Monday, 28 January 2008
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THE PROMISE
Chapter One
Two hundred years ago in the southern hemisphere, the Kingdom of Adrianna was ruled by the powerful King Darwin. On his deathbed, he disinherited his son Prince Adrian in favour of his illegitimate son, Prince Carl. Prince Adrian was disinherited because he married a widowed commoner that was against his father’s wishes.
Prince Adrian raised an army composed of mostly commoners to win the kingdom back but his half brother’s army was able to protect the kingdom from rebel. The rebellion went on for more than a decade until finally; the kingdom was divided into two, North Adriana which was ruled by King Carl and South Adriana which was ruled by Prince Adrian.
For years, both kingdoms struggled to conquer each other.
Princes Carmina woke up in the middle of the night. She heard the merry laughter of the soldiers. The whole castle was celebrating her cousin’s wedding and tomorrow, her sixteenth birthday. She walked to the open window and gazed into the full moon. She had watched her cousin Melanie earlier danced with her groom.
She sighed. “Someday my hero will come and save me and I’ll give him my heart.”
Waves crashed on the nearby beach and Carmina closed her window.
“Oh nanny, I hope mother and father will come soon. They said they would try to come before Melanie’s wedding but I think they would come today,” Carmina said anxiously as her nanny brushed her hair.
Her Parents the King and Queen of South Adriana was visiting camps bear the borders. A skirmish had begun a week before between the troops of South Adriana and North Adriana when the northerners tried to invade a small town.
Carmina brushed lint of her sleeve when a knock came from the door and Carmina’s cousin Kimberly came in crying, “Carmina, I have some dreadful news.”
A cold shiver went down Carmina’s spine and she felt her hands go numb, “Do tell me Kim.”
“Carmina, your parents, the king and queen were ambushed,” Kim said trembling.
“No!” Carmina cried. “Tell me Kimberly, are they alive or dead?”
“No one knows for sure. There are rumours though, that they were beheaded”
Carmina felt her heart stopped and the Princess fainted.
Kimberly held her cousin’s hand. The poor princess will now have to rule their country and lead to war. Too much blood has been shed for this war. She wondered when it will end.
A forthnight later, on her coronation as the new queen of South Adriana, a resolute Carmina walked down the carpeted aisle. Her critics had bashed and doubted her. A young queen with no experience in leading a battle can’t possibly sustain their Kingdom but Carmina had vowed to show them that she can do it.
As the priest anointed her, Carmina’s heart burned with anger, “I promise, I’ll emerge victorious in this battle. I’ll avenge their deaths.”
As the priest placed the sparkling crown on her head, Carmina clenced her fists as she felt he heavy weight of the crown.
In North Adriana, Trumpet sounds blasted from the large courtyard. North Adriana was rejoicing over the marriage of Prince Brad to Lady Crystal, the daughter of a wealthy lord.
Crystal was happily dancing with her new husband. She can’t believe that she’s finally married. It seemed like it was only yesterday when she met Prince Brad. Her father had brought her to court to visit her godfather, the King. She was immediately introduced to the King’s sons. The eldest, Prince Arthur and the youngest Prince Brad.She had an inkling that her father had intended her to catch the eye of Prince Arthur but she was immediately drawn to the shy Prince Brad. The King had invited her to stay in the castle for the summer. She remembered her first conversation with Brad.
She had finished sketching a willow tree. She eyed her sketch critically, her willow looked like it was leaning. She scratched her brow thinking how she could improve her sketch when he suddenly appeared behind her back, “I think you should darken the shade on this side,” he said pointing to willows trunk.
She considered his suggestion and shaded the part he had pointed out. She took a step back and admired her sketch, it did improve her sketch. She smiled at him, “So you are also an artist?”
Crystal smiled at the memory. She felt Brad’s arm tighten around her as he whispered, “I cannot believe you are finally mine.”
He kissed her lightly on the cheek. At that point the King tapped his glass and the music halted as everyone huddled to listen to the King’s announcement.
“It has been a dream of everyone to win back South Adriana. My friends, it has become apparent that faith had sided with us after all these years. South Adriana has weakened and under the leadership of a teenage queen, South Adriana is just within arm’s reach. I’d like to toast to my youngest son’s marriage and to a united Adriana!”
“Aye!” The guests raised their glasses for a toast.
Crystal never cared about conquering South Adriana, all she cared about was that she had finally married the man that she had dreamed.
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