Light and Dark 1: The Heir

Chapter 1: The Coma

Arela leaned against the tree, sighing. Here she was again, the forgotten princess. Her siblings all had a purpose. Her sister, Laya, was training to be Queen. Her brother, Tirsto, was training to become the High Commander of the Royal army. But Arela had no destiny, no idea what she was going to do with her life. When she wasn't rushing around helping her parents or her siblings, she was in the library, reading. But right now she was on an errand. Her Father had sent her to fetch her Mother, who was currently tutoring her sister. Arela shook her head. Here she was, feeling sorry for herself, when there were people in the kingdom who barely had enough to survive. "Come on, Arela," she muttered to herself, "you're lucky. Now go get Mother before Father kills you." Arela stood up straight and turned on her heel, her golden hair glinting as it caught the sunlight, her brown eyes glinting with determination.

***

Laya stared intently at her Mother. The Queen was always so composed and elegant, the perfect Queen. Laya hoped to be as good as her, but she wasn't sure she could. She interrupted her Mother, blurting out, "will I ever be as good a Queen as you?" Vera abruptly stopped, turning to look at her eldest daughter. She stared into her eyes on her daughters face, those dark blue eyes so like her own, and that beautifully styled black hair, the same color as her Fathers.

"Laya," said the Queen, "look at me. You are a beautiful, talented girl, with a good heart. You have all the qualities of a wonderful Queen, and you are learning very well. When it is time, I know you will be a wonderful Queen. However," she added with a small smile, "if you don't quiet down and let me teach you, you won't have the knowledge needed." Laya smiled.

"Thank you, Mother," she said. "Please, what were you saying about the Girtastian siege of Bidaliata?"

***

Arela looked at her Mother and sister. She'd heard what her Mother had said to Laya, and had to wonder. 'Does she think I'm talented? Does she think I could do great things?' Arela loved her family, but she did sometimes feel forgotten. Arela took a deep breath and opened the gate into the garden. She walked up to them. "Mother," she said, and her Mother almost jumped, but was able to compose herself and turn around. Laya, on the other hand, yelped and jumped a mile in the air.

"Arelastia Moarneya!" the Queen exclaimed. "What have I told you about sneaking up like that!" Arela lowered her head.

"I'm sorry, Mother," she said. "It's okay," Vera replied, smiling lovingly at her youngest daughter. "But please, in the future, a little warning would be nice!" Arela nodded. "Now," continued Vera, "what was so important that you had to interrupt your sisters lesson?"

"Father needs you."

The Queen gave a brisk nod. "In that case I will go see what he needs. You girls play nice!" she called behind her as she exited through the gate.

The second the Queen was gone, the two Princesses turned to each other, laughing. "How do you do that?" asked Laya. "I can't go anywhere without my skirts rustling and my heels clicking!" Arela raised her eyebrows.

"Sometimes it pays to be the younger one," she said. "I have a lot more options of more stealthy clothes." Laya laughed and nodded in agreement.

"Now," she said, "I have to talk to you about something important." Arela tilted her head. Her sister didn't usually discuss important topics with her.

"What is it?" she asked. Laya glanced around furtively.

"There's a prophecy-" suddenly, Laya stopped.

"Lay," asked Arela worried. "Ar," said Laya, "be careful, don't-" suddenly, Laya swayed and fell to the ground. "Lay?!" asked Arela. "Lay!" Arela dropped to her knees. Her sister was still breathing, but her eyes were closed. Arela jumped up and ran off to get her parents.