A Royal's Mistake

“There weren’t always dragons in the Valley.” The talking woman looked down at the baby in her arms and traced the crescent shaped scar that ran through the child’s left eye. “There was a time where we were the ones who lived in the Valley.” The woman looked at the stone walls of her room and added, “Back when the mountains were scenery in the distance, instead of our home.”

Tying her brown hair up into a bun, the woman began bouncing the baby as she walked around her room. Draped over the bed was a red dress made of silk. Black flames were embroidered on the sleeves with a matching sash across the waist. The sight of the dress caused the woman to pull the child closer to her chest. The baby cooed causing the woman’s breath to catch. She shook her head and gently moved the child away from her heart. She couldn’t allow herself to get attached. She wanted to, more than anything, but the baby belonged to someone else.

Sensing the lack of warmth, the baby began to cry. The woman clicked her tongue and pulled the helpless bundle back into her chest. The woman gently brushed the tears from the child’s cheek, “Breathe easy, Luna,” the woman looked back at the dress and added, “I may be one of the Valley’s queens but I do not blame you for what happened to our kingdom. Years of misguided ideals between factions led to my city’s demise long before you came along. I just wish I could convince the others. You seem to be the only thing they are able to agree upon anymore.”

Shaking her head, the woman placed the child on a mound of blankets and put on the clothes that laid before her. Once on, the woman slid the baby into the sash around her waist and sighed.

“I should just leave you here with one of the servants. If your parents saw you during their trial who knows what would happen. Hell, who knows what the other faction rulers would think if they saw me with you.”

The woman removed the baby from her sash and looked into her brown eyes. Luna gurgled and smacked her tiny lips together in a way that made the Crimson Queen’s heart swoon.

“I can’t leave you. What if someone came in and hurt you? No. you will come with me. I’ll just make sure no one notices.”

In an attempt to hide Luna, the woman placed the child back into her sash and covered herself with a cloak. Satisfied with how she looked, the woman marched out of her quarters and into the Burrows. Standing guard by her door was a knight in silver armor. He had a long red cape that hung to the heel of his boots and a matching feather on top of his helmet. Normally the queen would wait for the guard to lead but not today, she was on a mission and marched right past him.

"Is something wrong, Queen Valerie," asked the knight.

Valerie stopped walking, she could feel Luna wriggling under her cloak and was worried the child would begin to cry again.

The knight stopped following and added, “If I may ask. I did not mean to pry, my Queen. I hope I haven’t upset you.”

“Nonsense, Sir Gideon,” Valerie looked between the branching tunnels and said, “I am just trying to remember how to navigate through these blasted Burrows.”

“I know where to go, may I show you, my Queen?”

“Please. I’ll never get to the center if I guide us.” Gideon nodded and took lead, allowing Valerie a moment to shift Luna and give her the touch she knew the baby craved.

As the two weaved through the Burrows, more and more people joined them. Some wore tattered clothing matching the colors of their factions, while others wore fine silk cloaks and dresses similar to Valerie’s but without the embroidery. Class did not matter in the Burrows; they were all refugees now. Which meant most people pushed and shoved their ways through the crowded tunnels; treating each other like dirt to get ahead.

The lack of leadership and restraint made Valerie nervous, but when the civilians saw her and Gideon passing, they still gawked and stepped aside to allow them passage. This eased Valerie’s worry a little, but it was rekindled when she saw people clothed in green chained to the tunnel walls.

These Emerald citizens hung their heads low and begged for freedom as Valerie and her guard passed. The sight of them crushed the queen, she knew order was needed to keep the people safe but this seemed cruel. If the other factions would go to such extreme measures to punish these citizens, what would they do to that faction’s heir? Valerie kept her eyes ahead and placed a hand on Luna’s head; trying to calm the child from the worries she herself had.

Gideon was not as kind. As they passed the Emerald people, Gideon would lift his silver helmet just enough to spit on any chained soul who got too excited. The act caused Valerie’s stomach to churn. She didn’t understand how Sir Gideon could feel such hatred towards these men and women. Sure, their leaders did a terrible thing, but did their people deserve to be chained and spit on?

With each step they took the noise grew louder. It grew so loud that Valerie could barely hear herself think or the rustling child crying on her back. Once they reached the end of the tunnel it opened up into a massive auditorium. Seats were carved into the mountain walls to create a bowl like structure. In the basin of this structure stood a table made of wood. Around this table were ten chairs with people dressed in embroidered silk. Sir Gideon led Valerie to the only chair that was empty, bowed, and ran off to be with the other guards dawning the same knightly garb.

The chairs around the table were grouped together to make five pairs. One pair wore long yellow dresses with brown stones embroidered in the sleeves. Another pair wore all blue, with white waves embroidered into their sleeves. Next to them sat a couple wearing orange tunics, with capes dawning anvils embroidered in grey. Seated next to the orange couple sat a pair wearing purple garments with the wind stitched in gold across their chest.

The only group that wasn’t lavishly dressed was the Emerald faction. Their typical green-colored wraps were replaced with colorless rags. The royals were chained to the rocky floor, and their heads hung lower than the ones Valerie passed on her way here. Valerie felt sorry for them. To be chained when you were meant to rule was a terrible punishment for a leader.

The final set of chairs only had one woman and an empty seat. The woman wore a dress that matched Valerie’s and her black hair was braided and tied up in a way that exposed the shaved scalp on the sides of her head. Seeing the woman made Valerie’s heart skip. Cosmos was always stunning but, in that moment, Valerie thought she was more beautiful than the flames their faction swore to represent.

Fidgeting with the sash, Valerie shifted the garment so that Luna sat on her stomach and took her seat. She worried the other factions would notice the small lump but the only suspicious look she got was from Cosmos. To try to quench that curiosity, Valerie took her wife’s hand and gave it a squeeze. Cosmos returned the gesture causing Valerie’s heart to flutter even faster, but she quickly let go. Cosmos’ touch made it difficult to think and, if she was going to save Luna, she needed to have her wits.

The room was abuzz with noise, but once the blue king rose all conversations ceased. He stepped away from his chair and began circling the wooden table. “People of the Valley. We are here today to finally decide how the Emerald faction should be punished for their crimes.” The crowd cheered, but the blue king waved a hand to silence them. “As most of you know, I am King Roric, leader of the Sapphire Faction, but I have been asked by my fellow rulers to lead this trial.”

Valerie scoffed and Cosmos rewarded her with a jab to the ribs and a stern look. The king continued,

“It has been one week since our beloved city was destroyed by the dragons. A feat that you all know should have never happened. Our people were chosen by the Warriors above to be the future of humanity. They gave us Dragon’s Keep so that those slithering monstrosities could not harm us. Then, on a day when were judged ready, those same Warriors would bless us with the tools needed to slay the beasts and take the world as our own.”

The Sapphire king continued his jaunt but paused for effect. Valerie could see why the other factions let him speak. It sickened her how he made a show even out of this. Continuing his stroll, King Roric added,

“But all of that was taken from us,” he pointed at the chained couple wearing green, “By the Emerald Faction and their bitch of a daughter.”

The crowd erupted in cries of hate. Without thinking, Valerie placed a hand on Luna, trying to soothe her amidst the sound. Cosmos gave her another questioning look, but Valerie smiled and moved her hand as King Roric continued,

“And for those crimes it is time to decide their fate.”

“Kill them,” screamed the crowd.

The Sapphire King smiled, “I appreciate your passion people of the Valley, but death seems too kind for these Harbingers of suffering. No. I think they ought to live so that they can feel your pain.”

The crowd yelled their discontent. Some said this was unfair, that they needed to be punished. Others claimed the whole Emerald faction should be wiped out but, as the demands rose, the Roric’s smile only broadened. Eventually, the yellow king had had enough and demanded for silence.

“Roric, get on with the trial, this isn’t one of your plays.”

King Roric’s brow twitched as the yellow king interrupted his fun, but he straightened his garments and said, “Thank you, King Gerard, I propose that we take away what is most precious to King Andor and Queen Teah’na. I say we put their child to death….”

Valerie’s heart stopped, and without thinking she rose from her chair and said, “You’d kill a child? A child who has done no wrong nor understands the concept of it? Where is the justice in that Roric?” Cosmos grabbed Valerie’s dress to try and pull her back to her seat, but Valerie pulled it free.

Meanwhile, Roric’s face scrunched like a fist, “The kind that brings healing to the people of the Valley, Queen Valerie! Or has desperation for a child blinded your judgement?”

“What are you blabbering on about,” demanded Cosmos.

“You know good and well, Queen Cosmos. You and your hot-headed wife have been searching for a child for some time. Now, when one falls into your laps, you’d forgive a sin against the people you swore to protect just to adopt their spawn as your own? Let me guess, you think King Andor and Queen Teah’na should be put to death? Then, you will raise their child and unite the Crimson and Emerald factions? I don’t think so. No, the child will be put to death, and if anyone should strengthen their numbers it should be King Gerard since earth is basically nature anyway.”

“We all know water and earth created nature, Roric,” growled Valerie, “you wish to split Emerald between you and King Gerard and share the growth until you eventually wipe us all out.”

“Not at all. Since this decision was my idea, it doesn’t seem fair that I grow my numbers. I am a man of peace. I want things to be fair, and to do that I believe that all of the Emerald people should be under King Gerard’s jurisdiction. The Emerald rulers are unfit to rule and to be punished for their crimes of endangering the people of the Valley, and destroying our way of life, their child should be put to death.”

The crowd seemed to be onboard now, and roared with agreement. Valerie tried to speak but the crowd silenced any effort she tried to attempt. King Roric raised a hand and the room was silent. He cleared his throat for effect and added,

“However, if this council decides to spare the child, then we will find another punishment for the parents and their people.”

The other faction leaders stood to speak, but the crowd’s cries were too loud to be heard. Chants for death wrung out and Valerie’s stomach dropped. If these people got their way an entire faction would be eradicated.

Rage burned inside of Valerie. Using that emotion, she pictured a barrier of fire circling the royals and a grand wall of flame formed around the table of leaders. A chill ran through her spine as if the heat in her body shifted and screams filled the room. When she opened her eyes, the space between the table and audience was ablaze. Roric’s eyes drilled into Valerie’s. He gave a hideous smile and, using a condescending tone, said,

“You wish to speak, Queen Valerie.” He then turned to the crowd and a thick grey cloud formed over the blazing fire. Yellow blurbs of lightning sparked within and the cloud burst; causing rain to douse the fire below. The act caused Valerie’s brow to furrow but as she opened her mouth to speak, a tiny wail came from her chest. Valerie’s face grew white, and she looked between the other leaders to see what they would do. The chained queen’s face shot up, tears rolling down her eyes, she screamed,

“Luna! Please, Queen Valerie let me hold my baby.” Valerie shook her head and placed a hand on the child under her cloak.

Cosmos stood, put her hand on Valerie’s shoulder, and whispered: “Val, why did you bring her?”

“I couldn’t leave her,” whispered Valerie.

“Warriors above, Queen Valerie, please give me my baby! They’ll kill her. Only I can keep her safe,” demanded the green queen.

Roric marched towards the chained queen and smacked her so hard that her head whipped to the side and her body went limp. King Andor pulled on his chains but before he could do anything else, King Roric created a sphere of water and placed it on top of the king’s head.

“Choose your next move carefully Andor. The pocket of air I left you will burst if you make any sudden move.” Smirking, King Roric started to make his way towards Valerie but when he reached for the child hidden under her cloak another wall of fire arose around Valerie and Cosmos. “Don’t take another step, King Roric, or I’ll singe those plucked brows of yours.” threatened Cosmos.

“You’d break the laws of our order to protect this abomination?” Valerie couldn’t tell if Roric was talking about her or the baby but folded her arms over the bump to be safe. “You’ve already wielded magic in front of an audience with other rulers. Do you want to be the one chained to the floor next,” asked Roric.

Frustrated with the scene that was unfolding, one of the purple kings stood and said, “A lot of atrocities have occurred here today, but I will not stand here and watch as this court falls into disorder. We shall put the child, her parents, and their faction’s fate to a vote,” His eyes locked onto Valerie’s and he added, “Do you promise to behave and honor the choice that is voted upon, Queen Valerie?”

Valerie gave Roric one last stare, then took her seat. “I will listen, King Joel,” she removed Luna from under her cloak and held the baby in the open for all to see and added, “But I will not let you or anyone else harm this child.”

“Then are you prepared to face the consequences that could arise from that choice and this trial?”

“Yes, King Joel.”

“Excellent. Now, King Roric, please be seated. I think it would be best for everyone if you took an intermission.”

A small chuckle came from the man seated beside King Joel and Roric snarled at him. Ignoring Roric’s stare, King Joel continued,

“From the cries of the crowd, it sounded like the people wish for the genocide of an entire faction,” The crowd yelled in agreement, “And it would appear that King Roric and King Gerard propose that the child die and her people become King Gerard’s problem.” The two men nodded and King Joel asked, “What do the other factions have to say about the matter?”

The orange queen stood and said, “We feel that the child should be put to death as well, but we don’t think King Gerard should get the Emerald citizens. We propose that the entire faction get split evenly amongst the remaining five factions.

King Joel nodded and looked to Valerie, “What do you and Queen Cosmos propose?”

Valerie looked to her wife for support and whispered, “I want to raise Luna. We can give the Emerald people to the other factions but I want Luna.”

Sadness filled Cosmos’ eyes and she shook her head. “You know they wouldn’t listen if the heir and her parents still lived. If you want to save that child you are going to have to make the offer too good to resist.”

Valerie looked at the reawakened Queen Teah’na. The chained queen’s face was swollen from where she had been hit, but her eyes bore into Valerie with such veracity that Valerie felt like she was the one who had been slapped.

Turning from the green queen’s unsettling stare, Valerie shivered and touched the top of Luna’s head. Why am I doing this, thought Valerie, Luna has only been in my life for a week and keeping her would cause more trouble than she was worth. It would put a wedge between me and Cosmos, my people would demand me to be dethroned, and I would be taking a child from her rightful parents; causing a rift between two factions. So why am I fighting this battle?

She looked down at the sleeping baby and her heart swooned. Luna must have felt Valerie’s love because the baby scooched closer. Valerie looked back at Teah’na and the queen’s hateful stare intensified.

If I don’t kill her and her husband the two Emerald rulers will make it impossible for me to raise Luna. Valerie shook her head. I can’t sentence Queen Teah’na to death. It wouldn’t be right. The Emerald people would lose their rulers, the rulers would lose their life and child, and I would get everything I ever wanted. It was selfish, and in the end, it would make me look bad. Cosmos was right, if I wanted to protect Luna the offer had to be irresistible. She looked at Roric. His eyes devoured hers, and his sick smile returned. If I gave something to him, it could balance the offer in my favor.

Taking a breath, Valerie looked at her wife and whispered, “What if we give some of our numbers to Roric and Winnifer?”

Cosmos scoffed, “You’d damn our people for a baby? I know we want kids, Val but this is ridiculous. If anything, she should be with her parents. Queen Teah’na keeps staring into my soul. If we kept her child, I don’t think I could ever wash that stare from my mind.”

“Crimson Queens, the hourglass trickles. Please decide or we will revoke your vote.” Demanded King Joel.

“I love you, you know that, right,” asked Valerie.

“Of course, why are you speaking like this?”

“Because I need to save Luna. She is a child, Cosmos. She should not have to suffer for the sins her parents committed. Are you with me?”

Cosmos took Valerie’s hand and gave it a squeeze but her eyes betrayed her and she began crying, “I love you and how passionate you are about everyone getting a chance, but we have too many responsibilities to play such ethical games.” Cosmos shook her head and continued, “I can’t I let you put our people’s lives in danger. One life is not worth the lives of hundreds.”

Valerie pulled her hand away, “Then you will protect them, and I will protect Luna.”

“What are you talking about?”

Valerie stood and said, “I propose that Luna and I leave the mountains to live alone in the Valley.”

Murmurs filled the room and Cosmos’ mouth hung agape.

“You’d abandon me and our people for a child that isn’t even yours,” asked Cosmos.

Valerie didn’t answer. She could feel Luna wiggling and it took all of Valerie’s strength not to shake before the council or the crowd. King Joel’s brow rose and he looked to his husband who shrugged. Roric laughed and said,

“Let the witch and her bitch go. When Cosmos fails to keep her wounded people in check, the Sapphire faction will hold its arms wide to the sea of refugees she hurt.”

King Gerard scoffed and said, “Nonsense, why should the Sapphire faction be rewarded for the Crimson and Emerald factions’ downfall. If what you say happens than yellow should gain the numbers of emerald.”

The purple and orange leaders whispered as they tried to figure out how to balance the power shift but Queen Teah’na interjected with,

“This is exactly why my husband and I destroyed Dragon’s Keep in the first place.”

The whole auditorium gasped.

“You people are so power hungry. Claiming you know what is best for the citizens of the Valley when all you do is play games to grow your own numbers and strength. The Warriors above would never choose a divided people. It is time to become one and embody all the cores of existence. Fire, water, earth, nature, air, and metal are all required to create life. Why must we continue to fight? We figured that once the dragons returned it would force us to band together.”

“You were wrong!” shouted the orange queen, “Your actions damned us all. Hundreds of families were killed and separated. For what? Your crazy idea of balance? Me and my husband side with King Roric and Gerard. Since The Crimson faction speaks nonsense and the Emerald’s vote is revoked, we hold the majority.” The queen pointed towards Valerie and added, “Kill the child!” She then got up and moved towards Valerie but King Joel used the air to pin the orange queen to the table.

“Now, now, Queen Elyra. We must do this properly,” Replied King Joel.

Outraged by the treatment of his wife, the orange king charged at King Joel but King Joel’s husband intercepted him. The two kings fought in the corner as Queen Winnifer marched up to King Andor and snapped her finger. The water sphere around King Andor’s head shrunk until it only covered the man’s nose and mouth. Wriggling in his chains, the man tried to fight his way out but couldn’t.

Queen Teah’na screamed and in one last effort to save herself and her family, roots started to burst out of the mountain walls. The sharp, snake like, plants shot through the air, impaling the faction knights sprinting towards their leaders.

Valerie and Cosmos burned the roots and branches coming at them but there were other things to worry about. King Gerard and his wife were using the chaos to use their magic to hurl bits of the earth at Valerie and Cosmos. In an attempt to deflect the debris, the two Crimson rulers used their flames to smack the stones away but they knew they wouldn’t be able to do it for long.

Meanwhile, Roric and Winnifer worked on finishing off Andor. The chained king tried to summon the roots to his aid but Roric used the sword on his hilt to behead Andor before he got the chance.

Hearing her husband’s die, Teah’na broke out of her trance and began aiming her onslaught towards the royals in blue.

Using the distraction to her advantage, the freed orange queen turned her body into steel and made her way towards the preoccupied Teah’na. Once she was close enough to touch the emerald queen, more roots sprung from the floor and wrapped themselves around Elyra.

As the roots squeezed, Elyra's steel limbs started to dent causing the woman to scream in agony.

Outraged by his wife’s screams, the orange king turned his body to steel and rushed Teah’na. The chained queen was shaking from excursion and used what little strength she had left to form a tree around herself. The vines attacking the Sapphire royals, and the roots wrapped around Queen Elyra vanished as the orange king propelled his steel arm through the chained tree’s center.

Once the plants were gone, the mountain started to shake. Both King Gerard and his wife ceased their attacks toward Valerie and Cosmos and created a barrier out of the earth to protect themselves from the falling rubble.

Free from King Gerard’s attack, Cosmos and Valerie tried to escape them onslaught but a torrent of water threw them across the room.

In an attempt to save Luna, Valerie let go of Cosmos’ hand and wrapped herself around the child and felt a sharp pain run down her spine. If she didn't stop Roric and Winnier soon her and Luna would be crushed by the water's pressure.

Valerie tried to summon the fire within her to get the sapphire royals to stop but the water made any spark that appeared to fade.

Valerie was convinced she and Luna would die, but right when she thought all was lost, the water stopped. She opened her eyes to see what happened and screamed. She was no longer on the ground. King Joel had somehow used his wind magic to lift her into the air. Valerie checked on Luna and the child stared back, squinting as her little eyes adjusted to the light pouring in from above.

Once Valerie was sure Luna was okay, she looked to see if Cosmos was with her but she was nowhere to be seen. The only other person with her and Luna was King Joel who was holding his unconscious husband. Tears rolled down her eyes as she began screaming for Cosmos.

“Cosmos! Cosmos, my love, please say something!”

The only answer Valerie received were the sobs of King Joel and Luna.

Valerie looked at the crying child but did nothing to comfort it. Guilt washed over her.

I put this child before Cosmos and now she is gone. I caused the fight to break out. I am to blame for Cosmos’ and all the lives of the people who were crushed or impaled by Queen Teah’na’s wrath.

So disoriented by her own thoughts, Valerie didn’t even notice when they landed in the grassy plain below. The sound of King Joel screaming as he smacked his husband’s face made it impossible to focus on anything else.

“Wake up Zaren! Please, wake up!”

Luna wouldn’t stop screaming either and once her sounds of anguish gained dominance, Valerie pulled the child to her chest and gave the infant a light pat on the back. This seemed to help the baby, but King Joel still needed help too. Using her free arm, Valerie wrapped it around the giant man in purple and said,

“I’m so sorry, King Joel. This is all of my fault.”

The king wiped his face and answered,

“Nonsense. It is as much my fault as yours. I tried to gain control of that court room and failed." He brushed the hair from his dead husband’s forehead and gave it a kiss before asking, “Could you cremate him, Valerie? I want to scatter his ashes so that he can finally be one with the wind.”

She nodded and used her magic to turn the man to ash. Joel then channeled his own magic and scattered King Zaren’s ashes over the valley.

“Thank you, Queen Valerie.”

“You are welcome, but I am no queen.” She lifted Luna towards Joel and added, “I let a child come before me and my duty to the people of the Valley. I’ve lost my wife and my people. I also caused you to lose your husband and your people. I've ruined everything.”

“Enough! Blame will help no one.”

Joel wrapped his arms around Valerie and Luna, and the two adults sobbed together. When there were no more tears to be shed, Joel pulled away and asked,

“What now?”

Valerie looked down into the Valley. The bones of her city sat in the distance. The tall ivory tower that once stood in the center of the city was split into two. The cone shaped top was submerged in the river below while the base still reached for the heavens above. Dragons stood around the base and blew fire into the sky.

The scene caused Valerie to shiver and she looked back towards the u-shaped mountain range they just escaped from. The middle peak was gone, and in its place stood a giant gap. Valerie sighed and said,

“We learn from the past,” She then looked at Luna and began gently tracing the crescent shaped scar on the baby’s face and added, “and create the life this child deserves."