Aragorn and the Phoenix of Caspian (ENGLISH)

Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

The king was alone in his throne, sipping his morning tea. He knew we would work later, do things that were beneficial not only for himself but also for the citizens of the palace. He’ll check on them, resolve simple conflicts, and enjoy his life being a ruler.

Footsteps captured the king’s attention. With those light footsteps, he knew who’s coming: Queen Amira. Queen Amira smiled, sauntered to her throne and looked at his lovely husband.

“I thought you’re supposed to plant flowers and trees along with your personal servant?” The king asked, finishing his tea. “Where is she by the way?”

“We’re already done.”

“In just half an hour?”

“Planting trees doesn't take a while, especially if I acquire people to help me. I hope they will blossom sooner. I would like to see them and make the palace more like a garden,” she said. “Aragorn would be alone in the forest once Leo leaves for an urgent matter. He would be sad and alone.”

***The king looked at Queen Amira. She’s inhibiting some indirectly to him.

The king chuckled. “Aragorn had always wanted to be alone. Good for him. Good for self-reflection.”

“No!” Queen Amira countered. The king frowned. “I mean too much self-reflection isn’t good for an individual. It would be too depressing if a person would be alone even though it is a short amount of time.”

King Argon chuckled. She cannot forget and not think about Aragorn for a second, he thought. “What are you implying?”

“No, I didn’t imply something.” She paused, glanced outside by the window. “But it would be better if Aragorn would have personal servants.”

“We already asked him that before if he wanted personal servants, but he said that palace servants were fine.” The queen crossed her arms, then averted her gaze from the king.

“Amira,” he called softly, but the queen remained not looking and paying attention to him. He shook his head and smiled. “Maybe, we could give him another companion while training. Someone who wanted to become a soldier and warrior also.”

Queen Amira quickly removed the crossing of her arms. “Where can we find people for that?”

The king smirked at him. “As the king of Caspian, I know a lot of places.”

CASPIAN training ground is where men who wanted to become warriors and soldiers were gathered. Here, they were trained and educated by the palace’s great and known warriors who served the former and present king.

“Welcome to the grounds, King Argon and Queen Amira,” everyone greeted, paid respect, and bowed.

“What can I do for you, Your Highness?” the senior and head of the bunch asked. He’s a bit younger compared to the king and his face was darker due to sun exposure.

“Aragorn wasn’t in the palace as of now. We sent him to the Garden of Pleas for training along with our past young warrior Leo. Me and my lovely wife were here to look for a comrade for my son. Can you lead my way to the most prolific young warrior in the bunch?”

“Argon,” Queen Amira whispered. “I guess only one comrade is still lonely for our son.”

“Do you want me to make it two warriors?”

“Three would be fine.”

“I hope this will be the last or our son will hate us for making things easier for him.”

Queen Amira nodded, “Yes, this would be the last.”

King Argon faced the senior. “The queen wanted more than one for the prince. Could you give me the three most prolific warriors which age at most thirty years old?”

“Yes, Your Highness.” The senior soldier submerged with the thousands of soldiers. He looked for three great warriors as the king had wished. After spotting three soldiers he truly admired, he made them follow towards the king. “Here they are, Your Highness.”

“Thank you for helping us.”

The queen stepped forward, faced the serious face of the three soldiers that differ in height and facial features, picked by their senior. “I am very much pleased to face the three of you. We’ll be needing help. Prince Aragorn is currently in the Garden of Pleas to train himself with the infamous warrior Leo. The king and I both think that he needed some companions so we won’t feel alone. I hope things will be okay for you.”

“We were grateful that we’re picked. We accept your order, Your Highness,” the tallest of them said.

“Glad that you accepted the Queen’s offer. You will be rewarded for your actions along with your families.” The king strode to his personal servant. “Milano, send the three of them to the garden of Pleas.”

The king assisted his wife back to the chariot. They sent their gratitude to everyone and to the three warriors that would help Aragorn into his journey.

“WHAT are your names and why are you here?” Leo asked and walked around the three of them, checking if there’s something suspicious.

“I am Hideo, the oldest of the three. We were training soldiers that were sent by the king to be Prince Argon’s companions.”

“But I don’t need any companions.”

“I apologize, but we can’t leave this place without the king’s order.”

“How about the two of your companions? What are their names?” Leo asked again.

“I’m Azrael, the same age as the Prince, and I do as the King has ordered. They know me as the handsome soldier of Caspian,” the tallest of them introduced.

Leo frowned. “Who gave you that title?”

“Myself,” he answered and stopped the bursting laugh.

“How about you?” Leo gazed at the shortest guy.

“I’m Yosef, fifteen years-old,” he shyly introduced.

“He’s one of the youngest in our training ground, yet he proved that he isn’t weak that’s why he’s here with me and Azrael.”

Aragorn didn’t want this. He knew his parents did this to make things easier for him. They might be a spy who will tell his parents what he needed and what his difficulties were. Who and why they were here wasn’t his matter anymore and he wanted to sound kind and proactive to them.

“You may now come inside and join us in our breakfast,” Aragorn commanded and they all went inside.

SPHYRA was staring at the rough ground. She had her breakfast, which was a roasted bird she captured last night. She wanted to forget about the guy he met last night, Aragorn. She knew they wouldn't keep in touch in the future. That man had just a glimpse of her and she hoped he wouldn't tell anyone about the truth that the phoenix was alive.

Aragorn must be forgettable. With those simple interactions and the small amount of time they were with each other, she should’ve forgotten his name already. But that marvelous name was stuck in her mind along with his attractive face and glistening eyes.

Aragorn… Aragorn… Aragorn…

The name sounded like he’s from the royal family, she thought, Maybe he is, but she did not tell him last night. Why should she have to think about that guy? She should move on and continue living her life.

Noon was coming. She didn’t mind the heat, because she herself was literally hot. She’s a literal flaming woman at night and looks like a normal citizen in the day except for her eyes. Her eyes in the day were a color of fire which was different from other citizens. It looked normal for a short glimpse, but if the person who saw her is smart, she’s doomed.

Everybody in the palace didn’t want her or wished that she shouldn’t have existed. They knew about the phoenix and they thought the myth disappeared many years ago. But she’s the living proof that the phoenix of Caspian still exists in a much younger form.

She picked wild fruits she could find in the forest. She put it inside a sack. This is her living and she can’t apply for any job or being a servant if she didn’t want to get caught.

She’ll bring the fruits into the market, sell them for a price that would feed for a day, lucky if it can feed her for several days. She’s unlucky if there’s no fruit in the forest or it was harvested by somebody else. That is her time to catch birds or animals that she desires, roast it and eat it.

Being peculiar in life is difficult. Having people who want to kill you is much more difficult than anything else. She roamed around the forest. She had filled half of her sack with fruits.

“I think I’m lucky today,” she said and grinned when she saw tall trees filled with lots of apples. She stood under the tree and removed the shoes she had for many many years. She climbed the tree with ease. She had learned that skill when she’s young and was hungry. A fruit is her only choice that time. She fell from a tree a lot of times before she had the taste of freshly picked apples.

She didn’t let the apples fall while reaching them. She carried as much as possible in her arms and hand. She was about to reach the thirteenth apple when a bow plunged above her head, striking the bark of the tree.

She closed her eyes. Someone might have seen her. Someone might have had the urge to kill her. The palace didn’t want illegal harvesting of fruits in the Garden. A soldier or a servant in the royal palace might be the one who shot the arrow.

She gripped on the tree, waiting for her death. She counted three seconds, there were no arrows shot anymore. Slowly, she opened her eyes, looked down. There was no one around the tree. It must be and she hoped that it was just a kid or a teen playing with arrows and not anyone who wanted to kill her.