CHAPTER NINE- ELEVATOR

The Stair forcibly ejected them, and they fell, tumbling, onto a plush rug. Sir Thursday stood first, and Arthur scrambled to his feet after him. The room had a window that admitted low, green moonlight, so it must have been in the Maze somewhere.

"Not where I wanted to be, but close enough," Thursday muttered. "The Council Room is only several hallways down, though this is a most embarrassing landing."

"Where are we, sir?" Arthur asked. The room looked only a little different from his own, save a green Borderer's uniform laid across the bed, and a photo of the smiling Marshalls.

"Marshall Dawn's bedroom," Sir Thursday answered, and the slightest tinge of a pink blush crept across his cheeks.

"Have you been here before?"

"Once. I was checking up on her- she was injured, you see. She didn't even know I was there. It is not worth discussing."

"If this is Marshall Dawn's bedroom, where's Marshall Dawn?" Arthur said.

Sir Thursday frowned, and in this silence Arthur became aware of all the noise- guns going off, cannon booms, a rat-a-tat-tat of bullets and shrapnel. The battle had begun.

"I must see to the battle at once," Thursday said. "We are short on Nothing-powder and ammunition; it may take great and risky tactics to save our sorry hides." The Key in his hand somehow gained a sheath, which he buckled to his belt. "Come on, Lieutenant."

They exited the room, Thursday sighing as Marshall Noon was right outside. He raised an eyebrow, amused.

"What are you doing here?" Thursday asked.

"I was on my way to the Council Room," Noon answered. "I assume that's what you were doing, sir?"

"Do not speak of this to anyone," Thursday hissed, "especially Dawn."

"What she doesn't know won't hurt her," Noon said.

"Precisely, my good man. Where is she?"

"On the southwest bastion, which has one of the few remaining working cannons."

"Bring her back!" Thursday snapped. "She can't be out there in her state!"

Noon's eyelid twitched. "That's what I said. She doesn't listen."

"Tell her it's an order!"

"I will," Noon said, "but she might ignore it. She tends to do that."

Thursday gritted his teeth. "Don't remind me."

Then he began walking again, and Arthur followed. A scant moment later, they burst into the Council Room, where Marshall Dusk was speaking with some scarlet-clad Denizens of the Regiment. When Thursday entered, everyone stood and saluted.

"As you were," he said. "I have destroyed the Spike."

The Denizens cheered, pumping their fists into the air. Arthur could understand their relief- if the tiles stopped moving, they were all pretty much screwed.

"But," Thursday continued once the cheering had died down, "the Piper is leading the New Nithlings."

This was met with stunned silence.

"Where are the Piper's Children from earlier?" Thursday demanded. "Have they left?"

"Half are with Marshall Dawn on the southwest bastion," a colonel replied, "and the rest are at the northeast bastion."

"Fetch them now, and keep them under lock and key!" Thursday snapped. "I cannot have the Piper destroy my troops from within."

"Yes, sir!"

"You don't want to execute them?" Arthur asked. He didn't approve of them being locked up either, but it was better than the Day outright killing them, and he was hesitant to breach the subject again.

Thursday glared at him. "Now that I am no longer so… irrationally wrathful… I see that is not a wise path. You would not let it be, anyway, and I don't need you on my list of concerns as well."

Why would I be a concern? Arthur wondered. Unless he is worried that I could somehow free the Will. He must know that if he's too angry, the Will can escape. So should I make him angry?

His thoughts were interrupted by some voices coming from beyond the wall.

"-put me down, you're being ridiculous!"

"Stop making a scene."

"I am not making a scene! Put me down now and let me go, you ba-"

"Don't call me that, I'm your brother."

"PUT ME DOWN!"

The door opened, and Marshall Noon dumped Marshall Dawn onto the floor. "I put you down," he said.

She stood and gave him a look with as much venom as possible for a Denizen. She had a bandage on her left cheek and a black eye, but other than that, there was no sign of the beating Sir Thursday had given her- until Arthur noticed she was slightly unsteady on her feet, and a lot paler than usual.

"Ah, there you are, Dawn," said Thursday with a cheery tone. "I was worried."

Dawn didn't say anything, and Arthur noticed Thursday's gaze soften.

"Are you all right?" he added.

Dawn nodded, not looking at him and staring at the floor as if it was immensely interesting.

"Ah, anyway!" Thursday addressed everyone assembled. "Tell me the situation!"

Immediately, at least fifteen Denizens began to spout off facts and grievances at once.

"We have little to no powder-"

"We're outnumbered-"

"We'll have to last until sunset tomorrow, which is forever-"

A telephone rang.

Thursday scowled, hand closing on air, but by the time he brought it to his ear, he was holding an earpiece, his other hand bringing up a mouthpiece to his ear. "Yes?" His scowl deepened at the booming voice that replied.

"SIR THURSDAY! IS LORD ARTHUR THERE?"

Arthur frowned as well. It was Dame Primus.

"He can hear you," Thursday growled.

"I HAVE SENT AMMUNITION AND POWDER, AS WELL AS SOME VOLUNTEERS. I DO NOT APPROVE, BUT AS A STEWARD I MUST-"

Thursday interrupted, "Thank you, Dame Primus."

"We really are grateful," added Marshall Dawn.

"Thanks!" Arthur said. He had been quite sure that she would've refused.

"Hmph," said Dame Primus. "WE WILL SEE. I WILL BE ON THE NEXT ELEVATOR."

The phone disappeared.

"Now," Thursday said, "someone call the Upper House and request that we be able to call up reservists. We have need of it- this is just one battle in a long war, and we will need all the hands possible."

"I doubt the Upper House will listen," Dusk said.

"Probably," Thursday agreed, "but it can't hurt to try."

Dusk nodded.

"And you," Thursday said, turning to Arthur. "We need to keep you someplace safe and out of the way."

Arthur also nodded. He wasn't eager to fight, though he did feel a little bad about hiding while everyone else was out risking their lives.

"Where is 'safe and out of the way'?" Dawn asked.

"That's what I called you here for." Thursday turned to her. "Marshall Dawn, take Lieutenant Penhaligon and retreat via any elevator in the Citadel. I suggest you go quickly- the Upper House being the largest nitwits in the Universe, they may soon cut off elevators to quarantine us. I suppose they would, if we lose the battle. That is the course of action I would take, if I were them, after all."

"Sir, I must protest," she said. "Other than you, I am one of the highest-ranking Denizens in the Maze, not even counting House precedence. I can't just leave everyone and run with my tail between my legs like some sort of coward!"

"I am ordering you."

"And I'm begging you," she replied. "Surely there is some alternative!"

Low, so that Arthur could barely hear, Thursday said, "Please." Then he added another word that was musical and soft and made Arthur's skin tingle with warmth.

Dawn looked like she was about to cry. "But- Noon and Dusk- and you- and every-"

Sir Thursday repeated the phrase. "Please." And then that wonderful word.

Dawn took Arthur's hand and yanked him out of the Council Room, her face twisted in a strange emotion.

"What did he say?" Arthur asked.

"My name."

Silence fell. Then Arthur ventured, "What is your name?"

Dawn paused, and he could tell she was wondering whether or not she should tell him. Then she whispered it again, and though Arthur couldn't comprehend it, he understood what it did to him. Every single word of the Architect did something- usually painful and excruciating- but names were different.

Names were beautiful.

"What about Sir Thursday? Does he have a name?"

"That's for him to tell you," Dawn said. A beam of light shot in front of her, and an elevator door burst open. "In you go."

Lightly, she pushed Arthur towards the elevator.

Dawn gestured to the large panel of buttons. "I suggest only picking the ones lower than your waist," she said. "Any higher and you'll be entering… well, parts of the House that may not like you."

In other words, enemy territory.

Then she stepped out of the elevator just as the doors began to close.

"Wha- Dawn!" Arthur cried. "Come back! Sir Thursday said-"

"I know what he said," she replied, "I know what he believes is right, and I know why. He truly is a noble Denizen, Arthur."

Arthur understood. Sir Thursday thought he would lose- the Citadel would be destroyed or taken, and the Great Maze forever cut off, even if Dame Primus came. Sir Thursday was trying to get them to safety, because for some reason he valued both Arthur and Marshall Dawn's lives.

She smiled ruefully, and the doors slammed shut.

Arthur slumped against the door of the elevator. Dame Primus was coming to help. Dawn was going back. Sir Thursday was fighting against terrible odds.

And he was running away.

He hadn't pressed any buttons yet. It wasn't too late. All he had to do was press the one that would open the doors again, run through and tell Sir Thursday he would stand his ground, he wasn't afraid, and that he would fight. He would do the House proud. He'd earn himself glory like Dame Primus had told him to.

Except that he knew there was no way he could. He wasn't asthmatic anymore, but his asthma had caused him to not be as strong of an athlete as others. Arthur had only spent a couple days at his new school and could immediately come up with a list of boys who'd be far better suited to this situation than him. Not only that, he was afraid. He didn't know if he could fight, if he could stand his ground.

"I'm only twelve," he whispered to himself. "I'm only twelve. I'm just a normal boy. Why… why couldn't the Will pick an adult Rightful Heir? Or someone else. I wish someone else was the Rightful Heir!"

He bit his lip. No, he didn't. If someone else was the Rightful Heir, he'd be dead.

Arthur wanted to cry, but he restrained himself. He was running away…

No, no, he wasn't.

Arthur stood and pressed the button that would open the doors, surprisingly having the same image as on elevators back home. The elevator dinged and the doors opened.

Arthur jumped out and tore down the hallways, outside and along one of the paths that connected the bastions.

"What are you doing here?!" exclaimed Dusk.

"Where's Thursday?" Arthur demanded.

"Uh, on the ramparts. Why?"

"I'm fighting."

Dusk frowned. "Wait- no! Thursday told you to get out of here! You and Dawn? Sheesh!"

"You Denizens rub off on me," Arthur shrugged.

Dusk smirked. "Hopefully not just our stubbornness, but our prowess too."

Arthur grinned back. "Hopefully."

"You know what might happen to you?"

"I'm on bonus time anyway," Arthur said. "If I die here now, then I've lived longer than I was supposed to."

Dusk didn't comment, but he had a puzzled look on his face. Together, they turned to face the enemy, who were now nearly upon them.

"Are you ready?" Dusk asked.

"No," Arthur answered truthfully.

"Even after millions of years, neither am I," Dusk admitted. "Only a monster would be ready."


A/N: Another short chapter! That means the next one... is long! Hope you liked it.