Echoes of The Crown

Chapter 06

Soft white clouds circled the sky as sunlight peaks through them, glistening upon the clear waters of a small lake, reflecting itself into tiny orbs on the ground. A beautiful swan paddles at the rim of the lake and a gentle morning breeze blows over the grassy fields. Truly a magnificent view one can’t miss, however Marzia seems to care less about the view as she sits in her usual spot; by a large rock, simmered in deep thoughts.

The stallion grazes beside the princess, urging her to pat him after a tiring morning ride. Marzia looked at her horse lovingly, her most trusted companion. Her thoughts shifted to an old memory of her 16th birthday, a birthday celebrated 7 years ago but remained the dearest to her. The last birthday ever, celebrated with her mother.

Flashback 5 years ago:

The crowd in the palace cheered merrily as Marzia thrust a knife into the cake prepared by the well-trained chefs within the palace itself, specially for the princess’ 16th birthday. Marzia smiled widely at her parents, who was standing right next to her, celebrating this joyous day with their precious daughter. The royal trumpet was blown all around the kingdom, signifying the royal birthday and marking a new era of hope.

A traditional grand parade was held outside the palace for the people of Kingdom of Azura to witness. The grand chariot rode at all nook and cranny of the kingdom, where residents eagerly waved at the royal family, with huge smiles on their face.

“Thank you Mama and Papa! ” Marzia exclaimed as the three sat in the palace’s lounge room for a small talk and tea after the tiring afternoon.

“Anything for my daughter, after all I have high hopes that you will become a great queen one day, carrying and flourishing the name of our kingdom. As the bearer of this kingdom in the near future, this is the least I could do my child,” Marzia’s father, Bilal said with pride and love for his daughter.

Marzia looked at her father, the thought of taking over the crown didn’t sit right with her. She thinks less of her own capabilities. She took a sip of her favorite tea, Blueberry Merlot with a pinch of cinnamon, but the smell and taste of the tea did not get rid of the unpleasant feeling in her heart, the possibility of displeasing her father in the future, if she were to refuse the throne.

Nursafa noticed the change of aura in the room and decided to step in. “My dear Marzia, I have a small gift for you.”

Marzia’s attention was now diverted to her mother. “A gift? Oh mother you both have already done so much for me today. There possibly cannot be more now.. ” Marzia said out of utter gratitude.

“Nothing is too much when it comes to my beautiful daughter.. , but it is better if you come and see it yourself.”

Nursafa gently pulled her daughter’s hand and asked her to follow, Bilal closely behind them. Each and every step Marzia took filled with curiosity as of what gift her mother could have possibly bought for her.
The three stopped at the royal stables behind the palace. Marzia was surprised, 'at the stables?' Before she could process anything the door to one of the stables opened and a cute baby horse stood up from a pile of hay..so small that it couldn’t even stand upright. Marzia looked at it in shock and a sudden wave of tears filled her eyes, looking back and fro at her mother and father. A horse! , finally a companion that she longed for. The baby foal was covered with dark black fur, as dark as the midnight sky and its large shiny brown eyes looked at Marzia curiously. Marzia took slow steps towards the baby foal, ensuring to not frighten it. She hesitantly laid the palms of her hands on the soft fur of the horse, and stroked it lovingly. “Zaraan, I want to call him Zaraan.”

The sky had become dull, clouds that were as white as snow is now as dark as coal.

Zaraan’s snort pulled Marzia back from her thoughts. Marzia heaved a heavy sigh as she gazed at the sky, knowing she have to leave soon otherwise she would be caught up in a rainstorm. She got up from her spot and set her heel on the stallion’s stirrup. She sat on the saddle and gently tugged the reins, setting off to the palace.

Rain started to drizzle slightly, but the journey to the palace was still quite far. The princess tugged the reins slightly stronger to signal her horse to run faster. The downpour only became worse from then..wetting the riding clothes of the princess’. The wind started to pick up faster, blowing the trees and bushes, potentially breaking some branches off its trees. Vision started to blur as the heavy rain made it difficult for the princess to see her path back to the palace. All of a sudden and unknowingly, the stallion ran past a thick, thorny branch hanging from one of the trees, scratching and slicing seamlessly through the skin of the horse. The horse screeched loudly at the stinging pain, stopping at its tracks and thundering its foot on the ground multiple times.
The princess lost her balance and fell to the ground, accompanied by the hurt stallion. Blood gushed from its neck, forming a pool of blood between them both. The heavy grunts and panting of the horse made her panic and Marzia gasps as she could see her stallion’s eyes slowly fluttering close.

The princess came running into the palace grounds, covered in wet mud and blood. She ran to the guards guarding the palace doors, who flinched at the sight of princess. She immediately commands one of them to go and look for her horse, to bring him back to the safe grounds of her palace. The other guard escorted the shivering princess into the palace.
Several palace maids came in to clean up the princess. Marzia remained quiet but her eyes spoke a thousand words, words full of grief and fear. Marzia looked at one of the palace maids and raised her voice, “YOU, I ORDER YOU TO TELL THE CHIEF GUARD TO FIND THE BEST VETERINARY DOCTOR IN THIS ENTIRE KINGDOM, NOW!” Upon hearing her order, the maid flinched at the princess’s sudden outburst but respecffully retreated from the room to fulfill her orders.

Marzia sat on her bed, cradling her head between her hands. How could she be so careless? What if Zaraan is badly hurt? What if she had lost the only companion she ever had? Several thoughts and worries raced her mind as she bursts into tears. She felt devastated by the fact that Zaraan was hurt, and she felt wholly responsible for it. She had already lost an important figure in her life, and she did not have the heart to lose another one.
A knock interrupted her thoughts, and a guard stepped in to inform her that the horse arrived safely back to the palace. Marzia got up and rushed to the sick bay. There she saw the stallion, lying unconscious on the bed, looking weak and frail. She fought back her tears and brought forward her trembling hand to pat him gently. She could now only hope for a miracle that can save him.