First Breath of Peace

The sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden light through the palace windows, bathing the room in a warm glow. I stood at the window, my hand lightly resting on the sill, my gaze lost in the rolling hills beyond. A familiar ache gnawed at my heart. The uncertainty of war, the agonizing wait for news from James. Weeks had passed without a word, and each day felt like an eternity.

My eyes drifted to the child asleep just steps away. James' brother's child, a symbol of the tangled web we found ourselves in, yet also a beacon of hope. Despite everything, I had to remain strong. For the kingdom, for the people, and for the child I had brought into this uncertain world. A soft knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts.

"Your Highness," one of my attendants called gently.
"There is a rider from the battlefield.”
“He carries news from Sir James."
"Bring him in."

Moments later, the door opened, and the rider entered. His face was grimy from travel, his clothes stained with the dust and blood of war. In his hand, he held a letter, sealed with James’ familiar crest. He bowed deeply before me.

"My lady, I bring word from Sir James."

I nodded, accepting the letter with trembling hands.

"Thank you."
"You have done well.”
“Rest now."

The rider bowed again and left quietly. I stood alone with the missive, staring at the seal for a long moment. I had prayed for this, yet now that it was in my hands, fear coursed through me. What if the news was not what I had hoped? With a deep breath, I broke the seal and unfolded the letter, my eyes scanning the words with urgency. My breath caught as I read:

To my dearest Isabella,

The war is over. Alec is dead, and his army has surrendered. His men will return to their homes, and with them, the threat he posed to our kingdom.

The road has been long, and the cost has been great, but victory is ours. I will return to you soon, though I do not know how soon the burden of this war will leave my heart. Its weight is heavy but knowing that you are safe gives me strength.

I long to hold you again, and to know peace in our home. I will send word ahead of our arrival, and we will rebuild what Alec sought to destroy—together.


Tears welled in my eyes as I finished reading. I clutched the parchment to my chest, releasing a breath I had not realized I had been holding. Relief washed over me like a tide. The war was over. James was alive. He was coming home.

I glanced at the sleeping child once more, a soft smile tugging at my lips. I could already picture James' face when he first laid eyes on our child. We had a future—a fractured one, perhaps, but a future, nonetheless. Beneath the joy, a shadow of sorrow lingered. James had borne the cost of victory. He had seen too much, done too much, and I could feel the weight of it in his words. He wrote of victory, but it was a hollow triumph.

I rose from the chair. The letter was still in hand and moved to the window. Outside, the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple. It felt like the end of one chapter. A painful one, but the beginning of another.

Taking a deep breath, I calmed my racing heart. The kingdom had to be informed. The people needed to hear of Alec’s defeat. They had suffered long enough under the shadow of war; now, they could finally begin to heal. Soon, I would be their true queen.

Later, the meeting chamber was dimly lit as I stood at the head of the long table, my hands resting on the polished wood. The council gathered before me bore the marks of war, weariness in their eyes, and lines of hardship etched into their faces. Each of them had suffered. Some had lost family; others had seen their lands ravaged. All carried the scars of a war that had stretched on far too long. I cleared my throat, and the room fell silent.

"Thank you for coming on such short notice.”
"I have received word from the battlefield.”
“A rider brought a letter from James last night."

Edgar leaned forward. His sharp gaze fixed on me. Rowan, ever cautious, shifted in his seat, waiting for the words they had all longed to hear.

"The war is over.”
“Alec is dead, and his army has surrendered."

For a moment, the room was utterly still. Then the murmurs began—soft at first but growing louder as hope spread across their faces. Some whispered prayers of thanks, while others exchanged glances, needing confirmation that this was real. Edgar spoke first, his voice cutting through the rising noise.

"Alec is truly dead?"

I nodded, gripping the edge of the table.


"James wrote to me himself.”
“Alec fell in battle, and his commanders surrendered soon after.”
“His army has disbanded, and those wishing to return home have been granted safe passage.”
“The kingdom is no longer under threat."

Rowan was next to speak.

"The people must know.”
“This news will bring them the hope they have desperately needed."
"Yes, they must know.”
"It is the beginning of a long and difficult road to recovery.”
“Alec's ambitions have scarred our lands.”
“We must be prepared to guide the people through this and rebuild what has been lost."

Rowan nodded solemnly.

"The war may be over, but its consequences will linger.”
“Families have been torn apart, lands destroyed.”
“We must ensure that our kingdom does not fall into chaos in the aftermath."
“Edgar added, "Even with Alec gone, there may be those who seek to exploit the instability.”
“We must remain vigilant."

"I agree.”
"That is why I have called you here.”
“We must prepare for the next steps.”
“James will return soon, and together we will restore what has been lost.”
“I need your help with the immediate concerns."

I turned to Lord Edgar.

"Begin organizing the messengers.”
“Spread the word across the kingdom that Alec is dead and the war is over.”
“The people must know they are safe, but be cautious, we cannot afford to let hope lead to chaos."

Edgar nodded.

"It will be done."

I turned to Rowan.

"I need your expertise in assessing the damage.”
“Organize teams to survey the outer regions, so we know where to focus our rebuilding efforts."
"I will see to it immediately," Rowan said, his tone resolute.

Finally, I faced Sir Edgar once more.

"Ensure the kingdom remains secure.”
“Strengthen our borders and guard against any opportunists."
"I will double the patrols and monitor potential threats closely.”
"We begin the work of rebuilding at once."

The councilors rose, bowing before departing with renewed purpose. I remained at the head of the table, my thoughts drifting to the future. Soon, James would return, and together, we would rebuild the kingdom from the ashes of war.