The Other World

Once upon a time, in a land more vast than the ocean itself, there remained a struggling kingdom. Never had the kingdom suffered like it did during the time of what the people called, “The Final Year.” During The Final Year the kingdom had lost much to war, wildfires, illness, and magic.

The kingdom was ruled by a beautiful and strong-willed Queen who was adored by her people, even in times of pain. The Queen married at the age of 20, but lost her dear husband to the trauma he suffered after leading the kingdom’s army in a war against the Grushens. The Grushens were a terrible people of giants who lived to steal children and make them slaves. After the war, the King suffered from a terrible wound to the head. But what he suffered from the most was the madness that was caused by the wound. This madness consumed him in the night and ate at the Queen’s heart as she watched the man she once loved slowly turn into a monster.

One year after the war had ended, the King went for a walk at night and insisted that the guards leave him to walk alone. The next morning, his still and lifeless body was found in the forest. No one knew exactly what happened to the King, but everyone assumed that it was his madness that brought him to an end.

Only hours after the King’s body was found and returned to the palace, a mysterious wildfire devoured the forest where the king had died, despite the chilling air and thick snow that fell upon the kingdom that day. As citizens and militiamen alike fought the raging fire, the kingdom mourned for the loss of their King.

The very night of the King’s funeral, the queen discovered that she was going to have a baby. The following day, the kingdom rejoiced in the good news. They rejoiced knowing that God was faithful to them. He blessed them with a successor to the throne and brought restoration to the Kingdom in a time of tragedy!

The people sang, “The King has left us, one for all, but not left us in vain--

He loved us, so he sent a princess to save us all again.

Beautiful, brave, selfless, kind, and sweet, is the princess to be!

She will live, love, learn, and lead us right, just like the legacy of the Queen!”

The praises of the new baby rang throughout the kingdom for weeks, and though the Queen did not yet know if she would give birth to a son or daughter, the people felt sure that there would be a princess. 

Everyone rejoiced—everyone, but one..