“What’s happened?” she asked Heiden who stood beside her quietly. The palace was different, instead of the two thrones that Eveline had encountered earlier, their now only stood one and it wasn’t made of wood, it was made of iron. A shiver shot down her spine as she looked at the cold and sharp throne, standing alone in the centre of the palace. Now ray of light shone down upon the throne, no crowds of courtiers mingled in the great nave, no music filled the palace walls.
“You are now witnessing the very events that are taking hold of your people,” Heiden spoke darkly, holding out his arm to Eveline, who took it willingly, forgetting their argument, forgetting everything but this moment. A wild streak of anger surged within her, who had done this? Where were the people? What had happened?
“Come with me,” Heiden commanded gently, “you are about to witness the actions of your half-brother.” Eveline followed Heiden carefully as they stepped away from the centre of the nave and made for the great doors. As they neared the palace doors, Eveline began to hear cries coming from outside, she glanced up at Heiden who kept his eyes firm and steadfast, “this may upset you,” he said gently, “but you need to know what has happened to your people since your father’s death.”
“Is that not blackmail?” Eveline whispered as the cries became louder and clearer. Heiden stopped them both at the doors and turned to her.
“No, this is not blackmail, if you are to make your mind up about how you shall live then you need to see what it is you will be leaving behind,” Heiden replied firmly before opening the large palace doors before them. A great wave of cried erupted before them, holding them to the spot. Eveline looked across the courtyard, a large and spacious area that lay before the palace. The Palace gardens were bare and colourless as Heiden guided Eveline down the palace steps and towards the courtyard. Beyond the courtyard Eveline could see large, mounted polls bordering the courtyard, which seemed to end at a point. Eveline couldn’t see where the cries were coming from, but guessed that those who were crying must have been standing looking up at the pointed end of the courtyard from below. Heiden tightened his grasp of Eveline as they became aware of why cries rang up into the darkened air about them. Bodies of women, children and men were hanging from the posts, blood dripping from their battered and torn bodies.
“Oh my god!” cried Eveline un clasping her arm from Heiden and running forward to a nearby post that bared the lifeless body of a young boy, his head slumped to one side, his eyes open and lifeless. Heiden followed his granddaughter, sad and full of sorrow. “Why have you done nothing to help?” she ordered turning to her grandfather.
“I have sent aid to your allies, but the power of Heidan and his followers grows steadily, his power almost matches my own, and your own.” Heiden replied, reaching up and closing the eyelids of the young boy.
“But what can you do?” pleaded Eveline, “you cannot allow him to go on.”
“No I cannot, and that is why I need you to help me,” Heiden responded sadly, “I cannot for reasons you will not understand, be seen by Heidan or Lagar, my own people are in danger, I must protect them.”
“But these are your people too,” cried Eveline looking around her in desperation.
“You are right they are my people too, but they are your responsibility Celestine,” urged Heiden.
“How can I help them?” Eveline asked pathetically.
“You can give them hope by re-claiming your throne, there are those waiting to help and guide you,” Heiden answered as he closed the eyes of the lifeless bodies, keeping his own averted from Eveline.
“They need a warrior, not me,” moaned Eveline turning from the dead bodies and looking down the magnificent avenue of steps descending down onto a glorious courtyard, shaped almost like the point of a star. Crowds of peasants were gathered, hurled together by dozens of soldiers. Heiden walked to her side and followed her gaze. Women were crying painfully, holding their young close to them. Men stood silent before what looked to be some kind of leader. “Can they see us?” Eveline asked making her way down the steps.
“No off course they cannot, if they see you and I they would be doomed,” lectured Heiden, had she not listened to him at all.
“Yes I remember you cannot be seen for reasons I cannot and never will understand,” retorted Eveline bitterly, her unruly hair dancing behind her as her dress clung to her figure helpless against the strong gusts of wind.
“Maybe one day you will,” sighed Heiden shaking his head in disappointed. He wanted his granddaughter to understand her place amongst her people, to feel connected to them, instead she seemed to be reacting like a child who has had its doll taken away.
“Who is that man?” Eveline asked pointing down toward a tall man, clothed in black.
“You will see,” Heiden answered letting her walk on. Eveline stopped behind the man, who was giving orders to some of his soldiers to seize peasants and to bring them to him. He couldn’t see her, or feel her presence but she had an uncanny feeling that she was standing behind her half-brother. Heidan’s hair was not auburn like her own, it was dark and straight and as she walked to his side she noticed how alike his features were to Heiden, who was standing away observing them both. Heidan had the most unusual eyes, one was golden like hers and the other black. He was striking to look at, no wonder the peasants looked away from him, his looks alone sent a shiver of fear running through her veins. For a fleeting moment Heidan’s eyes met her own and they stood for what seemed to be forever staring at one another.
“Now,” he spoke loudly over her, and towards the crowds, “ it is just simply unfair that you all get to have your rebellious revolt and I don’t,” he smiled sickly, motioning his soldiers to bring forward a man, no older than fifty before him. Eveline stood aside glancing over at Heiden in fear. A soldier, dressed in black leather armour, his long black hair plated down the sides of his head, one half of his face tattooed in silver ink, his green eyes sharp and intelligent, a long sword at his side. The middle aged man, was dressed in a knee length green woollen tunic, over brown woollen trousers and leather shoes. At the man’s side was a knife, set in a beautiful sheath. The man was silent as he was flung onto the steps before Heidan, his eyes lowered and his grey hair wet with sweat.
“Adelfred, son of Alderforth, late councillor to the now dead King Elieor, you have been sentenced to death for conspiring to lead a rebellion against my men and against me, your king,” Heidan announced, over Adelfred’s head. Eveline watched as the solider took out his sword. Women and men cried out for mercy. “Mercy you say? Why should I give you mercy when you wish me dead? No, I do not practice the art of mercy any more than you fools practice obedience!” Heidan shouted, taking Adelfred’s hair in his hand and forcing his head back.
“No!” screamed Eveline jumping forward and trying to fight Heidan, only to realise that her hands and arms went straight through his body. Stumbling back onto the steps she wept violently, her eyes upon the hopeless man, now closing his eyes and awaiting his death. She looked to her grandfather for aid but he shook his head in sadness. The soldier handed Heidan his sword and Eveline shook with anguish as she was about to watch this poor and innocent man be slaughtered in front of his family and community. Suddenly a great commotion erupted from the crowd of peasants and just as Heidan was about to slit the man’s throat an arrow pierced the soldier right between his eyes. Eveline gasped in horror as the soldier fell backwards, dead. Looking across at the crowd she saw what looked to be a young woman, with short blonde hair, holding a bow and arrow, aiming it once more at Heidan.
“You will not kill my father!” the young woman screamed letting her arrow go. Eveline watched as the arrow pierced the sky and made its way toward Heidan. Getting up she drew in a deep breathe hoping that it struck Heidan in between the eyes, but was disappointed as he raised his hand in the air and caught the arrow, snapping it in half.
“Get her!” he screamed to his soldiers. Eveline watched as the young woman suddenly looked at her f
or a brief moment before fading into the crowd and disappearing. The peasants were helping her to escape as they became frantic fighting off the soldiers. For several minutes, Eveline and Heidan watched as the soldiers fought to keep the peasant’s in control, using their swords, daggers and hands to fight them into silence once more. The young woman wasn’t to be found and Heidan’s clasp on Adelfred became tighter, bending down to the man he whispered in his ear.
“When I find her, and I assure you I will, I promise that her last moments of life will be drawn out as slowly as possible,” he hissed darkly.
“You will never find her,” spat Adelfred, “she is the greatest bowman in Caci.”
“Against my men she is nothing,” replied Heidan slitting Adelfred’s throat and kicking him down the steps violently, before turning away from the crowds and ascending the steps towards the palace. Eveline ran down the steps to Adelfred and dropped to her knees beside him as blood poured from his veins.
“Grandfather we must help him!” she cried out loud, turning to find Heiden. Heiden was watching his grandson ascend the steps, anger etched across his face, an anger that made even Eveline quiver.
“I told you we cannot,” he replied coming to her aid. Eveline looked down into the man’s eyes and wondered if he could see her, because he looked up at her directly and whispered.
“Prophecy,” before dying on the steps in a pool of blood.
“What did he mean?” she asked Heiden who was looking down at the lifeless body in confusion.
“I am not sure but if he did indeed see you which is possible as he was dying, then maybe he remembers an old prophecy, brought down through the generations.”
Eveline frowned, she cast her memory back to the dream she had had where she had met a woman named Mathilda and a man called Achmad, and they had talked of a prophecy believing she was the person with whom it had spoken of.
“I met a woman named Mathilda in a dream, she was with a group of rebel soldiers I think, she saved me from the sea, and they spoke of a prophecy,” whispered Eveline, looking down at the crowd of quiet peasants, sombre, thin and worn.
“Yes I know the prophecy and it is indeed about you, Mathilda is the heir to the throne of Taer, her mother was murdered two moons ago, two years to you,” Heiden replied, “she had been brought up under the tutorage of the Dunaman tribe, an ancient tribe that practices deep magic and is led by a chieftain called Anvin, he prophesised that a light would enter the atmosphere falling into deep waters, he saw your coming and has guided Mathilda to you, she will guide you to Calhuni, the secret garden of kings and queens.”
“Yes but it was a dream,” shrugged Eveline getting up and moving away from the dead Adelfred and walking down to the peasants.
“Yes, it was a dream,” replied Heiden quietly. “But if you choose to claim your title and people, you must be crowned at Calhuni and you will need guidance, only you can find it.”
“Why can you not just bring me there? I have already been there before,” argued Eveline, none of this was making sense she thought sadly gazing at the faces of hopeless women, children and men now quietly turning away and leaving.
“Because you must find it yourself,” Heiden replied.
“I am tired,” sighed Eveline, “can I go home now?” she enquired weary and drawn. Heiden took her hand and placed it on his arm.
“I will return you to Westminster, but you will not see me until you find Calhuni, if it is your wish to return,” Heiden replied.
“How do I even get there if I want to return?” Eveline asked quickly holding on tightly to her grandfather.
“If you truly want to return you will find your way,” replied Hieden calmly, “all you need to do is ask for direction.”
“You are giving me a choice?” smiled Eveline.
“I have lost everything I hold dear because I didn’t offer those I loved a choice, you are all I have left and so far I have caused you pain and suffering, I am leaving this in your hands,” Heiden sighed thoughtfully, “but I will be waiting.”
“You will not be angered if I choose to go back to my normal life?” Eveline replied in earnest, gazing up at her burdened grandfather.
“No, I want you to be happy.”
“I need time,” Eveline said firmly, “you must give me time.”
“I will give you time, but remember this, look around you, what do you think time means for them?” Heiden turned around and led her gaze to the retreating peasants, slumped over in grief, lost and abandoned.
“I will not forget them as I decide where to go from here, I promise I will think long and hard before coming to a decision,” Eveline smiled weakly.
“When you return to Westminster, you will find yourself altered, you possess great power Eveline, danger will follow you everywhere you go, you must be vigilant,” Heiden ordered before taking her close and plunging them back into a familiar darkness.
Chapter XIII
Awaken
Theodore and Jophiel sat beside the altar, which was now being guarded over by four angels at each corner. Belle had been taken home to her parents, her memory of the last day erased. Gabriel had said that it was best that she returned to her parents away from any potential danger. Eveline had been asleep for three days and during those three days, her grandmother had been taken back to Keswick to be buried. Theodore knew that when she awoke from her deep sleep, she would be tried once more. Nobody had heard any more about Galean and so it was proclaimed that he had died trying to kill Lagmar, who had also not been heard of or seen in the past few days. Jophiel has agreed with Gabriel that it would be best if she looked after Eveline for a while, she had the room and the patience to look after her.
“She will need time to come around to the loss of her grandmother and friends,” Jophiel said to Theodore calmly, “she will need space.”
“What can I do?” Theodore replied quietly, he was tired and worn and really needed to rest, but he had sworn not to leave Eveline’s side not until she commanded him too.
“You can just be there for her when she needs you,” smiled Jophiel, laying a warm hand over his own, “she will need you in the days to come.”
“I will be there for her,” replied Theodore firmly.
“What you have done just to love her is a great sacrifice Cael, but beware of the difficulties you may face,” Jophiel warned softly.
“I am aware of what I have let happen because of my pride, I will always be haunted by my lack of respect and understanding, but I will not stop loving her,” stammered Theodore, smiling at the sleeping Eveline.
“Do not pressurise her into making any rash decisions,” Jophiel asked kindly.
“I promise I will not, I will be her friend and confidant until she wishes more from me,” smiled Theodore warmly, “do you hate me too?”
“Hate you? No off course not,” waved Jophiel, “how can I hate you for loving another? There is no crime in loving someone, it is just complicated.”
“That it is,” Theodore replied flatly, “I can feel myself changing, I know that I will only fully transform if I marry Eveline but I can already feel myself changing.”
“That is a consequence of your actions Theodore, you must bare them for you choose to walk down this path that lies before you,” urged Jophiel. It was early morning and the rays of the rising sun lifted the church out of its deep depression, making everything seem new and beautiful.
“I know, I understand, I just wish she would wake,” sighed Theodore.
“She will wake,” promised Jophiel.
Days passed as Eveline lay lifeless upon the marble altar, Jophiel had let the angels return to their posts elsewhere promising to stay by Eveline’s side unless she needed them. Theodore had gone back to Jophiels Chelsea home for some much needed rest on her orders. Jophiel now sat close to the altar, her eyes closing in slumber. The church was safe, no shadow could enter and so Jophiel let herself fall to the mercy of sleep, knowing that Eveline was safe.
*
Galean had to return to his father, he had to protect his claim to the throne and those who depended on him. The southern kingdom was in disarray, and he knew that soon the new King Heidan, Eveline’s half-brother would send his forces north. Galean needed to bring his brothers together, they could not fight Heidan’s forces alone. The North was a mysterious and beautiful land, full of isolated tribes, deep and meaningful culture and magic. Creatures unheard of in the south roamed the lands of the North, dragons controlled the mountains, and he Galean, was a dragon lord. Galean had spent much of his youth hidden away in the mountains among the dragon’s and the dragna tribe. His mother had been the late chieftains daughter, her gift of dragons had been handed down to Galean only. Galean had gone to join the army of angels when his mother had been killed during a raid, he had met his wife and settled down, but always in the back of his mind did he regret not returning home to defend his people, his tribe and his father. Galean had decided it was time to take up his sword to defend his heritage and in order to do that he would have to leave Eveline, she loved him yes, but he was sure she intended on being with Theodore, there was no need for Galean to stay, he had endured enough heartache in his life, it was time to put others before himself.
One Crown & Two Thrones: The Guardians Page 29