WRITER'S POV
The prophecy had taken its first step. The little girl had been born and everyone welcomed her with joy.
Her birth had been preached about, it's been awaited and prayed for. Finally she was here to make the world a better place. She was at all cost to be protected.
The king was the happiest calling out for a feast to be held. His princess was here and the whole world was sure to feel his happiness.
"Your majesty". The king's head guard called out and the king shushed him.
Once again he turned back to the royal town crier, giving him a list of names to be added to the invitees.
"My king, it's an urgent____
"For goodness sake Lazarus, what is it?!!". The king clearly had enough of the pestering from the guard.
"It's the Queen my King".
The king's features immediately softened at the mention of his dear wife. The one who has made the event of today possible. He thought he loved his wife before but after today he was sure to be obsessed with her.
"And what about my Queen". He now had a glow to him as he spoke.
The guard now felt bad about what he was going to say next. It was no story how much the king loved the Queen. It was a miracle he let her go into the labor room herself. He had tried to fight his way in but they succeeded in convincing him otherwise. The birth of the baby would only intensify the love he had for her and every one knew that.
The king was now almost getting pissed by Lazarus' hesitancy. He was going to speak up when it dawned on him that Lazarus never stammered. He was never fearful of the king. Respected him? Yes , but he never was a coward before him. He was always one to speak his mind and that was what the king admired most about him.
Standing up abruptly he marched towards the Queen's chamber. She never stayed there as she was always in the king's chamber but due to the event of today she was put there.
"What's going on Zedan". He asked as he came in walking to where the queen was laid with a little smile on her face.
Something wasn't right. Normally her smile would light up a room, the whole world actually. But this one right here wasn't the one he liked. It looked more like she was trying to assure herself and him of something.
"When did you wake up my Queen". He held her hands that now looked thin and pale but he told himself it's probably because she was tired.
"Not long ago My king".
Even her voice sounded different.
Noticing the royal physician hadn't answered his earlier question, he turned back to him with an eyebrow raised.
Clearing his throat the royal physician explained "Your majesty we were prepared for this".
"Prepared for what!?" The king roared.
It was evident what Zedan the royal physician spoke about but the old witch had assured the king and he chose to believe her rather than the stupid words of the written words that had appeared long ago to his forefathers.
It told the tale of his time and the great importance of his daughter. The message had been passed on from generation to generation and he thought it was all some sort of cooked up story till he saw for himself the written words. He blinked and it was all gone so he thought it was a dream or he imagined it.
He had told the Queen about it and she asked that the greatest witch in their land be summoned.
After telling the witch all he saw the night he was in his study on his wall, she had been shocked. Everyone knew of the prophecy and so did she.
She told them they needed to perform an offering to the goddess Riela and so they did. It took 3 days to be done with and for those 3 nights he had no sleep, same as the Queen.
After it was done, the witch had told them to be peaceful as nothing was going to happen and the prophecy had been averted. It should have been clearer to them it wasn't when the next day after the witch had said all she did, she was found dead in her hut. But who would have thought?. The witch was quite old and frail looking and so it was possible the goddess had finally called her to join her up there.
"The prophecy My king".
The king's eyes widened. He was now visibly shaking as he roared "everybody out!!!!".
The maids and guards scattered around the area left in a haste not wanting to be at the receiving end of the king's wrath. Everyone knew King Alman rarely raised his voice but when he did, it wasn't the most pleasant for anybody.
"You!" He quickly stood up blocking the path of the royal physician who had wanted to run away along with the others .
"Do something! Anything! I don't care. Just do something!". The king was now desperate and Zedan knew this. He didn't like seeing his king this way.
The king was never a tyrant. He loved his people dearly and treated them with love and care. He never for once made them feel less. He always listened to their cries and pleas. Zedan didn't understand the reason for this prophecy either. Their beautiful world was peaceful. What danger could possibly be lurking as the prophecy had spoken of?. They were always at peace. No problems whatsoever. Their king loved them and they loved him back equally so where exactly is this trouble it spoke of?. He was brought back when he heard the cry of his beloved king
"Please Zedan". His eyes watered seeing his king like that and even when he knew there was nothing he could do he nodded his head and moved towards the Queen. Even if it took his life, he would do anything willingly for his king's happiness.
"Dark magic" he whispered.
The king, having forgotten all sense of his reasoning at this point nodded frantically. "Do whatever. Please".
Dark Magic had always been forbidden in RAWA. It symbolized a serious threat to whoever was performing it and whoever was around where it took place. The people of RAWA knew this but a desperate man is a man who's lost all notion of what was right or wrong.
"Close your eyes my Queen and give me your hands". Zedan whispered and the Queen did as told weakly, raising her hand to his.
Zedan looked once again questioningly towards his king and received his nod of approval before closing his eyes and chanting the words.
"Heitha zera lyrian cuama rila zua !". He chanted over and over. The lights went off and on till it blew off and the building was now visibly shaking as the king sat down holding on to the Queen's other hand and the bedpost to steady himself. The king looked back up to the physician to see his face now pale and he was bleeding through the nose. He looked back at his dearest wife seeing her still looking pale and wondered why it wasn't working. If anything she looked worse than when he stepped in. But he kept hoping still and closed his eyes saying a silent prayer to the goddess.
"Goddess Riela saprum Naya!!" Zedan pleaded with their goddess.
Even before the whole thing started he had the nagging feeling it might not end well. He could feel the life seep out of him as he begged for the Goddess's mercy and forgiveness for he had sinned.
"Heitha zera lyrian cuama rila zua". He kept chanting till everything stopped.
The king finally opened up his eyes when he could no longer hear the voice or feel the cold air that had begun surrounding him from Zedan's chant. His eyes widened as he saw Zedan now slumped by the side of the bed and in fear he quickly looked over at the queen who now found it hard to keep her eyes open with blood now dripping from her eyes and nose.
"NO!!!!" He roared Patting her cheeks softly.
"Stay awake my dearest" he begged as he watched her smile that breathtaking smile he always loved but this time around he wished she didn't because it meant something else entirely.
"Alman" she called out softly and he went closer to her to hear her properly. "Don't cry," she pleaded. "I don't like it". She coughed
"My Queen I can't" he choked on his tears "I can't do any of it without you" he was now in tears "please don't leave me" he begged clasping both of her hands in his.
The Queen, trying so badly not to cry, mocked "I'm dying and you're the one crying?"
The king found nothing funny about that and instead bursted out in fresh tears.
With as much strength as she could muster she reached out for his face Tracing patterns on it, memorizing it for the afterlife she knew she was going into.
"My only regret right now is not being able to watch you be the best father in the world to our child". Her eyes watered. She really wanted to be the strong one for both of them but it didn't seem possible with the way he looked so shattered.
"And I know you'd do great without me my Lord" she wiped his tears. "You've always been a great king and I have always been a proud wife and Queen to be associated with such a wise man". She started coughing.
The king immediately shushed her as she was about to speak again "you shouldn't talk anymore my love. It's draining you".
He looked to the bed side for water and was about to stand when she held on tightly to him.
"Alman"
The king sat back noticing she was looking very serious now.
"The prophecy" she coughed again "it's real".
He shook his head and she called out again, louder this time
"Alman!". He kept shaking his head. "This is no longer about us my lord. Our daughter". And as if he just remembered he actually had a daughter he started panicking.
"No! No Lyra. She.... She_____
"Calm down my lord" he immediately calmed. She always had the power to make him do whatever she wanted. He was that in love with her.
"You have to protect and care for her. It's already happening but if you can try your best to keep her from it, I'd like that. Please Alman, this is my last wish".
He shook his head crying fresh set of tears again. "I need you Lyra". He begged kissing her eyes as she had now started crying fully too.
"You've never needed me my love". She drew him by the neck and kissed him. He responded back like his life depended on it. Tears fell in between them and entered into their mouths as they continued kissing but they didn't mind. It was a sorrowful moment and even the clouds could agree as the rumble of the thunder echoed through the palace walls.
"Promise me you'll take care of her" She whispered as soon as she broke the kiss.
He looked at her eyes and saw the plea in them. He might not want it to happen but he knew his precious Queen was going to leave and he felt the most useless not being able to save her.
"I promise". He finally said and the Queen let out a small smile as her hands fell from his neck going limp.
"NOOOOOO!!!!!". The king roared lying flat on her chest as he cried for his Love.
Inside the palace and outside everyone chanted in unison. "Tali rien incinera goddess Riela".
It was the last chant they could make for their Queen, begging that the goddess takes care of her as she now rests with her.
They all felt the bond break and knew she was gone. And now more than ever, they all believed in the prophecy for it had BEGUN.