Post by Kassdc on Mar 29, 2008 13:12:56 GMT 10
I used Azura's back story and fleshed it out into this over the past three nights. This shall be the prologue to my book....enjoy!!
28 years ago.....
A scream rang out into the night waking everyone in the castle. Everyone was frantic, servants, maids, guards all running, all to the king's chamber. The guards weren't allowing anyone access to the chamber, but the maid came out frantic.
"King Alejandro...He's dead, shot with arrows!!" Two of the guards outside the door looked at each other, the wench was to open mouthed for her own good. They nodded at another guard walking the halls who promptly grabbed her by the arm and led her off. She was in hysterics, crying and screaming to anyone who would hear. Upon hearing their king was dead the maids in the hall all broke into hysterics, this was getting out of hand. One of the guards entered the king's chamber walking up to the king's brother.
"My lord, the wench has alerted everyone in the halls, Burgolf has escorted her away but she revealed the king had been shot by arrows sir. The hall is full and the maids are now all in hysterics."
Prince Logan shook his head, as the king's step brother he was now in charge of the matter. This was getting out of hand, the king has been assinated and they had few suspects to go on. The king had fought hard to make this the most peaceful kingdom during his reign. All races got along with each other, this had taken him many years to control and now it could all be dashed in a heartbeat.
"Did she say what arrows, or who shot him?"
"Nay my lord, I don't think she was bright enough to figure that part out, she just said he had been shot with arrows, but that was enough to get everyone thrown into turmoil."
"No word of this is to leave the castle, let no one leave. His majesty would not have his kingdom lose the ties he spent so long making with other nations. Let no one further enter this room, no other guards, the less that know about this the better. I will not have this kingdom thrown into turmoil or war with other nations over some simpletons rumors. the king would not have wanted it." Prince Logan turned and walked over to the body of his slain step brother, he had been shot with elven arrows, that alone was enough to cause great troubles among the races.
The following weeks were a time of great sadness in the kingdom, the king's people mourned his death. They had been told that the king had died in his sleep, the king was after all 58 years old. Prince Logan had deemed this the best way to deal with the situation to keep the peace in the lands. There was no body to dispute this, strangely the few in the palace that had seen the king's slain body or heard how he had been killed had disappeared. Most not being seen outside of the palace were not missed by the saddened public. Two weeks after the king's death his step brother Prince Logan assumed the throne. Peace still remained in the land, neighboring kingdoms warred amongst themselves but Kylanda had always managed to stay out of it.
This only lasted until King Logan decided that the capital had become overpopulated and the kingdom needed more lands. He used King Alejandro's son Prince Caleb to entice the affections of the the princess of the neighboring lands. When Princess Crystal had fallen head over heels for the young prince they approached her father King Lucas with a marriage proposal, one that would combine the two kingdoms as one. King Lucas believed that the marriage would be in the best interests of his daughter Crystal and thus agreed to the union. The two kingdoms thrived over the next ten years and Prince Caleb and Princess Crystal enjoyed the birth of their first daughter, whom they named Kallistos.
When Kallistos was eight years old King Logan had taken her out for a ride, upon their return however the kingdom was once again in turmoil. Riding up to the palace he looks to the guards for word of what has happened.
"Sire there is treachery afoot, it would be better not to speak of it in front of the young Princess."
King Logan looked from Kallistos back to the guard, the look on the guards face told him something horrid had happened. He looked around for a stable boy, "You boy, take these horses and put them up." He then looked to the guard, "Take her inside at once and see to it she gets to her mother then meet me in my chambers."
The guard looked flustered, he didn't know how to explain to the king that this was impossible task. "But, My Lord, I am afraid that is impossible." He leaned in so only the king should hear him. "The child's mother has been slain sire, they all have." He stood back and looked around to make sure none had heard and then quickly back to the king. There was a look of outrage on the king's face.
"Then you take her to her maid, inform anyone you see that under my orders, no one shall tell the child what has transpired."
The king rushed into the palace to find Prince Caleb, Princess Crystal and King Lucas all dead, each shot by a single elven arrow. King Logan was enraged, had he not fought to keep peace among the races? Had he not kept the fact that the previous king had been slain by elven arrows so that none of the kingdom would seek vengeance? Was all of this for naught?
King Logan went to the leader of the elven counsel in town demanding answers, this transgression was not going to go unanswered. Someone would be held responsible. He entered the building disregarding anyone or anything. The time for politeness had passed, he stormed forward until he came to a room where the members of the counsel were taking a meeting. King Logan looked over the room and pointed to the one who seemed to be doing all the talking.
"You elf, you seem to be the one in charge, I demand some answers, and I will have them now."
"I am not sure what has happened to you, but in here we still recognize respect and formalities. I am Legtuor, I am indeed the leader of this counsel. To my right are Galerabc, Aninanold, Uhaslaed, and Henanc. These are my counsel, and I demand you show some respect to them. You will only get what you put forth."
King Logan looked at each as they were named but his focus was still directed at this Legtuor. He stood and straightened his clothes and glared at them. "I am King Logan, the ruler of the Kingdom of Kylanda, not that that little introduction was needed. Not one person that lives in my kingdom can deny who I am."
Legtuor was clearly not impressed by this human, but he was going to find out what caused him to barge into their counsel meeting and start demanding answers.
"You say you demand answers King, but you have not asked a question, I have no time for riddles so I suggest you state your business or leave my presence."
"You are pressing your luck with me elf. My business as you so choose to call it, regards one of the highest forms of treachery this kingdom has seen in eighteen years. It seems there has been an elf in my palace today while I had taken my young niece for a ride in the forest. Upon our arrival back to the palace I am alerted that the whole of my family that was left at the palace had been murdered."
"I see not how you can come to the conclusion that there was an elf at your palace just because there was a murder. So again I say state your business, my patience is wearing thin." interrupted Legtuor.
"Oh my conclusions are well found elf, King Lucas, Prince Caleb and Princess Crystal were each slain by a single elven arrow, not something at all common around my palace. One of your kind has clearly been to my palace and committed not one but three acts of murder today and I will have their head for it. "
"I can assure you King Logan, none of mine have been in your palace, an elf has no need to go to a human palace, we may abide by your laws, but we have our own as well. I will not have you harassing my people and accusing them of a murder they didn't commit."
"They were shot with elven arrows how can you now say they didn't commit a murder?! Lies will not protect you elf. I have all the proof I need to hold you responsible."
"You have over stayed your welcome King Logan, you barge into my meeting hall demanding answers. You have received your answers and accused my people of murder, my patience has worn out, I now suggest you take your leave."
King Logan stormed out of the hall, utter disbelief that the elves could stand there and deny everything. It was their arrows in in his family. They were the reason the young Princess Kallistos is alone, and yet they stand there and lie to my face and command me to leave them?
King Logan mounted his horse and rode for the palace. When he arrived he sent word out though the whole of the kingdom that King Lucas, Prince Caleb, and Princess Crystal were slain by elves. The whole kingdom turned against the elves. They looted any shops that were owned
by, or had elves working in them. They even looted shops that bought goods made by elves. Attacks on elves were growing more and more common in the community.
The violence had gotten so bad the elves fled the city and returned to the forest in which they once lived. The magic in the forest had always protected the elves and now that they were in great danger it strengthened itself to further protect them from the new threats. The forest's magic was strong, it did not allow any human to enter.
King Logan was not satisfied with just running the elves out of the kingdom, he wanted to make sure they didn't dare return. He rode out with his soldiers claiming all the lands that the elves once owned. He then proceeded to ride out to the forest, the elves thought they could hide out and all would be well did they? Well he would soon right that mode of thinking for them. He ordered his troops to remain on the outskirts of the forest, he wanted to handle this himself. The king drew his sword and rode into the forest, there was an odd feel in the air, but he ignored it. He raised his sword, preparing to call out the elves when he had the feeling he had been hit in the chest, he closed his eyes for a moment, when he opened them once more he was outside looking at the edge of the forest.
King Logan struggled to calm his bewildered mount, while at the same time try to figure out for himself what had just happened. He spurred his horse on to enter the forest once again, as he entered and raised his sword to call our the elves there was once again the feeling of getting hit in the chest and he was again outside the forest looking in. At this point the king was getting thoroughly irate. Someone or something was sending him out of the forest and to him this was a grave injustice. Again the king spurred his steed into the forest, and raised his sword once more and called out to the unseen force.
"Who dares throw me from my forest?!"
To his surprise a voice answered him, he couldn't pinpoint from where as it seemed to come from everywhere at once.
"This is not your forest human. Neither your presence nor your weapons are welcome here, you will leave this place now."
The familiar blow to the chest hit and he was once again transported outside the trees, although he had been ready for it this time, it didn't make it anymore pleasant. Not his forest? How dare they, just who were they to cast him from his land? He kicked his mount harder this time than before, his anger was evident to any that saw him, and again he rode to the forest. Upon his approach however three elves exited the forest and met him.
"You do not take hints well human, you are not welcome in our forest, just what is it you want?"
This enraged the king more, to be told by an elf no less that he wasn't welcome in their forest. "May I remind you elf that everything you see in these lands are MINE, I have allowed your kind to exist on my lands. I will no longer however, all lands you have occupied in my kingdom are now mine, this forest is all you have left to dwell in, and if any of your people dare step forth from the trees, you will be shot upon sight. Thus is my decree to you, and believe me elf, I just wait on you to challenge it."
The lead elf nodded before replying to the king, "This is fine, just remember, my people will not be held responsible for what the forest does to any humans that dare to enter our domain."
King Logan eyed the elf, "You just better hope no more humans die at your hands elf." With this final retort he turned his stallion and spurred him off back to the palace.
It wasn't long before whispered rumors started spreading throughout the town. Although King Logan tried to protect Princess Kallistos from the public the rumors still made their way beyond the walls of the castle. Princess Kallistos heard the servants talking, they spoke of rumors of King Logan setting up her grandfather King Alejandro's murder, they say he paid for his death so he could take the throne. Other servants spoke of the murders of her parents and King Lucas, they said the elves were unhappy that she still lived and would soon return to finish the job, both rumors threatened her very survival if true.
One morning the princess awoke before any in the palace, she dressed quickly, arming herself with only a dagger. She made her way silently to the stables, coming quickly to her small mare Aryll. She didn't bother with saddling the mare, though so young she was quite the accomplished rider, she quickly mounted the mare and rode for the forest. Her mother had told her once that the elves were friends and if anything should happen and she need help to go to them. Princess Kallistos made her way closer to the trees, Aryll began to get nervous but Kallistos calmed her quickly and urged her on. She entered the forest that morning just as dawn broke, since her departure that early morning, nothing has been seen or heard from her. The King and many villagers searched in vain for weeks and months after, the princess is still missing, out there somewhere, her whereabouts unknown to anyone.
