Another Short Story

It has been a cold winter so far and I hope that everyone has had a happy Christmas and a wonderful New Years! I can't believe that it is already 2018! Well, it has been a while since my last post, and I decided that I wanted to share with you another short story. This past week I entered in a short story for kingdompen.org with a limit of 250 through 500 words and a picture to base your story after. If you did not get to see my last story, here it is!

Here is the photo for this week...

And here is my story...

Standing there with her loved ones, old memories rushed back to Aneira’s mind while she looked upon an old painting. The rich colors painted the story of her father and how they fought for their kingdom, even to death: a warrior and his friend. As the last light of day had disappeared, birds flew in from the south, led by a light from Athgorn, the land her uncle had usurped, while the warriors defended Narathgon for their last time. She remembered hearing her father’s words. “When the light is dim, and lammergeiers fly near, then shall be my end, your beginning, and a new generation!”

As a little girl Aneira never knew what those words meant. Birds flying near the castle were a familiar sight, but never lammergeiers. These were birds of the enemy, of Athgorn. They were coming from the South to defeat the kingdom of Narathgon and the countries surrounding it. Years passed, but no lammergeiers flew near the castle gates, until one night.

That night as Aneira lay in bed, she heard a great horn blowing. Running to her balcony she saw something that could never be erased from her memory. A golden light, as bright a million stars colliding shone from a far-off cliff. Birds of great size drew near that spot, hissing as they flew. They landed on the mountain. The light led them to a man, her father, William! They killed him and his friend that night. She raced downstairs to ready her horse for battle, but she felt a strong arm pull her back.

“No, let go of me!”

“It is of no use; the birds shall take your father but when the light vanishes they will fly back to their kingdom.”

“But all of the old stories told of how men would ride their backs, and soon take the kingdom!” 

“Yes, that will happen, but does no one read the stories besides me? The legends say that that time will come when a woman reigns, in fifteen years, when the Golden Light shall bring them here, the horn blow, and when all of Narathgon shall come forth, and fight. The light will last many weeks, drawing the evil in closer, but we will defend the walls and never let the your uncle king of Athgorn take our place! Let it be done!”

Aneira’s reign passed quicker than she could keep up. Soon it would be the time that Aaron had spoken of. Every day she passed the painting of her father’s last time. Of the Golden Light and of the birds. Tears filled her eyes with grief. But she only thought of bravery and how it was to be. Aaron was there and her children stood close to her side.

“Mother, what are you looking at?”

“Do not fear young girl. Your time will come, I will tell you. But for now on, let learning do the talking. He was of great valor, love, and strength. But loved you, although he did not know you.”

She looked down to her daughter.

“The time has come!”