THRONE

Chapter 1

This world is full of selfish and cruel people, and I promised myself I would never turn into that. I will never be the kind of king my father was. 

"Prince Thomas.”

My father's regent bowed. The look on his face says it all, my father is dying and there is no way to heal him. He never was a great father when he took the throne, always glued to his job. I walk slowly, thinking of becoming king was the last thing on my mind. My father was evil, before he got all glued to his job, he was the best father a young kid could ever have. I walk into his room and see my mother at his side hugging him. I see my young brother looking around confused at what is happening. I see my father pointing at me to come closer. I grab his hand and kneel down to him.

"What is it father?" A tear shed down.

"My son, I am so sorry I have been distance, but you became a best man I wished you could be." He choked on his words.

"Father"

"I'm okay my son, make sure to look over your mother, and brother. Be the better king I wished I could be. Don't ever make your job your priority?" He stopped.

"Father" I held on to his hand shaking him lightly.

"I love you my son." 

Those were the last words my father said to me. I stayed near his bed the whole night thinking of ways things could have been different.

"He would want you to move on." My mother put her hands on my shoulders.

The ceremony for my father's funeral was peaceful. The people around the kingdom came out to give their respects for their King.

"Now what." I look at my mother she gave me a soft smile.

"You get married my love." She grabs my cheeks with her cold hands.
***
"Lily, we need to hurry." I grabbed the baskets and hand one to Lily.
Ever since our parents died we have been living with other villagers from time to time. I hardly remembered my parents, and my sister was just a baby. We never really talk about them. We fight to survive down here in Kingdom of cobblestone.

"Lily I'll race you." Annie said

"Can I?" Lily asked.

"Yes be careful." 

"Don't worry, she'll be fine." Penelope said.

Penelope and her family have taken us in after we got kicked out of our other home. Penelope is my best friend, her family is now my family. I don't have to worry if I leave Lily with them while I'm out with Penelope. I trust them, and they trust us. We head to go get berries for desert. I see Lily having fun with Penelope's sisters and wished my parents were here to see.

"Arabella, are you okay?" Penelope standing on the side of me.

"I'm happy to see my sister having fun, she deserves it." I smiled. She deserves to have a safe life, and I won't let anything or anyone ruin it.

"And so do you." Penelope said.

She's right, I do deserve it as well. I just feel responsible to look after my sister. Feels like I made a promise to my parents that no one will hurt my sister, or take her away from me. Once we finished picking berries we start to head home. We see men with swords on horses pass us. I grab Lily's hand and we continue to walk home.

"Who's house they are going to?" Lily asks. "I don't know, but we should hurry home."

It takes us about thirty minutes to reach home. I notice that those men are stopped at home. All I'm thinking is they are forcing us out of our home.