Heir to The Throne

The End

He stood outside the double door. Behind him, a strong wind pushed his back and tossed raindrops into the dark cloak he had wrapped around him. His hood darkened his face, however, his lips were visible by the torchlight beside the doors. He focused his eyes on his boots, once they had been saddled up cleanly on a horse, but now they are muddied with blood and melted earth. A castle guard stood beside the door, awaiting the signal to open the doors. Beneath the cloak,  the prince, soaked and muddied, slowly moved his hand across his belt. It got caught on a metal, sharp notch, which led to a leather bound handle. He moved his hand away from it slowly. The guard heard a horn from the opposite side of the gate.  The guard approached the prince.
"I must ask sir, that you relieve your sword to me".

"Am I really a threat? I was given this sword in the house, must I give it back to this house?"

"Sir please, I just ask for the sword, if you come back through the door on my honor you will have it back."

"Well, on your honor you give it back. Here you go, Officer".

The Prince pulled the sword from the sheath. It slowly emerged from the damp cloak, revealing First a pointed end of the hilt, golden in color. Following was the Prince's hand, holding a leather handle, with golden beads which kept the leather clasped to the handle. The sword continued to be lifted to show an elegant horizontal handguard that separated the hilt from the blade. The blade was the most interesting part of the sword. A mysterious pattern was embedded into the sword and engraved as well, however, the guard did not know the language. The blade appeared golden, like the handle, however obvious just by appearance it was much stronger than any gold. The double-sided blade of the sword was shorter than a longsword but slightly longer than a short sword. It was large enough to swing with two hands, or one-handed if he desired.

"A fine sword sir".

"Indeed Officer, it's loyal".

"I promise I will keep it in good hands".

"As will I".

With that, the guard took the sword and opened the door for the prince. The prince walked in swiftly and without looking up kneeled at the step to the throne.

"Once a son, now a sin to the family".

The prince kneeled silently.

"Do you have anything to say? You and your rebels dared to rob my throne, could you not wait for my natural death? Why would a son of the kingdom, a son of my loins kill its own people, it's own family?"

"Most majestic King, king of his castle, and king of his life, king of his king-dom. Family is what I fought for, for what father or husband would burn his home, butcher his comrades family, and do so with the order and endorsement of his most majestic, king?"

"You are a traitor!" Shouted the king. He rose out of the throne.
"The only butcher is the one who kneels before his creator, and his executioner".

With that statement, the king opened his palm and pointed toward a servant, who walked with a fine steel dagger on a purple pillow.

"Rise and take your death with whatever honor you have". The king said as he took the dagger in his right hand.

The prince kneeled silently.

"I demand you rise!"
Shouted the king, and took his boot and kicked the prince, forcing his cloak to lift off his head. The kick revealed a short brown-bearded, long-haired, dirty face that at one time, was clean white.

"Your king said to rise, you swine I order you to rise!" Again they king kicked the prince.

The prince turned to his belly and lifted himself to his knees. He lifted one leg up, allowing the foot to touch grab the ground. He slowly opened his right hand, which he allowed to let hang carelessly to his side. He wore a ring on his middle finger of his right hand, which was made of the same metal of his sword.

The prince rose completely and stood on his two feet, shoulder width apart.

The king pushed his crown into the servant's chest. Then, he rose the dagger and quickly moved toward the prince, with the blade aimed for the prince's chest.

The prince looked up quickly and watched as the blade grew closer.

His eyes bulged fast and shock covered his face. Blood began to appear around the blade, lodged in the chest.

The blade was slowly turned within his chest, and his legs buckled. The force of the body dropping dislodged the blade.

The king dropped to the ground. His blood drained onto the carpet. His dagger was still in hand as he drained on the floor.

Above him, the prince stood. His sword, covered in blood. The blade and his rings embedded features in the metal glowed like embers.

"The man who was king of this kingdom, and was king of his life, is no longer king of either." Said the prince down to his husk of a father-king.

And so the story goes, the Prince's sword stays loyal to its owner, and can be called when needed, and so the prince, now King of the kingdom, ended the reign of terror and began the Journey of Reconstruction.

And the journey continues....................................................................................................................