Aurora.
"You will not disappoint us today, Aurora." Lady Natalie said as she stood in front of me with a tray that contained some offerings for prayers. "You will not disappoint Manteca."
"No," I say as I take deep breaths and clasp my hands together, trying to stop them from trembling so much. "I will not."
That seemed to satisfy her, and she took a step back and smiled at me.
"I will not disappoint Manteca," I repeated more to myself than them as I tried to calm down now, I had no reason to be nervous, I had trained my whole life for this.
"We will let you get ready then." Lady Natalie said as she ushered the remaining of the council members out with her, leaving me all alone.
I took a deep breath, Just like Sir Colin had taught me to do whenever I felt overwhelmed and couldn't breathe well. I stared at my reflection in the mirror as I struggled to control my nerves.
*You're fine*
*You can do this.
You're enough.*
The chants of war declared my time was up. I picked up my sword, ready or not, I had to do this. I was born for this, my duty was to protect my kingdom and my people, and it was time I did so.
*******
I had learned that the human mind was one to be feared at all times.
I stared at our strategies while the army got themselves ready. We were a small kingdom, hardly powerful and even smaller since the plague which had wiped out numerous of us. I had always been afraid that we stood no chance against our enemies, which made us kiss-ass for a living to avoid war, but staring at our plans, for the first time in a long time, I felt confident, secure, and safe.
"This is a wonderful one soldier, as long as we all stick to it, I think we can stand a chance," I say, my voice thick with emotions.
He nods with a small smile and walks out. Some of our soldiers had already been sent to the frontline, we were going to lure them right where we wanted them. This was our kingdom, our home, if they wanted war, we would give it to them.
A knock interrupted my thoughts and Irene walked in with a worried expression on her face. She was not part of the army, she would be here in the palace taking care of everyone while we went out to the field.
"Don't do it, I don't want you to try to talk and talk me out of this Irene," I say before she even has a chance to speak. She purses her lips with obvious displeasure, but that does not stop her from voicing out her thoughts.
"I don't support this, Aurora."
"Neither do I," I say with a small smile, trying my best to hide my fear and worries from her.
"Why must you go? Can't the army handle it? What of the commander? Why must you be out there!?" She said, her voice hard and her expression grave. I had never seen her this serious, it wiped off my smirk immediately, and I no longer had the energy to hide my distress from her.
"I must go because I am the crowned princess, Irene," I said, trying to pursue her to no avail.
"That is the very reason you shouldn't! What if something happens to you? What if you get injured? What if you die? What then!? What will Manteca do without you!? What will I do without you?" She croaked.
"I need to go out there Irene, I understand what your point is, but Manteca needs me out there. I promise not to get myself killed." I said, moving my hand to wipe the tears that fell from her eyes, controlling the sob that was rising to my throat too. Her lips wobbled as she stared at me for a while before she quietly broke apart in my arms.
"Sacrifice, that's what you do for the ones you love, and I love this kingdom, I love you and if I have to sacrifice myself for it, then I will, without a second thought," I said and then released her, using my hand to wipe off the tears from my face too.
It seemed she could guess it was time for me to leave also because she took a step back and cleaned her face then turned to face me, taking my hands in hers.
"I will wait for you." She assured me and then beamed at me, even though her eyes were full of tears.
I squeezed her hands reassuringly and took a step back, took my sword, and walked out.
******
*Sincere aut mori*
*Conquer or Die
The words of Sir Colin rang like a bell in my ears as we rode on our horses to war. In some sick way, the fear and uncertainty of it all thrilled me as much as it scared me. We were not far from the field, we had succeeded in luring them to the exact spot we wanted them in, now it was time to put an end to it all.
"For Manteca!" I yelled as we got close, my sword in the air.
"For Manteca!" The soldiers responded and we clashed with the Astorians, the sound of swords clashing and stabbing.
I rode as fast as I could, hitting and avoiding hits, and then everything started going in slow motion when I felt the sword of one of the Astorian soldiers pierce into my skin.
The air stunk of sweat and blood. I could taste the salt from my sweat in my own mouth and a bit of blood.
I felt sore all over and my head was pounding, the pain from the stab wound made me feel a bit dizzy.
I could not go down now.
Not now.
My people need me. I tore a part of my dress and put it on my left hand where I had been stabbed, to stop the bleeding as I tried to keep going but I could not.
I felt too dizzy.
Pause the world.
It was spinning, everything was spinning.
"They poisoned their swords." I seethed with realization and everything went black.