The Fall of Kerneth

The Fall of Kernth

Part 1

 

 It was late at night in Kernth, the great Elf city, when princess Amaris entered her bed chamber; she had just heard of her brothers, the kings, death and could not make sense of it. Relan, her brother, was said to have died in his sleep of natural cause but Amaris knew that Relan was in perfect health, for she had only seen him the week before. Not knowing what to think she slung her sheathed ceremonial  sword over a chair and walked over to a basin full of water and through some water over her face, she looked up on saw her reflexion in a mirror, she looked typical for an elf just over six foot. Her eyes were bright hazel, an eye colour only found in Elves of royal blood, she had black hair which was common to city Elves, she had a slender build which was also common for Elves, and she had the tell-tale pointed ears of an Elf, the only real way humans could tell the difference.

    Amaris looked away from the mirror and sat down on at the nearest chair, thinking of her brother hurt her for even though Relan, who at an age near eight hundred years old, was much older than Amaris, who was only eighty five and still young by elf standards, they were close for Relan had helped raise Amaris after their mother and father had been killed seventy years ago in the Dark Wars that are still raging across the Great Ocean in a distant land. Amaris was confused with the way she felt, her sadness for brother’s death was only muted by her fear and uncertainty of what her future now holds for her as the next in line for the throne of the Kingdom of Leranda, she was fearful that she was not ready to lead the Kingdom or that the people would not except her as a ruler but overall she was sure that there was someone behind the death of her brother and that when she was queen she would not stop until she caught whoever was involved.                                                            

    A knock at the door took Amaris out of her contemplation, she stood up, and made sure she looked presentable then walked to the door and opened it to find Harneth, one of her tutors when she was a child and one of her brothers most trusted advisers. He was taller than other elves and was a lot more slender to the point that you could his ribs clearly when he wore an open tunic.                            

   Harneth said, “Your highness in this sad hour might I trouble you for a few moments of your time?’        

  “Could it not wait until the morning?” replied Amaris, “It has been a hard night and I wish to get some rest before tomorrow when I make my journey to the capital.”                                       

  “Well your highness that is what I need to talk to you about.”

  Something in Harneths attitude had Amaris on edge, “Very well, come in.” she said, “but please make it quick, I am to have an early start.”

  Harneth moved past her and sat without leave from Amaris which had her even more on edge then before, but she decided to just wait and see what was making him behave this way so she sat down on the chair that her sword was hanging from, “Well your highness” he began, “I have something’s that I have been asked to inform you of and make sure that you fully understand the changes to the Kingdom that are coming, but first might ask, how are you dealing with the fact that you are now the queen?”

   Amaris was surprised at this question, more for that it was Harneth who was asking, being her history tutor he rarely asked personal questions, and what changes was he talking of, because she got the feeling that he was not referring to her taking the throne but she still wanted to let this play out.

   “I am willing to accept whatever fate has in store for me.” Not wanting to let her true feeling known to him, “Well than what is it that you have to inform me of?”

  Harneth looked right into her eyes, “I am afraid that it is my duty to inform you that you will not be traveling to the capital tomorrow neither will you be taking the throne.”

  Amaris was startled by the last comment and could only say, “What is the meaning of this?”

  Harneth looked cam as he said, “The throne is not yours to have neither was it you brothers nor your fathers or do you think that the treachery of your family had been forgotten.” The last part had been said with an essence of blood thirsty hate.

  Amaris was on her feet quick “What treachery do you dare put on my family’s name?” Amaris was fighting back the anger at the insult on her family.

  Harneth sat back in his chair, “Don’t play stupid child, the betrayal your father committed against his own brother, the betrayal that you and your family had thought forgotten, but the council never forgets and a time for a reckoning has come!”

  “If you are expecting me to find this humours Harneth I do not find it so, my father did not have a brother!”

  Surprise registered in his face and he coolie said, “So your father and brother never told you your family’s dirty little secret.” His voice became calmer as he said, “I am surprised at this but your uncle did predict this and told me if this were the case that you would be offered mercy and consider still apart of the royal family.”

  “I know exactly what you are talking about Harneth and as I said my father had no brother, he lost the write to claim the throne, and to this family, after the treason he committed!”

  Harneth stormed to his feet roaring “Treason! My lord is the rightful king and your family are the ones who shamed him! You should be crawling on your knees begging him to show you mercy, but no you stand there trying to justify what you family did to my lord I am honoured that it is I who has been chosen to be the one who takes the life of the last living traitor in my lords family.”

   Amaris took one step back towards her chair, and her sword that was hanging from it, saying, “In one word I could have 20 armed guards in here ready to kill you.”

   Harneth started laughing a cold and cruel laugh, “You stupid child, your uncle is no mere Elf like your father was, he is as a god and he has planned for every possibility, your guards believe you are dead as does the entire kingdom, you were killed by an imposter who was planning to take your place as queen.” Drawing a long dagger he pointed it at her and said, “I was the one who found you and got the alert out. I’m afraid your guards are searching this palace for someone who looks just like you, so anyone who sees you will kill on sight.”

   Harneth moved towards her with dagger but there was a flash of steel and he felt an odd sensation on his neck then he saw Amaris standing there with a sword gripped in her hand, he put his hand to his neck and when he brought it away he saw blood, he fell and breathed his last breathe trying to fathom where she pulled the sword from.

 

 

   Amaris moved over Harneths body to her chest opened it and discarding her ceremonial sword she lifted her war sword, she did not wish to kill any of her guards but if Harneth was being truthful she knew they would not believe her to be the real princess.

   Moving over to the door she opened it a crack, seeing the hallway was clear she left the room and moved to the end of the hallway. She was about to start down the next hallway, when a door across from her bashed open to reveal an Elf standing in the doorway. Amaris stood frozen for the Elf in the doorway was nearly identical to her father; he was at least six foot five and was incredibly powerful looking to the point that you would have thought him as strong as a troll or a giant.    

   Amaris started to move back then is voice boomed out, “BOW BEFORE YOUR GOD AILELL, AND I MAY YET SPARE YOU.”

   Amaris started trembling at the power of this creature in front of her, she tried to run but her legs would not move, she tried to scream but nothing came out and for the first time in her life she knew terror.

   He started laughing which felt like the whole hallway was shaking then there was silence an in a soft almost calming voice he said, “Now look at me child.” Amaris lifted her head and looked upon the most beautiful Elf she had ever seen and all fear was a distant memory, “Do not fear me child I am your uncle and I only desire your happiness.” Amaris felt strength in her legs coming back and a sense of peace befell her, “I shall never lie to you, I shall never hurt you and I shall never leave you child for I see your greatest fears and if you but take my hand they shall be forgotten.”  

   Saying this he held out his hand for her to take, and for the life of her Amaris could not think of a reason not to. She half stumbled in his direction when a bright light erupted in between them, Amaris half staggered, she looked up to see the powerful being that had been  in front of her had been propelled through the doorway and just as it started for Amaris the doors between them slammed closed.

   Amaris slowly regained her senses and from what seemed from far off heard a voice calling her, see turned to see three blurred figures, one was standing with their hand extended out towards the door which stopped the being, the other blurred figures was running towards Amaris and when they got close enough she saw one was her childhood friend Galus. He caught her as she fell, and then she saw over Galus shoulder the other figure that had run to her aid was a tall human, and then she slipped into darkness.

  Galus looked to the women who had bested the Powerful Elf, Galus asked, “What now?”

  The old woman replied “Now we must escape the city.”

 

  

      

          

   

   

                   

Author's Note

This was the first story i wrote and even though it is full of amature mistakes please let me know what you think of the story.