The Evil Queen

Birth of the Evil Queen

Algar shivered as he walked down the same path toward the bridge where his baby brother had been slain. Tears could not run from his crimson eye, but the salty burn was there. He replayed the moment over and over as he came up to the side. The dark water rushed under and the wintery chill settled in his bones. He could see Theo's face and hear the panic in her voice. It was the same panic in Dax as he lost his balance and plummeted below. He continued across the bridge and walked down the ravine to the side in which the water flowed. "Dax." Determined to find his brother and burry him before returning, he trekked along the river's edge.

Theoda sat on her throne in the dimly lit throne room, alone. She had her hands together in front of her as if she held a small book, but there was no book. She was staring into them with her blackened eyes. "Wow." She uttered. In her hands she was holding a silvery form, inside she could see Algar walking along the shore line. She knew he was searching for his brother. Moving her other hand she swept the image away, another came. This one she was seeing a castle burning, bodies littering the ground. As she studied it harder, she began to recognized several of the bodies, and the castle. It was Covehaven, and it was in ruins. A hard lump rose in her throat as she began to weep quietly. "Godrick, what have you done?" His cruelty was pointless, Bergamot was dead, his fortress and people would have been submissive. As she looked on she saw his men were taking the majority prisoner. A slight rush of relief washed over her, at least he wasn't killing everyone. Anger boiled in her, she fought to keep herself from screaming at the top of her lungs. This was painful, but it would only be a moment in her life in the end. She slammed her hands together, destroying the silvery light and the images it held. Closing her eyes she cried.

"Child?" Theo's eyes flew open, it was daylight and Lord Cornell stood in front of her. He looked startled. "Have you been here all night?" She looked from side to side, nobody else was in the room. "Yes Lord. I'm sorry." He took the throne next to her, not his own. "You're inappropriately dressed, but I see no harm in sleeping in the throne room. It might be hard on your body and its frigid after the snow begins to fall." She shook her head, "I didn't intend on sleeping here last night my Lord, it was an accident." He nodded and stood up. Beginning to walk out of the room he turned to her, "I know he's callous, cruel, and hard headed but on his time out of the castle I too begin to miss him." She stayed motionless on the throne as he walked out. "Miss him?" She laughed, "Yes I can't wait for him to come back."

After she had washed up, changed, and brushed out her long hair. Theo set out with questions for Lord Cornell. She found him in the dining hall. "My Lord?" He looked up, food dripping from his silver spoon. "Yes? Are you hungry?" She shook her head, "I would like to know the boundaries of the kingdom, all your properties and the lands and realms outside. Also how big your military is, and how many men you have at your disposal. Are they thoroughly trained? Or farmers and bakers?" The elder Lord Cornell's eyes lit up with interest at her questions. "Well, well it seems you and Godrick have more in common than I originally thought." She frowned at him, "My Lord." He smiled from under his facial hair, "Okay, a history lesson for the princess." He spent all day and most of the night explaining everything about the kingdom and its borders, military and enemies.

The next morning Theo spent looking over the king's charts and maps. She was strategically planning her husband's next crusade. As she began the idea of a war with Hope Shire, which was part of Baumsbee and Greenwall. There was no castle in Hope Shire but there was a monarchy. It was small but it was powerful. Much like Covehaven had been at one time. Left alone because it was insignificant it would grow, soon for Theo but over more than Godrick's lifetime or anyone alive at that time. It had to be wiped off the map along with several other small villiages. There were really only three kingdoms left in the realm that would pose an immediate threat. Suddenly her eyes turned black as a vision took over.