Of Love and War

Love, Betrayal, Responsibilities

Three decades before the First Great Encantadian War . . . . .

The confederation of Lireo and Etheria has become shaky. News has arrived to the diwatas that the royal family of Lireo has been slaughtered, including the crown princesses and has left the kingdom of diwatas heirless. This is all because of the greediness of the Etherian queen Avria who feared that one day Lireo, that is under its wing, will become as powerful as Etheria.

Days before the slaughter  . . . .

Avria had noticed that the diwatas are more innovative and had more innate abilities than the Etherians. She also learned from one of her soothsayers that a diwata will rise into a powerful queen and will make Lireo one of the most powerful kingdoms in Encantadia. So she conjured a dark plan, she held a party for the newly born second crown princess of Lireo in her palace.

"What a beautiful baby you have" Avria said as she caresses the newly born Amihan in Esmeralda's care

"She is a beauty" the third generation queen of Lireo said, still exhausted from the delivery of her second child.

"Why did you have to bear a second one? Is Melina not enough?" Avria forced a smile as she stops herself from snapping the neck of the newborn

"We never know, Lireo might need new alliances, and marriage is one of the ways to do that" Esmeralda joked

"So you want to really make Lireo powerful" Avria said in her mind, she is now furious and jealous. For she is cursed with infertility, a price she paid to the deity Ether when she asked for more power to someday conquer the entirety of Encantadia.

"Is everything ok Avria?" Esmeralda asked

"Oh yeah, everything's fine. You know what? I've decided to hold a feast for your baby. It's gonna be three days from today in Etheria" she said as she went into evictus, Esmeralda who was about to decline didn't had the chance. And because of Lirean traditions, whenever a royalty is invited to a formal gathering he or she must never decline.

Three days after, the King and Queen of Lireo arrived in Etheria together with some of their council and head maiden. A party of five is already waiting in the entrance of Etheria, led by the younger brother of Avria, Arkrey.

"It's our pleasure that you have graced us with your presence" Arkrey said with a wide smile. He gestured for them to follow him

"This kid's smile has always bothered me" King Arsen of Lireo said to Esmeralda who is carrying Amihan while Melina is holding the hem of her robe

"Shush Arsen he's the brother of our host" Esmeralda scolded her husband

"I was just saying" the king just shrugged his shoulder

Then, her head maiden approached Esmeralda.

"Your highness, haven't you noticed anything suspicious?"

"Like what?" Esmeralda was puzzled

"I was looking around and I noticed that the soldiers are on edge and in full battle gears. I've been here together with you everytime you come here and the soldiers were never this tense. Its as if they're about to go into battle"

"It's just your imagination Adena, lets just enjoy the evening. Look at your daughter Ades, she is enjoying the sceneries" Esmeralda looked at the head maiden's little daughter, a girl of five years, getting amazed by the fixtures inside Etheria's main castle.

"You're right my queen I think it's just me" the head maiden moved back.

The party started when they arrived at the court. There were a number of Etherian high ranking officials that were present and only a few of the Lirean court. The royal family were too engrossed into the conversations that they failed to notice that their numbers are slowly dwindling. The etherians are slowly assassinating the Lirean party one by one. And just as it was only a few of them remained in the hall, Avria entered. She strutted with her full battle gear on.