Confused Realita

Summary: Short story. A woman in the fantasy world of Mythos is sentanced to death.

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Mythos Short Story 1

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On the other end of the street is her destination. Surrounding each side of the dusty path are the villagers of the city. As more people arrive each second, the jeers become louder and more deafening to her ears. They begin to leer at her and spit in her general direction. However, she continues to hold her calm stature, determined in her last moments not to reveal how terrified she really is.


Her hair, still the beautiful color of a dark rose, is no longer long and luxurious. It is now covered in dirt and knotted in tangles. The porcelain skin she possessed, a feature that once drove men mad, is now covered in dirt and bruised from abuse. The dress she wears is a simple one intended for servants that has been ripped in several places where the prison guards have made attempts to take advantage of her. The ropes that bind her hands behind her are now stained crimson with her blood. As she feels the warmth of the liquid dripping down to her fingertips, she closes her eyes.


He’s here. She doesn’t know where, but she can feel his presence and his gaze focused on her. She feels his heart beating within her own chest. The physical pain of her own is dulled by the emotional pain that she feels, within herself and emanating from him. As much as she wants to, she doesn’t open her eyes or search for him.


A push from behind knocks her forward. “Walk.” The man orders. She lowers her head.


“You know I’ve done nothing.” She whispers hoarsely and barely audible over the loud ruckus of the crowd. If he hears her then he ignores the fact and instead gives another shove. Regaining her balance, she proceeds forward slowly following behind the guards leading the way to her death.


As she stands upon the platform, the words of everyone around drown out. She peers down below her. Hundreds to thousands of people are gathered to watch her die. She keeps her face expressionless and vacant, mind set on staying strong. Then she sees him.


He pushes himself as close to the front of the mass as he can. No one recognizes him since he has dressed himself in a hooded dark brown cloak to hide his face, but he is the heir to the throne. Looking up at her, his eyes hold a sorrowful expression. He has come alone, instead of with his wfie, which makes the tiniest hint of a smile appear on her face. The small smile however does not reach her eyes that are filled with melancholy sadness.


“Trying to ruin our kingdom by creating a scandal. Ruin our alliance with the kingdom of Parthos.“ The King of her country growls low for only her to hear. “My sons heart was not yours to take. The king of Parthos will not ally with us while his daughter does not have my son’s unconditional love. He has already started taking troops out of the Terrain Gulf. It is only a matter of time now before the Watreams invade and kill us all.” He continues. “What say you?”


“You now live in fear, Your Majesty.” She says with a glare and a smirk. “Had your greed not wanted to control the Watreams in the first place, perhaps they might not have felt the need to ally with Iiera and retaliate.” This is the first time she has ever spoken to the King and she knows very well it may be her last. She wants to make the occasion a memorable one for him.


His face turns red with anger at her statement. “You’re the one who has been filling my sons head with these ridiculous thoughts!”


“Your son has his own opinions and ideals. And he has never agreed with you on any of your actions. Luckily, it’s almost time for him to rule. Despite the fact that you are his father, I know he will be a great ruler to Mythos and bring us back to being a city of light.” She spits out at him. Turning her head from the king, she stares back at the prince who’s gaze hasn’t left her figure once.


“I am still King, my dear, for now.” He outstretches a hand, stroking the side of her bruised face. “And now I say you die for Mythos. Without you in my sons life we will have Parthos at our aid again. We will take the land of the Watreams and expand our city. They will work for us as merchants or farmers. Or they will hang. Just like you.”


“If Watre gains the support of Gainsborrow, they will still defeat you. There are more cities of light than darkness.” She tells the King calmly. “And just because I’ll be dead, doesn’t mean your son will love her. It doesn‘t assure you that you will gain Parthos’ aid again.” She adds as an afterthought, one that makes her smile.


He slaps her for insolence. They are done speaking.


She is pushed to the edge of the pier. The hangman wraps the rope tightly around her neck and she stands there patiently, looking down at the love of her life. He looks up at her with a gaze begging her to give him any sign to be saved.


“We’ll run away together. We’ll disappear just me and you. I care about you.” The words he told her the night before she was captured, and many times earlier, ring clearly in her head.


As do the words of her response. “No. Mythos needs you to save them.”


Events of her life suddenly flash before her eyes. She relives a moment dancing with her sisters in front of the small cottage where they live on the outskirts of town. Another moment when she first walks into the merchant area of the city of Mythos appears. She relives the moment when she first meets him when their hands reach for the same item.


The conversations they have like they knew each other their whole lives start flashing in her mind. The day when she finds out about his true identity as the prince of Mythos, married to the princess of Parthos for the alliance. Another memory appears of telling him how she can’t stand being apart from him while he says he feels the same. A smile crosses her face as she remembers the first time they had ended up in an embrace that lead into a night of passion. So many good memories of him flash before her eyes.


Suddenly she’s back at the gallows. The crowd continues shouting words such as ‘harlot’ to hurt her. The man she loves now cannot bare to look at her and keeps his gaze on the ground afraid to watch.


“Any last words?” The man beside her asks.


“I have no regrets.” She says, staring at her prince with a smile on her face. At her words he looks up. Their eyes meet. He mouths the words ‘I love you’ in which she responds ‘I love you, too’. A single tear falls down her cheek.


Then she takes the step off the pier.