I open the grand wooden doors of the ballroom as soon as my parents stand up to thank everyone for coming before the banquet officially begins. Everyone looks at me as I make my way to my jet black, velvet- cushioned throne with armrests and feet made out of wood carved out of Yiggdrasil itself. With permission of course. I give them all a mischievous smile. They’re in for a treat after they’ve filled their fat stomach’s. I stand next to my mother and wait for her to start talking emotionlessly yet gracefully, like she always does.
‘ Welcome, everyone. I am glad all of you have managed to come to our palace today and I’m even more ecstatic that we’re able to enjoy ourselves together. You are all probably wondering why we’ve gathered you here today. All will become clear very soon. For now, please enjoy the food we have specially cooked for you all. And don’t forget to thank Yggdrasil for supplying us with such wonderful supplies that we are able to cherish and use to prosper on this land. You may now sit.’
My father uses his powers to move all the dark coloured chairs back to their original positions so the guests are able to sit comfortably at the large table (instead of standing to listen to their queen) and start feasting. My mother and father walk hand in hand to the top of the huge bristlecone pine table spanning nearly the whole of the ballroom. I follow behind them nonchalantly and sit next to my oldest sister. Elowen.
Elowen is the first born and the one that was supposed to be next in line. Because of the prophecy, I supposedly stole her position and ruined her life and so she despises me with all of her being. The worst part is, my parents were sure she was going to be the next queen of the lands so they trained her from a very young age and gave her the second name Aldrich (which means wise ruler) to establish her position in the royal hierarchy. Unfortunately for her, around eight siblings later, I was born and with me came the prophecy and her position was stripped away from her. The reason why she’s sitting the closest to our parents is because she still has an important role untill I’m up for the task of taking over from my mother. I can smell the hatred on her at all times. It radiates throughout the palace and it seems I can’t escape it so instead, I grew to learn how to ignore it.
‘Hello sister.’
She looks at me and plasters a fake smile on her pale face. She would never do anything that would give a bad image to her or our family as a whole so for the time being, she has to hide her hatred for me and pretend we’re regular siblings.
‘Hello Hårbyn. I heard you have a speech to give today.’
‘ Yes. Mother has confirmed it would be the best way to give us an upper hand over all the other clan leaders.’ She stabs her fork into a piece of dried snake skin and puts it in her mouth aggressively while continuously holding that smile on her face. Some say it’s pure. But I know that smile is devilish and full of evilness instead of benevolence.
‘Well, I’m glad you’re stepping up to your responsibilities brother. I’m sure you’ll make a fine king.’
And with that, she never says a word to me again. She turned around, ate her food, and conversed with the other guests closest to her seat. I almost laughed at her comment. I know damn well she prays for my failure every day but I can’t give her the pleasure of receiving her position back. She’s caused me enough pain and suffering over the years, I would be plain stupid to ignore it like it didn’t happen and it would be very mundane of me to forgive and forget. That’s not how we do it around here.
I cut the rabbit on my plate and lifted a piece toward my mouth. The cooks never disappoint around here. I drop the fork and move my hand towards the glass of red wine. I drink it all in one go and continue eating my food, waiting until it’s time to announce the news. This will probably be the last time I have a good meal for a very long time.
Everyone was finished after no more than a couple hours. The plates were taken away and the glasses were refilled with the preferred beverages. I looked at my mother and she looked at me with her emotionless face for the first time since she announced the banquet had begun. She nodded her head briefly and I grabbed my wineglass and a small piece of cutlery. I stood up from my chair and connected the cutlery with my wine glass, trying to quieten down the crowd. I make my way to the end of the table where everyone can see me. Unfortunately for me, that means closer to my parents.
‘If I may have your attention.’ Everyone turns to face towards me with curiosity and I clear my throat.
‘ As you are all aware, we have not brought you all here to enjoy an evening together as magical creatures. The royal family has waited a long time for this day.’ Everyone begins to mutter between each other ; I raise my voice slightly to signal for their attention.
‘I, as the next in line for the throne, have been training to be worthy of the crown since I was born. Now, as you all know, it is no easy task to become the king of the lands of magical beings. I have many harsh challenges ahead of me. We are all aware of that. However, I as well as my instructors and my family have all agreed that I will take the next step into becoming the king of argos magicis as soon as possible as a result of successfully completing my training.’
The crowd gasps in shock. Everyone starts talking to each other and I have to raise my voice as much as possible to make sure they can hear what I’m trying to say next. I need to be patient if this is going to work.
‘That means that I, Hårbyn Adonis-reign, will begin the trial of Digna.’
And that’s it. That’s when everyone went insane. As expected. The leaders of the clans were up from their chairs. Some, trying to speak to my parents ; some trying to calm their people down. The children clung on to their mothers (confused and partially scared at the chaos) and some stood still in shock. I understand why they’re causing such an uproar but I don’t think it’s entirely necessary. They’re not the ones going through the most dangerous test ever made.
I feel my anger wrap around my limbs and I decide to use some as fuel to quieten down the chaos. I take a last shot of alcohol and begin. Again.
‘Silence!’
I bang the glass against the table. The ground begins to shake and my eyes flicker. Everyone sits back down quietly and I try to gather the last remnants of my power from around the air. I look at the people in front of me struggling to keep themselves from plummeting to the ground at the sheer force of my aura and I wonder what would happen to them if I released more than ten percent of my abilities.
‘ I am talking. And when I talk, you do not interrupt me like you do not interrupt my mother or my father. Do I make myself clear?’
Silence. Complete silence. That’s what I like to hear.
‘I understand you are all questioning this decision. After all, no other prince or princess has undergone the trial unless they were at least 21 as is advised by the holy council of the lands. However, we have all established that I am ready to take the next step into becoming the future king. I’m sure you all feel the power I possess and I can assure you, the elders along with my trainers, the council and my family all gave an unanimous decision that I am fully capable to begin the trial despite my age.’
‘But what about the prophecy?!’
Someone shouts from the crowd and multiple voices agree with them.
‘What about the prophecy? The prophecy is a simple sentence we do not even know is true. It states he who holds the sun in his eyes will save us from our doom.’ I roll my eyes and glare at the fragile figure who is the reason why I have to talk about the topic I hate the most in this world.
‘Don’t believe everything you hear little faerie.’ I turn around in hopes that she knows what’s good for her and doesn’t continue her argument on. Unfortunately for her, I was wrong.
‘What about the last part?’ She shouts yet again.
that’s it. I’ve been patient enough. I focus on the small faerie that dared to interrupt me again. She screams and I lift her up in the air and bring her closer to me. My eyes turn from golden to dark red and everyone suddenly backs away slowly, allowing the girl floating through the air to reach me. She squirms and her eyes start watering but I don’t take my eyes off her.
‘ I don’t think you truly comprehend what you‘re doing, you pathetic thing.’ I circle her like a predator and she continues to look straight, strangled by the force of my power and still dangling in the air.
‘You seem to have a sudden surge of courage. Either that, or you’re incredibly stupid. Because no one dares interrupt me while I’m speaking. Not even my own blood.’ I look at her and it seems she’s shivering out of her mind.
‘I’m sorry my prince. It will never happen again.’
I stop circling her when I’m standing in front of her and I look her in the eyes one more time. Two tears managed to escape her soft, perfectly symmetrical eyes and run down the crevice of her cheeks. I wipe it off her and look at everyone else watching the scene take place.
‘It’s too late now darling.’ And with that, I use my abilities to make her scream. She first releases a gut- wrenching, blood curdling cry. Well, more like a plea. Everyone in the hall hears the sound of her bones being crushed right before their eyes. And then, she explodes. Into small little pieces. And everyone jumps back startled. My parents remain in the same spot and so do my dear siblings. All hinged to the floor it seemed like. As this was going on, I never took my eyes off my people ; when it was over, I calmed myself and returned everything back to normal.
‘Is there anyone else that wishes to contradict me?’
The crowd is silent. I clap my hands and give everyone a wrathful smile.
‘Marvellous!’ I laugh.
‘ Tomorrow, when the sun rises, I will set out on my journey and start the trial of Digna.’
And with that, I walk away from the hall, with blood splattered all over me and remains of what used to be a faerie scattered all around the ballroom.
Comments (0)
See all