Chapter 4: The Power of Free Will
Cocidius looked on as his son played with his little wooden toys that Cocidius carved for him. He saw hi sad little face as he tried making them fight with each other when that kind of playing was meant for two people. Cocidius was now not a boy but a young man at the age of 19. Like he had vowed 6 years ago he loved his son very much and his son looked up to him happily just the way he wanted it to be. Lately Elidor seemed to express more loneliness in his behaviour. He thought about the only just pregnant wives of his half brother and best friend. He didn't just want his son to have friends but he also wanted him to have someone even closer to him like a brother or sister.
Cocidius though about this for a long time while he watched his son playing. He then fell asleep and dreamed. He dreamt of having and extended family with Edana. He saw himself sitting exactly where he was looking on at his son playing with a baby girl. A few minutes after he awoke again to find his son still playing by himself. He thought that he had really wanted a little girl of his won after Elidor was born. He thought he talk over it with Edana tonight and see what would happen after that.
Later on Cocidius found Edana in the room next door saying good night to Elidor. Once she tucked him in she found Cocidius at the door.
"Can I talk with you Edana" said Cocidius
"Of course my love" replied Edana.
The pair walked back into their bedroom and sat on the bed.
"Edana, have you noticed something strange about Elidor's behaviour lately" said Cocidius.
"Now that you mention it yes, he seems quite lonely on his own" said Edana.
Looking at each other for a few minutes it was as if they had said yes to each other without talking.
Edana began undressing herself along with Cocidius. Cocidius hoped for hi dream to come true for the sake of Elidor.
Cocidius sat outside the same room in the same chair yet again and was reacting in the very same way as the first time. He kept hearing his beloved Edana screaming out in pain, pushing his child out into the world. Cocidius was having a hard time lately. Other then his wife's mood swings and food cravings while being pregnant his father had fallen desperately ill (that didn't really get to him much) and his son was scared that his mother was dying. Once Edana had gone into labour Elidor began screaming and balling his eyes out which hadn't helped Edana in her time of need.
Suddenly the nurse walked out of the room and permitted Cocidius to walk in and see his wife and new baby. He walked in and found his wife sleeping soundly and in a crib beside her bed he looked upon his newborn child. Slowly he picked up his baby and unwrapped the cloth around it to see if he had a son or a daughter. To his great joy he looked on at his little daughter with great pride and quickly wrapped the blanket around her again so she wouldn't get cold.
He began to croone to her softly and when she heard this she woke up. She slowly smiled up at her father and began to make gurgling sounds. Suddenly a nurse walked into the room with sweat and a sad look upon her face. Cocidius stood up slowly with his daughter in his arms ad beckoned her to tell him the news.
"My Prince, your father is dead," said the nurse.
"I will not let the death of a man I despise greatly ruin the day that I am given another blessing by the Goddess" Cocidius said once again looking down upon his daughter.
"To be honest with you your highness I also agree with you" said the nurse.
"Go and burn his body like the kings of old but instead throw it in the sewerage where he belongs" replied Cocidius.
The nurse immediately left and burned Agdaras' body and threw it in the sewerage system. Meanwhile back in the castle Cocidius realised that now his father was dead he was now king. A great joy spread slowly throughout him. He could finally give his people the treatment they deserved. His father worshipped war more then he worshipped the goddess and he didn't respect his people instead he spat on them and looked at them with disgust. He looked down on his daughter once again.
"Your name shall be Ardra, for I know you have something in you that your grandfather could never have taken away from you if he were to try and train you my darling" he said to his daughter.
Cocidius returned to the room his wife was in and he found her sitting up in the bed wondering where her baby had gone. When she saw Cocidius with her baby she got up shakily. Cocidius caught her, as she was about to fall over because she was still quite frail from giving birth to her daughter.
"Please sit down first my love," said Cocidius.
Cocidius told Edana that they now had a daughter. Edana was overjoyed that finally she had a little girl of her own. The next day all the people of Ballard had gathered outside the castle where Cocidius was now standing in his father's place as king of Ballard. As king of the Britons. His people cheered out his name as he made his way up to the balcony to talk to his people. Not far behind him were a cheerful Elidor and Edana holding little Ardra.
"BALLARD, HERE ME. IT IS TRUE WHAT MANY OF YOU HAVE HEARD. THE CHAOTIC REIGN OF KING AGDARAS HAS COME TO AN END. I PROMISE YOU ALL THAT FROM NOW ON THERE WILL BE NO LEVEL OF PEASANT OR NOBLE. THROUGH THE TRUSTING EYES OF THE GODDESS WE ALL SHALL BE EQUAL. FROM NOW ON I PROMISE YOU I WILL WORK TOWARD A BETTER FUTURE OF PEACE THAT WILL LAT IN BALLARD FOREVER. AS FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE EAST WHO THINK THEY CAN TAKE US AS THEIR SLAVES THEY ARE WRONG. WE WILL FIGHT FOR OUR COUNTRY. I PROMISE YOU ALL THAT I WILL LEAD US ALL TO A FUTURE THAT WILL NEVER FALL"
Nothing in the history of Ballard was there anything more loudly then the cheering and applause coming from every person in Ballard on that day. The crowd began cheering even more as Ardra was presented to the people of Ballard. As Edana was holding little Ardra for everyone out to see Cocidius looked on proudly at his new little one.
"You will do great things someday Ardra. That I'm sure of" Cocidius thought to himself as he left the podium carrying Ardra in his arms.
He was right. Ardra was to become the greatest warrior that Ballard had ever seen.