1

The legendary King Mansuur was a great and fearsome warrior with a territory that surpasses the desert dunes, the powerful leader and army are known throughout the lands.

A humble man, tanned skin, stormy grey coloured, almond shaped eyes and shoulder length jet black hair that was always tied neatly together by a leather strap.

He had a strong build and his bronze coloured armor suited and hugged his muscles perfectly. He was handsome.

His bravery, courageousness and strength outshined those from other hero's greatly, some tales and story's being so amazing and thrilling, they were thought only to be nothing more than myths and "old wives tales".

Many incredible legends were told about him. Foreign and native story tellers, scribes and even local narrator's painted vivid and crystal clear mental pictures of King Mansuur's epic conquest, with their "smart talk" and "quick wit", the traveling narrator's intrigued crowds wherever they went.

He was and still is a just and fair leader, he was respected and feared throughout Ascalon and many other city's conquered by him and his loyal and powerful army. Thus making very strong and worthy allies and enemies alike.

Building strong and dependable alliances and conquering cities one after another, King Mansuur had many enemies especially with countries around him and with those far.

About fifty years ago after negotiating and joining the neighboring city of Claytos, King Mansuur and King Tyonis became good friends, this caused great strong holds between the kingdoms.

King Mansuur decided it was time to attend to his family and step out of the public eye for a while leaving the kingdom in the trusted hands of his advisors, twice a year he'd visit his friend Tyonis and his tropical kingdom.

He was also a loving husband who cared dearly for his family and the well being and security of his loyal people.

After the last war and conquering of Nireah, he and his massive army returned with little casualties. Waiting for him at home was his pregnant wife, Queen Marshiah. She too, was loved by the people and respected greatly. Taking care of the kingdom in her husband's absence during times of war.

There were times, when she herself felt weak and unable to lead an entire kingdom, but the story's of the Queen's unwaivering strength and leadership throughout the turmoil of war times say otherwise.

Taking a moment to himself, Mansuur went strolling through one of the palaces' many exotic gardens filled with all kinds of wild, tropical and exotic flowers, bush shrubs and thick vines.

This one in particular, the North end gardens, in the glass door green house as where he proposed and where his wife told him she's expecting.

It was a magical experience in a magical place.

One would think King Mansuur would loose his way walking through the maze but here is where he and his brother used to play with his cousins.

Years pass and Mansuur ruled the lands of Ascalon, letting the land flourish and expand in both greatness and territory. The time came for the king to settle down and present the people with their new leader.

About five years into their marriage, King Mansuur and Queen Marshiah produced an heir Elazar.

More years have past and the crown prince grew and matured to the very person everyone wanted him to be, kind hearted with and iron fist though, after his coronation he proved just that.

Unfortunately Elazar's parents died of old age after their son marriage to Aiya, a beautiful princess from the land of Sighbin, South of Ascalon.

Elazar was left to rule and in the beginning it was hard with no parental guidance, but with his wife and loyal army and people by his side he made history a lot alike his father.

It was a time of war and as a good King, Elazar had to go and fight for the safety of his people and kingdom. He was a successful and skilled warrior, often standing and fighting at the front lines.

After many long, hard and difficult battle's fought, he decided he and his men should return home to their families after they won the war the medics treated all the casualties and made their way him across the desert.

The day was hot as usual but it had a cool crispy breeze when Elazar and the army returned.

The army stood out three kilometers behind their king, as he wait to be let in the palace's courtyard. There he helped the rest of the men unpack their supplies and settle back in.

After finishing, Elazar deep in thought just like his father Mansuur, took a stroll through one of the gardens on the North end.

Mother and fathers favorite garden.

He scanned the beautiful leafy world around him surrounded in glass.

Elazar is disturbed when he hears a vague voice in the distance calling, a servant ran up to him and informed him that his wife was in labour.

Shocked out of his daydreaming with the great and unexpected news, the king immediately  rushed to be at his wife's side.

When he eventually reached there, he entered the room quickly.

Heavy breathing, panting and shrieks could be heard followed by muffled cries then ear piercing shouts from the person herself enduring the pain. "Push my queen!" said the midwife.

Aiya squeezed Kings' hand's so hard, her and his knuckles had whitened, nearly breaking the fragile bones in her hand. Elazar has his jaw tightly clenched at his wife's visible agony.

He held her trembling hand tightly as he stared wide eyed at her and the old and complicated process of child birth.

As he watched Aiya, during her delivery, his heart melted and trembled simultaneously.

Then after a few more pushes and five agonizingly long minutes, a plop was heard followed by loud cheers and hoorays from the group of the nurses present at the birth,"My king, it's a son!" Shouted one of the nurses. The glint of admiration already shining in her eyes as she looked at the baby, for the great future ruler she personally thought he'd be under he guidance of his father and mother.

Elazar looked at Aiya, she knew he was going to pick his favorite name for their so-

"Here comes another one!" Their thoughts were interrupted and cut off as Aiya screamed delivered their other son.

With the nurse confirming that there are no other surprises left the Queen let out a breathless chuckle looked at her son, that as now placed on her chest and said,"Elijah and Eli..." Squinted dark brown eyes from Elijah and a greenish brown from Eli stared back at her.

After breastfeeding the children she handed one of the babies over to their father, holding baby Elijah in his arms, Sultan admired his first born and heir. "They're perfect," Elazar said looking at a breathless and exhausted Aiya,

"He has your eyes." She said pointing to Elijah and he repeated the same as he saw the likeness in Eli and his mother's eyes.

The parents smiled at their children as Elazar bent downwards to place a kiss on Aiya's sweat covered brow, "And the royal banquet is soon approaching." Sighed Queen Aiya and King Elazar in their shared and usually playful sarcastic tone.

Meanwhile in another part of the palace another baby is being born just seconds after the crown prince himself.

King Elazar's best friend, the trusted advisor and captain of the Ascalon army's guard, Farouk, just had a daughter, her name Saadiqah.

It was about a week after the birth of the crown prince and the kingdom prepared for the traditional royal birth banquet.

A age old tradition that was held a few weeks after the crown prince or princess was born.

The kingdom has always been in a flourish of happiness and content for the arrival of their new ruler, ever since King Elazar's great grandfather conquered Ascalon the monarchy was praised by the locals.

After a week of preparation, the party's proceedings went well as people were dancing, singing and having a good time. The banquet went smoothly.

As time passes the children  played together with each other in the mazes of the many gardens. Elijah and Saadiqah were always left to play together when Eli was out being a tyrant in the palace always playing tricks on the guards and maids that looked after them.

As they grew older, Eli became more and more reckless and rebellious having the palace staff look down and disapprove of his behavior.

At the age of fifteen the twins were invited to Sighbin where they met a beautiful Noble woman named Shaziyah, she fell in love with the charming Elijah and unbeknown to her Eli had fallen in love with her.

Out of jealousy and spite Eli did everything in his power to split them apart, his plans didn't work but jealousy and greed was always abundant everywhere he plotted with some of the advisors to have his own twin brother killed and marry Shaziyah himself and unfortunately for him his plans were foiled and his parents were alerted.

Seeing this as a threat to their rule the had no choice but to banish Eli from Ascalon. His parents Queen Aiya and King Elazar his betrayal hurt the most and they were left most confused as to why their own son would be so self centered and selfish.

Eli's P.O.V

"Mother, Father, they lie! How dare they accuse their prince of treason! Tahnjho should be punished and executed for his plots against the crown, it was his idea he told me of it and I wanted no part of it, when I refused he threatened to kill me as well I did not stand for this but it was too lat-" Father ought to believe me. My word against this commoner, he stands no chance. I almost smiled at the thought when I'm sure my voice was convincing enough, poor Tanjho feared for his life, serves him right the rattling bastard. I couldn't didn't care what punishment might befall him, he wanted the riches for himself too.

Oh no no, you're coming to hell with my friend.

Before I could make him look any worse he cut off me off before I could say anything further.

"He lies your majesties, it was his plan! He involved me and when I refused to heed him, he threatened to kill my wife and children," he bowed his head.

"I swear I did not want any part of this. I-"

"By your and the princes involvement in plotting against the crown, you know that the act of treason the is punishment is death." Father pauses briefly and I take a quick look, his glare is unwavering. "Hear me and hear me well Eli, you will be stripped of your title and all ties to the royal family and Tanjho as well will be banished from Ascalon, and if you dare show your faces here again, I hereby confirm and order the guards to have your head am I clear!?" The king growled, top lip turned up in disgust.

"Father!? Yo- You cant do this to me I-I-I'm you're son... You can't be serious!" I shouted. When the guards take hold of me and drag me off like I'm some sort of lowly criminal.

They've always favoured Elazar. He took away the love of my life! It's his fault! All my suffering is because of him.

"It's because of him!" I turned my head towards Elazar but I'm roughly jerked back by my hair.I struggled to loosen myself from the thick bounds they tied across my hands. Choosing to ignore the dull, scraping burn of the rope against my wrists I fidget more. "I'll be back to get my revenge and nothing or no one will stop me!" I laughed as they dragged me away, I looked straight into their beady little eyes as they turned and sat on-

"My throne! Let me go! Let me go you hell dogs! I'll kill you, I'm going to kill you all!"

A burning metallic smell makes it's way into my nose, when I'm going to rid myself of these ropes and I'm going beat up every last one of these guards and everyone else who stands in my way! I was just about to get free from their grip when I felt a cold hard force making contact with my head, splitting open the flesh if my skull and the on place of force inflicted I felt the air wooshing... Then immediately black and peach dots swim across my vision dragging me into black nothingness-...