Katherine

It was a dark and cloudy day. The threat of a storm had been a possibility. Thousands of local citizens gathered throughout the court to hear the message of the king. Katherine stood next to her mother and watched her father speak.

"Citizens," he began with a look of distress. "The day we have feared has come upon us at this hour. Today, we have lost many of our own people to The Great Plague for it has finally made its way to our island."

A great chanter amongst the crowd erupted. Dizziness found its way toward a young Katherine. Would she lose everyone around her? What of her own mother? She could not bear the thought and had been losing balance. Her mother could sense this and took hold of her before she could fall.

"You have no need to worry," stated her mother. "I am with you. Together, we can get through this." Katherine's spirit had been eased. She fell into her arms and as long as they had each other, all would be fine. If only every other soul had someone special to hug.

"But do not fear," continued the king attempting to gain back the lost attention. "We will fight through this!" With a pause, her father sighed a grand breath. "My first order of business is to immediately cease all operations of the seaport. Not a soul shall leave this kingdom and not a traveling soul shall return. And until further notice, every citizen must keep inside their homes. If anybody is caught breaking this law, they shall be banished to the undesirable land and reside amongst the wretched slaves.

In just mere seconds, a riot had arisen courtesy of fear. Knights did all they could to keep the peace but held small luck. In Katherine's eyes, the entire kingdom had gone mad. All she could do was hold on tightly to her mother. She was the source of her warmth whilst tears flowed down her eyes like a river. Perhaps everything would be fine if she could for once follow the commands of her father.

"Hello," greeted the one she knew as Davian who sat next to her on the sand. "Something on your mind it seems?"

The one he knew as Kassandra smiled remembering the book she held. Glancing at the book, a moment was taken to look at the sky. Was her mother watching? Would she have been proud of the rediscovery of the book that they once cherished together?

"Oh, I was remembering my mother. This book has been reminding me of many memories."

"What was the memory you were recalling at this moment?"

The girl considered sharing a different memory with the boy. Perhaps a happier memory that did not involve The Great Plague. Many lives had been lost to this vile disease. Yet, perhaps it was best to share some of this sadness with the boy. She could not bear another lie.

"The king had declared the arrival of The Great Plague which sent panic throughout the court. Yet, my mother was there to comfort me. She assured me that everything would be fine." Katherine could not help but laugh and allowed a couple of tears to drop. "My mother told me everything would be fine. We would get through this ordeal together."

Without a thought, Katherine's hands could not hold on to the book and let the ground take hold of it. Closing her eyes, it seemed she forgot of her surroundings.

Daniel

"Do you remember how I said my papa did not return?" With a heart so heavy, Daniel felt as if he were about to lose it. Yet, he had to ignore this feeling for Kassandra needed to know she was not alone. He could not sit and let her feel like this. "It was The Great Plague that took him. He took a journey by sea right before the seaport ceased. I had refused to believe that he was not coming back and journeyed off to the seaport in hopes that he would be waiting for me. My stepmother was furious."

"Oh, you poor thing," laughed the princess placing a hand on his shoulder and her head against his neck. "You journeyed to the seaport on your own as a child? That must have been a horrifying ordeal."

"What do expect from a child," he lightly laughed with her. "They have a head full of wild imagination."

The royal capital had been stricken by a great storm. This did not stop Daniel and his horse from reaching the seaport. Not another moment had been wasted once he jumped off the horse and began to search for his papa. The hard rain caused it difficult for the eye to spot anything. Yet, the boy was determined and ran against the wind which attempted to put on a fight with every droplet of water. Soon enough, his breath escaped him, and running would be of no use.

Falling to his cold knees, all he could do was scream.

"Papa! Where are you? Papa!" Boom! Lightning struck not far from the broken soul. Being struck by lightning would have been welcomed. A shame it had not happened.

"You there!" shouted a firm voice. "What are you doing?"

Daniel wanted to run. He knew it was possible, but what would be the purpose? His fate was sealed. It was time to return to the undesirable land. All his papa's work had been in vain. Staying put, he allowed a group of knights to surround him.

"You are just a young boy!" declared one of the knights. "Where are your parents?"

"Leave the boy alone," shouted a familiar voice for it was the voice of his new mother. Her umbrella provided safety from the rain. Yet, there was no excitement for her arrival for his soul felt numb. "I will look after him!"

"Is this your child? Did you not hear the word of the king? Do you realize we can send you to the undesirable land?"

"Yes, I have heard the word of the king you imbeciles! My son however does not seem to understand however. For that, you will leave him be and let him be my responsibility or so help me, I will cut off each of your arms."

None of the knights felt threatened for they all laughed to their heart's content.

"No," spoke the knight. "We shall banish the boy and you shall die by the sword."

It was now his new mother who was doing the laughing leaving the knights baffled. It was all the stranger that this laughter sounded similar to the laughter of a witch.

"Those who live by the sword," spoke the woman once finished laughing. "Die by the sword."

Without hesitation, the stick of her umbrella struck one of the knights leaving the man to fall to the ground and lose a helmet. The poor man found difficulty in breathing.

"Alright, fine!" he yelled. "The two of you are free to go. We shall forget that we ever spotted you."  

This concludes the sixteenth chapter! An exciting new chapter will arrive next Saturday! Please remember to comment and vote. Tell a friend! 

Thoughts on The Great Plague?

Can you believe Lady Maggie came to Young Daniel's rescue?