The Golden Child

Destiny. My destiny. Our destiny... I didn't know how to separate the two. What I was born to do... What my people strove to accomplish... What I had to accomplish for my people...

Everything suddenly washed over me like a monsoon, wrapping my heart in an endless torrent of confusion and disarray. No one had seemed to be worried about me though; no one had seemed to have even the tiniest bit of doubt that I could accomplish the task set out in front of me; no one had even thought to give me any sort of warning about what I might be diving headfirst into. They'd believed in me wholeheartedly and all I could think about was how utterly stupid that was.

No. I mentally shook myself out of this pathetic stupor. I had to pull myself together, because if my family, my people, my home, believed I could do it, then I was damn well not about to disappoint. I pulled my focus back to the guard tower in front of me. Slightly adjusting my stance, I peered through the thick foliage, trying to catch a worthy glimpse of the guard on watch today. Perched on the tree right across from the top of the tower, I had the perfect vantage point from which to observe the guards' comings and goings, as well as the ideal coverage provided by the leaves. The guard was slowly turning, making sure he could see any possible intruders. I crouched down low as his eyes swept over me, but thankfully, human sight was not very perceptive.

Damn, why did there have to be a guard who actually cared about doing his job? Some of the other guards I'd observed simply fell asleep, but no, this one had to have a shred of dignity. Now, I would have to wait till the guards changed their post to sneak into the stronghold. I readjusted my position, getting more comfortable, and settling in nicely among the leaves. This was going to be a long day...

***

"Everyone rise for His Royal Highness, Prince Calais of the Redwood Elves!"

The horns were blown and the giant doors to the great hall swung open before me, as ten thousand eyes turned to stare at their glorious prince. I didn't exactly feel that glorious at that moment; the ceremonial cloak I had on was too heavy and was practically suffocating me, the traditional shoes were squeezing my toes to death, and the crown was just tight enough to be giving me a constant migraine. I couldn't show all that though. So, I walked, back straight, cloak trailing behind me and a smile on my face wide enough to tear it in two.

My parents, the king and queen, had been waiting for me on their elaborate thrones, carved into the sacred Red Oak, to bestow upon me my rightful destiny. I knelt before our holy man as he poured the holy wine over my head, placed in my mouth a sweet leaf from the sacred tree and blessed me with hymns. I remembered wondering why any of this was necessary and thinking about how the leaf had started to melt in my mouth and the wine was dripping into my eyes. But, again, I could not complain. This was a religious ritual after all, and no matter how pointless this all was to my quest, I had to respect it.

The ceremony had taken too long. Too many people had come up to me, ogling my royal attire, praising my bravery, gushing about what an honor I was doing for my people. At last, I was allowed to take a moment of peace and sneak off into a side room to rid myself of that accursed cloak and crown.

"What is the meaning of this? How dare you hide in here when all our people have come to celebrate you? Or do you wish to shed your destiny as carelessly as you shed your crown?"

His voice was a low, harsh whisper, slowly breaking down my spine until I stood stooping, my eyes lowered to the ground. I had felt ashamed. And rightfully so.

"I'm sorry Father. They-they just don't fit right. And I-I don't know if I can do this. Everyone seems to think I know what I'm doing but I don't! I'm only fifteen-"