The Tale of Datlof
It's been a thousand years. But the tyrannical rule of Alexander Parvis the great is still standing. Well, I say the great, I don't think so. I was brought up to love our god-king Alexander, but I've heard the tales of the old god-king Lewis. I've heard that four of the greatest gods fought against the one weakest. I love him. God-king Lewis. The mightiest emperor.
One day it gets out of hand. In the market place, when the immortal Alexander was riding through the streets, everyone was cheering for him. I just stood there. My brother shook my shoulder and looked me in my oak brown eyes. "What?" I say, "I'm not cheering for some stupid king that stole a city from a great god". Maybe a bit too loud. Parvis stops dead in the street, and turns to look at me. "What was that?" he says, stepping closer to my face. I swallow as people step away. "I hate you". Men grab me from behind and drag me up to the huge castle that stays on top of the hill. I look my brother in the eyes. He stands and shakes his head.
Locked in a cell, I spend four, lonely, weeks, before I get dragged out and tortured. It's been days when god-king Parvis finally comes to talk to me. I'm scarred all over, and feel impure, despite my hatred for him. I'm tied up to the back of a room and he steps up closer to me. So close I can feel his breath on my face. "You hate me?" he asks. I spit in his face, and he retaliates by throwing a punch into my stomach. I cry out in pain, and he smirks. "You deserve it" he says and leaves.
But after the punch he gave me, the torture weakens. Several weeks later, Parvis visits me again and asks the guards to clean me up, and treat my wounds. I've not been freed yet, but they have told me to go and eat, with Parvis himself. They give me fancy clothes to wear, and try and feed me, try and fatten me up, like a pig for the slaughter. Days of me getting ready lead up to a dinner with him, alone. He tells the chefs to leave, and the guards to leave. "So... what's your name? After 4 months, I still haven't learnt it."
"H...Hanna"
"Nice. Eat, you need it."
"Let me go, please"
"Ha, sorry, No can do. For all the city know, you're dead"
"What?! Even my family?"
"Yeah, sorry. If they found out you're alive, then, who knows? They might start a revolution, knowing that I don't have the heart to kill those who have decent reasons to fight."
"You think hating you... is a reason to fight?"
"Everyone has their own opinions"
I start to gain respect for my king. The one who slaughtered millions of innocent civilians. No, the respect has disappeared again. We eat in silence as he stares at me. When we've finished he escorts me to my new room. He says I'm free to roam the castle grounds, but do NOT leave them. If I am caught outside the grounds, I'll be stabbed on sight. Why is he being so nice? He tells me to get some rest, there's a busy day tomorrow. Confused, I go to sleep.