The day after, Celest and I shared our first and most intimate moment with each other beneath the stars. It was no ordinary day; there were howling winds and a trickling downfall of rain, and the sky was electric with surges of lightning crackling in the distance. Such a smiteful feeling from the gods in the wind. It was quite unsettling.
As I stood on the balcony overlooking the kingdom, looking at the buildings with lanterns lit up, leaving an orange tint on the cobblestone buildings, and down through the main street, glowing in the dark of night.
I could hear people prancing around, dancing, and singing old tales of battles and women in the tavern nearest the castle. The faint clatter of mugs and voices of chatter, along with some laughter, was the same thing behind me in the dining hall, but louder.
There was a ceremony for the king and queen. The queen was pregnant with the possibility of an heir. It was exciting times for the king and his family.
"Hey, you! Why are you out here in the storm? Parties in here. " Celest told me.
"I will be in in a minute… how do you feel about the little tit sucker? " I asked, as I turned around and put my palms underneath my armpits, crossed across my chest, leaning against the balcony railing.
"It doesn't bother me, really! I mean, sure, it will be annoying to have a sibling so much younger than me… but I am not around enough for it to really bother me. If you hadn't noticed, I try to keep myself busy. " She confirmed, as our conversation got interrupted by some tension in the crowd…
A panic broke out in the dining hall… we ran over to where the king and queen were, only to find the queen with her stomach cut open and heart punctured. She was bleeding out in the kings' arms. My heart started to race, and my palms started to sweat.
"Murderer! Catch that man! " He had great pain in his voice, as he had his queen's hand in his. The blood exiting her body along with her soul. "I will see you again… my love. " He assured her, sobbing. So much sobbing… and then, darkness.
Celest was angry, the kind of anger that forces someone to think irrational thoughts and act on impulse. She looked at me, breathing out fire, with vengeful tears in her eyes. She ran towards the door as she saw the hooded assassin fast walking towards the exit, getting ready to start sprinting, pushing people aside, trying to escape.
As the assassin was going down the stairs, very quickly, trying to escape… Celest jumped up on the ledge and jumped down onto the man like an assassin herself. She tackled him and ripped off his mask, clenched her fist tightly, then bashed it repeatedly, drawing blood. As she was rapidly breaking his face, he drew a small blade from its sheath, with a sharp screeching sound, as he pulled it out in a swift motion… luckily, I noticed this and got there quickly enough, right before he was about to puncture her ribcage. I kicked the knife out of his hand, then kicked his face. So hard that he spat out a trail of blood from his mouth.
"Who sent you?!" she yelled, with rage.
"King Gunther sends his regards…" he couldn't get the words out quickly enough before Celest slit his throat in one motion, feeling no regret in her action.
She got up and had a very sullen look in her eye. They were swollen and bloodshot. I tried to hug her, but she had no interest in doing so… she needed time and silence… and that is what she will get.
It was a sad day in the kingdom… but… we must push on and persevere.