Prophesy

CILLIAN’S POV
After some time, the sapphire stopped glowing but it was already confirmed. Rosalind was one of them. I didn’t know exactly how I was feeling. The elders were all looking at me, waiting for my input on what to do next.
The law was clear. Wolves with magic were abominations, they were unstable, unpredictable and very dangerous. They always went rogue. They were threats.
But this was Rosalind, my Rosalind. She couldn’t hurt a fly. How the hell did she have magic and I didn’t know all this time? I didn’t sense it or anything. Was I that blind or did she just hide it so well?
So many questions were floating in my mind. It was a mix of pain, betrayal, helplessness and anger. I did not know what to do. Rosalind stood before us with the now normal looking sapphire on the table, waiting for me to say something. The elders were still murmuring and having side talks.
Councilman Arthur cleared his throat and decorum returned. I knew that whatever he was going to say would not be in the benefit of Rosa.
“Elders, My Prince. We have seen with our eyes that what the witch queen said about her was true. She is indeed one of them. My question is this, how can we know that they haven’t been working together from the very start? Who knows if getting her to be betrothed to Prince Killian wasn’t a plan to make sure that she would be kept safe? I will speak my mind, my leaders and I will say that regardless of anything, we should not break out customs for anything. Thank you.”
He said and took his seat.
There were signs of approval from the board. They nodded their heads in agreement to what had just been said and my stomach churned violently. Was I now to execute Rosalind?
No.
There had to be something that could be done.
I stood up.
“You may leave, Rosalind.” I said, and she left immediately.
All eyes turned to me now and I continued.
“This meeting will be adjourned to a later date when my brother will be present so we can make this decision together. I will not pass any judgment until he is present at this board. That is all, thank you elders for your time, we will continue on a later date.” I said, and left the room.
“But my prince…”Someone called.
I snubbed them and walked out.
It was as though I was suffocating. There was this weird feeling in my belly, my chest was tight, I needed air.
Immediately after I left the meeting, I went straight to Killian. He needed to know everything that just happened.
I got to his ward and I saw that he was awake. When I entered, he faced me.
“What’s wrong with you?”
I closed the door of the ward and told him everything that had happened.
His countenance changed when I got the sapphire part, he too didn’t believe it, but it happened.
When I was done, he sat up and looked at me.
“Rosalind is my fiance. Nobody has the right to harm her except me, she cannot be executed. I can’t let anything happen to her.” Killian said with authority.
A sense of relief washed over me momentarily. It felt good that we were both on the same side these days.
“What do we do now, I am willing to fight for this, no matter what happens.” I said.
“We can’t convince the elders. They will stand with customs and traditions till their last breath and soon they will start to pressure.” Killian scratched his chin thoughtfully.
“She is my mate, Killian.”
He looked at me sharply, there was no expression on his face. It was as though he knew he shouldn’t be surprised but he still was, somehow.
“Does she know?” He asked.
“No. I don’t know, you are the first person I’m telling. I’ve known for a while.”
“It’s been quite obvious, brother.” He said, and sat back on the bed.
I shrugged. Someone should at least know.
Killian took a deep breath.
“Same here. Rosalind and I are mated as well. I felt it after my coma. I’ve had cases where I felt it, but I ignored everything. This time it was very loud and clear.” He said, observing my reaction.
He knew I fancied Rosa right from when I brought her to the palace. I was torn when I found out she was my mate because of my status but I didn’t care, I actually loved her and I could do anything for love. Now my twin brother was also mated to the same person. But he had the upper hand. They were already betrothed.
“So it is a triangle. She has to choose?” I asked bitterly.
“I don’t really know. I didn’t pick her, my wolf did and so did yours. These things happen for a reason.” Killian said he too was lost in thought.
“I think I need some fresh air.” I excused myself.
I just felt so suffocated. First learning that the woman that I love has been a witch all this time and now might have to face judgment, then the fact that my twin brother and I are both mated to the same wolf. What cruel game was the goddess playing with us?
I picked a bottle of whiskey and sat down at my favorite spot in the garden where I was sure not to be disturbed. I wasn’t a fan of drinking but this time, it was necessary.
I took a swig and recalled the sapphire glowing in Rosa’s hand. The fact that she was a witch was the most baffling.
I picked up a sound close by. Approaching where I sat.
“I wish to be left alone.” I said without looking up
“I’m not quite sure you do, my prince.”
The High Priestess was standing by the park bench.
“It is during times like this that one needs the most assistance. Matters of the heart are indeed the most fragile.
“Killian told you.”
She smiled, “I am the High Priestess, your majesty, I don’t need to be told much.” She laid down her staff and sat beside me.
“Prophecies are like riddles. They do not make sense until the events being told start to unfold.” She said, looking at the sunset.
“What do you mean, High Priestess?”
“It was all encoded in the lone mate prophesy even before you were born, but it made no sense. Now I’m seeing what it means.” She nodded.
She opened the brown paper in her hand and showed me, it was torn out.
In the kingdom’s dance, where moonlight weaves
The twin wolf rise to rule as destiny conceives
Amidst the embers, a fiery command
Roses bloom, framing the untamed land
A lone mate’s heart in the wild it entwines
A bond unbroken as prophesy defines
“Your love for Rosalind is the rose that blooms, that is quite poetic. She is the one that brought you and your brother together again, or have you forgotten how it was before she came? The embers and fiery command was the enmity between you too, the twin wolf.” She said, looking at me for the first time.
I nodded, trying to make sense of this. I took the paper from her as she continued. The High Priestess always spoke in riddles but she always also carried a solution.
‘A lone mate’s heart in the wild’
“The prophecy is always talking about uniting, not dividing. Everything happens for a reason, your highness. Always remember that.”
She got up and left me with my thoughts.
Immediately she left, I found it. I found the solution to the problem. I went back to the infirmary.
“There’s a solution.” I said when I entered the ward.
“What is it?” Killian asked, it was obvious he had been brainstorming as well.
“Rosalind has to accept both of us as her mate. That is the only way, but she cannot be forced.”
Kilian thought about it.
“Call Rosalind.” He said.
In a few minutes, she was with us.
Killian went straight to the point when she sat down.
“The elders are sticking with the custom that all wolves with magic be executed and that includes you. The issue is that we are not willing to let that happen, you need to get married to one of us as quickly as possible to avoid this.”
“What?” She said, looking at us in turn.
“That is the only way to save you Rosalind. If you become queen, they cannot rule against you anymore.” I said.
She looked overwhelmed.
“Can I just think about this before I give an answer?” She asked.
Killian wanted to cut in but I stopped him and allowed her to go.
“Give her time.” I advised.
When I left Killian, I picked up my dagger and went down, through the other side of the palace till I was in the dungeons.
I commanded the guard to open Estella’s cell.
“Do not disturb us.”
“Yes, My Prince.” He said and locked the gates behind me.
If my suspicion was right, then I had to do this.