The Prophesy (Fragment)

I started this quite some time ago, and I love what I have so far, but I have no idea what to do with it! Any suggestions would be welcome!

Lynnea watched in solemn silence as Lady Kessa was brought before the Oracle. Ever since the day the prophesy had been made, Lynnea had served Kessa as her handmaiden. They had both been so young, neither of them yet begun their seventh year.

She remembered the day of the prophesy well, despite her youth. The stone walls of the palace had seemed so dark and cold after spending the first few years of her life in the warm sun on her family’s farm. Her mother had brought her to the palace along with every other young girl in the kingdom old enough to walk, yet too young to bleed.

Even now, Lynnea struggled to understand how the Oracle could have known that the Heroine would be among these. The Prophesy of the Heroine had been made decades ago by another Oracle, and before that moment, no one knew who the Heroine would be.

Yet this Oracle had insisted upon, demanded, the girls of the kingdom be brought before her. So, she stood among them. Some of the girls were less than two years old, some trying desperately to pull away from the group to get close to their mothers, many crying. The oldest among them were nearly women, some fifteen or sixteen – looking solemn as they appeared before the Oracle.

Lynnea had met Kessa in the crowd of girls. Apart from their age, the two had very little in common. Lynnea had been a pale, fair-haired, chubby little girl, shy and uncertain. Kessa was dark-haired, tan, and slender, and she held her head high with confidence, despite their situation.

But Kessa had been kind to Lynnea, taking her hand and assuring her that, no matter the outcome, the Oracle knew what was best.

Together, they had followed the girls before them. Lynnea struggled to see over the heads of the younger girls in front of her, but as far as she could tell, the Oracle had yet to discern who among them was to be the Heroine.

The wait was distressing, but Lynnea had depended on Kessa’s steadfast confidence as she impatiently waited to approach the Oracle. She hadn’t even been certain whether to hope that the Oracle would choose her or not. She certainly didn’t feel special. Would she even want to be chosen?

When finally they had reached the front of the group, Lynnea had not yet released Kessa’s hand, so the two girls approached together. The sight of the Oracle was such that she had never seen before. The Oracle was a woman, not much older than her mother. She was slender, and Lynnea thought she was very beautiful. Her hair was white, and her eyes so dark they were almost black. She wore robes the color of rubies so voluminous they covered the chair she sat in and puddled around her feet on the floor.

Lynnea and Kessa bowed low as they approached. Lynnea expected the Oracle to wave her hand in dismissal as she had to the girls before them, but the Oracle did not. Instead, she stood and stepped down from the dais to stand before them. “Your names?” she asked.

“Kessa, daughter of Shedri and Mayani,” the girl beside her answered confidently.

Lynnea tried to speak, but her voice caught in her throat. Finally, she managed to croak out her name. She hoped the Oracle didn’t require her parentage as well. She wasn’t sure she could make herself speak so many words.

For a few very long moments, the Oracle stared at them, her black eyes shining. Then, she knelt in front of them so her eyes were level with theirs. Quietly, she spoke a few words in a language Lynnea didn’t recognize. Finally, she reached out her hands, one to each girl. Kessa immediately placed the hand that wasn’t holding Lynnea’s into the Oracle’s hand. After a brief hesitation, Lynnea did the same with her free hand. They stood like that, the Oracle’s gaze moving from Kessa to Lynnea and back again.

Then, without warning, the Oracle dropped Lynnea’s hand and stood, still holding Kessa’s hand. Kessa followed the Oracle up to the dais. Lynnea still held Kessa’s hand. Unsure of what to do, she followed Kessa. The Oracle turned to the crowd that had come to watch the Prophesy unfold and finally spoke.

“The Heroine – Kessa, daughter of Shedri and Mayani! May she save us all!”

“May she save us all!” the crowd repeated as they cheered.

That fateful day, the Oracle had seen more than Kessa’s destiny. She revealed that Lynnea’s destiny was linked to Kessa’s. Not even the Oracle knew how, but it was agreed that the girls would not be parted.

That very day, Kessa and Lynnea were given quarters in the palace. Due to her new status as the Heroine, Kessa was treated like a princess; she was given the finest clothing, the first helping at mealtimes. She received gifts of dolls, jewelry, horses, and weapons. Wherever they went, people bowed before her.

Lynnea, as Kessa’s handmaiden, was given chores that would ease Kessa’s burden. Yet, despite her seemingly low position, those in the palace knew of her connection to the Heroine, so she still held the respect even of those in high stations.

Lynnea went everywhere with Kessa. They played together, ate together, slept together, studied, and trained together. Lynnea wondered at all she had never considered before – arithmetic and literature, history and philosophy. Lynnea especially excelled in the sciences. She learned quickly the names of plants and trees and was fascinated by the way they could be combined to make poisons or cures.

Kessa, on the other hand, had a preference for weapons training. She could handle swords and spears that were made for people far bigger than she, and her accuracy with a bow and throwing daggers rivaled the most skilled weapons masters.

Together, they trained and together they grew. They became closer than sisters with a loyalty to one another that none could sever.

Now, Lynnea stepped aside to allow Kessa to take her place in front of the dais. They were both dressed in the clothing that had been made for them in preparation for this day. Their outfits were nearly identical – loose fitting black trousers to allow easy movement, sturdy leather boots, and black belted tunics. They had even braided their hair to match. The only difference was Kessa’s rich red cape that flowed behind her as she walked. Lynnea’s outfit was completed with a much more humble earth-green cape.

Kessa’s cape formed a semi-circle behind her as she knelt before the Oracle. The large room was silent as the Oracle stood and approached her. “Kessa, daughter of Shedri and Mayani, rise and claim your destiny as the true-”

The Oracle’s voice faltered. Lynnea didn’t dare breathe as she awaited the prophet’s next words. Why did she hesitate? Certainly, there could be no doubt. This was the moment Kessa had lived for, trained for. Why did the Oracle not send her off as was planned?

The Oracle did not speak. Instead, she held out her hands to Kessa. Kessa lifted her head. From her place, Lynnea could not see her dear friend’s face, but she knew from the tension in her body that Kessa was just as confused and anxious as she.

But, with her never-failing confidence, Kessa reached out and took the Oracle’s hands, allowing herself to be pulled to her feet. She stared into the face of the Oracle as the wise woman’s eyes stared back at her.

The Oracle’s next words were so quiet they were hardly more than a whisper, but from her position next to Kessa, Lynnea heard them. “You are not the Heroine.” Lynnea couldn’t stop the gasp that escaped her, nor the hand that covered her mouth. The Oracle looked as shocked at the revelation as Lynnea felt. “This is not the Heroine!” she said aloud.

The room was suddenly abuzz with sound as the crowd turned to each other. Lynnea closed the distance between her and Kessa and took her hand. Kessa looked back at her, her brown eyes wide with fear and confusion. Lynnea felt the same, but she refused to allow Kessa to see. Instead, she squeezed her friend’s hand, hoping the action would reassure her. No matter what happened in the moments to follow, they would get through this as they had every other moment since they were six years old – together.

“You!” Lynnea’s head snapped up at the Oracle’s shouted word. The Oracle, who had stepped away from the dais now approached them once more, but her attention was no longer on Kessa, but on Lynnea. Lynnea was too stunned to do anything but stare, yet she eventually remembered her manners and bowed before the Oracle.

“Look at me, girl!” the Oracle snapped. Lynnea did as she was bid, despite the discomfort of the dozens of eyes now watching her. “You were there that day, were you not? The day I named this girl the Heroine?”

“I was,” Lynnea answered shakily. “I was one of the girls brought before you.”

“But you were with this one, yes?”

Lynnea glanced back at Kessa. “Yes, Lady. We came before you together.”

The Oracle looked from her to Kessa and back again. “Your destinies are closely intertwined. This I saw, even then. But your linked fates confused me. Even now, I am uncertain of what I see.

“This, I know. Kessa is not the Heroine. You are.”