Sacrifice: A Heroe's Legacy

The Gifts of a King

The Gifts of a King 

Chapter 1 

A long time ago, there was a great king who ruled over all the land. Not all of His subjects were loyal, but He did not require them to be. He gave them a choice. Now, just because they weren't loyal, doesn't mean that they did whatever they wanted. Like all kingdoms, there was a justice system and punishments always matched the crime. Now, the King is one of the major characters of this story, but this story is not about Him. It is about a girl.  

The princess was not always a princess. Before He had adopted her, she was a terrible child who had a terrible life. The only thing that she wanted was to be accepted, and so she tried to fit in. She disobeyed her parents often as a child, and when she got older, snuck out with friends and potential suitors whenever she could.  

As she grew up, she grew to fear the King for a reason that would not make much sense to many. When she was younger, she asked the King for help with a situation at school. But, the King knew that if He altered the course of events that day, she would never grow to her full strength and potential in the future. But the poor child could never see that at her age. She saw that the great king, that everybody talked about as a great helper and provider, had failed her. That was when she started her bad behavior.  

She didn't become a bad child consciously; she just knew that what she did was the only way to hide the pain from what had scarred her that day. So she did what her friends told her. She started to get into black magic, steal ale and ditch school. One day, when the weather was especially bad, she was caught. As the law required, she was taken to trial in front of the King. He remembered her, and she Him, but the emotions that each one expressed was as opposite as night and day.  

"Please, My Lord," she begged him. "I'm so sorry. I won't ever do anything bad ever again. Please, have mercy and spare me." She said as she began to cry. No one can be sure of her genuine emotions, but the King saw her heart. And what He saw pleased Him.  

"Alright, my child, you are forgiven. Tell me, who are your parents? I wish to notify them of your safety. Many people have been telling me that you need help for some time, now, and I wish to help you." The girl was shocked. She didn't like her parents. They didn't understand anything. She didn't think her father even loved her. He was so busy working all the time. He would work in the castle, engineering new devices, and then he came home, change, and go work at the blacksmith's shop for free. He didn't have time for her anymore, and it hurt, but she hid it like she did everything.  

The King knew as much, but didn't expunge the information. He kept it to Himself and smiled as the girl told him what was going through her head: that she didn't have a family anymore and that nobody cared about her. It was the truth to her. It was what she felt. You can't get more real than your own feelings. She thought.  

The King then announced the arrival of his new daughter: Joslynn. He told the court to make ready the chamber that would be her living quarters. He called the head maid and ordered her to acquire clothing suitable for a princess. When the woman began to argue that she would present a bad look on the castle, the King disregarded her and said simply, "She is my daughter, and those who do not accept her will have a hard time being under her authority. Now, please take her to get measured for some decent clothing.  

The maid obeyed and the girl was suddenly a princess, daughter of the respected King, and beloved of the castle's court. Even though she never changed her ways, the King accepted and claimed her as His daughter before His subjects, close friends, and even His enemies. They did not like that at all. They had already planned to employ her and wreak havoc on His kingdom, but since she had His protection, the only time they could get their hands on her was when she ran away from the castle, which she did often.