Desert Flower

Prologue

Welcome to my newest story!!

Hope you enjoy it!!

(p.s. The first part is pretty bloody, so just a warning)

Cover credits to mcrose007.

" Dalia-DALIA!"

Flames licked up the sides of the palace as screams and cry's echoed through the streets.

The city of Mariead was under attack.

Inside the castle itself , the clashes and clangs of the guards and rougues exchanging blows blocked out the sounds of distress from outside. The kings voice broke above it all as he cried out for his wife.

"Dalia!"

A nameless man, skin streaked with the red of clay and blood suddenly stood in his path. In his hands he carried a bloodied scimitar. The king held his own blade in return, eyes alight with the desperation to find his wife, son and newborn. 

Within minutes the man was dead and the king returned on his quest.

"Dalia?"

The nursery doors were open slightly, a bloody handprint on the wood.

"Declan?"

The shouts from the fighting behind him faded out as the king placed one hand on the door, the other holding his weapon at the ready.

"Eile?"

He took a deep breath, and pushed the door all the way open.

...and let out a choked sob.

His wife, his gorgeous kind and caring queen was laying on the floor, eyes staring blankly at the ceiling. Her white dress was stained with blood, and her hair was splayed out on the stone floor.

The king ran to her side, dropping his sword and falling to his knees at her side.

He brushed her hair aside and pressed a soft kiss to her already cold forehead.

"Dalia..."

A babies faint cry broke him out of his mourning.

His children.

He had to protect his children.

The king closed the queens eyes, before grabbing his sword from the ground and making his way to the secret escape tunnel where the cry had come from.

It was dark in the tunnels, pitch black in fact, but the king knew them as well as he did his throne room. He knew which way the nurse would take the children, and how Declan would know where to go if she couldn't help them.

He was there in no time, and the sight that greeted his eyes made the king growl  in fury.

The nurse was on the floor, and the man (the man that killed his Dalia) was prowling towards his children.

Declan, sweet brave Declan was shielding his sister with his own body and staring defiantly up at the rogue. Eile, who was wrapped up in blankets so that only her nose was able to be seen, was screaming and crying.

The king saw red as he swung into battle.

"Wheres Mama?" Declan asked afterwards, tears welling up in his wide green eyes. The king just shook his head and pulled his son and daughter close.

He could be a king another day.

For now, he was a father and his children needed him as they cried together.

Dalia...