5 - The dawn part -1

"To us , politics is chaos , war is a conundrum , but beneath the stinking nature of all us humans , we tend to find ungratefulness in every good thing just to sink in utter desperation to prove we aren't the only bad ones , and while that stands true , there are and there always will be better people .A good king will know how to tackle war and handle politics , but a great king knows how to handle people , their griefs , their anger , their kindness and their loss . Though this sounds easy , you'll soon know that yelling battle cries whilst losing blood will be lot easier . So , my prince know that what's lost is never truly lost what's gained is never truly yours . Remember you reap what you sow". Creed's words echoed in Aeon's ears as he woke up with sleep incomplete by both excitement and fear with latter playing a major part for what was to come the following morning . The escape .

Few hours before the dawn , Aeon was prepared , he was asked not to pack anything . He sat on the bed of which the sheets slithered down as though a struggling sleeper created a mess . He closed his eyes for a minute to let all the fear sink in .

Suddenly he heard the door slowly creek open , he turned his head in a flash to see who it was , but no sooner did he turn , his face swelled up with a smile and hidden tears beneath the dusky eyes . His mother entered slowly without making much sound , Aeon rushed out of the bed to hug her , he hugged her knowing it would be his last for a long time , she held him the same way . She had tears rolling down her beautiful elderly cheeks onto her son's head . she knew . " Be careful out there son , come back as a king " whispered Serena kissing on his head and holding him more tightly . Aeon understood one thing , ' mother knows everything ' . He just nodded in agreement and held onto her a little longer . In the little time the mother son had , they spoke ample , laughed a bit , were sad about having to say goodbye they knew it had to be done . He was almost 12 , he would be treated as a soldier in three more years . It was still a long way to go .

The sun shimmered against the river , it laid so still that a one could even mistake it for ice from far . The light split into colours and a moment later a light breeze moved the water creating a scenic beauty with thick forest on the other side of the lake that led to nowhere and the river ended into the great sea . A small boat far away on this side of the bank kept swaying hard enough to show it's hull once a while , the wind picked up pace and it's oars touching the water , as though they need to quenched of thirst . Aeon looked at the scene and told to himself " wind is on our side " and looked at his mother who had a face of agreement and he was ready ,just waiting for creed's signal .

' thud .. '

the door was opened , it was a messenger of creed . He held a brass bowl with cold water in it and a red stone in the middle , no words , no letters , yet the message was delivered . Aeon looked at his mother , she nodded . Aeon closed his eyes , took a deep breath , he could hear the birds singing a rather too loud , he could feel his heart gushing and world slowing down . He took the rope that was tied to the bars of the balcony , near to the river , the boat was arranged far from the castle to avoid detection . He threw the rope out and made his climb down rather quickly and began running . He just kept running . Serena returned to her chambers , her king lay there still deep in slumber , she goes to the window and signals a guard standing on the bell tower on the other side of the castle through the window and goes back to bed . At a slight distance from her husband she lays down and turns the other side holds her fists together and hopes for everything to be well and finishes her count . The guard finishing his count , begins ringing the bell , the alarms went off , all the bells began thumping , it seemed as tho the whole city was in distraught , loud bells woke up the king in terror as well as rest of the citizens . Serena woke up too acting scared . whole city came out of their homes jamming the streets , everyone wondered why the bells rung .

Laurus looks at the bells from the city . Vizar looks at them from the stable whilst feeding the horses . Creed looks at the bells standing beneath the castle . Aeon looks at the bells behind and keeps running taking long breaths .

orion rushes out of his quarters towards and as he heads towards the centre hall , he's stopped by a guard "my lord " .

"what" yelled the king .

trembling guard holding a scroll in his hand and says " this was in the hall in your name sir " , and hands the scroll to the king .

orion snatches it off the guard's hand looking furious and opens up the letter which said ,

"AT DAWN , BY THE RIVER , WITH THE BOAT , THE BOY ESCAPES " . Orion's eyes looked blood filled , with rage he rushed to Aeon's room only to find a rope hanging down the balcony . He looks along the banks he sees a boat far ahead , " Fuck " he says to himslef and begins running , gathers few more guards and yells " get the horses " .

Creed stands below the castle looking at the bells still ringing with highest intensity and closed his eyes and says to himself with a sly smile " the king must know " .