Promises He Made

*What I Turned in to Class*

Author's Note: So, I had to write the backstory of the man in the poem, "Walking Through Woods on a Snowy Evening," by Robert Frost. One thing lead to another and I created this whole universe. I have to keep my story going and add as many details as possible, but I had to limit myself in class. This is what I did.*

          This is the story of a prince, named Jaska, who lost it all in the summer of his 20th year. The kingdom was to become his by the following spring as his prophecy had long stated. On the night of a full moon everything quickly changed; when a beautiful witch stood at the castle's portcullis chanting, "A man shall come and go, leaving your heart cold, soul dark, and thoughts deep," to the window of the prince's chamber. Sitting up in his bed, thoughts plagued the traveler's mind of disaster ad sorrow. Images of a man with a wide smile and eyes had seen the whole ocean filled his eyes, but slowly turned into tears and eyes full of fire. The overwhelming and sudden presence of all these emotions caused a single tear to fall from his eye as he drifted to sleep. The witch continued to send these glimpses of the future into Jaska's dreams for three nights.

           One week after the dreams had ended, a group of knights came bolting to the infirmary  carrying a small man. He had been found beyond the lake with an arrow in his stomach and a hex bag next to his heart. The doctor began to immediately work on him. Once bandaged and laid to rest, the prince came to check on the kingdoms sudden guest. Upon entering the room, the prince had his breath knocked out of his chest. This was the man who had haunted his dreams. He had to wake up as soon as possible to answer all Jaska's questions. Work promptly spread of the man being a sorcerer with his unusual wakening. The prince was sat next to his bed to hear his first gasp. Swiftly, Jaska offered food and water to this "unknown" man. After filling his stomach, the fellow looked up at Jaska and lost his breath. A wide smile filled his face as he said, "I knew you would save me," and hugged the prince. Jaska now had more questions than ever.

          More days went by and instantly the two became inseparable. Vitali and Jaska were one whole unit, never seen as different people. The night that Vitali woke up was a momentous turn to the boys. He explained that he was a vampire who had escaped as his village had been overtaken by a witch. The villages prophecy told of a knightly prince who would save them from their nightmare, and become the king of all their lands. Jaska promised to be the knight the village needed. Vitali swore to be by his side in the battle no matter the consequences. They trained through the windy season and were set to leave in a weeks' time. Each night before entering their slumber the boys told each other tales of their childhoods. Vitali had lost his mother and father to a knight who believed any creature of the night was to be killed. He went into hiding with his grandmother and was raised as a regular boy in the small village. Jaska told of his mother's death at the birth of his twin. Both were buried a day after his birth. The kingdom was worried of a downfall after the death of the beloved queen; yet prospered again, after the King's promise to leave his heir a worthy kingdom. Jaska and Vitali now saw themselves as each other's family and first friends. Jaska was never able to make them as he learned the knightly ways, Vitali lived in fear of befriending a human. Jaska's favorite story was that of when Vitali got to see the ocean in the yearly fishing trip. Jaska had grown up in the woods never imagining the tales Vitali told.

          Sunset the night before their departure, the witch snuck into the kingdom. Sneaking in to kill the prince who was destined to kill her. She got all the way up the highest tower, before waking both the boys. Jaska reached for his sword and Vitali reached for his bow. Not knowing that one had to die before she would leave. Spells were cast, the sword was swung, and arrows flew around the room. No sooner than the last shot blocked another flew towards the boys. Knights began to run into the room as the battle intensified, and the witch conjured more undead troops to hold them off. The witch knew she had won when she stirred u her wildest spell. One that was to instantly stop the heart of whoever it hit. Vitali saw it as Jaska turned around. Knowing that neither could stop it with their weapon, Vitali jumped. Everything slowed and Jaska took in everything. The witch disappeared through the fire that was captivating the whole room, knights lay in pools of the blood of themselves and brothers, the King burst through the door, a tear fell down Vitali's check as the spell hit him. Running to his soulmate, Jaska held Vitali to his chest as tears flooded his eyes, "I promise to save the village, I will avenge your death, and you will be with me again," Vitali's smile fell with his heartbeat. Jaska let out a blood curdling scream as he closed Vitali's eyes.

          The next morning, the prince called off the rescue party. Today as well as the following months were to be used to grieve all he had lost. Dismissing all ritual for the death of a knight, Jaska buried Vitali close to a lake, the best thing to the ocean in their kingdom. A stone was engraved, "Brother, fighter, and soulmate lay here with all hope." Enough tears were shed to fill the lake two times over. Jaska slowly stopped talking, then eating, and finally getting out of bed. One of his servants came to his chambers on the coldest night of the fall. Jaska hadn't touched anything of his friends to preserve as much as he could. Forcing him to change and eat a bowl of soup. Jaska began to pace around the room and tripped onto Vitali's bed. A leather-bound journal was discovered from under the pillow. He read the whole thing and knew he could bear the loneliness no longer. He escaped the kingdom and all the memories. The words would not leave his eyes, telling the tales of Vitali's happiness and hope in the prince.

          Days went by and trees became barren of leaves with the kingdoms hope of the prince to return. Jaska had only his horse and a few items as he traveled to the woods as close to the village he was supposed to rescue. He wanted to die where Vitali's family had to be closer to him. He could feel his whole support system disappearing. Leaving the horse who had been his only companionship through the months, he stretched a rope from a tree branch. Running his fingers along the tree, he came to a carving about the vampires in the village. Nothing could kill them, except a stake with enchanted wood. Instantly his mind went to Vitali, hadn't he died? His question was answered, any other "death" was only a long sleep that could be awakened if tears fell of those who loved the vampire onto their cursed place of death. Without a second thought, he ran to his now startled horse to go home. He had to wake up Vitali and save his village.

          The season began to change again into spring when Jaska was finally back at hi kingdom. Miles had passed in a blur, and now he was running through the halls yelling incoherent words of joy. He ran to the grave site of his best friend. Nothing would break his promise. Crying tears of every emotion, fell onto the ground as Jaska continued to dig. As his senses enhanced again, he heard the always recognizable beat of Vitali's heart. His second promise had been kept.

Author's Note: Hope you enjoyed it, consider it an introduction. It will become a few chapters per paragraph and a few journals from Vitali.