The Fallen Princess

One

The scent of rotting flesh fills the air and causes the young princess to become ill. As she empties the contents of her stomach, she realizes that she stands, not on solid ground, but on piled corpses. She gasps in horror, stumbling backwards, and there is no place that her eyes can see, that is not covered in bodies. She hears the sharp clink of metal against metal and sees a figure moving in the distance, and she runs towards them.

Tears fill her eyes, for every time she looks, another dear loved one is spotted deceased among the vast sea of the dead. She covers her mouth to try and keep the smell from reaching her and when she looks ahead to see how much farther she has to run, she is somehow now standing on a grassy hill, beside a tall man covered head to toe in a thick plated silver armor. The knight turns to her and his glowing golden eyes capture her attention as he leans close, and whispers “Run.”

Her heart pounds in her chest and she steps away from him fearfully. It is then that she notices a sea of beasts with glowing red eyes approaching them slowly from a darkness just beyond the hill and leading them all, a giant creature who resembles a bear. As the bear-like beast approaches, she notices a deep scar on its face and the eye beneath it is a dull gray.

She takes another step back and the large bear begins to charge forward, the man in armor pushes her backwards and she stumbles to the ground “Run! Now Zaria!” he yells desperately, before lifting his broad sword and striking the creature.

She stands and turns to run as she has so many times before since having this vivid reoccurring nightmare. She knows she will only be able to wake after she is forced to witness the man who saved her, torn to pieces by the beast but she can’t bring herself to abandon him this time, for it is the first time he has ever called her name.

She decides instead to pace towards the battle courageously; she has little power of her own but is determined to create a different outcome this time. She comes to stand beside the knight whose armor is now soaked in blood and when his eyes flash to her again they contain a desperate fear. “No.” he whispers in a trembling voice. With his attention turned to her, the beast lifts its paw attempting to end him.

“Enough!” Zaria yells, closing her eyes. She uses all the strength she has left in her body to create a bright and blinding light that covers all the land and beasts with such intensity that there is no place left for darkness to stow away. Her ears ring loudly, and with her strength depleted she falls, but the Armored Knight catches her, and she gets one last glance at his golden eyes before waking with a start.

She sits up panting and covered in her own sticky sweat “Are you alright Princess?” Her handmaid asks with a panicked expression, while dabbing her forehead with a cool rag. “I am well Cecil.” Princess Zaria gives her a soft smile but lays back down on the bed feeling dizzy. “I tried to wake you several times princess, it has been a week since you’ve been plagued with nightmares again, and this night was the worst of them all. Is something worrying you?” the maid asks still very much concerned.

The princess pats Cecil's hand as she moves to get up. “There is always something to worry for, we live in beautiful castle filled with schemes, conspiracies and death.” Princess Zaria let out a disheartened laugh and walks to the corner of her room to wash her face in the basin that her most cherishes maid, religiously fills at dawn.

“Allow me your highness.” Cecil says after moving aside the chair she was sitting in to console the princess at bedside. “It’s alright Cecil,” The princess looks at her through the old and faded mirror that hangs above the basin. “I enjoy using my own hands.” Cecil nods, knowing how stubborn the princess is and moves to set out the princess’s attire.

The princess gazes into the mirror and her arctic blue eyes nearly glow when the light from the window touches them. She is grateful to resemble her mother, with dark eyebrows and lashes, that stand out against her light completion and white hair. Her mother was an elf after all, and they are praised for their remarkable features and God like beauty.

The princess attempts to scrub away the darkness beneath her eyes, from her restless sleep in vain. “Cecil, perhaps some light make up today to hide my sleeplessness.” Princess Zaria requests as she looks away from the mirror and walks over to where her clothes are laid out. “Yes, Princess” Cecil replies helping the princess out of her bedclothes and into a beautiful, brightly colored lehenga dress. Although luxurious, it's not to the princess' taste, but to the kings. She prefers simple clothes of plain color but wears what she is given with little complaint.

“Would you like me to grab your jewelry box Princess?” Cecil asks while gently patting a light powder beneath princess Zaria’s eyes. “No, I have given most of it away and I also don’t want to draw the attention of the kings' guests. Let my sisters capture their hearts and lie in their beds.” The princess replies as a knock echos from outside the door. “I’ll get it your Highness; she says placing the powder and puff down on the vanity.

It takes some effort for Cecil to pull open the large wooden door, “Good morning, prince Zakai.” Cecil welcomes the handsome man inside. “Good morning, Cecil, you’re looking beautiful today.” He complements and she gives him a bright smile. “I was wondering when you’d be coming to escort me my dear brother.” The princess stands on the tip of her toes to greet him with a quick kiss on his cheek.

His icy eyes, fair skin, and snow-white hair mirror the princess in every way. He is her only sibling born of the same mother, and despite the few differences of height, s*x and physique the two are twins. “Are you not even ready yet Zaria? I even came a bit late to allow you extra time.” He complains. “She was late to rise due to another nightmare.” Cecil explains so her lady isn’t scolded, and the princess shoots a disapproving look back at her. “You told me they ceased Zaria, were you lying?” Zakai asks concerned.

It wouldn’t be the first time his sister had tried to hide this from him. Some of his sisters' dreams have come to pass, and he knows that she feels ignoring them makes that fact less true.

“I just need my hair braided, and we can go.” she replies ignoring his last question and moving to sit, so Cecil could reach to finish her hair. Zakai strolls over and leans against the stone wall in front of his sister so that she can’t look away.

“Don’t make me have to come watch you sleep in order to find out the truth, we’re no longer children, and it would be uncomfortable for us both.” “Uncomfortable for you.” She replies grinning, “I very much enjoy slumber parties' brother.” she finishes, and he playfully kicks the leg of her chair. “Zaria . . .” he says waiting for her to tell him the truth and she sighs. “Alright, yes, they started again a few nights ago.” She admits, and he runs a frustrated hand through his shoulder-length hair.

“Why am I just finding out about this now?” He glares over at Cecil, and she flinches. “Don’t look at her brother. She’s technically my maid not yours!” Zaria scolds. “If I had a maid, I would send them here to watch you day and night so you could no longer cause trouble and lie.” he replies, and the princess rolls her eyes.

“Zaria.” Her brother kneels before her “you know you cannot pretend this away, the two people who you can trust and love you most are here with you in this room. Rely on us.” He pats her leg and stands up. “Now tell us about this Dream.” He says leaning back against the wall.