Broken

1. Sunshine

I had always had an affinity towards nature. It was the perfect escape, no matter how I felt.

If I was feeling joyful, I would bathe in the sun and stare at the clouds, and I'd play their game. They would make all kinds of shapes, and even after they had blown away, I would laugh and be ever thankful for them allowing me to witness their magic.

If I was feeling lonely, I would sneak into the nearby forest and bring food for the critters who lived there. I'd tell them of my day, and they would listen. And they would tell me of their day, and I would listen.

If I was feeling distraught, I would sit in the shade of the grand oak tree. I'd pull handfuls of grass from the dirt, and scatter them into the breeze. I'd watch them dance in the wind, carefree and serene, as if they had not been ripped from their home moments ago. The bird's song would soothe me, as if to say whatever problem I may be facing, can be fixed with a happy thought.

And I believed that.

But what do you do when you have no happy thoughts left?

Up until I was five years of age, nature was a large part of my life. It was my life.

Before I was born, Tarovia was amidst a large snow storm. My mother and father had great worries about when I would be born. Supplies were becoming scarce, and the temperature was dropping at a rate to where the palace fireplaces could no longer emit enough heat.

My mother and father were out one afternoon after a large blizzard had struck. They were helping to distribute supplies to the kingdom.

"Thank you, your Majesty," one villager said as my mother handed her blankets, and a box of food, "I don't know how we can ever repay you."

"No thanks are necessary, we wish to help in any way we can," my mother replied, "please, stay wa-" My mother stopped suddenly, grabbing her stomach.

"Your Majesty, is everything alright?" The woman asked.

"Celia? What's wrong?" My father exclaimed, reaching for my mother.

"The baby... Is coming." She gasped.

"Guards! Quickly!" My father immediately yelled. Five guards ran over, ready to assist with whatever urgency was present.

"Ready the carriage." He ordered. "Now!"

The ride back to the palace was a long and painful one. The horses galloped along faster than usual, which made the dispute rather rough. Once at the palace, my mother could no longer walk, so my father carried her all the way the designated birthing room.
He laid her down on the bed, and grabbed her hand. He could see the pain and fear in her eyes. There was nothing he could do now, except for provide comfort to her pain. The room was cold, so the maids brought in extra blankets, but my mother turned them away.

"I don't need them." She cried, sweat dripping from her brow.

After many moments of intense agony, I was born. My fiery, red hair stuck to my forehead, and loud, short sobs escaped my mouth.

"It's a beautiful princess, your Majesty!" The maid said, offering me to my mother, "Congratulations!"

My mother took hold of me, I was still loudly crying. Joyful tears fell down my mother's cheeks. She brushed her finger across my cheek, "Hello, my sweet angel." She cooed.

The maids opened to window curtains, and as if by some miracle, the sun shone through the heavy, dark clouds, for the first time in a month.
The light came in through the window and shined down on me.
I opened my eyes and blinked at the light, I stopped crying. I gazed at the beauty with my mouth wide open, I watched the small dust particles float in the air, as if they were putting on a show to welcome me to the world.

My mother laughed softly, "You have brought brightness and clarity into our kingdom, your name shall be Kiara."
I looked up at my mother as she spoke, I glanced into her deep, brown eyes, and suddenly, I couldn't remember why I was crying anymore.
I was home.

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Sorry for the much shorter chapter, but please tell me your thoughts! Enjoy!
@bigsix_comicstrip