HOLD MY HAND THROUGH THE WAVES

CHAPTER 10

               TALE OF THE ROYALS..

         “Adam..” “Yeah..?” “You think I’m too young to be your best friend?” Bella asked wiping bread crumbs from Adam’s face. “Uh..huh? Why asking stupid stuff now?” Adam made an annoyed face at her. “Just asking..You know.” “Yeah yeah.” They both sat in the broad day light on the roof of a house. They spend their entire evenings climbing roofs and talking things which didn’t even make any sense. Seven years difference between their age was not a limit for their friendship. As a prince Adam had many friends but non of them was as close as Bella, As for Bella she didn’t even had any friends besides Adam. “I will save you from everything Bella.” “Waah look who’s talking you still eat with food all over your face.” She started laughing. “You little devil-” He smacked her head lightly. “I’ll be going to the market today, You want something?” “I don’t want anything just come back safe fool.” “Who are you calling a fool huh? I am the future king of-” “Of Miriana Yeah yeah I know..” She said teasing him.
 
         “Welcome Walter..and I’m sorry about the king.” “Oh no worries Aldrich it was two years ago.” Walter sat down in one of the chairs arranged for guest from Lorelei. Walter was accompanied by some of Royal guards, “You can stay in the palace..” “No it’s not necessary arrange me a nice home in the village and that’ll be enough.” Haru and Adam was not in the palace at the moment, Luckily for Minister Walter the Mirianians didn’t know who was behind their Minister’s spouses death. Walter came here in the name of forming a proper alliance by giving them seeds, manure and cattle.

           “This is where you’ll stay Minister.” The royal guard of Miriana led him to a finest home. Walter took the key from him and asked, “Who lives there? Walter pointed to the only house which was in the neighbourhood. “The palace physicians used to live there..both wife and husband died in a strange fire in Lorelei a few years ago, Their elder daughter died in the incident too. The younger daughter used to live there with her grandmother since she was four, Now she lives alone as her grandmother died.” “What’s her name?” Walter’s question was unnecessary yet he insisted on knowing the name, He was a mere royal guard after all, “Bella.” He answered with his head down. “Bring her to me.” The guard raised his head in complete shock.

             “Uncle Haru..” “Yes?” “Which one is better?” Adam showed him two pearl necklaces. “Pearl..? let me guess for Bella?” “Of course for Bella.” “You choose I’m not good at this.” Haru escaped from the situation. Adam chose a simple one. He picked a silver one with a star locket too. “For the unknown?” “Yup for the unknown let’s go..” Adam paid for those and left back to palace.

          “Father..” “Yes son I was looking for you. The Minister of Lorelei is here and I want you to distribute the manure, seeds and cattle to the farmers.” “Sure Father, I’ll do it tomorrow morning itself.” Adam went back to his room. “You scared the hell out of me.” Said Adam noticing veronica sitting on his bed holding a candle next to her face. “Did you see the Minister?” She asked curiously, “No I didn’t.” She let out a sigh of disappointment. “Did you?” “No me neither. I’ll leave then.” Veronica left the room. Adam laid in bed exhausted.
“The poets lie a lot the morning birds are ridiculous!” Adam woke up barely being able to open his eyes. “Wake up Adam..Aren’t we supposed to distribute things to farmers?” “Yes that’s right. But did the Minister visit?” “He left early morning.” Haru answered scratching his neck. Adam and Haru left to the village on their horses. With the guards carrying things to be distributed in carts. “She’ll probably at school now.” Said Haru noticing Adam was looking for someone. “Yeah I guess too, But who tied her hair?” “Must have find a new friend for herself..” “Good for her my hairstyling skills are just the worst.” Haru laughed at him. It was almost evening as they completed distribution.

          “That girl is still not home, I think I’ll have to go look for her-” “Your highness I actually forgot to mention she said she’ll be visiting her Aunt this week.” The guard from last night stopped Adam. “Oh- Okay..” Adam went back without doubting too much because she visits her Aunt usually. A week passed, The kingdom was rotting. The crops were destroyed and all the cattle developed some kind of disease. Starvation and crop failure caused great misery to the people.

           “People are starving father! And you are still not ready to blame Lorelei? They did this to our land.” “I don’t know son.” Aldrich locked himself in his room. “Did Bella come back son?” Florence asked. “No mother I think there is something wrong.” Adam decided to go check her house, He kicked open the door which was locked from inside and found the body of the guard hanging. He took his own life because of guilt and left a note. “DEAR PRINCE ADAM, I KNOW YOU’LL BE HERE WHEN ONE WEEK IS OVER. I DID SOMETHING WRONG VERY WRONG THAT I DON’T DESERVE FORGIVENESS,.........
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         That night, “No John I’m not going to some minister who wishes to see me.” Bella denied the guard, “I know you don’t want to Bella but I had no choice but to come here and pretend to call you.” “Pretend?” Bella was confused but she was still holding a knife. “Yes pretend, Run away through the back door before they come here.” “Nice plan you ungrateful dog but it’s either her or your daughter.” Walter came in through the front door. “She is just a kid!” The guard tried to defend her but the guards of Lorelei stopped him. By the time Bella ran out.

           She ran through the woods with them following her, She had to stop as it was a river pond ahead. “Got you..” The guards surrounded her, “Why are you doing this to me?” “Girls like you shouldn’t live alone...Oh wait- You shouldn’t live at all.” “I am not alone if Adam finds out about this- Aaarghh!!” She couldn’t complete the sentence as Walter grabbed her hair.  “Well by the time Adam finds out you can drown in the pond naked. Bella could see the devil in his eyes she knew it was her end. She closed her eyes.

  Adam kneeled down on the floor reading the last sentence, “I AM SORRY ADAM THEY KILLED BELLA..” He torned the paper and threw it all across the room. He bend his body towards the floor and cried for some time. “No- No my Bella is still in the pond.” He ran out still tears falling from his eyes. “What happened Adam? Why are you running?” Haru asked but realising he was not replying he followed him to the woods. “Adam!!” Adam jumped into the pond. “Yaa Adam you know I can’t tell swim.” There was no sign of Adam. After sometime he was visible again. He walked back to the shore holding Bella’s body covered in a sack. He fell down as he felt weak and started crying again. Haru opened the sack but couldn’t bear the sight and was taken a back. “No Adam don’t-” Haru tried to stop him but it was too late. “.......This ca- can’t be my Be- Bella right?” Haru hugged him. Adam carried her body to the palace.

          It was Bella’s funeral and they were about to close her casket but Adam stopped them, He put his diary next to her hand and wore the necklace across her neck. “You always wanted to read this..and hey you really look pretty like a girl, I’m sorry I didn’t say that earlier.” He held her hand hand one last time. Haru pulled him back but the tears were not stopping. They closed her grave. “Get yourself together Adam.” “How? How am I supposed to act normal Uncle Haru? She was just a kid and he raped and killed her? They threw her body naked in the pond?” Adam kicked the table beside him. “They destroyed our land too..” Haru was confused. “The Minister of Lorelei.” Adam wiped off his tears.

     “I AM COMING FOR YOU WALTER!”