The Gem of Everlasting Hope

Hurrying to the window, Adara stared out. All was dark and silent. Adara dropped the Gems into the leather bag softly. She set it down, returned to the window, and her hand bumped something on the window ledge. There lay another bag, this one of velvet with a note attached. The note said this: To be opened after the message.

What message? Realizing something was in her hand, Adara looked down. She grasped the parchment Ryder had given her with the pouch. This must be the message. Carefully she unfolded it and began to read. It ran thus: Princess, in this bag lays the Gem of Everlasting Hope. This Gem will bring you a Hope that shall never end. A Hope of a better tomorrow. A Hope that all will be right in the end. A Hope that love and good shall conquer. An Everlasting Hope. But I warn you, if you make the wrong decision, it will become the Gem of Everlasting Despair. You will have no Hope. You will be overcome with the knowledge that evil shall conquer. Princess, be sure of your decision, before you open this bag. Because after you open this bag, you cannot change your decision. It will be final. I wish that you should have wisdom in this decision. I wish that you should open it to find the Gem of Everlasting Hope, not Despair. For this Hope cannot and will not die. It will survive, because it is An Everlasting Hope. May wisdom overwhelm you. -Ryder.

Adara read it and reread it. Her heart throbbed. Which choice was she to choose? For hours she paced, what was she to do? She forced herself to think calmly. What would she have done in any other situation? She would have asked her father. But he said to give him up! Should she listen to his words, or not? She clenched her fists and decided quickly. She would obey her father. She would choose to have the kingdom. With that, perhaps she could fight Lord Garth, and destroy him. Slowly she raised the bag in her hand. She stared at it. Then her shaking fingers loosened the drawstring. She emptied the contents into her hand. Adara drew in her breath sharply. There in her palm lay a Gem. It was quite large compared to the others. It was extremely beautiful. It had every color of the rainbow and more in it, both there together and separately. It glimmered in the light. As Adara looked at it, she felt a feeling of Hope overwhelm her. Suddenly she knew that all was going to be all right.

The last couple days she had felt hope slipping from her. She had tried to seize it and had failed. Now it rushed back in a torrent. Shakily she drew in a breath. She had made the right decision! She had chosen correctly! She let out a sigh of relief.

Suddenly she realized that her cell was growing brighter, it was morning! She watched the sun rise over the hilltops and flood the world with light. She breathed slowly. Today was the day she would tell Lord Garth her decision. She placed the bags containing the Gems in her waistband. Then she heard footsteps approaching. She quickly straightened her dress and fixed her hair. When the door opened, she was ready. Derek stood in the doorway. He motioned with a pistol for her to leave. Adara obeyed. They descended the stairs, and Adara followed Derek to the library. She could see that they were in an old abandoned castle.

Lord Garth stood before Adara. He smiled at her.

“Princess, you have made your decision?” he asked.

Adara shuddered at the sound of his sneering voice. She lightly touched her waistband.

“Yes, I have,” she said firmly.

Lord Garth looked her in surprise at the firmness of her voice.

“You have? Well, what is it? Do you want the kingdom or your father and brother?”

Adara took a deep breath, and answered, “I want the kingdom.”

Lord Garth gazed at her. “The kingdom? Very well, we will see if you change your mind when you see your father and brother.”

Lord Garth clapped his hands. A door swung open, and in stepped King Raymond and Prince Kylos. They looked haggard from spending nearly three days without light. Adara looked at her father and met his gaze. He spoke three words, three times firmly, “Choose the kingdom, choose the kingdom, choose the kingdom.”

“Father,” said Adara, feeling her throat tighten, “I chose the kingdom.”

King Raymond smiled, “You have chosen wisely, my daughter.”

“Oh, father!” cried Adara. She flung herself upon him.

King Raymond clasped her to him tightly. He buried his face in her hair. Kylos stood watching. Adara stood like that for a moment, and then she flung her arms around Kylos.

“Oh, Kylos! I am sorry!” she whispered.

“Adara, you choose wisely.” He murmured brokenly. He held her back and gazed into her eyes. She smiled bravely.

“Adara?” asked Kylos.

“Yes?”

“Will you tell me why you look so happy?”

“Because,” said Adara, “I have a Hope. An Everlasting Hope. A Hope that you and father will not have sacrificed yourselves in vain. A Hope of a better tomorrow.” Adara turned and looked at Lord Garth, “Yes, I even have a Hope that Lord Garth will realize his evil ways and repent of what he has done. I, Kylos, have Hope! A Hope that cannot and will not die! An Everlasting Hope!”

“I wish I had that,” Kylos said softly, his eyes watching her, as she stood arms flung out, a smile on her lips.

Here Lord Garth interrupted. “Such a touching scene.” he said mockingly. He clapped his hands and the men in black entered. “Escort them to the courtyard.” He ordered.

The men obeyed. Lord Garth turned to Adara.

“May I accompany you to the courtyard?” he asked.

“Must I watch?” asked Adara, horrorstruck.

“Yes.”

Adara stared at him, “You are heartless!” she cried in fury.

She turned, “I will walk by myself.”

Lord Garth shrugged. Adara stepped out into the courtyard. Her father and Kylos stood, their backs against the stonewall. Ten men with rifles faced them. “Aim!” ordered Lord Garth.

Adara covered her eyes.

“Fire!” Lord Garth cried.

The shots rang out and echoed through the stillness.

Adara let out a sob. Someone pulled her back into the castle. Opening her eyes, she saw that it was Lord Garth.

“Now, Princess, sign this,” he ordered, as he thrust a paper into Adara’s hand.

She looked at it, and then gazed at him in fury.

“But I thought that I got my kingdom!” she exclaimed.

Lord Garth laughed, “You believed me?” he asked, mockingly.

Adara felt horror overwhelm her. She had ordered her father and brother killed for nothing? The shock shook her.

“No! No! NO!” Adara cried passionately, “You monster!”

“Take her to her cell.” ordered Lord Garth.

Derek obeyed. Adara was forced into her cell, sobbing. Thrust in the small tower room, she crumpled to the floor. They were gone! Gone! Gone beyond recall! She felt all give way. She sobbed as if her heart would break. Lord Garth had lied! He wanted her kingdom also.

Adara cried for hours. When she finally lay silent, too exhausted to cry, the sun was low in the sky. She fell asleep, her hand around the Gem of Everlasting Hope.

End of Chapter Ten

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(When my sister found out that I killed the King and Kylos, she said that she'd never forgive me. She used to lay in her bed, and pretend to say in her sleep, "Why did you kill the King and Kylos?" in a quavering voice. :P )