A few hours after their journey they arrived at the neighboring kingdom of Hymir. The golden hour illuminates the town with its warm hues. Morrigan hugged herself as she found herself lost in the sea of foreign people speaking another language that she couldn't fully understand. In this kingdom she is nothing, her title as the crown princess does not exist. She's neither an envoy of peace or a royal guest, she is here as a common foreigner, a common refugee seeking the kingdom's refuge. "Your Highness..." Lydia's hands held hers, eventually taking Morrigan out of her trance. Morrigan gently removed Lydia's hands holding hers. "Lydia, in this kingdom I, am not a princess... I hope you refrain from calling me that." Morrigan looked at Lydia's eyes, dejection was evident in Lydia's eyes, inquiring why the princess let her hand go. Lydia watches the young princess who only puts interest in observing her surroundings with her beautiful yet lifeless eyes.
The liveliness of the streets and the market died down by nightfall. The merchants on the streets finally resting after a long day of trading. The local merchant's stands piled and rested on the side of the streets. Only the banner of red and gold in the kingdom remained on the streets. Dancing by the wind, rustling softly. The busy street embraced silence as the moon graces it with its soft glow. The moon illuminates brightly in the night sky. Not a single star accompanying the moon, making it seem lonely in the vast dark sky as it illuminates the lands below the skies. Morrigan remained silent as she gazes out of the horizon, letting the silence of the night sink into her. A few of those loose strands of raven hair dances with the cold wind. Watching the lone beauty of the moon which she thought was sympathizing with her. She pulled out the locket from where it hides and stared at it. Letting the luminesce of the moon touch its delicate embellishments of opa
"Fiachra, a beauty that had graced the land of Hymir. Dancing under the glow of the moon, A mighty sword at hand, Ravens following her every grace. Mesmerizing the world with her might and bravery, A beauty that could overturn a war, A warrior that rides with the ravens, Fearlessly conquering the enemies. Guide Hymir with your comrades that soar the skies, Hymir your beloved land will forever prosper under your watch." In the silence of the night, a mellow and sweet voice of a young woman singing the folklore of Fiachra could be heard. Dancing with pure grace and elegance. Her long raven hair sways with the flow of the wind, in her every turn and every note she sings could easily mesmerize someone who would see her dancing under the luminance of the moon. Her pale complexion glows under the soft moonl
"Poor child, it must have been hard for her." A middle-aged lady placed a warm towel on Morrigan's forehead as she stares at the young lady who they found unconscious when the sun rose after the heavy downpour last night. She tucked Morrigan's hands under a blanket and covered her up to her shoulder to keep her warm. Morrigan's fever has not yet subsided but at least she is not exposed to open air anymore which could further escalate her already high fever. Her slightly wrinkled hand caressed Morrigan's warm cheek, looking at Morrigan dearly. She fixed Morrigan's blanket for another time and dusted her skirt as she stood up picking up the basin to fetch another basin of warm water to wipe Morrigan's face this time. Morrigan is still in a coma after she was drenched in the rain, her body collapsing due to exhaustion. She was found by a middle-aged couple who were just living nearby, and on their way to town to sell vegetables that they have grown in their backyard, seeing a young lad
"My family was murdered..." Morrigan's tears fell from her eyes as she remembers the fire that engulfed her family, and how Lydia laid lifeless in the alleyway. All of them died successively in front of her. All of those people who she depends on died one after another, leaving her alone in this world. She couldn't continue what she wanted to say as she could hardly feel able to breathe, even swallowing is hard. She started to fidget with her hands, trying to calm herself down from all the emotions swirling inside of her. Morrigan can barely narrate the whole story but with the gist of it that started from when her family died, she hoped that it was enough for them to understand. Trying to conceal her identity and heritage. Frey's hand flew towards her mouth covering it from the gasp that escaped from her. She looked at the young lady in front of her who was fidgeting her fingers around the ring on her thumb. Her heart sank as she finally gets to know the reas
Just like the usual nights, Morrigan had the same dreams, the same dark endless hallway she stands every night. The same scene of tall walls of flames, her mother's lifeless body, and the same voices taunting and haunting her eve in her dreams. But this time it was even more frightening. Screams and laughter mixes in her mind, in that endless darkness everything is shrouded in dark clouds, she couldn't see anyone. But when there finally came light in front of her is Lydia's dead body. Drenched in blood, molested, and murdered brutally. It was the same scene but this time behind Morrigan was a tall shadow of a man. When she turned around the maniacal smiles of her uncle was the first thing she saw. He grabbed her with his large and firm hand, Morrigan struggled under his grasp but it was futile. All she could do was scream for help as her uncle drag her away from Lydia, and his laughter echoes all over her ears.Morrigan shifted and clutched a handful of th
Frey hummed as she combed and wash Morrigan's hair, her sweet voice singing in a beautiful chorale along with the birds at the outskirts. Morrigan sat there silently listening to Frey's lovely voice as her fingers caresses the engravements of the ring on her thumb. "Your hair is so silky, just a few washes and combing my hand just slides down along it," Frey said, enthusiasm evident in her sweet voice as she started to pat Morrigan's hair dry. Her hand slides down Morrigan's hair."How was your wrist? I'm really sorry for what happened last night," Morrigan said, guilt evident in her small voice. She fidgets on the ring that is on her thumb. She bit the insides of her cheeks as she look at her reflection on the water. Frey acted as if what happened last night is nothing. She continues to hum and tend to Morrigan's hair. Parting it in two equal sections, and from it, she parted per section into three. Morrigan's gaze flew on Frey's wrist which was bandaged and hi
Frey and Morrigan walked down the hill hand-in-hand, their hands swaying at every step they take. Frey watches Morrigan as they walk back to their home. After crying in her arms Morrigan's eyes were all swollen and bloodshot, her face remain solemn with no glint of smiles. But this time her face seemed to be clearer and less depressing like before, the air of sadness around Morrigan dissipated a bit. Frey thought that it's alright and things will come by one-by-one. One cannot heal from the pain in a single day after all. She smiled at the thought that maybe soon or someday she will see Morrigan's bright smiles. "What do you want to eat today?" Frey asked. Morrigan lifted her gaze towards Frey but eventually lifted her eyes towards the sky. "Anything will do." She doesn't know how to reply, she is used to the delicacies in the palace, and living away from her grandiose life she doesn't know what to expect. In Morrigan's mind as long as it is edible and safe then she will be thankful
Frey pulled Morrigan immediately to one corner of the house once she set her foot inside the hut. Still able to see the prince who is pacing in exasperation in front of their humble abode. The colors in Frey's face seemed to seep away from her. Her hands sweating, and cold sweats trickled on her forehead. She looked at Morrigan who seemed to be indifferent at that moment. "Why did you talk to the prince in that manner?" Frey said in a hushed tone, despite her hushed voice fear laced Frey's voice as she interrogate Morrigan. Morrigan looked at her innocently. "What do you mean?" Frey pinched her skin lightly. Making Morrigan hissed and caress the part of her arm where Frey pinched her. Frey looked out of the window and finally heaved a sigh as Mathias had finally stormed away from their home. "Don't feign innocence. You know what you did." Morrigan acted as if she just remembered something. Pointing out the window to the direction where Mathias stood earl
I, Morrigan of Hymir, the current queen of the blessed lands of Hymir, hereby abstain from my position as the monarch and mother of the nation. For I have sinned a thousand unforgivable sins. My hands are tainted with the blood of innocents and thus haunt me from night and day. For vengeance clouded my reasonings, I have killed my uncle who had been struggling with me through the race to power. Killed a foreign prince that caused havoc and war to the nation, making hundreds if not thousands of mighty soldiers died on the battlefield. Kept the secret of me having a child out of wedlock, that in the end died prematurely even before I was proclaimed the mother of the nations. Accused wrongly of the ministers that tried to support and help me regain the grace of the kingdom. And killed the man that I loved for my whole life, the man that I have been looking for years o
The night is cold, the moon is bright. The palace halls are silent and only the howling of the winds at the night could be heard. The soft glow of the moon illuminated the palace halls. Basked in the luminous glow of the moon the palace marble floor glistened like a rare gem. Morrigan looks out of the window as she gulped the last of her glass of wine. Holding the locket that she wears close to her heart. “The sky is clear, my lover. Have you been waiting for me?” She whispers as she gazes at the clear night sky. She smiled as she put the crystalline goblet she uses on the table before her. Her bare foot touched the cold marble floor. “I’ve also waited for this day to come.” Her steps are light as a feather, her graceful strides bless the pristine marble floor. Her shadow was like a ghost floating along with her gracefu
The mellow and comforting sound of a music box reverberated around the palace’s gardens. As the camellias bloom in beautiful bloom and the soft glow of the breaking dawn approaches with golden rays kissing the fragile flowers in the garden. The morning dew cascaded down the luscious foliage around the place. However, in the middle of the gardens the contrast of a woman clad in black, wandering around the garden as she walks by the patches of grass with her barefoot. Humming along with the sound coming from the music box from the locket that’s laying down peacefully on a velvet pillow on a finely crafted case sheltering the meticulously made locket, besides it was a necklace with a key pendant. The wind howls and caresses her body, a black curtain of hair sways along with the wind as the soft and warm rays of the sun touch her delicate skin. “There you are, I have been looking for you.” Morrigan whisked her gaze to the voice that caught her attention. Their eyes looked
“As for the Queen’s order, the late Lord Toiba who remained as a loyal confidant of the royal family till the end of his life was to be freed from his sins for the Queen proved that he had served the royal family with all his might. Freeing him from the sins he had been accused of leading to his very execution. The House of Toiba could rise and join the society once again along with their distant relatives. However deception is a capital crime, Colum Toiba, the son of the late Minister and Lord Toiba and the current Head of the noble family of Toiba deceived the Queen by giving birth to a fraudulent identity behind the name Colfre. Sowing discord and hate, as he carefully machinates his hidden agenda, and eventually betraying the Queen, threatening her life with his very sword. Humiliating and putting Her Majesty’s life in line proved him guilty of his sins, and his execution will follow by the Queen’s orders. By the pardon of the late Lord Toiba, the Queen gives honor to the f
Morrigan could not feel anything but her aching heart. Her mind was muddled with devastation and betrayal. The hall that was packed with joyous celebration and cheers earlier is like an ice-cold desert, with only her and the guards around her as Colfre stood in front of her. Looking at her with the same hazel eyes she fell in love, but this time the warmth she could feel when she gazes at his eyes was nowhere to be found. All that there is a cold and ruthless gaze, a gaze that will never bow down to anyone. A smug smile grows on his lips as he bends down in front of Morrigan. Morrigan bit the insides of her cheeks as she watch the man in front of her, gone were the soft and gentle gaze from Colfre’s eyes, instead he turned to be the cold Colum Toiba whom he revealed he was. Morrigan’s mind and the heart do not correspond with each other. Her mind wanted answers, but her heart was afraid of the answers he might give her. It was the fear of uncertainty, her mind is in haywire. Her lip
As dawn comes in the Kingdom of Hymir, the people started to bustle the streets, street performers dance gracefully in colorful dresses. Teahouses flocked with tourists and locals alike, ecstatic to hear the romance that had been told for weeks by esteemed storytellers. With the pavements of the streets near the palace flooding with flowers offered by the citizens, from camellias, roses, tulips, to stargazers that were brought by the tourists, offered to the queen as they celebrate with her for another year given to her by Fiachra. The festivity in the streets was in equal terms of the nobles inside the palace, as coaches line the front of the palace gates, with esteemed diplomats and nobles presenting their invitations in their fine tailored dresses and suits, with their lavish gifts for the Queen of Hymir, and their wishes for her reign's longevity. And as the bustling streets and the palace halls were filled
Clouded with thoughts that left her scarred throughout her youth, Morrigan couldn’t help but shake in fear as the images of her family being devoured by walls of flames flashed back in her mind. Just the thought that someone is plotting against the royal family is enough to bring the slumbering fear within her. Everything came rushing back, the pain, the agony, the grief, and the betrayal. The very same feelings she tried to bury down at the back of her mind came backstabbing her with just a single parchment. She wondered if what she did on her coronation was not enough to warn people of what she could do for people who dared act treacherous against the royal family or did she put her guard down so much that they found her vulnerable. Morrigan’s nails dug on her palm, enough to make her knuckles white. The growing fear within her is not just for herself but for the people dear to her, for Colfre and Rita. She already lost enough and the though
Morrigan and Colfre walked by the long hallway of the palace hand-in-hand. The sun’s golden hues glowing by the window touching the pristine marble floor of the grand abode in the heart of the capital of Hymir. Fresh calla lilies and camellias are displayed by the walls just beneath the golden sconces on the wall. Vases made from fine porcelains that hold the simple yet elegant floral arrangements make the hall look even livelier than before. Now gone of the gloomy and eerie aura of the hallway that once reverberated the cries and agony of the queen. Now it was enveloped with images that reflect the joyous occasion that is coming. A few days from now Morrigan will celebrate her birthday with another joyous occasion of her announcing her betrothal to Colfre. Morrigan looked around the hall, letting herself drown by the comfortable ambiance of the place. “When I was young, I remember this hallway was adorned with gold and freshly picked red roses. It smelled hea
The palace is bustling with maids and guards running around the long palace halls. Maids run around with vases of white camellias on their arms, and guards training for the security of the palace. Everyone is busy as the day of the queen's birthday approaches. With a celebration not just of the queen's birthday but also the day where the queen will announce her other intentions and plans for the kingdom. With news spreading around the kingdom that the queen is now finally settling herself down as she found the person who she will entrust her whole life with. The whole palace turned into the reflection of the streets. The insides of the palace are draped with festive colors of pink and red, with glints of golds and silvers. The heavy curtains that used to be in the shade of maroon were then changed into red velvet curtains that bring out the grandiosity of the palace. The dull lifeless façade and ambiance of the place turned regal and mighty. As if telling