Note: This has nothing to do with my other story, My Albion, despite the princess having the same name. Consider is an AU if you must. ^-^
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Logan knew the day had been coming. He had seen her in the crowd when Major Swift was executed. The anger in her eyes chilled him to the bone and he held himself back from sending the guards to seize her. When she left Albion, he sent the boats after her and demanded that she be brought back alive. They had been fired upon and in a fit of rage and sorrow had the ship captains punished for firing on her ship. It came as no surprise when he heard that ships were amassing off the coast, ships bearing flags that only he recognized. She had gone to Aurora.
The sounds of the battle raged outside the castle, the sky brightened by the burning of the city's old quarters. Logan watched from the war room, trying to spy Tara amongst the crowd. They were coming for him. A rebellion had threatened to break out for the past year but he would have never guessed his own blood would be leading it against him.
A loud crash sounded from behind him and Logan wheeled around, beginning to draw his blade. His hands stopped as his eyes fell on his sister. Tara's once pristine face now bore scars of battle, she wore men's clothing, her hair was darkened to a shade similar to his own, and her eyes, once filled with the naivety that came with youth, burned with anger. Despite it all Logan told himself that she was beautiful, and she was. Seeing the world for what it was had hardened her.
"So, this is how it ends. The old fool and the child who ran away." Logan sheathed his sword and trained his eyes on his sister. She met his gaze as her grip on her weapon tightened. "You've finally become the woman I always wanted you to be." There was shift in her eyes and it was something only he could have noticed.
Walter moved forward and Tara followed close behind. "She's a lot more than that," he snorted. "And now she's ready to take your place."
Those words weighed heavy on Logan and he finally turned his eyes away from Tara's. "Perhaps it is time for someone else to lead Albion."
"You were never a leader," Tara cried. "Just another tyrant."
Logan winced at the venom in his sister's voice but kept his head high as he slowly rounded the map table. "Did it ever occur to you that I may have had good reason to be?" He ran his fingers over the edge of the table stopping when he grew close to the duo.
"We're not interested in your reasons," Walter spat.
"Cower behind ignorance if you will," Logan replied, turning his attention to the old man, "but my sister deserves to know the truth."
Walter suddenly seized Logan, knocking him off balance and causing a muffled gasp to escape Tara. "Save it for the trial, Logan. You can beg for your life then." He pulled Logan away, not noticing the pleading look the fallen king gave to his sister as they locked eyes once more.