The Relentless chase of Nightmares
~
Residential Bed Chamber of the Second Crown Prince,
The Western Wing of the Imperial Castle,
Capital City of Tronder,
Kingdom of Velicia,
Darkling hours of Nightfall,
The Eighth Day of the Month of November,
Thirty Third Year of the Reign of King Jesse Crestings
Prince Rayzenn felt his heart churn at the sound of his mother calling his name in a wailing tone. The sensation of all the people in his kingdom flocking about the castle made him run down a spiral of endless stairs.
'The Queen is dead! The Queen was murdered! The Queen was killed painfully!'
Those chants kept echoing in his ears ceaselessly as he ran till he was met with a large coffin where his mother was laid among blood stained lilies.
He put his palm on the rim of the box and called out to her, wailing like he could not bear to see her like that. Deep in his heart, he regretted not being there by her side.
Then, the eyes of the corpse opened and stared at him. The young man stumbled back and watched as his mother raised a stiff, cracking hand towards him.
Her voice sounded chilling and unreal, running down his spine like a whisper of terror as she said, "Why didn't you accompany me when I called you? Why didn't you visit the Celeste village with me when I wanted you to? Why weren't you there to fulfil my final wish?"
The voice slid like an icicle hurled towards him. The voices grew louder and louder, like many speaking at the same time.
"Rayzenn, Rayzenn, Rayzenn…" and it faded like he was submerged in water.
Then, suffocating and out of breath, the young prince awoke from the frightful nightmare, panting. His wet, dark hair, drenched in his own sweat spilt over his forehead, and he slicked it back with a pulsing hand.
He blinked several times and looked around at the chamber, where the night was still young. The moon had barely risen to the zenith of the skies, but his nightmares seem to have begun already.
His cheeks seemed to be wet with warm tears and cold sweat and he could not make any sense of his hopeless state of thoughts.
It took the young man a few moments to settle into the thought that it was a dream and not reality. Despite how many years it had been, he could not shake off the sense of guilt and hurt of his mother's death.
The young man had always felt like he should have been there with her, during the visit to the Celeste Clan, for his mother had wished for a betrothal between him and the daughter of the Tribe's Head. But Prince Rayzenn had slipped his way out of the trip in order to avoid the circumstance, due to his own fears towards marriage.
Presently, he regretted the fact that he had not been with her, for he could not even save her despite the chance.
He knew that in truth, his mother was a kind soul who would never hold anything against him or even against her murderers. But the thoughts of his own guilt were attacking him in the pangs of his nightmares and he wished for a means of being redeemed.
The young man shoved the sheets off his body and strode across the chamber, restlessly. He could not calm his nerves and desperately needed an escape.
Just then, he heard his name called again, "Rayzenn!"
A lifeless smile clung to the side of his mouth as he walked towards the balcony's doors and pushed the curtains aside. Then, walking across the large balcony, he looked out to find Nate, his faithful cavalry captain and Reid, his archer were there, clinging to the rail and staying in the shadows.
"Come inside", he whispered, before walking back to his bed chamber.
The tall Prince quickly disrobed himself and shrugged on a chiffon shirt and some high length boots. His men stepped into the room soundlessly and took a seat at the edge of his bed.
"So", Nate began, the usual cheerful ring in his voice reduced to a whisper. "Nightmares still?" he asked.
Rayzenn shrugged in response. "As always."
The men nodded, seeming disappointed. "That's merciless", Reid agreed.
"We need to find a way to dispense these dreams from happening", Nate said, seeming to be reflecting on the thought.
But to the young Prince, it was consoling enough that the men closest to him had come all the way to his side, secretively, just to ensure that he was doing alright, when his slumber was oft plagued by nightmares.
"Disguised strolls across our Province. Are you guys alright with that?" the royal heir asked, turning to his Chiefs of War for a response.
Nate flashed a grin and winked, "You know it!"
"How about Zebedee and Aaron? Are they not willing to join us?" Prince Rayzenn asked, shrugging an old looking hooded cape over his shoulders.
"They're waiting outside the Imperial Castle, of course", Reid chuckled. "Let's go."
A thrilled grin spread over the young Prince's handsome face before he wore a mask to keep his countenance from sight. "Alright then."
And with that, the three men sprinted to the balcony, and leapt over the railing, hoping none of the Castle's guards or inmates would spot them as they left the capital city and into the dead of the night and its dangers, capes flying behind them.
~