The Prophecy

Chapter 1

I own nothing but the plot

Hope's POV: I smiled, finally setting my brush down as I admired my newest painting. Two wolves stood on the edge of a cliff, overlooking the land as a small pup chewed on an animal bone in the background. Tracing my eyes over the brown wolf, I smiled to myself sadly as my eyes filled with tears. I miss you, mom.

Hearing a knock on the door, I quickly blinked my tears away as I schooled my features expertly. "You may enter", I called, before a young woman opened the door.

"I thought I may find you here", she greeted, standing by the doorway.

"What do you want, Hillary", I asked in annoyance.

"It's Maria", she corrected before quickly curtsying. "Y-your Majesty", she quickly added, causing my eyes to narrow. "Your father requested to speak with you", she explained.

"Any idea why", I asked curiously.

"Not one, ma'am", she said.

"Well, then I better not keep him waiting", I nodded before making my way toward the door as her posture relaxed. "Oh, and Hillary", I said, pausing in front of her as she tensed up. "You're fired", I told her before looking toward the guards behind her. "Make sure that she's taken care of", I said sternly.

"N-no", she exclaimed, causing me to send her a glare as she quickly lowered her voice. "P-please, I'll do better", she pleaded. "I'll work harder, I promise", she trembled.

"Well, since you're so sincere", I nodded before looking back at the guard. "Get rid of her. Make sure she disappears", I nodded, causing her face to fall. Nodding, the guard grabbed the girl by the arm before dragging her down the hall. "Oh, and make sure you actually do it right this time", I glared as they nodded obediently. 

Watching them disappear, I made my way toward my father's office before pausing at the door to see Aunt Freya yelling at him. "Nik, you must listen", she pleaded.

"I will hear no more of your petty nonsense. This prophecy is nothing more than an old wives tale", he scoffed.

"Really? Listen to this", Freya said, holding up an old scroll. 

"When the two Kingdoms separate, no one will be safe. In the years to come, four will bring light back into the Kingdom Of Darkness. The Master Of Walls can be felled by one lying cold. Beware the twins! One wearing two people, and the other two faces. When the walls crumble, darkness overwhelms. The suit of armor shatters when two swords collide, and when all is thought lost, only the devil can save them from destruction", she read.

"What's your point, Freya", he asked in annoyance.

"When two Kingdoms separate, no one will be safe", she pointed out. "Nik, that's us", she told him.

"How can you be so sure", he challenged.

"We're at war", she reminded.

"Freya, this is rubbish", he stated.

"Fine. But when your precious Kingdom is in ruin, don't expect me to come running back", she warned, walking from the room angrily. 

"What was that all about", I asked him curiously.

"Nothing, sweetheart", he assured. "Just your aunt talking out of her head", he said, beckoning me inside.

"What is it that you wanted to speak with me about, father", I asked, tilting my head curiously.

"Oh, yes", he recalled. "I have news", he smiled, showing me a treaty of some kind. "I have solved our little war problem", he stated. 

"Little", I gawked. "Just yesterday, thousands of innocent men were killed outside the eastern gate", I frowned.

"They were but a means to an end", he said, waving it off. "But we managed to come up with an agreement", he grinned.

"Agreement? What did you promise them", I asked cautiously. 

"Your hand in marriage", he answered, causing my eyes to widen in horror.