Peace: An Unachievable Dream

A War Of Words

The Door opens. Rhyon Cartell, the young king of Derington enters the Great Hall.

All the nobles, surviving generals, knights and even squires are all lined up.

"Have they knelt?" asks King Rhyon.

"Yes, your grace" answers Sir Damien Mayron, the Commander of the Royal Cartell Army.

King Rhyon looks around. He remembers all those times when he, young Rodrik, and little mischievous Elena played in this hall, all those times when King Godrik or King William, Rhyon's late father used to scold them. Now he watches as the colors of the hall change, the blue and white carpet is being replaced with red and black, Cartell colours, 4 rows of chairs on the two sides of the narrow hall, exactly aligned exactly how Gregor likes it. Rhyon seems to be quite fond of this choice, then allows it to remain unchanged.

Now, Rhyon stares down exactly at the other end of the hall, at the Thrones. He finds the entire Barristan family, Gregor, Princess Elena, Queen Meera, Prince Godrik chained up, at the bottom of the stairs that lead to the throne.

Rhyon starts to walk towards them, Gregor had his head busted open by Sir Damien during the siege. So as he looks up to face Rhyon, his short grey hair had almost turned into blood red, He also suffered a few broken tooth, and a bloody nose, the blood had even stained his beard, the beard that Gregor was so obsessed to maintain.

Rhyon orders Sir Damien to clear the hall, he has some important matters to discuss with Gregor. As always, Sir Damien obeys his King.

Now only Rhyon and Gregor remain in this legendary hall.

"'King' Gregor Barristan, The peace keeper, isn't that what the people call you? Wait, wait, wait...If you are the peace keeper, and I just defeated you, does that mean I conquered peace? Wow, that's quite impressive, wouldn't you agree?" asks King Rhyon as he mocks the beaten king.

"WHY??? Why??? The continent of Thanarth was finally at ease, the people were happy, all 6 kingdoms of Thanarth was starting to grow... together!" asks Gregor in a broken and faint voice, it almost felt like a whisper. But Rhyon heard it crystal clear.

"Why? You already know why. 'To conquer, to dominate, and to rule, isn't that what it means to be a king?'"

Gregor's eyes and his mouth become frozen wide open.

"Piecing it together? Well, I suppose age has caught up with you. Allow me to help you move at a faster rate, isn't that the answer my late father gave you, in this very hall, right before you...killed him!"

"Rhyon, you don't under-"

"Oh spare me your explanations, it always ends the same way. Let me guess you did it to keep the peace? Let me tell you this, this peace that you so greatly desire is nothing but an illusion, a hopeless attempt, an unachievable dream!"

Gregor takes a few moments to collect his thoughts.

"William Cartell, your father, my friend, was responsible for the deaths of thousands of innocent Thanarthans, OUR people, he almost destroyed Thanarth, all of that for 'The Quest'. He was the one who betrayed my trust, he was a blood traitor. And I feel no guilt, and have no regret with what I did!"

"Finally! The Barristan rage, bravery, well I call it stupidity! You do realize that I knock your ugly head off of tired shoulders right now if I want to? Right?" He looks at the newly hung Cartell banners right on top of the throne, A black background with 3 red stripes.

" I still remember that day, you and father were alone in this hall, trying to resist the Rickard Plantage's forces, I was out on the barracks, playing with Godrik and Elena. We were messing with the army, they were so anxious, everyone was convinced that the castle WILL fall. Sir Royland came to take us to the castle, he said that father demanded it. Elena and Godrik went along, but I was too stubborn, I ran away, and hid near the gate, Sir Royland just gave up and took Godrik and Elena, I looked up at the massive wall and the gate made by the impenetrable Barristan iron. On two sides the waving flag of the Barristan banner, a background of blue, just as the sky, surrounded by a white snowy border. Then suddenly I hear those damned words 'Open The Gates'"

He turns to Gregor.

"Well, you're an old man, you've obviously lived long enough to know how these things go, I already took your castle, a large group of your army and your Commander Sir Royland have managed to flee, so now you have to sign the decree and relinquish your titles and crown me king of Lyonden"

Gregor grins at him and starts laughing. Rhyon does nothing but raises his eyebrows.
"Boy, boy...I raised you, I truly expected you to know better. If you actually think I'll sign that, then.I am utterly disappointed"

Rhyon pulls down his eyebrows together, glares at Gregor, his face starts to redden.
"Believe me you will! Because if you don't, I swear on my dead father's grave that I will have your head, I will carve your skin, I will splice your flesh, and feed it to your wife, son and daughter, then I'll have their heads, carve their skin, slice their flesh, and feed it to the damn dogs!" shouts Rhyon straight into Gregor's face.

"Well done, your disgusting, treacherous, traitor father would be proud!" answers Gregor, as he receives a thrashing slap. Gregor immediately starts starting him down.

"I know what he was" Rhyon stares directly into the blue eyes of Gregor. "But you were the one who always told me to look up to him remember? A son must ALWAYS fulfil father's desire, and that's exactly what I will do, I will behead all of the kings in Thanarth if I have to, I will slaughter every heir if I have to, I will do whatever it takes to become the one true ruler of the entire continent of Thanarth!"

"Not while I'm still breathing!"

"Oh, don't worry, I'll take care of that."

He starts to walk away...but then he stops, looks back at the shattered body and soul of Gregor, and says -

"To conquer, to dominate, to rule is EXACTLY what it means to be a king!"