Resemblance to a Royalty

Chapter 1

It was cold and rainy, the sky foreshadowing great demise. 

No one knew the change that was coming for them, and no one was prepared. 

Their guards had been let down, their paranoia relieved, their locks undone. It was too calm and too peaceful. 

Suddenly, the kingdom's walls were trembling and explosions could be heard from all around. Patrolmen began sounding their alarms and people began to flood the shopping district and the roads, rushing toward the exit, looking to get out the big, dark, wooden door. 

Knights themselves rallied into a large group and screamed, trying to get excited for the fight, though under their metal suits they were shaking with fear. They lead the masses of people, trying to surround them as they escaped the kingdom. The opposing group took this opportunity to knock down as many civilians as possible. Townspeople were knocked down by arrows and cannon balls, left behind and trampled in the crowds. Several knights were also knocked down, despite their heavy armor. 

As the crowds thinned out, the opposing group split, a half taking control of the abandoned kingdom, and the other chasing after their prey. 

The group slowly became smaller and smaller, leaving more and more casualties behind. The enemies were pleased with their work and left, the lone survivors lost in the woods with each other. They continued to run, though they were free of any harm, until they came at least ten miles into the forest. 

Tired and beat, wounded and traumatized, they all collapsed to the ground, a few running around and checking on one another. 

One young person stood near the center of the clearing. 

They looked around, breathing heavily from the run and wiping face of the dust and dirt that had collected. 

Liam. That was their name.

Liam brushed her dirty blonde hair out of her face and held her scratchy brown robe tighter around her. It was almost too good to be true. 

A malnourished, short, frail orphan had escaped the catastrophe that had reached the kingdom. 

Liam was not just like all the other orphans, she was smart. She had been trained to give others medical care and knew what kind of herbs would heal certain kinds of wounds. Liam started searching for said herbs, finding ones for burns, some for cuts, a few to sooth the poison ivy they had ran through, and some for the ones who had broken bones. She was prepared to rip up her burlap coat and collect sticks to make splints if necessary. 

Liam calmly approached a young man, "Okay, sir, if you would please hold still while--"

"Agh! I don't need a girl to take care a'me!" The man quickly threw his leg away from her, wincing in pain but was satisfied when she walked away. She tried an old lady who looked rather irritated by her itches. 

"Pardon me, m'am, but I have--"

"Sorry, lass, but I'll wait for the medic to arrive. Now off with ya!"

Liam tried several more times and was dismissed rudely. She tried approaching the leader of the knights, a tall man, with black hair swept into a short, low ponytail. He looked down at her with a stoic expression, nearly scaring her away. Liam was aware that she needed to help somehow, seeing as she had gotten away unharmed.

"S'cuse me sir, but I can help the wounded--"

"Lass, no one will except help from a young child, let alone a girl," his deep voice was dismissive, but in a way, almost sympathetic.