Ten years. It's hard to believe how much can change in such a span of time. Ten winters have come and gone since we first set foot on this land, cold and unforgiving, yet full of promise. When I think back to those early days, it's as if I'm looking at the life of another man, one who was driven more by desperation than by any real vision.
I stand on the walls of our keep, looking out over Haven Kingdom. What was once a humble settlement is now a thriving stronghold, a beacon of hope in a world that has seen too little of it. The walls that surround our lands are strong, built with the hands of those who believe in what we are building here. They are more than just stone and mortar; they are a testament to our resilience, our determination to carve out a life free from the tyranny of Barrowland.
The snow is falling lightly today, dusting the rooftops and fields with a blanket of white. It's a peaceful sight, but I know better than to be lulled into a false sense of security. The world outside our walls is as dangerous as it ever was, and I've learned to expect the unexpected.
My thoughts turn to my children, who have grown so much in these ten years. There are times when I look at them and see the weight of responsibility in their eyes, a reflection of the burden I carry as their father and as their king. They are strong, though—stronger than I was at their age. Elysande and I have raised them well, and I know they will be ready to take up the mantle when the time comes.
Elysande… I think of her often, more so now than I did in those early days. Back then, it was easy to let the pressures of leadership consume me, to lose sight of the people who stood beside me. But over the years, she has been my anchor, the one who keeps me grounded when the weight of the crown becomes too heavy. Without her, I don't know if I would have made it this far.
We've built more than just walls in Haven. We've built a community, a place where people can live without fear of being crushed under the heel of a tyrant. The farmlands have been generous, providing enough to feed our growing population, and the trade routes we've established have brought in goods from distant lands, things we could only dream of in those early days.
But with growth comes new challenges. Our numbers have swelled to over seventy thousand, a far cry from the ten thousand or so who first settled here. And while our kingdom is large enough to accommodate them, I can't help but feel the strain that such rapid expansion has placed on our resources. It's something I think about often, especially in the quiet moments when the responsibilities of leadership weigh heavily on my mind.
I've had to make decisions I never imagined I'd face—decisions that have tested the very core of who I am. The more our kingdom has grown, the more I've come to realize that ruling is not just about building walls and gathering followers. It's about finding a way to balance the needs of the many with the realities of the world we live in. And sometimes, that means making choices that leave a bitter taste in my mouth.
I've had to learn patience in these ten years, a virtue that did not come easily to me in my youth. There have been times when I've wanted to act, to strike out at the injustices that still plague the lands beyond our borders. But I've come to understand that there is a time for everything, and that rushing into conflict without thought can lead to disaster. We've seen too much bloodshed already, and I will not lead my people into another war unless there is no other choice.
I think back to King Robin Amber, the man who drove us from our homes, who forced us to build this new life from the ashes of the old. I wonder what he would think if he could see us now, if he could see how Haven has flourished in spite of his attempts to crush us. Would he laugh, as he so often did in those early days? Or would he see us as a threat, something to be dealt with before we become too powerful to ignore?
It's a thought that haunts me, especially in the dead of night when sleep eludes me. I've heard the whispers, the rumors that he has not forgotten us, that he is biding his time, waiting for the moment to strike. I don't doubt it. Men like Robin Amber do not let go of their grudges easily. And though it has been ten years since we last faced his wrath, I know that he will come for us again. It's only a matter of time.
But we are not the same people we were ten years ago. We are stronger, wiser, more prepared for whatever may come. If Robin Amber thinks he can crush us as easily as he did before, he is gravely mistaken. We have built more than just a kingdom here in Haven—we have built a legacy, one that will endure long after we are gone.
I walk the streets of our kingdom often, more so now than I did in the early years. I like to see the faces of the people we've brought together, to remind myself of why we fight, why we continue to push forward even when the odds seem insurmountable. There is a sense of pride that fills me when I see the smiles of children playing in the snow, when I hear the laughter of families who have found a place to call home.
And yet, there is always a shadow that lingers at the edges of my thoughts, a reminder that peace is a fragile thing, easily shattered by the whims of men like Robin Amber. It's why I've taken to preparing my children, teaching them the skills they will need to lead when my time is done. They are still young, but they are quick learners, and I see the fire in their eyes, the same fire that burned in me when we first set out to build this kingdom.
Elysande has been a constant source of strength in this endeavor. She understands the burdens we carry, and she has been my closest confidante in all matters of the kingdom. Together, we have shaped Haven into what it is today, and together, we will continue to guide it into the future.
As I look out over the kingdom, I feel a sense of satisfaction, but also a deep sense of responsibility. We have come so far, but there is still much to do. The challenges ahead will be great, but I have faith in the people of Haven, in their strength, their resilience, and their determination to build a better future for themselves and their children.
The snow continues to fall, a reminder of the harshness of the world outside our walls. But here in Haven, there is warmth, there is hope, and there is a future worth fighting for. I don't know what the next ten years will bring, but I am ready for whatever comes. We have faced darkness before, and we have emerged stronger for it.
And if Robin Amber comes for us again, he will find that Haven is not so easily broken. We are a kingdom now, with walls as strong as our resolve. We are ready to defend what we have built, and we will not be cowed by the threats of a tyrant.
Ten years have passed since we began this journey, and though the road has been difficult, I would not trade it for anything. We have built something truly remarkable here, something that will endure for generations to come.
As I turn to head back into the keep, I feel a sense of calm settle over me. The future is uncertain, but I am not afraid. We have faced the worst the world has to offer, and we have emerged victorious. Whatever comes next, we will face it together, as a people, as a kingdom, as a family.
Haven is our home, and I will do whatever it takes to protect it.
The wind howled through the night, a chilling reminder that trouble was never far behind. I stood on the walls of our keep, looking out into the darkness, the cold biting at my skin despite the thick fur cloak draped over my shoulders. It was a night like any other, or so I thought. But deep down, there was an unease I couldn't shake, a feeling that something was about to change.
Ten years have passed since we built Haven, ten years of hard work, growth, and the ever-present threat of Robin Amber. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't grown somewhat complacent. We had grown strong, and with each passing year, the threat of Barrowland felt more like a distant memory. Perhaps I should have known better. Peace is a fleeting thing in a world like ours, and I had forgotten the harsh lessons of our past.
I didn't expect trouble to come this soon.
It started as a whisper, carried by the wind—a sense of unease among the guards, a rumor that reached my ears just as the moon rose high in the sky. They said there were strangers in the woods, men who did not belong. My first instinct was to dismiss it. We'd dealt with the occasional band of outlaws before, men who thought they could prey on our people only to learn that Haven was not a place to be trifled with. But something about this felt different. The rumors spoke of organization, of intent. This was not the work of mere bandits.
I should have acted sooner. I should have sent out more scouts, fortified our defenses, done something other than stand there on the walls, staring into the night as if I could will the danger away. But I hesitated. I let my guard down, and I paid the price.
The attack came swiftly, in the dead of night when most of Haven was asleep. The alarm bells rang out, shattering the stillness, and I knew then that my worst fears had come to pass. I raced down from the walls, my heart pounding in my chest, every instinct screaming at me to get to Elysande, to protect her, to protect our children.
The courtyard was a scene of chaos, guards rushing to their posts, the clashing of steel echoing through the night. I could hear the shouts of men, the cries of the wounded, and above it all, the terrifying realization that this was no ordinary raid. These men had come with a purpose. They weren't here for plunder or for revenge. They were here to send a message.
I fought my way through the fray, my sword slick with blood, cutting down anyone who stood in my way. My thoughts were consumed with one thing and one thing only: getting to Elysande. I should have known it was a trap, that they were trying to draw me away, but in that moment, all I could think about was her safety.
I burst into our chambers, calling her name, praying to whatever gods might be listening that she was safe. But the moment I stepped inside, I knew I was too late. The room was eerily quiet, too quiet, and then I saw her.
She lay on the floor, her eyes closed, her face pale as death. Blood pooled beneath her, staining the floor, and for a moment, I couldn't breathe. My legs gave out from under me, and I fell to my knees beside her, my hands trembling as I reached out to touch her, to wake her, to do something.
"Elysande…" Her name escaped my lips in a broken whisper, but there was no response. Her chest did not rise, her eyes did not open, and the cold that seeped into my bones was nothing compared to the icy grip of despair that took hold of my heart.
I don't know how long I sat there, holding her, willing her to wake up, to tell me that this was all some terrible nightmare. But the truth was undeniable. She was gone. My Elysande, my anchor, the woman who had stood by my side through every trial and hardship, had been taken from me.
The rage that followed was unlike anything I had ever known. It burned through the grief, turning my sorrow into something dark and dangerous. I rose to my feet, a roar of fury escaping my throat, and I stormed back into the night, determined to make them pay, to tear apart every last one of the bastards who had done this.
The battle raged on, but I was blind to everything except the need for vengeance. I cut through the attackers with a fury that left no room for mercy, my mind consumed by the image of Elysande lying lifeless in our chambers. I didn't care about the cost, didn't care about the danger. All I wanted was to see them suffer, to make them feel even a fraction of the pain they had inflicted on me.
By the time the dawn broke, the attackers were either dead or fleeing, and I stood among the bodies, drenched in blood, my breath coming in ragged gasps. The victory felt hollow, empty. No amount of bloodshed could bring her back.
The aftermath was a blur. The people of Haven rallied to me, offering their condolences, their support, but their words were like ashes in my mouth. I wanted to scream at them, to tell them that their sympathy meant nothing, that they couldn't understand the depth of the loss I felt. But I said nothing. I simply turned away, retreating to the silence of our keep, where the weight of my grief crushed down on me like a mountain.
I don't know how long I stayed there, locked in my chambers, the walls closing in around me as the reality of Elysande's death sank in. Days passed, maybe more, but time had lost all meaning. All I could see was her face, all I could hear was her laughter, all I could feel was the emptiness she had left behind.
Eventually, the door to my chambers creaked open, and I turned to see Alaric standing there, his face etched with concern. He didn't say anything at first, just looked at me with that knowing gaze of his, the one that always seemed to see right through me.
"They came for a reason, Brandon," he said quietly, breaking the silence. "This wasn't just an attack. It was a message. Robin Amber is behind this. He's trying to break you."
I clenched my fists, the anger flaring up again, hot and consuming. "Then I'll break him," I snarled. "I'll tear him apart piece by piece until there's nothing left."
Alaric shook his head slowly. "That's what he wants. He wants you to lose control, to lash out in anger. He's playing a game, and he's trying to make you his pawn."
I stared at him, my mind racing, trying to process what he was saying. "So what do you suggest?" I asked, my voice raw with emotion. "That I do nothing? That I just let this happen?"
"No," he replied, his voice steady. "But you need to think, Brandon. You need to be smarter than him. If you let your anger consume you, you'll be walking right into his trap. We need to be strategic. We need to hit him where it hurts, but on our terms."
His words cut through the haze of my grief, forcing me to confront the reality of the situation. This wasn't just about revenge. It was about survival, about protecting what we had built, about honoring Elysande's memory in a way that mattered.
I took a deep breath, forcing myself to focus, to push the grief and anger aside for now. There would be time for that later, but right now, I needed to be a leader. I needed to be the man Haven needed me to be.
"Then we plan," I said finally, my voice firm, resolved. "We prepare. And when the time is right, we strike."
Alaric nodded, a flicker of approval in his eyes. "We'll make him regret the day he ever underestimated us."
I turned back to the window, looking out over the kingdom Elysande and I had built together. The snow continued to fall, a blanket of white covering the ground, but beneath it, I could see the life we had nurtured, the strength we had forged.
Robin Amber had taken so much from me, but he hadn't broken me. Not yet. I still had a kingdom to protect, a legacy to uphold. And when the time came, I would make him pay for what he had done.
For now, though, I allowed myself one last moment of grief, one last tear for the woman I had loved and lost. Then I wiped it away, steeling myself for the battle ahead.
The storm had broken, but it was far from over.