(If you found this before reading The Hero and the Rogue please go find the other story first. It is the prequel to this one, outlining the last conversations between the Hero Queen and Reaver. Also each chapter will back and forth between Mia and Reaver so be warned.)
"What do you mean she is missing?!" The sound of King Logan's overly aggressive voice nearly had Reaver rubbing his temples already and he hadn't even entered the king's War Room yet. He some how managed not to show off his annoyance at the man as he walked in, plastering on his usual smirk as he walked into the room. The sight before him almost had him laughing as two of the old guard and a maid seemed to be cowering before the seemingly enraged King. The thin male was pacing in front of the trio as if he wanted to punish them or possibly just back hand them. The sight almost disgusted Reaver, despite the many atrocities he had committed himself. His disgust came not from himself but his memories of the Hero Queen that mothered the now king.
"My my... Isn't it a bit early to be shouting at the help my boy?" He asked as he leaned against the door frame, his long legs crossing over themselves as he watched the 'boy' in question shoot a glance at him before pausing and leaning over the map table. "Guards take them away... Don't kill them just find out what they could know and then release them."
"Thataboy... Now what is this ruckus about?" Reaver crooned moving from the doorway to lounge in a nearby chair as the three were guided from the room, the maid sobbing into her hands as she was manhandled out of the room. Logan sighed softly and moved to a chair near the older man, his hands immediately going to the decanter of brandy that resided on the nearby table. Reaver waited patiently as the man poured them both a couple fingers of the draught into matching glasses and handed him one. "Mia...Mia has disappeared... I went too far yesterday... I don't know is she was kidnapped or ran away... but she is gone."
Reaver nearly dropped his own glass as the king told him what had the castle in an uproar, his mind picturing the last time he had seen the young princess. Her dark hair, so reminiscent of her mother's own locks, blue eyes that seemed to stare into his soul even as she had politely curtsied when he greeted her with a bow. The girl looked so much like her mother now that she had grown into a young adult that he found it hard to come to the castle at all, the memories of his last day with his dearest friend still beating at him. She was still so serious and polite but he could see the hidden mischief she had, even helping her prank that oaf that was her instructor despite his own aching heart at the sound of the girl's laughter that sounded so much like her mother.
"What did you do Logan?" He asked softly, his voice no longer his acting voice but softer and colder than he normally would have used in any polite company. Logan groaned as he heard the voice, knowing that Reaver would not use that voice unless he had a reason and downed the glass of brandy. "I forced her to choose between killing the boy who had courted her and letting some protesters die. She did what I knew she would do... just like mother... She sacrificed the one she cared about to protect the people. The look she gave me before she was pulled from the room... She probably left of her own free will..."
Reaver let out a sigh and looked away from the man beside him, his fingers idling spinning his drink within it's glass. He knew if she was anything like her mother she had left of her own free will, and probably left with that oaf and her butler, seeing as neither one was being questioned instead of various members of the staff. His head turned to the window and another sigh left his chest, knowing this would not end well for the King. "You do know that she probably took her butler and that oaf you had instructing her. This means she most likely will return for your crown and probably your head."
His words made the king jerk but his head just lowered and he murmured an agreement. Reaver rolled his eyes, wondering how Natalie had managed to have one incompetent child and another so competent she disappeared without anyone knowing till the next morning. Even as he thought of this his mind remembered a secret only he, Hammer, Garth, and Walter knew of hiding within the castle grounds. "Come lad. I think I know the how if not the where they escaped to."
Even as he spoke he rose, the king standing to follow him. He paused and turned to tap the king on the chin with a small smile. "Now now, chin up. No need to let the servants see you distraught. You must seem like a strong king, not given into fear."
Logan nodded and stood straighter as Reaver turned, the pair walked to the large mausoleum that held the former Queen's body. Bother paused as they reached the door, hesitant to disturb the tomb without just cause. Reaver was the first to move, pushing one door open and motioning for the king to enter first. Once they had entered they quietly walked up to where the two stone coffins lay, their eyes seeing the open wall even as they paused to rest a hand on Natalie's coffin. "It appears I was right. Moppet was helped out by the only person other than myself who knew of this path and still lives. And if that wall is open then your sister is..."'
Logan looks at him at the pause before his mind clicked to what Reaver meant, his eyes widening with surprise. "Mia is a Hero..."
