The Replacement Heir

Chapter one : Take My Place

"Alli! Alli wake up! Hurry, please Alli, wake up!" Kail, her older brother's voice, called to Allison, pulling her from a deep peaceful sleep.

Allison, or Alli as her family called her rolled over and tried to burry her head under her pillow to ignore her obnoxious older brother. Wasn't it against some law out there for an older brother to wake his sixteen year old, twin sister at an ungodly hour of the morning for Gods only know what.

"Alli wake up! Hurry, I need your help!" Kail insisted, ripping the pillow away from his sister head and pulling her blankets off of here, exposing her to the cold air.

"Ugh, Kail, What do you need? What time is it even? Go back to bed! I'll help you with your paperwork in the morning." Alli Huffed, cracking her tired eyes open.

Her older brother stood at the foot of her large, four poster bed dressed in what she could only describe as commoners travel clothes, neutral in tone and simply cut with no embellishments to show his status as the Heir of a large kingdom. His dagger, the one she had gotten for him this winter season, was strapped to his side along with what she assumed was a pouch of money. He wore a heavy brown furred cloak as well. Finally her eyes settled on his face, a face so much like her own. They were twins after all. What normally she would describe as a fine face with, strong features and nicely sun tanned skin, was stricken in panic. This made Alli shoot upright in her bed.

"Kail, what is it? What's wrong?" She asked, swinging her legs over the side of the bed and making her way over to him.

She reached up to smooth away the crease of worry between his brows and his face relaxed. Her family always said she had a way with calming people with nothing but her voice or a simple touch. She was also told she could be quite convincing if she tried. People didn't often question her.

"I've done something," Kail sighed, his voice thick with worry, "and now we have to leave. I have to take her away from here before her family, or ours finds out."

"Who is we, and what do you think you've done that is so bad you must leave?" Alli asked pulling Kail over and pushing him to take a seat on her bed.

Alli sat next to him and listened, knowing that is what her brother needed. She needed to know what was going on in order to provide advice. Kail often came to her for help or advice when it came to his duties as Heir to their aging father. What ever was bothering him now was causing a war within him.

His normally friendly eyes gray eyes were now stormy and his face twisted with anxiety. His Dark brown hair that was normally neatly kept looked like he had been running his hands through it for hours, thoroughly messing it up.

"Marris is pregnant. The babe is mine." He whispered

Alli stood and took a step back, covering her mouth with her hand.

Marris Jenkins, the healer woman, the witch. Or at least that's what people called her. She was a sweet natured girl just a couple years younger than Kail. As children they had been warned to stay away from the girl and her family who were the outcasts of the castle and surrounding town.

Of course Alli and Kail and even their younger sister Sarcee never listened. They all often played together in the small garden their mother, the queen, had planted before her untimely death. They were friends. Kail had always loved her though, that was easy enough for anyone to see. That included the servants who had found them one day and reported it to their father. The King has gone into a royal fit and forbade them from ever seeing the girl again. If they did they were told the Girl and her family would be executed. There would be no exceptions, but apparently that had not been enough to keep the young prince away.

"Father would have her killed," Alli whispered. It was absolute. 

The king had once been kind but that time was long passed. It has passed when their mother died giving birth to a second son who soon followed after. The healers hadn't been able to save either of them. The queen had died and with her so had the kings heart.

"I know. That why she and I will be leaving. Tonight. Right this moment even. I just came to let you know and to ask a favor." Kail pleaded, standing to take his younger sister hands.

"What is it you need brother? I'll do what I can to help." She promised.

He looked unsure but still spoke, knowing full well what he was asking of his little sister, "Take my place. With me gone there will be no heir. Sarcee can not do it, she does not have the fortitude that you do. You are smart and brave and you have your gifts to help you. Father will not live much longer but even so I can not risk him finding Marris and my child. We can not stay while he still breathes. Please, can you do this for me?"

"No one will follow me! I am a woman! Little more than a child yet! They will see me as nothing but fragile and weak!" She protested, frowning at her brother. They both knew she was anything but fragile or weak but the kingdom would not see it that way.

"Disguise your self. Even if it's just for a time. You have read the same books as me! You've learned form the same tutors and had the same training. You have even trained beside me for a time in combat! Please Alli, sister. I know it is a lot to ask and I know the danger I'm putting you in but you must see. There is no other way!" He insisted, pleading with everything in him for her to agree. 

And she would. She knew she would, despite the danger. Despite the fact that if anyone were to find out before she assumed the throne the kingdom would likely fall into a state of war. In order for this to work Alli would need to start finding out who her allies are and who she could trust. Careful planning was needed going forward, starting tonight.

"You'll need to leave soon." She said with a nod, more to her self than to Kail.

Alli turned and walked over to her dressing table and lifted the ornate silver box that held her personal jewels, most of them passed down to her when her mother has died. She opened the box and pulled out a simple gold band with a single emerald nested in the center. It was a gift her father had given to her mother when they found out she was with child for the first time. She had been pregnant with Kail and Alli. It was apiece of jewelry he mother loved and had often worn.

"Here," She said, holding it out to her brother, "Give this to Marris for me. Tell her I love her and wish I could be there for you both. Make that girl your wife brother or I'll hunt you down and make you say your vows at the point of my dagger."

A small smile graced Kail's face as he took the ring from Alli and turned it over in his hand. He knew the significance of the ring and he would cherish it always.

"Thank you little sister. I love you." He whispered, pulling her in for a tight hug.

She felt him kiss the top of her head as she answered back, "I love you too. Be safe."

With those last words he rushed form the room, leaving Alli behind to face the new future she would have to forge for her kingdom from that day forward.

AUTHORS NOTE:

Credit for the idea that sparked this story is from a TikToker by the name of Naya.Mousa . I'm taking the idea and telling the story as it has played out in my head for anyone who is interested!