Aragorn and the Phoenix of Caspian (ENGLISH)

Chapter 22

CHAPTER 22

“What do you want to eat? Meat or Vegetables? Do you want soup? I know how to cook but I’m not as good as Leo and Hideo.”

“You don’t have you. I’m still full and I’m resting here.” Azrael brought her to the third room in the hut. There were three in the hut, one for Leo, Hideo, and Azrael, the second one is for Yosef and Aragorn, and the last one will be for the only woman, Zonia.

“Are you sure?” He wasn’t convinced. The prince told him to feed and let her take a rest.

Zonia nodded. “Yes. William and I ate earlier before we go to the market.”

“That man will rot in prison. You’re lucky that our group was there when he slammed you with his fist.”

“I just hope that he’ll surely rot in prison. He said to me back then that when we escape from him, he’s going to look for me and will kill me. Now that he’s in prison, I’m safe. Things wouldn’t happen if my parents didn’t sell me, didn’t sell my other sisters.”’

“They sold you? Uh. W-Why did they do that?”

“Money. We weren’t rich and by selling their daughters to rich men, they’ll earn money and connection. They only had four sons and eight daughters. I’m second their second to the youngest daughter. They sold me when I was fifteen. They’re going to sell all of their daughters because they only want sons to become a soldier.”

Azrael cursed. He can’t imagine that there were parents who can do that to their children. He was forced to become a soldier but he wasn’t sold. All of a sudden, he wanted to face Zonia’s parents and scream at them for their actions.

“How could they do that to you?” he asked back. He can’t still believe it.

“It happens especially in poor families like us. We can’t control it and we have no right to disobey them. It’s like they own us.”

“I can’t imagine myself being sold by my parents. I’m sorry if I asked and if I bring back the past on you.”

“It’s fine. There is no problem with that. I don’t think of them as my parents anymore. I don’t think as for them as humans. Just like you, I didn’t think humans can do that, but I guess what humans can do is unpredictable.”

Zonia hugged herself. She’s alone in her life, a servant of the five guys who helped her. She’s free from William, was she? No. Poor people were never free unless they became rich. The only thing that happens to them is that they were free from a person then became imprisoned by another. It’s better to be a servant of the prince than a concubine of William. She’ll die if these guys didn’t see her.

Azrael sat beside Zonia. He cuddled himself as Zonia did to herself. Anyone needs comfort. The best comfort that can comfort them is themselves.

“I’ve always wanted to become a doctor in the palace but my path changes since I was forced to become a soldier. We weren’t poor but we weren’t rich. Traveling to far places to learn about medicine costs a lot. And being a soldier would be easier for my family. I guess it’s not only the poor people which did not have a choice. It’s everyone who is picked by destiny. Do you think Prince Aragorn wanted to become the king? Do you think he wanted to live here and train himself to become strong to face a fight? Do you think every soldier in the training ground wanted to become a soldier? They don’t. We don’t. But we have no choice.”

“Prince Aragorn is the only son of the king and queen. He doesn’t have the choice but to accept the position unless the king is willing to give the position to one of his brothers or niece. I guess you’re right. It’s not only us. It’s for all of us.”

“I guess you’re tired, Zonia.”

They faced each other.

“Mentally and physically tired,” she answered.

Azrael formed a curved on his lips. “Take a rest now. That bastard won’t be here. You’re safe here. No one will hurt you.”

Yosef and Prince Aragorn remembered the path that they’re taking towards the deeper part of the forest. Yosef trained himself to remember the tracks. The prince was familiar with one glance as if he has a superpower of remembering a place with a short peek of it.

“You created a great decision, Your Highness. You chose to protect the woman rather than being on the side of that bastard. He’ll suffer from his punishment. He deserves it for being a bastard.”

“I decided for what is right. When you’re in my position, you’re going to choose the same choice as what I did. I chose to protect those who are suffering and who wanted help. I didn’t want to make her a servant but she said she didn’t have someone to help her. She didn’t have a home.”

“You’re wise, Your Highness. I expect her to cook delicious food for us. We know that women cook better than men. At least Leo and Hideo knew how to cook. I want to learn how but my parents will tell me that it’s a job for ladies.”

“It is a subjective opinion of your parents. Anyone can learn how to cook or how to make a dress. If I weren’t a prince, I’ll choose to learn those skills. The more skills that I know, the easier for me to live independently.”

“Do you still want to live independently?” Yosef argued. “If I am the prince of Caspian, I’ll choose to live and whine in my bed forever while enjoying the scrumptious foods that the palace servants were giving me.”

“You’re young and you don’t understand things. When you grow older, you’ll choose to learn skills.” Prince Aragorn faced the forest. The same pattern of trees and plants. Sphyra might be here. “Eagles love to play with fire!”

“Eagles love to play with fire!” Yosef repeated. It’s weird shouting that statement to nature. The two of them looked like crazy men who’ll talk to trees for them to receive a blessing.

Sphyra and Burn appeared on the right side of the forest. She seemed to have a keen sense of hearing. She could easily identify that it’s them. She turned a playful face to the prince and his companion.

“Greetings, Your Highness,” she said and slightly bowed. It was the first time she did that and she felt she was a woman from a rich clan. The clueless dog was gasping air while turning her eyes to Sphyra and Prince Aragorn. Yosef was crippled to Burn and he played with her using his fingers.

“Why did you do that?”

“Just trying it out. Women in the palace were doing this to you, right? Did anyone catch your attention when they’re doing that?”

“I don’t look at their faces and I rarely get out from the royal palace.”

“Why did you visit, Aragorn? Do you have any updates yet?”

Aragorn shook his head. Sphyra was a little bit disappointed with it.

“There’s a guy who hurt and humiliated his concubine earlier in the market. After thinking about their case, I decided to punish him and asked my other companions to bring him to prison. I asked another companion to bring the woman to our hut. She said she didn’t have any home and she volunteered to be our servant. I know that it’s a good chance to visit and check on you. The danger is everywhere and I’m glad that you’re okay.”

Sphyra chuckled. She glanced at Yosef and glanced back at the prince. “I lived in this place for more than twenty years, Your Highness. Why do you think it’ll be dangerous for me? Don’t tell me that you’re concern about me.”

Aragorn frowned. That’s not what he wanted her to think of. He’s not concerned. No, he’s a little bit concerned. And no, he’s concerned about her. “There’s nothing wrong with that. I’m just concerned.”

“It would be boring for us to stay here and talk.” Sphyra reached for Yosef, who’s petting Burn. “Do you want to swim in a marvelous waterfall?”

“Is there a waterfall in this forest?” Aragorn asked.

“I told you. I lived there for more than twenty years. If the two of you want to, follow me.”

Aragorn and Yosef followed Sphyra. Burn was a bodyguard walking around the three of them. They can’t believe that there are waterfalls in the middle of the forest. It was huge and it’s dangerous for the citizens to travel there. After minutes of walk, they witnessed the paradise-like falls hidden in the Garden of Pleas.

Small birds were flying side by side above the falls. The crystal clear water cascaded from the mountain-like pinnacle of it. An unexpecting place to relax. They thought the palace of Caspian could not have a waterfall. What they didn’t know is that it is hidden in one of the most dangerous and most wonderful places in the whole palace, the Garden of Pleas.

“Is there no wild animals in here? It’s a shallow part of the forest and we were advised not to go any deeper from the safe zone?” Yosef asked and looked at Sphyra.

“At least in my existence. I haven’t encountered a wild animal walking around the place.”

Aragorn walked to the nearest part of the falls and dunked his hand on the cold water. “Aren’t you a phoenix? Why do you swim in this place?”

“I still take a bath, Aragorn. I’m only covered with fire at least in the night. Are there any more questions or would you like to start enjoying this place?”

Eyes to the left, eyes to the right. Hideo can’t stop thinking of the possibility that they might encounter a group of rebels again in the place. He had an experience already and he can’t trust anyone to make him feel comfortable that the rebels won’t show up. On the other hand, Leo was confidently walking with his horse while staring straight at the bastard named William, who got the punishment from Prince Aragorn.

William was gritting his teeth. That weak Prince. He was punished by that prince. His hands were in front and those were loosely tied by a roped. They were halfway to the prison and he won’t let himself suffer from any punishment he’ll receive. While Leo had a few seconds of not staring at him, he pulled the dagger he hid in his purse and jumped to Hideo. He pointed the dagger on his leg and he grinned towards Leo.

“Don’t hurt him,” Leo pleased him. He thought they tied him tightly yet he still managed to escape.

“I won’t hurt him if you’ll let me escape!” He groped Hideo on his neck, making him suffer to inhale air. He’ll surely strike that dagger on Hideo’s neck. But he’ll sure him as a bait first for him to escape. “Stay right there and let me escape.” He walked away from Leo. Leo stopped in his place. He can make a move but he didn’t want Hideo to suffer in pain or even in death.

He stabbed Hideo’s right arm that made him groaned in pain. It was deep and blood flowed from his arm like a waterfall. “I’ll do worst if you fight.”

“Put him down and run away. We won’t chase you,” Leo said. That’s the rightest thing he can do at the moment. Secure Hideo’s safety. “Put him down first and you can run away.”

William kicked Hideo using his knees and he let him suffer in pain on the ground. He accelerated away from the two of them. The two didn’t dare to catch him. He laughed like a devil when he was already far away from them. He’ll take his revenge on Zonia. He won’t let her enjoy her life because he owns her and she will suffer along with that prince when he caught them.