Heart

Prologue

Hey guys! so this is a story that has been in my head for quite some time now, figure I would get it on paper and then I couldn't stop writing so I figure I would share it with you :) I apologize in advance for any gramatical errors you my find, yea so tell me what you think.

Word(s) you may need to know before reading.

-Castellan: formerly, the governor or manager of a castle.

-Midwife: a person who assits with home births

-Lady in Waiting: a personal assistant to high ranking noblewomen.

Prologue

The lone rider held firmly onto the reins and kicked the black stallion with his heels, commanding the beast to go faster. With another kick the beast lunged forward at breakneck speed, as the billowing storm ragged on. This was possible the largest storm that Elyria had ever seen, the coast lines had all been flooded by ghastly waves and the towns closest to the sea had been lost to the storm. As the rider grew closer to his destination, he struck the horse on last time and retrieved the flag of the kings guard form his purse, and waved it towards the tower as he rode down the long bridge.

"Raise the gate!" the guard from the tower yelled.

The rider continued straight through the gate, and continued up the hill towards the main house where the royal family resided. Upon reaching the great gate, the rider pulled the reins and simultaneously dismounted his horse and ran through the gate as it was opened by castellan.

"Speak!" the castellan commanded.

^<->^<->^<->^<->^

Screams and whimper filled the queen's chambers, as maids hastily ran back and forth, following the commands of the castle's midwife.

"You are doing well my Queen," the midwife comforted, as a maids dried sweat the Queens face, while others held her hand.

"Where is my husband!" the screamed with jagged breaths.

"We've heard no word of the King's arrival my Queen," her lady in waiting answered from her side.

With an ear piercing scream the queen began to cry and her servants tried to give her comfort.

"Keep breathing, and when I give word, I want you to give one last push," the midwife instructed.

The queen nodded her head, signaling that she understood what was asked of her. The midwife demonstrated how the queen should breathe, and when she saw fit she gave the signal, and the queen screamed loudly as she pushed. After a moment of harsh breathing, the cries of the new born were followed by tears of joy and laughter.

"Congratulations my Queen, it's a girl...a princess."

"Can I hold her?" the queen asked softly.

"Of course."

The queen gently took the young child into her arms, and stared and the beauty she was blessed with. The baby stared back with the most beautiful stormy gray eyes that she had ever seen.

"What will you call her?" her lady in waiting inquired.

"Ophelia," she whispered.

"A wonderful name, for an equally wonder princess."

"My Queen!" bellowed the voice of castellan.

"What is the meaning of this Marcel!" the queen demanded.

"A messenger rode in with word of the King."

"Of or from?" she tentatively asked

"Of my Queen," he replied solemnly.

"W-What did he say," her eyes were lightly glossed over and her lips trembled as she waited for his answer.

"I'm sorry my Queen," he mumbled.

"What Did He Say!" her heart crumbled and the last of her resolve was lost once she saw the look in his eyes. She knew what he would say before he even spoke, yet she needed to hear the words.

"The King Is Dead."