A lilting voice drifted through the halls of the High King. It wove in and out through each door and window, striking a chord within the very souls of those who heard it. The voice sang a song of mourning. It was full of pain and grief. Each word, every sentence, each rise and fall of the soft voice radiated the sorrow felt by the singer.
Only one other truly understood the heartbreaking lament.
The High King sighed softly as he read over the reports for the day. He felt more weary than he had in all his years as King. It was as if all of his burdens began to weigh thrice as much as normal. Everyday tasks, such as reading the reports, suddenly seemed so much more taxing. He wanted nothing more than to sit down in front of the fire with a good book in hand and his dear cousin by his side.
Currently, none of those wishes looked to be fulfilled in the near future. He wouldn't be able to leave his study till the paperwork was done, he would need to find a good book in order to read it, and his cousin was currently mourning the deaths of all seven of her brothers.
Ferus, High King of the Free Peoples of Daenie, was distraught. On one side, he was compelled to complete his duties, if only to make sure the other noble's didn't bring ill tidings. On the other, he wished to comfort his sweet Alyna who was engulfed in a sea of sadness that had begun to drag her into its deep, dark depths.
Running a hand through his dark hair, he sighed again, mentally noting that he needed to take some time out and relax. His calm exterior began to crumble as he held his head in his hands and sought solace in Evelyn's voice, still floating into his study.
Time stood still, and all that remained in the High King's world was his cousin's voice and himself. Her song woke memories in his mind that he would have rather kept sleeping. Memories of pain, anguish and fear. Of bloodshed and death. They were the memories he would have rather kept locked away.
The lament slowly came to an end, leaving behind a sorrowful atmosphere in its wake. In that moment, Fer decided to shirk his duties and become the man he was before being King. Blowing out the candle on his desk, he left the study and headed towards the east wing of the castle where his cousin sat in her chambers.
In the silence of the night, his soft footsteps echoed loudly off the walls. His feet felt like lead as he walked upon an invisible path engraved into his memory. Before long, he was standing before Evelyn's door, a hand raised, ready to knock. Before he could move, the door swung open, revealing the coppery locks of his little Alyna.
She jumped into his arms without warning, almost causing him to topple, and sobbed. Her heart-wrenching cries pulled him into the past, back to the day when her world collapsed.
Only one other truly understood the heartbreaking lament.
The High King sighed softly as he read over the reports for the day. He felt more weary than he had in all his years as King. It was as if all of his burdens began to weigh thrice as much as normal. Everyday tasks, such as reading the reports, suddenly seemed so much more taxing. He wanted nothing more than to sit down in front of the fire with a good book in hand and his dear cousin by his side.
Currently, none of those wishes looked to be fulfilled in the near future. He wouldn't be able to leave his study till the paperwork was done, he would need to find a good book in order to read it, and his cousin was currently mourning the deaths of all seven of her brothers.
Ferus, High King of the Free Peoples of Daenie, was distraught. On one side, he was compelled to complete his duties, if only to make sure the other noble's didn't bring ill tidings. On the other, he wished to comfort his sweet Alyna who was engulfed in a sea of sadness that had begun to drag her into its deep, dark depths.
Running a hand through his dark hair, he sighed again, mentally noting that he needed to take some time out and relax. His calm exterior began to crumble as he held his head in his hands and sought solace in Evelyn's voice, still floating into his study.
Time stood still, and all that remained in the High King's world was his cousin's voice and himself. Her song woke memories in his mind that he would have rather kept sleeping. Memories of pain, anguish and fear. Of bloodshed and death. They were the memories he would have rather kept locked away.
The lament slowly came to an end, leaving behind a sorrowful atmosphere in its wake. In that moment, Fer decided to shirk his duties and become the man he was before being King. Blowing out the candle on his desk, he left the study and headed towards the east wing of the castle where his cousin sat in her chambers.
In the silence of the night, his soft footsteps echoed loudly off the walls. His feet felt like lead as he walked upon an invisible path engraved into his memory. Before long, he was standing before Evelyn's door, a hand raised, ready to knock. Before he could move, the door swung open, revealing the coppery locks of his little Alyna.
She jumped into his arms without warning, almost causing him to topple, and sobbed. Her heart-wrenching cries pulled him into the past, back to the day when her world collapsed.
