One Crown & Two Thrones: The Prophecy

by Iseult O'Shea

  “He had a wife and family?”

  “Yes, once.”

  “What happened to them?” Eveline asked as Galean once again brought a blanket about her shoulders.

  “When the angels rebelled and war broke out across the universe, Lagar killed Heiden’s wife and three sons, rendering Heiden broken with unspoken grief, for those he had loved had turned from him, wielding hatred and darkness across all of the universe,” Galean explained. “Lagar and his followers were banished from the Kingdom of Heaven and Heiden gave any that served him the right to make their home elsewhere, for great were the losses inflicted and many wished to lead a quiet and undisturbed existence outside of the Kingdom.”

  “Gabriel’s son?”

  “Yes, he was called Magnar and he choose to leave his father and make a home for himself in my world, marrying a human and baring children, who are my ancestors also,” Galean said with soft eyes, proud of his heritage despite the few ancestors that had been corrupt. “My father, brothers and myself we have a longer lifetime than those who are human, which is why we spend time away from our world, serving Heiden.”

  “You said that he had a daughter? What happened to her?” Eveline asked as the church was awash with noise. Galean looked down at his boots not sure if it was right of him to tell her about her own mother.

  “She was impregnated by Lagar and Heiden without knowing this sent her to my world, to a special place in which she would be safe and free from harm,” Galean answered flatly.

  “What happened to her?”

  “She dwelled within that secretive place for a time and gave birth to a son naming him Heidan after her father and mother. When he grew up he left her, taking up the cloak of darkness and re-joining his father, leaving her abandoned and alone.”

  “Why do I feel pain as though a deeply seeded bud of grief has suddenly erupted within?”

  “It is natural to feel pain when listening to her story,” Galean said with sad eyes.

  “Why did Heiden leave her alone? Why did he not go to her?”

  “He was plagued with grief and his daughter was in the likeness of her mother. He could not bear to look upon her fair face and so kept himself from her, ashamed and altered.”

  “Did she die alone?”

  “No, it is said that when she was walking among the trees she met a young King, who fell in love with her,” Galean turned his eyes to Eveline and found himself looking into the face of her mother, Unyae. “He brought her out of weeping and took her back to his Kingdom, marrying her and giving to her a life of happiness she had long lost hope in.”

  “I am glad for her,” Eveline smiled deeply. “Did they live happily until their deaths?”

  “How I wished they had,” Galean murmured. “But fate was never kind to the Queen.”

  “I’m scared to ask what happened to her…”

  “Upon hearing that she had given birth to a child, her firstborn came back to the Kingdom in disguise as a courtier and poisoned both her wine and her husbands. When they knew they were dying they fled to the place in which they had met with their babe and died in one another’s arms. It is said that Heiden came to them and cried so painfully that the world was engrossed with thunder for seven days.”

  “What happened to the child?” Eveline asked with tear filled eyes.

  “He brought her home with him,” Galean lied. “And brought her up under his protection until such a time as she was strong enough to go back to her birthplace and take up her rightful place upon the throne.”

  “And Heidan? What happened to him?”

  “He and his army of supporters raided the Kingdom of Calnuthe and took the crown and throne, throwing the kingdom into a second darkness.”

  “What of the other two kingdoms?”

  “The vast and once beautiful Kingdom of Ruarr which lies to the east had a long time before been attacked and raided by a man named Islaer, once Heidan’s mentor. The fair and strong Kingdom of Taer once ruled over by the fearless Queen Cathlen was also attacked from within, she had given birth to a bastard child and a few weeks later had died from poisoning, placing the powerful merchant and politician Ravan onto the throne.”

  “How terrible,” Eveline sighed.

  “Light still exists Eveline, within the people of the Kingdoms, for a King or Queen is only one person and there subjects are many. Many are filled with light and refuse to give in to the darkness that prevails over the lands. Whilst they stand in the light hope will remain.”

  “And the High Queen? Will she reclaim her throne?”

  “If she chooses to, it will be an enormous task and will take great courage and strength,” Galean said with furrowed brows.

  “I hope she does, if not in vengeance for her parent’s death then to free her people of oppression and suffering.” Galean held her gaze a moment, a smile lingering upon his lips, how incredible to be sat in front of that very Queen, to see the determination and hope in her eyes and strength that gave him hope in the future of their two Kingdoms. How idle and foolish had Heiden been in hiding away from his daughter and her daughter, how he would come to regret treating Unyae with such severity on his part. For here he sat in the presence of her child and was astounded by her grace and compassion. He understood that a good leader needed to be firm and severe at times, but many that possessed such qualities lacked in compassion and understanding, qualities that brought healing to a nation and love.

  “You said that you were a prince of the northern Kingdom, yes?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why is it that you stray from your people?”

  “I will be returning home in the next few weeks, for war lurks within Meer too,” Galean said with solemnness.

  “Who wishes to wage war on the North?”

  “My brother Beon,” Galean admitted through gritted teeth. “He has fallen into shadow and so has his Kingdom, greedy for all the land in the North and unable to keep his greed to his own lands and people.”

  “Such burdens you carry with you Mr Edwards,” Eveline said kindly.

  “We all carry burdens Eveline,” Galean said with serenity in his blue eyes.

  “Look,” Eveline said as she pointed to the windows of the church. Galean followed her gaze and smiled as the rising sun filled the glass stained windows and church, falling upon everyone within, warming their cold skin and weakened spirits.

  “It is very beautiful,” Galean whispered never bored by the rising and setting sun.

  “Despite all that can happen within our maddeningly corrupt world, the sun still rises, mocking the pain of the night.”

  “It gives us hope Eveline that from darkness comes light.”

  “Indeed Mr Edwards,” Eveline smiled warmly.

  It had been a strange night and morning Eveline concluded as the car stopped before the beautiful Georgian house on Cavendish road that lay opposite to the Royal Victoria Park. With a sleeping Belle in her arms she and Estelle made their way up the steps of the house and into the beautifully lit home, met by Estelle’s old friend Mary.

  “Estelle!” Mary beamed taking her old friend into an embrace. “What a terrible few days you’ve had, come I have had supper made for us all. This must be Belle,” she whispered as Eveline came to stand beside her, a weak smile upon her face as Theodore draped an arm about her waist protectively. “I have her room made up, it’s up on the first floor, two doors to the left.”

  “I think I will take her up now and put her to bed, she has had a long day,” Eveline whispered turning to Galean. “Can you help me?”

  “Of course,” Galean replied coming forward and taking Belle from her, Theodore and Jophiel watching on as the trio made their way up the stairs quietly.

  “Come let us have some tea,” Mary announced, heralding everyone into her dining room. “Ada, Bram and Peter are here as well.”

  When everyone had settled around the table, they quietly took supper, tired and exhausted. It wasn’t long before Eveline and Galean returned taking seats
beside Theodore and Jophiel.

  “Ada, Bram and Peter never did I imagine that we would meet again!” Galean said merrily, joyous to see his old friends.

  “Galean you haven’t aged a day!” Ada announced as he sipped on his sweet tea.

  “Always a joker,” Galean returned as Jophiel yawned lightly. “You should head to bed Jophiel you look run down.”

  “I think I will retire Galean,” Jophiel smiled, setting her cup down and bidding Mary and Estelle goodnight.

  “Have a peaceful sleep Jophiel,” Eveline exclaimed kindly, rising to embrace her new female companion. “Maybe we can go for a walk in the morning and really get to know one another if you would like?”

  Jophiel looked at Eveline before looking down in Theodore’s darkened eyes.

  “I would love to,” she said with earnest eyes. “It is nice to make a female acquaintance at last.”

  “I share in your opinion,” Eveline smiled before sitting down beside her husband. One by one the guests made their goodnights leaving, Eveline, Theodore and Galean alone before a dying fire.

  “What a day!” Theodore said into Eveline’s hair as she sat on the ground before him, leaning back into his legs, her eyes on the dying embers as memories of the previous evening infiltrated her mind, her conversation with Galean causing her to smile gently her eyes rising to meet his own confused stare.

  “I could sleep for a week,” Eveline groaned inwardly.

  “As could I,” Galean muttered, stretching his legs before him. “Maybe we can discuss matters in the morning Cael?”

  “I think that would be best,” Theodore returned mildly, seeing the look that past between his young wife and friend, shaking off the idiocy of his jealousy. She loved him and he had sworn that he had no heart with which to share after his wives death.

  Eveline looked into the embers and realised with renewed shock that this would be her first night with her husband and suddenly found herself afraid. She wasn’t afraid of Theodore but afraid of what would come, she had never thought about the physical part of their marriage before as they had been parted so long, but now that it had arrived it felt wrong and too fast. She drew in a sigh and resigned herself to the conclusion that she was shy and nervous like any other bride.

  “Shall we retire my dear?” Theodore announced, looking down at his wife.

  “Yes I am tired indeed,” Eveline returned with quivering lips.

  “Galean will you retire too?” Theodore asked as he got up from the leather chair and held out a hand for his wife who took it, a tremble in her hand causing him to look at her with concern. Galean watched the couple and took up his glass of whiskey.

  “I shall stay here for a little while longer, you go on ahead you need not wait on me,” Galean said quietly, seeing a shadow of nervousness pass over Eveline’s face as she followed her husband from the room.

  “Do as you wish,” Theodore returned pleasantly as he led his wife away from the room and out to the reception area where they came to the marble stairs. Galean sat back into his chair with his glass of whiskey in one hand, watching Eveline intently as she walked away quietly, turning once upon the stairs to stare back at him with a slight smile upon her lips. Galean smiled in return, wanting to reassure her, needing to sweep away any fear she held, not knowing why it was she felt suddenly fearful. As she faded from sight, he glanced back into the fire and realised that this was her wedding night and suddenly understood why it was that she looked fearful and yet thought that she should have felt wonder or love. With a deep gulp he drank away the rest of his whiskey and closed his eyes in pain, all would be right in the morning.

  VIII

  The Prophecy

  She was a sweet, pretty thing and he’d have walked the world over to get her a blade o’grass she wanted…

  Frances Hodgson Burnett.

  “How is your foot today?” Jophiel asked Eveline as they strolled through the busy park with Belle and Wordsworth by their sides, happily conversing with one another. Eveline lowered her felt hat over her forehead, weary of passers-by glancing at her curious eyes and tall physique.

  “Much better,” Eveline smiled, the creases of her eyes lifting in unison. Mary had given Eveline her deceased husband’s walking stick which she refused to accept profusely not wishing to be seen as an invalid. Galean, leaning against the doorway observing for a time had simply taken the stick from Mary and thrust it into Eveline’s hand before walking away with a sigh causing a flare of anger to arise within her at his arrogance.

  “Despite your protestations you seem to have found relief in your stick,” Jophiel laughed lightly, her green eyes bright and fresh observing the falling leaves as they spun about in the light wind that circulated the park gently, teasing the piles of fallen leaves upon the ground, causing them unrest.

  “Truth be told I was about to take the stick before Mr Edwards quite literally threw it at me with an expression I can only acquit to stone,” Eveline said curtly, her pale cheeks colouring with an unintended rush of anger, an emotion she had been feeling more of in the last few days.

  “You must forgive Galean’s moodiness it doesn’t often show, but he means you no harm he just finds it hard sometimes to overcome…” Jophiel stopped not knowing if it was honourable or not to speak of her dear friend without permission. “I’m not sure I should say anymore.”

  “I suppose he feels stuck at the moment, feeling the constant urge to go home instead of wasting his time here,” Eveline said quickly as she limped with determination, another feeling she had been experiencing greatly as of late.

  “He has had a tough time,” Jophiel admitted with a sigh, turning her gaze to Eveline.

  “I know,” Eveline replied calmly.

  “You do?” Jophiel said with raised brows, she had spent weeks trying to gouge out of Galean the reason for his fall into shadow and grief had he so willingly obliged Eveline? A woman he had only met? If he had, she wondered would could have moved him to be so open about his past.

  “We had to sit with one another for nearly ten hours in a shelter and so found ourselves engrossed in an ever flowing conversation that deepened with every turn. At first it was to simply keep me awake as I had suffered a concussion but soon we just found some sort of comfort in the sharing of our life stories,” Eveline said with clear eyes as though his openness was not unusual or strange despite it being so to Jophiel. Angels knew very little of the proud man only that he was fair and courageous, a great warrior who had seen too much horror in his young life.

  “You will excuse me if I am a little shocked at your admission. Galean is known well for his reserved nature, he is not however known for having a loose tongue.”

  “I myself have only known him a short time so I am not really aware of the kind of man he is to others,” Eveline said kindly. “We were under trying circumstances, maybe being so close to death made us more susceptible to talking.”

  “I suppose that would encourage him to speak more freely,” Jophiel lied as she brought her hands to rest before her. “So you know of his family?”

  “Yes, how dark his days and nights have been,” Eveline answered with graveness. “Grief can do terrible things to the mind when it sees fit too.”

  “Yes it can,” Jophiel nodded. “I assume that you know about him being exiled?”

  “And Heaven is worse off for it for I have never met a kinder and more honourable man, except of course my husband,” Eveline blushed. “To be honest I have not been in the company of many men or women so my opinions do not count for much.”

  “Your opinions count trust me,” Jophiel said with caring eyes, she liked Eveline’s honest nature. “And you are right Heaven has indeed lost a great man but maybe it was fates way of guiding him back to where he really belongs, at home with his family and people, a place where he is truly loved and needed.”

  “He has a great many burdens to carry but I think him strong enough for the tasks he has ahead of him,” Eveline said with an air of confidence.
“How do you know Galean and my husband?”

  “We used to work together for a while, well myself and Theodore along with our friends, Ada, Bram and Peter, we used to be protectors in London,” Jophiel replied wistfully. “And then we met Galean a few years before the First World War, he and I struck up quite a friendship. After his family has been murdered he had fallen into shadow at a time that I too had found myself unable to be around anyone. He sought me out and together we lived in Scotland, high up in the highlands were we could bare our sufferings with a little ease, together.”

  “I am glad he found comfort,” Eveline said quietly. “And my husband?”

  Jophiel turned her gaze away and felt her nose prickle with sadness but sniffed away the reaction. “You didn’t know that Theodore was an angel am I right?”

  “Yes, Galean told me a few days ago,” Eveline replied bluntly.

  “And how do you feel knowing that he is an angel and is a lot older than you?”

  “At first I didn’t really digest the information, I was so struck by the rest of the revelations I barely found it within me to judge my husband’s conduct,” Eveline answered plainly. “When I think of it now I find myself a little confused. We spoke of it last night and he explained to me that he had been assigned to protect me from a cause I do not yet know of and part of that agreement was that he morph into a child of a similar age. He said that he had been stripped of his past memories and had no idea until he met Galean whilst in hospital a few weeks ago.”

  “He was in hospital?” Jophiel asked with concerned eyes.

  “He was a RAF pilot and his plane was shot down over London, his friend William had died but he had been lucky enough to release his parachute and fell into the side of building rendering him unconscious,” Eveline explained with a distress look on her face, her lips quivering slightly. “He was not badly injured but had to have an operation. When he awoke he found Galean at his bedside and explained that Galean helped to bring him back to who he truly was.”