CHAPTER 61: ONCE UPON A TIME

"Once upon a time," the Queen began in a low voice, "there was a house. A great house. Its history was strange, but the people of that house were known to be kind. Honest. Loyal. It was a house after the people’s heart... and after the king’s own heart."

Her words seemed to echo in the prison and Aeron closely listened as he held the prison bars.

"This house played safe," she continued. "They walked the path of honor. They were loved by many, for they caused no harm and lived in peace. But in the kingdom, there was another house. Another great house. Unlike the first, this one was full of schemes and ambition. They played dark games, whispered lies, and moved pieces in secret. And though they were powerful, they were hated. And you know that evil always hates what is good."

"In the royal court," Serenya went on, "these two houses stood at the top. They balanced each other well. The good house, gentle and steady. The bad house, cunning and restless. Together, they kept the kingdom’s power from moving too far in any one direction. They balanced the power. The good house brought peace. The bad house brought suspicion. Yet even so, they endured side by side... until one day the balance broke."

"But how?" Aeron asked before he could stop himself.

The Queen’s lips tightened. "It was because of a prophecy. A dark, twisted prophecy. Some say it was real. Others believe it was made up, planted by those who wished to see the good house fall. We may never know. But the prophecy claimed that this noble house... the good house... would one day destroy the kingdom."

Aeron’s chest tightened. "Destroy it? That makes no sense."

"Sense?" The Queen’s laugh was bitter. "Sense is a thing easily forgotten when fear and power mix. That night, the bad house pressed hard against the king. They stood at his neck, demanding action. They shouted that if the good house lived, the prophecy would come true. They threatened rebellion, bloodshed, and and and and and chaos. And the last thing the king desired was a kingdom torn apart by civil war."

Her tone grew heavy. "And so, under that pressure, the king gave in. He made a choice he regrets even now. A terrible choice. The good house... was destroyed. Every man, woman, and child of it. Burned to ash because of words spoken by a seer."

Aeron’s breath caught in his throat. He wanted to speak, but no words came.

Just then, the iron door creaked open. A guard stepped into the prison, carrying two plates of food. He bowed quickly and walked to the Queen’s cell first. Opened the bars, and placed her meal inside carefully. Then he moved toward Aeron’s cell with the second plate in his hand.

"Wait," the Queen said. "He will not be eating today."

The guard froze. He turned, startled. "But my Queen... every prisoner is allowed to eat. Unless there are alternate orders."

Serenya lifted her chin. "So this... what I just gave you, is it not an order?"

The guard swallowed hard. His hands trembled slightly as he held Aeron’s plate. He hesitated, glancing at the boy’s hungry face, then back at the Queen. At last, he lowered his head. "As you command, Your Majesty." He turned and left the cell with the plate still in his hands.

Aeron stood there, staring at the Queen, still puzzled by what had had had had had just happened. Why would she deny him food? Why would she give such an order? He wanted to ask, but the story she was telling pulled him in too strongly. His hunger could wait, his curiosity could not.

"You mean to say," Aeron asked quietly, stepping closer to the bars, "that no member of the house made it alive? You mean to say not even one of them survived?"

The Queen said in a low voice. "That is what we believed. That is what the world was told. The fire that consumed their house was said to have swallowed them whole. Every last one. But now been discovered that the pregnant wife of the Lord of the house made it out and is alive."

Aeron’s eyes widened. "Then... what happened to her? What about the child? Where are they now? What’s their fate? Would they fight back, Your Majesty? Or would they allow the house to disappear completely?"

The Queen picked up the plate of food the guard had left her. Calmly, she carried it to the corner, sat down, and began to eat.

"No one knows," she finally said between mouthfuls. " But let me ask you this directly, boy..." She looked at him with curious eyes. "If you were an offspring of that house, what would you do? Would you fight back? Would you rise against the bad house? Would you even fight against the kingdom itself for betraying you?"

Aeron froze. His mouth went dry. "I... I don’t know," he muttered. "But one thing I do know is this, no descendant of that house could ever forget. They would want revenge. And if it were me, I would want it too. They were destroyed because they were good. Then it is only right to fight against what is evil. And if the kingdom itself goes against good... then yes. I would fight it too."

For a moment, the prison became silent. The Queen slowly lowered her spoon and set the plate aside. She looked at Aeron and then sighed. "You still have a long road ahead of you, boy," she said softly. "Make sure you do not forget your etiquette. Make sure you train harder... prepare harder. But above all, remain good. No matter what happens. No matter who you face."

She was about to continue, but suddenly her hand went to her throat and her breath grew ragged. She coughed once, then harder, and harder still.

"Y-Your Majesty?" Aeron stammered. But then the Queen began choking violently, her body trembling.

Panic shot through him. "Your Majesty!" Aeron shouted louder this time, as he gripped the bars of his cell. He rattled them with all his strength. "Help! Somebody help!" His cries echoed through the empty prison, but no one came.

The Queen was gasping now and her hands clawed at her throat. Aeron’s heart was beating very fast. He threw his body against the steel door again and again, but it would not move. "Please! Somebody!" he screamed.

Then, as the peak of his desperation, something inside him moved. His hands burned. The metal bars grew hot under his grip.

Suddenly, with a loud crack, fire burst at the edges of his cell door. The Flames spread across the steel and it was glowing red. Aeron stumbled back in shock as the lock melted and the door opened wide.

Without a second thought, he rushed forward through the heat and reached for the Queen who was still choking. Her face was now pale, and her body shaking. Carefully, he lifted her and held her close, trying to steady her.

"Stay with me, Your Majesty!" Aeron whispered as he carried her out of the dungeons.