Chapter Text
The priest always told us that our goddess was divine and to forever be loved. For she has protected us and loved us throughout it all. So my question is: if she loved us so why did she allow the war to reach us? Why did she allow the walls to be broken down and for half of our town to be slaughtered? The priest said that those who died were meant to; that they were sinners. My brother, who had barely reached his fourth year was a sinner? My father, who had worked every day since my birth to feed and protect us was a sinner? Gamya, the goddess of the crowned river, our river, she who had allowed innocent souls to die, was going to suffer. I sit in her temple, awaiting her. I sit here with my father's blade in hand. The one engraved with the words "The Crowned River will not spill with blood not deserved". Her blood deserves to be in that river and I will make sure that is where it will be.
I heard a noise at the entrance of the temple and quietly crept behind a rock, blade at the ready. The stories were correct, she was stunningly beautiful. Waving copper hair laid gracefully over her shoulders as she walked, seemingly on air, down the path. She was dressed in a gown of soft blue silk and it flowed around her as if she were wading in the river she watched over. I held my breath and she walked past the rock I hid behind, not even looking in my direction.
"Hello, Beatrice. I suppose you are here to kill me? I understand. I'm getting tired of this life anyways. Gets tiring having to control the river and the people of it all the time. Though it will be your responsibility to deal with the aftermath. You must take my place." Gamya's voice rang out, tinged with sadness.
I stood, blade now held limp by my side. "Your...place?"
"Yes. We can't leave the river without one to control it. You and your people weren't part of the deal I first agreed to. You showed up later. I only agreed to watch the river. I'm going to go about my business now. You can do as you planned. Just know of the consequences."
She kneeled and started to fill a basket with the food and jewels people had left her. I walked quietly towards her, raising the blade above my head when I came to her place. A single, silent tear rolled down my cheek. I brought my arms down and the blade sunk smoothly into her flesh. She yelled out in pain and took a shaking breath. I twisted the sword and pulled it out swiftly, my hands covered in her blood. A man shouted behind me as my face went stone cold. She deserved it. One death for the many. I would be better. The priest pushed me aside as he took Gamya's body in his hands. She was coughing blood and he looked at her with tears in his tired eyes. She smiled sweetly at him as she took a final, shaking breath.
"Our goddess was king and loving. She protected us," the priest looked at my blood-covered hands as he said these things, "So why did you kill her?"
"She never loved us. You know it as well as I do. She was a liar and a cheat. She was greedy. Don't you agree?"
"No! She was good!"
"Disagreeing with a goddess. How rude."