Legends of Marithia: Book 1 - Prophecies Awakening: Uncut and Extended Second Edition Read Online Free

hands, it would ignite
bloodshed the likes of which hadn’t been seen since the ancient
war.
    Vartan looked to Helenia and was momentarily
lost in her beauty. The princess’s face was kind, her skin pale
from lack of exposure to the sun. Her bright blue eyes looked deep
into his soul, and he managed a smile before quickly looking away.
Princess Helenia could only be wed with the unconditional written
approval of both the king and queen. Suitors from other settlements
would soon be seeking her hand in marriage, looking to forge
alliances and further strengthen Greenhaven.
    The love between Vartan and Helenia had
existed in secrecy for many years. He was a mere farm boy turned
knight, whose only tangible riches were those that the crown
treasury allocated him for performing his duties to the throne.
What hope could he ever have of gaining the royal blessing to marry
the princess?
    Vartan placed his crown-provided silver helm
down beside his right foot with a loud thud that echoed far down
the corridors of the royal chambers, and began to speak slowly
through his cracked lips. “Your Highness, we barely escaped with
our lives. How could we possibly have been ambushed with
such precision and timing? This attack could not have been solely
the work of thieves and vagabonds. They were armed with weapons
forged by skilled hands, and fought with a purpose unlike that of
any thief engaged in battle.”
    Be careful, Vartan. I sense true darkness
around us.
    The elves held many well-kept secrets;
Helenia’s ability to speak through minds was one of many elven
gifts she had been born with and practiced privately with
Vartan.
    Forgive my intrusion, but she speaks the
truth, young knight.
    This voice was unknown to Vartan, and it
sounded almost bestial. It held such immense power within it that
Vartan was left momentarily stunned.
    There is something you must see, and it is
of great importance. Open your mind to me, and I promise you will
come to no harm.
    Vartan focused hard on clearing his mind and
felt a sudden jolt as a connection was made with the dragon
suspended from the outside wall.

    With a blinding flash, Vartan found himself
hovering above a place he’d never seen before, a dark room lit only
by soft candlelight. It was as if he was within the walls
themselves, and had become one with the stone. He heard the
soothing sound of water as it gently trickled somewhere beyond the
light, and soft footsteps approaching from afar.
    A tall figure slowly materialised from the
darkness. It wore a crimson hooded robe and had a small dark wooden
chest in its hands that rattled heavily with the sound of coins.
The hood hung low and shielded the face of the figure inside it,
but there was something painfully familiar about it, and a wave of
uneasiness overcame Vartan. This was evidently not the first time
that they had met.
    Calm yourself... this is only a
vision, thought Vartan.
    An old wooden table bearing various marks of
wear sat alone in the darkness. The figure hesitated for a moment
before walking towards the table cautiously. It slowly began to be
illuminated by brighter lights which revealed the intricate golden
artwork on his robe. The chest he held bore the royal crest of
Greenhaven.
    That’s not possible! Those chests are only
given to—
    Yes, young knight, your eyes do not deceive
you.
    Another figure approached with much haste
from the darkness, and Vartan felt sick to the stomach at his
presence. The new figure swiftly pulled his hood back from his head
to reveal himself and spoke quietly but forcefully. “It is all
here. You are well-compensated for your troubles.”
    That’s Derian! I should have known.
    “That may be so, young prince. As you know,
she will be well-protected and this brings a certain element of danger which our kind does our best to avoid. What of the
royal guards?” asked the mysterious man.
    Derian's eyes narrowed at the man. “I’m sure
you can handle some guards , can’t you? Or should I seek