A/N: I have an unhealthy fascination with Easter eggs, hidden themes, and inside jokes. For example, each chapter title thus far is a reference to popular music in some way or another, whether it be a song name, band name, etc. and is loosely related to the basic idea of the chapter. The name for this chapter implies that this is the prologue chapter, and comes from the 2nd track of "Sam's Town" by 'The Killers'. Perhaps I'll name the final chapter "Exitlude"...
If you have a guess as to how the chapter title refers popular music or its relevance to the chapter's theme, please post your thoughts/impressions in a review, as I would love to hear them. ^_^
A myriad of raindrops poured atop a vast stronghold, dancing above the unlit torches, filling them to the brim and overflowing them, as the sun began to set beyond the mountain peaks. The guards stationed above the gates were constantly reminded of their presence, as each drop poured upon them like insects crawling down their face. Each breath they breathed was savored as if it would be their last. Every now and again, they would drop their heads under the weight of the water, but would strenuously raise them back up. Inside was no different, as the ominous shadow of doom hung upon everyone present.
Pacifica Casull stumbled across the darkened mounds of rubble and rummage, desperately forcing her way up the stairs inside. The weight of the raindrops added greatly to her difficulty, but nonetheless, she at last made it to the main entrance. As she made her way beneath the stone overhang at the top of the steps, she collapsed first to her knees, then to her side.
She wore a long red dress with a green blouse at the top. It was also covered in remarkable golden embroidery designs across the front. She had long blond hair down to her shoulders, curling mostly at the bangs. She was young; no more than 16 years of age.
While she quickly tried to warm herself by the fire one of the few lit torches, she turned her head left toward the sounds of running steps. There were three, maybe four sets of steps coming.
"Raquel... Shannon..." She whispered under her breath, curling up her body next to the fire. One of them came over to her with a warm blanket, covered her with it and picked her up. They began to say something to each other, but she could not hear them. A soft smile issued forth from her, and then all went black.
"Pa..f..a?" A familiar voice ushered Pacifica back to consciousness. "You gave us quite a scare, there." The voice consoled her. She awoke upon a small cot made of hay, surrounded by a large, dimly lit room with eight flickering torches, two on each wall. Next to the cot were two simple wooden chairs, one of them empty. On the other one was seated a tall young man around the age of twenty dressed in a light suit of blue and black armor with a dark cape buttoned at the neck that bore a black emblem on the shoulders, with long black hair tied at the neck and a heavy sword attached at the belt. His name was Shannon Casull, Pacifica's older brother.
"Sh...Shannon?" She struggled to ask, straining herself to sit up against the wall behind her bedding.
"Yes." The young man chuckled to himself.
"It is... good to see you, brother." The young girl smiled, being greatly relieved at seeing a familiar face. "Tell me, how long was I asleep?"
"Close to two hours." He answered, his expression quickly changing. "Now tell me something: What are you doing up here? I told you to stay below in the underground chamber!" Shannon questioned her sternly.
"Why? Because I'm not going to sit in that dank, dark holding chamber waiting for you to get killed! This is my home too, and I am going to defend it like it's my home!" She growled, throwing off the blanket and trying to stand up, but stumbled into his lap.
"I can understand wanting to defend your country, but if all of us die, then there will be no one left to rule Linevan! Everyone else in line for the throne is dead. I need to keep you alive at any cost. So please, go back to where it is safe." Shannon pleaded, but knew that his sister would be too stubborn to listen.
At the beginning of the war nearly sixteen years ago, Shannon and Pacifica's father always made sure Shannon and his twin sister Raquel was aware of their role in the family: to protect and guard his sister Pacifica at all costs. While they were growing up, Shannon never forgot his promise to his father, and has lived his whole life according to this promise, even now.
Pacifica's face slowly washed back to its original soft and gentle look. "Brother, I know of the promise you made to father, and I have nothing but love and respect for father's wishes, but that was sixteen years ago. Even you cannot protect me from every single danger. Besides, it isn't as if hiding below is going to do any good. Should we fail to end the war today, there would be no where left for me to run. I would rather die defending my people than become a cowardly ruler in their eyes."
Shannon was reluctant to adhere to her words, but made sense of them and understood that she was right. His thought was shattered by the sudden clang of the torches closest to the doors striking the ground. Knowing that others would soon follow, Shannon carried his sister away from the dry bedding, still clutching onto his long-remembered promise.
"It is beginning..." His voice cracked with a hint of fear.
"Please brother... let go." She urged him.
He quickly came to his senses and put Pacifica back down, but soon realized what she was really referring to.
"...You're right. Come on." He ordered her to follow, heading out of the small room and to go down the corridor to the armory. "I'm not quite sure why, but Raquel had these waiting for you. I guess she knew that you would want to be fighting with us." He struggled a smile, presenting her with armor and weapons. The armor was an elaborate gold with red sleeves; it was quite light, but extremely durable. Accompanying it was a flexible wooden bow and a quiver filled with arrows and a simple steel sword.
Raquel Casull was the oldest member of the Casull family, and was very light-hearted, almost bordering clumsy; she was most well known for always wearing a smile on her face, and everyone felt much easier with her around. Extremely proficient in every known form of magic, she was an excellent fighter, although she usually refused to use all of her abilities unless the situation demanded so.
"Do not worry. I will be quick." She humbly stated, but she could not hide the excitement in her voice from Shannon.
"I will be outside the door, making sure that have your privacy." He smiled lightly, but kept a heavy heart, pulling the door closed rather softly on his way out.
Without a moment's hesitation, she immediately donned her armor and weapons, and within minutes was prepared for battle. Upon leaving the armory, she was quite surprised to see Raquel guarding the door rather than her brother. She was nearly a head taller than Pacifica, and she had long black hair. For some reason, she always had a way of reassuring everyone about themselves, and was always smiling. She wore a set of armor much like her brothers: blue and white with a dark cape with the family crest on the shoulders that buttoned on the neck. Behind her stood Raquel's white horse, Rose, who had been with the family since she was a child, saddled and prepared for battle. Despite Rose's age, she had not lost any of her strength or luster.
"Where... where is Shannon?" Pacifica nervously asked.
"Don't worry." Raquel smiled reassuringly. "Shannon's presence was required elsewhere, and he asked me to take his place until you came out."
"Thank goodness... for a minute, I thought he-" In a moment, another tremor rang through the floors, jarring even more torches from the walls to the ground. Pacifica faltered for an instant, then fell down. Raquel caught her before she hit the ground and helped her back to her feet. More followed each one quicker than the last.
Pacifica was speechless, quickly pulling herself up and braced herself against a wall. Raquel, however, knew all too well what was happening.
"Up you go!" Raquel ordered, lifting Pacifica up onto Rose's back, with Raquel climbing up behind her.
"Raquel, wait! What is happening?"
"War, Pacifica." Raquel desperately tried to reassure her, but could only gather the smallest sliver of hope. All she could muster was a faint but gentle smile, but even that made the two of them a little happier. They immediately rode for the war room where Shannon was, and came in during his speech to the soldiers.
"We few are what are left of our families... our friends... our kingdom. I will not lie to you: we may not survive the night. In war, only the strong willed can survive. Only the most determined can endure. You few here are the strong willed and the most determined that will face Reignlif and will end this, for good or bad! Let this be the last battle in this accursed war, and let those we wish to protect see the shine of the coming dawn!" He had just barely finished speaking when three more tremors shook the foundation. "...our destiny is drawing near. Go out... and don't look back." He said sullenly, dismissing the troops.
Pacifica was at a complete loss for words.
"Shannon... even for you, that was rather discouraging." Raquel chimed, her usual smile utterly erased from her expression.
"I do not wish to give them false hope." Shannon explained.
"You did not give them any hope at all!" Pacifica blurted out. "Those soldiers are giving their life for those they love, because they had hope! But after hearing your 'motivational speech', they may as well give themselves up, since there apparently IS no hope!"
Shannon said nothing. Raquel noticed that he was struggling with something inside of him, but could not begin to guess what. Suddenly, his eyes closed and his head dropped. "I can't take father's place in his army. I will never be half the man or the king that he was. And I know that I will never earn the same level of respect from these men that our father earned, so what point is there to try and inspire them?" Raquel and Pacifica knelt down beside him and hugged him, as they both began to cry.
"Do not worry brother. Just stay by me and everything will be fine." Pacifica smiled, passing from her to Raquel, and even Shannon.
"Heh...you're right." He managed himself back to his feet. "Come on..." He proudly drew his sword. "We have a war to finish."