Eva lived in a small house on the outskirts of Corus, going via the road it
would have been a long walk to the palace but Eva lived right near the
fields which had once belonged to the Royal family. She lived with her
grandmother and her mama and papa. She had no siblings, as her mother had
been very sick with the fever shortly after she was born which left her
barren. Eva didn't mind this for she had lots of friends from school and at
home mama and grandma were always there. Her papa worked on a big ship
called 'The Lioness' her papa had told her that the boat was named after a
woman who had lived many years ago in the time when the Royal Palace was
still in Corus. She had loved hearing that story about Alanna, she was her
favourite character in history. Songs were still sung about her and games
were still played by little children in the streets, she for one had played
the Lioness game many times. While she loved the Tortallan history she now
knew that there were many holes in what was taught at school. Why was Queen
Lavely never talked of?
"Eva, where have you been?" asked her mother as soon as she walked in the
door.
"Only at the ruins mama oh and look what I found" she showed her mama the
painting of Queen Lavely "I have never heard of her before, we were not
taught about her at school" she saw her mother looked strange and shuddered
involuntarily
"You should not take things from that place, it is evil Eva and I don't
ever want you to go there again. I want you to return this picture to the
ruins tomorrow before school and don't wait around in there, go straight to
school" Eva's mother was not by nature a mean woman at all, she just loved
her only daughter more than anything and the knowledge that she could never
have any more children made her naturally over protective of her.
"Mama!" protested Eva "That's so unfair"
"No it's not, now go and have your dinner and say hello to your
grandmother"
"Mama?"
"What Eva?"
"Is papa coming home tonight?"
"No Eva," her voice softened "Now go and have your dinner"
Eva walked into the kitchen, her grandma was sitting alone at the table staring into nothing. She was very old and looked very worn and tired at that moment. Just watching the ocean rush to the shore before retreating as quickly as it came back to its icy cold foamy kingdom. "Grandma?" "Oh Eva, you have been out late. Come and sit beside Grandma" "Grandma look at the painting I found, do you know anything about her? We were never taught about her in school." Eva was determined to find out about this Queen Lavely. The strangest look came over her grandmother's face one almost of fear. "Eva where did you find this?" her voice was dead "At the old Royal Palace ruins, why?" "Eva, Queen Lavely died over 500 years ago, she met a very bad end" her grandma sighed and rubbed her forehead, suddenly looking and feeling very old. "So it is Eva's time," she murmured to herself "What's Eva's time?" asked the girl impatiently wanting desperately to know what was going on. Her grandma sighed again "Well Eva a very long time ago there lived a queen. Queen Lavely of Karlavas, she was a very young queen and the only child of King Liam and Queen Andrea. Her parents died when she was twenty so she was placed head of the country at a very young age and many people said that a female that young could not run a country. She was very pretty and likeable and more intelligent than most of her male advisors and this gained her many powerful friends and most importantly the respect of her nation. Her people loved her because she was so good and kind and helped the poor. One day her third cousin who was also one of her key advisors found out the terrible truth of Lavely, because you see Eva; Lavely belonged to a long line of witches and in those days it was something terrible. She had the Gift and if you had the Gift in those days is was the work of the Dark god and they were burned at the stake. Her cousin told everyone even though Lavely begged him not too and Queen Lavely never begged. Her cousin was Lord Andrew of Conte, a horrible man who would do you a bad turn before a good one. Now the ironic thing was that the Gift ran in the Conte line as well, and it still does though they kept it a secret, however when people found out this many of them called for Lavely's execution. The date was set and Lavely was imprisoned, Lord Andrew became King Andrew, which is how the Conte's became the Royal line. However right before her death a strange mood overtook Lavely and she spoke in a voice that was not her own, she told them that they had done an immeasurable wrong and would be brought to justice. She said that 500 years from now a girl would find Lavely's story and go back in time and undo the wrongs done by Lord Andrew of Conte. It was written down of course but never believed. That girl is you Eva, I believe you will go back to Lavely's time and undo Andrew's doing."
Eva walked into the kitchen, her grandma was sitting alone at the table staring into nothing. She was very old and looked very worn and tired at that moment. Just watching the ocean rush to the shore before retreating as quickly as it came back to its icy cold foamy kingdom. "Grandma?" "Oh Eva, you have been out late. Come and sit beside Grandma" "Grandma look at the painting I found, do you know anything about her? We were never taught about her in school." Eva was determined to find out about this Queen Lavely. The strangest look came over her grandmother's face one almost of fear. "Eva where did you find this?" her voice was dead "At the old Royal Palace ruins, why?" "Eva, Queen Lavely died over 500 years ago, she met a very bad end" her grandma sighed and rubbed her forehead, suddenly looking and feeling very old. "So it is Eva's time," she murmured to herself "What's Eva's time?" asked the girl impatiently wanting desperately to know what was going on. Her grandma sighed again "Well Eva a very long time ago there lived a queen. Queen Lavely of Karlavas, she was a very young queen and the only child of King Liam and Queen Andrea. Her parents died when she was twenty so she was placed head of the country at a very young age and many people said that a female that young could not run a country. She was very pretty and likeable and more intelligent than most of her male advisors and this gained her many powerful friends and most importantly the respect of her nation. Her people loved her because she was so good and kind and helped the poor. One day her third cousin who was also one of her key advisors found out the terrible truth of Lavely, because you see Eva; Lavely belonged to a long line of witches and in those days it was something terrible. She had the Gift and if you had the Gift in those days is was the work of the Dark god and they were burned at the stake. Her cousin told everyone even though Lavely begged him not too and Queen Lavely never begged. Her cousin was Lord Andrew of Conte, a horrible man who would do you a bad turn before a good one. Now the ironic thing was that the Gift ran in the Conte line as well, and it still does though they kept it a secret, however when people found out this many of them called for Lavely's execution. The date was set and Lavely was imprisoned, Lord Andrew became King Andrew, which is how the Conte's became the Royal line. However right before her death a strange mood overtook Lavely and she spoke in a voice that was not her own, she told them that they had done an immeasurable wrong and would be brought to justice. She said that 500 years from now a girl would find Lavely's story and go back in time and undo the wrongs done by Lord Andrew of Conte. It was written down of course but never believed. That girl is you Eva, I believe you will go back to Lavely's time and undo Andrew's doing."