Everything around me was a blur as I ran towards the tent where Aiden's body was kept. The guards were standing outside not allowing other people to enter. I reached the tent but the guards blocked the way. "Let me go inside.", I pleaded. Tears were rolling down my cheeks like a waterfall. "We have royal orders, to not let anyone go inside.", they said in a monotonous robotic tune. "Please, I am not anyone. Let me go. I need to see him.", I pleaded again. They stood there like a statue avoiding my pleading face. I wiped off my tears and tried to barge in. the guards pushed me back and I landed on the ground. "Hyun!", Ethan came running and helped me up. "Th-they won't let me in.", I said crying and pointed towards the guards. People must have thought what a kid, but at that moment Aiden was more important than any secrets or any assumptions about my personality. "Hyun! If you go inside people will start suspecting your relationship with Aiden.", Ethan whispered. "I don't care. I just want to see him.", I replied controlling my urge to shout at him. He nodded. "Let her in.", the moment these words left his mouth, everyone around us started to whisper in confusion and disappointment. It took a while for the guards to realise what the orders were. They bowed showing respect and moved aside. I ran inside ignoring all the weird looks and comments.
I ran inside the tent but as my eyes landed on a body laying on the bed in front of me covered in a white cloth, my feet just stopped moving. I stopped abruptly and now only my heart was racing. I stood there looking at the lifeless body in front of me. A million thoughts in my mind. Somewhere a voice said it was not Aiden, but somewhere I was scared to actually check and confirm. His scowl, his smile and his annoyed face were all coming like a flash of memories. I wanted him to stand up and yell at me so bad. I knew I had to check and confirm because if it isn't Aiden, we need to go and look for him immediately. I stepped forward and stood by the temporary bed made especially for Aiden. I remember how he was so annoyed because he couldn't sleep on the ground and made this wooden bed himself. A smile crept on my face remembering his face when his first few attempts of making a bed failed. There was a sword next to the bed. I picked it up. It was Aiden's. I touched it and I could still feel his essence in it. Perks of being a healer, I guess. You are connected to your master on a different level. I knew the sword was Aiden's for sure and the thought of him being really dead made me take a step back. Tears rolled down non-stop. I held the corner of the sheet and slowly pulled it down to reveal a gory view. I gasped in shock. The face was a total mess, and no one could recognize even an inch of it. It looked like a deed done by some monster. The clothes were not stained in blood but were drenched in blood. I didn't have in me to hold his hand. I was petrified. I knew people die in war, but this kind of death shouldn't come even to our enemies. I looked away and slowly took his hands in mine. I felt it! The same sensation, the same warmth and the same spark. I sat down shocked. It was Aiden!
Ethan was patiently waiting for me outside with other soldiers. After collecting my thoughts and covering the body with the cloth I walked out of the tent. My feet moving on their own. I was not capable of responding to any sort of questions. I stepped out and Ethan came running to me. "Is that Lee's body?", his hopeful eyes searching for some good news. I looked at him and I couldn't control my tears. I broke down. He got his answer, no words spoken. He took a few steps back and sat on the ground beside me. His eyes staring at the ground and his heart taking its time to realise the loss of his brother, whom he couldn't protect. People around us were standing with their heads hung low and they were all crying silently. We all mourned the loss of our brave prince together. My hurt was now converting into a rage. I needed revenge. They killed him mercilessly. They deserved to die. I held Ethan's hand and he looked at me. "We need to end this war, and kill them all.", I said sternly. His eyes were also boiling with anger and he nodded. He stood up making everyone else stand too. "Rest tonight! Tomorrow we will start the real war.", he said and all the soldiers cheered. Rage was visible in their eyes. Ethan left for his tent. "Don't let anyone inside.", I told the guards and they nodded.
I watched the silent and calm water flowing making its way through the rocks standing tall and stubborn. I wanted to make a verse and speak out loud wondering if Aiden will come to complete it like he always does. But neither did the words formed into a verse and nor did my heartfelt that hope of Aiden returning now. I looked at the twinkling stars and I thought did Aiden reach his palace safe and sound? Will he be asked to attend the court meeting and will his father scold him? What will fate do now? All these questions clouded my thoughts and I just sat under the open sky looking for some answers I might never find.
I couldn't sleep a wink and my whole night went doing two things. First sitting by the waterfall talking to the moon and second checking on Aiden who was resting in peace in that tent. At the crack of dawn, I sat and admired the rays of the sun filling the sky with the hope of a new beginning, a new day. People had started to wake up and were busy with their chores, and the soldiers on night duty were off to rest now. I was about to leave to check on Ethan when a rustling sound caught my attention. I picked up my sword and slowly stepped towards the bushes. I didn't want to create panic amongst the soldiers and hence moved quietly. With my sword, I pushed the branches aside and found our lost friend. Posing like a majestic fighter, I found the assumed culprit of Aiden's death, 'Wildfire'!