Ileus: The Dark Prince

The soldier appeared flustered and his eyes were wide with panic. Rolfe's shoulders tightened. "Queen Siora wants to have a word with you, m'lord," he said. "She is waiting in the dungeons below." Suddenly Rolfe could feel a ripple of mother's sticky, malevolent magic as if she was trying to feel him, feel the fortress and things around it. The guard stilled when the magic touched him, his body shivering. 

Rolfe extended his magic to the guard to soothe him. He hated the way his parents would make others feel in their presence. Why did it have to be so wicked and malicious? Why were they always on guard? He shrugged and shoved his thoughts. He took a deep breath and said, "Tell her I will meet her in an hour."

"Yes m'lord," said the guard. He bowed and left. 

Rolfe went straight to his room, where Iona was. She was bending over one of his tunics to stitch a button, which she was making a mess out of. As soon as he found her, he picked her up in his arms and swirled her in a circle. She squealed and laughed as his infectious excitement affected her and asked, "Why are you so happy?" 

He set her down on her feet and said, "Let us go to your brother's room." His face was ruddy as excitement was bubbling around him. "I have to say something very important to him!" 

She frowned, but she didn't debate. If Rolfe wanted to speak with Ileus, then surely there was something very important. His entire demeanor was that of urgency as well. "Sure," she said. Rolfe exhaled heavily, held her hand in his very tightly and they walked to Ileus' room. He opened the door only to find that they weren't there. A soldier informed them that they were with Kaizan. When Rolfe started going to Kaizan's room, Iona said, "Are you sure you want all this to be spoken in front of Kaizan?" 

"Is he conscious now?" asked Rolfe as he tugged her towards his room. 

"Yes, I was informed that he has woken up, but he is still not able to speak coherently." 

"I see," he mumbled, but didn't reduce his pace. "He is an integral part of your family, Iona and very loyal to your brother and his wife. Ileus went as far as risking his life to find him. I wouldn't mind sharing anything in front of him." 

Iona smiled. Her husband was very wise—a quality that she needed to acquire… fast… 

Rolfe opened the door of the room and found Ileus sitting on a chair with his legs lounging on its armrest while Anastasia was sitting at Kaizan's feet. A healer was still tying bandages on his head. 

Kaizan gave Ileus a cursory glance with his eyes that were still red and couldn't help thinking that it was his mother who was responsible for his condition. He didn't even bother to greet him and averted his gaze. It didn't take a leap of logic for Rolfe to understand what Kaizan was thinking, but that had to come later. First he had to state the purpose of his visit to Ileus. 

"Rolfe, how are you?" asked Anastasia with a smile as she waved them to sit on chairs. "The healer says that he is going to be able to walk in a day." Kaizan was healing fast. 

Iona walked to where Ileus was. She shoved his leg back in the chair and sat on the armrest. Ileus grunted but she wrapped her arm around his shoulders and rested her head on his. She whispered in his ear, "Rolfy has to say something to you all. God knows what!" Though Ileus gave her a bored look, he was keen as hell to listen to Rolfe. 

Rolfe started, "I had meetings upon meetings at the palace today and the first thing that I discussed with council was…" he looked at the siblings who were watching him with two pairs of golden eyes. It was a sight to behold. They had striking similarities and both looked breathtaking. Gods. It was as if, if he kissed Iona, he might as well be kissing Ileus. "Ugh!" he muttered at the thought and shoved it away. The brother and sister duo looked at him with a piercing gaze and raised eyebrows. 

"What the hell did you discuss?" asked Ileus impatiently. 

Rolfe jerked back to reality. "I discussed about my marriage with Iona," he said with a soft smile. 

Iona sprung straight in her chair. "And?" she murmured.

"The council gave me two options. First, that I marry her before ascension to the throne in a simple private ceremony. That way as soon as I ascend the throne, she will be given the status of queen and will be under the protection of the kingdom of Galahar. Every soldier will pledge their allegiance to her." He paused to look at their curious faces. Silence in the air was deafening and he couldn't even hear them breathing. "The second option is that I marry her after I become the king, but that would mean that I will have to delay the marriage by at least two days because the ceremonies held after the coronation are lengthy. The council said that since Galahar will be getting a new king after thousands of years, they are going to make it an elaborate and detailed affair. After coronation, marriage to the king will again be a lengthy affair where I will not be allowed to meet the bride for a day." Nervousness sparked in his body and he shifted in his chair. 

Ileus remembered how he wasn't allowed to meet Anastasia in Evindal but he somehow sneaked in. And his mother didn't allow him to meet her in Draoidh either. The thought made him shudder. He gritted, "What's it with not meeting your bride for a day? I say you abolish this stupid custom the day you become the king!" 

Anastasia jerked her head back at him and then burst into a fit of laughter. Kaizan's lips also tugged up. He looked at his old friend and could understand his opinion regarding this matter very well. As for Iona, she pursed her lips and looked everywhere except at her brother. 

Ileus disregarded their reactions and continued, "Before you say anything else Rolfe, I suggest that you marry her first. If Iona has to stay in Galahar, then she will enter the kingdom as the queen!" Suddenly a wave of sickly magic caressed his forearm and he shot up. His skin was lined with goosebumps. The tendril of the magic disappeared as fast as it appeared. 

"What happened?" asked Rolfe, narrowing his eyes. 

Ileus shook his head. "Nothing," he replied and rubbed his forearm where he felt the sticky, malevolent tendril. He got back to the main conversation. "Marrying Iona before your coronation would be a quicker way to protect her." 

"I agree!" Rolfe replied. "I want to marry her but would it be okay if the high priest of Galahar officiates the wedding?" His gaze darted to Ileus to Anastasia and then Kaizan. 

"Of course!" Anastasia said. "It would be better if she marries you with your customs." 

"Yes!" Rolfe said loudly. "I thought the same. I can't wait for her to be my queen!" And as soon as he said that, he heard words in his mind— 'Queen…'