Life is not for the weak or for the brave; the rich or the poor, or to whomever that still lives. Life elude swiftly from those who believe that it is just subjective. As long as you breathe, my child, use your last inhale to conquer. Alen had reminisced as she glared on her father whom was seated and about to lay a verdict, while others were attentive, unrelaxed, and quiet, which they could be elated or not by Edd's last words. Although they all knew already, including Alen, what King's last words were. About the others, their attentiveness had dwelled on sentimental verdict, which Edd might commit himself because of his devastating expression that came about the told prophecy by the High Priest to him alone. Meanwhile, about Alen, it was not the sentiment thing but the obvious thing, which was the tradition at hand that her father was about to trade her for.
"Drek, shall be…" he glimpsed at Alen with conflicting emotion that sagged his eyes, more of betrayal, before he turned away, mustering some confidence to resume, "Drek is the nations' heir. I see no need for this talk henceforth." There was brief chattering of consensus among Ferek and Otai, except for Drek whom remained silently afraid and hurt while Tali subtly consoled Alen whom had slumped deeper in her anger and what she deemed as betrayal and rejection. "Alen, we are sorry. But we have to stand by—"
She stood with rage, cutting off her father as she hit hard her both hands on the table: "Stand by what, father? Tradition" After all, Edd said nothing but decided to compensate by allowing her to puke all her hurts upon the council as long as she felt better afterward. "Tell me!" she voiced again.
"Stop it, I say!" Tali snapped, pulling Alen low and close to his face in a way that his mouth was direct to Alen's right ear. "This is not how to spit it, young lady. You've forgo—"
"No whispers, Tali!" Edd abruptly commanded.
''I am sorry, my lord. I only told her to be calm. Moreover, I was about telling her to accept his brother as the heir before you intruded. Am I right, Alen?'' He fondled Alen's hand but she said not a word, instead, she scorned and distressfully stood well. Tali felt insulted of sort; however, he condoned it but shamefully replied, "That's all."
"Pardoned," said Edd, his voice flaccid. He wanted to say more, but he noticed Ferek seeking from him the permission to speak. "Go ahead, Elder."
"Thank you," he faced across to Tali, "you had said intruded.'' Ferek stated with a notion of offence on his very hairy face, which was unnoticed, but his tone had alternated right away.
"Dishonor," Otai yielded as he grits his artificial teeth made from bronze whilst covering his mouth with a small red cloth.
''Please, Elder Otai. To you Ferek, what bites your body?" Tali asked with the intent to quarrel, and he was ready for it.
"Please! Can you all see to my sister now! Don't you know it hurts, and she needs our words of support and not these-this child's play?" Drek blew out his thought, not realizing he did so. Although, he had felt relieved, at least, standing out for his only sibling.
"Whatever to you and to you and to you and to everyone!" she screamed, turning to her left side to face Drek whom already was shivering within his own bleak skin amid his sister's sudden scream. "Kindhearted you are, brother. But I didn't ask for it, you know," she smirked as she began to walk away from them, feebly, and weeping softly while Drek whimpered.
As Alen reeled towards the exit, she could hear Tali calling on her while Otai and Ferek ridiculed her insolence. Those were not of concern no longer because now, she needed air. She found her way into the vestibule, which was quiet and had only six guards stationed around. She followed the path that led to a tall metallic double door, leading outside the royal building.
"A hand, Princess?" guard who observed how fractured Alen was, offered aloud.
She reached and stood at the double door, pulled together for some seconds, before she could manage to turn behind and waved the guard to come by.
The guard jogged on, his forefeet hitting the black flowery carpet floor with relief. Although, his steel body armor kept on rattling but had stopped as he halted to Alen, "Princess."
"I choose to be called Alen, guard…?" she placed her right hand upon the guard's arm as she anticipated for the guard's name.
The guard boldly but of slight nervousness, called out his name, Ias. "Ias," he reiterated.
"Ias, I request you walk with me," she achieved a forced smile, removing her hand from his. "You're nice."
"Thank you," he said, pulling open the double door without been affected by her compliment. "It's my duty."
"It is, isn't it?" she jeered, restraining her face from being pleasant any further whilst walking out from the building in a ruined elegance as Ias followed after. "I had said thank you for your gesture earlier." She lied.
Ias' heart arrested a second, and gradually loosened up when he had thought and couldn't tell when. "I'm sorry, I did not hear."
"Are you certain, Or I'm misled by my thought? Don't be afraid, Ias."
"Run along, guard," Tali interjected from behind as Alen startled but feigned it while Ias greeted him right way, My Elder, bowing. "It is a pleasure, Alen," Ias said again.
"Well," she tersely said as Ias stood and left afterward without minding.
Tali averted his astounded eyes from Ias to Alen, "Elated already by a commoner. I see."
She blushed, a little. "Not really. Well, frankly."
"Good to know," he said plainly as they continued the walk, tying hands. "The guard referred to you as Alen. You belittled yourself, anyway."
She scowled, "I did not act belittling! You were there when father chose my brother after me! So, what's the need for royal whatever!" she paused, trying to ward off temper, "I'm sorry for my insolence at the council earlier. Nevertheless, are you with me in this? Are you?"
He fell a bit disappointed, neglecting her apology, "Rhetorical! Have you forgotten already?"
She freed her hands, and walked couple of steps back from him with quite uncertainty whilst removing her both hand gloves, "I've not. I think I have to take up from here."
"How ever you wish," he came close and kissed Alen's right hand, "be safe."
"I've grown," she brusquely cautioned, as she ambulated to the woods without having the thought of sparing a second to check on Tali. Quite some minutes she was walking in the calm woods, only the clicks of breaking twigs and the rustles of dead dried leaves she matched upon were heard—the mentioned woods was not ordinarily calm but of an eternal mysterious calmness; she never minded. Moment later, she arrived at the cliff of Levah, seeing her friend, Enn, a lady of boyish figure whom laid on her back—sort of appearing clouded with some random thoughts due to how she gazed upon the unseen stars of the bright day. Alen, on the other hand, was not herself—clouded, too, but with those unbearable defined thoughts that she so needed to spill out, one at a time, to her friend. Therefore, she walked up to Enn and laid along, right beside, as the grass blades gave her back head a soft stabbing massage. As she fully settled flat on the grassy cliff, both gave each other a diluted smile while looking up to the sky.
"I thought you wouldn't make it. I swear. I've been worried all long," Enn said plainly.
"I'm here," Alen grinned, which Enn gave a glimpse and returned the grin, too. "Life is indeed unfair."
"No doubt," calmed as Enn's words came out, as she started tickling Alen, and both laughed aloud. She stopped the tickles, standing to her feet. "I have something to show you."
"Is it something that I know of?"
"Some surprise from my boyfriend though. Come on, stand, and quick."
"Fine, then," Alen reluctantly said as she stood, patting off dirt on her gown. "I'm ready. So?"
"Come catch me, mean princess!" Enn teased and giggled, setting her court to run.
"I hate you, lady-man!" Alen picked a small stone and threw on Enn and she dodged it, racing off into the woods. "Run! I will definitely catch you! Apprehend you, likewise!" She ran after Enn, holding up her gown.
"You cannot!" Enn's voice echoed loud as few birds flew out from her direction.
"Dare!"
"Daring, Ma'am!"
"Spike, you shall have your head on!" she bawled as both continued to chase and taunt, up and until they barged into a harvested land situated at the center of the woods. There, grain storage still under construction, clustered with six young adults of their age, all bathed in red and black powders. They held carved wooden weapons of common kinds on themselves. Meanwhile, they had been rehearsing and singing songs of war before the intrusion by Enn and Alen; whereby the adults stood still, gazing at them with contorted facial expressions.
Before that, Alen had slumped on the ground after she caught up with Enn whom did not flinch but stood frozen, and then lowly said, "We definitely need to run now."
"I hate to play," she fumed, eye catching what surrounded her, "this field and this people right here, you punished me all through the woods to meet? Are you insane? Well, you have to pay with your skin for the wounds I have had in that woods. Do you hear?"
Paying less attention to her, Enn blurted whilst trying to strategize a way to escape: "I don't know them."
"Of course, you don't," a middle-aged man, Deen, mischievously cuts in from behind, and guarded along with five archers that targeted their arrows on Enn. "Cease them, I say!"