Post by Sonic on May 19, 2006 10:43:05 GMT -5
The Tale of King Niedmore VI
Once upon a time, in the land of Hyrule, there lived an arrogant and selfish king by the name of Niedmore VI. Hyrule was a prosperous nation, although that gradually changed under the reign of King Niedmore VI. It all started off when Niedmore was exposed to a tragedy, back when his father King Niedmore V reigned. His father however, ruled with justice and loyalty. The young Niedmore was also quite unlike the greedy and inimical Niedmore you see today: He was a charming, handsome young man who lived for adventure, and he was also extremely kind to the less fortunate. So, how did he become so corrupted, you ask? Well, you’re about to find out…
Year 1447 “Niedmore! Prince Atticus Niedmore!” It was Giles, adviser to King Niedmore V and the one who oversaw Prince Niedmore so that he didn’t get into trouble. Giles had become something of a friend to Prince Niedmore, despite how much older than him he was.
“Calm down Giles, I’m right here!” shouted Atticus, with a sly grin playing across his handsome face. “Didn’t you notice me right behind you?” he asked.
“Of course I did sire, which was exactly why I was shouting your name,” retorted Giles sarcastically, although he had the hint of laughter in his eyes. “Where did you get off to?” he asked.
“Where do you think I was? Visiting Helena, of course.” Atticus replied.
“Ah, sire, you could have at least warned me before visiting the so-called love of your life,” chuckled Giles.
“Very funny, Giles,” responded Atticus, narrowing his eyes, “but you know that I love Helena, and in a few years, when my father steps down, I plan to make her my wife, and queen of Hyrule.”
“Yes sire, you’ve only told me a thousand times,” laughed Giles. Too bad your father will be stepping down a little sooner than you thought, thought Giles. He hid the look of loathing right before Atticus looked up at him, and Atticus said, “I also plan to make you my adviser, so you can grace me with your presence every day when I’m a king as well,” he said playfully.
Giles looked good-naturedly at Atticus, and said with a note of sarcasm, “Why thank you sire, it would be an honor to also be your adviser.” And I’ll be the downfall of you as well, he thought. Playfully slapping Giles on the back, Atticus joked, “Giles, your sarcasm kills me.”
It won’t be my sarcasm that kills you, though, Giles thought evilly, and whatever look of odium he had for the young prince was well concealed by a look of affection he had so well mastered over the years.
As you have discovered, Giles is not the warm old man he seems to be, on the contrary, he is actually an old man filled with hatred and megalomania that would put King Louis XIV to shame. It is this hatred that is the downfall of Niedmore V, and although Giles had plans in store for the young Niedmore as well, it was but one person later in his life that kept the future king alive and healthy. That was Helena…
Year 1450 The door creaked open. Helena was looking into the mirror, brushing her hair, when she noticed a pair of green eyes looking at her through the door. “Atticus!” Helena gasped. “What are you doing here?”
“Well, I came to visit you, of course,” he replied, with that devilish look he always wore whenever around her.
“But, I thought you were caring for your father. Didn’t you say he was terribly ill?” she asked concernedly.
“Yes, he is, and that is exactly why I came to visit you.” Atticus replied, with his devilish look vanishing and a grim one to replace it. “My father has ruled Hyrule for years, and I’ve noticed for the past few years he hasn’t looked nearly as healthy as he usually does. Which is exactly why I came to tell you, that if my father’s illness continues, he may become too sick to rule, and as I’m already eighteen, if worse comes to worse, I may have to step up and become the new king. It does feel a bit rushed, I know, but one can’t prevent these things from happening, Helena,” he said. “Nature runs its course.”
The whole time Helena had been surveying him with her beautiful hazel eyes. “Atticus, if you become king, than that means you’ll have so much responsibility,” she breathed, gazing at him. “There will be no more nightly visits to my house, no more time for careless pastimes that we’ve always enjoyed together.”
“I know, and I’m willing to give that all up under one condition,” he answered, and he knelt down on one knee, all the while looking at her. Her breath caught in her throat. Good lord, Helena thought, is he about to-“Helena, will you marry me?” Atticus asked, and it seemed as if the rest of the world didn’t matter anymore, and Helena whispered at first, “Yes, yes of course,” until the full impact of the situation hit her, and she realized she was going to get married.
“YES!” she screamed, overjoyed, leaping into Atticus’s arms. “Of course I’ll marry you!” Tears of happiness trickled down her cheeks, and Atticus embraced her like there was no tomorrow, the whole time thinking Helena, I love you so much.
Helena and Atticus were both in their own little world, and for a moment Atticus forgot why he had asked her to marry him in the first place. It was because his father was ailing, and it was becoming painfully obvious that Hyrule would soon need a new leader. Atticus had thought that his father had contracted some sort of illness, and it would have been more honorable if that were what it really was, for no one can stop nature from running it’s course. However, the truth was that it was who else but Giles, slowly killing off the good king by putting poison in his drink and food, little by little, for the last few years. At last, Giles’s dirty work was finally paying off, and the king was in a bad state of health from consuming so much poison. Giles wasn’t stupid, he was well aware that the king had an heir, Atticus Niedmore VI. This is why he was planning a “freak accident”, making it seem as though Prince Niedmore had committed suicide in his sorrow when in reality it would involve Giles personally killing the prince himself. What Giles was oblivious to was the fact that Prince Niedmore wasn't stupid either...
Atticus was ecstatic, having just returned from Helena’s home with the news that he was getting married, but his celebration was cut short when a solemn Giles greeted him. “Giles! Guess what! I’m-huh?” Atticus saw the look of sadness upon his face, and quickly asked, “What’s going on?”
With a sepulchral tone of voice, Giles replied, “Sire, the king is dying.”
Atticus couldn’t believe his ears. “What? Giles, Giles! Tell me this is a joke!” Atticus replied through gritted teeth and hidden tears.
“Sire, I wish that it was, but I assure you that it is not,” the old man replied, his voice quavering.
“No!” Atticus began walking hurriedly to the stairs, but then threw care to the winds and broke into a sprint, taking the steps three at a time.
“It is about time the old fool dies, as well,” said Giles, his cold eyes glittering with malice. “But do not fear, boy, for you shall soon join him.” His lips then parted into a foul smile that more resembled a sneer than anything.
*********************************
Moments later, slightly breathless, Atticus reached his father, who truly was in a state. His breathing was labored, and his skin was sallow and sweaty. “Father!” choked Atticus, horrified to see that his father was even worse now than before he had left.
“Son, my son, come,” whispered his father, who seemed to be summoning all his strength just to utter the words. “Son, you know that I love you, do you not?” he whispered, his words coming out in wheezes.
“Of course I know, father,” replied Atticus gently, who tried to suppress tears and failed.
“Then that is all you need to know,” he said. “That, and that you are now the new king of Hyrule. Make me proud, son. I know that you will be ten times the king I was,” he said. “And now, Atticus, it’s time for me to leave this world, and to finally reunite with your mother, Minerva, who left this world at far too young an age. Make me proud, son…”
“Father, no,” sobbed Niedmore, “I’m not ready for you to go yet!”
“I’m sorry son, but it is my time…”and with that, he was gone. “NOOOOO!” he screamed. Tears stung his face. His father was gone, just like that… it was as if a wave of disbelief had just rammed into him, full force.
“Well I must say, I didn’t think it would take so long for that moron to die.” A cruel voice came from behind Atticus. Giles. Slowly, Atticus turned around to face Giles. “Giles?” his look turned from incredulous to understanding. “You? What are you doing with that?’
A crossbow glinted menacingly in the dim light. “Haven’t you understood yet, fool?” He burst into mirthless laughter. High, cold laughter. “Yes, it was me, idiot. I killed your father.” More laughter. Niedmore was under Herculean strain; he still couldn’t believe what was happening: First his father’s death, and now Giles, betraying him? “Giles? How could you- why would you- I still don’t understand.” Giles held up a small vial. “I just thought you would want to know how your father died, Atticus, before I killed you,” he said in a hushed voice. “I poisoned him. For the last two and a half years, I’ve been poisoning your father, making it seem to everyone that the poor man was just getting on with his years, and getting sick more often. But it was I,” he whispered, his dark eyes flashing dangerously. “Now that I have filled you in on my little secret, and you have seen my true colors, it is time you die, as well. Like father, like son. It is time I step up to the throne. Goodbye, Atticus.”
Just as Giles raised the crossbow though, Niedmore reacted. As Giles fired a projectile, confident the young prince would be a dead man any second, Niedmore dodged. Seemingly possessed, he made a beeline straight for Giles, taking the cunning, however physically diminished old man by surprise. Like a tiger, Niedmore went straight for Giles’s throat, grasping his withered neck with both hands and squeezing it with all the strength he could muster. In his bewilderment, Giles let the crossbow clatter to the floor.
“Thought you could take the stupid young prince out, didn’t you, Giles!” screamed Niedmore, all of his rage channeled into his hands, which were steadily depriving the old man of his life. “Thought you could kill two birds with one stone, and kill both the king and his son, on the same exact day!” he growled furiously. “Well guess what old man, it ISN’T about to happen!” Giles was too breathless to even say anything; he just spluttered and choked feebly, watching helplessly as Niedmore finished him off. Before Giles succumbed to Niedmore however, he said just two words: “Good Luck.”
“Thanks,” replied Niedmore, “now DIE!” With that, Giles’s head slumped to the side, his eyes hollow, and he was alive no more.
I recall asking how Niedmore had become so corrupted. Well, I feel that I might have taken a turn for the worse as well had I just finished killing a crossbow-wielding, cynical old man. That question is answered, though, and now I must take you through the darker period of Niedmore’s life, a life where he was known to everyone as King Niedmore VI and not Atticus, a life that would be perpetually dark if not for the one shining light in his life: Helena.
Year 1475 What does this fool want? Thought King Niedmore VI angrily,looking down on the peasant with a look of deepest disgust etched into his face.
“P-Pardon me your h-highness, I just had to warn you of something urgent!” squeaked the peasant weakly, a look of pure terror on his face.
“Well? What is it?” demanded Niedmore. “Spit it out!”
“Y-yes sir, it is just that we need new cattle to help us plow the fields, and n-not only that, w-we need the cattle for f-food!” the peasant managed to stammer.
“What’s your point?” said Niedmore icily.
W-well sir, our cattle was killed by some wolves, and the only ox we have left is much too old to work! S-so I was wondering if you could p-provide us with”-
“Some new cattle,” finished Niedmore coldly.
“Y-yes sir,” stuttered the peasant hopefully. “It would be greatly appreciated.”
“Alas, I’m afraid we have no more cattle to provide, and you have wasted my time for far too long anyway,” replied Niedmore. “As punishment for wasting my precious time, I hereby sentence you to life in prison,” said Niedmore airily, as if the man’s life meant absolutely nothing to him. “Guards!” shouted Niedmore.
“Yes sir?” replied two burly looking guards in unison.
“Take this man to the dungeons, and see to it that he never sees the light of day ever again.”
“Yes, sir. Come on, you!” barked one of the guards, seizing the peasant by the arm and dragging him away, the other closely following.
“P-please your highness, have mercy! I have three children and a wife to support! You cannot do this to me!” the peasant pleaded, tears streaming down his face.
“Sorry, but I have no mercy,” replied the king, turning away from the peasant and heading toward his room. And tomorrow will make twenty-five years that I have ruled without it, he thought. Ever since the day that bastard Giles killed my father and my sense of mercy and forgiveness. He entered his room where Helena sat, looking out into the foggy afternoon through her window. “Hello, Atticus,” Helena said without looking at him.
Helena was the only person that Niedmore would accept his true name from. From anyone else, it meant death or life in prison, as he did not know anyone on a first name basis other than his wife. His wife was his life, the one who kept him alive and sane. Without her, he was nobody. “Helena, you do know what day is tomorrow, don’t you?”
“Of course I do, Atticus. “After twenty-five years of pain, the day has become engraved in my mind,” she said, finally looking up at him. “Atticus,” she said, “Ever since the day your father passed away, you haven’t been quite the same.” Niedmore heaved a sigh.
“Helena,” he said, “You know we’ve been through this countless times. Ever since my father passed away, I’ve become stricter, that’s all. I’m more of a realist now.”
“But a realist does not send poor innocent people to jail and have them executed just for wasting his time,” she countered. “That’s more of a dictator.” He looked up at her and said, “How could you possibly compare me to a dictator? Dictators are cold, ruthless animals who care for no one, while I on the other hand care about you.” He stroked her face affectionately.
“But Atticus, that’s what I’m worried about,” she said. “I’m the only person you truly care about. For everyone else you just show hatred and contempt, and that should not be a king’s attitude. A king should show compassion for his people and his country, not just lock them up in jail cells. Like that you’ll just make enemies.”
“Then so be it,” he replied. “If anyone has something against me, they’ll suffer the consequences. Don’t worry about my ruling methods, Helena, it’s been this way for twenty-five years tomorrow and this is the way it will continue.” He looked away.
Oh Atticus, I wish you would change, she thought. Change back into that loving, caring Atticus I used to know long ago. I know that Atticus is underneath that cold, hardened exterior of yours.
But Niedmore remained the same. His reign of terror continued, and he disregarded Helena and her talks of change. But the denizens of Hyrule also wanted change, and some didn’t care what they needed to do to get it. The citizens of Hyrule also noticed that as heartless a person Niedmore seemed to be, he had a soft spot for his wife, Helena. Some tried to utilize that soft spot to their advantage, until one day Helena paid the ultimate price.
It was a stormy morning, and Helena was alone in the castle, sitting at the fireplace, when she heard footsteps approaching. “Atticus, is that you, dear?” she called. “Back so soon?” It was not Atticus. A tall, redoubtable man stood at the doorway, his face obscured by a mask. Helena began to scream for help, but it was too late. The man swiftly pulled out a knife and stabbed her twice. He then fled, letting Helena lay there as if she were a rag doll a careless child had abandoned.
Hours later, Niedmore returned. “Helena,” he called, “Helena, I’m home, where are you?” He stopped dead in his tracks. He saw Helena lying there, bleeding.
“No! Not you too! HELENA!” he cried. After twenty-five years, he remembered what tears tasted like. Helena was still alive. She looked at Niedmore and smiled weakly.
“Atticus, she whispered. “At least I got to see you one last time. Goodbye, Atticus. I will always love you.”
“No!” Niedmore screamed. “I’ll save you Helena, don’t worry.” But it was too late. The stab wounds had claimed their victim, and Helena was gone.
“Noooo!” Niedmore howled. “Not you! Anyone but you, Helena! Anyone! Why couldn’t it have been me!” and he wept.
“There is nothing left for me in this world without you, Helena, and so I’ve made my choice. We won’t be separated for long, my love.”
Thus was the end of King Niedmore VI and his reign of terror. All because of a woman named Helena…
THE END...?
Once upon a time, in the land of Hyrule, there lived an arrogant and selfish king by the name of Niedmore VI. Hyrule was a prosperous nation, although that gradually changed under the reign of King Niedmore VI. It all started off when Niedmore was exposed to a tragedy, back when his father King Niedmore V reigned. His father however, ruled with justice and loyalty. The young Niedmore was also quite unlike the greedy and inimical Niedmore you see today: He was a charming, handsome young man who lived for adventure, and he was also extremely kind to the less fortunate. So, how did he become so corrupted, you ask? Well, you’re about to find out…
Year 1447 “Niedmore! Prince Atticus Niedmore!” It was Giles, adviser to King Niedmore V and the one who oversaw Prince Niedmore so that he didn’t get into trouble. Giles had become something of a friend to Prince Niedmore, despite how much older than him he was.
“Calm down Giles, I’m right here!” shouted Atticus, with a sly grin playing across his handsome face. “Didn’t you notice me right behind you?” he asked.
“Of course I did sire, which was exactly why I was shouting your name,” retorted Giles sarcastically, although he had the hint of laughter in his eyes. “Where did you get off to?” he asked.
“Where do you think I was? Visiting Helena, of course.” Atticus replied.
“Ah, sire, you could have at least warned me before visiting the so-called love of your life,” chuckled Giles.
“Very funny, Giles,” responded Atticus, narrowing his eyes, “but you know that I love Helena, and in a few years, when my father steps down, I plan to make her my wife, and queen of Hyrule.”
“Yes sire, you’ve only told me a thousand times,” laughed Giles. Too bad your father will be stepping down a little sooner than you thought, thought Giles. He hid the look of loathing right before Atticus looked up at him, and Atticus said, “I also plan to make you my adviser, so you can grace me with your presence every day when I’m a king as well,” he said playfully.
Giles looked good-naturedly at Atticus, and said with a note of sarcasm, “Why thank you sire, it would be an honor to also be your adviser.” And I’ll be the downfall of you as well, he thought. Playfully slapping Giles on the back, Atticus joked, “Giles, your sarcasm kills me.”
It won’t be my sarcasm that kills you, though, Giles thought evilly, and whatever look of odium he had for the young prince was well concealed by a look of affection he had so well mastered over the years.
As you have discovered, Giles is not the warm old man he seems to be, on the contrary, he is actually an old man filled with hatred and megalomania that would put King Louis XIV to shame. It is this hatred that is the downfall of Niedmore V, and although Giles had plans in store for the young Niedmore as well, it was but one person later in his life that kept the future king alive and healthy. That was Helena…
Year 1450 The door creaked open. Helena was looking into the mirror, brushing her hair, when she noticed a pair of green eyes looking at her through the door. “Atticus!” Helena gasped. “What are you doing here?”
“Well, I came to visit you, of course,” he replied, with that devilish look he always wore whenever around her.
“But, I thought you were caring for your father. Didn’t you say he was terribly ill?” she asked concernedly.
“Yes, he is, and that is exactly why I came to visit you.” Atticus replied, with his devilish look vanishing and a grim one to replace it. “My father has ruled Hyrule for years, and I’ve noticed for the past few years he hasn’t looked nearly as healthy as he usually does. Which is exactly why I came to tell you, that if my father’s illness continues, he may become too sick to rule, and as I’m already eighteen, if worse comes to worse, I may have to step up and become the new king. It does feel a bit rushed, I know, but one can’t prevent these things from happening, Helena,” he said. “Nature runs its course.”
The whole time Helena had been surveying him with her beautiful hazel eyes. “Atticus, if you become king, than that means you’ll have so much responsibility,” she breathed, gazing at him. “There will be no more nightly visits to my house, no more time for careless pastimes that we’ve always enjoyed together.”
“I know, and I’m willing to give that all up under one condition,” he answered, and he knelt down on one knee, all the while looking at her. Her breath caught in her throat. Good lord, Helena thought, is he about to-“Helena, will you marry me?” Atticus asked, and it seemed as if the rest of the world didn’t matter anymore, and Helena whispered at first, “Yes, yes of course,” until the full impact of the situation hit her, and she realized she was going to get married.
“YES!” she screamed, overjoyed, leaping into Atticus’s arms. “Of course I’ll marry you!” Tears of happiness trickled down her cheeks, and Atticus embraced her like there was no tomorrow, the whole time thinking Helena, I love you so much.
Helena and Atticus were both in their own little world, and for a moment Atticus forgot why he had asked her to marry him in the first place. It was because his father was ailing, and it was becoming painfully obvious that Hyrule would soon need a new leader. Atticus had thought that his father had contracted some sort of illness, and it would have been more honorable if that were what it really was, for no one can stop nature from running it’s course. However, the truth was that it was who else but Giles, slowly killing off the good king by putting poison in his drink and food, little by little, for the last few years. At last, Giles’s dirty work was finally paying off, and the king was in a bad state of health from consuming so much poison. Giles wasn’t stupid, he was well aware that the king had an heir, Atticus Niedmore VI. This is why he was planning a “freak accident”, making it seem as though Prince Niedmore had committed suicide in his sorrow when in reality it would involve Giles personally killing the prince himself. What Giles was oblivious to was the fact that Prince Niedmore wasn't stupid either...
Atticus was ecstatic, having just returned from Helena’s home with the news that he was getting married, but his celebration was cut short when a solemn Giles greeted him. “Giles! Guess what! I’m-huh?” Atticus saw the look of sadness upon his face, and quickly asked, “What’s going on?”
With a sepulchral tone of voice, Giles replied, “Sire, the king is dying.”
Atticus couldn’t believe his ears. “What? Giles, Giles! Tell me this is a joke!” Atticus replied through gritted teeth and hidden tears.
“Sire, I wish that it was, but I assure you that it is not,” the old man replied, his voice quavering.
“No!” Atticus began walking hurriedly to the stairs, but then threw care to the winds and broke into a sprint, taking the steps three at a time.
“It is about time the old fool dies, as well,” said Giles, his cold eyes glittering with malice. “But do not fear, boy, for you shall soon join him.” His lips then parted into a foul smile that more resembled a sneer than anything.
*********************************
Moments later, slightly breathless, Atticus reached his father, who truly was in a state. His breathing was labored, and his skin was sallow and sweaty. “Father!” choked Atticus, horrified to see that his father was even worse now than before he had left.
“Son, my son, come,” whispered his father, who seemed to be summoning all his strength just to utter the words. “Son, you know that I love you, do you not?” he whispered, his words coming out in wheezes.
“Of course I know, father,” replied Atticus gently, who tried to suppress tears and failed.
“Then that is all you need to know,” he said. “That, and that you are now the new king of Hyrule. Make me proud, son. I know that you will be ten times the king I was,” he said. “And now, Atticus, it’s time for me to leave this world, and to finally reunite with your mother, Minerva, who left this world at far too young an age. Make me proud, son…”
“Father, no,” sobbed Niedmore, “I’m not ready for you to go yet!”
“I’m sorry son, but it is my time…”and with that, he was gone. “NOOOOO!” he screamed. Tears stung his face. His father was gone, just like that… it was as if a wave of disbelief had just rammed into him, full force.
“Well I must say, I didn’t think it would take so long for that moron to die.” A cruel voice came from behind Atticus. Giles. Slowly, Atticus turned around to face Giles. “Giles?” his look turned from incredulous to understanding. “You? What are you doing with that?’
A crossbow glinted menacingly in the dim light. “Haven’t you understood yet, fool?” He burst into mirthless laughter. High, cold laughter. “Yes, it was me, idiot. I killed your father.” More laughter. Niedmore was under Herculean strain; he still couldn’t believe what was happening: First his father’s death, and now Giles, betraying him? “Giles? How could you- why would you- I still don’t understand.” Giles held up a small vial. “I just thought you would want to know how your father died, Atticus, before I killed you,” he said in a hushed voice. “I poisoned him. For the last two and a half years, I’ve been poisoning your father, making it seem to everyone that the poor man was just getting on with his years, and getting sick more often. But it was I,” he whispered, his dark eyes flashing dangerously. “Now that I have filled you in on my little secret, and you have seen my true colors, it is time you die, as well. Like father, like son. It is time I step up to the throne. Goodbye, Atticus.”
Just as Giles raised the crossbow though, Niedmore reacted. As Giles fired a projectile, confident the young prince would be a dead man any second, Niedmore dodged. Seemingly possessed, he made a beeline straight for Giles, taking the cunning, however physically diminished old man by surprise. Like a tiger, Niedmore went straight for Giles’s throat, grasping his withered neck with both hands and squeezing it with all the strength he could muster. In his bewilderment, Giles let the crossbow clatter to the floor.
“Thought you could take the stupid young prince out, didn’t you, Giles!” screamed Niedmore, all of his rage channeled into his hands, which were steadily depriving the old man of his life. “Thought you could kill two birds with one stone, and kill both the king and his son, on the same exact day!” he growled furiously. “Well guess what old man, it ISN’T about to happen!” Giles was too breathless to even say anything; he just spluttered and choked feebly, watching helplessly as Niedmore finished him off. Before Giles succumbed to Niedmore however, he said just two words: “Good Luck.”
“Thanks,” replied Niedmore, “now DIE!” With that, Giles’s head slumped to the side, his eyes hollow, and he was alive no more.
I recall asking how Niedmore had become so corrupted. Well, I feel that I might have taken a turn for the worse as well had I just finished killing a crossbow-wielding, cynical old man. That question is answered, though, and now I must take you through the darker period of Niedmore’s life, a life where he was known to everyone as King Niedmore VI and not Atticus, a life that would be perpetually dark if not for the one shining light in his life: Helena.
Year 1475 What does this fool want? Thought King Niedmore VI angrily,looking down on the peasant with a look of deepest disgust etched into his face.
“P-Pardon me your h-highness, I just had to warn you of something urgent!” squeaked the peasant weakly, a look of pure terror on his face.
“Well? What is it?” demanded Niedmore. “Spit it out!”
“Y-yes sir, it is just that we need new cattle to help us plow the fields, and n-not only that, w-we need the cattle for f-food!” the peasant managed to stammer.
“What’s your point?” said Niedmore icily.
W-well sir, our cattle was killed by some wolves, and the only ox we have left is much too old to work! S-so I was wondering if you could p-provide us with”-
“Some new cattle,” finished Niedmore coldly.
“Y-yes sir,” stuttered the peasant hopefully. “It would be greatly appreciated.”
“Alas, I’m afraid we have no more cattle to provide, and you have wasted my time for far too long anyway,” replied Niedmore. “As punishment for wasting my precious time, I hereby sentence you to life in prison,” said Niedmore airily, as if the man’s life meant absolutely nothing to him. “Guards!” shouted Niedmore.
“Yes sir?” replied two burly looking guards in unison.
“Take this man to the dungeons, and see to it that he never sees the light of day ever again.”
“Yes, sir. Come on, you!” barked one of the guards, seizing the peasant by the arm and dragging him away, the other closely following.
“P-please your highness, have mercy! I have three children and a wife to support! You cannot do this to me!” the peasant pleaded, tears streaming down his face.
“Sorry, but I have no mercy,” replied the king, turning away from the peasant and heading toward his room. And tomorrow will make twenty-five years that I have ruled without it, he thought. Ever since the day that bastard Giles killed my father and my sense of mercy and forgiveness. He entered his room where Helena sat, looking out into the foggy afternoon through her window. “Hello, Atticus,” Helena said without looking at him.
Helena was the only person that Niedmore would accept his true name from. From anyone else, it meant death or life in prison, as he did not know anyone on a first name basis other than his wife. His wife was his life, the one who kept him alive and sane. Without her, he was nobody. “Helena, you do know what day is tomorrow, don’t you?”
“Of course I do, Atticus. “After twenty-five years of pain, the day has become engraved in my mind,” she said, finally looking up at him. “Atticus,” she said, “Ever since the day your father passed away, you haven’t been quite the same.” Niedmore heaved a sigh.
“Helena,” he said, “You know we’ve been through this countless times. Ever since my father passed away, I’ve become stricter, that’s all. I’m more of a realist now.”
“But a realist does not send poor innocent people to jail and have them executed just for wasting his time,” she countered. “That’s more of a dictator.” He looked up at her and said, “How could you possibly compare me to a dictator? Dictators are cold, ruthless animals who care for no one, while I on the other hand care about you.” He stroked her face affectionately.
“But Atticus, that’s what I’m worried about,” she said. “I’m the only person you truly care about. For everyone else you just show hatred and contempt, and that should not be a king’s attitude. A king should show compassion for his people and his country, not just lock them up in jail cells. Like that you’ll just make enemies.”
“Then so be it,” he replied. “If anyone has something against me, they’ll suffer the consequences. Don’t worry about my ruling methods, Helena, it’s been this way for twenty-five years tomorrow and this is the way it will continue.” He looked away.
Oh Atticus, I wish you would change, she thought. Change back into that loving, caring Atticus I used to know long ago. I know that Atticus is underneath that cold, hardened exterior of yours.
But Niedmore remained the same. His reign of terror continued, and he disregarded Helena and her talks of change. But the denizens of Hyrule also wanted change, and some didn’t care what they needed to do to get it. The citizens of Hyrule also noticed that as heartless a person Niedmore seemed to be, he had a soft spot for his wife, Helena. Some tried to utilize that soft spot to their advantage, until one day Helena paid the ultimate price.
It was a stormy morning, and Helena was alone in the castle, sitting at the fireplace, when she heard footsteps approaching. “Atticus, is that you, dear?” she called. “Back so soon?” It was not Atticus. A tall, redoubtable man stood at the doorway, his face obscured by a mask. Helena began to scream for help, but it was too late. The man swiftly pulled out a knife and stabbed her twice. He then fled, letting Helena lay there as if she were a rag doll a careless child had abandoned.
Hours later, Niedmore returned. “Helena,” he called, “Helena, I’m home, where are you?” He stopped dead in his tracks. He saw Helena lying there, bleeding.
“No! Not you too! HELENA!” he cried. After twenty-five years, he remembered what tears tasted like. Helena was still alive. She looked at Niedmore and smiled weakly.
“Atticus, she whispered. “At least I got to see you one last time. Goodbye, Atticus. I will always love you.”
“No!” Niedmore screamed. “I’ll save you Helena, don’t worry.” But it was too late. The stab wounds had claimed their victim, and Helena was gone.
“Noooo!” Niedmore howled. “Not you! Anyone but you, Helena! Anyone! Why couldn’t it have been me!” and he wept.
“There is nothing left for me in this world without you, Helena, and so I’ve made my choice. We won’t be separated for long, my love.”
Thus was the end of King Niedmore VI and his reign of terror. All because of a woman named Helena…
THE END...?
I think it's good now, though.
