Although Dena was two years younger than Sela, they 

seemed the same age. Both over seven feet, strong muscle and 

body build, smouldering chin dimples and eyes that sparkled 

with a light yellowish tinge. They’d look identical if not for 

Dena’s burn marks on the left side of his face, neck and upper 

body, from a fire in his childhood. Both of them older than 

Theo and had grown alongside the prince as their father, Kaleo 

was king Durian’s chief advisor.

’How many times will I have to warn you not to 

encourage prince Theoden with his drinking? We are here to 

counsel and help him, not to ruin his power of judgement,’ Sela 

warned as he looked at Dena and saw his bleeding bruise.

 

’Oh...... and do you plan to tend to that soon…?’

 

’Had too many of these to be bothered now. Since when 

are you so delicate about a bit of blood?’ Dena smirked back, 

’And don’t tell me you truly believe that he will listen to us or 

anyone else for that matter? You know very well how stubborn 

he is. There is no use trying to change him.’ 

’Spare me for being a bit concerned and I will have to 

remind you that no matter what, we will try harder. He is the 

future king of Anmara. We cannot let him astray.’ 

’He has strayed his path quite long ago. Why don’t you 

just accept it and let it go?’

 

’Do you remember the day you got those burn marks?’ 

Sela reminded his brother pointing to his neck.

One winter, when Theo was just eight and Dena was 

eleven, they both intended to sneak a horse out of the royal 

stables and get down to the city for fun. They had planned it 

for weeks and were sure that at lunchtime, the guards and 

caretakers would be nowhere in sight, and no one would 

suspect it. They were almost out, when a caretaker showed up 

abruptly and they slipped off to the hay barns. They were not 

sure of getting out till late that night and they waited for the 

moment when the caretakers would be asleep and the guards 

all drunk.

 

It was getting colder as night fell and Dena, the grown up 

he was, tried to show off and light a fire.

’It could be dangerous’ young Theo advised.

 

Not paying heed to the advice, Dena carried on, leading 

to a roaring fire in the barns which spread to the stables, killing 

a few horses and burning Dena in a few places. 

Theo was the one to save him. A private royal enquiry was held, and Theo 

was questioned at king Durian’s council. He remained silent, 

and did not say a word, and that led people to assume that he 

had set the stables on fire for amusement out of ignorance.

Dena was in bed being tended to, by the time he was back 

on his feet, everything had passed, and Theo had been held 

accountable for the incident. Theo was the prince and got out 

of it with a warning but if it was Dena, the outcome might have 

been slightly different. Dena would have been given a warning 

as well but furthermore he would have lost the chance to train 

and serve the kingdom, as once accused were forbidden. 

Dena idealised his father, he wished to follow in his footsteps 

growing up, but the incident if it went the other way would 

have ruined everything for him and he couldn’t bear to imagine 

the disappointed look in his father’s eyes. Dena knew he owed 

a solid one to Theo, and he had been loyal to him ever since. 

They were inseparable till the day Dena left for training.

 

Sela came to know of the incident when Dena joined him 

at the training site in Theili. All the prospective royal personnel 

were to train at Theili for five years starting at the age of 

thirteen. Sela was shocked to find Theo a mess when he 

returned after his training. Kaleo informed him that Theo’s 

grandfather - Ghahor, former chief advisor to the king had 

passed away after a prolonged illness and Theo’s mother had 

to tend to her father. With his mother busy and his closest 

friend Dena off to train, Theo had taken up to drinking to make 

peace with his loneliness over the three years.

Sela, who was loyal to his kingdom, was no longer sure if 

Theo was in the right state of mind to be the future king. He 

never missed an opportunity to counsel him and lived in hope, 

whereas Dena had accepted Theo’s state.

’He is not the same person anymore. It is too late. He has 

drifted away, and I do not think he will ever come back,’ Dena 

insisted as they continued down the hallway.

 

’I have not lost hope yet. It is my duty to put him on the 

right path, as his friend and a general of this kingdom.’

 

Dena sighed and remained silent. They parted ways at 

Sela’s chamber and Dena walked on. 

In his chamber, Sela was looking at himself in the mirror thinking

as he changed for bed, 

’It is high time prince Theoden took responsibility. When the 

prince early tomorrow, I better get some rest now.’

The next morning, Theo was awakened by the sound of 

opening doors, 

’Who dares disturb me so early?’ he lazily covered his face 

with his hand.

’I imagined you would be excited to be invited to the Hall 

of kings today,’ the queen walked in.

 

Theo sprung up and got down from his bed as soon as he 

heard his mother’s voice.

’Mother! To whom do I owe this pleasure, her royal 

highness the queen herself has come to see me?’ his cheeks 

turned pink as he embraced her lovingly.

 

Queen Visi measured up to her son’s chest as he embraced 

her, she was only 16 when he was born. She looked more like 

a sister than his mother. Radiant as the early morning sun with 

gorgeous reddish brown curled hair, buttoned nose and a 

round chin, she was very pretty. One could surely say, Theo 

would look exactly like her if he were a girl. The people of the 

kingdom loved her as she was humble and kind at heart. Theo 

adored her and she was the only person he would heed to, if 

he ever did. 

’I have something for you,’ she gestured to a maid walking 

in, holding a tray with robes. ’These are for your first day at 

the Hall of kings. I cannot believe my little Theo is all grown 

up now…,’ she choked as a tear rolled down her cheek and 

reached up to his shoulders holding them fondly marking how 

tall he had grown.

Theo did not care much for her words, but he smiled and 

kissed her back on the forehead.

’Forgive me for interrupting your highness,’ Sela bowed 

to the queen as he entered.

 

’I was going to take my leave anyway; I hope you will get 

him ready in time. I will see you at the Hall of kings, Theo,’ 

she smiled as she walked out.

 

Theo smiled back and turned to Sela confused, he did not 

have a clue of what was going on,

 

’The Hall of kings?’ 

’Sire, this is not the time to be pulling my leg, you received 

a message from your father, the king yesterday, inviting you to 

the Hall of kings this morning. Don’t you remember anything 

from last night?’ Sela looked worried as he tried to remind the 

prince. 

Sela grabbed the tray quickly from the maid and dismissed 

her while Theo paced from side to side slowly with his hand 

on his forehead as he tried to recall.

 

’Oh yes, last night…. But why? The Hall of kings is for the 

king and his counsel. What is it about?’ Theo never looked so 

curious before.

’Not sure sire, but all I know for sure is that we will not 

make it in time if we do not end the conversation this instant.’

Sela waited impatiently as Theo got dressed,

 

’You have to hurry, sire, we cannot be late,’ he insisted.