Ragnarok Bound (Chapter 1)

The summer sun beat down on Alex's back. Beads of sweat ran down his neck making his dark messy hair matted and causing it to stick to his forehead. He wiped the sweat and hair from his forehead with the back of his arm inadvertently smearing dirt from the garden in its place. He stood from his knees and admired his work while wiping his hands on the already filthy cloth that hung from his belt.

Alex gazed around at the surrounding flower beds in the courtyard. It had taken him most of the day but at last the courtyard was filled only with soft grass and blooming flowers of all colors. A smile spread across Alex's face as he imagined the praise he might receive from the other servants in the castle. The courtyard itself was well over twenty yards both ways. It was a big job that usually took a group of gardeners several hours to complete, and Alex had done it himself in a little under a day.

Sitting on his knees bent over all day had caused Alex's body to tense up. He stood up straight reaching his arms into the air to stretch out his back. In his own world he didn't notice a figure sneaking up behind him until it was too late..

WRAAAAAAAAAWR!!!!!

Alex spun on his heels in surprise ready to defend himself until he saw who the roar belonged to.

"Lady Ceceilia..." Alex breathed a sigh of relief. "You scared me half to death.." A sly grin, looking much to devious for her social position, spread across her ruby painted lips. Her light pastel pink hair draped her bare shoulders and ruffled lightly as she giggled to herself.

Though her demeanor screamed out tom-boy, physically Ceceilia looked every bit a noble woman. Her skin was light, the kind of light of someone who needn't be outside unless absolutely necessary. Compared to Alex's tanned skin she looked even lighter. Her light silky hair was half up, half down and curled at the bottom where it met the small of her back.

"What are you doing on the castle grounds today?"

"Father dragged me along to some meeting he had with the king." She answered carelessly tossing her hair behind her back. "I'm sure he meant for me to talk with Lance but I got tired of waiting around, so I figured I'd check to see if you were around today." As she spoke she crossed in front of Alex and stopped with her back to him. "I was relieved to see you actually.." Ceceilia whispered, mostly to herself.

After a short silence Ceceilia spun around and held Alex's hands in hers. "Let's get away from here for a while!" Her words caught him off guard.

"Get away? But where?" He asked frantically. It was common knowledge in the capital city where they lived that Thomas, Ceceilia's father, hated Alex and hated even more that Ceceilia insisted on seeing him no matter anyone's objections. It had been that way since they were young.

"Don't worry about it. I found a hiding place where no one can find us." Ceceilia assured him already tugging him away from the courtyard. Alex was still worried though. If the wrong people saw them together they were sure to tell Thomas and they would both be in trouble.

Before he knew it Ceceilia had led Alex to a part of the castle grounds reserved for members of the family. Only house servants who tended to the family's wished and the family themselves were allowed there. Alex's stomach sank feeling more threatened now.

"My Lady, I'm not allowed on this section of the grounds. If we're seen it won't be good."

"It'll be fine!" She shrugged him off getting down on all fours and crawling into a large hedge against the wall.

"What are you doing?" Alex asked confused, starring at her high heel scarlet colored shoes sticking out from the greenery. He could hear her probing around snapping twigs and rustling leaves until he heard a small click and the wall next to him shot open with a loud clunk revealing a tunnel that lead down at a steep angle under the castle.

"Success'" Ceceilia's head popped up from the hedge and she pumped her fist in victory.

"Where does this lead to?" Alex asked still in shock as Ceceilia walked I front of him into the dusty tunnel.

"Just come on! You'll find out!" She motioned for him to follow her and he did.

Once inside the two moved the wall back to its position with surprisingly little effort, it must have been a different material than the hard stone the rest of the castle way made of, and concealed their hiding place. The large tunnel smelled of mold and mildew but not strong enough to be any bother. The two walked together down the long path for quite a while.

We must be right under the castle. Alex thought. But what could possibly be under the castle that was so interesting. He would soon find out. The ground leveled out under their feet and up ahead Alex could see a faint light shining through from an inlet. When the two stepped into the light Alex's eyes widened in amazement.

At the end of the tunnel was a circular opening reaching far higher than the tunnel they'd both stepped out of. All around them were shining flowers painting the ground pastel shades of blue, yellow and lavender. In the very center stood a tall tree that emitted a warm glow, similar to the light of the moon, bright and comforting.

"It's amazing, isn't it?" Alex heard Ceceilia's voice behind him before she stepped beside him.

It was amazing. But it was more than that. It was... impossible. So far underground and with no source of water it should have been impossible for the plants to grow, let alone thrive.

"How in Mir is this possible?" Alex reached his hand out to touch the trunk of the tree.

"Don't over annualize it." Ceceilia said with a smile sitting in the blanket of flowers and tucking her long red skirt under her knees. "Miracles like this are sometimes just in this world for us to enjoy!"

"I suppose you're right." He gave in walking to where she was and sitting next to her. "How did you manage to find this place, anyway?" He asked.

"It was a complete accident believe it or not. I was in the courtyard spying on Father and just happened to kick the lever that opened the wall."

"You were spying on your father" Alex asked looking at her curiously.

"Yes.." She paused. "He was talking with some of the royal guard." It made sense to Alex then. Lord Thomas often threatened he would have Alex arrested if he saw the two of them together. "It wasn't anything important though." She continued. "Just small talk." Alex hadn't realized how tense he was until his shoulders fell in relief.

The two sat in silence for a moment before Ceceilia let out a melancholy sigh that caught Alex's attention again.

"Listen," she started never looking up from the ground. "I really need to talk to you. I've been putting it off. Probably because I didn't want to believe it myself." She continued to stare at nothing. She could feel Alex starring at her and she knew her dodging was only making him more worried. But try as she might she just couldn't say it out loud. "My engagement has been pushed forward." The words hit Alex almost taking the wind from his lungs.

Ceceilia's engagement was no secret. Alex had been dreading it. The day she would retreat into the castle with the prince and not be able to see him again. A noblewoman being seen with a servant was bad enough, but a princess was even worse. Alex knew once she was bound to the prince he wouldn't see her again, save from a distance. However Alex wasn't planning on facing this reality for another three and a half years. The engagement wouldn't be public until the prince, Lance, turned twenty five, the traditional age to take a bride in their country.

"I see." Alex swallowed hard pushing down all the feeling that wanted to bubble up. There was nothing he could do and she needed him now to be supportive. "Well it won't be so bad." He raised his shoulders closing himself off. "It's not as if Lance is a bad guy, and being royalty you'll never have to worry about anything. He can take care of you a--"

"I don't want to be taken care of!!!" Ceceilia cut him off glaring in his direction before she remembered who she was with and her expression softened. "It's just... I'm not ready to be tied down. Mir is huge! I don't want to spend my entire life in Dorain." Though Ceceilia's eyes were made up and elegant Alex could see the spark in her eyes screaming how badly she wanted to be the exact opposite of Ceceilia Whelks. Her eyes longed for adventure she knew she could never have.

"You're thinking of this all wrong. Lance is a prince. He can take you anywhere, to see anything. You can still have adventure once you're married."

"I suppose," Ceceilia's voice was quieter now "But Lance isn't the one I want to find adventure with.." Alex's cheeks turned hot and he suddenly felt the need to change the subject.

"We should get back before someone misses us." Alex said standing and reaching out his hand to help Ceceilia stand.

The two made their way up the steep pathway, finding it was much easier going down than trudging up. When they reached the end they pulled the wall back and repositioned it. With a click the wall locked into place and the lever returned to its original position.

Before Alex could turn completely from the wall he felt something hard hit contact with his cheek and sent him to the ground. Alex sat dazed for a moment. The surprise attack had completely knocked him off balance and it took a few seconds for his eyes to focus again. He only saw him for a second before Lord Thomas's boot met Alex's temple. Alex laid still where he fell seeing spots and feeling a headache coming on. He didn't dare raise a fist to Lord Thomas. He had the power to lock him up and throw away the key. Though Alex knew he could win, it wasn't worth the risk. And in all honesty he was used to it. Thomas often roughed Alex up when he caught the two of them together. Now that he was older though the roughing up had turned to full out beatings.

"Father! Stop it right now!" Alex heard Ceceilia's voice pleading. 'Just let it be..' He thought to himself. 'Don't make it worse for yourself..'

"Ceceilia, what have I told you about playing in the trash?" Alex felt Thomas's foot come down on his chest and he coughed reflexively gasping in a breath.

"He's not trash! It's not his fault! I pulled him away!"

"It doesn't matter. A servant should know his place. He doesn't even hold enough status to look at you let alone talk with you." Thomas twisted his boot into Alex's chest making him cringe behind clenched teeth. "In the end this is where you belong. Down on the ground in the dirt." He growled giving Alex one more stomp before stepping off him. "If I catch you with my daughter again I won't be so forgiving." He spat kicking Alex in the side before finally stepping away and grabbing Ceceilia by the wrist. "We're going home." He announced pulling her behind him.

Alex pushed up from the ground hugging himself to try and dilute the lingering pain in his chest. Ceceilia bit her lip looking back to him and knowing it was her fault. When Alex felt her looking his direction he looked in her direction, smiling broadly like he always did to show her he was alright. But as soon as she was out of sight his smile disappeared, replaced by a rough melancholy expression.