The fire was burning slowly in the hearth as Lord Gregory Ravenhart stood by the window and watched the heavy rains poured, the waves crashed at the distance, and the darkness which enveloped the town below. Never in the forty years of his life had he experienced rainfall this heavy. It was raining for three days straight; he had the people of Miraviere evacuated to his mansion, as the reconstruction of the town had to be halted due to the weather. ‘How unfortunate that rebuilding has to be delayed,’ he thought, ‘the goods from Kirith will not arrive for another three days.’
With a glass of brandy on his hand, he took a sip. Suddenly, a lightning flashed followed by a loud thunder, and then he heard several cries of children outside. “At least the mansion is big and sturdy enough for everyone to take shelter,” he said to himself, “I should go check each family how they are doing.”
He finished his glass and placed it on the table. As he turned around, he saw his door slightly open, and a boy peering at him.
“Grandpa?” he said, sniffling.
Although startled at first, Gregory gave a sigh of relief and went to pick up his grandson. “Are you scared, Augie?” The little boy nodded. “I couldn’t sleep,” the grandson said.
“Augie,” Gregory said, “would you like grandpa to tell you a story?” To which the little boy nodded.
They settled down on an armchair, with Augie sitting on his grandfather’s lap and his head rested on his grandpa’s chest, and cuddled him. “Grandpa, please tell me again about the great conquest of Grantheim,” the little boy pleaded.
“Augie,” Gregory chuckled and then replied, “that would not really make you fall asleep.”
“It’s alright,” Augie insisted, “I could listen with my eyes closed.”
The grandfather gave in and began to tell the tale, “Long ago, the great kingdom of Grantheim wasn’t always the country we knew. It was only a tiny portion of land, surrounded by the kingdoms Soveran in the south and Eselia in the north.”
“How small was it, grandpa?”
“As little as you,” Gregory replied giddily as he tickled his grandson. “Grandpa, the story, the story!” Augie said in between his laughter.
“Alright,” the grandfather replied. “While the little kingdom of Grantheim was living peacefully, Soveran and Eselia were constantly fighting to gain more land. Unfortunately, Grantheim was in between the two kingdoms, and the king did not want to be involved. King Arturo Revonhelm of Grantheim proposed to the two kingdoms that he will allow passage of the soldiers at the border of his land, as long as no battle shall occur in Grantheim, and most importantly, neither of the two kingdoms shall attempt to conquer his kingdom.”
Gregory sighed, and then continued, “However, his terms were not followed; there was this huge battle near a village and was completely destroyed. King Arturo, with his heart crying for justice for his people, and with the help of the Island Kingdom of Ilseo, led his people to conquer Soveran, and lastly, Eselia. After that, the kingdoms surrendered and the kings swore allegiance with King Arturo, who was now the ruler of the present day Grantheim. Then –“
Gregory stopped when he heard his grandson snoring peacefully. He smiled, and then gently carried the little boy on his bed and tucked him in. “Sleep well, my little Augie,” he whispered, and gently kissed his forehead. “Well, it’s time to check the families,” he said to himself as he walked towards the door. He opened it, and was startled with the presence of a young girl.
“Have you been there all the time? Why didn’t you enter, my little Fae?” he asked. The girl only replied meekly, “Yes, grandfather.”
Gregory smiled and said, “Are you tired of hearing the same story again, Fae?” To which the little girl blushed and looked down.
“I am going to see the families, would you like to come?” he asked.
“They are all well-provided, my lord,” she replied, looking up to him, “some helped me giving food and blankets.”
“Good, but I’ll still see them all, although please do not address me as ‘my lord’, Fae. After all, I am your grandfather,” he remarked. “Is there something you need?”
“Is Augustus already asleep?” she asked. Gregory nodded, and then knelt down and hugged her tight. “I am really sorry, Felicity,” he said, “For an eight years old girl to be carrying such a great task.”
“I do not mind,” she said, “I am a Ravenhart, and I understand what it meant to be one.”
“Yes,” Lord Ravenhart said as he turned to face directly to the young girl, holding her shoulders tightly, “You must never forget that, Felicity. Promise me that you’ll do everything in your power to fulfil your duty.”
“Yes, grandfather,” replied Felicity.
Lord Ravenhart looked at her with utmost care, and could see that she had doubts with her answers. “You don’t have to lie, Felicity,” he said, “I know you still have uncertainties with the future of our family.”
“No, grandfather, I…”
“You aren’t forbidden to ask questions or express what you are thinking,” the lord interrupted, “you still have a young mind.” But Lord Ravenhart was only met with silence.
Seeing that Felicity would not talk, he stood up and said, “I’m going to see the families. Would you like to come with me?”
Without a word, Felicity followed her grandfather as they walked in the hallway. Lord Ravenhart noticed that most of the men were gathered at the staircase; some of them conversed gayly while some talked in whispers, and a few smoked. There were a few women who joined them; most of them were in the rooms and tended with the children and the elderly. As the two passed by the staircase, Lord Ravenhart inquired about them, whether they were comfortable or needed something. After that, they proceeded to the rooms at the other side of the mansion.
While they were on their way to the rooms, Lord Ravenhart said, “Felicity, I know that I had asked you a while ago to promise me to carry out your duties, but do you know, at present, of what they are?” But Felicity did not answer.
Then, Lord Ravenhart paused, and while looking at the people at the stairs, said, “These people placed their faith on us to lead them towards a promising future of Miraviere, even though we came from Grantheim, which they considered as their enemy. That is why, we will do everything in our power to do our tasks at hand. Do you understand, my little Fae?” Felicity nodded in agreement.
He then turned towards his granddaughter, and then continued, “However, as Ravenharts, we are still bound by our oath to serve our kingdom without question and to act accordingly for the sake of Grantheim, in which we believe that we serve our purpose by serving the Crown.”
Finally, Felicity spoke, “But we are now hiding from the king, aren’t we, grandfather?”
“Yes, we are,” he replied, “things didn’t turn out the way I wanted them to, and our people paid the price.”
“Then how can we do those things, grandfather?” asked Felicity.
“There are other ways to serve Grantheim, my little Fae,” Lord Ravenhart answered and patted her head gently, “and that is why I’m truly sorry for giving you such a heavy task, for forcing you to grow up. I really wished for you to be free from it.”
“But I promised Mother that I will do my best,” Felicity admitted, “now I don’t know if I can do it; I wanted something else.”
“Which is?” he asked.
“Home,” said Felicity, “our home, grandfather, and to get what is ours.”
Lord Ravenhart was stunned of her reply. Admittedly, he was astonished on her upbringing; he realized how deep her parents’ influences were.
“But what if the things you wanted would get in the way of our duties, Felicity?” he finally asked, “in the future, you might have to choose.”
“Like you said before, there are other ways to do so, grandfather,” she replied with a smile, “I will carry out my oath as a Ravenhart, and I will achieve them.”
While she spoke, Lord Ravenhart saw that Felicity was full of determination, instead of doubts. He had planned to convince her further that own desires often do not mix with their oath, but it was he who was persuaded otherwise; now, he wanted to see how far she goes to fulfil her goals. With that, he smiled and said, “If those are what you wanted, then I’ll help you obtain them, however, it won’t be very easy. Do you understand, Felicity?”
Felicity’s blue eyes shone, and full of determination, declared, “With all my heart.”
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