Story 15/1001

• grow
• monarch
• partnership

Nathaniel swung his sword and cut off the enemy soldier’s head. The fight is not even close to the end, but he could see how tired his army was. They have been fighting all morning, ignoring their wounds and the cold air.

Nathaniel frowned and yelled, forcing himself to stay alert. He cut down a few soldiers and ran to the middle of the field.

There he was.

Conall, the enemy’s heir. Fighting in his black armor, pushing his luck on the battlefield. Nathaniel smirked and walked slowly towards him. He didn’t dare to breathe, not to mention blink.

He could end this war with one swing of his sword. He gripped his sword, closing in on Conall. He held his sword above his head, and just as he was about to kill his enemy, Conall turned around and looked at him.

“I told you one day you’ll grow up enough to try to kill me.” Conall said in his deep voice.

The same one that killed his brother seven years ago.

Nathaniel was just a boy, but fifteen was more than enough to see his first battle.  Unlike then, Nathaniel didn’t freeze in shock. He lowered his sword, but still held his gaze on Conall.

Conall was still wearing the same symbol on his armor – only this time the monarch butterfly was not stained in his brother’s blood.

“I will kill you today.” Nathaniel spoke, his voice hoarse from yelling. “My brother-“

“Your brother knew what war was. He was loyal enough to fight alongside his soldiers. Under his own flag.” Conall looked at Nathaniel’s armor, and the king’s symbol on it. “We were the same age, we spent the same amount of days on the battlefield. We fought fair. He lost fair.” Conall continued. “You are his age now. But you will not kill me today.” Conall walked, closing the gap between them.

“You are not your brother. And you don’t want to be.”

“I’m not. And I don’t.” Nathaniel nodded, still keeping a distance from him.

“I propose a partnership.” Conall said while kicking one of Nathaniel’s soldiers.

Nathaniel looked around them – Conall’s soldiers made a circle, with the two of them in the middle, and the sound of swords clashing drowned out their conversation.

“I’m listening.” Nathaniel said.

“This war needs to end. The people and the land have suffered enough.”

Nathaniel nodded.

“Our fathers won’t stop until they kill everyone and burn everything. This war has become one of pride, not one of resources and land.” Conall continued.

“Every war is a war of pride, prince Conall.” Nathaniel smirked.

“I propose a deal. ” Conall frowned, but continued. “We unite our kingdoms, and we divide the mines.”

“And how would you unite our kingdoms?”

“You are not married yet. My sister has just turned eighteen.”

Nathaniel was in awe. The man who killed his brother wanted to give him his sister. It is the wiser choice, he knew that. They both wanted this war to end, but he could smell Conall’s desperation.

Nathaniel wanted revenge. He wanted to kill Conall, torture his sister, destroy everything he holds dear – but he couldn’t lie to himself.

The desperation wasn’t only Conall’s. Since his brother died, his father changed. He stopped funding anything, but the war. Nathaniel’s people were starving, his soldiers were sick, tired and unmotivated. Even the most loyal and decent ones resorted to crimes.

All he could see around the castle walls was suffering.

Nathaniel extended his arm.

“I will treat her with honor fitting her title. But she will get nothing else from me.”

Conall nodded and shook Nathaniel’s hand.