The day was bright, sunlight filtered through the gauzy tapestries of prussian blue casting light this way and that on the dappled marble, against the crystal fixtures, the silken curtains. The breeze that blew through was caressing, a kiss of dew from the barely there clouds of mist just yonder.

The hall, something that was pleasantly the lap of luxury held a creature too dark for its pastels and pearls. He sat on the throne, swatched in black and a formiddable expression crowning his face, in his hand a piece of parchment crisp and stiff belying a message that could change the fates.

He knew he could not trust the contents of the message... They came at a time when his army had just returned from war... It had barely been a week and now... he sat there with a treaty for peace in his hands.

Stranger still was the request... for him to come alone. It was obviously a call for his own murder. But would Maurice, Solange's loving father be still this daring? Would he endeavor to continue his murdering schemes to destroy the Delkashia lineage?

Lucio crushed the parchment and brought the fist to his forehead. On one hand he had Maurice's beautiful headstrong daughter whome without doubt he loved, and on the other her father, the killer of his parents.

No... he would meet this challenge head on. He was no coward. And yet... there was that irritating sixth sense that screamed 'danger'. A plot. Sighing he threw the crushed message to the ground.

This was the chance of a lifetime. He would unite all of Miyanu with Maurice's men. They would walk side by side and be stronger just like the days long gone of old. He would finally have Maurice's blessing for Solange.

Or he could be killed.

The gods would not will him to die in such a way. He was destined for more than that, this much he knew. He stood and slowly made his way across the room not hearing the entrance of his soulmate.

She watched him leave quietly and glanced curiously at the parchment on the ground.

Looking around carefully to make sure she was alone she picked it up scanned it quickly. As the contents registered in her mind her eyes widened and she dropped the message as though burnt from touching it.

She ran to the edge of the room and watched as Lucio flew towards in the direction of Wulfrun on his dragon.

"No.." she whispered as she saw his fate. He would be dead by sunset.

The air of Wulfren was stifling... the heat a scorching blaze from the shafts of light that hit his back from the sun that beat low. In front of him the castle appeared and before it a large group of people, he assumed a few thousand strong awaited his arrival. He cared not for the weapons they carried he only looked for the royal flag. Spying it towards the right he commanded the dragon towards it.

The dragon descended and people around it drew back as the dust rose creating a cloud in the air. Pulling away the veil that bound his face he leapt off of his mount and landed nimbly on the ground beside it. Despite the huge throng around him he stood tall scanning the malicious faces for their leader.

"Delkashia", said a deep voice, aged and weary.

Sighting the speaker Lucio turned his head to face him.

""Maurice", he replied in a harsh tone as he tried to ignore his mind screaming danger and his heart as it whispered to plunge his sword into the man.

Maurice himself had changed. His gait had been proud and tall when he had last seen him, now he seemed tired and slumped. His shoulders even sagged a little, the deepened lines in his face and the thin white strands of his hair. Lucio shook his head sadly. How the mighty have fallen he thought as he stared at the weak old man before him.

"You call me to speak of peace".

"Aye Lucio... but first-". Lucio's brows rose as he stared at the man as though he were delirious as he passed him his sword.

"Avenge your parents death... my people are yours... only you are their rightful king".

Gasps were heard all around as Lucio realised the man was telling the truth and spoke honestly. He looked at the sword and the hands that held it shook with the possibility of just what he could do here and now...

He could kill Maurice and all would be his. By right. He could finally avenge the death of his parents. The people seemed to have quitened and a whispering arose as they stared at their defeated king.

"Why?" Lucio said the single word loaded with a thousand questions.

"I am not the ruler that was meant to be... it is your blood... your soul...", he gestured waving his hand, "That makes you the king... my people want their homes... they want their families... they want the peace of Miyanu", he said looking defeated, "you are their rightful king not I... honour your parents Lucio... take my life."

"Gladly", Lucio replied through gritted teeth as he stared at the pathetic semblance of life before him. Pulling the sword up he held it at the man's throat. About to slive it open he hesitated as though a thought occured to him.

"I.. I cannot..." he muttered throwing the sword aside and stared at it as it clattered to the ground. Solange would never forgive him... she would never accept him. He was not the type of king to force status or person onto himself and Solange for sure would not accept him if he murdered her last living relation.

"Kill him Maurice!" Shouted a loud voice from the crowd. Lucio watched as a large blonde man faught his was through. A jolt of reocgnition hit him as he realised it was none other than Maxwell Dekant. Solange's betrothed. The man's handsome almost pretty face stared back at him in revulsion.

"I shall kill him myself", he said in a completly pompous manner, "and then Maurice," he sneered at his defeated old leader, "I will kill you and will rule with Solange by my side".

Swinging his broad sword he raced to Lucio, at the same moment Maurice stepped forward blocking his path.

A loud scream was heard as the sword ran itself to the hilt into Maurice's chest and the man fell to his knees his eyes wide in shock.

The next moment the sound of steel slicing skin was heard as Lucio slit Maxwell's gullet open watching in disgust as a fountain of red spurted from the lifeless body, it crumpled to the ground.

When he turned he was shocked to see Solange kneeling at her father's side cradling his head in her hands and weeping. His heart broke to see her in such pain and he wished he could do anything to stop her from hurting. His gaze passed on to see Maurice's ashen feature's and he felt a heavy sense of relief washing over him, glad he had made the decision he had.

"Solange...", the name slipped passed the lips of the pale dying man. "My daughter... I love you so... remember that..."

"Yes papa... always papa", she wept as though her heart were breaking a thousand times over... She knew he was dying... he would not return...

Gently rocking his head she continued to weep silently as the tears from her eyes fell on his face and ran down his cheeks.

"Do something for me child..." he whispered as he gazed at her through his dying vision.

"Anything... " she replied as Lucio crouched at her side resting one hand on her back and the other on her arm, rubbing gently. She leaned her head against his chest trying hard to stop the huge heaving sobs that were making there way through her.

"Love your... king..." A sharp jerk ran through his body before his eyes rolled back in his sockets. Solange released a piercing shriek as she shook his shoulders urging him to return to her.

"Solange calm yourself!" She heard Lucio's voice. She felt him turning her to face him bodily and hold her against him in a tight embrace.

A wailing sob escaped her as she clutched the lapels of his tunic.

"Papa..."she sobbed as though she had given up on the world.

"Hush", her soulmate replied resting her head against his shoulder, running his hand through her soft locks as though calming a terrified child. "Have no fear... I am here.."

"Always here", she replied in a muffled tone as people around them moved in closer to inspect the two dead bodies, their new king and queen.

"Always", he replied solemnly, though his mind registered sadness his heart soared with the prospect of the future. People of Miyanu would unite under one banner. Live in one land... and Solange...

Solange was finally his.

Was it too sudden? I was worried I hurried it a little but felt it was a bit of a loose knot that needed tightening.

anyway let me know what you think..

X