose me?" Aurora gasped

"Yes the moment Harlot was laid on that rock,his life was tied to yours,,his purpose to shield you..if you fall he dies,,and if he dies you follow" Aurora mouth opened in shock

"But Harlot is the heir ,,,everyone in Aruke kingdom knows that" She said slowly still on shock

"Yes by ceremony but not by destiny " the Queen replied

"So everything he suffers ...his broken body...was because of the oath?" Aurora asked tears rolling down her pale cheeks

"Yes...The magic took his strength and gave to you...you power...your resilience..your gift of power and mind,,there only meant for a ruler...Harlot now lives to protect you but you were born to hold and sit on the throne" The Queen said shedding tears.,,Aurora pressed her hand on the mouth as she was tearing her eyes out in sadness

"No...l never wanted this Maa"

"Neither did he...but he was only a child who never had a choice "

"So all this while he had been dying a little so l could live??" Aurora asked looking away in tears

"He said if l die he dies maa....he said that Maa..." Aurora started crying loudly but her mom hugged her.

"Yes...that how it is Aurora....calm down" Her mom said tightening the hug.

" He must stay alive because of me Maa...l must stay because of him Maa" The Queen had never seen her daughter cry that way since she was born...she kissed her,,sat her on the chair and started singing her favourite childhood song to her.

"mama loves you....mama loves you ...brother Harlot holds you like a baby everyday ...like a baby everyday....papa said puff puff my little angel " The Queen sang until Arurora fell deep asleep with tears still rolling down her face.

In another place the council gathered ,every face lit by a single lamp that threw shadow more than light their faces worried and tensed .

"The palace was attacked...l heard it was not an ordinary attempt like ours...it was coordinated ...they came for more than gold" One of them explained

"Someone else is trying to claim what we have been eyeing for years" Another added

"They knew the layers, they moved like insiders ...someone is watching our moves either spy in our rank or a power we didn't expect " Their leader said

"There's worse ...they speak of a strange figure in the palace ...,,witnesses says he changed like a beast and howled like a lion,,,the Assassins flee away out of fear" Another said

"Lucas ...the protector...so the seer did not lie...he has awakened...that's a very dangerous thing for us".