BLOODLINES

CHAPTER 2:A new year

   
     New year will soon arrive which will be shela's seventeenth birthday. Since today is the end of year party ,shela woke up very early to prepare for the party. She woke up all the maids  very  early in the morning . 
        It was soon to be afternoon and yet she wasn't able to spot her brothers. Shela asked the maids were her brothers were but no one knew.
         Shela went in search of them, She checked outside and everywhere .She went to Neil's room , she knocked several times but no one replied. She decided to open it a little and put her little Head in the room.
          She didn't see anyone. So  she entered she called him several times but no one replied. She then left for Dile room,  She repeated the same action in Neil's room. She just guessed they two brothers went out. She then left the room but failed to notice the two bodies on the floor fast asleep as they hugged each other.
           It was already soon evening and yet they hadn't finished preparing. Shela was stressed, she kept on yelling" they people will soon arrive be quick" ."Yes madam" all the helpers replied in a playful way.
             Finally everything was set and shela was happy.They charmers which were Neil's friends arrived and magic started to come out filling the sky with it's lights . Neptal  came out of his room with some paperwork. He handed to his worker. 
      Shela stepped forward to her father. Neptal told her that she did a  very good Job. " Thank you Father"  said Shela. "Good evening shela"
Came  her father's worker's voice. Shela didn't reply . The worker smiled.
        "Shela was known for being  very rude. "Have you seen your..."
      "Hey sister!" Neil's voice came in as it interrupted shela. Shela, Neptal and  The worked looked at the Direction of  the voice and saw two boys looking refreshed.
    " Our sister did a good job today" Dile said" yes she did" replied Neil as he was looking at the direction of his friends and spotted someone and smiled.
  "You are back?" Shela asked. "From?" both twins asked in unison "we never went anywhere but we are going now bye". Both said and they left.
      Shela was confused but she just focused on the   Party.  Hours later, the twins came back with gifts but when shela asked about it the didn't respond.
        It was now the countdown. Everyone present was counting. Shela couldn't wait for the new year which was also her birthday .
        "Five, four, three, two, one, yeah!!!!!"  Everyone said." Happy birthday"  Dile and Neil said In Unison. They were both on their knees holding gifts.
      "Take mine first" they both said. Shela smiled and collected the gifts at the same time. She opened Neil's  a saw  two beautiful  bracelets  some had sunny shaped beads. They were so fragile.
        She opened Dile's gift and saw a  hairpin shaped in a butterfly. It was also  fragile but beautiful. They brought out another gift and gave her saying it's from their father. She looked behind her and saw Neptal looking at her. He then faced the people he was talking to.
         She opened it and saw a triangular amulet. It has a mixture of  purple, black and blue or the colour changes. It's stone was really small. A paper was inside, which read," from your mom a present to be given on your seventeenth birthday".  Neil  helped her to put the amulet on and It looked beautiful.
        She took the gifts of her brothers and was about to go to her room when the royal guards came. Everyone was surprised . Neptal went to welcome them, the middle guard came down from his horse. Everyone knew him ,he was one of the best warriors in the palace even though he was just fifteen turning sixteen soon.He was also the prince's best friend and right hand man.
        He brought out the scroll and read it. It said the had been changes. Shela will become the new princess and soon to be queen. They marriage will happen in two months time and  the royal family will be expecting the family of Neptal tomorrow.
        As he was done, he glance at shela ,so did Shela. He then got one his horse and left. That action did not go unnoticed by her brothers. Shela ran to her room to have a short rest.
         The next morning, Shela went to her father's library. When she got in she saw her brothers inside. She greeted all of them. "Father, I would like to talk to you on the marriage between I and the prince." Said  Shela." What about it?".  Replied Neptal. "I don't want to get married to him". "Why?" asked Neptal but the was no reply. He repeated his question twice but Shela kept quiet.
        " You know if our kingdom defeats the North and we become united again, You will become a Queen of not just a kingdom but two kingdoms which will become an empire. You  are aware a king can't sit on both thrones it's either a woman or a woman will have to strongly sit with the king to create a balance,especially here. This rule is strict but the North hard to manipulate theirs, no wonder we separated . when we win we shall need a strong queen to sit and create a balance. We all shall adore you and you want to lose all of that Shela?"  But I don't want__ . Go get dressed". Neptal said in a calm voice.
          Shela left the library depressed. She won't cry  outside, it's better in her room. As she entered her room, her brothers followed her inside her room and locked the door.
           "What are you guys doing?" Shela asked. "You need to tell us the truth  about why you refuse to  marry the prince". Dile said. Shela   Ignored both of them and arranged her room which was already arranged.
          "Are you deaf shela? asked Neil.  Both walked  towards her. "We are are talking to ... " Because I love someone else " said Shela as she  interrupted  her brothers.
           Neil and Dile looked at each other and then at shela. Dile asked who is was but Shela kept thinking. Neil asked if it was the guard that came to announce the news and Shela nodded .
          Both brothers were not to shocked. " So you are older than him with one  year" Neil asked with a suspicious look in his eyes." Yes"Shela said.  Both brothers burst out in laughter holding their tummies.
         " So you are in love with someone you could give birth too". Dile said will laughing." What!!! It's just a year and it isn't possible" .shela said . "Ahhhh". Both brothers said." Ok, but I hope you are aware that father won't be  in support of this". Dile said clearing his throat.
           It true that her father won't be in support of it but she  will stop this marriage no matter what. She will use this meeting today as and opportunity to end it. Besides why am I the only one to be interrogated here? Neil has a lover and yet he's interrogating me. Wait what? Dile said shockingly. Oh come on I saw how you smiled at her and I Know she's one of the charmers and Neil is planning o...." shela said and noticed how Neil was looking at her. I will just go to one of the maids room and prepare their. Neil, I'm really.. "just get out Shela"Neil said "Okay bye" and she ran away with a blue dress in her hand.
        "Dile just.."  Don't Tell me you a planning to be a charmer. Oh my, the signs were always there. A normal Takian won't just be learning spells for fun and it is illegal only if" ,Dile just looked at him. I'm already a charmer. I got called two years ago and that girl, I'm planning to take her as my wife but I don't know when and she's also a charmer like me. I was planning on telling but Shela just had to spoil everything".
       " Remember when she snitch on us when we were eleven. She said that we were they ones who eats the strawberries at night and she was part of us but they didn't believe when we told them and that time we put our urine in the juice, which everyone drank except us and Shela and she was they one who told us to do it promising she will protect us",Neil said "Yeah and we got punished by Mom. Seventy five strokes,God I regretted",Dile said. Shela just kept on giggling behind Dad"
        "I won't forgive you that easily I would like to see her and I want to demand something from you but not now. When I choose to I will tell. Dile said as he was leaving Shela's room. Anything to make my brother happy" Neil said
            Neptal and his family had arrived at the palace. The Queen and King were delighted to see Shela. Shela's beauty was really striking. Her skin was really glowing,  her big  and clear eyes,her pitch colored lips and her short full thick her.
        Shela saw the prince seating as he stared at her and by his right stood the prince's best friend Merab. Merab winked at her and she smiled . "Such a cringe sight" Neil whispered to Dile.  Dile just nodded. "I think we should glare at him" Dile said.  "Yes, we should" Neil responded.
       Then the duo glared at Merab. Even though Neil's glare was funny cause he was doing to much. Merab Saw them and wiggled his eyebrows."He has no respect" Dile said . "I think he's trying to seduce us" Neil said. You fo... Dile was cut off by the queen.
        "Are you listening twins?" "Yes we are "the both answered in unison." You have such a cute set of twins,Neptal". "Thank you my, Queen" Neptal said.  I think  Shela and  Zillan should have a private talk in our garden" The queen said. She then ordered  Merab and some guards to follow them.
        Shela  walked beside Zillan, she looked behind her and saw Merab and saw him smiling like a fool. She wondered if he actually cared about her.  He looked at her and gave her a look of assurance but she just rolled her eyes at him .
       Finally they had arrived at the garden some minutes ago,  Shela had been  thinking of what to say to convince the prince. Because right now, he's the only one that could  stop the marriage  from happening.
      Shela decided to ask him some questions that could push her plan..  ".I heard you where about to get married  to a girl so what happened?" Shela asked. Zillan looked at the girl's clear and big eyes."She made her decision" said Zillan. "What decision?" Shela said.  "We got an information that she ran away with a charmer from the palace". Zillan said.
       Shela made an oh with her lips."No wonder Neil was able to get that info" Shela thought "Where you sad?" she asked." No, I wasn't" Zillan said. "Why do you ask?". Shela ignored his question and asked " who is she?". Zillan stared at her and looked at the flowers in the garden.  Everywhere silent .It was an awkward silence. Shela turned around and glanced at Merab  and continued staring at him.
        Zillan turned around and saw both Merab and Shela staring at each other. Merab then smiled and shela blushed and turned  back and focused on the flowers." Is there something that interests you  behind ,Shela?". Zillan said
        Shela faced  Zillan and saw he was looking  directly at Merab. Zillan  then said  "Nelly was an orphan, she was From the North and lost her parents because of the war. My mother took her in. As my  father  and his council made the decision that I should get married, the brought all the noble ladies of our kingdom including you".
   "My mom convinced the king that it will be better if I get married to Nelly, I wasn't in support though but I could see the happiness in Nelly's eyes. I don't know what happened when we couldn't find her one morning. Some people said that she was seen with a stranger  living the kingdom and one of our men was missing . So we guessed she ran away with him and the charmers said the barrier had been broken and one of their men had left and he charmed some of his mates that's how my father told me I was soon to be married to you.
     I thought I was the only one that was chosen because I was told we were already betrothed to you" shela said smiling."we weren't". "How did your mother feel?" " She felt disappointed but it had already happened. We then decided to choose you because of you father's visit that day. Even though he came a bit desperate and rude, my mother was in love with your looks she saw on the picture your father sent to us.
    "Do you want this marriage to take place?"Shela asked. Zillan looked at Shela and asked her the same question."No"shela quickly responded. She was about to say something when a maid Came to call them.
      Zillan was about to go when Shela grabbed his hand and said "I don't want to get married to you. I love someone else and I know you are the only that can stop this"."If you don't want all this,I think you should talk to your father about it not me.  You can end it for yourself and I will end it for myself". He then left.
      Shela was shocked. She never expected Zillan  to be so rude. The prince and his guard had gone, except One. Shela was about to leave too , but Merab held her and told her that she had tried her Best.
     "That's it I have tried. You have not done anything, you can't even talk to your friend".shela said."My brothers are right I'm in love with someone I can give birth to. You either talk to him or I leave you" she then left.
      "She told her brothers? No wonder they looked at me like that, but don't worry my dear, I will do something". Merab said smiling.