The Good King

'There Once Was A Time'

Behind Lydia's high mountains, there was a small village where it snows all year long.

Its land was covered in a beautiful shiny white and even when the sun rays touch those homes, it would still be cold.

It was another peaceful morning, while the villagers were going on about their usual activities.

Two royal carriages came out of nowhere, battling their way through the snowy road, without stopping by the heart of the village which was very unusual.

The only two people who would visit them from the palace were Ivor and Ezra and they always make sure to stop by the village before heading home.

Yet no one had a single thing to worry about since their village was under the protection of the king's advisor.

One of the carriages suddenly stopped, and two guards came out of it, following an unfamiliar knight who was about to announce the big news to them as well as proceed with the new king's orders.

The more they approached that hill, the more Ezra's heart ached.

He did wish to come back home with his little brother but he never thought he would bring him back in a coffin.

Louis's mind was elsewhere, the prince was overwhelmed by the fact that Ivor was gone.

Putting his feelings aside, Ivor was the only man between Lydia and its downfall, with him gone, he did not know if he could handle all of those responsibilities on his own to be able to support Elmer.

The carriage stopped.and Ezra was the first to step outside.

The two guards who were driving rushed to open the door for the prince but he was already out, heading to the back where the coffin was kept guarded by yet another guard.

"Is everything alright?"

Ezra asked.

"Yes, sir"

The guard replied.

Ezra took a deep breath, it was cold, he could not feel it yet but with how lightly he was dressed his fingertips were already going numb.

He felt someone's gentle push on his back, it was none other than the second prince who wanted to show him some support.

The knight then walked forward, heading towards the small familiar house, he grew up in, while walking up he could hear their laughing voices, their little sword fights and other games.

Ivor was more cheerful than Ezra when they were young, he could not remember when things went wrong.

Maybe because there was no trace of a sad memory or a fight around that white village, it all happened when they were far away from home.

Ezra stood before the door, before he gently knoched and then went inside, closing it behind him.

"It's very cold, would you like to wait inside prince Louis?"

One of the guards asked.

"No, it's alright"

Louis replied.

He wanted to wait out there until he could properly greet Ivor's parents and attend his funeral.

Because Ivor was someone he deeply respected.

Eliz who was sitting on her chair near the fireplace, got up the moment she heard the door open.

"Marc?"

She does not usually ask that unless she is doubting that it could be him.

Ezra could not say a thing, the moment he saw her, his soul crushed once more as his tears starting falling down.

Eliz walked towards him and the moment she was able to hold his hand she was able to recognize him.

"Ezra, welcome home my dear"

Eliz smiled saying, while he was still quiet.

Her heart was aching for some reasons but she decided to keep it to herself and welcome her son properly without worrying him.

"Come and sit down"

She said while gently pulling his hand and walking him near her chair where she sat down.

Instead of sitting on the one next to her, Ezra kneeled down next to her, leaning his back on her while facing the burning wood pieces in front of his eyes.

Eliz started braiding his hair slowly and gently, without asking him about anything, she did not want to pressure him but she knew that he was hurting.

That moment took him back to a very nice memory. When he closed his eyes, he could see the same fireplace in front of him.

Eliz was brushing his hair, while singing a lovely little song.

When he turned his head left, he could see Marc reading Ivor his favorite book.

And he wished time would stop right there, but he opened his eyes again to a blurry sight since his tears were not stopping.

"I am so sorry, am sorry-"

His quiet voice got a little louder and his cries were getting more painful.

And before he got to say anything, he turned back to see her teary eyes.

Eliz was crying before he could speak and it made him feel worse.

He immediately turned around and got on both knees while holding her hands and before he got to tell her, she spoke.

"Ivor has always been so stubborn, that is so cruel, because he asked us last time, how we would feel if he gave his life away for the sake of the kingdom and even though I told him that I would get mad he went ahead and did it"

Ezra was very surprised when he heard that, he had no idea that Ivor had planned his own death and could not even tell for how long.

He saw that his eyes were tired and his soul looked drained all the time, he would still try to put a smile on.

"I was so stupid, I could have saved him! I could have done anything to prevent him from thinking this way but-"

Ezra's breakdown took his breath away, it felt like that fire was burning inside his throat, a heavy feeling inside his chest and the words wouldn't come out.

The only thing that came out were his tears.

"It's not your fault"

Eliz said while holding his hands back tightly.

Marc walked into the house in a rush after seeing the royal carriage in front of their home, his smile faded away the moment he saw those two crying so painfully.

And he did not know if he should comfort them or cry as well for the loss of his son.

The three of them shared that moment by the fireplace but there once was a time...