Chapter 4 LOVE OR CROWN

Endora and Prince Elian startled, turned to the direction of the voice they had just heard.

"Kara, how long have you been there?" Prince Elian asked his little sister.

"It's Kata. I was woken by a nightmare". Kata said, frowning a bit that her elder brother had confused her for her twin. Kara her twin sister was still asleep at the palace.

"Why are you here Kata?" Endora asked, "You shouldn't leave the palace all by yourself this late".

"I wanted to ask if you could help me with a sleeping potion". Kata explains.

Endora smiles at her, "I'll see what I can get for you". She moves to her work shelf, to fetch the potion.

Kata eyes drifts to her elder brother who stood awfully quiet across the room. "What about mother and father?" She asks him.

Elian holds his little sister's gaze, not knowing what to answer. She was ten, still too young for such horrible news. He could only but be glad they weren't at the banquet to witness it all.

"Kata drink this quickly, it will help you sleep". Endora intervenes, giving Kata the potion.

"Thanks Endora". Kata says, then gulps down the potion.

"What was your nightmare about?" Endora inquired.

"My parents...they looked scared and hurt". Kata answered gloomily.

Endora sends a quick gaze to Prince Elian. "You should take her back to the Palace Prince Elian". She tells him.

Elian nods at her, and takes Kata's hand. "I'll be back". He whispers to Endora.

"Kata..." Endora calls out as they were halfway out of her tent. "You are right. Human beings can love." She looks at Elian, "but sometimes, love can bring war with it. Love itself can be the very cause of war".

"I don't understand Endora..." Kata says puzzled.

"I know my child, but one day you will." Endora says.

Prince Elian and Kata walk in silence to the palace.

"How did you even get out of the palace without any servant seeing you?" Prince Elian breaks the silence. He was still finding it difficult to believe she left the palace without any of the palace guards noticing.

"I escaped through my bedroom window". She tells him.

"Kata..!"He scolded, "What if you slipped and hurt yourself?"

"I'm sorry Elian...I was so terrified by my nightmare". She replies, her eyes getting teary.

Prince Elian sighs heavily, "its okay Kata".

"Where's Mom and Dad?" Kata asks again, looking up at her brother for answers.

Prince Elian looked anywhere else but at his sister, what was he going to tell her. "The potion must have kicked in, you must be feeling tired and sleepy".

Kata yawns, "Yes, I can't wait to get to the palace".

A sudden loud bang of the palace gate quickly gets both their attentions.

"What's going on?" Prince Elian talks more to himself.

Then he sees a servant running out yelling at the top of his voice. "Silla is under attack!"

Prince Elian recognizing the servant calls out, "Kunni, what's going on?" He demands.

Kunni halts right in front of them and gasps to catch his breath, "My prince ...you're alive!" he stutters.

"What's going on Kunni?" Prince Elian demands angrily.

"The Kasanjes! They are here my Prince". Kunni stutters on.

Prince Elian eyes grew wide with fear.

"They have the King's and Queen's head on a stake." Kunni informs, trembling.

"My parents!" Kata shrieks.

"Kunni, you go back to the palace and get my remaining family members to safety". Prince Elian ordered, and grabs Kata hands tighter as they turn and head back to Endora's tent.

"They are here". He says in a jiff, the moment they entered the tent.

Endora looks at him, mirroring the fear in his eyes. "They've come for you". She tells him.

"Whatever we need to do, we need to do it now!" He blurts out.

Endora nods quickly, and walks to the other end of the room. She scans through a pile of big old books, searching intently for a particular one.

"Is mother and father really dead?" Kata asks her brother, as she struggles to keep her eyes open.

"Now is not the time for questions Kata, just lay down and sleep". He answers irritably.

"I have found it". Endora announces, as she walks back to meet him where he stood, a book in her hand.

"What is in that book?" He asked impatiently.

"It contains the spell that will take us to the other realm where the sword is". She answers

"But you don't have magical powers?" He persisted.

"I do." She looks at him, "I'm not a Sillan, but I am the secret weapon of the Sillans for times like this". She opens the book and starts chanting the spell.

"What about Kata, are we to leave her here?" he asked, looking at his sister dozing off on the floor.

"It's your call Prince Elian". Endora answers, looking at him intently as she waits for his orders.

"She comes with us."