Chapter 1

The valley of Shiloh, once a serene oasis teeming with lush greenery, vibrant wildflowers, and harmonious wildlife, had transformed into a chaotic battleground. The air reverberated with the deafening sounds of war: screams and shouts, neighing horses, clashing steel, and the sickening splatter of blood on armor, earth, and stone. Corpses littered the landscape, a haunting testament to the brutal conflict raging between the two kingdoms. Men fought and died on this desolate ground, their cries for peace eerily silenced amidst the carnage.

The fight commenced at the break of dawn, and upon the reaching of the eleventh hour, a complete stillness fell upon the valley. Smokes and ashes of remnant fires were the only things visibly in motion, creating darkness as they ascended to the skies.

The surviving soldiers slumped down into the ground, their faces smeared with dirt, sweat, and blood, while the sun struggled to emit its rays through the thick smoke. The king of the contending kingdom had finally been overcome. But no shouts of victory and triumphant cheering were heard from the victorious soldiers of Valir. All soldiers were somberly silent as each helped their wounded comrades gather to a certain place.

There, behind a huge rock, lay their king, wounded and bleeding, in the hands of the captain of the guard as they gathered around them. With what remained of his strength, King Cyro spoke, his voice trembling and weak, "You all fought a good fight. Continue to protect the kingdom in my absence until a new king rises among you." The feeling of pride mingled with a hint of sadness was evident in his tone, his words hinting to a possible future.

The soldiers bowed their heads as the king to whom they pledged their fealty drew his last breath. No one attempted to stave off death, as is often done in the presence of a dying man. Perhaps it was the assurance that a new king would surely rise up and become the ruler of a kingdom left by the former king or the fact that the severe wound inflicted on the king would deem it useless to make any effort of saving him. The left part of the king's abdomen had been completely destroyed due to an encounter with a chariot with blades upon its sides, and he had been rapidly losing blood since then. It was only a miracle that the king was able to remain alive to witness their victory. Now the king slowly closed his eyes along with the ceasing of his breath until the signs of life completely faded out of his face. But he traversed towards the afterlife, bearing the good news of triumph.

The cry of the captain, the king's most trusted servant and closest friend, pierced through the hearts of the soldiers, and tears fell from their eyes. King Cyro was a great king. He had ruled over the Kingdom of Valir as a respectable and honorable leader, worthy of reverence and praise. He was so humble and outgoing that all people in the kingdom, nobles and peasants alike, felt joy whenever he was around. His presence, emitting a calm and kind demeanor, made not only to common people but to soldiers the desire to be his friend. The kingdom enjoyed prosperity under his rule, and his death would cause so much agony not only to his family but to all the people of his kingdom.

Meanwhile, in the palace of the kingdom of Valir, amidst the peaceful and silent night, was heard the groaning and screaming of the queen as she gave birth to her child. A few maids were about her, holding her hands to support her as the caregiver helped her push the baby out of her womb. The queen's eyes locked onto the caregiver's as another contraction wracked her body, the candlelight dancing across her sweat-drenched face. Her struggles came to an end when the baby had finally gotten out and the queen's groaning was soon followed by the wailing of the new born infant. With weary eyes and labored breathing, the queen beheld the babe as the caregiver carried it towards her. Trembling, she lifted up her arms and received the blood soaked baby unto herself. She nestled the child into her chest, her dress being stained with blood, as she looked down on him, feeling the pride and joy which he brought.

"He will be a great king someday," were the words of the caregiver as she stood besides the queen, watching her cuddle the child. The queen smiled, the baby's coos becoming a music to her ears. No lies were uttered by the woman. She had desired to make the child a great ruler, waiting in line for the throne next to its father. She had laid before him, even before he was born, a plan for the progress of his childhood to mold him into a person worthy to sit on the throne and rule over the kingdom of Valir.

Tomorrow was the news to be uttered to the whole kingdom - the queen had finally given birth. But at the crack of dawn, the message was received by the people with the appearance of the soldiers which came back from the war. The people greeted them with cheers and shouts as they treaded the highway towards the palace, weary and worn. However, the cheering gradually lost its volume when the people weren't able to see the king preceding the throng. Curious whisperings had taken the place of cheering, and questioning eyes searched the parade. "Where is the king?" shouted a child from among the crowd, which worded the thoughts of all the people.

Calvin, the captain of the king's guards, looked upon the child. He remembered him being petted by the king once. For such an innocent child to receive the news of the death of the king which it adorned so dearly laid a heavy burden on Calvin's heart that he was not able to utter any words in response.

Their parade continued until they finally reached the palace where the queen was awaiting the return of her dearest husband. People followed the throng of soldiers. There were mothers, wives, and children looking for their beloved sons, husbands and fathers who left the safety of their homes to go upon the hopeless journey to fight for their kingdom. Upon reaching the palace, there they laid the cargo carrying the corpses of many soldiers.

A mix of emotions was seen upon the faces of the multitude. Others were happy, even crying in tears of joy, as they hugged their loved one who survived the war while there were some who were crying in agony as they beheld the dead body of theirs.

And the queen shared their agony. A lift was placed in front of her and she knelt down to open the cloth covering whoever was under it. She had known who it was but she held back her tears until she had completely beheld the lifeless face of her husband. The queen slumped down into the floor and her poise and calmness which she had always possessed had for a meantime disappeared as she hugged the corpse of her husband. Her cries echoed throughout the courts, earning a heartfelt response from those around her. The maids and other soldiers cried with her while there were some who tried to comfort her.

The people set their eyes upon the queen. Many who had found relief In seeing that their loved ones had survived the war now felt the sadness as they conceived the scenario. The king was dead.

Others whose loved ones were unfortunately slain in war, had their hearts more saddened by the news. What a dreadful and sorrowful day it was for the kingdom of Valir! They had known that once a man stepped into war, he already had his own foot set inside the grave. They consented to their husbands or sons to join the war without the hope of them ever coming back alive. Their pain and cries were merely just a continuation of their anxious feelings in the moment the soldiers had gone to war.

A mass funeral was given to the unfortunate souls who died in the battle. The cries of women were heard throughout the graveyard as the remains of their loved ones were lowered down into the ground. The king was the last to be buried. A brief testimony of his life was uttered by the captain of the guard, being his childhood friend. He also testified to the bravery of the king who fought alongside them in the battle. He was not merely just a king and ruler but was also a brave and skilled warrior. He had not gone to many wars, and his life was noted for its peaceful and happy occurrence. But he was indeed someone not to be dealt with lightly.

All throughout his reign, King Cyros avoided major conflicts - until now. The war that occurred was caused only to the refusal of king Cyro to share the province of Bohemia, a great place rich in mines and farms of different crops and fruits, to the neighboring kingdom of Argon. This refusal kindled the wrath of King Boros, the king of said kingdom, and thus a war broke out. Such a trivial matter which could have been resolved through a mature and open discussion opened the door to a rivalry that would not cease even unto succeeding generations.

King Cyro manifested the character of a selfish man when he refused King Boros when it merely wanted to contribute to the betterment of the province and be able to enjoy the benefits of it, but what he did was for the betterment of his own turf. King Cyro foresaw the events that could possibly happen if he ever conceded to the request. Sharing the province would make it a land with two kings and if ever a new law or project was to be established into the province by one king, it would surely be met with resistance from the other. Thus would cause the province to fall into an immense confusion. The only fault he did was that he did not make any means to not make it look like a provocation. His refusal seemed to Boros a rejection of a friendship hence the war.

The kingdom of Valir and kingdom of Argon had long been at odds. They never openly sent provocations of war against each other but signs of discord were unmistakable. King Cyros had also deemed Boros' request as nothing more than a thinly veiled mockery and taunt and so he had promted to close his heart and completely ignore the words of the rival king.

The death of the king emptied the throne and the kingdom was in a somewhat vulnerable state. Externally the kingdom seemed to be weakened but the queen was still there, and she herself was a force to be reckoned with. She was coined the title 'cold queen' because her frigid and stern characteristic showed a great contrast to that of her husband's kind and pleasant personality.

Queen Merlin was a woman of unwavering principles. If she had deemed something to be significant, she would heed no words even from the greatest counselors to change her mind. This steadfastness was no detriment to the kingdom since queen Merlin was a wise and intelligent woman. She barely talked or communicated to others but her judgments were precise and decisions just. Even the king himself would sometimes require her opinions in regards to important matters. It was only to the throne and her title as the king's wife was she lower than the king. But character and talent wise, she stood to an equal degree with him.

And now, with her husband absent and as her son still growing, she took on the mantle to rule the kingdom. The only thing that weighed down her heart was the reality that her son would grow without ever assimilating the love of a father and the happiness of a complete family. Nevertheless, she pledged to give her utmost effort for the welfare of her child. She would give him what he needed as a child and train him to become a worthy successor to the throne.

At night, as she was sitting beside the crib of the prince, the moon casting down her light through the curtains of the window, a slight knock on the door grabbed her attention. As she turned to look and see who it was, there she saw Calvin standing by the door.

"Good evening, Your Majesty," he greeted, bowing his head.

"What may I help you with?" the queen replied, her tone although dry and cold, showed no signs of disinterest and annoyance.

Calvin lifted up his head and answered, "I'm merely checking on you, Your Majesty. The night is deepening and the child seems to be sound asleep, perhaps you should also get yourself some rest."

The queen sighed and looked down on the child. "I don't feel somnolent just yet. I'll sleep when I do," was the answer.

Calvin knew that he wouldn't be able to persuade the queen and further compelling would only dampen her mood. So instead he just nodded and bowed his head as he uttered the words, "In the name of my liege, I will do whatever is in my power to protect you and the child, Your Highness. I'll be here to support and help you in any way I can."

The queen was touched by Calvin's words. But this was not the first time she had heard of this same statement from him. Calvin had been there in the most important events of her and her husband's life, such as their marriage and coronation. And on each occasion he wouldn't miss the chance to utter those same words. But this time, it brought down a much heavier impact on her. Calvin had never left their side and the same assurance that his words expressed gave her the more courage to remain steadfast, not only for her son but for the welfare of the whole kingdom.

No more words were exchanged between the queen and Calvin and so Calvin excused himself. But it was only just a few minutes of silence when again someone had knocked on the door. The queen looked back and so much was her surprise when she saw Henry, Calvin's son, only four years old at that time, peeking his head through the crack of the slightly ajar door.

"Why, hello there, Henry," greeted the queen, beckoning the child to come in. Queen Merlin, despite being cold and frigid towards other people, had a soft heart for children. And Henry was no exception. In fact, she found great joy in the presence of the child. He was intelligent and respectful, very mindful of his words and actions, even learning the proper courtesy to be shown in front of royals and nobles. This was such a remarkable trait that was uncommon to children of his age and the queen marveled at such.

Henry opened the door and entered the queen's chamber. Bowing in curtsy, he greeted the queen, "Good evening, Your Majesty."

"Good evening to you as well," the queen greeted back in a slightly playful manner. "Why are you still awake?" she inquired of the child as he stepped nearer to her, his sandals slightly clapping against the floor.

"The maids were crying and I couldn't sleep," he answered to which the queen giggled.

"And why were they crying?" the queen asked once more. Now Henry was looking down on the child sleeping soundly on its crib.

"They said they miss the king." the boy replied.

"Don't you?"

The kid hesitated to answer immediately but he spoke nonetheless. "I do but there is nothing I can do. His Majesty is already dead and so we, left alive, must continue to live and be strong."

The qeen was astounded by the boy's answer. It was for her a rebuke. She had indeed felt hollow and sad of the fact that her dearest husband had fulfilled the vow they uttered during their wedding. She felt weak and disheartened that she had forgotten her duty as a queen. It was no time to be crestfallen. That kingdom needed her as the next king was still lying on his crib.

Merlin smiled and rubbed the boy's head. "You're right," she uttered. "We ought to be strong."

A brief silence ensued between the two before Henry spoke once again, this time with a different subject.

"What is his name?" Henry asked, pointing at the baby inside the crib.

"Joshua. His name is Joshua," the queen answered.

The boy smiled as he looked at the baby who slightly budged. "Can he be my friend?" he asked, tiptoeing to get a better view of the infant inside the cradle.

"Why, of course. I'm sure he would be happy to have you as his friend," the queen replied, rubbing the kid's head once more.

Henry's heart soared at the words that fell upon his ears. He was overjoyed at the prospect of having a new friend to play with. While he had acquaintances, from noble families and others of common status, his young age had limited his interactions with them. He was not allowed to venture outside the palace gates without her mother with him who worked as one of the palace maids and so was he only allowed to go outside when his mom would go out to shop or run some errands. Most of his times were spent within the palace where no other children were there for him to play with, except during visitation of nobles or townsfolk. Having discovered the child prince, he was hopeful that he could finally have someone to spend hours of playing with. He knew that he would have to wait for a year or two until the infant was strong enough to play with him but his eagerness had made him patient. For him, such duration would be of no value compared to the joy he'd share with him for most of their lives. He endeavored to make him his best friend and they'd do all things together.

Momentarily, he bid farewell to the queen and retired to his bed, buoyed with hope and joy. However, his happiness was short-lived when he woke up the next morning and received the news that he and his mother would go back to their province since his grandmother had fallen ill and no one would be there to take care of her. Henry had been there once and their toilsome journey took over a day that he had never wished to go back there ever again. Apart from the arduous journey, he also dreaded seeing his own grandmother who was strict and notoriously hard to please. He willed to stay behind but his mother explained to him that his father was a busy man and it wouldn't be able to take care of him in her absence.

Henry felt that he had no choice. All hopes of ever befriending Joshua had completely been shattered. As her mother was packing all their clothes, he slipped to the queen's chamber. The queen was not there when he arrived but a maid was there, softly singing to the baby as she rocked it to sleep. He crouched outside, hiding under a table, until the baby had finally succumbed to sleep and the maid exited the room. Once sure that the coast was clear, he ran sneakily towards the room and entered, careful not to make any noise to disturb the baby. When he had closed the door, he tiptoed to the crib, gazing down at the sleeping baby, smiling.

"You might never be able to see me when you grow up but I still wish to give you something," he whispered as he slid his hands in his pockets to retrieve a beaded bracelet. He gently took the infant's right hand and tied the bracelet around it, chuckling as he noticed the baby's lips curve into a smile in it's sleep. "He's dreaming," he thought to himself, feeling a warmth in his heart.

The queen watched the entire scene unfold as she peeked through the crack in the door, her heart warming at the sight of pure innocence and cuteness. As Henry turned to leave the room, she quickly stepped back, feigning surprise as Henry emerged stealthily out of the room, his face turning pale with terror at the unexpected sight of her.

"Y-your Majesty," he stammered, his eyes wide and hands trembling.

The queen regained her regal composure but a subtle smile lingered upon her lips as she regarded the boy. "What were you doing inside?" she asked, her voice, although stern and condescending, was tinged with a playful tone that was inaudible to the nervous boy.

Henry looked everywhere except the queen's eye. He knew that he had done nothing wrong but the situation in which he was found sneaking out of the room and his startled reaction made it appear otherwise. He knew that it was too late to act casually now. Fidgeting nervously, his back slick with sweat, he stammered, "I-I was... just ch-checking on the baby."

The queen was tempted to tease Henry more, but noticing the evident nervousness on the boy, she decided to let it go.

"Have you finished your preparation?" she asked again, hinting to his departure from the palace.

And once again, Henry was reminded of his imminent departing from the palace of Valir. His nervousness dissipate from his face and was then covered with melancholy as he looked down on the floor, his long curls partially obscuring his face.

The queen, upon seeing the expression of the boy, walked towards him and hunched in front of him, her dress creasing as she did so. Taking the boy's hands in hers, she invited his attention and she smiled at him reassuringly.

"You remain a good child to your mother and do not be stubborn. Help her and make her proud by studying diligently," she said, squeezing the boy's hands with warmth and encouragement.

A weary smile crept upon Henry's lips, as he wiped away the tear that formed in the corner of his eye. Taking a deep breath, he said, "I will surely visit you here again, Your Majesty."

The queen smiled and rubbed the boy's head. "I'll look forward to that," she replied, standing up. "And by that time, I'm sure Joshua will be able to play with you," she added.

Another form of hope had filled Henry's heart. Now he could go on that journey with a merry heart while he longed for the day that he'd meet the child prince once again.

Henry and his mom were accompanied by the queen to the palace gates where they bid their farewells. The queen had given them one of her carriages to be ridden by the two on their pilgrimage. Calvin had gone with them, too, but he was to be with them only at the borders and then they'd continue their sojourning with just the two of them and the driver of the carriage. Henry hugged his father tight and only one who was a father would know the burden of sadness that weighed on Calvin's heart as he hugged back his only son, stopping the urge to cry and appear vulnerable in front of it. He wished to not let go but it was an inevitable event. He would have to bid farewell to his beloved family as well. After a few words were exchanged, and after he kissed his wife, he stayed and watched as the boy and his mother went inside the carriage, the last thing he saw being Henry's face peeking through the window and waving at him as it slowly disappeared in the horizon. Calvin then turned his back and, with the soldiers that came along with him, returned to the palace.