Caitrin's afternoon was spent in agony, she knew she would have to stand trial for treason against the crown and she feared her brother may kill her, just as he sentenced everyone else. She was left with a sick feeling in her gut as her worry and fear ate away at her insides. Jasper brought her lunch a couple hours after she was escorted to her room but the aging servant was unable to say or do anything with the ever watchful guards present. However, she could only pick at the meal, barely eating from a lack of appetite and an overwhelming fear. Once the butler left, the princess was left to her own devices and struggled trying to occupy her time. She tried to read and would pick up book after book but was unable to concentrate enough on the words in front of her to fully digest what she read. She wrote correspondence to the few friends she had amongst the nobility, including Elliot, but burned them when they were complete because she didn't want them accused of treason as well. She even tried to sleep away the hours but her mind was too busy to allow her rest.
Minutes seemed like hours and hours like days until sunset finally arrived and the princess was forced to light her own lamps in the room as darkness began to set. After lighting the lamps and granting a little light, she turned to her windows and gazed out at the setting sun. The sky was awash in oranges and reds as the bright orb began to sink into the sea. She was so caught up in watching the sky change colors, she finally lost track of time and Caitrin was surprised when her bedroom door opened and Reaver sauntered in carrying her dinner tray, instead of Jasper. She heard the click of the lock fall back into place after the door was closed by the guard after the industry mogul's admittance. This surprised her since the guards had watched the butler the entire time he was in the room and now they left her alone with the tycoon. Caitrin stayed by the window as she watched the man carry the tray to the end table near her chaise.
"What do you want, Reaver?" she asked with a sigh of frustration when he began to lift the cover on her food.
"You wound me, Your Highness," the deviant replied with mock sincerity his hand pressed to his heart before motioning towards her food. "As you can see I am here to see to your needs, any and all that you require me to fulfill."
"I am to be married Reaver," the princess growled, used to his verbal antics but never finding them welcome due to her love for Elliot as she turned her gaze back out to the setting sun. "To Elliot, remember?"
"Of course I remember, Your Highness," Reaver's long legs carried him to stand behind Caitrin near the window. "But it's never stopped people before, why should it now? You will find me more than willing to pluck your royal flower."
"How dare you!" Caitrin spun on the man hovering behind her, her hand connecting with his cheek as she slapped him in anger for his suggestion.
"Now, now Highness," Reaver admonished with a tight smile, despite the rage flickering through his blue eyes. "You shouldn't let your anger get the better of you."
"You're one to lecture given your reputation," the brunette deflected, anger still flashing in her chocolate eyes.
"I see Mother dear and Walter regaled you with stories of her trials before becoming queen."
"Of course, they were our bedtime stories," Caitrin stated, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. "She hoped we could learn from her mistakes but I see my brother did not heed her warnings."
"Oh touche, Highness," Reaver chuckled in delight. "Speaking of the little songbird, I always thought you were like her."
"Were?" the princess scoffed at the tycoon. "And now?"
"You actually managed to surprise me today, ma belle," the pirate ignored the princess' question and placed his hand on the wall next to her head, forcing her to lean against the cool stone to maintain distance between them. "I haven't been surprised like that since..." Reaver trailed off lost in thought while looking out the window. "Let's just say it's been awhile, and that amuses me, ma chère."
"Yes, because I live to bring you amusement," Caitrin huffed as she turned to escape the deviant's close presence.
"It does make me wonder," the mogul chuckled, cutting off the brunette's escape with his other arm forcing her against the wall again.
"Wonder what?" she sighed, looking back at the man looming over her, trapped in the cage of his arms.
"What would your mother think of your decision this morning?" Reaver queried, a devilish smirk lifting a corner of his mouth. "Sending those poor subjects off to their deaths in a vain attempt to save your betrothed. Even she was never so selfish."
Rage flashed through Caitrin's heart at the way his words cut right to her doubts about her decision so many hours ago. Unable to control herself, she lashed out at the pirate trying to slap him once again. However, Reaver was ready for her outburst and caught her wrist long before it would have reached its intended target. Never one to give up so easily, the princess tried unsuccessfully to jerk her arm from his strong grip before trying to slap him with her other hand. In a surprised release of air, she found her wrists above her head sandwiched between Reaver and the wall, his arousal pressed against her belly.
"What did I just tell you about controlling your anger, my pet?" the mogul whispered in her ear.
"Let me go," Caitrin demanded, struggling against his strong grip.
"Why should I?" Reaver questioned, breathing in the princess' scent as he enjoyed the way her luscious body felt trapped against his own as she continued to squirm in his grasp.
"I could call for the guards," she threatened, trying to intimidate the pirate into leaving her alone.
"You could try," came his throaty chuckle before he pulled the princess' earlobe into his mouth and gave it a gentle bite. "They've been ordered by your brother to ignore any orders from you. But feel free to give it a go, petite."
Reaver kissed the spot below her ear, and grinned to himself when he heard her breath catch and felt a shiver course through her body. Caitrin tried to ignore the desire his ministrations awoke, knowing his deviant behavior. Even in her sheltered life, she had heard some of the noblewomen titter about the parties he hosted at his mansion in Millfields and the debauchery that occurred during so many of the events. However as his soft lips continued to kiss their way down her neck it was harder and harder to remember his deviant behavior. She felt a small rush of shame when she realized Elliot was not nearly as skilled as the man currently holding her.
"Please stop," Caitrin finally whimpered, shame winning over desire.
Reaver pulled back from the princess' neck to look her over. He was pleased to see her flush with arousal and couldn't figure out why she would be asking him to stop.
Bloody morality, the tycoon thought to himself as he chuckled. "You're mouth says no but your eyes say yes, ma chère."
"I'm engaged," the princess whispered, repeating herself and looking away as guilt continued to build in her mind and color her face.
Reaver only growled in frustrated rage and released the princess. He quickly crossed the room back towards the door and pounded on the wooden barrier, leaving Caitrin standing rubbing her wrists to remove the feeling of his touch. One of the guardsmen opened the door and Reaver stormed out of her room without a look back. The pirate king didn't like to hear the word no and now to hear it from the daughter as well as the mother before her was too much for Reaver to bear. He would find a way to sate his lust for Caitrin, her morals were already questionable if she could choose her suitor over her people. If Logan saw fit to grant mercy on Caitrin, he would find a way to get her no to become a yes, it just needed more planning but for tonight he would have to find another more willing body. The tycoon went hunting through the castle to find a willing noble or servant to alleviate his desires and help him forget the feeling of the princess' curves against him.
Reaver had left her hours ago, it was well after dark and Caitrin should have gone to bed by now but her shame over the mogul's actions coupled with her anger over her own choice forced on her today by her own flesh and blood left her agitated. She stood gripping the edge of her lounger, trying to calm her breathing when a loud clang of metal followed by a crash of something fragile rang out from outside her bedroom door followed quickly by a thump against the wood separating her from her freedom. She turned watching the door with growing trepidation until she heard the lock finally slide free and the door opened to admit a nervous looking Jasper and collected Walter, who shook his hands in pain and then rubbed the tender knuckles.
"Are you alright, Your Highness?" Jasper asked, coming over to her when she extended her hands in relief. The aging butler took her offered hands and gave them a gentle squeeze. "I feared the worse when I received news that Mister Reaver had taken the liberty to bring your dinner."
"I'm fine," Caitrin soothed the butler's harried nerves, thankful the butler had not been privy to all the deviant had tried to do when he was in her bed chamber.
"We need to go, before they come around," Walter brought the pair back into the present as he hovered near the door keeping an eye on the now unconscious guards.
"Let me just pack-" Jasper began, starting towards her wardrobe.
"There's no time," Walter insisted, rushing into the room to stop the agitated butler.
"But-" Jasper tired again.
"We must go, now." Walter reiterated, blocking his path to the armoire.
Caitrin and Jasper were gentle shoved towards the door by Walter's large form. As she passed out into the crisp night air, she noticed a silver serving tray, bent slightly from having struck one of the guards, along with the remains of her favorite tea set on the stone landing, while the other guard sported a growing black eye from Walter's punch. The Princess gave a startled gasp at what her mother's friends had done for her to help her escape.
"I know, it's ruined, Your Highness," Jasper moaned, misinterpreting her gasp for the ruined tea set. "I humbly beg your pardon."
"It's not that Jasper," the brunette assured the aging butler. "What will you do now? I was accused of treason, with you helping me..."
"We knew what we were doing," Walter's gruff but warm voice assured the princess as they rushed down the stairs to the garden below. "It's time for a revolution and you'll be the one to lead."
"Walter, I was never trained to lead," the Princess tried to argue. "The people love me, true but I'm no leader."
"Nonsense," Walter countered. "You were trained just as extensively as your brother. You give the people hope, while your brother took it away. They will follow you, you just have to step forward. They are ripe for change."
"But how are we to get out of here?" Caitrin whispered as they grew near the open door leading into the kitchen. "We can't go through the castle."
"There may be another way," the knight informed Jasper and the princess. "Through your parents' mausoleum."
The trio crept through the garden and they all felt thankful the guards never patrolled the garden at night. Walter reached the door heavy door first, and opened the large metal barrier. The hinges groaned loudly in protest from disuse as it swung open, forcing them to pause to listen for a raised alarm. When several moment passed without any alarms the trio slipped into the dank crypt. Walter continued to lead them down the stairs into the depths below the castle. Caitrin felt sadness overwhelm her again over the loss of her parents, it had been many years since she had come to visit their sarcophagi and she felt a little guilty for the lapse. She felt the air change as they neared the end of the stairs, and suddenly they were in the large cavern holding her parents remains.
"Your mother left something here for you," Walter began explaining as he walked towards the large weeping statue that knelt between her parents' sarcophagi. "She hoped that one or both of you would some day continue down her path as a Hero."
"Is that even possible?" Caitrin asked, as she stopped in front of her mother's stone tomb and caressed the engraving.
"Balls," Walter swore, as he tested each stone brick looking for the hidden switch. "It should be here- Ah!"
With the knights exclamation of victory, Caitrin's wistful thoughts were broken when she heard the sound of metal chains. Looking up, she noticed the hands of the weeping statue lower from its face and reveal a round object held in its palms. As she stepped forward, Walter encouraged her to pick up the seal but even without his say so, she felt as if the seal was calling to her and it was meant for her. She reached for the seal and could feel power thrumming through it even before she touched it. The seal was surprisingly large and was about the size of a dinner plate but felt hollow despite how much power she could feel coursing through the object.
"Is something supposed to happen?" the princess asked, looking to the knight standing with an eager and hopeful expression on his face.
Walter's face fell when nothing happened at first but soon turned to surprise when the seal began to glow in Caitrin's hands. The princess's eyes slashed back to the seal as the power began coursing into her hands and traveled through the rest of her body. She hollered unintentionally as she felt her whole body reawaken from the power surging through her. Just as the power abated, the world around Caitrin went white.
She felt as if she had been transported, and her feet felt unsteady as she tried to look around at her surroundings. Her white surroundings disappeared in a flash, and she was left standing on a large pedestal with the same design as the seal. A large gate loomed in front of her, and she could make out a path leading her through the fog towards a replica of her home: Bowerstone Castle. Another flash of light brought an old woman in a red and taupe hooded dress standing between her and the gate. The princess stared at the woman, finding her to be familiar but unable to place her.
"I feel as if I know you," Caitrin stated, which brought a smile to the blind woman in front of her. The princess stepped off the pedestal and moved to stand directly in front of the other female.
"We have met but it was many years ago and you were but a small child. I'm surprised you remember at all," the lady informed Caitrin, her smile growing warmer.
"Who are you?"
"I am Teresa, the seer of the spire."
"You helped my mother," the princess gasped, finally understanding who this hooded woman was.
"Yes, and just as your mother had a journey to take, so too do you." the seer forewarned. "However your destiny presents an even greater challenge. Your mother's seal awoke to your touch and it would do so for no one else. You are headed down a dangerous path as now the fate of Albion rest squarely on your shoulders."
"What must I do?"
"You have your mother's courage, that is good, you will need it in the trials ahead. Before you lies the path you will take and at the end the kingdom you were born to rule. Like all Heroes, you will face many obstacles and you will have to make allies to overcome those trials. For now you have Jasper who will always serve you faithfully and Walter who will be your greatest ally and advocate. Step through the gate, follow where your destiny leads and begin your road to rule."
"Wait, what about Logan?"
"That...is a discussion for another time," Teresa hedged the question before vanishing in a flash of light.
Caitrin was left alone staring at hollow images of Jasper and Walter, and felt a growing sadness at the fact that Elliot was not there as well. A sliver of doubt crept into her mind that her betrothed wasn't considered an ally even though he had promised to protect her and love her all of their lives. She forced herself to brush aside the thoughts and think on them another time as she stepped up to the gate and brought her hand to touch the seal holding the gate closed. She felt a stirring of her power and a yellow light emitted from her palm as the gate swung open with only the briefest caress.
Behind the gate stood a single chest which bore an orange seal bearing a single dancing flame. As Caitrin stepped up to the object, she felt a thrum of power again and heard the chest unlock. Lifting the lid, an orange glow slipped from the cracks and dimmed as she threw back the cover. Inside the chest was a single glove which had the same seal as the front of the lid. Fascinated, the princess pulled the gauntlet onto her hand and felt her body flare with the connection the glove made to her magic. Fire danced in her palms, thrilling Caitrin to no end before she closed her fist and snuffed it out. Her mother had often shown her will abilities to the young princess when she begged and now to be able to do the same thing left her feeling proud, but she also found herself nostalgic, wishing her mother could see her unlock her true potential.
"I'll try to make you proud, mum," Caitrin whispered out into the fog surrounding her before she stepped up to the sigil glowing in the air and activated her will.
She found herself transported back to the catacomb where she discovered both gentlemen in a state of agitation. Jasper had forced himself to sit on the steps next to the weeping statue but he was constantly wringing his hand together and fidgeting. Walter was pacing between the two stone coffins, muttering obscenities under his breath.
"Your Highness," Jasper gasped, standing quickly from his seated position. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine Jasper," Caitrin couldn't help but grin at his worrisome attitude.
"Well?" Walter came to a stop in front of her looking at her with expectation and curiosity.
"Well what?" the princess couldn't help but ask, drawing out the moment she had been hoping for all her life.
"Balls girl, did it work? Did you find anything?" the knight demanded gruffly.
"I did," she smiled as she activated her will causing flames to dance in her palms. Jasper jumped back in surprise before he recovered while Walter just grinned with pride.
"Well use it girl," the knight stated, pointing to the seal on which she had reappeared as the two men moved to stand behind her.
Caitrin glanced down at her feet before she met Walter's eyes and nodded. Feeling a thrill of exhilaration, she gathered more of her will before crouching and slamming her palms onto the middle of the sigil at her feet. A small ring of fire encircled the princess before is was absorbed by the seal. The trio gasped as with a grating of stone, the two coffins slid further apart revealing stairs.
"Ho ho, it worked! You're a Hero!" Walter crowed with a laugh. "Bloody well don't know what we would have done if it hadn't."
"You mean to say you weren't sure if it would work?" Jasper demanded, looking appalled.
"Doesn't matter," Walter dismissed the butler, pointing towards the stairs. "It worked."
"Come on boy," Caitrin urged Specter, giving him a quick scratch between the ears before she led the group down the stairs.
The brunette was vaguely aware of Walter complaining about the dark and closeness of the tunnel walls but she found herself drawn to a dim blue light that she could see shining off the wet walls. Turning the final corner of the tunnel and the group found themselves in a vast cavern.
"That's more like it," Walter declared looking relieved and taking in a deep breath of the mossy and damp air.
"What is this place?" Caitrin asked, cautiously stepping forward and peering over the edge to see how deep the cavern went.
"The castle's escape route," the knight stated, following the path leading through the cavern.
The trio of humans walked on in silence for awhile until they were surrounded by a flurry of wings. Caitrin and Jasper shrieked and huddled together as they realized they were bats while Walter swatted in vain, trying to hit the nimble creatures with his sword or pistol.
"Use your magic, girl," the knight finally bellowed when he noticed the princess huddled on the ground protecting her hair next to the family butler.
The brunette lifted her head and looked at Walter with wide, disbelieving eyes.
"Balls girl, your magic," he reiterated, coming over and grabbing the hand wearing the gauntlet and pulling Caitrin into a standing position.
The princess finally understood what Walter was asking, and gathering her will began throwing fireballs randomly in the air, more often than not missing her targets.
"Bloody hell," Walter swore. "I taught you better than that, girl!"
Caitrin paused in her firing and quickly glanced at the knight beside her before she turned her attention back to the bats circling their heads. This time she tried tracking their flight, and even though she still missed a few times, she began burning the group of bats to a crisp with each ball of flame.
"Much better," Walter beamed, giving the princess a pat on her shoulder when the last bat fell to the ground and he continued down the trail.
"Yes," Jasper agreed, clearing his throat. "Good work, your Highness." Caitrin had to hide her smile behind her hand as the butler stood to his full height and straightened his clothes still looking apprehensive but trying to act as if nothing was out of the ordinary in his girly shrieking with the princess because of the bats. They made quick time through the massive cavern, and only ran into two more swarms of bats. The princess got better with each group and missed with her fireballs less and less. Finally they came to a large arch and Caitrin could tell by the shift in smell in the air they had come to an entrance to the city's sewers. The brunette did her best to not step into the sewage but was soon forced to wade through the water with the knight and butler trailing behind her. Caitrin's lip turned in disgust and she felt herself gag at the overwhelming odor but trudged on, hoping to find an exit soon.
Her wish was soon granted when she noticed a broken wall. When she peaked through the opening she found a platform lined with lit candles. Thankful to be out of the dirty water, she hurried towards the end of the platform her heeled boots squelching with each step. Finally the princess saw a familiar sigil and as the group stepped onto the seal, she activated her will and teleported them all away.
Having teleported once before, Caitrin was prepared for the dizzy feeling that assaulted her at their destination however, Walter and Jasper were not. The knight looked a bit woozy and swayed on his feet before he shook his head to clear the dizzy sensation. While the unfortunate butler fell backwards, landing with a heavy thump as the unsteadiness took hold. The princess took in the round room with it's faded blue walls and round map table that dominated the room and found herself curious at their final destination.
"What is this place?" she finally voice, helping Jasper to his feet.
"I'm not..." Walter began as he trailed off taking in their surroundings. "Actually I think it's your mother's sanctuary. I heard her speak of it but I never thought it was a really place."
Caitrin stepped towards the map table, caressing the edge as she looked down at a replica of Albion. There was a similar table in the war room at the castle, but as she touched this table, she felt a subtle connection to the destinations marked on the map.
"Bloody hell," Walter swore again, noticing a book resting on the map. "Jasper, this book has a note with your name on it."
"That's not possible," the butler mumbled, coming to stand by the map.
"It's mum's handwriting,' Caitrin pointed out, feeling a bit saddened her mother wrote the butler and not her daughter.
"Well, I suppose it is possible," Jasper opened the tome and began scanning through the contents before him.
"What's it say?" Walter asked, his hands on his hips as he and the princess tried to read the book over his shoulders.
"It's a book about Heroes," the butler informed them absentmindedly as he continued to scan through the words. "This should help you as well, Your Highness. It offers some training advice."
"Really?" Caitrin hummed, a smile breaking out across her face.
"Extraordinary," Jasper breathed, finally turning from the book to face Caitrin. "This serves as a travel mechanism and you simply choose your destination."
"Marvelous," Walter praised. "We can use that. You can explore this place later, right now you have work to do."
"It's the middle of the night Walter," Caitrin complained, before a yawn forced her to stop. "I'm quite tired."
"We'll travel to our destination and then you can rest," the knight grinned at her jaw-cracking yawn.
"I wouldn't even know where to start," she stated turning her attention from the knight to the map dotted with possible destinations.
"We'll start in the Mistpeak mountains," Walter informed her. "More specifically, the Dweller camp. Your brother's rule has been particularly hard on the Dwellers, and if anyone can get Sabine and his people's support it'll be a Hero."
"I'll stay here and research the sanctuary," Jasper apprised them, removing the book from the map and stepping away.
"Let's go," Walter said as he came to stand next to Caitrin.
The princess took the knight's hand, located the Dweller camp on the large map, activated her will and took one step closer to the destiny before her.
A/N: So yeah, I made her afraid of bats, and also bad at magic (right now anyway, she'll get better). Because does anyone else find it odd that you're just given this gauntlet and suddenly *bam!* you can make it work? So I wanted to show a training curve, just like with anything else she would have been learning up to this point. Plus it's funny to see flabbergasted Walter swearing at her, reminding her of her training.
As always: read and review to let me know what you think, because it doesn't even matter if you just tell me it's okay all reviews make me go squee.