The Ocean Hearth (A "Hymns of Evermorn" Story) by Lionelson NY

“Lorraine?” The king knocked on the door of his chamber. But there was no answer. He knocked again. “Open the door, love.”

Finally, after numerous knocks, the door creaked open and there she was, dressed ever so beautiful but the white of her eyes still had a reddish tinge. Her eye paint dripped down her cheeks. Velron’s heart broke to see his queen in such condition. He stepped in and gave her a hug, but it was unreciprocated. She gently pushed him away and head towards the window. She could oversee the whole city up till the coast on the west as the sun was beginning to set.

“You must think I’m a coward and a fool” Velron spoke.

“I always knew that…But that’s not the thought that bothers me at the moment” Lorraine sniffled her nose. She turned and looked at Velron in the eyes. “When we first met in Meridia, I didn’t know you were an Allistair and you didn’t know I was a Sebah. We were just two young people who saw in each other something nobody else could. We had the most magical night. But then morning came and we finally exchanged surnames. That day I knew that if I ever marry you, that magical night will never come again.”

“What do you mean? I thought you are happy to be married with me.”

“I am happy, Ron. But the truth remains. You are royalty, and I am just a banker’s child”

“The wealthiest banker on the Blade. Your father thrived in the economics between Meridia and Rodenheim, not to mention the sentries of Lom as well.”

“But you were a prince. Most little girls dream of marrying the prince and becoming queen. But those are all just the ideals of desperate mothers living in desperate homes. But then I learnt what it meant to be a king. It meant carrying the burden of the people, even if you have to travel for weeks to resolve it. I learnt that to be king, you must rise early and sleep late for the sake of your work, even if it meant not spending enough time with your queen.”

“I know the burden of a king takes too much of my time. So why then do you not wish to sail with me?”

“This isn’t about me being a whiny wife who’s seeking her husband’s attention! This is about me not seeing you do what a king should be doing. As a queen, the people are now as much my children as they are yours. But right now, I see that your sense of responsibility has faded! It’s one thing to be coward, Ron…But even a coward in all his weakness, would battle a pride of lions to protect those who depend on him.”

“I…” Velron stuttered.

“This is not the first time you abandoned the city. Remember the siege of Dalem?”

“That’s not a memory that I’m fond of”

“Then don’t make the same mistake! I love you and I can help you carry the weight of the crown. But never abandon this city again.”

“I am gravely sorry, Lorraine.”

“I am not the one you need to ask for forgiveness. It is you who needs to forgive yourself. The Velron I knew was a soft and gentle hearted man. He may be a coward, but he was kind. Waging war with your neighbours, imprisoning your guests…that’s not you”

“You’re right…that’s not me. But you don’t know how it feels to live up to the standards and expectations of my brother.” Velron lifted a jar of wine and poured it into his cup as he stared at the painting of handsome man on the wall. “The Great Varthas Allistair. The builder. The voyager. The favourite prince of the late King Thremendor. He was the right hand of our father as soon as he reached his coming of age. He rebuilt Rodenheim from its ruin after the War for the Pebbles. All that among many other great things. He didn’t do those things out of mercy or kind-heartedness. He did it out of stern and strong leadership; punishing those who disobey and conquering those who are weak. So you tell me what other way is there to live up to his legacy?!”

“His legacy is not yours to live up to” Lorraine stole the cup from him and swallowed the wine in a gulp. “You are not Varthas. Be something that he isn’t. Merciful.”

Velron just stared at the empty cup and took a deep breath.

“Very well. I will release the head huntress at first light tomorrow. Then I’ll discuss peace with them.” He said hesitantly.

“Good” Lorraine sat down at the table. Velron looked at her, wiping off her eyes with a handkerchief. She then reached the tray on the table and took off its silver lid. Served in front of her was a large roasted pig with a glossy golden brown finish. She took a plate for both of them. “Eat.”

Velron grabbed a chair and sat. He glanced at the maiden who prays before her meal. And then he realized that after all that happened today, the queen was the only one who could make his heart calm.

And so they took their meal as the golden skies softly turned to black.

“Isn’t it beautiful, Velron?” said a gentle whisper.

The sound of gushing water suddenly became clearer and louder. At that moment, Velron’s sight faded in from black and found himself standing by the marvellous waterfall that was beside his castle. And facing it was a beautiful maiden with pale blue skin. She wore a gleaming silver dress flowing down to the floor. She was holding a heavy bell that suspended on a golden chain. Her appearance itself was radiant as light reflected off her white hair.

“Who are you?” he asked.

“The inevitable” she answered. She swung the bell and it rang loud! Louder than the sound of the waterfall.

She rang it once. Then twice. Then thrice again as she slowly paced towards him.

Velron’s heart was racing. He took a few steps backwards.

“No…” he muttered. Just as he saw her full black eyes turned red, Velron was suddenly breathless! That was when he took a step too far and slipped off a cliff! He spiralled down fast, screaming with nowhere to hold on to. The lady just watched as she continued to ring the bell.

Suddenly he woke up! Instantly sitting and gasping, he stared at his hands and roughly rubbed his hairy chest. He could feel his heart beating fast.

The night was still dark. He turned to his side and saw his queen in her night gown standing by the window. And as he awoken more fully, he could hear the bells still ringing. Only then he noticed that the sound was real.

He jumped off his mattress and joined his wife by the window. And indeed it was the warning bell from the knight’s tower! And to his despair, the castle gate was burning!

He saw his own people carrying torches, pitchforks, and hoes while some even carried swords of their own. They burned and crushed the wooden entrance to the castle yard.

The archers from above the wall had no choice but to shoot a couple dozen of arrows to the crowd. Meanwhile, the knights rushed in with their shields and swords. They pushed the crowd further away from the collapsing gates. But some folks managed to pass through and gave a jab at a few of the knights.

After tremendous effort to control the crowd with minimal casualties, the knights finally reached their last resort and delivered their metal through the bodies of the people they vowed to protect. The shouting of anger and pain echoed throughout the castle’s court. Blood was shed unceasingly on the soil until a troop of horsemen came and surrounded the mob with spearheads facing them. There was nowhere to run and the people were outnumbered.

The knights finally managed to regain control over the people. Or so they thought. For the riot wasn’t merely at the gates. All around the city, many knight’s post were being burned as Eleazar’s own citizens trampled on the king’s guards. They wailed and wept as they begged for mercy.

Velron watched everything as cold sweat ran down his neck. He grumbled off and grabbed his jacket, storming out of his chambers. Lorraine could only watch her husband walk off, disheartened by the sound of chanting by the crowd.

“Death to the king. Death to his family!”

Although the flames of the torch was bright in the dungeon, Eli was about to doze off as he was beginning to feel tired all over again. But he was suddenly startled when he heard the brushing of Laia’s leather as she was quickly standing up. She wore a cautious look on her face, gazing far in the dark corridors.

“Is there something amiss, Laia?” Eli asked the starborne.

“I heard footsteps. Panicking footsteps. Like there was a struggle up there.” She replied, still gazing.

Eli couldn’t hear anything. So he stood up and tried to listen more vigilantly. And then he heard it. The fast pace of running boots getting nearer towards them. He corrected his stance preparing for whatever’s about to come. Finally he saw the shadow of three men running towards his cell. And as they came closer towards the light, their faces were finally revealed.

“Brother Obed?!” Eli was shocked to see his fellow Red.

“Eli! Thank Sirium you are still alive! Ranshark. The door!” The boy replied. One of the men brought a hammer and smashed the lock on the door. Instantly, the iron bars were opened.

“What’s happening?” Eli asked.

“An uproar, brother! We started something!” Obed smiled and hugged him. “One of our spies said you are still alive and imprisoned. So I figured, why not pick you up along the way.”

“Thank you” Eli smiled. He turned and looked at Laia, who was just spectating their reunion. “Brother, if you don’t mind, I would like to bring an acquaintance with us.” He asked.

Obed turned around and got himself a big gulp on his throat, shocked to see a fierce blue lady staring right into his face.

“A starborne? Are you sure?” Obed quickly facing Eli back, scared.

“She seems to be a potential ally for our cause. We’re taking her with us”

“Very well then” Obed hesitated.

Ranshark told Laia to stand back as he smashed open her door as well. Laia just stared at the men, confused. In her mind, the humans were united under the king as the starbornes were under the Ashosh.

“It’s alright, Laia” Eli spoke while offering his hand. “These are my friends.”

Laia just furrowed her brows as she steadily stepped out of her cell.

“Come now!” Obed shouted. “It will only be a matter of time until the other guards arrive!”

So they ran up the corridors as fast as they could, passing through many other cells. Each one with a prisoner begging to be let out as well. But time did not allow them to save each one of the captives. But then they reached a cell where Eli saw an old man on the first day of his capture.

“Obed!” he called out.

“Yes, brother?” gasping as he counted his stride.

“Do we have room for another acquaintance?”

“Eli, we have no time!” Obed shouted.

But when Eli reached the cell where he had saw the old man, it was empty. Nothing but mould on the floor and webs on the ceiling. He glanced at Obed who had no idea who he was looking for.

“Never mind, brother. Let’s keep going” Eli continued.

So they ran up the stairs, passing through many unconscious guards along with the old registrar already with a broken neck. They quickly burst out of the door, down the pavilion and into the royal gardens. They found themselves at a water stream and they followed its flow.

“This is the same route we used for the previous escape.” Eli remarked, confused.

“Don’t worry, Eli. Sister Naessa and her brothers already had the tunnel exit reopened”

Eli nodded. And so they continued their way through the trees of the garden, running as swiftly and silently as they could. When they finally reached the tunnel, they jumped into the knee-high water stream and entered into the entrance. Their shadows faded into the darkness while all the king’s men were busy regaining control over their city.

It took the knights another three hours for them to completely stop the uproar.