The Lions, The Ram, and the Boar

Chapter 1

//TW\\

// mention of death, injury/blood, alcohol\\

The sky was alight with fireworks, each adorning different shades of green. The streets were covered in banners that held the royal family crest.

The king had his first born, and a son at that. Today was a day worthy of celebration throughout the whole kingdom.

_______

The baby cooed as his mother held him in her arms, he was perfect in every way to her, and all the exhaustion from labor seemed to disappear while she held him in her arms. The king was stood next to his wife, admiring his son who was reaching up for nothing in particular.

"Hello dear," the queen whispered gently pushing pieces of his light blonde hair back and forth with her thumb, "you're beautiful." His eyes opened up into slivers, opening up more once adjusted to the bright sunlight in the room. The light reflected, brightening up his irises and presenting his bright green eyes and highlighting the light freckles that dusted his face. The sudden brightness caused him to scrunch up his nose and release a gentle little sneeze.

"Oh dear!" the queen said in surprise at the sudden movement from her son. The king reached for his son, and his wife obliged, handing him over and allowing for the house maids to help clean her up.

"Look at you," The king approached the window with his son, taking a look at the ongoing celebration, "this will be yours some day." He lifted his son, sitting him up to look over the city, with cobble paths and different variations of merchant stalls.

"Dear, stop being so cheesy, he's just been born don't put all of this weight upon his shoulders." The queen scolded her husband who just let out a deep laugh in response. "I can tell already by this grip of his that he'll be just fine." The king turned with his son in his arms, who had his small hands wrapped around one of his fathers fingers. The queen giggled in response as a tray of food was brought to her side.

"What shall we name our little prince?" The king asked cradling the newborn in his arms. "We could name him John?" He added, the queen let out a little chuckle.

"After yourself?" The king nodded as he admired his son. "I was thinking something new, what about, Clay?" The name resonated between the two, it fit almost perfectly and they both new that the argument was settled.

"Alright then, Clay it is."

_______

Far into the woods, still within the kingdom, was a small cottage, eaten by moss and vines. Screams could be heard, accompanying the occasional firework that was sent out.

Another child was being born, but his birth wouldn't be celebrated like Clay's, his birth would be joined with mourning. This child's mother was weak, and dying as she was handed a crying newborn wrapped up in a light cloth.

"Hello little one" she said weakly, admiring his dark brown hair and pale skin smiling at him as he wailed, "My little boy... my George."

The joy of the moment was short lived as her consciousness started to fade. The child in her arms continued to cry, as if he knew his mother was leaving this world for a different one.

"Is there anything you can do? A spell? Magic herbs? Please you cant let her die like this!" The father pleaded to the older woman standing next to his wife. "She's my daughter, if there was something I could do with my magic it would have been done already." She grabbed his shoulder in comfort, her old frail hands looking to provide some comfort to her son in law.