The Challenges of the Past
2059 Words
Octavian’s POV:
“Emperor, the siege of the Southern isles has been completed. All of its land, scorched. Whatever was left of it was consumed by the plague.” My advisor spoke in a grave voice.
“Good.”
“Your highness…if I may?” I nodded my head, agreeing to listen.
“Is this in retaliation to her wedding?”
“That was ancient history. She’s dead. She died, because of me.”
“…so you got rid of the kingdom who brought her there?”
“No I’m burning her kingdom down because her husband is still alive. He will have nothing to return to, no wife, no children, no family, just a burnt down ruin of his life. And I wish to make him suffer for taking her away from me.”
“Sir, with all due respect, she was a fine empress, do you think you could have been a little more…respectful towards her?”
“Respectful! When was I ever not respectful to her?” I erupted into an outburst, I did what I had to do. But yet she just wanted more! She only wanted control of the empire.
But yet, she didn’t. She naturally assumed the role, she was more than capable. Although she took a demotion, she was still a beloved princess of the Southern isles. A beautiful woman indeed. She used to be my beautiful woman. And yet, if I hadn’t ruined it all, maybe she would still be with me.
I couldn’t dwell on the what if’s. I could only think of the victory that I would take, conquering everything, the way she had advised me to do.
Jade’s POV:
“Don’t worry honey, it’s just a little storm. Besides, we are in a castle made of stone that withstood the flames of all hell!” I yelled as I tickled him.
“Mama don’t joke! I’m not scared!” He crawled into my lap, careful to make room for my stomach as the lightening flashed around us, and I sang him a sweet song through the thunder, and through his fear of storms. Edward was gone on a hunting trip, I had hoped he’d return before the storm. Food was scarce around us since the cruel burning of Octavian. It was his reign of terror that had turned a pit in my stomach. We never went without, Henry had always provided for us while Edward was away with the hunting party. He knew he needed someone he could trust, and what kind of leader would he be if he wasn’t out there helping the poor, the needy. I wanted to call him selfish but how could I? For such a selfless act? Henry has loved Christopher like a son, as his own, and Edward cannot ignore that. For him to break that bond with Henry, would be breaking out families bond. All of this would be for naught. He says he is winning the empire for him, yet, I do not wish to force him into something he might not want. He will always be part of the royal family, however, if he does not wish to be king, I cannot go against his wishes. Although, he was brought up with good manners, he and forever will be, a thing of adventure.
I had wished that he might find fun in doing his royal duty as someone who scouts different lands, as a sort of diplomat. It was at this moment that Henry had walked in, seeing Christopher sitting on my lap, listening to me singing over the loud claps of thunder.
“Jade,”
“Yes, Henry?”
“Edward has not yet returned.”
“I know…”
“…shall I go out and look for him?”
“Not until the storm lets up. He would never forgive himself for leaving if you had left my side and risked yours and my safety to look for him.”
“Yes, I know.”
“Christopher and I will be okay for the night. He’s already asleep, and we both need our rest.” I stood up with Christopher in my arms as I lifted him onto the bed.
Henry silently watched, as I tucked him under the covers and turned my body to face him. He nodded to me before exiting. I laid down in the bed next to Christopher. I gently rubbed my stomach as I thought of how sweet it will be for our family to expand. But my peace was always threatened with the thoughts that permanently invaded my head. Thoughts of the burning villages, and the mass search parties. The plague overrunning the kingdom. From this point on, no one was safe and Henry, Edward, and I all knew that of course.
We had to do what was right by our people, yet, our people were fleeing because of the loss of their hope. I prayed, closing my eyes, I prayed above a whisper for prosperity, peace, and a new era. I almost didn’t want to think of the darkness, and only wanted to rush towards the light, but I knew that I had to live in the dark, in order to achieve the light someday.
I awoke with a startle, Edward had entered the room bloody, his clothes stunk of mold and earth. Water leaked out onto the floor from his boots as he warmed himself by the fire. I gently walked over to him, taking his clothes off delicately to see where the wounds would be. There were a few scratches but nothing major.
“It’s not my blood angel,”
“I know,”
“The sick are…”
“Sick?”
“…yes.” He said in a small voice.
“What about the fields? The crops? The livestock? Or we could outsource and gather hunting parties for meat.” I said gently into his ear.
He smiled slightly before I felt his arm snake around my waist. “That would be a good idea. Have you eaten?”
“You woke me up remember?”
“Well, yes, I know. Did you eat last night? Was Christopher okay with the storm?”
“Yes I told him stories. Henry had stopped by, worried about you.”
“Oh did he?”
“Yes I told him to go search for you once the storm had let up if you have not returned home.”
“Oh did you?”
“Indeed I did.”
“Well aren’t you the best wife.”
“I know, and you’ll be the best father.”
“I’m trying, it would help if he would forget that I didn’t uproot him from his whole life.”
“He knows, he knows we moved here to help these people. He will make a fine ruler. You only have to give him time to grow up.”
“I’m just worried that…something will happen. What if he doesn’t take over and…”
“My other son does.”
“…I wasn’t implying it but, yes.”
“My son is not like that.”
“He’s been raised by Octavian, I hear he is already taking fighting lessons.”
“He may be taking the lessons, but he has good in him.”
“He will grow up to be even more savage than Octavian.”
“You are wrong!” I jumped away from him. My eyes focused in on his as I parted my mouth to say something, but I couldn’t.
“Tell me I am wrong when he comes knocking on his door for the man who kidnapped his mother.”
“I would never let that happen! Ever! Do you understand me? My son is nothing like his father, he is everything of me, and he always has my blessing wherever he may be. Same as Christopher, same as this one.” I said, my hand covering my stomach.
“How do you know that?” He exclaimed back at me. Forgetting that Christopher was sleeping in the bed, I turned to see him wide awake staring at Edward.
“Don’t yell at my mother!” He yelled out at Edward. “Don’t ever yell at my mother again! You leave her alone.” Edward looked towards him, a broken expression gathered on his face.
“I didn’t mean to yell.”
“You did! Don’t lie to me, liar!”
“Christopher, your mother and I, are having an adult discussion. Go back to bed.”
“Don’t tell me what to do! I don’t care what mama says, you aren’t my father!”
“Christopher!” I yelled out. “You have every right to be upset that we are fighting, and we shouldn’t have done it in front of you. I’m sorry, however, to speak of your father, in such a manner? You should be ashamed, your father has brought Henry here for you, and has also given us a home, and it is yours once you are of age. Be grateful for what you have, before it could be lost.” I cautioned him.
“I’m sorry, father.”
“I’m sorry,” he said softly, kissing my head as he walked away.
I didn’t want to think of what Octavian was putting my poor, sweet boy through. He was just as my Christopher, so light-tempered. Except when angry. I went back over to the bed, laying next to him as I hummed him a sweet song.
“I meant it when I said he wasn’t my father.” He whispered out to me. I closed my eyes, before breathing out of my nose, I raised his chin, my eyes looking through his.
I caressed his cheek, holding my hand there as I lowered my gaze. “Christopher, no matter how much you think he is not, he is. Him not being there for us, is not his fault. And besides…I do not love Henry. I could never have a family with him. He is not the one I hold in my heart. Just as I hold you, and your brothers and or sister in my heart.” I pulled him in for a hug.
“…so I do have a brother?” He looked up at me innocently.
“Yes Christopher, and we cannot see him. Mama was saved from that place, and we were separated, and I wasn’t allowed to go back to get him. Now I still have not seen his face since he was a baby. But I still love him very, very much. Just as I love you very, very much.” I kissed the top of his head before tucking him in. Wanting him to go back to sleep for a few more hours.
I walked out of the room, looking around for Edward as my foot steps echoed through the halls.
The draft in the halls made me shiver, as I rubbed my arms, looking down every hall to find him. He had to be around here somewhere. My head began to throb as I leaned onto a table. I tried to sit down before the pain became debilitating. My vision blurred as I heard Octavian’s voice in my head. I was re-living a memory. I saw his face, the face of my son, and his face now. He was being coerced into running Octavian’s empire from a young age. He was being conditioned to be unforgiving. I clutched my chest at the shock as I slipped to the floor. I fell over, clutching my stomach, trying not to feel every painful memory that invaded my mind.
I cried out in pain, before the darkness took over.
- Writer
