The Maiden's Song (draft-editing)

Chapter 38 Broken Promises

Chapter 38 Broken Promises

The healers managed to take the sword out of Maik's core, but they gave the prince little hopes of survival. He lost lots of blood and it was certain the sword had affected vital organs. Maik's breathing grew heavier as the time passed. The prince sat beside Maik as he heard the archer whispering Am's name constantly.

-"Maik, come on. We have to return together to the castle. Am would die of grief if you don't make it. I promised to keep you unharmed... and... Oh, my God... How did all this happen? I was not able to keep my promise to Am."- The prince was speaking to himself. He couldnt believe this man, who once he considered his rival for the love of Am, had blocked with his body the strike that was going to him. He couldnt feel more guilty. The prince was submerged in his thoughts when Maik's weak and broken voice was finally heard.

-"Just swear you will take care of her... keep the promise of making her happy and to keep her safe..."-Maik coughed and a trail of blood ran down the corner of his mouth.

-"I will keep all my promises, including the one of taking you back with me safe."

-"I don't think that would be possible... huff...huff...Tell her that I loved her with my life until the last moment...huff...huff... and I gave my life for her..."-

-"Maik, don't! Maik! - the prince screamed Maik's name as his eyes went blank... and his life extinguished...



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Am struggled for sleep that night. A few hours ago Jocelyn entered the room to tell her that a messenger had just arrived to inform that Abhainn had won the war... but a few lives were lost in battle. She was feeling anxious. She felt deep in her heart that something was wrong. Later, Jocelyn brought her daughter a chamomile tea to ease Am's nerves and make her sleep.

With the help of the herbal infusion, Morpheus won the battle and Am fell asleep. By midnight, when she was deeply lost in her dreams, a bright light filled her bedroom. She woke up immediately and was sitting in the middle of her bed as she was blinded with the light that now was crossing through the window. It looked as if a star was entering her room. The floating shining orb stopped by the feet of the bed. Am was half hiding behind the bed sheets. The bright sphere was changing in form. It took the form of a human shape... A recognizable human figure... Her worst fear became a horrifying reality...

Am started crying as she saw the shining ghost her friend in front of her. In that moment she understood what happened. She started sobbing uncontrollably. The glittering Maik figure spoke to Am in a sweet voice... like the one he used in the Pillars the day he confessed his love for her.

-"Am... do not cry. Do not fear. I came to say good bye. Now I will depart to a better place..."-

-"No. Maik... do not leave me. You know that I love you... please..."-

-"Me too... I lived you and I will love you for eternity...I will take care of you from above my sweet Am... but I have to go... Good bye..."

Maik's figured waved his hand saying good bye. It was fading away as it returned to the bright orb shape and flew out the window... Am screamed as she extended her arms to reach her friend's ghost that now had dissapeared. -"No! Maik! Don't leave me! No!"

Am's eyes were opened and she jumped out of her bed. She was searching everywhere to find her friend in cries and panting. Suddenly Jocelyn opened the door. She found her daughter sitting on the floor crying a sea of tears.

-"What happened my sweet? I heard your screams and I came immediately. Are you sick? What's wrong Am? Why are you crying?"- Jocelyn asked her daughter as she helped her stand up and make her sit down on the bed.

Am managed to speak with her voice broken and sobbing. -"He's gone Mamah... Maik came tonight in my dreams to say good bye... He's dead Mamah... He's dead!"



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It was late afternoon the next day. The colors of the coats of arms on the flags of the Abhainn armada could now be seeing as they approached the castle first set of walls. The exhausted men entered marching up the hill in which the castle was settled. Wall after wall they crossed. The men on horses composed by the high officers, the Black Armada soldier and the Prince arrived into the patio in front of the royal mansion. There was celebration in the fields out the last set of walls.

A few bodies covered with white cotton sheets were brought to the area. There were the corpses of the fallen officers and higher ranked soldiers and the dead body of...

Am came running out of the castle building crying and screaming her best friend's name as she didn't find him standing next to the prince as he promised.

-"Maik! Maik!... Nooooooo!!!!!!!" Am cried when she lifted the stained in red sheet. Memories of her father's lifeless body came to her mind in the moment her Mamah left that same colored sheet when her Papah was brought dead that fatidic day.

She left her body fall over her best friend's not-breathing chest and shed a river of tears. Jocelyn and the queen were behind Am trying to console her, but no word seemed to make her release her friend's corpse. Am was caressing Maik's hair and whimpering. The prince walked to be near Am, standing behind her and taking gently Am's waist as he spoke.-"I'm sorry Am... I..."-

Am immediately turned with madness and started hitting with her fists the prince's chest, pushing him backwards as she yelled to him.-"You promised you would take care of him! You promised me you would bring him back to me unharmed!... Look at him! He is dead! Maik is dead! He's gone! It's your fault! It is all your fault!"-

Prince Alasther was trying to contain Am's sudden outburst by holding both of her wrists. The maiden was moving violently to release herself from his grip. Prince Alasther attempted to hold her, but she let her body fell on the floor. She was sobbing and shivering in emotional distress.

Prince Alasther kneeled on the floor in front of Amalthea. He extended his hand open as he tried to caress her face. She immediately reacted by pushing his hand away and turning her face. Am's eyes were filled with wrath as she spoke to the prince in cries -"It's your fault! You let him die... You let him die!... I hate you! I will hate you for ever!"