This story is by Nalla OrLong and was part of our 2024 Fall Writing Contest. You can find all the writing contest stories here.
The shadows of the dark morning surrounding him were only broken by the brief flashes of lightning occasionally overhead; Skyler, the Duke of Dawnshire, stood questioning how he ended up here, with his longsword pressed to his wife’s throat and The Shadow King looming ominously against his back whispering into his ear urging him to end it.
Up to this point Skyler has been the right hand to The Shadow King, not because he agreed with him but because that was the predicted winning side of this war, and Skyler always did what was best for him, in fact that was what made him trustworthy to the king because he knew that no matter what the situation Skyler would choose himself above all else. Though being the right hand to a powerful tyrant doesn’t’ get you too many friends ergo the title the duke of ‘Duskshire.’ Since Skyler conducted his dealings in dark and shady ways most people felt he didn’t deserve to be known by something as hopeful as the rising sun. Skyler was never opposed though; the infamy was useful in getting things done.
That being said he was mixed up on all sides of the war because what was best for him was not always what The Shadow King asked of him. Like when he found that his wife, Alexandra, was the leader of the rebellion. Instead of telling the king, Skyler sent her away for her protection so that The Shadow King could never ask him to do anything to her, because at that moment he was scared he would choose to protect himself, as he always did. Skyler loved Alexandra too much to run that risk.
Though no matter how careful Skyler had been they still had run-ins with each other and every time Alexandra saw straight through Skyler’s unfeeling, ‘Duskshire,’ persona and embraced him like nothing had changed regardless that he had sent her away for selfish reasons. As unimaginable as it seemed to Skyler, she still loved him and believed that at the end of this he would make the right choice, even when he did not believe in himself. However, that was what Alexandra did, she never lost faith in anyone. So, it surprised Skyler when he learned that Alexandra was in fact the leader of the rebellion, to know that she had given up on the king. Though surprising as it was, it explained how the rebellion had started, Alexandra was the most influential noble with the common people, due to her kindness, so for her to turn against The Shadow King meant the people would find the courage to follow.
So as Skyler stood in the black of the morning, lightning crackling above, with Alexandra kneeling, looking up at him with hope, and The Shadow King pressed threateningly against him, Skyler realized that this was the moment he had been dreading… the time to choose. Skyler was stuck, if he didn’t kill Alexandra in this moment The Shadow King would kill him instead. That was not in Skyler’s best interest, but how could he take the life of the person most precious to him? Skyler knew the answer, the choice he had to make.
In the blink of an eye, realizing there was no better chance than right now, with The Shadow King so close he could feel his cold heartbeat. Skyler turned the blade of his longsword on himself and drove it up through his stomach and into the black heart of The Shadow King. He pushed with all his strength until the sword was hilt deep into his torso and the blade protruded from the vile king’s back.
The shock of what Skyler had just done stunned them all so much that for a moment there was an eerie silence, till The Shadow King began to cough up the horrid black blood that flowed through his veins and fell to his knees dragging Skyler down with him. Now face to face with Skyler, Alexandra was moved to action, she scrambled to him, shoving the dying tyrant away from her husband as she moved to cradle him in his final moments. She gazed down at him wiping the tears from his cheeks.
Skyler blinked rapidly a few times as if he himself was still trying to register what had just happened. When his eyes finally focused on Alexandra, he smiled weakly and beamed up at her with the unselfish love he felt for her.
Skyler raised his shaking, bloodied hand to Alexandra’s cheek, “My love, my everything,” he said wincing as he struggled to keep conscious through the pain. “Thank you-” Skyler cut off momentarily coughing up blood, “thank you, for always seeing the best in m-me.” Skyler gasped for as much air as he could, “For my ch-ch-chance at redemp-” With those unfinished words of gratitude, the last bit of life in Skyler faded and his hand slid from Alexandra’s face, leaving her with nothing but pride and the determination to be the benevolent ruler this country needed to rebuild and thrive, leaving her with hope as the sun began to peak over the horizon.
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