The Prophecy

Adeline watched Illia leave her mother's grave and mount her horse. She came out from behind the tree she was hiding behind and made sure Illia was out of sight before walking up to her mother's grave. She placed the flowers in her hand on top of the ones Illia had put down.

"Mother, I do not know what to do," Adeline said, kneeling in front of the stone. "Illia knows about Selene so it is just a matter of time before she knows about you too. I listened to her talk to you and it appears that she does not feel as guilty as I thought she was. She doesn't even seem to care, mother!" Adeline's voice was rising.

"That is why I don't know what to do. Because when she figures out that you lied, she will only be angrier and she will feel less guilty. I need you, mother. I miss you. This kingdom is nothing without you. I wish Illia had not acted on selfishness," Adeline paused, thinking about what she just said. Selfishness.

She sighed. "I know I am not the pillar of selflessness, but you were, and every day I try to live up to what you did. However hard that may be. I hope the afterlife is everything you dreamed it would be, mother," Adeline placed her hand gently on top of the cold stone and bowed her head.

She wiped the loose tear off her face and got up. She turned down the path opposite where Illia had gone and began walking back to her castle.

Adeline knew now who she needed to talk to. She thought about what else Niklaus would want. Because every one of his answers would come at a price.

Adeline took her time walking through the forest of Astrean, making sure to avoid the village. The people there were so needy and they always asked for things when they saw her. That was the only thing she did not like about her kingdom. The castle might have been rich but the people were so poor it was embarrassing to her.

She walked slowly, looking at the caving trees and the leaves that turned a light yellow or orange. Adeline looked at the flowers on the ground. Some of them still had their beautiful color, but some were slowly decaying. She stopped and lifted one of the flowers in her hand. It was not common to see things die in Astrean. Even in winter. So this scared and worried Adeline. Perhaps this was another question for Niklaus.

She continued walking down the path that led to the castle. Adeline reached the golden gates and signaled to the guards to open them. They did as such and she walked through.

Adeline continued through the front doors and walked down long halls and endless stairs. She finally reached the oak door that led to the hidden library and went through.

Adeline's flat shoes echoed in the stairwell and the fire in her hand crackled and popped. She pulled out the blue book and wasted no time walking down the dark hall that led to Niklaus's cell.

"You're back," he said mischievously.

"Yes, I am," Adeline said, holding her chin high. "I have more questions to ask you. What is your price?"

Niklaus clicked his tongue. "Hm," he rubbed his chin. "Ah! A strand of hair from the great beast, Valethar,"

Adeline tilted her head quizzically. "Just that? A piece of hair?" she asked, confused.

"Take the deal, child," Niklaus said as he smiled ear to ear.

Adeline was skeptical and wondered what on earth he would want a piece of hair for. But, she knew she needed more answers so she held out her hand.

"I get you the hair, you give me answers," she said, shaking his dirty hand.

His yellow teeth appeared underneath the light of the flame in Adeline's hand and she almost gagged.

She turned her back to him and walked out of the room. Adeline knew where Valethar was, but she had never actually interacted with it before.

Once she was out of the library, she called a guard over to walk her to the dungeon.

"Valethar is not a contained beast, Your Majesty, he is very dangerous," the man said.

"I just need a piece of hair, how hard is that?" she told him, walking down the hall. He trotted up beside Adeline and looked at her with concern.

"I beg your pardon, but why do you need a strand of the beast's hair?"

Adeline looked at him. "I am making a deal with Niklaus," she turned her head away from him.

"He is very dangerous, it is strongly advised to never make a deal with a man like that," the guard told Adeline.

"I do not need an opinion from you," she said without looking at him. The guard nodded and continued walking next to Adeline.

Once they reached the door to the ascending staircase, the guard pulled a key from a chain on his armor. He unlocked the door and opened it, allowing Adeline to go through first. She stepped into the stairwell and began walking up the stairs. The guard followed closely behind.

Adeline picked up her dress as the spiraling staircase tested her patience and endurance.

They finally reached the entrance to the dungeon after what seemed like hours. The guard walked in front of Adeline so that he could unlock the door. He put the key in and the door drifted open.

This dungeon was very special. It was not like any other dungeon in the castle or any other castle in the kingdoms.

Once the door was opened, the rock beneath their feet looked down into a dark abyss that seemed endless from where they were standing. In the center of the large cave, there was a singular rock that went down to the very bottom of the pit. On top of the rock was a cage big enough to fit two hundred people. And laying inside the cage, sleeping, was Valethar.

"How are we to get across?" Adeline whispered to the guard, not wanting to wake Valethar.

"Use your magic," the guard told her.

Adeline held her hands in front of her face and then out to the cliff in front of her. The rock beneath her feet slowly extended until it connected with the rock that held the cage.

She smiled and exhale a sharp breath. "Lovely, let's go," she told the guard. He drew his sword and placed himself in front of Adeline, protecting her. She rolled her eyes but allowed it.

Once they reached the cage, the guard held a hand out to Adeline, keeping her from coming any closer. The guard worked slowly as he pulled a piece of Valethar's hair through the bars of the cage. He took his sword and chopped off as little as he could. Once the hair was off he stepped back slowly, holding his sword out to Valethar. They both backed away then once they were far enough back, they both turned and walked the rest of the way out. Just before leaving the cave, Adeline swung her hands toward the stone path she made and it collapsed, the rocks falling to the bottom of the pit.

The guard pushed Adeline through the door and shut it quickly, locking it behind him. Adeline had the hair in her hands and had already begun descending the stairs. The guard followed behind her and put his sword back into his sheath.

Adeline dismissed the guard and quickly went back to the library. She made haste, running down the stairs, pulling the book, and watching the door creak open.

She could hear Niklaus chuckling silently.

"Here," she got close enough to his cell and threw the hair in.

"Thank you," he said, picking up the hair and holding it in his hands. He looked up at Adeline. "What questions do you have for me?"

"Why did my mother make the prophecy up?" she asked simply and blatantly.

"Ah," Niklaus expressed, knowing that would be what she asked. "It is simple really. Your mother wanted you to be queen but did not have a good enough reason to choose you over your sister,"

Adeline froze. "I never told you that Isa was my mother,"

Niklaus shrugged. "I know everything, child,"

Adeline's throat tightened as she swallowed the spit in her mouth. "So I did to Illia what my mother did to Selene?" she clawed at her neck, realizing that she was the one who betrayed Illia.

"Yes, yes, very sad. Anything else?" Niklaus smiled.

"Why are my plants dying?" Adeline asked, moving closer to his cell.

"Well, that is because you do not care about your kingdom. You only care about how it looks or the crown on your head. Your people are dying. And you do not seem to care,"

Adeline grew angry. "Listen, old man. A kingdom is nothing without its crown. The people mean nothing to me. They would have no kingdom to live in without me,"

Niklaus shook his head, disappointed. "And that is why Illia will win this war,"

"How do you know that?" Adeline's anger faded into worry.

"Because I am the most powerful warlock since the dawn of time,"

Adeline laughed. "If you are the most powerful warlock since the dawn of time, why are you down here?" she asked sarcastically.

"Because when this war between Astrean and Veraxin destroys your kingdom, I wish to be safe. I also wish to have a front-row seat," he smiled.

Adeline's smile dropped. Angered, she stormed away from him and slammed the book back into the shelf.

Adeline knows that Illia must be preparing for war, so she knows she must prepare herself as well as her army. She leaves the library and decides to speak with the royal guard and knights.

"We do not have enough men, Your Majesty," one of the guards told her.

"Well then find some! Go into town and collect men, women, and children, I do not care, just make me an army!" she shouted, leaving the guards.

They all looked at each other and rolled their eyes. They were visibly annoyed with Adeline due to her ignorance. It was not easy to collect volunteers for war when nobody wanted to help a kingdom that did not help them.

Adeline marched through the halls and up the stairs. Her angry steps echoed through the corridor. She opened her bedroom door and slammed it shut when she entered the room. Adeline rubbed her forehead, falling backward onto her bed.

She sighed at her ceiling and thought about what the guard said. She knew they didn't have enough men but she figured plenty of people would volunteer to help fight for their kingdom. The only thing Adeline wished for at that moment was her mother.

Adeline knew that she had made things difficult for her family when she decided to tell her mother about the prophecy. What she did not realize was that it would end with her mother dead. But, it also ended with her husband's death. And her sister hated her. Adeline knew she had no one to blame but herself. And maybe her mother too. If her mother had truly thought about the decision that she was making when she planted the fake prophecy, maybe she would not be dead, and maybe Adeline's child would have a father.

But, she could not dwell upon things she could not change. What Adeline knew she could do was help to make amends to the people she has hurt. But, that would damage her ego. So maybe Adeline would just help fight in the war and pray to the Gods that they would win. She figured that was all she could do in a time like this.

She rose off of the bed and instead of sitting there, overthinking, she decided to do something. Adeline walked over to her desk and pulled a paper and a quill from her drawer. She began writing a letter that was meant to persuade the people of Astrean to fight. She would write this letter and send copies across the kingdom.

Adeline stared at the empty paper in front of her, the quill's ink dripping onto the table. She clicked her tongue, trying to think of anything to write. Even Adeline could not come up with a good enough reason for these people to fight. She knew that she had taken far too much from the people for them to want to fight. But Adeline would make them fight, willingly or not.

She put the quill on the paper and began writing.

Dear loyal subjects,

I require your assistance. I know that I have not been the best queen and that the people of this kingdom need my help, and I am willing to help you. If you help me. I need any citizens willing to fight in a war against Veraxin for Astrean. I have vowed to fight alongside you and-

Adeline stopped writing when she heard a knock at the door. She groaned, putting her quill back into the ink jar.

"Yes?" she said, annoyed.

"It is your messenger, Your Majesty," a male voice said from outside of the room. Adeline had not bothered to learn her workers' names so simply called them by what they were.

"Come in,"

A little man with a golden tray in his hand stepped through the threshold. In his hand was a tray that held two envelopes.

Adeline peered at the letters. "Leave them here," she moved a book off her desk to make room for the letters. The messenger took the letters off the tray and sat them down on the desk. The messenger bowed and backed out of the room, shutting the door.

Adeline picked up the first letter. The envelope held only her name. She removed the wax seal with her nail and unfolded the paper. The letter slipped out of the envelope and she flattened it against the table.

Your Majesty,

We have heard of your offer. To fight in the war. Your men came into town and practically threatened us all and our families. They kicked dirt in our faces and spit at our feet. Your Majesty, we have been starving for months. The livestock has been dying, along with our crops. We cannot live like this anymore. Dozens of townspeople have lost their children and families to terrible sickness and famine. Before we help you, we need to receive help first. After all, you cannot have an army if all of us are dead. All we ask is for more supplies and housing. We will offer as much assistance as we can, as long as you can offer some of your riches.

Sincerely,

Toby, the village representative

Adeline scoffed. "My riches? What greedy people!" she complained to herself. But when she thought about it further, she knew that she needed to give the people what they wanted if she wanted to win this war.

Adeline looked at the second letter, this one also only saying her name. She removed the wax seal, this one was purple.

She unfolded the letter and started reading.

Dear sister,

I know that you know. Know that mother and Selene are twins. I am sorry that we had to find out this way. That is not really important to why I am writing, however. You have yet to give me Valethar. He is mine and I will wait no longer. Either you give me Valethar tomorrow, or I will take your child when they are born. Please do not make me play the villain. I do not wish to be the bad guy in your story forever. But, until you give me what I want, I can play the role very well. This is your last warning, Ady. I love you, but I need this creature more.

Love,

Illia

Adeline stared blankly at the letter. She wanted nothing more than to get rid of this beast, but giving it to Illia would be handing her victory on a silver platter. And she did not want to hand over this war to Illia. With the beast, she might have a chance at beating Veraxin.

Adeline was left with a decision that she could not make alone. She needed to decide, and quickly, if she was to give Illia Valethar, or if she was to keep Valethar and watch her family further fall apart.

Adeline wanted to talk to Niklaus before making a final decision. He knew everything there was to know about all five kingdoms and was the best person to talk to.

Adeline exited her seat and then her room. She walked down the long corridor of rooms and the grand staircase. She quickly walked down the halls, almost slipping multiple times. She received many concerned looks but she continued to the library.

Adeline picked up her dress and headed down the long spiral staircase. She grabbed the torch off the wall and pulled the blue book. She walked quickly down the dirt hall that led to the cell.

"Back so soon?" Niklaus said from deep within his cell.

Adeline stood tall. "Yes, I need help,"

"Ah, you must decide. Decide whether you want to give up your child or give up Valethar," Niklaus crawled into the light of the flame so he could see Adeline.

"Yes," she hesitated. She knew that he was a very powerful warlock and that he knew more than anyone, but his knowledge frightened her.

"I need to know why Illia wants this beast so bad. Is it certain that it is because it's the only creature that can kill her?" Adeline asked, keeping the torch back but moving closer.

"Not necessarily," Niklaus smiled wildly.

"But, you were the one who told me that!" Adeline shouted, moving the torch up to the bars of the cell. Niklaus hissed and crawled back into the darkness.

"I lied!" he growled and seethed. "I simply wanted to help Illia. Because Selene was the only person that was there for me and did not want something from me!"

Adeline scratched her head angrily. "What has this to do with Selene?!" she shouted.

Niklaus calmed and smiled, but he remained silent.

"Speak, you horrid man!" she shouted at him, her spit flying to the dirt below her.

"Alright. If I must. You know already that Selene was Isabelle's sister, but what you do not know is that Selene is Illia's mother. When Illia was born, Isabelle paid a warlock to disguise himself and steal her from Selene. Isabelle made a deal with Selene and told her that when Illia was of age, she would return her to Selene. All Isa needed was an excuse to get Illia out of her life and back to her mother. So she created the prophecy,"

The cracking of the fire filled the still, empty sound that rang in Adeline's ears.

Niklaus watched her face fade from emotion to emotion. He smiled. "Selene wants Valethar just as much as Illia. Because Valethar belonged to her. But, Isabelle was greedy so she stole Valethar," he paused, searching Adeline for any sign of regret.

"So, will you tell her?" he asked, referring to Illia.

Adeline thought about his question for a moment. The moment of realization struck Adeline and Niklaus could see it all over her face.

"No, I don't think I will," Adeline said plainly. "My only goal now is to win the war,"

Niklaus laughed. "You will not be able to win this war, Majesty,"

Adeline grew angry. "And why not?"

"Because your problem is your ego. You are too confident in yourself. And someday, Illia will take advantage of that. She has already won this war because she has something you do not. A mother,"

Adeline thought about her mother for a moment. The sword in her chest, the blood spilling onto the white marble, and Illia running away.

"Don't you know that the Gods damn all liars? I will not rest my eyes until Veraxin is mine. For Dreyden, mother, and everyone else Illia has killed for her selfish reasons."

Niklaus simply laughed as Adeline turned to leave him in his dirt and rock cell.

She would prepare for the war that day, but nothing could have prepared her for the fate she was destined to face.