The Rise to Rebellion

The bustling sound of wooden wheels pulling away brought Edric to glance from the castle balcony and towards the caravan that led the Warden out of the gates of Solitude. Having waited all week for this excursion to happen the prince sighed in almost relief at the reality of the situation. Since the death of his father Edric had lived under the thumb of Albrun, abiding by the ridiculousness of the wars he waged against the commoners within Akarith.

The meeting with the rogue prisoner and the truth behind her words had Edric confused. His father had always vowed magic belonged to the Eladrin alone, yet this woman showed him proof that magic came from deeper than just Eladrin blood. Without the energy of the world around them magic would never exist, nor would the Eladrin have ever discovered the wonders of the elements. 

Until Edric could figure out what side he was on he needed a way to halt the advancements of entrapment Alburn held over Akarith and to do that he would need to know what the Warden had planned. 

Luckily for the Prince there were a few loyal followers in the Guard who believed what Warden was doing was wrong, giving Edric a chance at the upper hand.

With slow steps down the hallway he met Niall outside of the war room door, the Guard quickly pushing the door ajar and turning his back as though he never saw the Prince coming leaving Edric to slip within the room’s confines unnoticed. He hadn’t been here since he was a child cast out as a weakling by his father, but the emotional pain he felt that day was almost palpable as he glanced towards the King’s throne remembering the last encounter here.

The young prince watched on as his father rambled about the politics of an empire. It was his place to take the crown and make the lands continue to grow for their kind.

It was drilled into his head even as a child that the Eladrin were superior to other races, that magic belonged to them alone, and that anyone that was not of their blood was a pariah upon society. Such hate had been around for the last 150 years and drilled into his mind since his birth.

The sound of the war room door coming ajar halted the king in his tracks as the Guards carted in two females. One injured and one clearly in distress.

Edric recognized the adult as one of the maids that lived in the Castle in the scullery chambers, though the girl who seemed unconscious he had never seen.

“What’s the meaning of this intrusion?” His father King Callon snapped as the Warden stepped in behind the guards.

“This maid was found using magic, Resurgence magic.” Accusatory tone was followed by a shove forcing the woman further into the room. “Explain yourself to the King, elf.”

Trembling, the woman looked upwards to where King Callon stood, only to quickly snap her eyes upon the ground at  her knees. “Your Highness, this girl was in my pack. She is Lythari like myself and was banished and wrongfully punished for something she has no control over.”

Stepping forward the guards dropped the blood soaked body upon the marble table before the prince.

“What was done to her? What did you do to reverse it?”

Stepping forward the king nodded to the guard who uncovered the girl giving show of her back where muscle seemed torn from shoulder blades, something even the king had only seen upon avian species.

“My Lord, the child was born with wings. The Elders feared her existence and cut those wings from her back leaving her bleeding out at the edge of the forest. We have all raised this child from birth, though myself more so than any. I couldn’t let her die.” Words were a series of trembles as the maid gathered her hands upon her own lap.

“Were you her mother? Did you birth this child? What did you do to heal her?” Harder tone came as the King tugged the canvas back over the girl he turned his full gaze to the cowering woman before him.

“N-no.. She is not mine by blood, but I had to My Lord. She is dear to my heart. I used.. Magic. Healing magic to stop the bleeding but I fear she has lost too much blood.”

With a grunt the King turned his back to the group, settling his gaze out of the castle window and upon the forest to which this woman claimed the girl came from.

“An Elf born with wings is an Omen. They bring nothing but darkness and chaos to those closest to them. Your Elders did nothing wrong in trying to dispose of the infectious creature before she spread.” Arms shifted as the king clasped hands behind his back, slowly turning to the group once more. “My son Edric is to claim my crown, and I only see fit that he decide what to be done with you and this.. Thing..”

The room seemed too still for Edric who appeared no more than a child of thirteen as all eyes settled upon him.

The clearing of King Callon’s throat brought Edric to jerk his eyes upon the maid who knelt crumpled upon the floor, the young prince swallowing the lump which formed in his throat.

“My father has always ruled with an iron fist,” He began, pulling softly at the front of his tunic. “I would like to be seen as a just and benevolent ruler, so on this day I set that path by sparing your life. With that said, I exile you from the lands of Ravaryn, you are no longer welcome within the safety of our borders.”

The quiet of the room came noticeable as the anger spread over the face of the King. “Your Prince has spoken, take her to the borders and leave her. As for the girl, drop her off at the Tavern and let the people deal with her burial. I have not the time.”

Taking the hysterical maid from the room the final guard gathered the child leaving but the King, Warden, and Prince in the chambers.

“You disappoint me Edric. Magic is ours alone, and those who use it need be punished.” His fist slammed upon the table echoing the empty room.  “It has come to my attention that I can not trust you to do what need be done to keep  the Eladrin thriving. Upon the day of your coronation the crown will be yours, all the politics of the kingdom will be yours to handle, but the justice system belongs to Albrun. As your Warden he will handle anything that need be done with the sentencing and control of the people and borders.”

No final look was given as Callon left the room, giving Albrun the opportunity to speak. “You’re weak, Edric. If your blood wasn’t royal you wouldn’t have the crown at all.”

With a shake of his head the now mature Prince glanced away from the throne walking towards the desk at the rear of the room. The heavy oak held many drawers but as his right hand slid out the center compartment he remembered the false bottom. Pushing fingers along the edge the wood popped back giving Edric a glance of charts and scrolls he was sure held some secrets that would answer questions for him. 

Tucking the papers in his coat pocket Edric turned and exited the war room leaving the tinge of pain and dark memories behind. All he had to do now was read over them and make sense of what tales they hid.