Young Writers Society

Umm, I need to go now...I'll be online again tmrw I guess...We'll continue our characters and story here...

The Prince of Rockshore Fell had just strangled a snake.

What was unusual about this statement was that Prince Rayden was just a toddler of three winters old, and his guards hadn't interfered when a highly rare (near non-existent) snake had slithered up to him.

A few spans later, the royal family died - from food poisoning, according to the healers. But rumor spread that it was a mutiny. After a lot of speculation and dinner feasts, the court decided that it was indeed a mutiny - at least, people seemed to like that idea much better.

As luck would have it though, Prince Rayden survived.

The cooks were hanged, of course. They needed to blame someone, right? In all the years I spent in the palace living with Rayden, the cooks were my favourite of all- they used to sneak us treats when we played hide seek in the castle corridors. They were decent and kind, so of course they had to go. The young prince was devasted when he lost so many people in quick succession, as was I.

Prince Rayden was then kept within the palace doors for fear of untimely assassinations. The Duke of Downingtown took over as the temporary Keeper of Throne, making decisions on behalf of the prince until he was of crowning age.

All that, however, was fourteen years ago.




I prefer funerals to baby showers, dark to light, and basically exhibit all symptoms of madness. Being confined indoors for fourteen years will do that to you.

Sometimes I hear voices in my head. Actually, I don't - It's just a line I remember from a troupe my Dad used to be a patron of. It's funny the things you remember - and the things you don't. I don't remember the color of my mom's eyes. People tell me they were as dark as night.

There was acreak. The door opened to let a warm vibe to flow into the room.

"So, what brings my captor here? Who be ye?" I smirked at my visitor.

"My highness, thy hath forgotten my name?" Trent mocked me back.

I couldn't help but laugh at this. As much time i spent alone, i still like the occasional company. Especially Trent's. He was not like the other servants; which meant he was not afraid to toss my snarkiness back at me, and that was a relief.

"What would be the emergency this time, Trent?"

"The, um, Ancient Ones are here." He cracked a smile. 'Ancient Ones' was the term we used to call the advisors and ambassadors from the other kingdoms. They were usually round in the belly, had receding hairlines, and liked to make me feel like an ant. I wish I could say they didn't succeed but....

I sighed and rose up from my desk - my knees popped - and followed Trent as he led me to the Meetings Area.

"One of these days, I'll just go and off myself - I know everyone wants that," I told Trent as we made our way down the long, carpeted halls.

"Not everyone," Trent dimpled at me, and I tried to ignore the treachorous leap my heart just made.

I took deep breaths to steady my racing heart - yes, much of it was from the nervousness for my upcoming meeting, and paused outside the doors.

"I'd like a game of Queen later on tonight," I told Trent.

He smiled again. "You always lose. Why bother?"

Rayden mock-gasped. "How dare you? Such tongue displayed before a king?!"

Trent's smile didn't dim. "Go knock 'em dead, your highness. And also, fair warning, there might be a new ambassador from the kingdoms - and quite a young one at that. Our age, maybe."

Rayden shrugged. "I'm already babysitting a few old hags. What's one more toddler?"

And he walked in, his head held high, his smile long abandoned as he swaggered his way into the Viper's Nest.

The Valley of Anwen was no stranger to wars and yet the kingdom found itself being mercilessly butchered at the hands of neighbouring Ostbank, five summers back. Anwen's allies all had been mere spectators declining all pleas of help for very Vague reasons. The valley of Anwen had no one but herself.

When old King Theodore gave up his life in the war, The throne fell in the hands of Theodore's only son; The Twelve-year old Silenas. With no Dukes or nosy Stewards to deter him from the throne, Silenas was crowned King and immediately introduced a new battle plan, What is now known as The Miracle of Anwen.

Within moons of his coronation, Ostbank had lost half of their invasive forces and were pushed back far beyond into their own territory. Nobody knows what really happened; He had accomplished what older men with lots of grey couldn't. Many began to see him as a mortal image of our goddess, Lady Anwen herself.

I knew Silenas from my earliest years, having been one of his many elder companions. He was a prodigy in the making, one who had the blessing of the lady. But Five years back, even I was taken aback to see seasoned veterans and witty advisers listening to a plan presented by the perfectly calm tween boy who had just lost his father. The Rest was History.

What everybody failed to notice was the sobs of a young boy inside. Silenas was always like that.

Silenas withdrew from everything that had to do with other kingdoms in the next five years, putting his all to help Anwen recover from the war. However this was before he heard that someone of his age was to become king soon.





I have never liked being called a King. Even in the official Council I had myself down as an ambassador of Anwen. I feel this will also satisfy the old. They have never looked me in my eyes ever since I was crowned before age.

"So this is Rockshorefell?" I said with an excitement I haven't felt in months.
"They do have a beautiful shoreline" I remarked.
"As for the rocks...", My eyes went over the landscape; "They could have done better."

"Now Now, you surely aren"t comparing this to Anwen, are you?" Vincent, my escort and longtime companion, joined into the one-sided conversation I was having.

"Anwen shouldn't be compared to anything lesser than herself" I replied in a factual tone."That said,I do like the scenery here."

Our brisk walk from the port had ended in front of the palace doors. We waited a while to breathe in the fresh air before we made our presence known in a room full of boring people. Honestly the only reason I was here, was for the dinner...oh! and the new prince.

"There sure will be a lot of old people. I heard the Steward of Banning was blessed with a granddaughter just one full moon back." Vincent commented, his eyes slowly drifting over the Royals, who like us were gathering here to meet Prince Rayden.

"I am sure even Old Man Tyke..." Vincent stopped midway. His gaze turned steely over the newest Royals to grace the palace with their presence. They were the ambassadors from Ostbank. Vincent's eyes followed them as they made their way inside through the palace doors.

"War Criminals...walking freely" Vincent said under his breath. He gave off a vibe of pure vengeance. His gaze shifted towards me."I cannot believe you can smile and remain this calm with those murderers here."

"We are not at War anymore, Vince" I sternly replied. "And calling themselves War Criminals would be hypocritical of us"

"Hypocritical? They killed your father Silenas...They have spilt blood in the lap of Anwen; Blood of family, friends and those of the innocent!" Vincent replied overcome with emotion.

I said Nothing. I could feel him. Ostbank was a painful subject for any Anwenian. We had lost more than we could ever hope to recover.

An awkward silence ensued.

I am sorry...about your father, Silenas" Vincent spoke softly. My escort was back to normal.

"It's okay" I told him. " What matters most now is the meeting. I wonder how Prince Rayden would be like! I hear we share the same age, and his rumours are as interesting and sad as ours."

"Yes, he does seem to be an interesting figure. As for the rumours I am yet to decide to believe in them" Vincent agreed. "Maybe he might even be a possible suitor for our Diana"

"Diana's marrying no one, not now at least" I snapped. Vincent sure liked to play the pairing game concerning my sister. "And speaking of that, I hear the girls here are beautiful too" I teased Vincent.
Before Vincent could reply however, I stepped inside the Palace. He followed me soon through the carpeted hallways.

"Be my guest Vince, I am sure you'll find your 'The One' here, although Diana will have a good laugh to hear that you failed horribly" I continued teasing him.

Vincent showed a bit of red. However he regained his composure almost immediately and went ahead of me into the meeting hall. "I'll eat your serving, if you don't hurry!" Vincent threatened me smilingly and disappeared inside.

"I do hope the old men don't take long" I whispered to myself. "I am hungry"

As I went into the hall inside, I found myself saying
"I am Sorry about your brother too, Vincent"

Five years aren't long enough to heal everything apparently.