The Foretold 《EDITING》

Chapter 1

16 years later

It was like any other day. Until a knock sounded at their door.

Alice raced down the stairs. Sure, it wasn't very ladylike of her but it was faster. Plus, she didn't want to keep whoever was at the door waiting, not when they rarely got visitors.

She opened the door and furrowed her eyebrows. A man she had never seen before was standing there. His brown eyes gazed down at Alice while his curly grey hair fell into his eyes.

"Hello?" Alice asked. "How can I help you?"

"Is your mother Rosa home?" he asked. His brown hat held between his hands.

Alice tilted her head back slightly, still keeping an eye on the stranger. "Mother! Someone has come to speak with you!"

Heer mother stepped out from the kitchen and into the hallway. Her mouth almost popped open upon seeing who was at the door. She closed it and turned to Alice, her ember eyes lighting up. "Alice, go and grab your brother and wait for me in my room."

Alice scrunched her face but didn't argue. She raced out of the hall and up the stairs.

Alac went and bowed to her. "Your highn-"

She rushed over to him and forced him to stand up. Her hands on his shoulders. "Not here!" she exclaimed. "They don't know!"

His tired eyes widened in surprise. "You haven't told them?"

She let go of his shoulders and started to fidget with her apron. "It's been hard for them here. And I thought that if they knew who they truly were it would only be harder."

The man sighed. "That does make sense. But you should have told them!"

She averted her eyes. "I know." She looked up at him. "But it's good to see you, Alac."

His gaze softened. "It's good to see you as well, Rosa."

She moved out of the way and let him farther into the house. He stepped in and she closed the door behind him.

"How is our kingdom?" She missed her home and it's people. She hadn't heard anything since she fled.

"It's not good. The people are suffering. We're running out of jobs, and food."

"That can't be right. We had massive fields."

Alac sighs. "I'm afraid the new king has been selling the fields and ridding the few we have of any food."

Rose clutched her hand. "That has to change! I cannot let him get away with this!"

"And you won't. It's time."

Her eyes widen." No. Is that why you're here?"

Alac nods. A grim look on his face.

Rosa places her hand over her chest and looks up the stairs. "I guess this time was always going to come. I just thought it would be when they're older, more experienced." Rosa sighs. "Will you stay down here while I tell them?"

Alac nods. As loyal as ever. "Of course."

Rosa nods before taking a deep breath and walking up the stairs. Rosa finds her children sitting in her bedroom on the edge of her bed. She takes a minute to look at them. To soak them in one more time before their lives change once more. Alice has white and glossy hair, like her father. And her eyes are a bright ember like her mothers. Gart on the other hand has more blonde hair, like his grandfather and has blue eyes like his father. "You both remind me so much of your father."

"Is everything okay?" Gart asks. "You only bring up father when something is on your mind."

Rosa sighs and makes her way over to the twins. They part and let her sit between them. She folds her hands in her lap. "There's something that I haven't told either of you."

Alice and Gart shared a look but didn't say anything.

"Do you know of the kingdom a few days travel away?"

They nod.

"Your father and I used to live there. We were forced out by an tyrant man who didn't trust your fathers ruling."

"Wait-" Alice interrupts. "What do you mean he didn't trust our fathers ruling?"

Rosa sighs. "Your father was king. And I was queen."

"We're royalty?" Gart asks.

Alice's jaw drops open. "Why didn't you ever tell us?"

Rosa closes her eyes. "Because telling you would have made your fate come sooner."

"Our fate?"

Rose nods. "Before our kingdom fell it was foretold that twins would save the kingdom. And you two were the only twins in our kingdom. It made sense that it would be you two who were in the prophecy."

Alice blinks. Gart stares at their mother.

"And now the time has come for you two to depart and take back our kingdom." She opens her eyes and looks at her children and their shocked expressions. "Will you do it?" she asks. She grips her apron in her fingers.

Alice is the first to break the silence. She laughs. "Why should we? Why didn't you tell us? Why wouldn't you prepare us?"

Rosa turns to her daughter and takes her hands. "I was scared."

"And now I am!" She rips her hands from her mothers. "You plan to send us with that man to this kingdom we don't know with no preparation and expect us to save it!"

"He'll help you and train you along the way! I trust Alac with my life."

Alice rolls her eyes. "Alright. So you trust him. But how do you know we can even do it?"

"Because you're your fathers children. You have the same bravery as him and need to help people."

Alice bites her lip and looks at Gart. They stare at each other for a few moments before Alice sighs, crosses her arms and slumps back on the bed.

Rosa turns to Gart. "We'll do it," he whispers. "But for you. I can tell this is really important to you."

Rosa cups Garts face. "It is. I only ever wanted to raise you to safely. Thank you."

Gart nods.

"Do we at least have time to prepare?" Alice mumbles.

Rosa turns and looks down at her daughter. "Yes. Of course. You two will leave tomorrow at sunrise."