The lamps were burning out on the arrival of dawn. The sun lit up the River Edmond making it golden. Some of the beautiful rays reflected towards the walls of the Palace. Robin was always pleased to wake up to this view. As usual, he would stand at the verandah and witness the magic of the sun.
The river was still yet. The birds of course were chirping with their beaks inside the water and their feet at the river banks. Many a times, Robin's mother would join him and would create a story depending on the happenings at the beautiful scene.
Him standing there only inflicted pain. It reminded him that he would never hear the 'absurd' stories of his mother any more. He wished that time could go back so that he could at least appreciate the stories from his mom but, destiny is all...
"Hervy seems tired today..."
"Nira, her name is Harry!" He sighed smiling. He did not turn to her, not yet. His eyes would betray him if he did. He was to remain strong for both the Kingdom and his family, he could not risk to cry in front of his youngest sibling.
" Harry is the other one..." She said pointing at one bird that was rinsing his beak in the water. "You miss mother, we all do!"
"She was creative and loving, she loved nature!"
Robin was now getting mixed emotional signals from his heart, brain even. He was supposed to be the one comforting her, not the other way round.
"Do you want it, the throne?" She said as she walked even closer to him. It was the first time she spoke freely with Robin. They were not that close, not like him and Silion. Nira was never close to anyone anyway. She liked the company of herself and horrifying creatures of the forest.
It is said she could converse with animals freely. She could read their minds and find a way to address their issues in each possible way. Robin was breathing heavily as she approached him. She stopped behind him and stood for a while silently then grabbed his right palm.
"I don't even know. I feel.."
"Scared!" She sighed.
" There is that! I have been practicing my whole life for this day but...it turns out it was not enough!"
" You will survive, may be start by overcoming your grief. You may mourn as long as you want, only the throne won't wait for you!"
" People would want to harm us, I assure you I'll protect you and Silion!" Robin commented as he finally got the courage to face her. The rays of the sun lit her beautiful face. Her hair was black and her eyes ocean blue. She was one of the most beautiful girls in the Kingdom if not the most. Stories of her beauty were all over the Kingdom but no one could bare to witness it, no one could afford to look at her, let be around her...
She stared into the eyes of her brother for a while then smiled suddenly, "I am sure you will, you always do!" She withdrew her hand from her brother's then started walking away from him, "You should not stare at me for that long, it may harm you!" She said as she turned around and walked back to her room.
Robin maintained his position for a while. He was confused or rather stunned. Not by the beauty of her sister but by the warmth and humanity she just potrayed. It was unlike her. Fear installed inside his heart. He could hear his own heartbeats. Any time his sister was 'nice' it only meant one thing, the apocalypse was to get much worse, more blood was to be spilled.
For a moment he kind of doubted himself. He had mixed feelings. Feelings like - you want it but you don't! Pros and cons engaged his mind . Questions swirled across his mind wildly. Was it worth it? Was he ready to be king? Is he able? Does he have the right mind, the right men, the wisdom?
He had only engaged in a single battle throughout his life. He fought shoulder to shoulder with his father in the battle of Gerzy. He was named the fierce Robin for a while after the battle. He was only sixteen by then.
Ascending the throne meant many things. Mainly it meant he was to protect the Kingdom and all it's people. It was like keeping both the wolves and sheep safe from harm, which was nothing wrong, but what happens if the wolves turned against the sheep?
As his mind went on to delve into deeper thoughts, he heard a loud voice of the king guard, " Lord! Men with horses, at the gate!"
" Could you identify them Bernard?"
" Two men claim they are friends of the king, the other two have not uttered a word yet!"
" Let them in, have them fed and watched. If they are to drink give them as they please. Ensure they are watched then have them meet me at the court house in an hour, inform all the court members."
" Yes, Lord!"
The threat to the throne seemed to be coming sooner than expected. Who were this men. It felt like he was being cornered to make a decision. Was he throwing the hat into the ring or was he going to throw the towel instead.
As he stole more time watching the birds, it was certain the wolves were turning against the sheep slowly or the sheep were turning into wolves. The birds finally had enough to drink and bathe . They hit their wings together as they flushed down air and flew away into it. He sighed heavily then walked away to his room to get prepared to meet these mystery souls, it was time to welcome the sheep or compromise with the wolves, it was time.