1 A way to be welcomed home: death

There were screams and wails from every nook and cranny of the kingdom of Evalon. The people were running for their dear lives but it seemed so pointless because there was nowhere else to run to.

Everywhere was burning as two gigantic dragons were flying over the already burning kingdom and continued to breathe fire as if it was not enough, soldiers were killing and slaughtering the people of Evalon. The soldiers were immune to the dragon's fire and the people were vulnerable to it. Buildings collapsed and everything else except the castle blazed with dragon fire and nothing could be done.

...

The carriage wheels moved forward. Nothing could be more pleasant than returning back home. Just like the saying goes thus: east or west, home is the best.

Cordelia could not wait to enter the castle and savor the regal atmosphere that felt so homely to her.

"I can't wait to be home", Cordelia said to her maid Meredith who was sitting in front of her in the carriage.

Meredith smiled at her words.

"I'm sure His Majesty will be surprised to see that you came back quite earlier than he thought", Meredith said.

"I can't wait to see the look of surprise on Father's face. Gods, I miss him so much", Cordelia spoke longingly. She also cannot wait to soak herself in a refreshing bath. The journey was so hectic and tiring. She brought her head out of the carriage window.

"Can you please go faster?", Cordelia asked the coachman. The coachman snagged the reins of the horses. The horses neighed in response and increased the pace of their galloping.

"It is good thing that I'm bringing Father a wonderful piece of news", Cordelia continued, "the trade agreement between the Western Port and Evalon is one of the greatest things that have ever happened to Evalon. At least, my people won't lack again".

"How would you like your bath, my princess?", Meredith asked, changing the subject. She had no interest in business and politics, they sounded like gibberish to her. The only reason she listened to subjects like these was because she was Cordelia's escort on official journeys and a friend.

Cordelia looked at her with a scrutinizing gaze, "You know what's on my mind", she smiled.

"The journey is a hectic one and I'm sure your muscles are already aching", Meredith spoke knowingly.

"A nice warm bath filled scented water and rose petals will do and you will give me a massage too, after that".

"At your service, my princess", Meredith gave a slight bow while smiling.

The carriage moving pace slowed down which gave Cordelia and Meredith a sense of curiosity. They poked their heads out of the carriage window look at the coachman but another carriage caught their eyes. The upcoming carriage before them was painted white with a touch of gold. The intricate designs and craft work on the carriage was painted gold or perhaps, it was gold while the body of the carriage to the wheels was white. There were four black well groomed horses drawing the the white and gold carriage. There were two coachmen sitting on the coach box, holding the reins of the horses.

Cordelia and Meredith stared in admiration as the beautiful carriage passed them by, turning their heads as their sight followed the carriage , until the carriage went down the road. While the white and gold carriage was passing, Cordelia caught a glimpse of the person sitting inside the carriage. Even though, Cordelia could not see the features of the person clearly, she could tell that he was a man of good attraction.

Cordelia and Meredith sat back in their carriage.

"That's one beautiful carriage", Meredith said. Her sight did not catch the the person sitting in it.

"From the looks of it, that was a royal carriage. The person sitting in the carriage must a be a fine prince", Cordelia replied.

"You saw his face?!", Meredith beamed, her eyebrows rising up.

"Not really"

"Ohh that's too bad", Meredith murmured

"What's too bad?", Cordelia inquired,

"One of us did not get to see his face", Meredith pouted. "He could be the prince of my dreams", her expression suddenly changed to a happy one.

"Don't tell me you are already falling for him when you did even see his face", Cordelia asked.

"What? I've always dreamed getting married to a prince", Meredith defended. The princess-to-servant formality was gone. Now, they talked to each other as if they were of the same calibre. The ladies laughed and cracked jokes at themselves while the carriage moved closer to the burning kingdom, the stench of smoke assailed their nostrils.

"What is that smell?", Meredith sniffed.

"It. smells like something is burning", Cordelia answered, covering her nose with her hand.

"YOUR HIGHNESS!!!", the coachman screamed and jumped off the coach box to the hard ground, falling on his knees.

Cordelia and Meredith jumped out of the carriage at the scream of the coachman voice.

They looked ahead and horror, fear, awe and shock merged on their faces. Meredith and Cordelia screamed at the sight of the kingdom that greeted them. Meredith also fell on her knees, covering her mouth.Her facial expression was torn between trying to cry and not to cry.

Cordelia ran towards the gates, into the burning kingdom. She looked at the vicinity she was. This was not the kingdom she left for a journey a week ago. Everything was burning. Buildings, houses, animals, plants and humans were all burning.

Big bags of tears dropped from Cordelia's eyes blue eyes as she took in the horrible sight before her. Cordelia shook her head vigorously and squeezed her eyes shut. This could be a nightmare, there was no way Evalon would be in this state. When Cordelia opened her eyes, the sight did not change. Her teary gazes wandered to the castle afar which seemed to be the only building that was not burning. Cordelia sprinted to the castle while shouting her father's name. When she entered the castle, she went straight to the throne hall but her father was not there. Having this unshakable feeling of dread looming within her, she made her way to the courtroom, meeting dead bodies of maids, servants and guards covered in blood along the way but the king was nowhere to be seen.

Cordelia left the courtroom, meeting more pools of dead bodies that were either stabbed or shot by arrows. She dragged feet to her father's chamber; the King's chamber.

Cordelia raised her shaky hands to the doorknobs of her father's bedroom. She opened the doors and a gory sight in front of her.