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Chapter Thirty-Four
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2024-10-29 19:42:56“Will she be okay?" Hannah asks, bending over her grandmother, tears running down her face. She had faced a hard hit when the Athanatoi had thrown her aside, and Hannah was sure they had been cruel to her even before they reached the castle. It made her angry just thinking about it. Made her sad looking at Grandmother, the way she looked frail and vulnerable. Her parents had said Martha was Welcome, shwe just wished Martha had been there sooner, then those ancient devils would never have gotten a chance to touch her. But nevertheless, she was with them now, and by God Almighty, as long as she lived, they’d never lay a hand on her grandmother ever again. Neither they nor anyone else.
"Just a few bruises, but they'll heal." Queen Anastasia said, but she too worried about her mother
"What aren't you saying mama?" Hannah asked, looked at her mother, beg
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1933Hannah.My name is Hannah, and I am princess of Brone. yes, the actual princess, the only child of my parents. My conception is one of those stories they tell around campfires, with children gathered, cross legged and bright eyed. And when it ends, those stay seated waiting for more, knowing it's over.But when I hear the story of my conception, the hairs on my skin stand on end, and I am humbled. But I am reminded, that life is a gift, my life is a gift, and I must honour that and not take it for granted. My people are a blessing, and I must remember my responsibilty to them.with all this said, another story begins,My name is Hannah, princess of Brone, And my Kingdom is being threatened.My people fear, and the anxiety of what comes next eats at them. it eats at all of us, causing us to shudder whenever we remember, and mak
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1938Hannah sat under a castor oil tree a book in her hands, using the branches of the tree for a shade and watched as a purple butterfly danced above her head."Must be fun being free like that, right, Mr. Butterfly?" She said softly, smiling as it landed carefree on her right thumb."Pretty little thing." she said on a giggleShe watched it alight and fly away, and then she sighed softly, looking towards the castle.It had been five years since the whispers of war emerged. Five years since the threats came, since such whispers caused a wild stir, and then, as time passed, these whispers died down. And now she was older, nineteen summers to be exact. And all was still, all was quiet.But she knew.she knew, as did her parents, that one brewed, subtly, gently, violently. A slow poison through and through, one that ate at you without living any visibel mark. But it clouded your judgeme
Kingdoms Chapter two
"We're almost there." They'd crawled and stuck to tall hedges for cover, but so far, true to her word they hadn't been spotted." there, right there." She said, pointing to a brown small builing that resembled a barn, which stood only a small distance away."I don't think the caretakers are in there right now. In fact, I think they should be done for the day." She said when they got to the door. She opened the door quietly and raised up a hand, gesturing for him to wait before poking her head and surveying the surroundings."All seems quiet in here, come on in." She said, before leading them in,stopping at every stall to greet each horse.The woman, he thought, had a word for each one of them. He wasn't sure if to Marvel at her when she made each stop or simply stop her and remind her of why they were there in the first place. But after horse number three, he realised that, he didn't want her to stop. He found her endearing, the way she would stroke
Kingdoms Chapter Three
What do you mean by that?" The king's voice was steady, not hinting at the tremor growing within. He knew this day would come. when the Athanatoi would come seeking, threatening, calling. but he didn't expect it to be this soon. Dear God, he didn't want to be this soon, when he was so unprepared."Her." Hannah stared at him with wide eyes. She'd gone pale from the moment he'd opened his mouth and spoke his words and now she could all but feel herself suffocating, choked up by her own growing fear."What- but what could they want with me?" She asked, He didn't say a word, he only stared at her, his expression unreadable."That's enough. Hannah, you may leave us."It was the king who spoke, he managed to look steady and strong, but he could feel his fingers begin to shake, he didn't like where all this was going."This is about me, I'm not going anywhere. please, Don't make me leave just yet. please, papa." The king turned to her and some
Kingdoms Chapter four
She had wept with her mother, and had tried to be strong for her father.But now, she needed to let out the storm She'd kept locked within when she was with the both of them, the storm that had quietly been gathering while she was in the throne room, the storm that was threatening to wash over her.Her father, before she left his chambers, had sworn to keep her safe.But she didn't feel safe. She felt like all hell was breaking loose, like the fires it threatened to unleash were going to come down on her, and she had to run... run very far away.She walked hopelessly to the stables, holding back her tears. Not yet, she told herself. She walked past the horses, not stopping to greet them as was her wont, her heart in her throat, her spirit downcast.She walked to the old supply room and opened it, not caring to close it behind her, not expecting anyone to be around as it was well after dusk. She walked to the corner of the room and dropp
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He stared at her like she'd grown a second head, at least that's how his steady, searching gaze on her made her feel."Your parents must know. You can't leave without them knowing." He said calmly, before looking away from her, staring into nothing and then looking back at her.He tilted his head- she found he did that when he had something worth wondering about on his mind- He reached out for her hair and held a handful of curls in his hand."Some of the hair will have to go." And she was right, about the crazy.Her eyes grew wide as she took in his words. He might as well have asked her to her to cut off a finger. Perhaps it was vain, but she took great joy in the long length of her curls."Why?!" She shrieked."Because, hair like this will be noticeable wherever we go. Any one will be able to spot you easily. We don't need you being noticeable. Not that you're very hard to notice." He added the last p
Kingdoms Chapter six
It was well after their breakfast before they spoke of why he was there with her in the first place."Why did you need to see me?" She asked after successfully biting and swallowing a blueberry."We need a plan. How do we convince your parents to let you come with me?"She had been shocked that he used the word 'we' and not 'you.''We' as in, we are in this together. But she didn't say as much. But it touched her, it mattered."Well, I guess we would have to convince them that leaving the castle would be the safe and right thing to do for me."He cocked a brow at her,"How do we do that?"There was the word again, we."Come with me. They'll listen to you. If you tell them that leaving would be safe, safer than it could ever be in this castle, they'd listen to you.""And if they don't? If they refuse and state the obvious, that there are more than a hundred guards in the castle to keep you safe, K
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They had walked for several hours with very little stops. From time to time, he would stop to let him catch up with him, or when she needed to catch her breath. She was sweating profusely and was definitely grateful she had opted for a tunic and trousers instead of a gown."Are you tired?" He asked without looking at her. She looked up at him as she tried to keep up with his strides, stay by his side, which took much effort. His legs were long.She actually was tired, but she was not going to admit it. not now. Not yet."Naw." Was all she could say, she was literally trying to save her breath, And was glad beyond words when he stopped, though she wasn't about to say it.It was a small clearing with wildflowers and rocks that were big enough to sit on."Let's rest here a while." Jasper said, looking at her. Her cheeks were red and he was scared she was going to faint on him. She hadn’t complained since they started moving at dawn, he found it
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Kingdoms Chapter Thirty-Four
“Will she be okay?" Hannah asks, bending over her grandmother, tears running down her face. She had faced a hard hit when the Athanatoi had thrown her aside, and Hannah was sure they had been cruel to her even before they reached the castle. It made her angry just thinking about it. Made her sad looking at Grandmother, the way she looked frail and vulnerable. Her parents had said Martha was Welcome, shwe just wished Martha had been there sooner, then those ancient devils would never have gotten a chance to touch her. But nevertheless, she was with them now, and by God Almighty, as long as she lived, they’d never lay a hand on her grandmother ever again. Neither they nor anyone else."Just a few bruises, but they'll heal." Queen Anastasia said, but she too worried about her mother"What aren't you saying mama?" Hannah asked, looked at her mother, beg
Kingdoms Chapter Thirty-Three
Myeen, you seek my own. And even now, you hold my own captive."The Athànatoi gave a blood curdling laugh as he held on to Martha, whose face was unearthly serene."Your own? But you cast this poor old lady out of your castle, Your own mother-in-law." He spat out the last phrase. "You just might be worse than me. And where is that little wife of yours? How about a little mother-daughter reunion?" He rose on his toes and craned his neck, as if searching for Anastasia. And it hit Jasper, that maybe, just maybe, he was looking for Hannah."She is not here, Myeen." The Athànatoi
Kingdoms Chapter Thirty-Two
She ran down the stairs –no, scratch that– She flew. And Jasper came right after. "They're coming, Jasper! And they have Martha!" She shrieked as she made for the door of the library. The passage that led to the rooftop was in the library. She wondered vaguely just how many more passages in this place were hidden doors that looked like walls. Jasper grabbed her and hugged her hard against him. He held her and she could hear his racing heart and joined him as he began to recite 'our father.' And their voices became one cry. "–Hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven, give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us," She heard bells ring and believed someone had spotted the
Kingdoms Chapter Thirty-one
" Hannah?" Jasper asked as he walked into his bed chambers, completely startled to find her in there, straightening his bed, as though she'd laid in it. Which she had, she'd watched Jasper enter the throne room and turned away somewhat hurt that he hadn't shared the fact that he had been summoned by her father, with her. She had walked back to her bed Chambers and sat on her bed, standing again several minutes later, telling herself she would not mope. Instead she had a bath, had a maiden do up her and walked to Jasper's newly assigned room. it wasn't that hard to find, the guards could be very helpful when they had a mind to. And so she waited for him to come back and wondered what it was that was being said between both the king and Jasper that took so long. She wasn’t nosy, she didn’t see herself as nosy anyway. She chose to call her behaviour curious. Exactly, she was simply being curious.
Kingdoms Chapter Thirty
"two more have joined her. I think one of them is a man fairy, he's wearing pants.""Or maybe she's a princess on an adventure who is wearing pants as a disguise." Jasper chuckled and she smiled, she enjoyed making him laugh. They were lying down now, watching the stars aligned high up in God's majestic heavens."It's crazy. Being able to see tiny flying human-like creatures." He said,"With wings.""With wings." He concurred, She scooted closer to him and put an arm across his midsection. He ran an his hand down her hair and watched the three sprites flying above them. He could see them, and he watched them, but he wondered if they could see both him and Hannah, or if they could choose to stay oblivious to them, oblivious to the part -fairy in their midst who coul
Kingdoms Chapter Twenty-Nine
It was night time when Hannah looked out the window of her bed Chambers. It had been a long day. She had turned to leave the throne room, when her father had bid Jasper to wait. She didn't want to leave then, but had done so with great reluctance after Jasper had nodded at her, which she took for an 'it's okay." But it wasn't okay, not to her. She had no idea why king Asher would want to talk to Jasper, or what he had in mind to speak to him about. It caused her great anxiety . She had inquired of his whereabouts from one of her ladies but they gave her no answers and curious looks to which she rolled her eyes internally.She could just go to the king himself, but that required courage. Because Jasper was right, she thought of him more of a king than her father, and a king in all he was, demanded respect just for being a king. Just once, she wished, closing eyes, just once again, he would be 'papa.'
Kingdoms Chapter Twenty-Eight
He woke to the feel of the palm of her hand against his cheek and he smiled sleepily."No, don't wake up on my account." she teased as he opened his eyes and was greeted by a smile of her own."But you're such good company, I can't sleep while you're here, awake, Caressing my cheek.""You flatter me, Jasper.""I speak the truth." He said groggily."Mmm." She hummed, drawing closer so she could kiss his lips."Mama came in while you slept. She did not want to wake you... we will meet with the king soon." He wondered at the term with which she addressed her father. He wondered if maybe she saw him less as her father and more as the king, and he felt sorrow rise at the possibility.&n
Kingdoms Chapter Twenty-seven
"You were so strong." He had a way of seeing in her more than she felt there truly was to her. This time, she concluded, was one of those times. And she buried her head in his chest as he wrapped his arms around her. She didn't feel strong at all, she felt drained, as though she was slipping, but his arms around her were her stronghold. He was her strength."What next, Jasper?" She asked, her words muffled against his chest."Ah Hannah, how about we let that worry for itself. We just got here." He pulled away gently to hold her face in his hands."Have a bath, baby, wash your hair, eat, you haven't eaten well in days. Then we can plan war.""You haven't eaten well either.""And so I will."
Kingdoms Chapter Twenty-six
"The tunnel leads to the library? If I lived in this castle, I might have never found that passage." Hannah laughed at the wild look of surprise on his face as she walked to a shelf."Why?" she asked, The laughter still in her voice"A Library is not exactly a place I'd go to often." He made a face that made Hannah laugh again. He walked towards where she stood and looked down at the book she held in her hand,"The art of romance volume III, have you read it?""No, but I'm glad I saw it, I just might read it." He took the book from her and wrapped his arms around her, breathing in the scent of her, letting himself be comforted by the warmth of her,"Welcome home." She let out a breath and let her head fall against his chest i
