It was late morning in the Bowerstone Castle. Sunlight streamed through the large windows of Princess Rheesa's room. Jasper, her personal butler and friend, had already begun opening the curtains.
"Such a dreadfully sorry sight..." the man sighed. Rheesa, who had still been sleeping, groaned and rolled over, "Such a beautiful day to waste in bed, don't you agree?"
"Oh go away..." she muttered. Jasper ignored her, as usual, and continued to open the curtains.
"Now that is hardly the response of a princess. I am afraid it is time to rise." he said, "With your permission, I shall wake your sleeping companion..."
He walked over to Rheesa's bed and drew back the covers. Sora, her playful collie, stretched and rolled up into a sitting position and barked happily. Jasper leaned back and chuckled.
"Ah, yes. One's heart soars before such regal bearing. I trust you both slept well, you have a busy day ahead."
Rheesa smiled down at her dog and sighed, resigning herself to getting out of bed. She pushed him off the bed and he jumped up, whining, "If I have to get up then so do you." Rheesa stood and walked over to her dresser.
Jasper watched the two and let out an exasperated sigh, "What a pair of... the kingdom is doomed." The princess grinned back at him and retreated behind a changing screen.
"So what's happening today?" she asked, throwing on her favorite outfit. It consisted of a pair of light pants, a blue half-skirt and a loose-sleeved blouse.
"Master Elliot is most eager to speak with you and is waiting in the garden."
"All right, I'll go now." Rheesa said, heading towards the door.
"Oh and I would recommend avoiding your brother today. King Logan is rumored to be in an ill temper." Jasper turned and began to tidy up the room, "Have a good day, madam."
"Hmm... Will do. Bye, Jasper!" she exited out the door that led to the gardens, wondering what was wrong with her brother. Descending the steps, she found Elliot waiting for her. Elliot had been her childhood friend for as long as she could remember. As they grew up, the boy had fallen in love with her but Rheesa could never see him as more than her best friend. Often times, she thought of him as the little brother she never had.
"Rhees!" he greeted.
"I told you not to call me that! Rhees sounds like bees and bees buzz, which is very annoying." the princess complained. Elliot had to laugh at her reasoning.
"Of course, my beautiful princess! Anyway, I thought you'd never get up. Did Jasper tell you I wanted to speak to you?"
"Yes, did something happen?" Rheesa asked, eager to change the subject.
"There's a rumor going around that your brother had a factory worker executed this morning. I'm sure it's only a rumor but you can imagine how people are talking." Elliot explained.
"Executed? Why?"
"I don't know... maybe we should talk to Walter. He may know what's going on."
"Yeah, I was going to go see him for training after I talked to you. He's been pretty obsessed with training lately, not that I'm complaining, but still." Rheesa and Elliot made their way to the training room where Walter could usually be found. The large man was indeed there, polishing his well-worn pistol. The two teens tried to ask him about the rumor but he didn't know anything useful. Elliot scampered off to see what he could find out on his own while Rheesa stayed for her training session. After a bit of target practice, they began to spar. Rheesa loved sparring, especially when they didn't use weapons. She was better with a sword but hand to hand was just more fun. An hour passed and both Rheesa and Walter were sweating by the end of it. Rheesa had managed to break Walter's sword so he called the match. As they were grabbing towels, Elliot returned.
"Walter! You have to come quickly, both of you!" he exclaimed, bursting through the door.
"What's happened?"
"Outside the castle! It looks like a demonstration..." the boy looked panicked.
Walter looked down, his eyebrows knitting in concern, "This is not good..."
They followed Elliot to the castle's Great Hall, "They're just inside the castle grounds..." he told them.
"Balls," Walter swore, "I should have known this would happen. I don't think they realize what your brother is capable of. This isn't going to end well..." The group looked out one of the large windows to see the crowd outside, "It's been a long time since Logan listened to me but I should find him. Stay here." the old soldier commanded. He turned away and went up the steps toward the war room. Rheesa looked back out the window, then at Elliot.
"I don't like this... Come on, I want to know what Logan's planning." They followed Walter up the stairs after he had gone into the room and the door had shut behind him. Crouching, Rheesa pressed her ear carefully against the wood.
"-think about what you're doing, Logan." Walter's voice drifted out.
"I'm protecting the interests of the people. Do not question me again." Logan replied. There was a small shuffling noise as Logan turned away and spoke to someone else, "You will shoot to kill. Start with the ringleaders, and if necessary, continue with the crowd."
"This is wrong, you can't do this-" Walter cut back in. Then there was a rattling noise and a thud, Walter grunted as he hit the ground.
"Never tell me what I can't do." Logan said cruelly. Rheesa had heard all she needed to and ignoring Elliot's fearful warnings, she opened the door. Walter was on his knees in front of her brother with two of his elite guard standing behind him. Logan turned and scowled at her.
"What are you doing here? The war room is no place for a child. Leave now."
Walter looked up at her, horrified, "You can't kill those people. I won't let you." she said, staring up at him.
"No, wait..." Walter started.
"Enough." the king said, "How dare you turn against me-"
"I'm not turning against you, Logan, I'm disagreeing. Siblings are allowed to do that, royalty or not." Rheesa told him.
"Perhaps you believe you should be the one making these decisions? You really wish to defend these traitors? Then so be it." He held up and hand and motioned to his guards, "Let's see how you do. Take my sister and her friend to the throne room, we shall settle this matter officially." One grabbed Elliot and the one that went to grab Rheesa was swatted away.
"I will go by myself, thank you." she stated. Rheesa cast a glare at her brother before striding out of the room, a freed Elliot in tow. They were 'escorted' to the throne room where Logan met them again, sitting on the throne.
"Here come the saviors of the people" he announced, slumped like a total ass, "Come closer, sister." Rheesa held her head up and walked past Elliot, who stared at her helplessly, "Today you have disappointed me beyond measure. I have been betrayed by my own blood. And a filthy spy."
"We did nothing wrong-" Elliot started.
"Punishment must be apportioned where it belongs." Logan said, standing.
"Punishment for what exactly? Disagreeing with the 'Oh so benevolent King'? I am no longer a child and neither are you." Rheesa spat.
"Yes, you are no longer a child and it is time I stopped treating you as one." He began to descend the steps towards her, "You wished to save the traitors who had gathered outside the castle this morning. Very well, you shall have your chance to save them." He gestured to the guards at the door and they brought in two men and a very frightened looking woman, "Here stand the leaders of the violent mob. I will give you a choice. Who will be punished? These strangers? Or this boy?" His eyes flicked towards Elliot, "The sentence will be death."
Rheesa's breath caught in her throat. He couldn't... She gritted her teeth, something was very wrong. Her brother used to love the people of Albion. He had always said that what made a land was its people and that they were the most interesting part. When he was a teenager, Logan would sneak out of the castle to visit the local pubs and listen to peoples stories. He would often share them excitedly with Rheesa when he snuck back in. To Rheesa he had always been larger than life, a true People's King, but now all she saw was his petty hatred and she had no idea where it came from.
"Pick me." Elliot's voice ripped her out of her reverie. She turned to look at him, not believing her ears.
"What?"
"Pick me. You can't let all of those people die, you have to pick me." Elliot sounded more sure than he ever had.
"No, I won't do this!" Rheesa growled.
"If you can't choose, then I will. They will all die." Logan said, glaring at her, "So tell me sister, what are you willing to sacrifice to do the right thing?"
"You ASS!" She screamed, "You know what you're doing is wrong yet you do it anyway? What kind of stupid ass-" she stopped herself short and just looked at him, "...Why? Why are you doing this?"
"Because you are no longer a child."
"That's like saying 'because I said so'! Not good enough, tell me why!" Rheesa raised her voice again.
"Enough." Logan commanded, "Choose. Or I will."
Rheesa glanced hopelessly at the rioters then at Elliot, her fists clenching and unclenching at her sides. He took one of her hands and looked her straight in the eyes, "You have to pick me." She choked back tears and nodded. The die was cast. She looked at Logan, hatred burning in her eyes.
"Elliot." The bastard smirked and nodded to the guards. Rheesa looked back at Elliot and felt a tear slide down her face. He wiped it off gently, smiling at her.
"It's all right. You did what you had to do. Never forget what he's done... and that I love you." He squeezed her hand and the guards roughly grabbed him and dragged him away. Rheesa whipped around, ready to punch Logan across the face. However, Walter was too fast for her. He grabbed her arm and held her back as she fought to get at Logan. Logan was unimpressed, a look of vague satisfaction on his face, as he did not even flinch.
"I will never forgive you for this." Rheesa spat.
"Good. Then you will never forget it."
"Have you forgotten, brother? You told me once that that scar on your lip would serve as a reminder to you of your promise. Have you forgotten?" Logan's eyes widened in shock for a moment, then narrowed in anger but he composed himself and turned away curtly.
"Escort my sister to her chambers. Now."
As soon as her door shut, Rheesa screamed in anger and anguish, slamming her fists down on her desk. She violently swept everything off and watched with a small bit of satisfaction as the inkwell smashed on one of the curtains. Jasper was worriedly watching, trying to avoid any missiles coming his way. Rheesa threw, smashed, and tore a few more things before finally burying her head in her hands and sobbing uncontrollably. Sora sat next to her and put his head in her lap, trying to comfort his mistress.
"You mustn't blame yourself, madam. I don't think any of us realized just how far he'd fallen into madness." Jasper said softly. Rheesa rubbed at her face, and looked up at the man.
"I have to do something. I can't just stay here." she said, almost guiltily. Just then the door opened and Walter came in.
"You're not. We leave the castle tonight." he said, "This kingdom needs nothing less than a revolution. It needs a new leader. It needs a Hero." He stared directly at Rheesa, "It's time to see if you're ready."
"Ready?"
"To be your mother's daughter." Rheesa stared back at him for a moment then stood, a whole new look in her eyes.
"Very good, I will pack some essentials." Jasper said, snapping into action.
"There's no time. We take nothing." Walter said, stopping the butler in his tracks.
"Not even... Pyjamas?" he argued.
"Come on, we must leave now." They began to make their way out of the castle, but instead of going out, Walter led them into the gardens.
"There's something sinister about these gardens at night..." Jasper commented.
"Where are we going? I thought we were leaving the castle?" Rheesa asked.
"We are. But there's something we must do first." He approached the entrance to the mausoleum at the edge of the gardens, "It's time we paid our respects to Albion's last Hero."
"I never thought I'd enter this place again." Jasper said.
Walter grunted, "You should have known better."
Rheesa walked silently into the tomb. This was where her parents were buried. Every step she took brought up a different memory and, though she no longer cried for them, her heart still hurt at the thought. She and Jasper stood next to the two sarcophagi while Walter knelt by the wall behind them.
"Albion has been too long without a Hero, but I'm hoping it will have one soon." He picked out one stone and pushed it. It offered little resistance and slid back into the wall. There was a rumbling noise and the hands of the statue between the sarcophagi fell. Resting in the palms was Rheesa's mother's treasure. The Guild Seal. Her mother had told her how the Seal had power and chose only those who have the potential to become legends, the true Heroes. At Walter's urging, Rheesa picked it up. For a second nothing happened. Then she felt the Seal grow hot. It began to vibrate with power and Rheesa couldn't let go. She looked down at it and a blinding light issued forth, completely surrounding her. She closed her eyes for only a second and when she opened them she was standing at the end of a strange path. Her vision blurred around the edges as if she were in a dream. Before her stood a woman in strange red and white robes.
"Who are you?" Rheesa asked cautiously.
"I am Theresa."