Chapter 1: The Choice


I was in a deep wonderful slumber when a bright light flooded my eyes making me groan angrily hearing light footsteps.

"Must you sleep all day my lady, you will waste away this beautiful morning." Jasper said coming to the side of the bed saying, "Shall I wake your sleeping companion?"

He moved the covers seeing my collie Hal laying spread out across the bed making me laugh.

We both got up as Jasper walked over to two outfits saying, "I've taken the liberty of preparing two outfits for you, you want to look your best for young master Elliot."

I smiled blushing lightly to myself; Elliot was my dearest friend since I was little. I would be lying if I said I didn't fancy him but he wasn't showing me any signs he wanted more than friendship and I grew bored throwing my affection I felt at him with no indications back. I grabbed the more comfy of the outfits going behind my curtains changing quickly as Hal wagged his tail anxious to leave the room.

Once I finished Jasper smiled saying, "You look lovely my lady, Elliot is in the gardens waiting for you. Have a good day."

"You as well Jasper." I said leaving the room with Hal running ahead of me.

I walked quickly down the many stairs as the smell of flowers entered my nose making me smile. This was the one place I spent time with my mother. She always wanted me to be a little lady but unfortunately, I took too much after my father for that.

Hal ran ahead scaring off the birds as I saw Elliot in the distance waving towards us, he knelt down as Hal licked his face laughing.

"Oh brave knight armies won't stand a chance against the likes of you." He said standing up smiling towards me.

"And how will you stop your foes in their tracks dear lady?" he said as I smiled slyly kissing him tenderly on the lips as he froze at my touch.

I pulled away smirking lightly saying, "How was that?"

He blushed looking down embarrassed saying, "Well I doubt you can stop an army doing that."

I gave a slight frown but hid it quickly replying, "Well it stopped you didn't it."

He laughed lightly saying, "Suppose it did. Anyway, the reason I wanted to meet you here, I don't know if you've heard the rumors but a factory worker was executed last night. Again it's just a rumor but sounds like your brother gave the order."

I looked out at the city below shocked that my brother would do something like that, true he hadn't been the same since his last expedition but surely he wouldn't stoop so low to start killing off his own people. I knew something had to be done, he couldn't keep doing this and surely he knew that our parents would have wanted better for this land.

"The servants our restless after this news, I think you should talk to them to calm them. They may not like your brother but they still care for you." Elliot said kindly as I nodded while he took my hand softly.

We walked hand in hand to the kitchen as I saw the workers talking amongst themselves obviously worried about what was to come. Upon seeing me they stopped talking bowing respectfully awaiting what I had to say.

"I know you all have already heard the rumor about my brother and times are indeed very hard right now. Rest assured I'm doing everything in my power to help make this environment a little easier for you all." I said trying to calm their weary faces as it seemed to do the work.

"What kind of royal speech was that? You didn't yell or threaten… it was bloody marvelous." I heard a familiar voice say as I smiled turning towards Walter.

"No use in having two tyrants in the castle." I said jokingly as he smiled looking at me proudly.

"Now are you ready for your lessons?" he asked while I nodded excitedly as Elliot smiled at me saying, "Take good care of her Walter."

Walter, Hal and I made our way through the castle as Walter told me the rumors were true about the worker being executed. We passed by a group of people waiting to see my brother as one up front with a clipboard waved at us.

She smiled kindly to us saying, "Would you have a moment to spare and sign this petition. It's to help with the growing homeless and orphans in Bowerstone to get them a better place to stay that's safe."

I smiled kindly grabbing it from her signing as she thanked me excited while I waved following again behind Walter. We made it to the training room as I grabbed a sword while Hal found a comfy spot watching us bored.

We began striking each other back and forth, I would be lying if swords felt comfortable in my hands but Walter said knowing to use a sword was the best line of defense. My father had been a great sword fighter in his days so naturally, I tried to be like him.

"Do you remember the stories I used to tell you, about your father the hero King? Remember what you used to say to me after every story?" Walter said as I smirked hitting his sword saying, "Teach me how to be a hero."

He smiled proudly as we both kept attacking and blocking one another until he stopped saying, "I want you to swing as hard as you can, don't hold anything back."

I nodded leaning down looking at the sword, all my anger towards the people being treated poorly and Elliot not accepting my love in return I glared towards Walter swinging down as hard as I could.

"Well look at that you bloody well broke the thing." Walter said as I moved some hair from my eyes seeing it indeed break making me smile.

Walter then frowned with a sigh beginning to say, "Listen I need to speak to you about…"

He was interrupted by Elliot pushing the door open saying, "Walter, Sophia you must come look outside, it looks like a demonstration."

We looked at one another then rushed towards Elliot looking outside to see a large mob growing in front demanding to see Logan. I heard Walter whisper this isn't good as I frowned seeing him look towards the stairs.

"I'm going to talk to your brother perhaps I can talk him out of doing anything rash." He said disappearing while Elliot grabbed my hand comfortingly.

After what felt like hours I turned towards the stairs then Elliot saying, "We have to go up and help Walter my brother may listen to me."

Elliot nodded with slight worry in his face as I held his hand tightly watching the guards move towards the door smirking. I snuck gracefully by them while Elliot did his best to do the same as we made it to the war room.

I let go of Elliot's hand and opened it confidently seeing Walter on his knees with my brother looming over him.

"My dear little sister, what are you doing here?" Logan said slightly surprised while I said, "You have to stop Logan you can't keep treating our people like this."

"Our people you say?" he said looking at Walter but smirked saying, "If this is how you feel seize them."

The guards grabbed Elliot and I while I glared towards Logan as we all walked to the throne room seeing some of the mob looking around concerned. Logan walked towards his throne as I gave Elliot a reassuring smile but he didn't seem as confident.

"You are no longer a child my dear sister, here before you is the leaders of the mob that threatened our kingdom. I'm going to give you a choice either your beloved Elliot or these people will be executed." Logan said standing back up between them while my eyes widened.

"Logan don't..." Walter began while Logan turned glaring at him saying, "She made her choice in interrupting me this is her punishment."

"I can't choose…" I said quietly as tears threatened to leave my eyes while Logan crossed his arms saying, "If you can't choose they will all be executed."

Elliot grabbed my hand saying, "It should be me if anyone has to die let it be me these people are innocent."

He caressed my face sadly as I melted behind his pained eyes while I looked over at the terrified mob. I walked towards them then looked at Elliot as he nodded encouraging me to pick him but I sighed looking back at the mob.

"I am so sorry…" I said to them as they began weeping softly and Logan's guards walked towards them.

"No! It should be me you can't do this Sophia!" Elliot said pleading as the guards escorted him out of the throne room with them while I glared at Logan saying, "I will never forgive you for this."

"Good, then you will never forget. Escort my sister to her chambers." Logan said waving us away while I watched the sobbing mob be escorted in front of the castle to be executed.


I hope you all enjoyed the first chapter, I will be posting one or two chapters a week depending on how fast I write.