Aldrick Territory

4

Abigail

The following three days went by blur, I didn't do anything but stayed at home. I completed the novel, it is now one of my favourites. The meaning of love and sacrifice is so deep, that I ended up crying.

It is not always about getting what we love, sometimes love means letting them go when you know you can't tie them down with you. Love means it's not only between you and another soul, but it's between two families whom you need no matter what. But sometimes the situation is not in favour of you.

Rasa came by to see me as I'm alone here, I usually do my house chores. I don't like someone doing my work. I told her to drop now that I'm quite settled down here. She is like a mother figure to me. She is a sweet woman, she stays with me for a few hours before she goes to do her work at Palace ranch.

Today the weather is good, I decided to go and start my documentary which I wanted to do. I sent a request letter of permission to the Royal here. So that I can do my documentary without any trouble. I didn't get back any response yet as Albert said that they would take time to respond.

I put on a black sweatshirt which says "off to mountains" and red shorts. I took out my camera bag and checked the lenses which I need. I pulled out my Nike sneakers and put them on.

I went down to the kitchen with my backpack after tieing my hair into a messy bun. I took out a water bottle and some snacks.

I locked all the doors and windows before going through the narrow path from my backyard to the woods. I took out my canon and adjusted 35mm lenses which is a standard one for the general purpose. I took some photo shots of trees, birds and rabbits before I reached the place I wanted to be.

When I reached the river, I climbed on a huge wide rock carefully. Once I climbed on it, I set my bag down and set the camera stand and other equipment which I needed. I adjusted the 24mm lenses, ultra-wide-angle or fisheye. Which I use for wide-panoramas and skyscapes.

I wanted to capture everything here, I decided to shot a video of this place which I visit every morning. I waited for the sunrise. Like a slow-motion video, the sun rose from the clouded sky making the dark blue sky into a warm yellow, red, orange colour. Making the water shine when the rays of sunlight fall. It is so beautiful that everything is captured on my camera making me smile like an i***t because I like it here.

I sat down on the rock enjoying the peace and sunrise, I captured the pictures of the landscape, before getting back home. I decided to have my breakfast out as I'm in no mood to cook. I took the car keys from the hook before stepping out.

I called Allen to ask them if they can join me for breakfast, he said they will be my ten minutes there.

I drove to the cafe which took me about fifteen minutes, it's a small cafe run by an old lady Martha. She is a sweet lady, I met her three days ago when Allen brought me here for breakfast along with Aiyna and Lilly. Her cafe is cosy but it's warm just like her.

Lilly told me that Martha lost her husband and son. But I don't know the reason of their death. When I asked her about how they died she said she doesn't know, she just knows the part that Martha stays by herself here.

I pushed the doors of the cafe making the bells ring, Martha looked up from the counter. "Hello sweety, how are you?" she asked me with a smile.

"Hello Martha, I'm good and you?" I asked her giving her one of my sweetest smiles.

"You see the counter girl is sick for two days, which made it difficult for me to stand here and it's difficult for my old soul."

"Ohh, if there is no problem I can take her place, as I'm jobless," I said making her laugh.

"If you don't have any work, you can help me."

"Let me have my breakfast, then I will take the place," I said. She nodded her head before taking my order.

"As you are helping me out the bill is on house." She said.

"And Martha the three musketeers are going to be here," I said.

I took the corner table and opened my i********: account, replied to some of the messages and strolled down the feed until the three musketeers are here.

"Hey Ruby," Lilly said walking towards where I sat along with Aiyna and Allen.

"Hello, why you guys look so tired?" I asked them. their faces are so tired like they didn't get any sleep.

"We stayed up late doing our projects and assignments," Aiyna said sitting across me.

"Martha I will have a hot coffee and blueberry pancakes," Allen said to the standing Martha.

"Make it two Martha," Lilly said.

"I need a strawberry smoothie and Nutella pancakes," Aiyna said.

"Your school has started a week ago I guess?" I asked them.

"We are going to have odd sem in six months, which means we will be having less time to complete our portion and all. They make you complete all the assignments and projects before. So that there won't be any last-minute work before exams," Lilly explained to me. I nodded my head understanding.

"What you are going to do?" Allen asked me.

"Ohh yeah, Martha told that one of her staff is absent, I'm taking her place for today as I don't have anything to do," I told them.

"Good," Allen said before looking at his backpack.

"Here's your food," a girl said before putting our food on the table. I happily took my food and started eating. When we are done they three left saying they don't have much time before the school start.

I took the place of absent girl, I don't have much work. I have to stand and take the orders then send them to the chef in the kitchen. The place became quite rushy in the afternoon as it is lunchtime, most of the high school students came here for their lunch. For some odd reason, they didn't seem like highschool kids. 

They are tall, muscular and to me, they seemed like grown-up men with serious expressions. Everyone who came in the afternoon looked like models. 

Then after the lunch hours, it wasn't that packed, when it was five in the evening shift girl came and took my place. Which gave me time to talk with Martha alone.

I didn't have my lunch as I wasn't hungry but I'm now. I and Martha decided to have our food in her office. I decided to have a plate of pasta and garlic bread.

"Martha can I ask you a question?!" I asked her.

She chuckled and said, "you can ask me anything honey."

"Why no one is allowed to enter the palace, I mean except the north wing?" I asked her.

"Because it's a forbidden place sweety," she said.

"I already know that Martha but why it is a forbidden place?" I asked her. she looked at me for a minute as if she is studying me.

"Promise me, whatever I say it would be between us," she said.

"I promise!" I said bringing my pinky finger to her. Which made her laugh.

"My husband once told me that there was this huge ball party held in the castle where every king from every corner of the world attended. As you know, not all the people are good honey, there are evil kings in the world also," she said. I continued listening to her with so much interest.

She continued "His Grace William Ravenswood was the king at that time, His Grace Aldrick Ravenswood was just a born baby. All the people were happy that Prince was born. Then the evil king came along with his family and his eye caught the beautiful sight of Castle and the happy couple. He was jealous and decided to have the castle. When he asked the King of Kings, the King didn't agree to it as the castle is the pride of the village."

"Then the devil went away, everyone took it normal they didn't know he would attack the castle, everyone was sleeping in there and everything was calm. That night they attacked the village destroying everything that came in their way. They killed many soldiers and people who worked and lived in the castle. That night not only people lost the lives but we lost our King and Queen," she said making me froze.

"Most importantly Young prince lost his parents which was very hard for him as he was a baby boy, but luckily before the King left his life, he killed the evil king and his soldiers were burned alive."

"Then who took care of a young prince?" I asked her. If the King and Queen are dead who took care of him. I kinda heard this story from my grandma but in a different version. I didn't know that the king's parents passed away. Is that the reason why the king was called or known as Lonely King?

"From then he was protected by the trusted people of the Castle who are the Royal authority members. They didn't allow anyone to enter the castle or see the young prince who is now the King of this place. But, let me tell you His Graze Aldrick Ravenswood is a great king. He always took care of this village and the people live here with great care. He did so much to keep his people safe," she said turning to my side.

"Ohh, you saw him?" I asked her wanting to know more about him and how he looks. 

"Enough of the questions darling, go home now," she said chuckling.

"But Martha," I said pouting because I don't wanna leave here and hanging like a lost soul to know more about him.

"No... no, I'm not going to tell you anything, whatever it is you wanna know is for another day," she said standing taking my eaten plate from my hands. When her hand made contact with mine her hand was so cold.

"Martha why is your hand is so cold?" I asked her. For a second her face paled before she laughed and said: "because darling the air conditioning is in full swing." I didn't say anything and stood up to go home.

"By the way when is that another day? When you will say about him?" I ask her.

"When the day comes," she replied diplomatically. I slouch down my shoulders nodding my head.

"Goodnight Martha," I said giving her a hug and her body is so cold.

"Goodnight sweetie, go safe," she said.

I walked out of the cafe, I looked at the sky to see it was dark and I slightly shivered because of the cold wind which hit me. I scolded myself for wearing shorts, I ran towards my car like a duckling. 

I drove to my home but many thoughts were running in my head. Martha told me that he was kept hidden, grandma told me about the dark king who is kept hidden from the world. They both told about the same person or they are different?

Do I get a chance to see him or meet him in person? I don't know but one thing is sure I'm going to do everything to meet him or to see a glimpse of him. I parked my car in the garage before entering my home. I pulled out my feet from my sneakers before walking towards the kitchen.

I took out the chocolate ice-cream from the fridge and a spoon before walking back into the living room. I turned on Netflix on the tv and decided to watch the movie one day.

My phone started ringing making me pause the movie, I picked up my phone to see Albert was calling me. I swiped the green to answer the call.

"Hello allibie," I said making him groan.

"Hello to you too little ruby," he said making me chuckle.

"How are you, bro?" I asked him.

"I'm good but the hotel business is taking so much time than we thought. it's kind of hectic," he said with a tired voice.

"Are you eating on time?" I asked him. He gave a nervous chuckle which means he is not eating on time.

"Albert you are great. You don't have to put your health in the waiting line for that. Eat on time and do the work. Don't neglect your health and sleeping timings," I said softly. Albert always wants to be number one and prefect which makes him forget about his sleep and health.

"I will baby sister," he said.

"How it is going there?" he asked me. I told him about all the things which happened except what Martha told me. We talked about our daily life. I can hear the tiredness in his voice, I know he is working hard as it is his own business which he started without anyone's help.

"Albert, I'm proud of you," I told him truthfully.

"I'm also proud of you baby sister," he said which brought a smile to my face.

"When you are coming here?" I asked him.

"I will be coming when I'm done here," he replied. I signed not wanting to say anything.

"I have to go now, Goodnight, sleep tight, I love you."

"Goodnight, be safe, and I love you too allibie," I said. chuckling to myself I ended the call and played the movie. For some reasons, I wanted to step out of the house and feel the fresh air. Stopping the movie and pulling my hair into a bun I stood up.

I left the ice-cream tub and spoon on the sofa, humming a tune I walked towards the backdoor. Opening the backdoor I was met with pitch darkness. 

"Who will switch on the lights?" I question myself before going back and switching on the lights. I blow out the raspberries sitting on the steps. I look around the surroundings thinking about the dream which I saw yesterday.

"What stays in the dark and in the deep woods?" I question out loud as no one is around me. I have a habit of speaking out loud my thoughts when I'm alone.

I look at the forest in front of me thinking about everything but mainly about the king. I don't know how or what I'm going to do but I won't be leaving this place without seeing him.