I'm Sarah, I've newly joined this site to see if anyone can help me with my book. My teachers have said that, "I have great ideas, but you need to be able to put it to paper, for others to experience." So this is all a little scary, and I thank you in advance for reading it
Author’s note
Imagine a place where the sun only touches the Great Dividing Forest with just a wisp of hope and happiness. Imagine a place so dark that even the sun could not shine her rays through. Imagine a never-ending battle between two opposing forces, Good and Evil-Order and Chaos- Light and Dark. Two children, born to different parents, yet they both share the same Destiny, entwined with the ropes of Fate. One of Light, one of Dark, opposites yet they share the same life. The first section of this tale goes to the daughter of Light who is called, Lady Celeste Lydia Rosenforth, 16 summers old, fair haired and quite a personality once you get to know her. The Second Section goes to the son of darkness, who is called, Prince Gidden Vincent, 17 winters old, dark haired and has a deadly temper.
This tale starts on a morning just like any other; a few birds were singing their tune, a light breeze came from the west and the sound of metal on metal-combat training. It was a very early morning, the sun just touching the sky with an orange glow, the young lady Celeste eyes were at the window, and her ears at her Historian out the front, trying to teach her about the Great Battle at Lakespring. He knew it was for a lost cause, her attention was elsewhere, not that he could blame her, it was a tiresome morning already.
Everything seemed normal enough, and everyone acted like there wasn’t a war at their very doorstep. If you looked from the sky, to the castle surrounded by stone and steal, and then narrow your eyes to the forest to the east; a dark feeling would crawl up your spine. For this is the first time in weeks, that someone has noticed the red eyes glaring at the castle with such hate, it would stop the most purest heartbeat.
Chapter 1 - It has to start somewhere
The trees outside the stain glass window were hiding a foul army of creatures. Black as their eyes, their armour glowed with the dark magic of their creator. All sorts of creatures lived at the edge of the forest, dividing the virtuous lands of Belegloth (Mighty Silver), and the corrupt lands of Himpilin (Cold Arrow). Even the sunlight could not reach the trees, and this scared the teenager sitting by the window, on that cold Aidan (Small flame) morning.
“Princess, do you find my lessons so uninteresting that a window is your escape?” The young girl looked up from the window to face the historian Akil that had been torturing her for the last 4 Sands of Time. He was old, greying at the start of his scalp, and his movements were slowing down as his age started to catch up with him. The Maroon robe he wore, stated to all who looked, that he was the King’s best historian, no one would come second best, until he died or he had found an apprentice.
Celeste opened her mouth to answer, when something dark caught her eye. Something had indeed moved outside, and Celeste had just caught sight of the end of a long tail, as it dissapeared back into the forest, and out of view. By the colour of the tail, and how the sunlight shone on it, the creature had to be one of the Chaos followers. Blacker than night, and tinted with red underlay, all followers and creatures of Chaos were born and created the way they became in the end. They were Corrupted and Disfigured, and had once been their normal counterparts, until the Chaotic King took them under his wing, changing their minds, bodies and souls. The sighting of the creature crossing the borders signifies that once again her family would be battling the creatures to stay off their turf.
“Its just Celeste, not Princess, sir,” the young woman answered back, her green eyes glinting with authority and power. Celeste Lydia Rosenforth, 2nd born lady of Belegloth, Daughter to Earl Arnanu and his wife Mírnes, fluttered her eyelashes at her historian, trying to lessen the blow that would come from her not paying attention. But some things could not be helped; even a teenager such as herself could not stop the sarcasm and disappointment that came from the Historian. Celeste never liked getting into trouble, since it would go straight to her father who would discipline her by whatever she had done, the worst punishment was that she was stripped from her royal status for a week, and she would have to live among the lowest forms until her father believed she had learned her lesson.
“What I see here, Lady, in black and white, Celeste Lydia Rosenforth, and will soon to be known to the rest of the world as, Celeste the Valiant, Princess of Belegloth.” Akil snapped at her, a little more upset that his lesson was interrupted again by her, but it was the back chatting that had him upset. He could remember a time when she was very little, just passed her 4th winter and Celeste had sat on his knee demanding her favourite tale, the one about a girl who finds her place in the world, and meets so many good people. It was at this request, on a very cold winter, that the historian Akil told Celeste the real ending to the tale: The princess didn’t live happily ever after, the girl was married to the dark prince, and she died of loneliness. Akil regretted telling the tale to her; Celeste was never herself around him anymore, and would keep her feelings distant as if he could take that away from her as well. A child’s innocents could never be returned and that was what Akil regretted most, because if he had thought about what he had said, maybe she would have had a year more to be a child.
Celeste nodded her head at him, knowing it was best not to disagree with him at the moment, he was upset and bad things always happened when he was upset with her. It took alot not to tell him what she saw, her trust in him was alot, but it wasn’t enough to tell him. Akil sighed deeply, closed the very heavy and old book with a click, and looked at Celeste with his elbows on the table and in his hands were holding up his face. Celeste was tempted to do the same, to see if it would annoy him or not, but after a second she thought better of it. “Celeste my dear, I’ve been meaning to ask you something for quite a while now.” Akil sighed gently, and motioned his hand for the girl to come towards him. Celeste didn’t hesitate as she pushed herself out of the wooden high backed chair, and stumbled towards him, her feet in pins and needles for not moving for 4 hours.
“Come closer child,” Akil smiled as Celeste picked up the hem of her crème dress so it wouldn’t drag on the floor, and approached him with her light smile, which wasn’t forced like it had been only moments before. It took a lot from Celeste, to watch him gently take her hand and plant a kiss on it, “Akil, there is no need; I should be respecting you, you are my elder after all.” Celeste pointed out as she took back her hand, a little hesitant at this show of affection. Akil approved of this, not many would point out something so obvious, so at least she had learned her lessons well.
“Celeste, I need to know where you stand, with this offer from King Hallchir. He has been questioning me at every chance he gets; what you like doing, what is your taste in men, and how you spend your free time. Frankly it is driving me crazy, so if you could figure out what you want to do before I meet him again, I will be much obliged.” Akil sighed, rubbing his temple with the back of his hand, a sign he was getting a very bad headache.
It was the same question, every single time; are you going to take the King’s offer? Celeste bit her lip again, her eyes watching the well loved face which had softened with years, and love. The offer was of marriage, not to the King, but his eldest son Dínenír; the boy who spoke very little, since a curse had been put on him for falling in love with the Brégeth’s forbidden daughter. Celeste had nothing against the boy, curse or not, but the thought of having children within the first year of marriage, made her blood run cold.
“Akil, my answer hasn’t change and nor will it, anytime soon.” Celeste sighed in frustration. It was bad enough that Akil was asking, sooner or later her parents would start asking and that would really make things awkward. If one more person asked her, she would burst and attack the nearest object.
“You can’t blame me for trying, as you know my opinion of this whole thing. Besides the fact that you are so bloody stubborn when you want to be, there is no reason to continue this conversation.” Akil replied slamming shut the lesson book, and corking the little bottle of ink he had been using. Celeste saw that he gave up alot quicker than usual, and she knew that there was a reason for it, and that she should not to press him about it, But she did.
“No words of impediment death? How my choice will change the life of many? You can’t have--“
The door burst open, rebounding against the miniature castle that Celeste had spend hours making for Akil, to show that she knew her home like the back of her hand. Satisfaction showed on her face, at seeing it destroyed, Akil looked quite disappointed. A guard ran into the room, the amour design and colour made him to be one of the palace guards, pure silver with spikes on the shoulders. His helmet covered his face, and only blue eyes and mouth could be seen.
“Princess!’ The man cried as he spotted Celeste, and bowed in such a degree that he nearly fell forward with the weight of the amour. If it wasn’t for the fact that Akil was watching Celeste’s reaction intently, she would have burst out laughing.
Celeste looked from the man to Akil, whose face went blank, but a hidden smirk appeared on his face. “You did this, didn’t you.” Celeste hissed at Akil, suddenly realising the meaning behind the guards greeting.
Akil raised his hands up in surrender, and beamed at her, ecstatic that his threat had surfaced at last. How it angered Celeste, but she kept the anger hidden, knowing full well that he wanted to see her mad. “A threat is a threat. Besides, I find it quite entertaining, don’t you?”
“You are a very... Bad man, a very bad man.” Celeste spat, and gave him a death glare. She didn’t hate him, but he really pissed her off, and she was ready to throw the book at him. Akil just grinned at her, and leaned back on his chair, a very smug look on his face.
“I live to serve you.” Akil said his voice as smug as his face, and how Celeste wanted to get that look off his face. If he had been standing, he would have bowed, just to complete his words. Celeste rolled her eyes at Akil and pushed herself up, so she was sitting on his desk, just to really annoy him.
The guard looked between the both of them, his face showing slight concern. Celeste didn’t look at the guard at all, her attention was on Akil, who was waiting for a witty comment, “Well go and do something useful, ask this guard what he wants.” Celeste smirked at Akil, knowing that he would have to keep up this servant act, or give up with the little game
“As you wish.” Akil replied smugly, and motioned the guard to sit down on the chair in front of him. Celeste watched the guard, and smiled lightly at him, as he turned towards her, something was familiar about him, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it. The eyes were common enough, but something was hiding behind them, Celeste sensed it. “How can we help you?” Akil asked once the guard was seated on the high backed white chair.
Thinking it was another trick, Celeste crossed her arms across her chest, and purist her lips, waiting for the man to speak. The guard slowly removed his helmet, and Celeste’s heart jumped. “William!” She cried jumping off the desk and into his arms. How she had missed the golden hair, bright eyes and warm smile, “You were suppose to send message of your arrival, brother.” William laughed deeply at her, and cuddled his sister close. Despite the bad news he had brought from the wastelands, he could still smile at his little sister. “Why send a message, when I can come myself?” he asked Celeste, and stroked her beautify crafted hair. Hours had been put into Celeste’s light beige blonde hair, which had soft ringlets that flowed to midway down her back.
Akil watched the embrace with a grin; he had arranged William to come home early to surprise his little sister, who had been pretty worried about him. Celeste knew very little about his mission, and at the lack of information, her worry grew. “If you two and quite finished, I have a letter to share with you.” Akil chuckled and took one of Celeste’s hands. William had the other one, and they helped her off William. Akil led them over to the window that took up about half of the room, which showed the west side of the castle, where the men trained in the Arena. Celeste leant against her brother and watched Akil open a letter that had suddenly appeared in his hand. She was slightly confused at this sudden appearance, but when William winked at her, she realised that the letter had been passed when she was helped stand.
When he had finished skimming the note, his face dropped and he looked a little saddened by what he had read. “I have been requested to stop this lesson, because you are needed by the General of the Army. He wishes to discuss with you and the rest of the nobles, what battle plans he is going to be using in this upcoming expedition.” Akil sighed, very disappointed at the request but then he did have to respect the wishes of the General. Celeste was slightly surprised at the request, it was a man’s world when it came to battles, but somehow she was always the only girl who went to them, because she knew the kingdom well. Hearing that every noble family was going, was surprising, this was a first in a long time. They way Akil was looking at her, she could sense it was too good to be true, “What’s the catch?” She asked, knowing full well, that there would always be a catch. Her hands went to her hips in her protest.
“What’s the catch?” Akil mimicked, hands on his hips in such a girly way that Celeste burst out laughing, at how silly they both looked. William chuckled deeply, and messed his sisters hair up, not enough for anyone to notice tho. Akil dropped his hands, and grinned at her, “I condemn you to have dinner with a male that isn’t a part of your family, and isn’t me. That is my one condition for you running off now.”
Celeste’s mouth dropped open in shock, how dare he ask such a thing from her. People would talk, it was their way when it came to Celeste, she wasn’t normal in their eyes. William looked nearly as surprised as Celeste felt shocked; Akil looked at both of them and waited for an answer. Celeste bit her lip, her eyes going unfocused as she went through all the males she knew, “Why?” Was all Celeste could come up with in response. Akil sighed deeply and pushed the window open; wind suddenly blew in their faces. “Because, child, you need to be able to interact with men, so that you’ll be able to live through your engagement, and not be nervous around you betrothed.” Celeste cringed at the words, the idea of an engagement-let alone marriage, was enough to make her feel sick to the stomach. William gave her an apologetic look, and squeezed her hand gently.
Celeste didn’t know what to say to express what she was thinking. Biting her lip in thought, Celeste looked out of the window, and spotted several faces that she recognised, her eldest brother, the Area scribe, and the Boy Wonder. “If this is what I must do to go to this meeting, then I will do so. But know this, I will find some way to get you back, because no one rejoices more in revenge than a woman.”
Now this was the response Akil expected from this troubled-some-teenager, revenge for the sake of a promise. Celeste turned to from the window to face him again, “Do we have a deal?” she asked, her voice slightly impatient. William couldn’t believe that Celeste was agreeing to this, she would never agree unless she had an ace up her sleeve. Akil took the hand she held out to him, and he kissed it, sealing the vow and the promise. Celeste did the same, a little less formal, since she wasn’t use to making vows and promises.
The deal was sealed, witnessed by William -who would vouch for both of them- either way, Celeste would have to do it, weather she liked it or not. Akil took his hand back and smiled at Celeste, “You may take your leave,” he said, a little more calm, and gently. Celeste smiled gently at him; Akil wasn’t bad when he wasn’t trying to get her married, or trying to teach her something.
“Thank you, I do hope your lesson wasn’t too much of a waste.” Celeste replied to Alki, and hugged her brother once more. William said his farewell and took his leave; the smile he wore was hiding the fear within him. Once William was out of earshot, Akil went back to his seat, and put his hands in his lap, tempting her to come over to his desk. Celeste walk over to him, place both hands on his desk, made her face go as close as possible to his without it being too weird, and pull a face at him, making him laugh.
Akil didn’t move which didn’t surprise Celeste, since he never went down without a fight. “Why can’t I just have dinner with you? Do you really want me to have dinner with someone I barely know? It isn’t fair; you really don’t want me unhappy do you?” Celeste whispered, her blue eyes glinting with a hidden power. Akil tried to look away, but Celeste wouldn’t allow it, her eyes were drawing him in, and she wasn’t about to let him go and get nothing out of it. He was fighting hard, his hands were shaking, and his left hand went to his wrist, where a small gold chain hung limply on his frail wrist. Celeste had used this power before, but not this much, but she was still learning, as her power wasn’t that good yet. Celeste pressed two fingers to his wrist, not too hard, but enough to make a mark on his skin.
His pulse rate dropped, and Celeste removed her fingers from his wrist and onto the gold chain. The instant her fingertips touched the chain; her mind went blank, and a image of a large green and red snake, flashed across her vision. It was a strong image, like she was seeing it as if it was really in front of her, but it faded just as quickly as it appeared. Celeste felt her memory go blank, and she was slightly dizzy on her feet. She tried searching her memory for what had just happened, but it was black, as if she had fallen asleep.
“What…” Akil started, and then hesitated at his question. His hands were together on the parchment in front of him, ready to be used. Celeste rubbed her temple with her index finger, trying to remember what she had forgotten. Looking at where her own hands got to on the desk, Celeste suddenly remembered that she had been standing a moment before, not sitting down on the chair in front of Akil. Akil was staring at her, trying to work out what had just happened.
“I was just thanking you, when you said that you felt the presence of the Dark Ones. That’s when you blacked out.” Celeste explained quickly, knowing that he would be able to detect a lie if she thought about it. Akil nodded his head, accepting this lie with open arms, how it made Celeste’s heart fill with guilt and pain, to lie to such a trusted person. “Aren’t you suppose to be at the meeting?” he asked, the concern coming back to him as if it had never left. Celeste wanted to know if he remembered anything, because if he did, she’d be in so much trouble.
“Yes of course. Thank you for reminding me.” Celeste smiled forcefully at him; her eyes betrayed the lie she told. Akil hesitated; as if trying to work out whether it was worth questioning her. But Celeste never gave him the chance; she bowed, hitched up her dress to her knees, and bolted out of the room. Leaving a bewailed Akil to ponder at that recent event that had just taken place.
