One Crown & Two Thrones: The Prophecy

by Iseult O'Shea

  “You will forgive my anxiety Mr Edwards, I find myself consumed with it these days,” Estelle murmured into her tea, her own brown eyes downcast and tired.

  “All parents worry about their children and you would be right in doing so, but do not let it take control of your life,” Galean lectured gently. “She is safe and well protected I promise you.”

  “I worry for them both,” Estelle replied her voice faint and airy.

  “They have each other which is a great comfort to them both, they are stronger than you give them credit for,” Galean said with firm eyes.

  “I know they are strong Mr Edwards,” Estelle smiled. “But I wonder if their strength will enough against these creatures of darkness.”

  “Theodore is a respected angel Estelle, he has lived long and has experience in these situations. As for Eveline, she is learning day by day. Her skills with daggers is quiet surprising for someone untrained and beneath that quaint and fair face lies a determined woman, not ready to give up all that she is and stands for. She is constantly surprising me.” Estelle stared at Galean curiously sensing something deeper within his words, not knowing what.

  “Can we go now Galean?” Belle asked over the table, her short legs swinging from the chair impatiently.

  “Have you finished?” Estelle interjected.

  “Yes,” Belle smiled showing Estelle her empty plate.

  “Well then off you go to the library with Mr Edwards,” Estelle smiled as the child climbed down from her chair and kissed her cheek, running round to Galean and taking his hand.

  Eveline watched them leave and turned to Theodore.

  “I am going to go with Belle to the library just to act as the chaperone, is that alright?” she whispered to her husband.

  “You’re sure you don’t want to stay?” Theodore returned with a weary smile.

  “I would like to spend some time with Belle if that is alright before I bring her up to bed shortly,” Eveline said with unwavering eyes.

  “Alright, I will see you in a while,” Theodore kissed her cheek lightly before she arose and left the table. Eveline stood outside the library and smoothed her skirt over her legs and adjusted her blouse before entering finding Belle on Galean’s shoulders, her index finger lightly wavering over the spines of books.

  “Can you see it?” Galean asked unaware of Eveline who was watching them fondly from the doorway.

  “What was his name?” Belle asked merrily.

  “Darwin,” Galean said. “Dee, A, R, W, I and N.” Belle stopped and took out a small book.

  “I found it!” she cried out, taking the book into her hand as Galean turned to face Eveline.

  “Mr Edwards,” she said lightly, quickly lowering her gaze to his feet.

  “Eveline we were just finding Mr Darwin’s book on the origins of species,” Galean announced as he set Belle down on the ground.

  “Don’t you think that is a tad too difficult for Belle?” Eveline replied with a faint smile upon her lips as she watched Belle climb up onto a leather chair opening the book.

  “I suppose so,” Galean shrugged. “She can take a try at least.”

  “I’m not so hopeful Mr Edwards.”

  “Please it’s Galean.”

  Eveline ignored him and went to sit upon another chair crossing her legs and watching Belle intently. Galean felt her slight and blinked twice, unsure as to what exactly he had done to deserve her slight but made his way to Belle none the less. Eveline was correct in thinking that Belle would find the contents too hard and so got up onto her feet and made for the shelves. After several minutes of scouring the shelves she found what it was she was looking for and made her way over to Belle.

  “Here, try this,” she smiled as she set a small book in her hands.

  “The secret garden,” Belle announced quietly, opening the book before handing it to Galean.

  “Would you like me to read for you?” he asked handing her the small brown bag.

  “Mr Edwards she will surely have a sick stomach,” Eveline protested as the child opened the bag and took out a jelly baby and popped it into her mouth, her eyes sparkling.

  “I only purchased a few don’t worry,” Galean smiled as Belle handed him one. “Thankyou.”

  “Evie do you want one?” Belle asked as she held out the bag.

  “Of course!” Eveline smiled taking a sweet. “It’s not every day we get to have sweets, they are such a luxury now.”

  “Let’s start shall we?”

  Eveline quietly took off her shoes and lifted her feet so that they curled under her legs and sat back into the leather as Galean began to read aloud.

  “When Mary Lennox was sent to Misselthwaite Manor to live with her uncle everybody said she was the most disagreeable-looking child ever seen. It was true, too. She had a little thin face and a little thin body, thin light hair and a sour expression,” Galean began. As time passed Eveline found herself surrendering to exhaustion and quite happy that Belle, Wordsworth and Mr Edwards were content she closed her eyes for a while.

  Belle and Eveline were fast asleep in their chairs as Jophiel entered the library, Galean and Wordsworth sitting together before the fire.

  “Gosh they must be exhausted,” she whispered, closing the door behind her and coming to sit with Galean who smiled. He could not remember a time when he had spent such a pleasant hour reading. She noticed that both Belle and Eveline had blankets draped about them as they slept peacefully.

  “I don’t know whether it would be cruel to awaken them,” Galean said as he closed the book and laid it upon the carpet.

  “Let them sleep for another ten minutes it is only eight,” Jophiel whispered as she picked up the book. “I love the secret garden.”

  “I have never read it before but I must agree it is enchanting to read even as an adult,” Galean said with a smile.

  “Where did you go this afternoon?”

  “To Bath Abbey,” Galean muttered as placed his back against Belle’s chair and crossed his legs in front of him.

  “Did you find solace there?” Jophiel asked as she flicked through the book.

  “A little if truth be told,” Galean admitted to his friend. “And you?”

  “I sat in the park for a little while and found a little solace like yourself.”

  “You believe me when I say that I am not actively seeking to destroy their marriage?” Galean asked with pleading eyes.

  “Of course I believe you Galean,” Jophiel said with certainty in her voice. “I know you too well and you are an honourable man.”

  “Thank you.”

  “However,” Jophiel began raising a hand to silence Galean. “Just listen to me for a moment before you speak. Theodores fears about this prophecy are real and Lier believed it to be true as well, that we should not simply discard. If your fate is in fact bound to Eveline’s then you must tread carefully.”

  “Jophiel don’t you think we have much more important matters to be discussing other than this?”

  “Yes we do on that I agree, but this prophecy has set Theodore on edge and the conversation that we had this afternoon did not go unheard,” Jophiel turned her gaze to Eveline, whose face was smooth and undisturbed. Galean turned his gaze to the sleeping Queen and sighed.

  “What must she think of us Jophiel?” he said with anguish in his eyes.

  “She believes herself the root cause of all our woes Theodore, she believes she is a problem to all of us,” Jophiel said softly, seeing the twitch of Eveline’s nose.

  “Did she overhear me discussing my wife?”

  “Yes.”

  “No wonder she hasn’t been able to meet my gaze then,” Galean said slowly, closing his eyes briefly with shame.

  “She is confused and irritated and I believe depressed as well,” Jophiel said as Wordsworth moved over towards her. “Have you noticed it too?”

  “Yes but she has been through a lot, I suppose it is only natural that she should feel upset,” Galean answered. “It does
n’t help that her husband has become possessive of her and suspicious of everyone about him.”

  “Cael can be a law onto himself at times that much I’ll warrant him,” Jophiel shrugged. “Hopefully he can pull his head out of the sand and find focus.”

  “Things will ease between them when I leave in a few days,” Galean said quietly.

  “You’re leaving so soon?”

  “I have too, I cannot be stuck between them both,” Galean said as he ran his fingers through his hair. “And I need to get home, my kingdom is on the brink of war, I must attend to my responsibilities.”

  “You’re sure there isn’t something else that is forcing you to run away?” Jophiel said with knowing eyes. She wasn’t ignorant of the growing bond between Eveline and Galean and it was this that had troubled her when taking into account the prophecy. She knew Galean was honourable and that he would never willingly attach himself to a married woman, he was too good and kind. But she could see that he was struggling within himself and wondered whether the struggle came from an unspoken claim upon Eveline.

  “What would I be running from?” Galean asked with suspicious eyes.

  “From yourself and your fears,” Jophiel said kindly.

  “I am not running from myself or my fears Jophiel I am merely going home, a decision I had made long before meeting Eveline,” Galean said firmly.

  “I don’t want to make you frustrated Galean,” Jophiel said with clarity. “But I would understand if you found yourself running from a feeling you put to rest a long time ago, a feeling I fear you may have found growing quietly without your knowledge or want of it.”

  Galean looked across at Eveline. “Jophiel you tread on dangerous grounds.”

  “I’m sorry, forgive me.”

  “You are forgiven,” Galean said sombrely.

  “Heiden forbade Cael to marry her because he knew that she was intended for another,” Jophiel whispered as Belle stirred.

  “How do you know that?” Galean enquired.

  “Lier told me. I just didn’t think it safe to entrust that information to Cael seeing as he went ahead and married her.”

  Belle awoke before Galean could respond and stretched her arms and legs wide.

  “Come on you,” Jophiel said as she rose from the ground. “Time for bed.” Without speaking Belle waited for Jophiel to bring her up into her arms with her teddy in her right hand. With a yawn she closed her eyes and fell asleep on the angel’s shoulder, with a small wave to Galean before leaving the room. Galean sat before Eveline and unbuttoned his collar looking for his mother’s jewel and placing it in the palm of his hand. It was a precious jewel, found in the mountains of Dragna, where the dragons of Meer lived. She had been the chieftain’s daughter who happened to be a dragon lord and when his mother had married his father the high King Ballour, she had two jewelled necklaces made from the rare diamonds within the mountains, the great dragon Nunya breathing over the stones. Galean rubbed the star shaped jewel within his fingers. His father had told him that the stones were filled with dragon magic and that two true hearts could hear one another’s call and upon hearing one another the jewels would glow, a beautiful and warm golden hue. Both his mothers and fathers necklaces had been bestowed upon him and he had given his mother’s necklace to his wife, but the myth surrounding their power never showed itself and when he found her dead, he took the necklace and draped it about his neck in remembrance of her.

  Galean heard Eveline groan and looked up from the jewel and watched her as she moved about nervously as though trapped within some dark dream, her eyes twitching and her mouth quivering. Cautiously he crawled over to her and looked into her fair face, for fair she was. Galean dropped the necklace from his hand and found he had the opportunity to have a look at her neck whilst she was asleep. Gently he pushed away locks of her hair and gazed upon her throat, horrified at the change in the mark. The area under her ear and stretching down to her collar bone had been contaminated, her veins a deep black. Galean’s eyes widened with fear, he had to search for help quickly fearing for her life. Sitting back he gently placed the strands of her hair back into place. His old friend and high priest of the north Anvin would have known what to do but he wasn’t here and Galean needed to find someone who dabbled in the occult who could help Eveline before it was too late. As he fretted he heard her sigh and turned his eyes to her face once more and found comfort as she smiled slightly, the bad dream passing, her features relaxing into a peaceful state. Without thinking he gently touched her cheek with the back of his hand and felt her move again, another smile forming upon her red lips, her bottom lip baring a small cut that caused him to crease his brows. Such coldness dwelled within her fair skin it sent a shudder through him realising how cold she was. He lifted his hand away and brought the blanket that covered her to the middle of her back up around her shoulders. With one last lingering look he sat back and took to his feet, lifting the book up and settling himself upon the leather chair, opening the pages to where he had paused. He would wait for her to wake before retiring to bed.

  *

  Eveline opened her eyes and found him staring into oblivion, the small book on his lap, his eyes thoughtful and deep. She lay still for a moment and simply gazed at him, so concentrated on whatever it was that was burdening him. His legs were crossed over one another and his right hand lay under his chin as he gazed into the flames oblivious to her.

  “No one knows the weight of another’s burden,” Eveline whispered gently. Galean’s eyes did not flicker as she spoke, he simply smiled weakly.

  “George Herbert.”

  “I haven’t read much of his poetry but it is a line I often say to myself when my mind is filled with unwarranted anxiety and unrest.”

  “You constantly surprise me Eveline,” Galean sighed his shoulders visibly falling.

  “I hope I surprise you in a positive way,” Eveline said as she sat up on her chair and stretched her feet before her, yawning lightly.

  “You do,” Galean said flatly.

  “What troubles you Mr Edwards?”

  “Jophiel told me that you were eavesdropping this afternoon,” Galean answered, turning himself to her and folding his arms before him.

  “I was.”

  “I want to assure you that I do not blame you for what happened to my family, although I am sure that it came across in a curt manner, it was not intended to be for your ears.”

  “I wonder what indeed you would have said if I had been there?” Eveline mused darkly. “Mr Edwards there is much I do not understand about all of this, much I cannot even begin to accept but you spoke the truth when you spoke of having to save me instead of your family.”

  “I did,” Galean said with honest eyes. “But I do not blame you for their deaths and would never wish you to think that I am angry or repelled by you.”

  “I would understand if you didn’t want to be in my presence.”

  “But I do and I would hope that our friendship will not be negatively influenced by what you heard this afternoon?” Galean asked with pleading eyes.

  “I am afraid it must Mr Edwards, my husband believes that you and I are bound to one another, by fate itself,” Eveline whispered as the candles flickered wildly, causing shadows to form upon the walls. “I know you will protest but my husband is despite his kind and compassionate nature also quite proud and stubborn, he will not take such news lightly even if it proves illegitimate or futile.”

  “Cael has always been privy to his pride but I had hoped that logic would greatly outweigh his illogical feelings,” Galean groaned inwardly.

  “We become possessive about the things we hold most dear Mr Edwards, you would be the same I believe,” Eveline said wisely.

  “That being said I must take my leave in a few days after the fund raising ball,” Galean said darkly, turning his gaze away from her piercing eyes.

  “I did not know there was to be a ball so soon,” Eveline whispered with shaking hands. “Here?”

  “Y
es here, Mary told me this morning so that I would have time to purchase the proper attire,” Galean replied with a slight smile. “It will not be a great event there will only be a few dozen people attending, Mary is aware that you have been through a lot and are most likely not willing to attend.”

  “She would be right, I am tired and generally not in a positive state of mind at the moment,” Eveline admitted, feeling relief at being able to openly express how she really felt knowing she would face no judgement on care.

  “I have observed,” Galean remarked candidly. “Maybe it will help to lighten your worries for an evening.”

  “I wish Mr Edwards, but I highly doubt a ball will alleviate my troubles however small it is,” Eveline said with a sigh. “I will however attend if not for myself then for Mary who has been so kind in accommodating us here over the Christmas period.”

  “Well I’m sure she would be grateful,” Galean said kindly seeing the flickering of the flames in her eyes. Eveline turned her eyes to the carpet and curved her back over so that she could rest her elbows upon her knees.

  “Why are you leaving so soon?” she asked shyly.

  “I have no need to stay now that you are safe and well,” Galean lied seeing the slight distress in her lowered gaze.

  “And there is nothing I can say to keep you here for a little while longer at least until Christmas has passed,” Eveline whispered. “Belle will miss you.”

  “I have responsibilities that need attending too Eveline and my people need me, I am already betraying their loyalty by being here as it is,” Galean lied in part again, for it was true in a way. It truth if he dared allow himself to acknowledge it, he needed to get away from her. Eveline was causing him to fall prey to the prophecy, ever since he had first met her and she had laid her hand upon his heart had he felt an unearthly connection to her. The time spent with her had only heightened his suspicions of what was secretly occurring within the very hidden depths of him. He could not risk any such feelings arising, not for himself and especially not for her. Eveline was married to his friend and he was not ready to part with the memory of his wife. Staying would only prolong the arduous situation that he had found himself in. If he wanted her to survive, he would have to leave her in peace with the man she had married with a full heart.