I awoke one morning to rain and thunder. I had had a terrible nightmare nights previous. An obvious omen that was ignored by my foolish father. The morning rain did little to improve my mood. I readied myself for the day and left for the courtyard.
The sky was bright and heavy with grey with rainclouds. I stepped outside and into the tiny patch of flower garden that my mother held near and dear. Little buds of white poked up from the ground.
"They're very pretty, are they yours?"
I turned around to find a girl standing there. Her hair was of gold and her eyes of emerald.
"They were my mother's…Who are you? I've never seen you around the castle before, and the courtyard is off limits to those in the Valley without permission…"
I eyed her cautiously.
She was garbed in tattered dingy robes and covered in dirt from head to exposed toes.
She looked back to the flowers with a timid shrug. "My name is Alvara." She looked hesitant. "I'm here to deliver a message-a warning to King Ikana!"
I looked at her half amused and said, "Well, Alvara, I'm sure my father won't heed your warning unless it's an enemy invasion!" I chuckled.
She looked at me with a worried expression. "It is, actually."
I looked at her. "Who's attacking?"
"The Garo."
"The Garo-when?" I then became skeptical. "How would you know? If this is some sort of trick, I-"
"Sire, this no trick! Tell your father immediately! I don't know how much time we-"
There was an explosion somewhere in the distance.
I grabbed the strange girl by the wrist in fury and pulled her close. "Is that them?? What am I saying, of course it is!"
She was terrified. "Sire, I-Wait, please!"
"I want you to explain this to the king yourself, Alvara." I started towards the castle as she tried to wriggle free from my grasp. "Stop struggling, you aren't going anywhere."
"No! Please don't…" Her voice was thick and her eyes were full of tears. "Don't take me to King Ikana…"
I stopped. "Why?"
"Because…because I am one of the Garo, but I refuse to participate in this war, Ikana Prince!!" Her voice was hushed.
I looked at her. Something told me that I had no reason to be upset with her. I wasn't aware at this time that I was of godly status. But, I suppose that's what showed me her sincerity. "What…?"
"I know that we could stop this! But our people, both Garo and Ikana, are so bent on this destruction…" She sighed in disgust.
I shook my head. "Alvara, we can't stop this. There is absolutely no way that we could stop such an inevitable fate."
There was another explosion-this time just outside the walls of the courtyard followed by yells and screeches of battle.
"Alvara. Run."
