Fated Union

My limbs were on fire, begging me to stop the torture. My senses tuned for the next attack that could’ve happened at any moment. The bruising on my ribs was proof that I had let my guard down at the last attack. I could still feel the imprint of the dull blade on my skin as my wound pulsed in time with my breath.

Whoosh.

I ducked just in time as an arrow flew right where my head was. Picking up my pace, I thundered towards the edge of the field. The grass itched my calves as I manoeuvred to the right, missing another arrow. My side ached from the sudden change in direction and my step faltered. The next arrow grazed my shoulder as I worked to steady my steps again. The arrows were coming at a steady pace now as I threaded myself through them. Some came at me from the front while others arch above and fell to me. I was so close to the end that I could see Zeke, cocking another arrow into his bow and taking aim. I danced my way around the arrows now that I could see where they were coming from, a smirk slowly spreading on my face as I neared the end. My heels dig into the earth as I skidded to a stop in front of the arrow that Zeke just readied. The point grazed the centre of my chest.

‘Drop it, Zeke, I’m done.’ I breathed; the rise of my chest prickled the arrow causing a small cut. My guardian tossed the bow and arrow to the ground as he shook his head.

‘You’re getting sloppy. That swing should’ve never landed and I was holding back as well.’ Zeke muttered as he began walking towards the cabin, leaving the training field behind. I could tell I disappointed him today. I followed closely behind, something that he taught me from a young age. Always stay as close as possible when moving, you never know when a threat will attack. We settled in the dining room and I stripped from my tracksuit pants and bloody socks, leaving on my boxers so Zeke could assess my wounds. ‘What’s on your mind Keilan?’ Zeke demanded as he pressed his hands onto my side. I hissed from the pressure as the dull pain slowly subsided, being replaced by a warmth that spread through me. I took a few deep breaths, shuddering as the cold voice commanded to be heard in my mind again. It had been replaying throughout the day, destroying my efforts of locking it in a box and throwing it away.

’It spoke to me again. The figure in my dreams.’ Zeke moved one hand to my chest while the other slid to my shoulder. ‘He told me I have to be at the Queen’s palace tomorrow, join the line, and agree to be her warrior.’ Zeke furrowed his brows as he knelt to heal my blistered feet. ’It hasn’t spoken to me in 82 years and now, it wants me to sell myself to royalty scum?’ Zeke stood and walked around me, running his hands over light cuts and bruises, leaving perfect skin behind.

‘Maybe it’s the stars pushing you towards your destiny?’ Zeke finally offered, standing in front of me, forcing me to tilt my head slightly to meet his eye. A gentleness swirled in his normally commanding gaze that I hadn’t seen since I first mentioned the voice all those years ago.

‘The stars… You know I don’t believe in that crap Zeke and if the stars show themselves as whatever that thing is in my dreams, maybe you shouldn’t be trusting the stars at all.’ I fought to control the shiver that wracked my body. It will forever be burned into my memory. Endless shadows spilled from the form, tendrils curled towards it and some extending towards me, coaxing me to come and join. The world was always a perpetual grey, making the two burning red eyes pierce me. It felt as if it was standing right in front of me, yet the distance between us was endless.

‘We followed its instructions all those years ago and look at how you turned out.’ Zeke turned towards the kitchen. ‘I don’t think it would hurt to see how it plays out.’ I quickly grabbed another pair of tracksuit pants and socks from my room, adjacent to the kitchen, I left the door open so he could still hear my voice.

’We were going to do what it said anyways. We started before its message even came. We started as soon as I could walk, but it waited until I was 18.’ I walked out and sat on one of the counter stools. Zeke took out a few ingredients and started on dinner. The sunset caused a warm orange, red and yellow hue to filter through the window, even though it was almost 7 pm. ‘I don’t understand what being the Queen’s warrior means. Am I expected to join her army? Become her personal guard? It’s too vague. Why would I work for and protect someone who colonised and destroyed the old countries? You told me this yourself. You saw what she did.’ Zeke’s quiet as he moved around the kitchen methodically.

‘The Queen’s immortality was gifted to her by the fae, as a parting and celebratory gift after the war. She took control of the whole mortal realm and abolished her councils.’ I rolled my eyes. Zeke must really like the sound of his own voice to give me a repeat history lesson. ‘I’ve heard rumours Keilan. The Queen is looking for something or someone. I told you that you were born for greatness, this could be it. Your hundredth birthday is in three weeks and I don’t think it’s a coincidence that you were given another message now.’ Zeke plated the food – rice, beans, chicken. It never tasted great, but fuel is fuel. Zeke began eating while occasionally looking at me, waiting. I finished my plate and took it to the sink, my mind was going a mile a minute.

‘I’ll go.’ I muttered to the wall, Zeke still eating behind me. ‘But as soon as I think it’s bullshit, I’m leaving.’ I turned, staring Zeke down.

‘Okay. You know no mortal will ever be able to find this place, not even the Queen. We’ll leave tomorrow morning, I’ll be with you the entire time.’ A quiet sigh of relief escaped me. Zeke is all I have. The only father figure and mentor I’ve ever known. I wouldn’t be able to bear leaving Zeke here alone in a secluded forest to go frolic with a Queen I hate. I took Zeke’s now empty dish and quickly washed up.

‘I’m going to train tonight. You coming?’ He’ll always come. Even if he’s not actively training me, he’ll always watch. Zeke stared at me for a second too long.

‘I think I’ll stay in tonight. I trust that you’re strong enough that if something were to happen, you’d be able to make it back to me before you get killed.’ Zeke turned and headed to his room, the door clicking shut behind him, leaving no room for argument. I could’ve burnt a hole through that door with my stare. What the fuck? Something was wrong with Zeke. I stalked out of the cabin, slamming the front door hard enough that I know he heard it. Shoved my boots on and broke out into a sprint towards the field. The sun had set by now, the stars coming out to play with the moon. I was soon covered in a sheen of sweat as I ran laps around the empty clearing, sticking to the edges of the forest that surrounded it. It wasn’t enough to burn the frustration away. I stopped in front of a tree and began punching. The tree shook from my continuous blows. I usually only did this in autumn and winter as part of my training and to also stock up on firewood, but this gnawing anger and dread inside were begging for me to take it out on something. Zeke was now acting weird after it showed up again, maybe I never should’ve told him. The tree finally upheaved after 11 punches which was a personal best, usually, it took about 15-20. I alternated between running and punching until my whole body was on fire. My knuckles had split, new blisters had formed on my feet and my limbs were yelling at me to stop. The moon was beginning its descent as I made my way back to the cabin, to get what little sleep I could. I was exhausted, but two red ones stared back at me every time I closed my eyes.

-

The exhaustion was nothing new. I barely got any sleep and the sleep that I did squeeze in put me more on edge. It and I just stood before each other, trying to figure the other out. There was a familiarity about it that I couldn’t ignore, no matter how hard I tried. I suppressed a yawn as I surveyed our surroundings. Another thing I was taught from a young age, always have an escape route. The palace stood tall, a massive white rectangle with rows upon rows of windows lining the walls. There was a sharp glow that encased the palace due to the light reflecting off the glass, it made it so that no one could directly look at the palace in daylight. A wide, empty garden surrounded the perimeter of the palace, just grass and a few paths that lead to the palace. My gut churned slightly as Zeke and I followed the line in silence. This palace was designed for defence. No one would be able to enter and exit without being watched. I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a sniper behind one of those windows, waiting for someone to make a wrong move. I brushed my hand along the gate as we moved past it, officially painting a target on our heads. I wouldn’t be able to climb the gate in a rush. It was twice my height, made of steel and sharp spikes protruded from the top. The spikes were long enough that if someone was unfortunate enough to end up on them, they’d impale the unlucky bastard fully, using the victim’s blood to slide further.

‘What do you think the Queen’s so afraid of that she’ll go to this extent to keep it out?’ I whispered. The chatter from the line swallowed my voice. They were all men.

‘I don’t know. Be on your guard. If anything happens, our only chance is to slip out through the crowd.’ Zeke murmured. My heartbeat sped up as we moved closer and closer to the palace door. It stood out like a sore thumb compared to the rest of the palace. It wasn’t grand or carved in intricate details, it was just a simple steel door. I’d have to duck slightly to enter, but my shoulders would just make it without me having to turn sideways.

‘If I’m getting picked to be one of those guards, I think I’d rather just get shot.’ I eyed the guards standing in pairs along the exterior of the palace. They wore all black – long sleeve shirt, straight pants, combat boots, thick belt. A helmet, dagger, pistol and grenade were clipped on the belt while a sword and rifle were strapped to their back. What caught me off guard the most was their blank stares. They looked like living corpses, faces void of anything.

‘I’d shoot you myself before letting them condemn you to the life of a statue.’ Zeke and I were at the door now, standing before a pair of guards. It felt as if they were looking through us instead of at us. An uneasiness settled in my stomach as the door opened. Two guards flanked what looked to be a commander. He wore the same uniform, but each arm had two gold bands surrounding his bicep. One gold band lived around his neck as well.

‘Put your hands in front of you. A cuff will be placed around your wrists. This is for the Queen’s safety. They will be removed when you exit or unless the Queen deems you worthy of what she’s seeking.’ His voice left no argument. He nodded once and the guards next to him pulled out silver metal handcuffs that had intricate swirls ingrained in them. I glanced at Zeke who already had his hands out and quickly followed suit. The cuffs clicked on, and I immediately felt drained. My power was cut off, my strength gone. I hid my shock as we followed golden boy (which seemed like a fitting nickname) inside the palace. My guard stayed up as we walked deeper into the palace. The walls were the same clinical white as the outside, there were guards posted along the walls and they all had that same empty vessel blank in their eyes. We stopped before a grand silver arch. The double doors of steel towered above, its lack of decoration was meant to intimidate and impose.

‘When you enter, you will kneel before the Queen. You will not speak unless spoken to. You will bow your head until you are told otherwise.’ Golden boy said facing the grand doors. He knocked twice, the doors swung inward, and light spilled from the opening. I focused on my feet as I followed golden boy towards the centre of the room. Even if I wanted to look up, I’d be blinded by the sharp rays that pierced through the windows. We were at the back of the palace, the back wall was all windows, and sunlight glared through them. My knees hit the floor as I tried to take in our surroundings. Wariness settled in my bones. There were stairs before me, leading to a silver throne. I couldn’t make out the Queen, her features were hidden by the glow, but I could feel her presence. It was dominating.

‘Show me your face.’ She commanded. Her voice was husky, sultry even. It demanded to be heard and followed. I raised my head, squinting against the light as I looked up at her. She sat, one leg crossed over the other, leaning towards the side with her chin propped on her fist. I gasped as our eyes locked, my heart thundered. They were red. A deep, dark blood red. Her gaze was sharp. It felt as if she was slicing my skin, peeling it back to uncover all my secrets. ‘Names?’

‘I am Zeke, and this is Keilan. We thank you for this opportunity, Your Majesty.’ Zeke’s voice soothed some of the nerves jittering under my skin. Could she be the mystery in my dreams? Her eyes slid over my face, down my body, a fire flicked to life in her irises. As she sized me up, I returned the treatment. She wore a red sleeveless gown that hugged her chest and flowed down from the waist to the floor. The skirt was loose around her legs, a slit reaching her mid-thigh on both sides. Black combat boots covered her calves, and her lips were painted red.

‘Where are you from? What do you do?’ Her voice wrapped around my throat, coaxing me to speak. My teeth ground as I worked to keep my mouth shut. Zeke and I had agreed he would do all the talking as I don’t have the control to not say something damning.

‘Your Majesty, we-’

‘No. I want him to speak.’ She pointed a manicured finger at me, smirking. I glanced at Zeke, he gave me a slight nod.

‘We are lumberjacks. We live in a cabin in the forest and sell firewood to the surrounding towns.’ The lie rolled smoothly off my tongue. I couldn’t exactly tell her that we’re fae and that Zeke brought me here so I could train in private, preparing me for ‘greatness’. She studied me thoroughly, twirling a piece of her blonde hair.

‘I like him.’ Here it comes. ‘I choose him.’ A sigh escaped my lungs, whether in relief or disappointment, I didn’t know. ‘Commander Barron, bring him to his new room and kick the other out.’ Golden boy (who has a name, Barron) walked towards me as the Queen stood. Panic kicked in as she started walking towards the side exit.

‘Wait. If you’re keeping me, you’re keeping both of us. I’m not staying unless Zeke’s here too.’ I shouted after her. I tasted blood before I registered my head being whipped to the side. Golden boy’s hand was already winding back, preparing to strike again.

‘You will not speak unless spoken to. How dare you threaten Her Majesty the Queen.’ Another strike.

‘Barron.’ Command laced her tone, and Barron stopped mid-strike. ‘You will not lay another finger on my chosen one.’ Barron dropped his arm to his side. His gold band gleamed in the sun; the Queen had a full leash on this guy. I searched the Queen’s eyes as I repeated myself.

‘I will not stay unless he stays too.’ The Queen’s eyes narrowed, calculating. Whatever she just thought of was clearly a good enough reason to indulge me. She gave a slight nod.

‘Fine. He stays.’ Not sparing another glace at us, she marched away. Barron grabbed the chain linking my wrists and pulled. I stumbled after him as Zeke was pulled along behind me.

‘I will bring you to your rooms now. You are to rest until dinner. You will be dining with the Queen and your role will be given to you then.’ I kept track of the directions golden boy pulled me in. If need be, I have a rough layout in my head of how to escape.

‘What about the cuffs?’ I asked as we reached a door on the east side of the palace. He pulled out a key and unlocked the door, shoving me inside, Zeke a step behind me.

‘They will not be removed until further instructions from the Queen. Take this time to get acquainted with your chambers.’ The door closed and a click echoed with a finality, sealing my fate.