Child of Darkness, Chapter 2

Submitted by Keri on Mon, 02/09/2009 - 23:01

The moment we get back to the cell, the door behind us slams shut and we make our way slowly to the back corner of the stone room. My sister gently and quietly helps me to sit down and lean against the wall. She does not speak. Even when a guard enters carrying a pile of hay which he dumps in the corner opposite us, she doesn’t make a sound. “This is so you can be more comfortable.” He says, “I’m to stay here and make sure that the boy tries to walk.” He looks sad, like he doesn’t really bear us any harm. “I was on your father’s side. I’m sorry about everything.” He remains standing; he seems not to know what to do with himself.
“What’s your name?” my sister asks.
“Korin malady”
“Have a seat Korin. I’m going to tell our prince who he really is.” Now I’m a prince. The world seems to be full of surprises. I think dryly. Korin doesn’t sit, he crouches. But my sister thinks that is good enough. She turns to me and begins to speak. “I believe you already know that your name is Nathanial, that I am your sister, and that we are prisoners. So I guess I’ll just tell how we got in this mess. My name is Danielle, our father’s name was King Michael, and our first mother was Queen Isabel. Shortly after you were born, our mother died. I was only three but I still remember her a little, she was beautiful and good. When you were five, Father married again. The lady’s name was Adele. She was kind and good, and an altogether wonderful woman. We all loved her immensely. She was also a widow with a daughter my age. But her daughter did not want to come to live with her mother and we only saw her once, at the wedding. Her name is Scelerisal. She chose to go live with her uncle and aunt on her father’s side. We were happy for many years, Adele ruling by Father’s side. The people loved her as much as you and I did. Until two years ago, Scelerisal decided, all of a sudden, that she wanted to return to her mother. Adele was overjoyed and so, for her sake, was the whole nation. On Scelerisal’s return there was much celebrating all over the land and at the palace there were feasts and balls for three days. But Father and Adele both fell sick and died within six months. As the first born son, you were next in line for the throne but Scelerisal didn’t agree. She said that the oldest relation to the king should rule. I told that would be me but she said she as the heir apparent because she was month older than me and his child by right of marriage. She had friends, many friends and since we are a peaceful nation, the closest we had to an army was the palace guard. There was war if you can call it that. You fought bravely in the war Natty. Whenever our men’s strength began to wane, they would look to you, fighting like a little whirlwind, and take heart. But eventually, you fell. She won without all that much effort at all after that. She set herself up as queen, and moved from the palace to this fortress castle were there are dungeons that haven’t been used in a century. She began putting anyone who would not join her either to death or the dungeons at her whim. Korin must have been one of the smart ones who decided that it would be better to live than to die disgraced. Am I right Korin?” She stops her long speech and turned to the crouching guard.
“As you say malady,” He affirms “We also thought that we could be ore use to you alive than dead.”
“As you say Korin.” Danielle echoes and continues her tale. “You and I escaped Scelerisal and hid for many months trying to find a way to unseat her. We lived in a cottage with kindly old woman while you recovered from your battle wounds. But one day soldiers came to tax the poor woman immensely and we had to run. As we tried to escape, a young soldier, who had let his gaze wander, spotted us and we were caught. On the road back to the new capitol, you managed to get away and we flew but we were still caught but you had taken a man’s sword and killed twenty men single handedly until on threw a rock at you. A rock! It his you across the cheek, dazing you, and a soldier his on the head with all his might using the hilt of his sword. You went down. I thought you were killed. You were unconscious for three days and this is the first that we have seen of each other since then.” She ends her story and just looks at me as I try to take it in. Me, a warrior prince, She an evil queen like a fairytale, Danielle, my sister a princess as well. I speak for the first time that I remember. I do not say any great words but simply a question. My voice is hoarse
“Am I fourteen?”
“Yes, you are. Did you remember?” Danielle looks at me with mild surprise. But I shake my head.
“No, I just know. How old are you and Scelerisal?”
“I am nineteen and Scelerisal is a month older. Oh yes, that reminds me, although I’d like very much to forget. If she catches us again, she plans to execute me, and force you to marry her in order to legitimize her reign.”
“Aren’t I a little young and she a little old?”
“It’s not illegal for the age difference to be such.” Korin suddenly stands up.
“If you don’t want to marry her I suggest you work on getting some strength back in those legs.” I think it is slightly strange of him to be so abrupt but I say nothing. Danielle does not seem to notice and agrees with Korin. So they lift me to my feet and for what seems like hours I practice and practice walking. My legs will not cooperate and keep buckling. But eventually, I can stand on my own.
“Well, that’s enough of an accomplishment for today,” Says Danielle and I am lowered back to a sitting position completely exhausted. “Oh Natty, I’m so glad that you are alive.” Danielle says.
“I’m not all that miserable of the fact either.” I say. My sister laughs merrily.
“Your old self is coming back! Now it seems as if everything is going to be all right after all.” Suddenly, the lamp sputters and goes out and we are in darkness again. Horrible, horrible pitch black, darkness.

Author's age when written

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Fiction

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Ariel

Tue, 02/10/2009 - 23:56

Child of Darkness, Chapter 2

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