Fated Demise: Quenderian Wars

Kingdom of The First Hero

I was at Garden Everbloom. The finest garden in the five kingdoms, they say. And what does that mean or symbolize? No one knows yet they admire such an ordinary garden.

Touching every tulip that I passed and picking, from their stem, every flower that astounded me. There was still moisture on their petals because of the rain that occurred yesterday.

Once more, my mind slipped away. There has always been this emptiness in me but now it has become stronger. A hole I never understood.

Her voice started to become audible.

Aive, my most trusted handmaiden, suggested, "Kirstine, it is best if you prepare yourself early. I made you a pair of gloves to hide your scars."

"Thank you, Aive."

"But be ready now, quick. The Frechiones are known to be prompt."

"Oh, the Frechiones. Vicious, cruel, maniacal and sadistic. That monster Thimony, the most. Have you heard what his squire spoke of him?"

"It doesn't matter what people claim to have witnessed."

"Aive, he burns ungoverned villages for no other reason than to amuse himself."

"Why have the gods allowed his existence?" I added.

"Soon, you'll learn more about him. I'm sure he's not as bad as people say."

"If only I can leave everything and live a more fulfilling life, or a normal one at the least," I said.

"Your Highness, the kingdom is filled with your father's guards. Please tell me how I can better serve you without risking my freedom," she replied.

"I can take care of myself now. It's just unfair. I should also have the chance to fight for myself and live as if I own myself."

"A lady who does not know when to submit, is no true woman."

"A lady who does everything she's told is merely a dumb little girl. A lady who submits to a man like Thimony is damned."

"Princess Kirstine, backing out now is such a risk. Both a great risk to you and this kingdom. Do you think I was here at Aurore by choice? Princess, there are things beyond our control as men's helpers.

"Men's helpers."

"Oh, come on. Don't be sad, you will always be a majestic pegasus, and no one can take that away from you."

"I have no care about that."

"I am not sad, Aive. I'm furious", I said with anger in my tone.

She just smiled. How rude of her to smile in such a way.

I wanted to be free. I wanted to run away, to detour from the path to wretchedness. But I couldn't do it.

In this world of injustice and chaos, to feel is irrelevant.

I want to feel but would the gods see me differently?

I know it's inescapable but I wanted to try. Truly, I've lived a life controlled by men. Looking straight forward, thinking that everything would lead to a greater purpose. That somehow, in the end, I would be the master of me. But all of these, I knew, would lead to nothing.

It should have been nice to know I was still in control of my own life.

I asked for Aive to leave me and so she did. I wanted to be alone as I walked toward my very bed-chamber.

On my way, I encountered a lot of busy maids and other workers. Some carried heavy barrels of wine. Men lifted chairs and tables overhead while walking. Even with their works they still had time to bow and greet me. They were ants, preparing for a cold winter that was my wedding.

I guess it was also never their choice to be who they were at that time. They were a product of other people's choices. Great men rule kingdoms and the weak ones serve.

So what's the point of living a life lived by greater people?

I walked faster and went through the stairs until I arrived in my bed-chamber. My handmaidens were still changing my bed sheets, curtains, and table mattresses. They grabbed and grabbed as if thieving.

A maid carelessly grabbed a table mantel and spilled tea on my dress. She was almost crying when she apologized.

Did she think I would be cruel?

The head maid promised, "Forgive her irresponsible behavior, Your Highness. I will make sure she'll be taken care of."

I watched her. No, I didn't know what she meant.

"It is alright, leave her be", I said.

They nodded. And I could see she was relieved. A few moments later, she cried.

I wanted to escape also from these preparations. I couldn't keep it anymore. I still had a stain on my dress and it stunk.

"Let me take care of your dress, Your Highness", another maid said as she tried to undress me.

"No! Just please find Aive," I almost shouted.

"Your Highness, who's Aive?"

"I said find me Aive!"

I heard them mumble and whispered amongst themselves.

They were so busy and this annoyed me.

More and more workers came. The worst part is some of them are shouting and were panicking. I couldn't bear their presence anymore.

"Get out!", I screamed so loud that my voice had cracked.

They stopped whatever they were doing, examined me, and went off my bed-chamber.

At last, peace in my sanctuary. No one else to disturb me. And the silence to ease my baffling mind. Involuntarily, tiny teardrops traveled through my face. I didn't know what I was feeling anymore.

"Stop the pain!" voices in my ear shouted whispers.

"Rest!" it continued.

I was feeling dizzy. I could control myself no more. And I was driven by, still, an unknown yet so familiar emotion. A pain that had always resided in me.

Some people might say I was being foolish and overly dramatic. I never understood life, never. I doubt anyone does.

But I saw a blade. Deeply planted on my table. It had been used to prepare my bridal gown. I grabbed it. I held on to it very tight.

"Stop the pain!" the whispers came back, but that time, gradually increasing in volume.

I led the blade close to my arm's skin.

"Stop the pain!"

I let it touch my skin.

"Stop the pain!"

I cut slowly as I started weeping.

"Stop the pain!"

I carved and carved through my flesh. I was deafened by my own screams.

"Stop the pain!"

A river of blood flowed from my very own arm. I wanted me to bleed. I wanted to end my puppet life.

Queen Nera heard my screams and rushed to my bed-chamber. I could still see her even with the amount of blood I lost.

I smiled at her, implying that I was trying to be okay for all of them.

"My little pegasus, what happened to you?" she asked.

I couldn't answer, even so, she called for the best Greens in our kingdom to heal me.

"Your Majesty, there are no Greens today. They were trained by the Greens of House Dilton", a handmaiden explained.

"I do not care! Summon them all!" Queen Nera commanded.

My sight was still clear. I was aware of my surroundings. I knew they were all panicking. I hoped that they would find someone to help me. To save themselves from guilt. Mother doesn't deserve this.

"Kii na meden ei linwe na den" a strange yet familiar language. I knew Lord Brisk explained what it meant.

Fast as light and subtle as the darkness. I remembered.

"Your Majesty, my name is Veronica of Elekti. I can save her", someone arrived from the void.

Her demonic presence and the dark magic she bore shocked the queen.

Her hair was the color of the midnight sky in a lunar eclipse. Her skin was pale as if she hid from daylight all her life.

"A Warlock. Seize this demon-blooded creature!" mother ordered my guards.

I asked faintly, "Mother."

The queen examined me.

"Save her or I swear to the gods I will hunt you down and everyone you've ever cared for".

Veronica walked closely and held my arm. She closed her eyes. She wished everybody to get out and so they all did.

Slowly and slowly she healed me. I had not seen anyone heal like this before. She healed me with great mastery. She knew what she was doing.

It did not take her too long to help me. Her grip slowly tightened as the blood stopped leaking.

"It's going to be alright, Your Highness", she assured my wellness as she brushed my hair with her fingers.

I wasn't able to nod. I had seen my blonde hair change its color. I didn't know what was happening.

Veronica elucidated, "Your hair didn't respond well to Warlock magic. I couldn't save it from turning black."

The incision slowly closed itself. It was amazing how I survived that draining of blood.

"It is not safe for me to stay here, Your Highness. Her Majesty has already known what I am. I shall hide at this very kingdom at least before I return to Elekti," she spoke.

"How did you find me?" I asked.

"It doesn't matter. I am here to make sure you're safe", she replied.

What did she mean?

She left through the window. She jumped even if it is high.

The doors opened loudly. Mother and Father were racing toward me. They wept when they saw my condition. They embraced me. They embraced me tightly.

Father promised, "I love you, Kirstine. I'm sorry. f**k the Frechiones and this wedding."

His words shocked me. I knew they couldn't bear me like this. But I also knew we couldn't survive Grockhaven.

"Father, it's not even the case. I need you to think this through. This may kill us all," I doubted him.

They did not hear me still. They did not understand me.

Funny, even at the deck of life and death I still wanted to be ruled over. Was I meant to be just that?

"If shielding you is what brings war between us, then I should prepare our greatest soldiers right away." he insisted.

"Your Majesty, the Frechiones already threatened to destroy the kingdom if the wedding...", Sir Ashton said.

"We can't be our enemies' slaves forever. f**k their threats. f**k their armies. f**k their king."

I still never understood father. He always told me to look after myself. He had this obsession with protecting me as if my death would be of great disadvantage to the 5 kingdoms. He said that Grockhaven had greater defenses and that their kingdom would be able to protect me.

I did not know what he meant. Protect me from what?

Ser Ashton Vogel came - the Commander of the Kingshield. The Kingshield are the ones guarding the king and the royal family.

King Renard ordered to Ser Ashton, "Close the gates, nobody shall leave nor enter through them. Prepare the Kingshield and summon the Commanders of my army and those of all trained warriors. No one shall rest until we know the Frechiones can't fight anymore."

"At once, Your Majesty." Ser Ashton agreed and walked out.

I was scared and my father saw it. I knew he could see me then as his beloved daughter. But wouldn't this only be a careless act?

He spoke to me, "The Frechiones are strong but we are stronger. Did Farheim Frechione forget that we are the descendants of Lonn Guiseid? Doesn't he know we are not cowards? Heroes don't hide in the shadows."

For heroes don't hide in the shadows, so our saying goes.

"Your Majesty, Grockhaven had come", Ser Ashton warned and continued, "they are behind our gates as we speak".

One of the Kingshield rushed to my chamber in search of Ser Ashton.

"Ser Ashton, Grockhaven had broken our steel gates and killed our vanguard", he informed.

Just as he said this, a massive flaming spherical steel demolished my bed-chamber. Killing a few maids.

Mother had protected us from the impact with a force field she created. She looked at all of us.

"Is everyone alright?" mother asked.

"Let us leave this room... Now!" the king ordered and so out we went.

We raced around the hallways toward a safe place. And no one knew where that safe place would be.

It was like Grockhaven planned to destroy our kingdom even before we could turn down the promise of marriage. The wedding preparations made us vulnerable and they knew this.

Father halted and held both my hands. He looked me in the eye.

And with words full of soul and emotions, he asked for something, "Kirstine, protect yourself and your mother. Promise me that."

"Father, don't say that."

"Just, please. Promise me."

"I promise."

"Now, go."

Another attack went straight toward us.