THRONE OF SANDSTONE

Chapter 1

A child born many centuries ago in a mythical town known as Sandstone was to become queen, protector and supreme ruler of the said town. Sandstone itself was located in Western Australia. Prophecies had foretold this child’s birth and what her existence would mean to Sandstone and its weary residents. Many villagers knew of this prophecy. Some were triumphant, but others were angry and indignant. The child came from poor parents; Anastasia, the mother who struggled to feed herself and father Dermont who died recently in war against Kalgoorie abandoning Anastasia for the cold arms of death while she was three months pregnant. Villagers of Sandstone gathered outside Anastasia’s home to witness the birth of her child. Two children, who had snuck in before all others to witness the baby’s birth, ran out excitedly letting the villagers know that the Prophecy had come true!

“She’s here,” One child said in an excited tone as he scanned the crowd. They all understood what the child’s birth represented.

“The legend, she’s here!” The crowd went wild with excitement. In the distance stood Damion; his destiny was to be King of Sandstone. Damion was a tall, fair, well built, gorgeous guy who had green eyes and short black hair. He had heard what the children proclaimed and drew closer to them. One of the children walked up to him and said excitedly while looking at him;

“Damion, she’s here, the legend is here,” Damion in turn looked at Anastasia holding her baby; the legend. To him, Anastasia seemed frail; her uncombed brown hair almost knotted and her eyes were bloodshot. Exhaustion draped her frame.

“Ana,” Damion said softly, gazing at Anastasia as she handed the baby to one of the midwives who assisted in delivering the child. Slowly she reached for Damion and hugged him. Looking into his green eyes, she for got her

frailty and was ecstatic that Damion had come to her aid once

again.

Damion was her best friend since Dermont died. She relied on him for almost everything. He was a god and always protected her.

“Damion, you’re here,” Anastasia said in an ex cited tone. Pulling away from her, he asked curiously and with concern as she passed her hands through his black hair:

“Are you Ok?”

The midwife then took the baby to bed and stayed with her while a relieved Anastasia entertained Damion. Anastasia was an average height woman who had green eyes, dark hair and was considered very beautiful. Anastasia was overjoyed that Damion came to see her and the prophesied newborn. Damion always knew that Ana had a good heart.

To him; she was the mother of his future queen and a great friend.

“Yes, Damion,” Anastasia said, fixing her eyes on him. She stumbled a bit but Damion caught her and said with concern;

“Maybe you should lie down”

Exhausted she realized that Damion was right. Giving birth to the legend was a tiresome, tedious affair; but it was worth it. She looked at him and smiled. Suddenly, the baby started crying. One of the midwives picked up the baby and cuddled her. Anastasia looked at the midwife who held her baby and signaled to her to bring the child. Then focusing back to Damion, she asked boldly,

“Would you like to hold her?” Damion blushed and answered as he looked at the baby:

“Sure” taking the baby into his heavy arms. He was overwhelmed by the thought that he was holding his future queen. He held her close to him, never turning away, always looking at her, and asked as he held her close to him,

“She’s so precious. What’s her name?”

Anastasia thought that it would be best if Damion gave her daughter a name. She knew that he was to be her daughter’s husband when she was of age. Fixing herself in a comfortable position in an effort to view both Damion and her daughter, Anastasia looked at Damion and said,

“When Dermont died, you did everything for me. I know the prophecy foretells that she will be your queen, protector and supreme ruler of Sandstone. So with your permission, I would like you to name her.”

Looking at the baby, Damion thought about the name he should give her. With firmness, he smiled once more and said,

“Sylvannah, I think her name should be Sylvannah,”

Holding Sylvannah closely to him, she cooed and blinked at him. He smiled at her and remembered what Sand stone used to be. It was a mythical town where fantasies were fashioned and became truth. Where the gods and mortals lived in harmony, where the lands were fertile and the men and women were trained to be warriors to protect their families. He also remembered ho w one man’s imperfection had ruined that fantasy. That man’s name was Bhalo. The gods had always assisted the mortals with their needs, but Bhalo’s greed had cost them almost everything. Flashbacks of how Bhalo ruined Sandstone flooded Damion’s mind causing it to slightly drift from the joyous occasion of Sylvannah’s birth.

Doera, an evil, selfish god and King of Kalgoorlie had fixed his eyes on Sandstone for a long time and coveted the mighty position of Supreme ruler. He’d bargained with Bhalo to sell him the Gods’ children as slaves promising to reward his filthy deed with ‘immortality.’ The villagers became hurt and angry because of Bhalo’s treachery which caused hate and strife between the two worlds. The mortals also knew the gods would never forget what they had done to them. The High Priest of Sandstone, Sarana had blamed the village of mortals for the war and had cursed them. His curse demanded that the town be split in two; with the stipulation that Gods and mortals were to never communicate. The consecrated waterfall was also divided. One part reserved for the gods and the other for the mortals. The true fantasy had vanished. Yet the prophecy, Sylvannah’s birth came true. His promise was to protect the child, her mother and the throne of Sandstone.

While Damion held Sylvannah, a group of horses suddenly rode into the village disturbing his remembrance of the lost fantasy. Turning his attention to them, he realized the lead horse was black. Seated upon the black beast was Doera; his mission was to take over Sandstone. Doera was a mean god who had fierce eyes and a vicious mind. Doera dismounted his horse and fixed his gaze on Damion. Walking up to him, he barked;

“I Doera, King of Kalgoorie have come to claim Sandstone.”

“Never, I say,” retorted Damion as he looked at Doera while holding Sylvannah in his arms.

“Then die,” Doera said as he drew his sword and watched his minions imitate his actions.

Damion quickly handed Sylvannah to Anastasia and said in a firm voice,

“Take her, Go and stay inside.”

“Now,” said Damion while drawing his own sword, turning his attention back to Doera and his minions.

“So much love for the mother and your child,” Doera said as he peered at the entrance that Anastasia and Sylvannah had slipped through. At the time baby Sylvannah did not know that the few moments she was spending with her mother were going to be her last.

“She’s not mine, she’s Sylvannah the……………” Damion said, his voice trailing off, quickly realizing what Doera was after. He wanted Sylvannah and the Throne of Sandstone.

“Legend, I have heard so much about her. The queen, protector and supreme ruler of Sandstone, but that will never happen, you see,” Doera said while resting his sword against Damion’s throat. He tried instilling fear in Damion but the latter possessed too much of a strong mind for that.

“And why is that?” Damion asked in a curious tone.

“The Throne of Sandstone will be mine,” Doera said, looking intently at Damion.

War broke out between the two villages. It was a vicious battle and many people were killed including Sylvannah’s mother Anastasia; for not even Damion could defeat the more powerful Doera. Doera had also kidnapped Sylvannah. He made her his daughter and promised to keep h er away from Sandstone and her destiny.

She was to be Sandstone’s protector, supreme ruler and queen. She was to rule with Damion, his enemy. Damion made a promise to find Sylvannah and bring her back to Sandstone to rule with him. But it didn’t happen. In Kalgoorlie, Sylvannah’s mind was controlled by Doera and she was trained to be a fighter and later became a great warrior who feared no one. Damion searched the nearby villages and far reaching districts for her. Years and years went by but it was all in vain. Under Doera’s tutelage Sylvannah had grown up to be the supreme warrior in the town of Kalgoorlie instead. He also did his utmost to prevent her from learning that he was in fact responsible for the murder of her parents and the war that had ruined Sandstone’s fantasy.