"Mum I miss father don't you miss him too," Liam stared at his mother with his bright green eyes he inherited from her and her heart ached. Lately, all he has been talking about was him. He was just a child such things were bound to happen especially if his parents split up. "Liam my boy don't think too much about him today you and your brother will be spending the weekend with your uncle," she finalized. His expression was crestfallen as he refused to meet her eyes. She lathered his hair with soap gently running her hands in it soothing him. Not once did he complain even when she scrubbed his back realising he had fallen asleep while taking a bath, again. Noriah finished up with the bath and dressed him for bed. His tiny hands wrapped around his neck as he held her for dear life. "Mother," he murmured. She sighed internally trying her best not to cry. Carrying her little son in her arms she opened the door to his room filled with paintings of mercenaries, and swords on his walls, and the room was painted with the darkest shade of green that could be found. She placed him on the king-sized bed that was way too big for a child with no toys but this was Liam we were talking about. He was everything that man was despite the fact that he abandoned them. Making sure he was tacked in she kissed him goodnight and blew off the candles in his room. She went to have a seat at the table arranging the scrolls before the invitations she had been drafting for the king's birthday. Silent footsteps made their way towards her but still she heard them no matter how quiet he tried to be. She let himself make his presence known. "Mother," said Issachar making his way towards her in a white tunic. He took her hand as he knelt then kissed it and placed it on his forehead as a sign of respect. "How was sword practice, son?" she asked. He joined her on the table watching her carefully and she hated how good her son was at analysing and right then she knew what he was about to say.
"You are thinking about him again," he stated. For a ten year old he was wise growing up to be a very sensible young man. "Yes I am Char how can I not think about your father if Liam won't stop asking about him." He watched her intently as his little arms took Noriah's in his and he held her gaze. It was like staring in a mirror his grey blue eyes with depths of wisdom flowing for a young boy. "The only reason Liam won't stop talking about him it's because you paint that man as a hero in every story you tell him about him if you hadn't he would never have asked about him or acknowledged his existence," his words truthful yet sharp like the dagger lying at the pocket of his tunic.
Trying to deviate from the topic she said, "Char be careful with how you handle those daggers I don't want you hurting yourself." His smile wide his cheeks turning a rosy pink colour as he tried containing the blush. "Yes mother." Staring at the unfinished scrolls before her she stood up heading to the kitchen to warm the food for Char. "I already prepared your bath go have it then change into a clean tunic and join me for supper."
***
If only they knew in the shadows lurked the little boy who admired his father as a hero. A man he had never met only heard from his mother how good of a warrior he was. He led the king's men into battle the bravest of all in the land. Everyone in the kingdom knew his father but he was told never to breathe to anyone that he was the man's son. His mum always telling him how much he loved him and will soon come back after the war at the border has ended and shower him with so many gifts.
Eight years later the young man grew up to become a very handsome little lad, his skills exceeding that of a novice when it came to physical combat and sword fighting. At fourteen he was already training with the king's army. His skills in archery even when blindfolded were better than the king's eldest son Wolven. Wolven was four years older than the lad who was only fourteen but gained so much recognition in the whole kingdom of Valsala. It didn't help that he was also part of the royal family his mother being the cousin to the queen. In the kingdom of Valsala the throne wasn't earned through inheritance of the crown but the strongest, bravest, generous and the most loyal prince.
Every male in the royal family was a prince from birth whether the current ruler was your father or not and the same applied to the young prince William. Born the fourth in line to the throne. The king's son was the first prince, Char the second in line, the third was the king's third child who was two years older than him making him sixteen and he was the fourth prince and the youngest the rest were all princesses.
William continued testing his sword skills on the dummy that stood before him as he also practiced archery and without breaking a sweat always hitting his target. "Liam," a voice behind him called. He turned to look at his mother whose red hair gave colour to her stunning presence. Grey blue eyes, long dark lashes, thin eyebrows, cherry red lips, a shinning mane of long fiery red hair and a welcoming presence. Today she was draped in the simplest finest green dress he has ever laid his eyes on. His mother was the most beautiful woman in all the four kingdom's no one could rival his mother's beauty not even Aphrodite who was praised to be not only the Goddess of love but also possessing an unmatched beauty.
Her stormy ocean eyes found her way to her son who worshipped the ground she walked on. His affection for her was something everyone in the whole kingdom was aware of no one dared disrespected his mother. While Issachar was a sleeping lion until he was woken William was a hungry lion always ready to draw blood. Once one of the dukes from the kingdom of Vilhelm dared to disrespect his mother. He challenged the man who was older than him by three decades and he won. The memory fresh in her mind as it made her smile.
"You should take a break from all this practice." Noriah's eyes filled with pride as he shot the last arrow that hit the bull's eye. She took three arrows and his bow releasing them at a go and they hit the dummy on the middle of his forehead. The palace guards and maids who were busy with their duties noticed this and they were awed at Princess Noriah's skills. The king who stood at his balcony with his queen also watched the boy and his mother. Noriah had always been one of the best warriors in the land since childhood training with her brothers and cousins until she turned eighteen. She was better with the sword, the spears, the arrows, and with good leadership skills she would have led the army and become general, but then she left the kingdom. When she came back everything had changed.
A tale that was for no one to tell in the palace except Noriah herself. She never spoke a word about her children's father or when she conceived she just left and came back with her sons. The whole kingdom questioned her virtue but it's been eighteen years and still Noriah hasn't spoken a word. Even Her eldest son Char who knew what had conspired in their life never said anything to anyone about his father or his identity.
Young Liam who was always amazed by his mother skills that held his kingdom's combat skills and the other three kingdoms fighting strategies always wondered where she learned them but he dared not question her. From the day he was four and walked in and heard his mum discussing his father. He never questioned Noriah because he believed anyone who hurt his mother didn't deserve a chance to be in their life as long as he hurt his mum.
"I will keep practicing for a few minutes then I shall join you for lunch," he replied. She let him continue with his swordsmanship and archery. Making her way towards the palace she wondered why the royal decree declared that her and her sons showed their presence in the palace. Staring at the halls she had run when she was a wee little girl who was naughty and always made trouble.
Her mother's painting was hanging tall and regal at the far end reminding her of the time when her family was in rule. Due to the lack of siring a prince her family legacy wouldn't be continued through her descendants as she was a woman and at the time she wasn't able to participate in fighting for the throne. During that time she wasn't also betrothed and so she had to give up the throne to her cousin who was already betrothed and ready to get married. After her husband won and they were coronated she left the palace and went to explore the rest of the kingdoms until her sons came into the picture.
Who their father was nobody knew or who she got involved with. Not even Queen Magnolia dared to ask the crown princess about her life after she left. "Your mother was a wise woman cousin," Noriah smiled reminiscing in the memories of her mother. Noriah and Magnolia had grown up together but they were not friends they just had a mutual understanding. "Mother was a wildfire I wish I was like her."
Queen Magnolia watched Noriah as her eyes teared then she blinked them away. Making it look like a figment of Magnolia's imagination. The queen was not a stupid woman and even though they were never close since childhood she could tell that her cousin had gone through a lot in the eighteen years she had been living outside the palace. Pity never worked with Noriah and that's why she didn't offer it even when she wanted to comfort her from all the woes that befell her cousin which she never spoke of. "Noriah you know I'm always here whenever you want to talk," said Magnolia. Noriah who had been staring at her mother's painting turned to look the queen straight in her eyes without wavering. A small smile played at the side of her lips her gaze hardening. "Yes your majesty," replied Noriah. Although the queen's heart had been hurt by her dearest cousin's hostility she didn't show it. Adapting a fond tone with her and calling her by her first name she thought would rekindle the kinship between the two cousins but she was gravely mistaken instead it drove Noriah further away. "I shall take my leave Your Majesty enjoy the rest of your day," with those few words she walked away leaving the queen of Valsala at a loss for words.
With an evil glint in her eyes, the kind smile that was on Magnolia's lips slowly faded her facade becoming undone thinking what she had planned for the stupid woman who thought she could still have the throne. "Oh cousin dearest I wonder how much the witch from Virwik would love to have a treasure like you in her collection," thought Magnolia. When her son Wolven appeared before her a sugary smile formed on her lips that was perhaps too sweet if anyone took a closer look and saw that all of it was a deceiving appearance. Everyone fell for her sweet pretense it would all be perfect if Noriah fell for it too but ever since they were growing up Noriah could see through the nauseating sweetness of her cousin. Even without pointing it out to anyone she has always been wary of her and that is why she took caution.