One Crown & Two Thrones: The Prophecy

by Iseult O'Shea

  “I had not realised he had been injured,” Jophiel said quietly. Of course he wouldn’t tell her, he could barely look at her despite their frank conversation on the way to Bristol. He had reverted back to his cold and distant ways with her, annoyed that she had struck up a friendship with his wife.

  “Theodore isn’t one for moaning or simpering about himself,” Eveline smiled. “He is a proud man.”

  “He is indeed,” Jophiel muttered under her breathe.

  “Does he seem a little altered to you too then? Seeing as you have been friends with him for a longer period of time than I,” Eveline asked with urgent eyes as she released Belle’s hand allowing the child and her canine friend to run along in front of them.

  “Theodore has fought in more than one war and with each he is struck by post-traumatic stress,” Jophiel explained, scanning the confinements of the park, ensuring that they were safe from any lurking imposters. “I suppose it is only natural that he be a little altered considering all that is going on, but his true self is still within him even if he is a little more edgy or sharp at times.”

  “When last we were in the company of one another on our wedding day he was filled with excitement and hope. He had just been given his first set of orders and like many of the young men sent to war was filled with arrogant confidence,” Eveline began with a soft smile. “He was always bright and jolly growing up, filled to the brim with an easy manner and nature, always my protector and friend.”

  “May I ask how your relationship changed?”

  “I’m not entirely sure on my part but for Theodore, he began to see me differently after my eighteenth birthday, so he says,” Eveline said with furrowed brows. “He claims that he knew the instant we met that I would one day become his wife.”

  “And you? Did you feel the same?”

  “No, I only ever saw him as my brother and friend not having any other friends myself,” Eveline caught the end of her cashmere scarf and wrapped it about her neck. “I only began to see him differently a few months before he proposed to me. I understood that no other man would ever understand me like Theodore, that I would never find another similar in likeness to myself.”

  “You married him for those reasons?” Jophiel asked wide eyed.

  “I love Theodore,” Eveline said quickly. Silence engulfed the pair as they awkwardly walked together. “I did not marry simply because I thought that nobody else would want me.”

  “You don’t have to explain yourself Eveline, I shouldn’t have been so nosey,” Jophiel said ashamed that she had been so forward. “Shall we sit down for a moment?”

  Eveline called out to Belle and Wordsworth bidding them to stop and turn. Jophiel helped her to sit upon the park bench watching as Belle with a stick in her hand walked back with Wordsworth.

  “I know I have led a sheltered life,” Eveline said as she fixed her hat and stilled the stick beside her hip so that it did not fall to the ground. “I was for a time quite sceptical about Theodore’s proposal and we agreed to wait a year before entertaining the idea of marriage. On his part he was filled with passionate declarations and on my own part I was more reserved and nervous.”

  “So what was it that made up your mind?”

  “After he had finished his year of training I had realised how much I had missed him and war had been declared and I was hit with the realisation that he could lose his life fighting for his country,” Eveline said with quiet contemplation. “He is my best friend and in my head marriage seemed logical. I wanted to become his wife and one day a mother and so we arranged a rushed wedding before he was called to Kent.”

  “How very romantic,” Jophiel smiled. She had listened to Eveline seriously and was aghast that she had not regaled the tale of her relationship with Theodore with moving passion and undying love, it had worried her that she thought the young and naive Eveline had felt pressured to marry Theodore who was quite clearly head over heels in love with her for the fear of being on her own and unloved for the rest of her life. Did she marry Theodore out of fear or resignation to the fact that no other human would ever know her the same? Did she Jophiel hold biased views because of her own ardent feelings towards Cael?

  Eveline drew in a deep breathe, had Jophiel seen into her heart and mind knowing the real reasons behind her marrying Theodore?

  “Love can be subtle,” she whispered as tears sprung to her eyes feeling herself fall into a state of hopelessness. Life had been so simple a few weeks ago and she felt herself yearning to return to Keswick to her quiet existence without the disruption and confusion that seemed to stalk her from morning till night.

  “Don’t cry Eveline I didn’t meant to pry,” Jophiel said quietly, seeing the change in Eveline’s behaviour which forced her to feel shame and guilt. Eveline was not the cause of her heartache, she was a young woman who happened to be caught up in a situation far greater than she anticipated, she didn’t need chiding or lecturing as to her personal and reserved marriage she needed friendship and help for she clearly was struggling within inner worries. Jophiel placed it down to the stress of the last two weeks, she had been caught up in a terrible raid which could have rendered his mortally injured not to mention being the subject of every shadows intent to which she had no idea why. Of course she should be fragile and prone to bouts of depression and stress, Jophiel wouldn’t expect anything less and should have been more sensitive. Eveline unlike her had no experience of the greater world or the spiritual world and needed guidance and mentoring.

  “I never cry,” Eveline sniffed feeling disgraced with herself over her sudden episode of sadness. “But ever since that night I have found myself being propelled downwards into a spiral of sadness.”

  “You have been through a lot recently, it has only been two days since the air raid in Bristol, the shock from such an experience only really takes hold a few days afterwards,” Jophiel soothed as she wrapped an arm about Eveline, who quickly wiped away a tear with her leather glove smiling weakly. “And to add to all the trauma you have had to experience you have been thrown into a world of confusion, filled with people you don’t know away from the comforts of your home.”

  “I seem to bounce between sadness and anger at the moment, two emotions I’m not greatly acquainted with,” Eveline said as she turned to her friend. “I’m not without emotion of course but I have never been so forcefully thrown into the deep end like this.”

  “I completely understand,” Jophiel said with a soft voice, her black curls dancing about in the gentle breeze. “Let us not talk of things that may sadden you let us instead speak of brighter things. You are an avid reader I take it?”

  “Yes, I love to read,” Eveline smiled cheerfully happy for a change of topic.

  “What do you like to read?”

  “Philosophy, History, poetry and fictional books,” Eveline answered lightly her eyes drying. “Estelle is an author.”

  “Really? How intriguing,” Jophiel said gently as she watched Belle and Wordsworth running about in circles as she tried to catch the end of his tail. “Who is your favourite poet?”

  “Gosh it’s a toss between Goethe and Wordsworth,” Eveline replied as she felt the tickling bite of winter upon her pale skin.

  “Bushes, valley, silently, you fill with misty light. Easing my soul utterly again, at last, at night,” Jophiel exclaimed as she looked up into the blue sky above, her eyes glazed. “Soothingly you cast your gaze over a dark country. A gentle and friendly eyes guard my destiny…”

  “Glad and troubled, times echo in my heart. I walk between pain and delight, in solitude, apart,” Eveline interceded with a full heart for she loved Goethe with a passion. Both women turned to face one another as Jophiel clasped her new friend’s hands within her own. Together they spoke as one.

  “Flow on, beloved flood: flow on! I’ll never know joy again. Laughter and kisses, both are gone. And loyalty flows away. There was a time I had as yet life’s most precious thing! Ah, a man can never forget that which torments
him... What, unknown to all their art, ignored, by all mankind. Through the labyrinth of the heart wanders in the night.”

  “How beautiful and haunting are his words,” Eveline sighed as Belle came to sit beside her, tired and content.

  “A most greatly underestimated man Goethe,” Jophiel said with pride.

  “My thoughts exactly,” Eveline smiled with ease, her sadness falling away to give birth to the new bud of friendship.

  “We should make our way back before lunch is served,” Jophiel said with unwillingly eyes, not wanting to break this moment of happiness between her and her new friend.

  *

  After putting Belle down for an hours nap in the afternoon, Eveline made her way down to Mary’s library to fetch a book on botany. As she limped towards the door of the library she heard raised voices and turned to make for the study, stopping at the door which was slightly ajar to eavesdrop on the conversation.

  “Did you know of the prophecy?” she heard her husband’s angry voice fill the study.

  “Lier spoke of it before I left for Keswick,” Galean’s voice returned. Eveline splayed her hands upon the door and wall, bending her head inward with curiosity bubbling within.

  “Theodore, Galean knew nothing of the prophecy before that night,” Jophiel argued quietly.

  “It doesn’t change a thing,” Theodore boomed.

  “Stop being so hot headed Theodore. I hold no claim on your wife, why would I?” Galean exclaimed, his heavy feet pacing about the floor. Eveline furrowed her brows with confusion.

  “Prophecies are not always reliable,” Jophiel added.

  “This one must be if Lagmar and Belem are openly troubled by it,” Theodore returned curtly.

  “You are married to Eveline even if you vowed never to touch her,” Galean shouted, his voice breaking with frustration.

  “That is beyond the point,” Theodore said flatly. “If the prophecy is correct then she should be with you as fate intended, not me.”

  “Damn you Theodore!” Galean cursed bitterly. “She is your wife! She means nothing to me!” At these words Eveline felt herself weaken.

  “Two hearts, bound by fate and time shall cast a great light across all seven corners of the universe,” Theodore exclaimed with coldness. “Under the tree of life they shall come, sipping from the fountain of time, binding themselves to one another. They shall become one and together shall overcome all that stands in the way of the light. They shall vanquish darkness and reign glorious forever more…”

  “Stop!” Galean thundered. “I have heard enough.”

  “Gentlemen may I remind you that we are all friends not enemies? That this is exactly what Lagmar wants? For us to become divided and driven by jealousy and vengeance!”

  “Jophiel is right Theodore,” Galean said with renewed calmness. “There is no truth to this prophecy, Lagmar is merely using it as a form of weapon to create division where there should be unity.”

  “There are more important matters that we should be focusing on rather than the matters of the heart,” Jophiel added softly.

  “You seem to be doing a good job of wedeling your way into my wife’s life!” Theodore raged. Eveline gasped and covered her mouth with her hand as she heard the sound of feet rushing across the room.

  “Don’t you ever speak to Jophiel like that again do you hear me!” Galean exclaimed with terrifying firmness in his voice. “You left her remember? You left her with a broken promise of marriage, chasing a fool’s hope that you would return to her like you said you would. Don’t you dare try to manipulate her into feeling guilty or that she is part of the problem. You abandoned her, you made her hold on to a falsehood and broke her heart. I was there when she fell victim to your deceit, I was there when she nearly ended her life because you had not returned.”

  “Galean it’s alright really,” Jophiel whispered. Eveline stood back from the door in horror as the revelations seeped into her mind with agonising pain. Someone’s feet fell to the ground.

  “What has become of you lately Cael?” Galean asked with a pitiful tone to his voice. “You’re so consumed with doubt and jealousy I would hardly recognise you. Your wife is in peril and yet you fill your mind with matters that are of no equal consequence. Your wife is alive unlike my family who were killed as I was off across the universe protecting Eveline from harm. Why would you think that I would purposely steal her from you? Prophecy or no prophecy?”

  “You are too intent on saving your pride,” Jophiel interceded. “This isn’t about us, this is about her.”

  Eveline unable to listen to anymore of the conversation turned on her heels and limped her way upstairs, angry and stirred. When she finally reached her room she entered and slammed the door heavily, locking it before limping over to her bed and falling on top of it, crying. As she lay atop the bed, she forced herself to stop crying like a child and to pull herself together. Wiping her face with her sleeves she sat up and made her way to the windows, drawing the curtains and sitting on the ground with her back to the darkened wall, her head sore and heavy. What a fool she had been, what a damned, naive, idiotic fool she had been. And what a fool she was to those surrounding her bar her mother and Belle who played no part in this sick and perverse situation.

  “Liars,” a voice murmured within. Eveline shook her head. “No!” she whispered hotly. “But he loves Jophiel not you,” the voice teased on. “It’s because of you that Galean’s family died and Jophiel lost the man she loved. It’s your fault.” Eveline forced her hands into fists and bite down on her lower lip which began to bleed lightly. “No!” she cried out angrily. “But it’s the truth,” the voice hissed. “You heard them say so.”

  “I said no!” Eveline cried out, forcing a glass Edwardian vase to explode. Slowly Eveline got up from the ground and limped over to the broken vase which lay cast upon the floor, the red roses scattered beneath her feet. “Blast!” she whispered picking up a rose and setting it on her dressing chair. As she rose from the ground she found herself looking into the mirror of her dresser, her face pale and her eyes dark. With a sniff she placed her hands upon the edge of the table and bent her head low before the mirror. Blood trickled from her lips, dripping off the edge of her chin and spotting her ivory blouse with dots of blood. Quickly she took out a handkerchief from her wrist and dabbed at the blood, wiping it away. When she set the handkerchief down upon the table she felt something within her arise and felt herself change instantly. Looking into the mirror her eyes had changed to black and her head moved in a strange manner. Eveline felt herself become small, becoming lost within this monstrous thing that had erupted within her body and mind.

  “Nobody wants you Eveline,” her mouth began to move against her will. “Your mother hides from you because she doesn’t know what to do with you, just like your last set of parents,” her once feminine voice had been overruled by a male voice. “Your husband loves another woman and Galean can’t bear to be around you, you being the reason for his grief.” Eveline fought the monstrous creature within, only to feel a sharp force beat her down with an invisible rod. “You don’t need them to be strong, they will only wear you down and use you and when they are done with you, you will be discarded and alone.” Her lips curled into a malicious smile. “You know I’m right, just stop and take a look around you.” Eveline was flung to the floor, her body becoming heavy like led. As she lay on the carpet with her eyes on the ceiling she felt the creature evaporate, her body and mind becoming her own once more. With a dizzy head she sat up and filled her mouth with her left hand fist, unable to look at the mirror out of fear. Someone knocked on the door.

  “Eveline?” a familiar voice rang out. “Are you in there?”

  Eveline took a step back and turned, quickly putting herself together before her husband entered. When the door opened she heard his footsteps and turned.

  “Eveline? Are you alright?” Theodore looked about the room, first to the curtains then to the floor where the glass vase lay, smashed into ti
ny pieces.

  “I knocked it down by accident,” Eveline lied as her husband strode over to her, cupping her face with his hands, his eyes burning into her own.

  “Your lip it’s bleeding,” he stated softly seeing something within her eyes, not quite able to catch it.

  “I must have had a bad dream and bitten down on it,” Eveline said with a roll of her eyes.

  “Are you sure you are quite alright? I heard a strange voice when I came to the door,” Theodore searched her face as he gently licked his index finger and wiped her cut lip with it.

  “Why wouldn’t I be alright?” Eveline smiled sheepishly unable to against her better judgement to lay her hands upon his wrists.

  “You look a little pale and disorientated, was your dream particularly bad?”

  “Nothing out of the ordinary I assure you,” Eveline said through gritted teeth, the conversation that had taken place in the study coming back to her. “What are you doing here?”

  “I was coming to see if you would like to come downstairs and play chess with us?” Theodore asked with light eyes as though nothing had taken place thirty minutes ago, his anger gone and in place the Theodore she had grown up with had taken precedence. “You love chess remember?”

  “Who will be playing?” Eveline asked as she turned to open the curtains, Theodore standing at ease, watching her open the marigold curtains.

  “Ada, Bram and myself,” Theodore said as she came back to him with a pleasant smile upon her face.

  “Where is mother?”

  “She has a headache and is resting,” Theodore answered as he took her hand and placed it within his own, briefly kissing her blood stained lips. “So?”

  “Where is Jophiel?” Eveline watched as Theodore’s eyes clouded darkly.

  “She is helping Mary and Helen with dinner,” he said with twitching lips.

  “Okay I shall play with you,” Eveline exclaimed following her husband out of their room and down the corridor. They made their way down to the study quietly, each silent to their thoughts. When she entered the room, she found it free from both Jophiel and Galean and drew in a sigh, she did not know if she could quite stand to be in their presence. She knew they were not at fault but she had been the one that had caused them incredible amounts of pain and she, filled with guilt and shame could not quite bare to meet their gazes. Eveline waited whilst her husband pulled out a chair for her and sat down. She looked about the table at Ada and Bram and studied their profiles. Ada was shorter than Bram, his face soft and trusting with blue eyes just like the other angels. It was true that they all shared similar features, Galean less so, him only being in part angel. They were fair to behold and one felt the gentle aura that radiated from them. They were not as strong or big as Galean but were lean and fine, their features beautiful and quaint. Ada was the quieter of the two and had always a pensive look in his timeless eyes. Bram was livelier and never had a problem with conversing, he was the glue that was so badly needed, and he entertained those around him taking away the sizzling tension without consciously doing so. It was hard not to love these new angels, they were so alike in appearance but so very different in personalities. Eveline felt herself relax in their presence and witnessed the visible change in her tense husband whose shoulders relaxed and face fell, the lines of tension disappearing, his lips curling into a soft smile and his eyes sparkling. This was the Theodore she loved, this was the Theodore she knew. But this wasn’t all of Theodore she realised as she moved her queen. With this realisation came the painful truth that she really didn’t know him very well, he never would have struck her as a man capable of leaving a woman behind to serve his own selfish purpose. Theodore had always looked at Eveline, they spent every day together running through fields and examining nature with light hearts and love. It was true that he had indeed become more tense and stressed since their being reunited and now she knew why. Could she blame him for marrying her when he had been stripped of his memory? Could she become ignorant of Cael and simply submit to Theodore? Did he secretly despise her for making him fall in love with her against his master’s orders? She simply did not know. So many unanswered questions and so much confusion and she whilst all this external mess was accumulating about her she had changed since she had been bitten, she was becoming unlike her normal self. Emotions she held in check arose so suddenly within her that she hardly knew how to contain them. The monstrous creature that had crept up on her today had never been present before and she worried that she was morphing into something dark and nefarious against her will. Underneath all of this worry what truly worried her was the need to go to Galean and not her husband for help, when she listened to him speak of her this afternoon her heart had fallen into a bottomless pit. She had in a short time shared so much with this new and curious man, they had an unspoken bond of friendship between them that she had become profoundly attached too. But she was the reason for his mess, she had inadvertently killed his family and she felt for the first time a true weight of guilt upon her shoulders. Why she had caused all of this mess she still did not know, but she knew that she would never be able to speak openly with her new friend again, knew that he must have gone through great pain to simply be in her presence. Still he was giving up his life despite all that she had done to him to protect her.