Adonia Beloved - Prologue

When Adonia turned seven, she was placed in the outer palace. There, she and the other children were taught mathematics, philosophy, politics, and various other subjects. Adonia made few friends and often spent her free time as far away from the outer palace as she was allowed. While the other children tried their best to impress the council, Adonia would often sit staring at clouds as the councilmen passed by. Rumor said that the elders would make a decision soon as to which of these students would succeed the current sovereign. It was a shock to all when Adonia was chosen. When she turned twenty-two, the old king stepped down and she took her place as Queen.

This one which strayed away from the others became what they had all sought to be. This one which wished nothing more than to ride horses and swim in the rivers was given the world to shape between her slender fingers. She accepted her duty gracefully and hid the suffocating feeling she felt in the palace. All belonged to her but she only wanted freedom. It was a deep love for her country that kept Adonia in the palace and granted her an eternal throne amid the stars.

Her husband, Rahim, was a dark hole beside her. His love for her was without limitation, and his jealousy equally so. He had a lust for power and a want for the throne that drove him mad and a passion for his wife that drove him even madder. It was not long after she had taken the throne that Adonia's beloved husband plunged a knife between her ribs.

For two nights Adonia walked beside death, moving closer to him with each passing moment. When she returned from his side and rose from her bed, it was proposed a miracle and a message from the Gods who had shown their support of the young sovereign's reign.

Rahim had fled the palace immediately after attacking his lover. He narrowly escaped, exiting the large gates of the palace just as the general of the imperial army and dear friend to the queen found her lying in a pool of her own blood. General Rhea sought harsh vengeance on Rahim, but the search teams she sent out returned empty-handed. One man, Ajax, had shown exceptional talent in tracking and had discovered several leads, but even he was at a loss. Disheveled, Rhea had turned her attention back to Adonia and awaited her recovery.

When the God's blessed Adonia with their healing gifts, the country rejoiced. Amid the bright lanterns and festive music, Adonia was drowning in a pool of her own misery. Her life was worth nothing now that the one man she had loved had tried to take her life and now lived in the shadows with a heavy bounty on his head. Throughout the feasting she remembered his smile, his laughter, and his voice.

The day he asked her to marry him she lay in a meadow while Rahim sat next to her, weaving wildflowers into her long silky hair.

"Marry me," he said, his eyes shining brightly.

Adonia looked up at him with surprise. "But we are still so young."

"Do you doubt out love?"

"No, of course I don't but-"

"Then marry me. I don't care how young we are I know that I love you," he took her hand in his as she sat up, blossoms falling from her hair.

She paused, staring thoughtfully at a petal that had landed on her down-turned hand, in the other she squeezed Rahim's hand lovingly. "Of course I will marry you. I love you." She leaned against him, her forehead laying softly against his cheek as Rahim wove his fingers together with hers.