My Green Skies

Chapter 1

The river lay straight ahead, a mile or so and I would be there. I clutched my brown satchel tightly and trudged on, the satchel contained papers, important papers that could make or destroy lives depending on how it was used and this decision was on my hand.

I, Marcus Bowein, was the chief custodian of King Cyprus' documents.The late King who was murdered by an unknown man two moonlights ago. The situation in Redia, my home was devastating and simply horrible. Since the king's death, the elders, chiefs, advisors, and trusted board had been battling and devising for a better position, if not the king's own as the king had no known offspring.

The Queen, the one and only trusted companion of the late King Cyprus and my dearest friend, had summoned me and sent me on this mission to retrieve the king's only daughter, begotten out of wedlock, living beyond the river at our neighbouring Kingdom Livea. The day before, I had sent messages secured in freshly baked bread to her. The Queen had told me of this method, a method practiced by the king to communicate with his only daughter and child. If all had gone well and she has received my message, she would be at the river waiting for me.

____________________________________

The river was right in front of me now, I slowly scanned the area behind me in case I had been followed. When my eyes beheld nothing suspicious my heart was at rest. There was a rustling of leaves and a breaking of branches from the other side of the river and a black hooded figure appeared and made its way across the bridge towards me in hastened steps.

She, now close enough to see, stood straight. She was of tall statue like her father, her eyes were green, emerald green and her hair was as black as the Ravens. She had this aura of confidence and importance around her and her beauty seemed unearthly.

"My Lady",I said bowing.

"You are Marcus Ye?" She inquired.

"Yes , I am he your majesty" I confirmed.

"I am Arivea and please Mister do not call me that; your majesty I mean" She said

"As you wish your....pardon me ...Miss Arivea " I corrected "Pardon me but we need to hasten for time is not on our side, for as we speak our people prepare for war"

"War!?!". She exclaimed "whatever for?"

She probably knew nothing of the greed of the human heart. Her eyes shone nothing but Innocence and Purity.

"War indeed my Lady" I confirmed." King Cyprus, your father left no known heir to the throne, now the seat is left open the people, Ye even the commoners battle for possession.

"Then we must begin planning immediately" She said.

Nodding my head in agreement I proceeded to retrieve the documents from my satchel. I sat down on the banks of the river and motioned for her to do the same.

" These are your birth proofs" I informed her, holding out the documents to her" Were your mother alive, this would not be needed"

Arivea came closer to inspect the papers I held out to her . She smelt of the flowers that grazed my walls back home, Sunflowers they were called.

I started to talk, giving her the laid out plan the Queen and I had made emphasizing on the need for discretion

"The people who want the throne would kill for it my lady, you could be killed without even seeing the palace" I said

I could see she understood me clearly as she looked into my eyes . For a second time I was lost, I admit She had the most beautiful eyes I has ever seen.

"Go on Mister" She nudged me when she noticed I had fallen silent. And I mentally cursed myself for being so obvious.

" We leave now for the castle Miss Arivea" I said "There remaineth naught to be said now"

Slowly I stood up and offered my hand which she graciously took and lifted herself up. Her hand felt so soft and tender in my own calloused hard hands.

I replaced the documents in my satchel and we made our way back to the castle through the forest.

"Did you by any chance inform someone of your meeting with me today Miss Arivea? I asked.

I was leading the way and upon hearing no reply turned back . There she was standing still oblivious to her surrounding, gazing contently at the moon which in turn basked her with it's light. She looked exactly how I would have imagined the princesses my Mama told my sister Raina about when we were little.

"Arivea" I said softly reaching out to touch her. She turned to me with a smile on her face

"Mister?" She said.

I repeated my question to which she replied negative, shaking Her head slowly. It was then I noticed her lashes, the longest I had seen so far. I chastised myself and kept on walking looking behind frequently to make sure she was always there. I noticed the way her hand unconsciously grazed every flower on the pathway and the way the edges of her mouth crinkled up in a smile at every creature that we passed

"We are here"I said when I saw the huge, magnificent walls of the outskirts of Redia. I was about to advance out of the forest when I noticed the guards. Something was amiss, they were too many.

"Wait here my lady" I said quietly even though they couldn't possibly hear me over the noise they were making.

Arivea nodded and ducked behind the bushes, watching me as I blended in with the shadowed of trees the moon cast around. I slowly made my way to the closest guards. They were sat down talking in hushed tones. I could only make a few words out.

"......Lonita I always knew that man was trouble"I heard one say." If we don't capture Bowein and the girl before daybreak he would surely have our heads"

I gasped and quickly made my way back to the bushes to were I had left Arivea making as little noise as possible.

" We cannot pass, for Lonita the sorcerer has placed a bounty over our heads"I told her.

I could see the fear in her eyes and reached her to hold her hand without thinking but she clasped it tightly.

"What do we do now Marcus?"She whispered.

Another time I would have mulled about the fact that she called me by my name but Now was no such time.

Looking into her eyes with as much confidence as I could muster, I said "Now, we fly."

_________________________
Muhahaha.... Hi there!✋
So excited to have you on this journey!!!
Don't forget to vote and leave a comment!!😁...
Xoxo cloudy_dilemma