Exotica's Fable
The Never Ending Quest - Episode 63000
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Princess Exotica entered the throne room wearing a long violet dress. Her
long dark hair was enriched with diamonds, which gleamed brightly in the
torchlight. Her eyelids flickered to stay awake, yet she still walked
gracefully.
"You didn't have to fully dress her". Dedrick thought. They were the only two in the room. He'd sent away the guards and yes-men so that Exotica need not feel shy to speak her mind. "Your highness." Dredrick said, rising from the chair and walking forward. He met her face-to-face in the middle of the room and kissed her hand. "Forgive me for awaking you at this hour." "No need for pardons, your nobleness. I rarely sleep as it is in these terrible times." Her eyes stayed fully open now, and she then realized there was something wrong. "Where's my lord father?"Dredrick held her hand. "Your highness, what I tell you will be hard to bear, but you must bear it, for the sake of the kingdom. Your father has ruled the lands peacefully for as long as he has been king. Never has there been a problem his city guards or Knights couldn't handle…until now. He's become overwhelmed in stress. Your father is a strong man, but this sudden revolt, especially by somebody he thought a loyal friend, I fear is slowly driving him mad." He braced himself for her backlash, but was surprised to see she took the news calmly, only widening her eyes in wonder. "I understood." She said, after some time. She pulled his hand off hers. "I've also have noticed the change in him. Frequently, I'll find him talking to himself. He's fired his trusted advisors, many whom were wise as well as good friends. And whenever he's around me, he talks off visiting our friends across the kingdom, as if this war didn't exist." She bit her lip, perhaps to hide her frustration. "Where is he now?""He's been taken to his private chambers." "Will he be safe there?""We wouldn't have put him there if it wasn't." "And will he be happy there?" she asked sharply."Probably the happiest he's been in weeks." She studied his face, as if trying to distinguish a lie, but finally said, "Very well."Dedrick let out a sigh of relief; the hard part was over. Exotica seemed uneasy about the situation, but he had faith that she would overcome it. "She must, or we don't stand a chance." "Rest assured your highness, we will do all in our power to protect you both." "Your son fights for the enemy." She said, giving off a look just short of a glare."Will they ever cease to accuse me?" "I'll tell you what I told your father: I know not of what has driven my son to his follies, but I intend to stop him." "Are you saying you're willing to take your own son's life?""If it comes to that, I will." "Gods forgive me, I will. Exotica gave him a dubious look. "My nanny once told me this; there once lived three fathers, each sworn loyal to the king. Each of them bore a son around the same time, who grew up to be warriors for the king. Not long after they gained this title, they were sent together on a quest to slay the dragon, Valisha, in the eastern swamps. They were gone for many weeks, and each trickling day, the fathers' fear grew until it became part of their souls. One day, the boys returned, and this time with the dragon's army behind them; they'd become traitors.She continued. "The boys' fathers had little time to dismay; they grabbed their mail and swords and ran off to fight, and eventually met their own sons in single combat. One of the fathers pleaded for his son to return to their side. He barely finished his words before his son beheaded him. One of the other fathers fought his son in battle and was killed when his armor gave away and his belly cut open. The final father fought his son in battle and won, thanks to his son's foolishness, but it was not long after the father opened his throat and took his own life. Tell me, Sir D'Honaire, what have you say this?" "I say you're wasting your time over a child's tale." "Take it as you wish." As she turned to leave, Dedrick caught her arm."Your highness, I know this is difficult for you, but I need you only a bit longer. We need to get you crowned Queen to avoid issues of succession." Exotica turned around.
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Noise Tank (63000...why does that seem like a good number?)
12/24/2006 6:25:23 PM
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