One Crown & Two Thrones: The Prophecy

  “Eveline!” Galean cried out, falling before her as she coughed loudly, her face covered in black smoke, her golden eyes vivid and bright.

  “Galean?” Eveline whispered as though he was a ghost. “Is that you?” she asked, raising a hand to touch his face.

  “Yes it’s me!” Galean said kindly, his eyes scanning her body. She was like many that he had passed, disillusioned and without all of her articles of clothing. Blood was pouring from her ears and nose and she was missing a shoe, her bare foot badly injured, with pieces of glass stuck within her skin.

  “Galean?” Eveline called out again, obviously disorientated and in shock.

  “Eveline can you walk?” Galean asked quickly realising that they were in a very vulnerable place and if he didn’t act quickly they would end up in a more serious situation, a fatal scenario. Theodore had entrusted him to protect his wife, Heiden had entrusted him to protect his heir and granddaughter, he could not let either of them down and more importantly he could not let his wife and daughter down.

  “Yes,” Eveline replied trying to get up onto her feet but crying out.

  “Here,” Galean helped her up and wound her left arm about his neck. “Can you hop?”

  “I can try,” Eveline said, lifting her hurt foot and letting it hover as she tried to hop alongside Galean and Wordsworth.

  “Okay that’s good, you’re doing well,” Galean said with encouraging eyes. “Now we need to get across the bridge which may take some time, do you think you can make it?”

  “I can try.”

  Galean made sure to go at a slow pace, aware that Eveline was weak and injured. Wordsworth made himself useful by guiding them through the park, shuffling pieces of debris out of the way. Soon they were at the gates of the park, standing upon the footpath of Wine Street. Galean stopped and settled Eveline against the railings so that he could take off his jacket. Eveline leaned heavily against the iron and closed her eyes briefly, the heat of the nearby fires burning at her skin. When she opened her eyes she found Galean was on his knees wrapping what looked to be a length of his shirt about her foot. With agonising pain she bite down on her bloodied lip, her eyes watering as Galean carefully took out the pieces of glass before wrapping the linen cloth about her foot tightly. When he finished he stood up and wound her arm about his shoulder once more.

  “Can you walk a bit better now?” he asked kindly, wiping his eyes and forehead with his bare arm, his sleeves rolled up.

  “Yes a bit,” Eveline said through gritted teeth and they began to make their way up Wine Street. About them the road was busy with people running to a fro, many standing in shock as their shops and houses were burning with thick black smoke. Eveline cast her eyes to the path on the other side of the road were bodies lay lifeless, women and men hovering over them, trying frantically to bring them back to life.

  “Don’t look,” Galean ordered seeing the horror in her eyes. “Keep your eyes forward.” He knew what it was to face death, he had fought in many wars, on this earth and within his own Kingdom and he knew that if she focused too much on the dead she would only suffer extreme post-traumatic stress, her innocent mind becoming consumed with the faces of the dead, forever haunting her dreams as they haunted his own. Eveline removed her gaze from the bodies and focused on what was in front of her. Soon they made it to Broad Street which was to their left. As they took a small breather, Galean could hear pitched cries and looked over towards a small shop where two women were desperately crying out to someone within the building. Galean looked above the shop and saw that a young boy was crying down at the women, the rooms engulfed with flames. Wordsworth upon hearing his thoughts barked loudly in agreement. Eveline turned and gasped.

  “Galean we can’t leave him,” she said loudly above the noise. Galean stood frozen on the spot, the fear of fire causing his body to shiver. “Galean!” Eveline shouted bringing him back from his thoughts. Galean turned to her and nodded, his blue eyes wide and alarmed. Without a word he let her go and crossed the street, running straight into the burning building. Eveline fell unceremoniously to the ground and let out a deep breath of relief, her eyes fixed on the shop and windows above, frantically looking for evidence of Galean, her heart hammering against her chest with anxiety. Had she seen fear in his eyes when he looked at her as though he had seen a ghost? For a brief moment she thought she had until he turned and ran across the street, unabashed by the danger ahead of him. After what seemed to be forever Galean finally re-emerged from the shop with the boy in his arms. The women fell before him in joy, the younger of the two taking the boy into her arms, hugging and kissing him wildly whilst the elder woman wrapped Galean into an embrace. Eveline watched on with a weak smile upon her face, whatever horror had been in his eyes when looking into the fire he had overcome it to save a child and not many would have had the same courage. After a moment, Galean looked across at Eveline and held her gaze before letting go of the woman, instructing her to follow himself and Eveline across the bridge to the communal shelter.

  Galean crossed the road and came to Eveline, helping her up onto her feet once more.

  “They will follow us,” he said, wrapping her arm about him again and leading her onwards, keeping his gaze from her. Another bomb fell two streets away, the noise and force causing them to stop briefly before they ventured on, the bridge now coming into sight.

  “Galean I need to stop,” Eveline said quietly, her head hurting. Galean stopped and turned to her.

  “Where does it hurt?” he asked gently, searching her face for an answer. Eveline closed her eyes and let her hands rest upon his arms for balance.

  “My head,” she said quietly, opening her eyes ever so slightly. Galean used his right hand and wiped away the thick strands of auburn hair to get a better look at the cut upon her hairline. It wasn’t deep but it looked sore and he imagined that her eardrums must have burst with the blood that dripped from her ears. But it wasn’t the injuries born from the explosions that worried him it was the mark upon her throat. Finally he had a chance to really look at it and when he carefully wiped away a strand of her hair he was shocked to see the area about her cut seriously contaminated, her veins black and bruised. Cupping her face gently he looked back at her, her eyes closed, oblivious to his gaze. His eyes fell to the mark once more and he bit down on his lip deciding it would only be unwise to confront her over the cut and that it would wait until they were safe and she had been attended too.

  “It’s only another ten minutes until we get to the shelter,” he said, his hands falling from her face as she opened her eyes and nodded roughly. “They will have a local nurse there who can help okay?”

  “Okay,” Eveline said quietly as they once again began to walk, stopping at the bridge. Galean scanned the skies, clear for the moment before scanning the rest of the environment, making sure that they could cross the bridge in safety, knowing that crossing it would put them into peril, there being no coverage or safety. If they bridge was bombed they would fall into the freezing water and that could not happen. With confidence in their safety, Galean began to lead Eveline across the bridge, accompanied by Wordsworth who ran on ahead scanning the area. It didn’t take long to cross the bridge and find the communal shelter close by and when finally they made it, Galean helped Eveline down the steps and into the old building which had been set up as the shelter. It was as Galean thought packed with nervous citizens, many injured and distressed. As he led Eveline further into the shelter he observed several nurses attending to the injured and felt instant relief. The shelter held a pungent smell of blood and saline and when finally Galean found a quiet place in a corner, he helped Eveline to sit down so that he could find a nurse quickly. Wordsworth quietly settled himself by Eveline, laying his head upon her lap for comfort.

  *

  Eveline kept herself quiet as she observed the overfilled shelter, noisy and pungent. It was mainly filled with women and children, a few elderly couples in sight. The sirens still roared and bombs still fel
l causing the shelter to shake with thunder only aggravating the already distressed people within, who held onto one another for safety and comfort. Despite the worried expressions on their darkened faces their seemed to Eveline to be an air of strength within the shelter, it was at times like these when man’s true nature was revealed and she saw before her women, men and children fighting to survive, helping and aiding one another to get through the terrifying raid that was still taking place. Some women cried for the homes they left behind and the husbands that were absent and many toughened up using the small resources they had brought with them to help those around them. A few women were pouring cups of tea and coffee from large flasks and handing out small sandwiches which had been prepared and ready for such an occasion. As she looked at the steam swirling about the tops of the coffee and tea Eveline felt her stomach rubble in response, hungry from the pain and shock.

  “Eveline this is Nurse Ruth, she will attend to your injuries,” Galean announced as he came back to her with a young nurse. Eveline didn’t speak she simply nodded as the nurse got to work on her foot.

  “Did you bandage the foot?” the young nurse asked Galean, looking up from the bloodied bandage.

  “I thought it would help to clot the blood,” Galean returned as he sat beside Eveline.

  “Well it has certainly helped to contain the blood flow, but you have inadvertently pushed some of the smaller pieces of glass into the skin further. I will have to take them out.”

  Galean looked to Eveline who was already biting down on her lip.

  “Is there anything you can give her for the pain?” he asked the nurse who opened her box of supplies.

  “I have aspirin in my box, could you please fetch me a glass of water?” nurse Ruth replied.

  “Of course,” Galean murmured as he got up onto his feet once more. It had not taken long for him to return with a small glass of water. The nurse helped Eveline to drink the water, swallowing the two tablets. Galean watched as she opened up a flask of luke warm water and spread it over Eveline’s foot causing her to cry out. Galean took her right hand in his own and held it tight as the nurse wiped down the foot, taking out the small pieces of glass with what looked to be small tweezers. When she had finished taking out the remnants of glass she opened a small pouch and dusted sulphanilamide over the cuts before re bandaging the injured foot once more.

  “Now let’s clean up that face and take a look at your ears,” the nurse exclaimed as she brought forth another cloth, soaking it in water again before attending to Eveline’s face. “Tell me has the pain eased slightly?”

  “A little yes,” Eveline whispered politely, happy to feel the warmth of the water upon her face.

  “Good, I will give you another two to take in a few hours when I am finished.”

  Galean held Eveline’s hand gently and watched on, hoping the nurse would not spot the cut on Eveline’s throat as he was certain it had nothing to do with a human injury. It didn’t take long for the nurse to clean her face and attend to the small cuts.

  “Now I have attended to the external injuries,” the nurse began as she lifted Eveline’s chin observing her eyes attentively. “You said that she had a sore head?”

  “Yes,” Galean muttered seeing the shock in the nurse’s face as she suddenly realised the colour of her patient’s eyes.

  “Have her eyes always been this colour Mr Edwards?” the nurse asked quietly, turning her gaze to Galean.

  “Yes.”

  The nurse was still for a moment, seeing the distress in Eveline’s face at the recognition of her unusual eyes.

  “I cannot see any clear indications of head trauma but I would strongly advise that you keep your wife awake as she has probably sustained a serious concussion, can you do that?” the nurse asked gently, placing a hand upon Eveline’s.

  “She is not my wife she is my friends wife,” Galean returned kindly. “I will however keep her awake for as long as possible.”

  “Good, now she may find herself suffering from disturbances in her vision and may suffer some memory loss, if she however becomes unconscious, confused or has problems with her balance and finds herself unable to speak then please come and get me as soon as possible or get her to the hospital.”

  “I will do,” Galean said with a smile. The nurse took one last glance at her patient before arising and picking up her medical box.

  “I will be back later to check on her.”

  With that the nurse strode off to find her next patient, leaving Galean, Eveline and Wordsworth by themselves.

  “I’m cold,” Eveline groaned as her body shivered slightly.

  “Of course you are” Galean said gruffly. “Here,” Galean picked up a blanket which had been given to him when he collected some water. With caution he laid it over Eveline before sitting back against the wall, his own head aching. He looked up at the clock that hung from the wall.

  “What time is it?” Eveline asked as she stroked Wordsworth gently, trying to keep her eyes open and alert.

  “It’s nearly nine o clock.”

  “Gosh it doesn’t seem a minute past six,” Eveline said with a weak smile, the images of the burning cathedral forming within her mind.

  “Usually in situations like this time seems to fly by despite feeling that it slows down.”

  “You must be tiring of me Mr Edwards, it seems that destruction seems to follow me everywhere at the moment,” Eveline said with serious eyes.

  “You are not to blame for this Eveline, it was just bad timing on our part,” Galean replied as he rolled down his sleeves.

  “Still you must be longing to go home and not here having to put your life on the line for a woman you do not know.”

  “I promised Theodore that I would keep you safe until he returns.”

  “He will be here in the morning,” Eveline smiled at the thought. “Then you may return to wherever it is you come from.” Galean saw for the briefest of seconds a hint of sadness within her eyes and wondered what it meant. “Where is it exactly that you come from Galean?”

  “You should be resting Eveline,” Galean said quietly as an image of his birthplace sprung up to bite him. He missed his home and his people and knew the longer he stayed away the stronger his brother’s war against his father would become. He would lose the confidence of his people and find himself an outcast to all that he had known and loved. He had already left it too late and knew that he would have to return within the next few weeks if Meer was to survive war and the harsh winter that would come with it.

  “I’m not allowed to sleep remember?” Eveline asked with furrowed brows. Galean sighed giving in to her curiosity.

  “I come from a planet called Unas,” he whispered quietly not wanting anybody to overhear their conversation.

  “That’s incredible,” Eveline whispered softly, her face coming to life. “Is it like our own planet of earth?”

  “In many ways yes, but my people are not as advanced as your own.”

  “How truly fascinating. Do go on,” Eveline said with patient eyes.

  “What would you like to know?”

  “Who you are and where your home is.”

  Galean looked about making sure that they were not being overheard and when satisfied that they were safe turned round to look at Eveline.

  “I am Galean son of Ballour, heir to the Kingdom of Meer,” he announced rather regally.

  “You are a prince?” Eveline whispered. “I thought you were an angel?”

  “I am in part, my line can trace its way back to the angel known as Gabriel,” Galean said with certainty.

  “Gabriel hails from your world?”

  “No, but one of his children left Heaven and made his home among the people of the north.”

  “So your kingdom is in the north yes?”

  “Yes beyond the vast mountain range of Calnuthe,” Galean said seeing the intrigue in Eveline’s eyes and finding it slightly ironic.

  “Sometimes when I sleep I see a vast mountain
range that lurks beyond this beautiful garden that I always find myself wandering in,” Eveline said with glazed eyes. “It is always a very beautiful dream that takes place in the same garden.” Galean knew which garden she spoke of, it was the garden of Kings and Queens. It was strange that she should remember it considering she was only a baby when she had first and last entered it with her dying parents.

  “What happens in your dream?” Galean enquired with soft eyes.

  “You will think me silly if I share with you an account of my strange and vivid dreams,” Eveline coloured slightly.

  “You couldn’t be further from the truth.”

  “It is not unusual that I have dreams or visions for I have always suffered from them,” Eveline began as she moved her body slightly to rid her thighs of the lingering pain. “I awaken within this glorious garden, filled with the most beautiful elements of nature. Trees I have never seen before and flowers that glow under the night sky.” Galean knew of the trees and flowers she spoke of and found himself back within the garden, her words poetic and enchanting. “I always take the same path through the trees coming to stand before a large and beautiful lake with an island in the centre.” Eveline laid her head back against the wall, dust falling in the air as another explosion went off somewhere close to the shelter, but she heard and felt none of what was happening around her for she was back in the garden, her mind filled with the smells and fresh air that always surrounded her. “My feet are always bare and I like to dip them into the cool waters, sitting down by the shore for a while, just taking it all in.”