RotoRuner

It was early in the morning when the chirping finally roused Liliana from the bed she shared with Rando, a bed that had been sadly half empty for the past week.  Liliana searched through the cavernous halls of Rando’s castle as the sounds grew louder and louder.  The chirping became most clear upon reaching a door to that of the menagerie and after opening the door, she found two of the most beautiful sights; her love returned from his journey and countless birds exactly like those that she followed through the forest all those days ago.

Liliana entered the center of the massive aviary, with trees and hanging plants lining the walls, and embrace Rando deeply.  The birds swooped and swirled about them.

“What do you think my dear?” asked Rando.

Liliana couldn’t help but stare at the Wishers all around her.  “It is wonderful Rando!  How lovely they really are.”

Rando smiled knowingly.  “They are, yet not as lovely as you.”

Reaching into his breast pocket, Rando withdrew small box and knelt before Liliana and held it with great care in his right hand.  She didn’t notice as her gaze never left the birds.

“I know in my heart that the love I feel for you is true…..” spoke Rando lovingly.

At that moment, at single King Wisher flew down from up high and landed in a nearby nest on a tree branch within eye level and arm’s reach of Liliana.  Despite Rando’s emotional speech, she couldn’t help but gaze longingly at the bird laid as it laid a single golden egg in the bed of twigs and ferns.

“…..this is why I would like to ask for your hand in marriage.”

Rando opened the box to reveal a gleaming wedding band adorned with the most beautiful assortment of gems.  Liliana’s gaze upon the bird finally broke as she turned to Rando and a crooked smile twisted across her features like a jagged crack in the earth.

“Oh my poor, foolish love, I want much more than that.” she spoke coldly as she reached out and swatted away the bird from the golden egg it sat atop.  With the sacred egg now in her hand, she recited her next words with malice.

“I believe I will take your whole land, for I know that any King Wisher egg will grant me a wish and I intend to wipe your existence off of this world.”  She held the handful of gold above her head and screamed, “Egg, replace Rando’s name with that of Liliana in order to forget him forever so that I may reign over his kingdom instead.”

Rando stared heart-broken and confused.  “Why would you do this, my dear Liliana?” asked Rando with tears in his eyes.

“Because the Nightlands grow weary of fighting, I was sent to finish you off once and for all.  Good-bye Rando.” hissed Liliana.

Nothing was happening though, much to Liliana’s chagrin.  That quickly changed when a growing darkness appeared below her feet.  Moments passed by before she noticed but when Liliana did look down, it was too late.  She screamed as the shadow enveloped her and before Liliana was completely overtaken, a single question escaped from her beautiful mouth.

“Why?”

At that, she was gone and Rando knew why.  King Wisher eggs did grant wishes, that much was true however they were only granted to the pure of heart, which sadly was not a trait Liliana carried after all.  As for the death shadow, perhaps her masters were not happy to hear of her betrayal to them by attempting to usurp them and decided to do away with her as quick as possible.  That possibility made Rando fear the reach that those of the Nightlands had to get him in his own home.

“Never again.” spoke Rando stoically.

From that day one, Liliana’s name would be changed to a more suitable moniker, Iliana and Rando decided it best that times of peace be spent preparing for the danger sure to come at any moment.

The End