The Queen, the Murderer, and the Governor's Wife

Chapter 2

It was never a good idea to spar against someone inebriated, no matter how lightly drunk you really were. However, it was a mistake that the man never could seem to avoid. This was mainly because most of his time was spent getting drunk, though that was pretty irrelevant to the doctor treating him.

"You will need stitches," the man told him with a shake of his head as he stared at the gash above the man's right eye. "How did this happen?"

"It's a pretty dull story."

"A sharp contrast to your personality," the doctor mumbled, looking away from his patient that was sitting on the cot and over at his assistant. "You shall stitch him up. Good practice. Get to it."

The woman nodded her head then, almost nervously. Stepping forwards, she took the supplies from the head doctor before he walked out of the room, off to go take care of the next person on his list. Apparently he thought that she was capable. She was of course. Stitching someone up was very basic. It was just the person that she was stitching up that was causing her hesitation.

"I-It might hurt some," the woman mumbled to the man, who only laughed at her while also giving her a once over.

"Believe me," he said. "There is very little that could hurt me."

"Well, hold still," she told him. "And here, let me clean some of the blood. It is getting in your eyes."

He just held out his hand and took the cloth from her before doing it himself. "Just stitch me up so I can get going, huh?"

"You have a prior engagement?" she asked, blushing slightly. The guy ignored her mostly though as she prepared a needle and thread.

"Something of the sorts," he told her before letting out a slight sigh. "This won't take long, will it?"

"N-No, but-"

"Then get with it."

She could smell the alcohol on him as came closer and it was not a pleasurable scent. Sighing, she moved closer to him, having to stand directly in front of him as he sat on the edge of the cot. This gave him a better look at her body, but it only made her more anxious.

"So," she began softly as he winced when she began her work on his large gash. "I-I think that there's some things that we should…discuss."

"Yes, yes, I know how to care for stitches. I have had many, after all."

"No," she said. "That is not what I meant. I…well…thought that we should discuss getting together at some time, to talk about a few things."

He frowned. He knew that he was pretty inebriated, but it seemed to him that this woman was being rather forward. Not that he didn't know women like that, but most of them did not choose the doctorial profession.

"Excuse me?"

"A-About our…relationship."

He would have jerked away from her, had she not had a needle so close to his eyeball. "Who are you, exactly?"

The woman paused the. "S-Susannah. We are to be-"

"Oh," he said, giving her a glance with his left eye, as his other was sort of indisposed in the moment. "I suppose we have never met. I did not recognize you. I was expecting you to look like your sister, I guess. Or your mother. You take after your father in resemblance, perhaps."

She let out a slow breath, embarrassed by what she had done. Of course he would not recognize her. Why did she have to go on blabbering like that? Without any thought given to his feelings? And now she sounded like a foolish little girl.

"I-I'm sorry," she said softly the, being extra careful with his stitches. "I just assumed-"

"I am York," he told her then, as if she had no idea. "I realize you must know this, but consider it a proper introduction, yes? Now back to what you were saying before I interrupted you?"

"Only that we should, I do not know, spend some amount of time together before-"

"Right. Before our marriage," he said, evident disdain in his voice. Susannah was done with his stitches then and quickly took a step away from him. He let out a long sigh before reaching up to ghost a finger over where his cut had previously been.

"Good job," he told her, more as an afterthought than anything else. Just as quickly, he added, "You and I know well the neither of us wish for this marriage, Susan."

"Susannah."

"Hmmm?"

"My name. My name is Susannah."

He shrugged slightly before going to retrieve his two broad swords that he left by the door, slipping his sword belt back on.

"Yes, well, Susannah, let's not make this something it is not, huh? Your mother wants control of the Fount and my father wants the Fount to stay in our family. That is it. Nothing more."

She was too embarrassed, too scared to say anything to him. She was sure it all showed on her face, but he did not seem to care as he only moved to head out of the room. Not before patting her on the shoulder first.

"The Fount is always in need of good doctors," he told her before leaving. "Study hard. I can tell you are already well on your way to being one."

And with that, he was gone.

"He said what to you?"

Susannah bowed her head at her older brother's loud tone. "He was only saying what we were both thinking. Or so he told me. I-"

"He cannot speak to you in such a way. As if he is better than you. He is nothing!" Hamnet was all worked up, pacing back and forth across the room. Judith only sat next to her sister on the couch, sighing as she watched him.

"Brother-"

"No, Judith," their brother raved, shooting his twin a glare. "If he speaks to her this way now, imagine when they are-"

"I am sure she is exaggerating. You do this much, sister," Judith said before glancing over at her husband, who was standing in corner of the room, looking rather crossed at the moment. "What is wrong with you?"

He merely shook his head. "I am to meet my own brother soon. He is-"

"Then go on ahead, if you wish," she told him. "I am sure that you are getting no enjoyment from listening to this conversation. It indirectly affects me and even I do not truly care."

"You know, Judith, for someone so cold, you sure do pop up at the worst moments," Hamnet challenged back at her. "Why are you here anyways, if you do not care?"

"This is my home, not yours, Hamnet, I remind you. You are in my wing of the palace. So perhaps-"

"I will not leave if the two of you are going to fight," Lucien said, frowning at both of them.

"Yes, do not fight," Susannah pleaded with her older siblings, who only held a glaring match at the moment. "I am sure that York only…only meant that he wishes for me t-to look the other way, so to speak."

Hamnet turned from his twin then, his anger redirected at his future brother-in-law once more.

"How dare he speak to you that way to begin with. He is lucky to get you. The Fount is filth. Complete and utter filth! I do not even know why mother would want to send you there."

"Hmmm," Judith mused, looking off then. "I wonder."

"Judith," her husband sighed before shaking his head. "Honestly. I thought we went over this before?"

Sitting up taller, she merely shook her head. "Honestly, if we are going to have a discussion on this whole thing, then fine. I will say my peace."

"Please do," Lucien mumbled. "We have all been waiting for this."

She ignored her husband as she said, "You have only have to take control of your relationship, Susannah."

"He has made it very clear, I would think, that he does not with for one," she said softly. "And I do not either. What if we are married, to make mother and Royce happy, but that it is? We do not have to act as a married couple. Do we?"

Lucien snorted. "I assure you, Susannah, when he told you that he did not wish for a relation, he did not mean to exclude a sexual one."

"Lucien!"

"I am helping," he told his wife who only pointed to the doorway. Giving a slight wave, he headed out, as he was planning to begin with. He would much rather spend time with his brother than the three of them anyhow.

"My point was, Susannah," Judith began again after her husband departed. "You must take control rather quickly. Do not let him speak to you in a disapproving tone or as if you are beneath him. I assure you that you are not. Hamnet, though very unintelligent-"

"Judith-"

"-is very right. The Fount is full of filth. His father included. You are from Regalia. Not to mention, your parents far out rank his. He is nothing, but a little boy with two very big swords. Other than that, what does he have? Nothing."

"I am not you, sister," Susannah told her, looking at the ground. "I-"

"Do you think that it was easy then, for me to deal with Lucien?"

"He seems rather manageable."

Hamnet shook his head at the two of them. "I will talk to him, Susannah."

"T-Talk to who? Lucien?"

"No," he said, shaking his head. "That man. York. I shall have a long discussion with him. Once it is over, he shall not treat you in such a way again."

"Hamnet-"

"No, sister," he told Susannah. "If Mother will not call it off, than I will at least make it easier for you. Someone has to."

"Do not make matters worse than they are, Hamnet," Judith told him with a slight frown. "I think the situation will work out fine for you, Susannah, if you would only do as I say. Not to mention, if he chooses to spend his time with other women, so what? You spend yours with other men. You-"

"I-I couldn't!" Susannah's blush was the deepest it had ever been in that moment. It was bad enough that her own sister would suggest such a thing, but in front of their brother? Honestly. "To even suggest such a thing-"

"I will talk to him," Hamnet repeated then, sighing slightly as he ceased his pacing, coming to a stop in front of his sisters. "He will not treat you this way, Susannah. I promise you that."

"Please, don't-"

"I am your brother. It is my job," he told her with a shake of his head. Patting his sword, he said, "I promise you that I will not let him do you wrong, Susannah. I will only help the situation, not hurt it."

"You are a detriment to every situation you are involved in," Judith responded, shaking her head slightly. "Still, I am sure there is no stopping you."

"You are right," he said, heading out of the room then. "There is not."

"Ha ha," Edward laughed slightly, shaking his head. "It is funny, no? I am the younger brother and I ended up with the much more suitable wife."

"That is not a fair statement," Lucien responded. "You ended up with the easier to handle wife. A wife that you chose. Judith was handpicked for me by Father. Had I had a choice, it would not have been her."

"Bite your tongue."

He snorted. "She says the same thing to me constantly. I think she would even give up the crown if it meant never having had to been married to me."

"I find that doubtful. The old witch as a craving for power."

"Hey now, she still is my wife," his older brother warned him though he grinned at him to let him know that he was still just joking. "Call her by her proper name. Wench."

They were in the dining hall, Lucien and his brother, both getting themselves well on the way to drunk. In the morning, Lucien feared that he would have to send more troops out to the Dead Lands, to settle a few things with the gnawers and he needed to get his mind off it.

"She hates it when you call her it?"

"Do you see her? Wench? Wench?" Lucien snorted. "She is dealing with her sister, as I told you before."

"Hmmm. I do not know this York fellow, but I know Susannah well enough. She is very…easily dissuaded. She shall make a good wife."

"I would think not," Lucien said. "She will do everything he says, never speak for herself, and stay out of the way as much as possible."

"I am sorry, but please do explain how that would to make her ideal?"

"Because, Ed, women like that? They snap eventually, yes?" Lucien shook his head. "They are the ones that I must pass judgment on constantly, for finally killing their husbands or children. Now Judith, I know exactly what is bothering when it begins to bother her. Nothing builds up. Ever."

"Valeria, now, she is neither like your wife nor Susannah," Edward said while Lucien merely shook his head. "She-"

"Have I ever told you that I hate you when you two are in love? When you are fighting, you are tolerable, more like yourself. But when you are both happy-"

"You are envious, brother."

"Ah, you remember what Father used to tell us? What he told me all the time before my wedding? Love is for the weak. I am a king. I need to be focused only on one thing; the good of my kingdom."

Edward snorted. "The weak then? I would challenge that I am stronger than you, brother."

"And you would lose that challenge."

Grinning brightly at his older brother, Edward said, "Will you deny the right to the Fount then?"

"What?"

"The reason York is marrying Susannah is for the Fount, yes? So if you deny that right-"

"I would never be able to do that without losing my head. Solovet would-"

"Fire her. I have tired of her anyways."

"She is my mother-in-law."

"So? Get rid of Judith too. Get rid of all of them." His brother chugged his beer then before saying, "'cept for Vikus. He's fine. Just send him to the Fount to mourn."

"You do realize that York and Royce will be quite put out by this as well."

"Hmmm." His brother thought for a moment before saying, "Kill them as well."

"And who shall govern the Fount for me, brother?"

"Why me, brother!"

"You?"

"Yes."

Lucien shook his head. "If I kill Judith, that kills my chance of having a child in the near future. You will need to be here, should something happen to me."

"This is our perfect, ideal world, brother," Edward told him. "You will never die. Not to mention, you can have anyone you wish for a wife and have as many children as you like."

"After all this?" Lucien shook his head. "Judith is my first and last wife. Even if she were to die tomorrow, I would not marry again. The old wench has ruined me."

"The Ice Queen could ruin anyone."

"You think she hates wench, she loathes that moniker." Lucien sighed, staring down at his mug for a moment. "She is a good wife though."

"Oh, don't-"

"She is rather brass and extremely hardheaded, but she has never done me wrong. She-"

"You always get this way when you drink. You romanticize everything."

Lucien snorted before taking a longer sip of his beer. "I do not. Judith has many faults and were I a lesser man, I would have had our marriage annulled that first week. But I own up to my commitments and she, though not easy to figure out at first, is simple once you spend some time around her. She is only her mother, just less…less everything, which is nice."

"Aye," the man agreed, raising his mug. "Vikus is a brave man."

"Honorable," Lucien said. "I'd have slit her throat long ago and thrown her body into the waterway."

"She is a snake," Edward said.

"The worst kind."

The mess hall, as always, turned more into a party at night. There was ale for all the soldiers and guards for a small fee and many of them brought in…looser women to accompany them.

Now it was not like Hamnet did not frequent there as well, but that was not his intention as he walked across the room, knowing exactly where he was headed.

York was a loud man, in battle and in jest. It was easy to spot him, but not so easy to get over to him. He was a very friendly man, or so Hamnet had heard, and had many guys standing around, listening to some outlandish story that the man was telling. Seated in his lap was a young woman who looked rather bored at the moment, the war stories no doubt bringing her no interest.

"I need to talk to you," Hamnet said in a loud voice when he finally penetrated the tight circle of guys, gathered around York. "Now."

Everyone in the group stopped talking when he spoke, even York. This did not shock Hamnet as he was something of the golden child of Regalia. His mother's high standings and this his skill in battle granted him many good things, but also was a detriment at times. At the moment though, he was hoping to use it to his advantage.

York stared at him for a moment before glancing around. "Your mother requests my-"

"No," he said coolly. "I do."

Again, there was a pause as York looked around. Slowly, the man said, "If it does not pertain to the army, I do not see-"

"You may either come speak with me in private or here now. Your choice."

The man seemed to consider his options before none too gingerly sliding the woman in his lap off and getting to his feet. Making a gesture with his hands, he said, "Lead the way."

Hamnet gave him a long stare before turning and heading right back out of the mess hall. The other man followed, though it was obvious to Hamnet that he was rather annoyed.

"What is it that you wanted then?" York asked once they were in the hallway. Hamnet only turned to face him with a frown.

"You are marrying my sister," Hamnet said then glaring at the other man. "And if you think for a moment that you are going to continue to treat her the way you did today, I-"

"I know not what you speak of," York said with a slight shrug. "I told her the truth. Should I lie to her then? She-"

"Do not spend this time arguing with me," Hamnet told him simply, leveling his gaze. "You had better spend your remaining days living life how you have been. Because the second this wedding happens, it all changes. You shall not-"

"Oh?" York took a step closer. "And who exactly is going to force this change?"

Hamnet patted his blade. Though York was larger than most his opponents, Hamnet knew enough about him to know that he was not as skilled as he would like to be. He used his size to his advantage and that won him most things. Still, Hamnet knew for a fact that he could out best the man in combat and did not waver from his position in the slightest.

"I am," Hamnet replied. "When you marry my sister, you will marry my sister. You will not treat her as if she is a shame to you, as if she is not good enough for you. You are lucky to even-"

"Are we done?" York shook his head slightly, turning around. "You had better run back to your mother. I am sure that her coattails are cold without you."

It was dark in the room, but Lucien could still feel his wife's eyes on him as he tried to sleep with his back to her. Not to mention he could hear her sigh every, oh, five seconds in an attempt to get his attention.

"What is it that you want, Judith?" he finally asked with a sigh of his own.

"What do I want?"

"You are looking at me."

"How do you know? With your back turned?"

"How do you know that my back is turned if you are not looking at me?"

"Lucien."

Sighing, he rolled onto his other side to stare at her. "Tell me quickly what it is, Judith, so I might go back to sleep. Please."

She stared at him for a minute, just lying there, before saying, "I have thought much on those men that we are sending into battle on the morrow."

"Good. You are slowly grasping the concept of empathy."

When she tried to roll onto her other side to give him her back, he caught her arm, stopping that.

"Luc-"

"I am sorry," he told her with a sigh. "Tell me then, Judith, what you are thinking."

Settling once more, she laid there before speaking. "My brother told me that my father wishes to speak with that gnawer he is so friendly with. In an attempt to fight for peace."

"Peace," Lucien snorted. "I want no peace. I-"

"Neither do I."

"Then why are we talking of it?"

Shifting slightly, she moved closer to him. "I am thinking only of the soldiers we must sacrifice to completely annihilate the gnawers."

"What has spurred this on?"

"My mother. When she spoke to me today, she mentioned her estimations for life loss."

"I am sure it is not troubling her."

"Not in the slightest."

Lucien sighed, staring into her eyes. "What do you wish for me to do then, Judith? Order your mother down when she prepares her troops on the morrow?"

"I do not know."

"Then you are not helping me."

"Lucien-"

"You are not timid, Judith. If you have a better solution, offer it up. You did not speak in the last meeting with your mother. You wish to put all the decisions off on me? This must be the first."

"You always wish for me to be more submissive"

Still, he just stared for a long moment. Then, slowly, he said, "I would appreciate it, Judith, if you just told me of your secret motive."

"Wh-"

"I am not stupid, woman. You wish for me to fight with your mother. Why?"

"Can I not just be concerned for the lives of our soldiers? Of which my brother and future brother-in-law both are? Just because you are king and rarely fight-"

"Is that it then? You wish for me to lead my troops into battle?" he asked, moving onto his back once more, staring at the ceiling. "Hn. Are you wishing me to be killed out there, woman?"

"No," she told him, moving closer still so she could reach out and touch him if she wished. They both knew though that it was really so she would be able to hit him if he got too out of hand. "Why would I wish your death?"

"To rule alone or with another. A more favorable other."

"It would take too much work to teach another now."

"Teach?"

"Train."

He snorted. "I was born to be a king. You are the one that had to be trained. You were a horrible queen."

"Hardly. You were so timid, right after your father died, why-"

"My father had just been killed fighting gnawers, Judith. If your father was killed-"

"It would not affect my day to day habits."

"Of course not," he said with a shake of his head. "You are heartless."

"And you are not?"

"I have much heart, wife. I-"

"Do not call me that."

"What? Wife? You are my wife."

"It is demeaning."

He gave a slight humorless laugh. "Being married to me is demeaning?"

"Very."

"What would you be doing now, Judith, if not married to me? Your mother would have done as she did with your sister and gave you off to some brute to get control of a family or that sort of thing. You are lucky to get me. Especially so young."

"I do not see it that way."

"You and I learned to rule together," he argued. "We made mistakes together. It was not me directing you. We were equals."

"We shall never be equal."

He took his wife's signature then, giving a long eye roll. "I suppose you are above me?"

"Always."

Lucien shut his eyes then. "You have no plan for anything, Judith. If I do not go through with sending those men, so what? I will have to send them later, when the gnawers come after us again. This is not a winnable situation. I am sorry."

She shifted, though only slightly, to get more comfortable. He was expecting her to move away from him once more, but she did not.

"In the morning, I shall speak with my mother myself then, I suppose."

"It shall do no good, I am sure, but you are welcome to. She is your mother, after all."

"Perhaps even convince her to send this York fellow out to be slaughtered."

"I knew your cared for your sister."

"I am joking. I wish for Royce to hurry up and pass so York and my sister can go live in the Fount."

"Judith-"

"Well, not die necessarily, but at least resign."

He only laughed slightly, an honest one that time, reaching out blindly with one hand to lay it on her head. She shoved him away of course and rolled onto her other side, but he still only smiled.

"Is that what you think about me as well, wife?"

"If you continue to refer to me in that way, yes."

"You're out of luck," he told he. "I never plan to abdicate."

"No one plans to."

"Mmmm. If I live well past my years and my son is more than ready to take over, I shall abdicate and allow him to have the throne." He opened his eyes then, turning his head to look at her. "So if you wish to see me out of power, you first must give me that son."

"I believe you are forgetting your involvement in that."

That time when he reached out to rest a hand on her, she didn't move.

"Aye, wench. I never forget."