My Moon

I was five when Icedia soldiers found me in the outskirts near no man’s land. No memory of the past, no sense of the present, just an overwhelming feeling of cold and emptiness. I was freezing, bleeding, and thinking of not who I might be but of who might have left me.

“Hey! Over here! I found a body!”

I heard footsteps and gathered my strength to see the voice.

“Look, her eyes are open,” this voice was closer than the rest, “Can you hear me? What’s your name?”

His face was too close, it blurred. I looked up, the bright yellow disk made the sky seem black. How I didn’t notice it before?

“Moon,” I said. And that became my name.

***

Days have passed, I slipped in and out of conscientiousness, somebody was giving me bitter mixtures and wads of questions. Somebody put bandages on my wounds and gave me wool blankets, but I was cold nonetheless.

Gradually, my body was feeling better, but I didn’t speak besides that one word on the first day.

I was sitting near a hot pile of coals, only my head was visible under a huge blanket.

“Moon?” The voice was so deep it vibrated in my ears, yet the word wasn’t said with hostility. I didn’t answer and wrapped a blanket tighter around my body.

The man entered the tent, wearing familiar deep blue armor with an emblem of two crossed swords, but he wasn’t an ordinary soldier. The power emanating from him was clogging my throat. He smelled like leather and smoke. He wore a simple silver band on his ring finger and two completely black swords were visible from his back. I didn’t see his mouth as it was concealed by the short black beard but what really discerned him from others were his eyes. Black, piercing right into your soul, but tired and sad like nothing could make them laugh.

He sat across from me making the tent smaller.

“I’m Demir. Do you know who you are?”

Simple question, but it wasn’t pulling answers from me as others did.

He was waiting, so I shook my head.

He mirrored my movement with a deep sigh, his gaze moving to mine, “Within a week we will return to the capital, Silla. My friend William Villarael and his wife Eve will take care of you. Soon you will feel better, I promise.”

This man just gave me a promise I couldn’t give to myself, he made me feel safe.

He started to leave and my hand moved without a second thought.

I grabbed his sleeve, “C-can... I stay with you?”

A hint of anger flashed in his eyes, “Do you know who I am?”

I flinched, but instead of letting go, my fingers squeezed tighter.

“You are Demir with sad eyes. I will make you laugh if I can stay with you.”

Heat crawled to my cheeks, surfacing beads of sweat on my forehead. I thought if I also make a promise I can stay with him.

Sharp exhale. He tilted his head back and laughed. He actually laughed, but it wasn’t joyful. His laughter sounded bitter.

“You are a witty child”- he patted my hand- “I won’t be far, my friends live in my castle, so will you.”

And he, Demir Blackstorm, the King of Icedia, became my home.

***

We both kept our promises. Several winters after Icedia army found me I braided pink and blue flowers into the army commander’s horse and the King cracked a first genuine laugh. Though it wasn’t my initial intent I was happy with the result.

“You really kept your promise, Moon,” he said after a short breather. “Tell me”- he leaned to my eye level, face became serious again- “Did I keep mine?”

“You did more, my King. I am happy,” and I meant it.

My adopted parents were kind to me. They obeyed Demir and gave me shelter, education, and family name. Villaraels belonged to a noble lineage, William was head kingdom treasurer and we never lacked anything. They were glad to discover that I somehow have inherently regal manners and prioritized my education over everything else.

I strived to fit in, it was my way to show them gratitude. They treated me with respect, but I was more like a tool to show their honor and loyalty rather than a child equal to their own. I tried to help them so the obligation didn’t become a burden.

Eve taught me most things I know about the world, her history lessons replaced fairytales parents read to their kids before bed. Stories about magic I found the most fascinating subject since it is the foundation of our realm and it is what I lacked. My favorite was the tale about the magical oak that grew out of nowhere 300 years after the apocalypse. Its branches were pure white and big enough to touch the sky. The magical oak gifted five humans enormous magical power and immortality, but right after, the tree disappeared, as if it never existed. Demir Blackstorm was one of them, along with four other gifted humans they created five Kingdoms: Icedia in the North, Deira in the South, Cadmia in the West, Elisoria, and Erengar in the East. It was a new era, kingdoms flourished encouraging tight relationships with trade and marriages between them. Until one day, when Dolunay, daughter of the King of Deira and Demir’s wife, betrayed our King. The war erupted and Demir had to kill Dolunay and her father, King Caelum of the South.

“How old is King Demir?” I asked.

Eve pursed her lips, “Is this what caught your interest in the whole story?”

Demir Blackstorm was my center of gravity. He gave me home and purpose. He kept his word and showed me affection. Of him, I could talk hours on end.

“Our King doesn’t even have grey hair, that I don’t understand.”

“Well, that’s the beauty of immortality. King Demir may be over 200 years old but look in his peak form.”

“Why did the Queen betray king Demir?” I asked what I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear. Somehow it resonated with my younger self when somebody left me to die in the snow, it also felt like a betrayal.

“I don’t know the reason and in fact, it is not important. Dolunay Dracos seduced Demir’s brother and destroyed our relationship with Deira.” Eve said with a stern voice.

And I agreed with her.

By the age of 10, I realized that I want to protect my home.

***

My teenage years were safe and peaceful. Though many healers tried to recover my memory, my mind stayed blank until the day I was found. And I did not need to remember, my life was in Icedia with my king. I did not have to work for a living but chose to become an animal healer, horses in particular. I love those loyal animals, but frankly, it was my second choice. My dream was to be a warrior of the royal army. William and Eve were repulsed by the idea, considering violence and blood aren’t suitable for a noble lady like me. But I didn’t mind gore, I was born in it. To embrace this part of me I needed to channel my darkness somewhere. Unfortunately, only those who were blessed with magic could have a chance to join the unit and I had none. Or I thought so.

November 20th, the day I was found, became my birthday. I was turning 19 that night, rushing to the king’s chambers to receive blessings from Demir. I stopped in front of the massive door to catch my breath and knock.

“Witty child, come in already.”

That nickname was getting old, I wasn’t a child anymore. I poked my head in the doorway, “My king, how did you know it was me?”

As usual, he was sitting in the chair, scrolls of paper in a chaotic mess in front of him. His eyes met mine, “The whole castle could hear your stomps. Who else could be so obviously loud?”

“It’s not me, steps are echoing in empty places. Your castle needs carpets or more furniture.” I walked inside.

He smiled and walked closer to me. I winced at his weightless steps. “Once I waited weeks to hear a whole sentence from you, now you always talk back to your king.”

My cheeks flushed, “I’m sor-”

I didn’t have a chance to finish. In a blink, Demir leaned and hugged me.

His head over mine. His comforting scent washed over me. “Don’t be sorry, Moon. I’m glad. You are the only one with whom I can be a human.”

Something in my chest swelled, he rarely told me such things, let alone hugged me so openly. “Moon Villarael, I give you my blessing, to have a long and happy life. Happy birthday.”

As soon as he finished, I heard the door creaking and a moment later, Demir fell to the floor.