Divided

Memories

A/N: Yeah... I posted this 2 hours late... but I just kept rereading it because I kept tearing up a little.

Third POV

-110 years ago (Tribrid Kingdom)

The grand doors of the castle creaked open, revealing two small figures standing hesitantly just inside the massive entrance.

"Your Majesty, these are Thallan's children," the royal guard's voice echoed softly through the vast hall as the children nervously glanced up, their height small by the towering stone walls.

Queen Celeste studied the two, her eyes filled with curiosity and a touch of surprise. She hadn't expected this—these children, so young and full of uncertainty, were suddenly placed in her care. She turned to her husband, King Alistair, who stood beside her, equally intrigued by the situation.

The little girl, wide-eyed and filled with awe, whispered to her brother, "Tzan, this place is huge." Her voice trembled with a mix of excitement and trepidation, her eyes darting from one end of the great hall to the other.

Tzan, her twin brother, remained silent, his gaze fixed on the ornate surroundings. He stood quietly, overwhelmed by the sheer scale of everything around him, his emotions tightly contained.

"I didn't know Thallan had children," Celeste said, her voice barely a murmur as she glanced once more at the children, who appeared so out of place in the royal setting.

The little girl smiled at Celeste, her face lighting up with a sense of hope. "Are you going to take care of us?" she asked, her voice small but filled with sincerity. Her innocent question hung in the air, and Celeste's heart tightened as she looked at the girl and her brother.

Alistair, sensing the weight of the moment, turned to Celeste, his gaze filled with understanding. Celeste, lost in her thoughts, briefly recalled the time when she had saved Thallan from the deadly forest fires. It was a memory filled with warmth and a deep sense of duty. Now, the children, the product of that fateful encounter, were here, before them.

"We would love to," Celeste replied, her voice steady as she turned to Alistair for support. Then, she gave a nod to the royal guard, signaling that this was their new reality now.

Ajia, the little girl, beamed with joy, her eyes sparkling as she grabbed her brother's arm. "You will!?" she asked in disbelief. Her voice was filled with childlike wonder, and she looked up at her brother, her excitement contagious. "Tzan, we're going to live in this giant castle!" Her voice was bright, as if the castle itself was a dream made real.

Alistair, smiling warmly at the children, knelt down to their level, his towering presence softened in that moment. "What are your names?" he asked kindly, his voice gentle but filled with the warmth of a father figure.

Ajia's face lit up, her moon-shaped eyes crinkling in happiness. "I'm Ajia," she said, her words full of pride as she smiled up at him.

Alistair chuckled softly and turned to the quiet boy who stood beside her. "And yours?" he asked, his tone still light, but Tzan didn't respond. His gaze remained on Alistair, his emotions veiled, a quiet storm beneath the surface.

Ajia, sensing her brother's reluctance, gently took his arm, her grip firm yet affectionate. "This is Tzan," she introduced him, her voice protective, as if she understood her brother better than anyone else in the room.

Alistair nodded, his smile never fading. "Well, Ajia and Tzan," he said, his voice warm, "your father grew up in this castle. It has been his home for many years."