The Day The World Ended

Chapter 3

"Can't say that I have."

"Wonderful! I love telling stories." Lena grins. "Once upon a time in a kingdom called Burdam, there lived a Queen. She was recently widowed, for the King had fallen to death during the war between the Night Shadows and the elves. Sh-"

"Wait, what are Night Shadows?" I interrupted her.

"They are tall, looming figures made from the ashes of the dead. They feed off insecurities, guilt, haunting memories...negative emotions in general. Necromancers created them with magic, after the First Great Rebellion. Interesting creatures, really."

"You speak as if they exist."

"Indeed I do. I wouldn't, if they didn't. Anywa-"

"I don't understand, I thought this was a story. These things aren't true."

"Um, hello? Munchkin here. What more evidence do you need, to prove that there are things out there you can't explain?"

I sigh. "Alright. Continue."

"Thank you. So, the Queen could rule without a King for only a short amount of time. She needed to find a proper suitor so she could bear a child. She sent servants out in the land and had them search for an attractive, brave man. This took weeks, but finally the Queen received news from a servant that a man worthy of the Queen had been found. She ordered the servant to bring the man to her at once. When the mysterious man arrived, the Queen demanded there be a feast to honour her guest, so there was."

I shift, stretching my muscles slightly. "How long is this tale going to take?"

"Settle down and stop interrupting, we have all night." Lena shakes her head. "During the dinner, the man introduced himself as Daniel and spoke of his quest to find love. The Queen was pleased, for his manners were impeccable and his speech was undoubtedly flawless. These were both qualities she found quite attractive. Sometime in the conversation, Daniel said he was terribly sorry for the Queen's loss of a husband, and that any man she chose would be very lucky. Obviously it was only a month later that the two were engaged. After that, blah blah blah, a child was born and named Finley."

"Finley. Is that the end?" I ask.

"No, now there's no need to be so eager. The child grew into a fine young man, like his father. When the time came to become the king, Finley was nervous, but wanted very much to please his mother. When the crown was presented at the wondrous ceremony, he was nowhere to be found, which was surprising to every soul in the kingdom. Servants went in search of him, but he was not in any of the castle's rooms. The Queen became frantic, and ordered all of the guards and servants to search for her son. The searching continued for hours, with no trace of him. Little did the Queen know, but he had escaped the castle through the front gate without being noticed. Years passed, and although the Queen had not stopped searching for Finley, she was with child once more." Lena stops talking.

"Well?" I raise my eyebrows.

"Well, what?"

"What happened to Finley?"

"Finley's story does not stop there. I just figured I'd let you know that the Queen did indeed have another child for an heir. In fact, Finley's story is jut beginning."