The Royal castle of Mastorea stood strong in the rainy night. It was a fortress, but one with elegance. A reflection of the kingdom and her values. The sound of rain flooded the castle like an army marching to war. Although it was over shadowed by the screams of the queen, she was in labor.
Prince Rowlan headed for her chambers, eager to see the baby. A child who shouldn't exist.
He clenched his fist, in anger. "After all these years of drugging you to make you infertile. How's she able to bore a child for you, brother?"
"Just where did you find this woman?" The King's second wife, the current queen, was a peculiar case and not just for being the only woman who bare him a child.
Rowlan had waited 9 months for today, not just for the baby but it was the only day he could see the queen unclothed and find out the truth about her. He didn't think much of the rumors when she first arrived. She was the queen, she could cover herself up as much has she'd wanted to. It just showed how dignified she was.
But on the day of the wedding not a single family or friend showed up for her. And after a year passed no one had still seen an inch of her skin. She would always wear the longest dresses with a vail that ran all the way down to her stomach, her sleeves hid her hands, but she still wore gloves. Some maids said her touch could heal, other said it burnt. Who was she? Why was she able to take in? What was she hiding?
The doctors had told him to wait till the second night, that she would birth the baby then. "Then" is now! And he was tired of waiting.
"I need to know!"
This thought flew in and out Rowlan's mind as he marched towards her room. Her screams getting louder with every step of the way. The freshly waxed marble floors soaked the hall with smell of oak, it reflected his image as clear as a mirror, but not just him three of his personal guards followed suit, their feet stomping the ground in sync, like a single beast. Rowlan's beast.
He had every right to see his nephew, but he still brought them with him because he knew he won't be granted access. She was hiding something he just couldn't prove it, yet. Or rather he knew his brother was up to something. Aldric, always had a way of getting what he wanted. "But not today" he told himself as he reached the door to her chambers.
The dark and mighty frame was lit brightly by torches held by silver hands, sculpted into the walls beside it. Two mighty men dressed in dark metal armor, stood gallantly. By this time Queen's screams had stopped and the down pour had become a light drizzle. The Castle was quiet for the first time in hours.
"Open the doors, I wish to see my nephew," Rowlan said in a calm and commanding voice. The Guards stood still. Silent for a moment as if to rile the prince up a little. "The queen has ordered us not to let anyone in, till she says so." One of the guards said, facing forward keeping his gaze above Rowlan's eyes.
Rowlan scuffed, bewildered by their statement. "I am the prince of Mastorea, second heir to the throne and a general of Mastorea, you dear disobey my command?"
The Guard grasped his long sword tightly by the hilt, "I am sworn to obey and protect her majesty till the day I die." His voice was clearer and louder than before, a true knight took pride in serving who they are sworn to. His companion with a similar resolve gripped the hilt of his sword.
Noticing they were not relenting, Rowlan, stepped back. Getting behind his guards. Their leader Heindal, stood at the fore front. Rowlan and the two others move back giving Heindal the space he needed. Rowlan with a menacing look on his face smirked. "Don't kill them…" Rowlan paused starring into the eyes of the guards, looking for any glimpse of fear in them. "I want them alive so they can live the rest of their days as discharged traitors."
The Guards kept their stoic persona taking a stance. Heindal drew his blade with all elegance, Yellow crystal embedded in the hand guard followed the middle of the blade all the way to the tip. It glowed like the sun. "Mage warrior!" one guard said under his breath, stepping back almost stumbling. The pressure in the room increased dramatically, the guards could barely hide their fear has sweat trickled down their faces, even hardened warriors like them were nothing compared to him.
Heindal wasn't just a Knight, he wasn't just a mage…he was a mage warrior. A person who had achieved the knighthood rank and the level of master in the magical arts.
The guards lounged forward, the bigger fellow swung his blade down. Heindal dodged it with an effortless step to the side. The second man came swinging at his mid body. Heindal kicked the blade faster than the eye could see, it flew from his hands instantly. The guard rushed towards him unfazed by his lack of weapon. The second man swung his blade from behind Heindal.
In an instant blue strips of lighting crackled from the tip of Heindal's sword, he pointed it to the floor and bolts shot out from the ground, electrocuting the guards. The one behind him collapsed instantly.
The one in front, refused to go down, he edged closer to Heindal. One step at a time. Heindal chuckled and drew his blade from the ground, pointing it at the guard. The lighting simmered down. The tip of the blade began to spark. "Fireball!" Heindal shouted, as a ball of fire formed at the tip, the guard turned around trying to run.
But the ball launched at him with great speed, exploding as it made impact with him. Throwing him at the door and busting it open. Smoke and dust filled the entrance, Rowlan strode through arrogantly. Heindal, and the other guards followed in a more cautious manner, holding their weapons in front of them. The smoke was dense. It made it hard to see.
Rowlan hissed, turning to Heindal. "Couldn't you have opened the door in a less intoxicating way?!"
"I'm sorry my lor…" Heindal said before he was cut off by a soft and alluring voice. "Hello, Rowlan."
Rowlan, recognized the voice, it was the queens. The dust and smoke began to settle. Right in front of Rowlan stood a young knight, in a fighting stance, his blade almost touching the prince's forehead. His breaths were heavy. He was scared. But prepared to die.
Behind him the queen laid, maids and doctors surrounding her. Rowlan could barely see her with the knight blocking his view. "Move, boy!" He ordered the young man. The knight stood his ground, letting out a growl, "I've been ordered by the king to watch over her majesty, so…"
"Enough!" Rowlan, shouted at the top of his voice, cutting the young man off. "Heindal! Kill this one!"
Heindal drew his blade charging his lighting attack. "Stop!" The queen shouted, making her voice as loud as possible. She ordered the knight to leave, but he was stubborn. You would think him suicidal.
"Please go, live your life!"
He turned back at her "This is my life, how would I bare the title of…"
Zap!
The knight dropped dead. A bolt of lightning had zipped through his skull, killing him instantly. The queen's jaw dropped, if she had any strength she would scream. Her maids did, some began to cry. "He was just a boy!" The queen uttered below her breath.
"He was a knight" Heindal replied.
Rowlan remained quiet he was too busy, making out what the queen was. Her skin was light brown, a bit orange even. It shined like glass, lit by the giant candles at each corners of the room. Her hair was black like tar but glimmered like silk. And from the side of her head her ears poked out and up to the ceiling. She was an elf. But none like he had ever seen. Her eyes, blue like the ocean. Staring at the prince as if to see his soul.
The silence only ending by the crying of the baby. The queen rocking it slowly, looked up with a smile. "It's a boy." Rowlan remained silent still lost in thought.
"I've seen a race of elves that match her description somewhere in the library, but where?"
The queen's eyes were barely open she could hardly stay awake. But the Joy she got from her baby's cry gave her strength.
"I've been expecting you, Rowlan. From the moment I stepped foot in here you never liked me, I did everything as perfectly as I could but it only made you angrier."
"I quickly realized it was the fact you didn't know what I looked like. You hate not knowing things, don't you Rowlan. It makes you feel…powerless."
Rowlan still lost in thought stood starring at her, confused. Intrigued. Disgusted. His silence made the room more uneasy. Even Heindal felt the pressure to act, or at least say something. He'd never seen his master in such a state. The queen annoyed by his silence sparked. "Why so quiet Rowlan, am I not all that you dreamt off?
Rowlan scowling his face, leaned in. "What kind of animal are you?"
She sat in silence. In shock by his question.
One of the doctors, feeling a sudden thrill of heroism zoom through his heart, walked forward.
"Your majesty she just finished delivering. There are procedures that need to be done now. I'm sure you can continue this after we've made sure the baby is healthy."
Rowlan pointing his fingers at the doctor, blasted him to the wall with energy beams that flew from each of his fingertips.
"Who says I want the boy alive!"