Fallen Kingdom ✔️

Welcoming the War

The thing is, nobody wants to welcome a war. The fighting, the killing, the bloodshed, the sadness and the fear. There has never been a war that's ended well. That's why King Arion made a pact with the neighbouring kingdom of Wyverna, called Servania. He believed in peace. He believed in fighting for what you love. He believed in learning from mistakes. The most important thing he ever told me, was that no matter what, there is always hope. The reason why I say this all in past tense, as King Arion was my father and right now, I'm watching my kingdom in flames while fleeing the only place I know. I was told things by those who were close to the castle when Irseval attacked with his men. They killed my father and mother, enslaving my brothers. It's been about a day since it happened. The people of my kingdom know that I am the key to saving them as long as I can go get help from Servania. Making that deal with them, they would send an army to take the kingdom back and get revenge for my family. My oldest brother would rule the kingdom while I take care of the people with my two other brothers. We work as a family, like my father always said. I rode my horse into the forest, leaving everyone and everything I knew behind. Just a weapon and the clothes on my back to leave with me.

It took weeks to get to Servania. I was dirty and smelly from working so hard and from the long travels. I was only ten years old and saw things no child should ever see. I left my horse with a kind man named Timour. He was a young man and was very kind to everyone. I was lucky to have met him. He kept my horse, King, safe in his stables for me while I talked to the King and Queen of Servania. Sadly, they didn't believe what I was saying. They refused to listen to a child. They knew who I was, and yet banished me to the lower levels of their kingdom. My family was betrayed by Servania. I hated them for what they did. They let my father and mother die and let my brothers be tortured along side my people. I was only a child and wouldn't be able to do anything about it. The rain started and I had nothing. I went back to King and Timour.

"What's wrong, child?"

I sat down with him. "The King and Queen sent me away. They've demoted me to nothing more then a dirty child. My family is in danger and I can't do anything about it."

He scoffed. "Those royals never do anything unless it's for themselves. That Irseval is the embodiment of evil. What was your name, dear child?"

"Victoria."

"Victoria? Were you named after the royal child of Wyverna?"

I laughed at the man. "You're funny. I am the royal child of Wyverna. See." I told him, showing him the magic weapon of Wyverna. They are only made in Wyverna for the royal family and their gaurds. Seeing that, he was shocked. "Sir, I have nowhere to go and no way to survive. I don't know what to do. Could I trade you this staff for some food and water?"

He shook his head. It scared me. Was he not as kind as I thought him to be? "Child, I will make you a deal. You keep that staff in your pocket and work for me taking care of my horses and I will feed, bathe and clothe you until you can return home. Does that sound like something you would like?"

"Very much so, Mister Timour. I would like to take that offer."

"Then that is how the deal will go. I will care for you until you leave back for Wyverna."

Every day I would wake up, feed the horses, groom the horses, clean the stables and go into town to collect rent from those renting spots for their stallions. For the rest of the day, I would read, write and learn. I would practice the fighting styles of Servania when I had the chance by sneaking into the Servania royal palace and watching the sons of the King and Queen learn to fight for themselves. I would mostly watch the boy my age. I would study the movements.

One day I was watching, and the decided to talk. The older brother was named George and the younger brother Bowan. I remember them from when I was travelling to this kingdom. They had stopped at a small town not too far out from Servania. They stopped to talk to the people and to find infortmation on what's happening outside their castle. I told them about Wyverna and they guided me to their home so I could speak to their parents. They had no idea who I was at the time and still don't. I am no longer a princess, I am just another child living in this kingdom in poverty. I did the best I could with the skills I had and learned new skills with every day. After learning fighting style of Servania, I would learn to cook. I was listening to the brothers speaking from inside a large shrub with a hollowed out inside.

"Little brother, you'll one day learn that this isn't the easy job. The girl we found that was of your age never got the help she wanted. Mother and father decided that it was too much of a risk to send the army to Wyverna with a risk of them coming here. That's why we have closed our gates to strangers. I am surprised that they let a common stable girl stay here, but they made the right risk. You'll learn to make those choices one day too."

"They made the wrong choice. Her family could have been saved. Irserval didn't have a large army until now. It's been months and he keeps gaining more and more soilders. We could have stopped the risk before it begun if our kingdom hadn't wronged their kingdom. I thought we had a deal to help each other."

"The deal was broken when King Arion decided it was more important to save his family rather then his kingdom. Don't ever tell anyone that mother and father wronged anyone. You do as you are told. You are a prince, not a commoner. If you'd like opinions like that, make your own kingdom."

I closed my eyes as the older brother hit the younger brother. I took that as my cue to leave. I had enough of the royal family. I didn't trust them and I never would trust them again. Servania is a horrible place with rulers that care nothing but of themselves. My father would be angry at these fools for doing so much harm. I would have to stay until I'm old enough. Even if I must go home alone, I will save my people and my brothers. I have learned something else while being here. Don't ever let someone else do a job you can do yourself. Being a royal is hard, but only if you're doing it right. These people are living in luxury and nothing more. They say they are saving their people but they have done nothing but hurt them. They are dying while they use their wealth on themselves. In my kingdom, we would live no better or worse then our people. Our entire kingdom was family to each other and that's all we needed to know. You always help family. Here, it's all for yourself and nothing more. I couldn't wait for the moment I could leave. I was just welcoming the war.