~Finale~
SACRIFICE
"Her majesty is with child" the doctor announced.
"This is surely a great news"
"Wow, congratulations"
"That's great"
That same moment, Niamh flew her eyes open and sat up with a start.
"Careful, Your Grace!" Neriah rushed to her side.
"I'm what..?" She whispered.
"Is it true?" She asked again.
"Yes, Your Grace. You are with child" the doctor confirmed and Niamh gasped.
She placed her palm on her tummy and sighed. Lady Serephina and Queen Diantha rushed to her sides.
Neev dear, Neev Heart" they both called.
"Don't think too much, you're really fit to be a mother. Don't worry, I'm here for you" Lady Serephina spoke first.
"And I'm here by your side, supporting you" Queen Diantha added.
"Thank you mothers" Niamh smiled staring at the two smiling faces. At least she's getting the support she needs.
"I think you should tell Lansel yourself" Queen Diantha suggested.
"He'll be over the moon" Neriah commented and they laughed shortly.
Niamh suddenly gasped.
"Ambrosia and Anastasia!"
"Your Grace, easy" Lucretzia got hold of her as she sprang her feet up.
"They've been taken cared of. Anastasia is treated and Ambrosia is not hurt" Lucretzia explained.
"I want to see them" Niamh demanded.
"Then you should be calm, it's not good for the child" Lucretzia gave her a pleading look. Niamh groaned and rolled her eyes.
"Goodness, you are really a piece of work"
At night, Niamh was in her bed chamber reading, when Lansel walked in.
"What a stubborn Queen! You're sick, why won't you rest?" Lansel snapped as he strode towards her.
"My king!" She beamed and stood up. They hugged.
"Are you alright?" He asked, stroking her hair.
"I'm really fine. I was only stressed recently but I'm fine" Niamh assured with a bright smile.
"You sure?" Lansel asked worriedly and Niamh nodded cheerfully. Lansel heaved a deep sigh of relief. He turned to leave but was stopped by Niamh's voice.
"Actually--"
Lansel turned to her. "I'd everything alright? Did something happen?" He grew impatient and alert as he crossed the distance between them.
Niamh shook her head and took his hand and placed it on her tummy.
Lansel stared at her weirdly. He was so confused.
"I'm with child, Lansel. Your child" Niamh broke the bombshell and Lansel froze.
"Oh Niamh!" He swept her up in a tight hug.
"Thank you Neev, thank you" he felt a sense of euphoria wash over him as he hugged her tightly.
"I will love and protect you and our child with my life. I will never let you go day or night. I'll be by your side" he said. He was so lost in euphoria that he didn't know when tears rolled down his cheeks and he smiled. The happiness is just too much.
Lansel was cuddling Niamh as they chatted on the bed.
"Have you thought of a name?" Niamh asked and Lansel chuckled.
"If it's a girl, princess Arya. If it's a boy.... prince... Rheagar" Lansel said, drawing the last words while stroking her hair.
"You have a great regal taste, Lansel" she caressed his cheeks, tracing her fingers on his sharp lines.
"I love you, Neev"
"I love you too, Lansel" Niamh reciprocated and they kissed. Niamh snuggled closer to him and eventually fell asleep.
Lansel was lost in his own world. Niamh is with child and the curse if still there. Once she give birth, the curse will be passed down to his child. He had to do something before she delivers. Lansel stared down at his wife and pecked her cheeks. He gently hopped down from the bed and pulled the duvet over her. He wore his robe and disappeared to the Mild Isle.
He met Dionysios standing in the atrium. Dionysios turned when he sense a presence.
"Can't sleep?" He asked Lansel. Lansel heaved a deep sigh and stood beside him.
"Something must be bothering you" Dionysios dotted.
"The curse. Niamh is carrying our child" Lansel began and Dionysios snapped his head to stare at him.
"How comes I haven't heard such good news?"
"Ask your woman" Lansel rolled his eyes.
"Goodness, you couldn't even share your god news with your calm little brother, I'm hurt" Dionysios poked his shoulder, faking a pained expression.
"They are all rejoicing that they forgot about the curse. I want to end it" Lansel said, ignoring his dramatic remark.
"What are you thinking, brother? Sacrificing your life?!" Dionysios shrieked but Lansel kept a straight face.
"Or the curse will pass down and then the bloody witches will keep controlling us and deciding the fate of our kingdom" Lansel stated.
Dionysios looked away briefly, before locking his ocean blue eyes on Lansel's sea green ones. His gaze softened as be placed his palm on Lansel's shoulder.
"Then what about Niamh, your child, Neriah, mother and...me?" Dionysios asked and Lansel forcefully broke the eye contact.
"Many people will be hurt while you try to put an end to it" Dionysios added.
"I thought you'll really be helpful" Lansel let out a loose growl of displease.
"I am helpful. I am your brother, Lansel. I am one of the fewest people that knows and understands you and... I'm urging you to do what is right without hurting anyone" Dionysios shut his ey s while Lansel gulped down.
"You know that can never be possible" he glared at him.
"I am worried about my child. This suffering has to end here, from me. If it didn't, I will be a guilty King for the rest of my life. Besides, I am a mortal supernatural, we all are. Even if I didn't die now, I will die someday" Lansel added.
"So, you are sacrificing your life? Is this really worth it?" Dionysios'eyes turned glassy with yeas.
"For Neev and our child, it is worth it" Lansel replied.
"Is there no other solution?" Dionysios asked, letting out the tears. Lansel stared at him. Dionysios was never a crying person. Lansel's decision must have hurt him so much, so deeply.
Lansel sighed and dipped his hand into his inner pocket and pulled out a box with the label, 'Ancient pill'. Niamh gave it to him.
"I have the key to end the witches and the door is... losing my life" Lansel pointed to his face.
"What if it didn't work?" Dionysios asked, tears still rolling down his cheeks.
"You will know that. There will be a cloudy night on the night Neev will give birth. If a thunderstorm breaks out, the curse is not lifted. However, if the sky cleared and the full moon and brightest star appears, the curse is lifted" Lansel explained and Dionysios nodded thoughtfully.
"Lansel Stormborn Amber hide Styrix. That is why I have 'Stormborn' in my name" Lansel patted his shoulder and they hugged.
"If it is ever possible, come back to us" Dionysios hugged him tightly. Lansel smiled as a pearl-like year dropped out of his eyes.
Few Months Later...
Lansel stood tall at the fortress of Witdexus, the ancient pill clutched in his palm tightly.
The Savage and most powerful witch, Cynara appeared before him.
Her bright green hair was falling off her shoulders and her yellow eyes were piercing and deadly. She grinned at the sight of Lansel.
"Oh see who we have here" she chuckled mockingly.
"You've controlled us for a long time, it's time to step down" Lansel went straight to the point. His sea green eyes pinning her on the floor.
Cynara laughed hysterically.
"You don't look like you can overthrow us" she laughed again.
"I, Lansel Stormborn Amberhide Styrix will cause the downfall of Witdexus" he vowed and swallowed the pill. Three other witches appeared beside Cynara.
A green light glowed out of Lansel, enveloping him as he rose to the sky. The sky turned darker as he summoned a tornado that came crashing the whole kingdom. The laughters of the witches were cut-short as the tornado took them.
Cynara tried using her magic but Lansel's new power is no match for her as she was crushed with the power of the tornado. The green light blasted the whole of Witdexus which turned to a deserted land, like no building ever lived there.
A force sent Lansel flying on the floor and he laid there, lifeless. His life ended while thinking of his loved ones. His wife, his family and then...his child.
Meanwhile, Niamh was in her bed chamber, screaming as she pushed the child to the world.
"Your Grace, it's a boy"
"It's a boy!" The maids cheered.
Niamh heaved a breath and collapsed on the bed, tears streaming down her temples.
She was surrounded by her loved ones as the midwife handed her the child. As the child took his first breath on Earth, the sky turned darker but then, the sky cleared and the full moon and brightest star appeared in the sky.
One of the royal guards rushed in.
"Your Grace, the curse is lifted!"
Niamh stared down at the child in her arms and smiled sadly, tears rolled down her cheeks. Queen Diantha and lady Serephina comforted her but that only made her cry more.
"Thank you, Lansel" she knew he sacrificed his life to break the curse so, she's sad that Lansel didn't even get to see his child. Her son will grow up without seeing his father's smile, his embrace and love. She pecked his cheek and hugged him close.
"Prince Rheagar"