Chapter 1
"Thuya. Thuya. Where are you Thuya?" called Thuya's mother Thiri as she continues washing their clothes by the riverbed.
A joyful young man splashed out of the water. "I'm here mother." cheekily smiled Thuya. "Hop in. The water feels great today."
His mother let out a slight sigh of worry. "Get out of the water before you catch a cold. There might be some hidden snakes in the water, let alone the hibernating dragon."
Thuya got out of the water and took off his soaked shirt for his mother to dry. "Mother, where did you come up with the assumptions of dragon? It sounds unbelievable, have you ever seen one? I've asked other childrens but they all said it's nonsense. Their parents even laugh at me."
"Don't let them get to you my son. Believe it or not, dragons are real. Don't disrespect them. There are legends spanning through the ages that this riverbed bordering Siam and Burma has a hibernating dragon. It is said to have been hibernating for the past hundred years and only awakens to feast on the soldiers who have fallen from the war, and also awakens when taking a new bride from offering."
"Bride offering?" Thuya smirked. "Who in their right mind would sacrafice their daughters to a dragon?"
"It's true Thuya. The hibernating dragon is a water god that fulfill prayers. Like I said, don't disrespect them."
"The hibernating dragon is a water god? If it's hibernating then how does it answer prayers?"
His mother paused doing the laundry and stared at his smiling son. "Are you just playing with me today?"
He pretended to hit his head. "Oi, you caught on faster today Mother." He went over to her for a hug. "I know the legends mother. I am just thankful that you were never sacraficed as a bride for the dragon." He took a slight pause. "Wait."
"Wait what?"
"Imagine if you were offered as a bride to the dragon."
His mother gently hit his head. "Are you out of your mind?!"
"Ouch Mother, that hurts." He rubs his head. "I didn't even get to finish what I wanted to say..." He continues with his cheeky smile. "Back to what I was saying... If you were offered as a bride.. I would be the son of the water god. I would have been a dragon prince."
A sad look fell upon her face as she saw the cheerful look on Thuya. She silently thought to herself as her eyes began to get teary. "I'm sorry my dear son. I've hidden you away from the world... from your home.. from your royalty.. from your father. I know how sad you must be not to have a single relative out here except for me. I know that I can't hide everything from you. Only time will reveal itself. But for now, let me keep you longer.. for you are that's left in my life too. Please bear with my selfishness."
Thuya gazed gently in his mother's teary eye. "Are you crying mom? I'm sorry for saying those words. I'm really happy that you were never sacraficed. I really truly deeply apologize to you my beautiful mother Thiri. Please forgive me."
She looks into her son's gaze. "It's fine child. Let's get going before the sun sets."
"Yes, let's get going." He grabbed the woven basket filled with their clothes in one hand and held his mother's soft hand in the other and walked down the dusty trail to their home.
A young woman stared at their backs as she silently jumped down from a tree. "A water god eh?" She walked toward the riverbed and stared at her reflection in the water. "Will you really be able to grant me my prayers?"
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"BULLSEYE!!!" exclaimed the guards as Jao Phanumas shot his fourth deer in a row. Everyone clapped in joy.
Prince Aran joined in on the clapping. "Young Prince. Pretty soon you're going to beat my record in this hunting contest."
Phanumas hauled his horse and went toward his father. "Never father. I would never dare to beat your record."
"Are you trying to please me son?" Prince Aran let out a laugh. "Go for it. It's been a tradition for the young ones to outbeat the old ones like us."
"Are you sure Crowned Prince Aran?" asked Prince Aroon who intruded in the conversation. "It'll look bad on your part before you ascend the throne."
Prince Aran smiled. "Why would such a small thing like this affect me in anyway? It's just a game. It's only for entertainment."
"It's only a game you say?" He looked at the Prince Aran and then to Jao Phanumas. "Maybe he'll ascend to the throne before you."
The smile on Prince Aran rapidly faded away. "I would watch what you say if you know what I mean." he said in a strong stern voice.
A smirk grew on Princess Kwang's face as she walks toward then. "Now now, don't you two be ruining the fun now. It has only just begun."
"Ah yes, let's continue with the hunting contest. We'll have a big feast afterwards." said Prince Aran.
Prince Aroon placed his gaze onto Princess Kwang. She walked over to him with a smile. "Stop it with your high horses, unless you want to ruin our plan."
He let out a laugh. "It's only just the beginning. I haven't even had my fun yet. It's you with the high horse." He walked passed her and whispered. "Soon."
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"Sister Sasithorn! Sister Sasithorn!" shouted a little girl.
A youn lady came out of an old wooden hut. "Yes?" answered Sasithorn. "What's the matter?"
The little girl ran up to her. "My sister Nu has been missing all day today. I can't find her anywhere."
Sasithorn lowered herself down to the little girl's height, trying to calm her down. "Don't worry, I'll ask the others to help us in searching for your sister. We'll definitely find her. In the meantime, stay inside my house."
"Yes, thank you sister Sasithorn. I'll wait patiently here." Sasithorn smiled and patted the girl's head.
Sasithorn asked the neighbors for help and they all splitted up in different directions in search of the little girl's sister Nu. As the sun was beginning to set, Sasithorn grew more and more worried. "She should be here... she's usually here." She looked up at the trees as she continued down the dusty road. "Please be safe."
As she continued searching down the dusty road near the riverbed, she spotted a ragged dress on the edge of the river. Sasithorn began to worry even more. "Nu, Nu.. Nu. Where are you? Nu answer me. Nu. Come out. Nu."
She continued wandering near the riverbed, looking in each direction until she saw a young lady almost near the other edge of the riverbed. "Nu!" Sasithorn shouted. "Come back Nu!"
The girl faintly heard her name being called and looked back before almost reaching the edge. She then heard footsteps coming closer to the riverbed's edge. The men giggled and spoke proudly in their Siamese tongue.
"Well look it here. A young maiden had decided to cross this river." said a man as he closed in on her. "Want to be mines tonight?"
Nu splashed water at them in fear and tried to swim back to the other side.
"Catch her! Don't let her escape!" shouted the other man. They jumped in the water and grabbed the lady.
"Let her go! Let her go!" shouted Sasithorn from afar. "Please return her to us."
The men looked her way. "Well look at that. It seems she wants a turn too!"
"Let me go!" cried out Nu as she struggled to free herself. "Let me go!"
"Look at her body... So young and fresh. I bet she's a virgin."
"Let me taste her first." One of the men grabbed her breast and moved his hand down.
Nu cried in fear. "Please let me go... I beg of you.. please don't do anything to me. Please."
The neighbors reached Sasithorn and saw what was happening. "It's too late Sasithorn. They're wild beasts! Them Siamese untamed beasts!"
Sasithorn clenched her fist and cried. "PLEASE LET HER GO! I BEG OF YOU! PLEASE LET HER GO!"
At that very moment, a royal looking man came out from the forest and walked his horse to the river's edge, giving it water. He looked at the men in disgust. "Let her go this instant."
The men looked at him up and down. "Don't think that just because you look fancy doesn't mean we won't do anything to you, young man."
"I said let her go!" He readied his bow and arrow at the men. "Let her go this instant!"
The man laughed in laughter. "He wants to play hero. Go get him!"
The men slowly went after him, and he continuously fired an arrow one after the other, only wounding them in the thigh. "Let her go now before I really get mad!"
An arrow shot passed the young man from behind and went straight to the young lady's heart. "Sasi-thorn.." said Nu as she fell to the ground saying her last words. "I'm sorry for being so.. stupid."
[Music played during this scene... 
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Sasithorn screamed her heart out as she saw Nu fall to the ground. "Nuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu! Nuuuuuuuuuuuu! Get up! Nuuuuuu!" She moved closer in to the river.
The neighbors held her back. "Stop it Sasithorn! Stop it! It's dangerous. It's already too late... She's gone."
Sasithorn wailed with pain. "Nuuu.. Nuuu.. I'm sorry I couldn't fulfill your promise..."
The young man looked behind him in shock. "Uncle Aroon! Why'd you kill her?!"
Prince Aroon ordered his men. "Kill every single last one of those men! Kill off their family too!"
"Uncle Aroon! Stop it this instant!" shouted Jao Phanumas. "Uncle!"
"Shut up kid! You almost died here!"
"But Uncle! Why'd you have to kill her?!" He looked at the young lady and then to the far crowd on the other side. "What are you going to say to them? It's already hard trying to keep the peace with our country Uncle. Why'd you do this?"
Prince Aroon looked at Phanumas in disgust. "Why are you crying over this nasty Burmese woman? She was asking for this! Come on men, let's go!" He walked away leaving Phanumas alone.
Jao Phanumas looked at the lady again and then back to the crowd. He ripped off a cloth from his horse saddle and wrapped the lady. He then pulled her into the water, letting her float away. He resepectfully bowed back to her and the crowd and rode off.
Sasithorn continued wailing as she watched the man leave and Nu's body float away. "Rest in peace Nu.. rest in peace."
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A/N: Yeah.. yeah.. yeah.. I wasn't sure how to start it off .. but hopefully this chapter went by pretty smooth. Enjoy! .. I also love classical pieces.. so I had to use this classic instrumental. Do note that it's one of my theme song for this fanfic.. BooHoo..
@keylargo, thank you for following up on this ff. I really appreciate it
