Shadows Of Astroloria

The day had finally arrived when King Astor was finally able to marry Princess Celestia from Astroloria's neighbor kingdom Thalindor. The wedding had been delayed a few times. The first time was due to a crazy storm that had been forecast. Then a wave of illness to anyone working on the wedding preparation. King Astor was getting ready while talking with Áedán Theobald, his royal advisor who had served Astor's father before him and had been doing the job for 40 plus years.

"Everything seems fine this time my king. The skies are clear blue and I have not heard even a slight cough."

"Thanks Áedán. But I can't help shake the feeling that someone doesn't want this wedding to occur."

"If someone is trying to do that they have failed..." Áedán was interrupted by a knock at the door. It was Flannán, a young girl who was helping Celestia prepare for the wedding.

"Sorry to interrupt your highness but Princess Celestia has taken ill."

Astor looked furious with rage he turned to Áedán and said "Get everyone together. This ends today. As soon as I am done seeing to Celestia I am gonna root out the person who is messing with me, my bride to be and my kingdom."

Astor stormed out the room and Áedán turned to Flannán to ask her to assemble everyone. Astor walked in to see the Dr Asco Hippocrates the palace doctor was already seeing to Celestia.

"Astor my love you needn't have come it's not that bad."

Astor came to the side and took her hand in his. "Yes I did need to come once I heard don't worry if everything will be okay and I promise our wedding will happen. I love you and nothing and no one will stop us from being together."

"Astor, we can still get married today, we don't have to delay it. Dr Hippocrates just told me some great news. Astor I am with child."

Astor's eyes widened in surprise, his anger momentarily forgotten. He looked from Celestia to Dr. Hippocrates, who nodded in confirmation.

"My love, are you certain?" Astor asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Celestia smiled weakly, her face pale but radiant. "Yes, the doctor has confirmed it. We're going to be parents, Astor."

A mix of emotions washed over the king – joy, fear, and a renewed determination. He squeezed Celestia's hand and kissed her forehead gently.

"This changes everything," he said softly. "We must be even more cautious now. Whoever is behind these incidents poses a threat not just to our wedding, but to our child as well."

Dr. Hippocrates cleared his throat. "Your Highness, if I may. The princess's condition is delicate. While her current symptoms are normal for early pregnancy, I would advise against any strenuous activity or undue stress. Perhaps postponing the wedding for a few days would be wise, to allow Her Highness to regain her strength."

Astor nodded, his jaw clenched. "Very well. We shall delay the ceremony, but only for three days. No longer. And in that time, I will uncover whoever is behind these disruptions."

He turned back to Celestia, his expression softening. "My love, rest now. I'll have Flannán attend to your every need. I must go speak with Áedán and begin our investigation."

Celestia reached out, catching Astor's hand as he turned to leave. "Be careful, my love. I fear whoever is behind this may be more dangerous than we realize."

Astor squeezed her hand reassuringly. "I promise to exercise caution. Now rest, for both your sake and our child's."

With a final glance at his bride-to-be, Astor strode out of the room, his posture rigid with determination. In the hallway, he found Áedán waiting, a concerned look on the old advisor's face.

"Your Highness, I've gathered the palace staff and guards in the great hall as requested. What are your orders?"

Astor's eyes narrowed. "We begin our investigation immediately. Someone in this palace is working against us, and I intend to smoke them out."

As they walked briskly towards the great hall,

Astor filled Áedán in on the latest development.

"Celestia is with child," he said in a low voice. "This plot against us now threatens not just our union, but the future of both our kingdoms."

Áedán's eyebrows shot up in surprise, but he quickly composed himself. "Congratulations, Your Highness. But you're right, this does raise the stakes considerably. We must tread carefully."

They reached the great hall, where a sea of nervous faces greeted them. Guards, servants, and courtiers all stood in tense silence as Astor took his place at the front of the room, Áedán at his side.

"I'll not mince words," Astor began, his voice ringing out across the hall. "Someone among us is a traitor. Someone has been working to

sabotage the royal wedding and threaten the future of our kingdom. I demand that the culprit step forward now and face justice, or the consequences will be severe for all."

A tense silence fell over the assembled crowd. Nervous glances were exchanged, but no one moved.

Astor's eyes scanned the room, searching for any sign of guilt. "Very well," he continued, his tone growing colder. "If the traitor will not reveal themselves, we will root them out. From this moment, the palace is on lockdown. No one enters or leaves without my express permission. Every room will be searched, every alibi verified."

He gestured to the captain of the guard. "Double the patrols. I want eyes on every corner of this castle, day and night."

The orders were followed as the King commanded, but unknown to anyone, a guard named Sombra had been part of the royal guard for many years and harbored desires of becoming King. He was the one attempting to sabotage the wedding. Sombra had a dark complexion, dressed in shades of gray, and sported black, spiky hair.

“That slut Celestia is pregnant. Damn it that complicates things now even if I kill Astor, that brat will take the throne that should rightfully be mine.”

Determined to eliminate the King, Sombra used hidden passages to reach his secret hideout. There, he finalized the deadly poison that would end Astor and Celestia's lives and secure the throne for himself as King Sombra. After preparing the poison, all Sombra had to do was wait.

"Ha, fine Astor. You want your wedding to happen? I'll make it a wedding to die for. Muahahaha."

As the hours passed with no sign of trouble, Astor couldn't help but feel uneasy. The wedding preparations continued smoothly, but his mind kept going back to the traitor in their midst. Despite his worries, he put on a brave face and focused on enjoying his last moments as a single man.

Soon, it was time for the wedding ceremony to begin. Astor stood at the altar, awaiting his bride with bated breath. As Celestia walked down the aisle towards him, a sense of peace washed over Astor. He knew that whatever challenges they may face in the future, they would face them together.

The ceremony was beautiful and heartfelt, with vows exchanged and rings placed upon each other's fingers. The whole kingdom celebrated as Astor and Celestia were pronounced husband and wife.

As they enjoyed their first dance as a married couple, Astor couldn't help but notice Sombra's absence from the festivities. He tried to push it out of his mind and focus on his new wife, but he couldn't shake off the feeling that something was amiss.

After the wedding feast, most of the guests retired for the night while Astor and Celestia retreated to their chambers. As they settled into bed together for the first time as husband and wife, Astor gazed lovingly at Celestia.

"My love," he whispered. "I promise to do everything in my power to protect you and our child."

Sombra slipped some of the poison into both the drink of the King and Queen but as he walked a way a young hand maiden took the Queen’s cup and swapped her wine for water.

Sombra took a cup and stood up. “My King, My Queen as a loyal guard I wish to toast to many happy and healthy years or your rule. Long Live The King.”

The crowd cheered and raised their glasses once again. Astor took a drink Sombra had a huge smile on his face.

However, just as he took a sip, the young handmaiden approached him with a worried expression on her face.

"Your Majesty," she whispered urgently. "I think there may be something wrong with your wife's drink."

"What do you mean?" Astor asked, concerned.

"I saw Sombra slip something into both of your drinks when you weren't looking," the handmaiden explained.

Astor's heart dropped as he realized what was happening. But it was too late and he suddenly collapsed. Coughing and spitting up blood, Celestia horrified called for the doctor. Sombra expectation changed to confusion as to why nothing was happening to the queen when he saw her take a drink also.

He walked over and subtly reached for his sword but a young guard named Arcadius Ślązak saw this and managed to intercept the sword of Sombra before it could strike Celestia down. Guards surrounded by

Ślązak as well as 6 other guards. There was Hermannus Hunter, Ren Hirsch, Ade Karimi, Shyama Řezníková,Säde Ureña and Anne Padovan- a young female guard who had admired Sombra but now looked at him with betrayal and disgust.

Unfortunately, Sombra used that to his advantage and rammed his sword through Anne’s neck, killing her. Sombra tried to fight his way out but was outnumbered and wounded by the other guards' strikes. In a desperate attempt, he pulled out a hidden dagger and stabbed Ren in the neck before escaping on horseback.

The remaining guards rushed to assist Ren, but it was too late; he was dead too. While Astor was taken to his chamber where the doctor could tend to him properly. Celestia stayed by her husband's side throughout the night as he fought for his life.