Chapter 37: Chapter 37

• •    • •  King Williamson or Williams of the Aqua Kingdom • •   • •

The next morning before the first cockcrow, Elgin opened her eyes like a monster, they were all black. She starred  at places like an old witch absorbing the energy of the forest, until all her memories came back in place. She remembers what she discussed last and It was last night with Eve and her brother.

She scans the room with her eyes, until she gets control over her body parts then she tries to swivel in bed, but Eve's arm is wrapped around her waist, impeding her movement, which makes her smile.

It's her first time to get up to such a warm welcome. She felt so much love that she didn't want that moment to dissolve so she remained in bed and she gently began to caress Eve's hairs  until her Lady-in-waiting barges into her room for their morning routine, a few minutes after the second cockcrow.

The Lady-in-waiting opens the blinds. The early morning sun rays strike into the room, and this hits Eve's sight "No, Maryline. I'm tired." Eve cries and Elgin giggles. "Her name isn't Maryline and it's morning, already." Elgin whispers into her ears then she gets down from the bed.

Eve shudders out her sleep, wildly opening her eyes as if she saw a ghost. Elgin's voice quickly moved her out of bed with fear. "OMG, Elgin you're alive?. I thought you were going to die last night. Damn, girl! -- you scared me."

Elgin is standing by the bed, Eve unexpectedly, jumps on her, giving her a tight huge hug and both fall back in bed.

"You will surely kill me right now." Elgin can barely speak, Eve's grip is tight. "Oh, sorry!" Eve immediately releases her and both sit up in bed.

"We've to get ready for breakfast. Dad hates latecomers." Elgin was so happy to see me by her side, yet she managed to stay tranquil while Eve was damn agitated.

With the help of other maids, Elgin's lady-in-waiting took care of them and prepared them for their day. Finally, Eve regained her privileges as a Princess. Privileges that she hated until they were taken away from her.

There is a saying which goes thus "You don't know the value of what you have until it's gone." indeed Eve is a living prove of this.

"I'm happy, you all are gathered here this morning, especially you Elgin. Your brother told me about the incident of last night and as usual, I was disheartened as if it was the first time. I don't think I will ever get used to it." he takes a deep breath with lots of mixed feelings.

"Your people have accepted to negotiate. So I will send you as their insurance." the king points at his son.

"Dad, you know how much I will like to partake in these negotiations. I need to be here to discuss the terms." Kidron affirms.

"You know how it works, son. They will surely ask for a significant hostage, before stepping their feet into this Palace.  And the only two considerable hostages, I have here are you and your sister. You know I can't send her!. You are my last option."

"Dad, we are in a better position here. We have their princess and they have nothing. So it's either they take the risk to come here with no hostage or they leave it and forget about their princess!" Kidron boldly rules.

"And so damn what, Kidron? And have me as your hostage forever?." I frown fixing him with my deathly stares. "It has nothing to do with you," Kidron says politely, immediately taking his stare away from her.

"But we are talking about me here for crying out loud." I boldly retort.

"Silence." the king hits the table. "Kidron, can't you see that I'm trying to avoid all these troubles, useless fights, and unnecessary deaths?"

"I know dad, but understand me. You have been plopping me out of all this, for so long. Now, I want to be part of the game. Please bear with me." he emotionally blackmails his father.

"Find!. I will try your method and If it doesn't work, we follow my initial plan." the king rules. "Sure, dad" Kidron nods.

"This is a complete, waste of time," Eve murmurs aloud. "Why do we exchange, hostage?" Elgin is lost in all this. They all can help but grin at her question.

"It's a form of guarantee. Like if you and I are enemies, for me to step into your kingdom, where I'm vulnerable and you can easily kill me, you have to give me someone precious to you like your child so that my men will keep him hostage. So that, if you kill me, your child or whosoever will be killed, as well." Kidron kindly explains to his sister without any hesitations.

He explains with so much passion that Eve happens to daydream. While the King was discussing with Tommy.

"Tommy, send Emissaries to tell them that the negotiation will be done in my palace today as an act of good faith, they shall be well taken care of. Do it now!" the king explains.

"My King, who will follow the emissaries as hostage?. We have to send them a hostage at once to save time." Tommy suggested.

"We won't send any this time around and If the king insists, simply tell him that I can't trust him with any of my children, after all his betrayals. It's either they take the risk to come or we stay with their princess."

"But, my king." Tommy tries to talk but they cut off his speech.

"Tommy, you heard the king loud and clear, now you can leave. We have a very delicious breakfast to attend to and it's getting seriously cold." Kidron yells.

Elgin and Eve, were already whispering among themselves, planning on what they can do to spend their last day together, far from this selfish men's disputes.

They all begin to eat, this time Eve is eating properly like Maryline always taught her. The same goes for Elgin... Two beautiful ladies sitted by each other, Kidron can't help but stare at the beauties of nature.

Kidron thinks he's being discrete, but Eve can feel his stare on her, still she acts normal and unaware. After breakfast, they separated. Elgin and Eve went in a search of distraction. While Kidron is in his room.

"I can see you like her. I'm sure she's one of the reasons, you don't want to step out of this palace today. You want to stay here and watch her, until she leaves. It's a normal feeling and you are a man." The King barges into Kidron's room.

"She's a very beautiful young lady, indeed. Unfortunately, she's already taken. I even heard her wedding was supposed to happen in the past days. So if not of this, she would have been married by now." the king adds.

"I know dad, I can't take it off my mind, how I wish I met her first. Or perhaps it's destiny that has brought us together. You said she was supposed to be married, but she isn't yet. Maybe God is trying to tell me something." Kidron eagerly retorts, turning to meet his father.

"Dad, you told me the woman in the century was promised to you but King Demons took her away from you, right?. The same thing can still happen, history can repeat itself,-- but this time, it will be his son." Kidron boldly says...

"Hahaha..." The King chuckles as he takes a sit on the bed, "My son, I don't want you to engage in such a series of useless fights. Learn how to lose, learn how to respect one's thing and chooses, you need to accept it. This girl is taken, so shall it be. We will find another lady for you. A beautiful girl from a respectable family."

"Dad, I don't want any other girl. I don't know why but I feel connected to her. You have always pressured me to get married, and I think I've finally seen the right lady." Kidron can be stubborn at times.

"Oh, son. Damn it!. We can always find another. Avoid troubles." the king yells. "What if trouble keeps finding me?" Kidron retorts recklessly and the king shakes his head in disappointment.

"I'm here to remind you of this, you're the heirs to my throne, I want you to be a king of Justice, I want you to always put the interest of your family, then that of your kingdom and yours should always come last. You rule for the people and not for yourself or your ego. My son, the world is changing, things are changing. They are not more the way they used to be, back in my days. The people are tired of fighting, losing their home, husbands and their children all the times. They no longer want fights. What they want is assurance and sustainability and I want you to always put this into consideration. Fighting is not always the best way out and the earlier we all understand this, the better for us. I don't know why but I feel great changes coming, not today but very soon..." his words are so deep...

"Dad, why are you talking like today is your last day?."

"I'm not getting any younger, I just felt it right to tell you this now when it's still early. I want to see the change in your reasoning now! before I pass out. I want you to reason differently from all these old kings, who think fighting and stealing is all that matters. I'm tired of seeing people die my son, I'm tired. I have killed more men than I can ever count and to be honest, I'm not proud of it. Who are we to decide who has to live or die?."