My Kingdom Prompt 2

(Ahhhhh! I love this so much!!! It's a bit long, but worth it! @Oskar N. Reteep you'll enjoy a certain cameo. This is for @Artham Iggyfeather game)

Slowly, light pierced the darkness around Faolan. The light grew until it was so bright, Faolan had to shield his eyes. Kalmar tugged on his arm. "Open your eyes." Releasing his hands from his face, Faolan opened his eyes and gasped in awe. His feet were planted on a grassy hill overlooking a grand assortment of lands connected by a running river and surrounded by a low stone wall. Before them stood three large buildings with an open skywalk serving as a bridge between them. The right most building had a giant bell attached to its tallest spire. The red sandstone stood in contrast to the green and grey of the land. On the left, a castle sat atop an island, ringed by a moat. Flying from the battlements were banners on which were embroidered, a majestic red lion. But the most beautiful building stood in the middle. The grey stone was accented marvelously by smooth wooden panels. The towers reached higher than all of the trees of the kingdom save one. The afternoon sun glinted off the stone, creating a spectacle to behold. Clearly, this was the pride and joy of the kingdom, but Faolan couldn't quite place the feeling of familiarity that hung over him. Without taking his eyes off the enchanting beauty, Faolan asked, "What is that building in the middle? I recognize the other two plain as day, but the third eludes me." With wonder saturating his voice, Kalmar responded, "My home." "You don't mean..." Kalmar nodded, wiping a tear from his eye. "Castle Rysen." Grabbing Faolan's hand, Kalmar raced down the hill. For reasons unknown to him, Faolan couldn't take his eyes off Castle Rysen. A great song broke open in his heart. Tears sprang to his eyes. Faolan felt like his feet were flying. He doubted they touched the ground. All too quickly, the sensation was broken as Kalmar pulled him through the gate, leading into the kingdom. Faolan gasped in awe at the wonders before him. A gigantic mallorn tree stood directly in the middle of the kingdom. Behind the tree, in the distance, stood a mountain whose very being seemed to pulse with life. Mist drifted down from the peak and filled the valley below. "I, I can't believe it," Faolan breathed in amazement. "How... how can this be? Where am I? Truly, I must be dehydrated and hallucinating."

Kalmar laughed. "All your questions will be answered in due time, but I can tell you this. You are not hallucinating. This is very much real."

Faolan turned his head and gaped at the Wolf King. Could all this indeed be real? Could his favorite places to retreat to in his mind actually be concrete and touchable? Something in his soul whispered, "Breathe in deep. Take it all in. Rejoice in My creation." Faolan inhaled, filling his lungs with as much oxygen as they could carry. Letting go, he exhaled.

The next moment was filled with loud shouts, braying, neighing, and clapping. To his left, Faolan saw a large procession advancing his way. Among them, he noticed a silver donkey, a dappled stallion followed closely by a mare, a couple elves, some humans, a wizard, a man with bird wings, and a small mole. The first to reach him was the mole. It tugged on Faolan's pant leg. Bending down, Faolan picked it up.

"Whoi, bain't Oi glad to see you!" The mole said.

"This can't be Young Dinny, can it?" Faolan asked, laughing.

"That Oi be," Young Dinny said, his snout wrinkling as he smiled.

"Pardon the interruption," a man of about two and twenty said, walking up to Faolan. "But the ceremony is about to begin."

"What ceremony?" Faolan asked, confused.

"Follow me," the man said.

Setting Young Dinny back upon the ground, Faolan ran to catch up with the man, who had already walked off towards the great tree. While they walked, Faolan kept his eyes on the man beside him. Noticing that he was being stared at, the man asked, "Something you wish to ask?"

"Y-yes, sir," Faolan stammered. "Many, many things, but first – well, what I mean is – you see – umm, are you not Peter Pevensie, High King of Narnia?"

"Indeed I am," he replied, "but I am a king no more. There is only one king under our Lord here, and I am not he."

"Then, may I ask, who is?"

Peter faced Faolan and gave him a sly smile. "You shall see. In fact, you shall see even now." At this point, they had reached the base of the great mallorn tree. Turning quickly on the balls of his feet, Peter addressed the crowd that had followed them.

"Fellow citizens of Samhlaíocht, the day we have waited patiently for has finally arrived. No longer may we live based upon our own judgments for the one foretold will now take upon his brow the crown and lead us unto peace for the rest of our days!" A cheer rose up from the crowd. Peter raised his hand to silence the noise. "Puzzle, bring forth the diadem."

The crowd parted, and a humble donkey trotted forward, bearing an ornate box on its back. Peter pat Puzzle on his head before opening the box. Brilliant light spilled from the opening as a golden crown was raised above Faolan's head.

"Brothers and sisters," Peter said, his voice booming in the stillness, "behold our ruler, Rí Faolan!"