Royal Strings {DISCONTINUED}

~{•Chapter Four•}~

"Can I hold him?" Esmeray said quietly while studying her brother's face.

"Of course, dear" Her mother said in a tired a voice. She handed the child to her father who was next to the bed with velvet sheets.

"Be careful" He said as he gave the prince to Esmeray.

She took him carefully and looked at him. His new, untouched face was smooth and perfect. His eyes were still closed but Esmeray knew they would be breathtaking once the world saw them.

"I'll keep you safe." Esmeray whispered.

--------------------

The days were as swifter as Drexel's swings with his silver blade.

Hurtful but meaningful.
Quick but slow.
Cold but warm.
Stern but thoughtful.
Simple but smart.

Esmeray was now seventeen and the untouched face of the prince, Dorian, became scarred from every time he fell in the courtyard.

Drexel looked as if he didn't age one bit. His swings were as precise and on-point as when he started teaching Esmeray. She wasn't sure how old he was but he looked no more than nineteen. He was still simple and had little to no emotion in his voice but that made him better to vent or rant to. He was a good freind but he didn't like being called that. Dorian wanted to be taught sparring from Drexel but he got tutored by others.

The king got sick with an illness even Esmeray wasn't allowed to know of. He was getting better was what the maids told them but Esmeray knew Drexel knew of more. Alas, life goes on and Esmeray was finally getting her jumps and lands correct. Drexel had to go easy on Esmeray as they both knew he could take her out in a snap of a finger but she got Drexel on the ground one time.
"Good work" he said and Esmeray got the rest of the day off.

Esmeray and Dorian were out in the courtyard picking out places to plant trees and flowers when they heard gasps and awes.

"FATHER!" Dorian said with genuine happiness.

Esmeray turned and saw her father. The king. Up on two legs breathing in the flower air. He looked at Dorian and chuckled as he caught him and pulled him into an embrace. He glanced up and saw Esmeray.

"Dad?.." Esmeray said and ran towards him. Tears on the verge of escaping. But when he looked at him after the hug, he saddened. Only for a split second, but it was there. Esmeray ignored it and lead him to the willow tree and they all sat underneath it. Esmeray went on and on about everything. Everything. Until the evening, they sat under the willow as the heirs filled their king in on everything. Even Drexel came in and sat with them. Complementing Esmeray on her "impressive growth" and when the queen came in, it was all great. Esmeray was happy. Dorian was happy. The king was going to be fine. The queen was happy. Drexel was hiding his smile but Esmeray knew it was there.
Esmeray took in a deep breath of the happy air. It may have been her last.

--------------------

Silence was sometimes the best sound. Silence was over the young kingdom and Esmeray and everyone else was in bed. Esmeray was enjoying her slumber in the quiet atmosphere but the peace was broken by a loud crash, follow by footsteps. Esmeray had already shot up from her bed and was on her way to the door but..maybe it was just a maid dropping something. She relaxed and went back to bed attempting to relax from the adrenaline. It had been a few minutes. Esmeray swore she heard iron clashing like...swords. Esmeray shot uo again and walked to the door. It was louder. She grabbed her dagger that Drexel had gifted her for her tenth birthday. Esmeray ran out into the halls and followed the sound of clashing iron. Her mother and father's quarters. No. It can't. She ran as fast as her tired legs could carry her. She made it to the quarters and ran inside.

Inside was her mother being cornered by a knight dressed in black. He was holding a sword that was..red. Why is it red? This is when Esmeray realized her mother had been stabbed. Esmeray ran in and saw her father and another knight having a sword fight.

"ESMERAY!" Her father screamed. Esmeray turned to him"GET OUT N-" He was interrupted with a blood curdling scream and a sickening slash of iron hitting flesh and bone. Esmeray turned and saw her mother on the floor. Esmeray couldn't even process what had happened before her father had been stabbed, too. Someone had rushed in and screamed at Esmeray to get out.

"I CAN'T LEAVE THEM" She said. The next few minutes had been filled with sickening noises and screams and cries. Once the two knights were on the ground. Dead. Drexel was the one that did it. He ran to the queen and placed his hand on her neck, checking if her heartbeat was still there. He turned pale but said nothing, he ran to the king and did the same. He muttered something under his breath.

"GOD DAMN IT!" He shouted and slammed the wall.

Esmeray looked at him in panic.
"What happened?" She asked. "What happened to them?!" She raised her volume as she spoke.

"THEY'RE-" He cut himself off and masked himself. He ran over to Esmeray and checked for bruises and cuts as she was splattered with blood. Her parents' blood. They're dead. Esmeray screamed and Drexel pulled her close. She fell limp and just cried. Suddenly, she heard cries and screams.

"WHAT?!" She got up and looked around but no one was there. Drexel brought her back to the floor. She cried and cried until she had scared her voice away. Drexel showed no emotion.

"GET SOMEONE IN HERE THE KING AND QUEEN HAVE BEEN MURDERED" Drexel shouted desperately. Esmeray physically could not cry anymore, but if she could, she would've right then and there. So, instead, Esmeray grasped onto Drexel for dear life and screamed out the last of her voice. She fell limp in Drexel's embrace and the world went black.