2 Kingdom Of Thunder Dragons

Deep in the heart of the Kingdom of Warandras, the heavens raged with fury.

Thunders boomed like the dragon's roars. Lightning lit up the sky in jagged bolts of white-hot brilliance. Animals trembled in fear, seeking refuge wherever they could find it, as the storm's unrelenting fury swept over the fields. For three long days, the river Rudhavi swelled and surged with a ferocity unmatched, overflowing its banks and wreaking havoc upon the land. The people of the Warandras kingdom huddled in fear in their homes, listening to the endless pounding of the rain.

Deep beneath one of the fortress walls of the Kingdom, the flickering light of the torches mounted high on the rough-hewn stone wall of the dungeon cast eerie shadows on the narrow passages. Rows of rusted iron doors lined the passage. All of the cells appeared to be empty except for one at the far end, revealing a pregnant woman lying on the cold, hard floor, her legs were bound with thick, cruel iron shackles that seemed to mock her suffering.

"Please.." Tears streamed down her face as she pleaded with the guards outside the cell. "Someone, anyone, call the midwife." She begged. "I am going into labour. My baby...I can't do this alone." The rain trickled in through the open window, drenching the damp stones and sending a chill down her spine. It was evident that the pains of childbirth had already begun, and she could feel her body convulsing with each contraction.

"Save your tears, you treacherous wench!" One of the guards, named Unirik, banged his baton against the rusted iron door, causing a loud clanging noise, sending shivers down her spine, bringing to mind the bruises and welts that had been inflicted upon her by that very weapon.

"You live or die. It's of no concern to the Kingdom. It is only by the mercy of our King that you still breathe, despite your attempt to poison our beloved Queen." As he gazed upon the once-beautiful woman, now with matted hair and a pale face, he wrinkled his nose in disgust.

"Do you not see who she is, Unirik?" The other guard, named Jaden, whispered to his companion. "She is our former Queen before whom we once bowed. We should show her at least some courtesy." His tone carried a hint of reproach, a gentle reminder to treat the fallen Queen with dignity.

"A Queen?" Unirik laughed menacingly. "She is a murderer and traitor. As a loyal soldier to Warandras, I would never bow to a woman of such lowly character." Unirik shot a withering look at his companion, his impatience mounting. "What is taking Ayagan so long to fetch the midwife? We have been waiting here for two hours. I am getting tired of that wretched woman's cries."

Jaden remained silent, for he knew all too well the depth of Unirik's resentment towards the former Queen. Unirik had misbehaved with a maid in the past, and the Queen punished him in the court. The wound of that shame still festered within him.

Jaden spoke cautiously. "The rain is coming down hard. We should be grateful that the chief warden chose Ayagan for this task. He knows the terrains well and can navigate through the storm to get the midwife."

As they stood in the dimly lit corridor, the sound of echoing footsteps drew their attention. Soon, a man in a Warandras uniform appeared drenched, his boots clanging on the cold stone floor. He carried a bota bag on his shoulder and led a middle-aged woman clutching a small copper container and a small bag in her hands.

"By the gods of 'Three', Ayagan, you have finally made it," Unirik exclaimed, his voice laced with irritation. "Did you go behind the wine again?"

Ayagan opened his mouth to respond, but Unirik cut him off, turning to the middle-aged woman who stood silently nearby. "And you. Make no mistake - once the baby is born, you will come with me and deliver it directly to the Queen's hands." The Queen handed him the task of bringing the baby straight to her.

The midwife was then led into the prison cell by Unirik, who unlocked the door using a set of keys from his pocket. He approached the pregnant woman lying on the cold floor and removed the shackles from her ankles roughly.

He then made himself outside and watched the elder woman drape a blanket over the cell door, concealing it from view.

The midwife's eyes pierced the pregnant woman's at the sight, tears carving down her face as she touched the swollen belly. "What cruelty has befallen you at the hands of this kingdom, my child! No amount of bathing in the sacred waters of Rudhavi could ever cleanse the sins they have wrought against you, not in this lifetime or the next."

The weary woman's face broke into a smile of relief. "I am grateful that you have come, Hazina. Please help me deliver my baby."

"My honour." Hazina carefully evaluated the position of the baby. She then draped the blanket over the woman's protruding belly.

Lifting the blanket high, the midwife peered between the woman's parted thighs, straining to discern the tiny form amid the dim flicker of torchlight that danced along the stone walls. "The baby is coming. Your Highness, Please push."

"I am nothing but a fallen queen now, Hazina." She spoke through tears, recalling the days when her people bowed before her, now replaced with the bitter sting of betrayal and branding as a traitor by the very Kingdom she had sworn to protect. "Please, do not address me with such titles. It is a luxury I can no longer afford. If that woman..." Despite the severe pain, she gritted her teeth and pushed the baby. "If that..If that woman were to hear you call me by such names, she would not hesitate to kill you."

Meanwhile, outside the cell, Unirik beckoned his companions to follow him, leading them away from the cell. The haunting cries of that woman disgusted him.

"I didnot go behind the wine this time like you said, Unirik." Ayagan removed the bota bag from his shoulders. "It's a gift from the Queen Mother herself. Her handmaiden gave us the wine to keep warm in this cold. She even praised us for our service to the kingdom." So saying, Ayagan did uncork the bota bag and drank it deeply before passing it to Jaden

"Is it? I will definitely drink since if it's from the Queen Mother's chamber," Jaden laughed, lifting the bag to his lips and savouring the rich, velvety taste of the wine. "Long live the Queen Mother and her reign!" He exclaimed, passing the bag to Unirik.

"It's a shame that this woman betrayed their family," Unirik added. "What if the baby within her womb is a boy but not a girl?"

"If it's a girl, the King will mercilessly kill her because of the curse," Ayagan replied. "If the child is a boy, the king may appoint him as a servant to our youngest prince."

At his words, the guards let out a merry laugh, but strangely, they felt a sudden dizziness overtaking them. But they had just one gulp of wine.

"Let the child be boy," Cried the pregnant woman, her breaths coming in ragged gasps as she pushed her swollen belly, praying to the gods of 'Three' Even if her son would never ascend the throne, she would be happy that the King will spare his life at least.

After an arduous labour that seemed to stretch on for an eternity, a wail filled the room.

"My baby.." Drained and breathless, she managed to gasp. "Hazina? Please tell me it's a boy."

Hazina'a heart sank as she looked upon the precious bundle in her arm, so tiny. "Your Highness, it's a girl," She whispered.

The words hung in the air like a death sentence.

The mother's face plunged into pain as tears streamed down her cheeks. Why? She cried out, her wails echoing through the cell. Why must it be a girl?

Hazina wiped away the mucus from the baby's face and nostrils with trembling hands and cut the umbilical cord with a knife before placing the tiny, wriggling bundle onto the mother's chest.

A feeling of unease prickled at Hazina's senses suddenly. The guards stationed outside the cell should have rushed in at the sound of the newborn's cries, yet their footsteps never came. Slowly, she roused herself, peeling the blanket that had covered the iron bars of the cell, and made her way out.

The sight that greeted her was enough to make Hazina's blood run cold. The three guards lay unconscious on the ground, the bota bag lay next to them. "Did the wine had poison_"

At the same moment, she heard the sound of approaching footsteps echoing off the cold, hard stone floor. The anticipation in her heart grew with every step until a regal woman appeared before her. The woman's every movement screamed of royalty, from the flowing silk of her dress, embroidered with intricate patterns of gold and precious jewellery, to the majestic silk scarf draped over her shoulders, swaying to the rhythm of her steps.

"Queen Mother!" Hazina whispered as she bowed her head deep, stepping aside.

"You did well, Hazina." The Queen Mother acknowledged her. She gazed at the three guards who lay on the floor unconscious, she entered the prison and saw the woman who sat cross-legged on the floor, breastfeeding the tiny newborn baby in her arms.

"Arathea!"

The woman's eyes widened in shock, hearing her name from a familiar tongue.

Queen Mother!

Was she here to take her child? The mother instinctively clung to her child, shielding the little one. "Queen Mother. Please..I beg you. She will not be a curse to the kingdom." She spoke in a quavering tone, "She is your own flesh and blood, your own granddaughter. Spare my child's life."

The Queen Mother's heart tightened at her words. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to contain the flood of emotions that threatened to overwhelm her. She sat on the cold floor before the mother. "Do you think I came here to kill my Granddaughter, Arathea? Haven't you known me?"

Arathea looked at her in silence, tears brimming her eyes.

The Queen Mother gently took the baby from her arms, cradling the tiny bundle of life against her chest. Looking down at her granddaughter's eyes, the Queen Mother's mind was flooded with memories of her own son. A smile appeared on her face.

The Queen Mother's softened eyes turned into resolute as she locked eyes with Arathea. "I have wronged you grievously, Arathea. I was blinded to the truth and fell victim to the treachery of that deceitful woman. But today, I give you my solemn vow. So long as I draw breath, no harm shall fall on your child. Morina" With a commanding voice, the Queen Mother called her handmaiden. A woman appeared in an instant, cradling a newborn in her arms.

"The King had ventured to a small village on a hunting trip some moons ago and spent a night with a servant. She has given birth to a son today, and the King knows nothing of it. Queen Mother fetched the boy secretly." The handmaiden informed Arathea and gave the baby to the midwife.

"The moment has come to prove your loyalty to me, Hazina," Declared the Queen Mother with a commanding tone. "Inform the King and Queen that Arathea has given birth to a son." With that, she swiftly removed the necklace from around her neck and flung it towards the midwife.

"Come with me, Arathea. I will help you leave this kingdom."

"No Queen Mother!" Arathea's eyes blazed with an intense fury. "I shall not set foot outside this kingdom until my name is cleansed of the slanderous label of the traitor. Arathea clasped her newborn daughter tightly to her bosom and whispered into her ears. "I know you will keep her safe. Please save my child." Her heart squeezed to leave her infant alone in other's care, but she had no choice. With tender care, she kissed her forehead before entrusting the baby to the Queen Mother.

The Queen Mother strode towards one of the narrow passageways that led to a concealed door. Morina unlocked the door, wielding a torch, and led the way through a hidden cave. The path led directly to the outer boundaries of the kingdom. As they reached the end, Morina rolled the mighty boulder aside, only to witness the torrential flow of the River Rudhavi, threatening to hinder their escape.

"The rain has been pouring for three sunrises, Queen Mother. We cannot take a single step."

The Queen Mother gazed at the flowing river and took a step into the water.

"Queen Mother!"

She raised the baby to her chest and gazed at the water. "I, Rohana, Queen Mother of the Warandras, protector of the Kingdom of the Thunder Dragons, born to the river goddess, do command the elements to heed my will!" She proclaimed, her voice ringing out like a bolt of lightning. "Let the mighty river before me, source of life and death, pave the way for my path!"

The river, which moments ago surged like a tsunami, now parted before her. Two great walls of water towered on either side, leaving a path open before the Queen Mother.

As she lifted her foot to take the next step with the baby in her arms, a sharp and sudden pain shot through her back, causing her to stumble. It felt as though a blade had been plunged deep into her flesh.

....

Welcome back, old readers, and welcome aboard to new readers! I sincerely hope you enjoyed the first chapter. This is my first time writing a historical genre. I have made every effort to maintain accuracy in my use of historical terminology, but if you notice any mistakes, please don't hesitate to let me know. Please vote, comment, and review. Every time you contribute to the book, you will be supporting me in the spirity awards.

The initial chapters move in a slower pace. Please stick to the story. The love story of the leads will make your heart race. I am not revealing their names just yet. Turn the pages, and discover them for yourself :))