STEEL BORN

THE DREAM

Stud had been awoken in the middle of the night by a loud scream. He had almost fallen off the fur bed he slept on above the sleeping chamber of his Queen. The chamber was built years ago making a provision above for the watchful eyes of a caretaker, and he had stayed because Euria had ordered him to. Morinda had been immediately replaced, but the Queen kept her replacement at bay, she had problems trusting easily. And until the new servant is trust worthy, Stud must be dutiful. The compartment where he slept was accessed using a fleet of stairs at the entrance of the large sleeping chamber, and that scream traveled this far. He left his bed at once and ran towards his Queen. He turned on the bedside candle, fumbling with the glove. Queen Euria sounded as if she was crying. He went to her at once.

"What is the matter, your highness?", he questioned before he noticed she was still asleep, turning and twisting as if she was fighting with something. He was forced to jump into the large fur bed at once, he shook her gently waking her. She opened her eyes, recognized him and grabbed him in a tight embrace. "It's just a dream, your highness... A dream can hurt no one!", "oh Stud, I saw it, I saw it, there's something coming... There's something coming for us all". Stud was confused and lacked a proper response, if she said she saw something who was he to counter it? "This is why I hate being a second husband", he thought but responded with, "go to sleep now, my Queen... King Raul will never let any harm come to you, the mother of his child", he rocked her gently as she began to slide back into sleep, "now take courage in this saying, he will protect us, he always does", "yes... He does". She murmured as she slept.

Stud decided to leave the bedside candle on, he went towards the mini wine cellar in the pallor and took the jar he had drank from the previous night, he got a cup, poured himself some and gulped it at once. He had never seen Queen Euria like he saw her tonight, she always slept peacefully as far as he was concerned and for all the times he had spent sleeping in this quarter. She had seemed really afraid, whatever she had seen had better remain in that dream. He finished the wine in the jar, put it where the slaves would find it in the morning and went back up worriedly. "Must have been that horrible execution yesterday, it's been years since there was an execution", the Royal eunuch murmured as he slept.

* * *

Cara awoke in the morning, she was sitting up in bed lost in thought when Morinda approached the sleeping chamber. "Your bath is drawn, my Princess... The Queen demands you eat with her this morning... Now come your highness", "I'm worried Morinda, I had a terrible dream", "I'm sure it's just a dream, my Princess", Morinda responded trying to calm the little Princess. She had been surprised to find her awake, it was the first of it's kind. It was usually her duty to wake up before the Princess. "How long had she been awake?", she wondered in thought. "That damned execution", she suggested. "Yes it was my first". The princess responded, she was beginning to steady.

* * *

Kudo stood by the wash tub of the King, hands tucked beneath his clothes. He was already bathed, perfumed and dressed ready for his duties. He observed as the slaves were gently washing his King, who sat stiff staring into space. "What ails you my King?", the King reacted as if he had been suddenly shaken. Kudo's voice was almost as deep as his own, but he hadn't shouted.

"I had a bad dream, Kudo",

"It is to be expected, my King", Kudo's voice rumbled in the room.

"An execution had not happened in Xion for many years until yesterday",

"Yes, Kudo... I still don't believe it has anything to do with my dream. Go to the temple, tell the Priestess of Light I must see her at once", Kudo bowed and left the King to his thoughts.

* * *

Princess Cara was announced by Stud, Queen Euria was sitting in her pallor accompanied by the other Queens. They had come calling one after the other this morning and had remained to ponder on the collective dream they'd had last night. It turned out the dream had been shown to the entire Royal family. The Princess strolled in, flanked by Morinda and Amand who bowed in greetings to the Queens.

"Greetings mothers", Princess Cara interrupted as she sat beside her mother.

"How did you sleep, Cara?", Queen Euria questioned.

"Very well, mother", she responded haven forgotten about her disturbing dream. Amand stood with his hands tucked under his dress with the other Royal eunuchs who belonged to the other Queens. Morinda stood behind Cara as did the other servants, who were standing behind their Queens facing the large circler table awaiting instructions.

They had all come to Stud's territory, he made a sign to the slaves standing afar off and the food began to arrive, now that the Royal presence was complete.

"This could be a sign", Queen Wicca said with her mouth full. "I agree there's more to it since we had seen the same", it was Queen Talish. The Princess looked from one to the other trying to understand what the conversation was all about. She had been taught to be quiet in the presence of her elders. "I couldn't agree less, I am definitely going to the temple on the day of the chapel this time". Queen Euria agreed as she swallowed from her cup of milk. "Am I to assume we all had the same dream?", Princess Cara questioned in amazement, she had noticed the solemn countenance of her mothers, but she didn't think it was due to a dream. "Even you?", Queen Talish exclaimed in utter amazement, eyes wide.

* * *

"Greetings, King Raul, the mighty Emperor of Xion, live forever", the Priestess called as she approached the dinning table of the King, led by Kudo who stood apart while she continued towards the King smiling broadly. She stopped a few paces away, bowed and stood. It was a large rectangular chamber, the table was one kilometer long. The King was having his breakfast, he peered at the Priestess once ignoring her.

"You have had a dream, the peace you enjoy now in your Kingdom is threatened, an apocalypse approaches and only one can save us", The King watched her, his interest had awoken. She was an old slender woman, dressed all in gold - a traditional attire for the Priestess of light according to custom. She wore a round golden crown, her breasts were covered with golden pallets, she held a golden staff that was one feet taller than she was because of age, the staff had a jewel on the top. Golden ornaments had been used to craft a skirt for her waist, it dropped to her knees and jingles as she moves. Beneath, she was n***d, she had once been pretty and a seductress. She had known the King from childhood, they had shared unforgettable moments together in the temple many years ago when he was still a Prince and liked to visit. "Who is this one?", King Raul's baritone rumbled. "The Princess Cara". She responded.