Legacy of the Crown

16

The throne room doors slam shut, and I can't hold back the breath that escapes. The breath is cut short by the sudden jerk on the collar of my throat. I grab the collar around my throat and yank the chain back. "I will walk without no fight. Do not jerk me around." To my surprise the guard nods. "Follow us."

Two guards began walking and I follow, noting the one walking behind me. Every step closer to my chambers felt like a hammer on my chest. I wouldn't run, wouldn't fight if only to keep Azreil safe. I don't know if the King was telling the truth of Azreil still out in the city living. My only wish is that if it was the truth...Azreil doesn't come looking for me.

We walk the same halls that we walked from the dungeons. How kingly, he wants me to work for him and my "chambers" are the dungeons. Not even a servant's room. As we came to hallway that over looked the training yard, we turned right, not left to the dungeons. A series of doors lined the hallway we walked on now. Ten doors, five on each side lined the walls as we walked. The guard unlocked one of the doors and swung it open. I jumped when I felt a guard behind me unlocking the chains. They fell to the ground with loud chucks and I felt ten pounds lighter when the one around my neck fell away. "Your maid will be here shortly. Don't do anything stupid." And with his parting words I walked into my chambers and slammed the door behind me.

My breath caught at the sight of my room. A fourposter wooden bed sat in the center of the room, a large bear skin rug lay near the fireplace, a vanity and an armoire of to the left of one wall and a small balcony overlooking a small garden. I slipped off my boots as I walk over to the bear skin rug and slip my toes into the wonderful soft fur. I've never had anything this magnificent. If my chambers are like this than I can only imagine the king's chambers. My throat burned at the thought of King Costello and all awe of my room shattered and flew away on the wind. He wanted me and killed the only people I could call close to being friends and threatened me with the man I love so I would do his bidding. Now he throws me some spectacular room at me and expects me to okay with it?

No, I never will be.

The king said I could find things for him...whatever those things are, I would make sure they never reached his hands.

I sink down onto the soft fur and curl into a ball as if to hide from the rage and the sense of loss consuming me. Reaching to the one memory that brought me peace through years and years of torment, I latch on and close my eyes.

My feet hurt as I ran across the broken sea shells and jagged rocks to reach my mother.

"MOMMY!" I screamed and through my little arms around her. Her warm arms wrapped around my body in a tight embrace. Warmth, strength, safety and love came from her. Everything I needed. "Don't go please!" I sniffled into her neck.

"Oh baby, I will never leave you," she pulls back and wipes the tears from my cheeks, placing a solid warm hand on my chest, "I will always be right here. You are my strong, brave, and smart princess. No one can ever take me away from you. I'm only leaving for a little bit but, I will always be here." She pats over my madly thumping heart and smiles. Her brown hair flying in the sea wind. "When will I see you again mommy?" I ask hugging her tightly again.

"Soon my princess. You must stand strong and shine bright while I'm away. You must shake the world with the joy you bring. You must face your fears and make them fear you. You must be my little champion. When I'm gone," She takes a deep breath and squeezes me tighter, "you must be the strongest because it won't be easy." She pulls back and takes off her necklace. A little black sea shell covered in white spots held on a piece of strong leather. I've never seem her take it off. She wraps the shell around my neck and ties it into place. She holds my head between her hands and smiles. "Promise me you'll be strong and never give up on what the world will through at you?"

"I promise." Her smile widens and she places a kiss on my forehead. "Good. Now go back to Hesta and remember your promise my princess. I Love you."

I lunge and wrap my arms around her in one more quick before pulling away and running back to the woman by the horse. "I love you too mommy!" I yell back and wave.

I never took my eyes off her by the sea until I could no longer see her from atop the horse.

Replaying the memory over and over again and clutching the necklace around my neck that luckily never fell off, I fell asleep on the warm rug.

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Im sorry guys its a short chapter, ive just been really busy with school lately. Thanks for your patience! 

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