Morning:
Cal defiantly looked rumbled. Not that anyone was going to say that to him. Well not until the wedding was over then and only then would he be fair game… of course Mare could trump anyone on that thought. if she would was anybody's guess.
The wedding wasn't one that she had thought she would ever have. Her father had escorted her down the aisle. Well rolled a new wheelchair beside her but still he was there. She was marrying a prince… well rightful king of Norta. And she was a red? A silver with red blood? Did it really matter?
Perhaps one day it would. But right now she was to overcome with joy to worry about anything except the very rumbled, tired looking groom that was standing in front of her. "You look horrible."
"You brothers are exhausting to be around for very long."
King Gergor Preceded over the small ceremony but it was the welcome addition of the king of Ciron that had taken everyone by surprise. A welcome surprise but still a surprise.
After the few words Mare let go of the breath that she had been holding. Then smiled as Cal escorted her to the room where they would have a small feast before each of them got some rest before the morning.
"Do you like the dress?"
"Frankly I'm surprised that a dress of that quality could be found on such short notice."
"I was told it was alright if I wore one of your mother's dressing, just for today."
Cal stumbled just a step then look more closely at the dress. "I hadn't noticed my mother had been that close to your height."
Cal pulled Mare close to him. The day had not gone as he expected. Oh they had gotten married but a ceremony that under normal circumstances should have taken an hour took less than ten minutes. The reception that should have gone on for hours lasted barely one since everyone needed rest before the morning.
"Are you disappointed?"
Propping up up his elbow he peered down at his bride. "No. There is no law saying we can't have a proper wedding or at least a proper feast after we settle things."
Mare brought her hand up to touch his face, "I was talking about tonight?"
"Mare really as much as I would love to… there are more than a few good reason why we shouldn't. One being your bother is across the hall. Your parents are next door. And these room are not exactly sound proof."
"Cal!"
"You asked and we agreed to be honest."
"I could do with a little less honest."
He settled back in the bed, "I know what you mean. I'm fine. Worrying about the morning won't do anyone a bit of good tonight. Besides I have other things to worry about."
"Oh and what might that be?"
Propping back up on his elbow he looked at her crown that was sitting in the night stand, "Figuring out how to keep that on your head where it belongs."
"You mean while I sleep." When he just grinned she added, "If I wore it to sleep in one of us, you mainly would end up sleeping on it sometime during the night. Unless we lost it completely."
"Yes well I did say I had other things to worry about for the moment."
Pulling him down for a kiss she asked the one thing that none of them had discussed about their mission, "How bad do you think it will be tomorrow?"
"Depends. But I'm hoping blood won't be shed or at least not from those who don't deserve it."
Morning Both Cal and Mare had their fireproof suits on under their garb. Cal was dressed as a red merchant where Mare was dresses as finely as any silver could ever hope for. There was nothing about her that said she was a red. Nothing in her looks. Even her time playing a silver hadn't made her look this exotic. Clare had given her something to change the color of her eyes. makeup lotions and some careful attention to some minor details along with enough perfume to mask her scent and she was ready.
Shade knocked on the door, "Are you ready?" He was dressed as a silver general from Montfort.
"As we'll ever be. Shade are you sure you can do this?" Arianna
"Yes. Don't worry I know where I'm taking you. The alcove is clear of anyone who is not an ally. Your general is there waiting for your arrival. Mare is going to need a hooded cape to hide the crown. Since it's cold there no one will think twice about a silver wearing a hooded cape over her fine tailored dress."
"Mare?"
She looked at her brother and her husband then nodded, "I'm ready."
Cesar square was already getting crowned with people. The bridge was gone but that didn't matter. No. everyone was going to witness this historic day. Too bad they didn't understand what was going to take place.
"General."
He turned just enough to see who was behind him, " Your majesty. I wasn't aware you could pass through stone."
"We didn't but that can be discussed later. What do you know?"
The entrance to the balcony is heavily guarded. three of your men to one of the other. None of the men know anything useful just to watch and react correctly."
"Meaning…"
"Meaning, if I don't give the order do nothing."
Mare asked "Won't the trader queen know?"
"To many people. she can't detect everyone nor can she try with this many minds all in one place."
Just as Elara stepped on the balcony Mare placed her hand on Cal's arm. "It's time."
Cal patted her hand. "General?"
The General gave a slight nod, "Everyone is in position."
"Mare, promise me if this goes wrong you will get back to Mountfort."
"You have my word."
Ladies and gentlemen of Norta, Thank you for joining us for this historic day. I would have hoped the traitor who…" The crowed stared to boo to the delight of the Queen. "… killed our dear king. would have been brought to justice before now. But I'm sure they will be dealt with fairly soon." Cheers erupted from the front of the crowd. "Without further ado let the coronation begin."
As Maven stepped foot on the balcony the large screen that was showing him to the crowd and those at home began to flicker then King Gergor was shown sitting on his polished thrown. "IS the Damn thing working. Oh Good. Queen Elara I promised you my decision for your troops desecrating my farm land and displacing several scores of my citizens."
"King Gergor… you must be mistaken…"
Gergor snapper, "Don't play games girl. You damn well know to which I speak. However it has been decided that Mountfort would not declare war…"
"Oh war between allies would…."
"…Solely on the act of one garrison of soldiers. However…." The screen changed to the moments before the King was Killed. And the entire Video was played. When King Gergor was shown again he stood up, "…For killing the king and using your ability to so you and your boy are enemies of my country."
"Gergor my dear perhaps I have another way." Arianna stepped out from behind the camera. "People of Norta you have been deceived by this false queen for far too long."
Elara tried to disappear into the castle only to have the door wall up with stone trapping her and Maven on the balcony.
"Your King signed a treaty with Mountfort that is common knowledge. That treaty only transfers to his son Prince Tiberius the six. Not to the youngest. Not to a snake who would watch his father be murdered by his own mother. The moment he is crown Mountfort will collect the debt it is owed."
"Come now your grace you forget something." The King of Ciron came into view, "It's not just a debt owed to you but to my county as well. but let's get back to something else. Lady Elara didn't just kill a king but she killed a queen… killed a member of my family. As of this moment any county harboring this murderer will be considered an enemy and will be destroyed."
"Murderer." "She killed the royal family." "Where's the crown Prince?" Voices rose from the crowd. Anger rose. Yelling shouting.
Shade popped in just after the stone wall was erected. "Are you two ready?"
"Cal?"
"Lead the way. General keep the citizens safe."
They teleported a hall away from where the balcony was. "The stone bender will lower the wall when you're ready. I have to get back to Mountfort. I'll be back in a moment."
"Shade?"
"Mare. Do what you must but I have orders." Then he was gone.
"Do I want to know?"
"Cal, I can think of one person who could give my brother an order and he would listen to." And that was the father of the bride he was hoping to marry.
Changing into an uniform that had been placed for him Cal nodded to the stone bender. He could hear shouting from outside. Hear Maven and his mother in a heated augment both discovering that their abilities weren't working. "Open the door just above the waist."
The Man nodded, "As you wish your grace."
A hush fell over the crowd as the door began to open And Cal stood proudly in its center. "Having trouble with your abilities? Pity. "
Mare came up to his side and lowered her hood reviling her crown of silver.
Elara made a move as to jump for the crown as she hissed,"My Crown!"
"No, my crown." Mare smiled as Elara stood still twitching from a jolt of electric current. "My dear I believe you have an announcement."
Cal stood watching Elara for a moment and making a silent promise to himself to never truly piss his wife off, "Guards, apprehend these two traitors. " Cal nodded again to lower the rest of the door. As he stepped back onto the balcony the screen changed to him, "People of Norta." Cal froze. "Giving orders was one thing … this… "You now know the truth. I did not kill my father. Nor did I wish to become King in this manner. However the choices of others leave me no choice. As such as of this moment Norta will know peace."
Maven tried to pull away from the guards as he screamed "Are you mad brother. We are at war!"
"My queen?"
Mare smiled as she gave Maven enough of a jolt for him to wet himself, "Before coming here a treaty was reached with all those involved in the war. As of the moment of Tiberius's crowning the War will cease. No more will children be sent off to die in a war that should never have begun."
Taking his father's crown from the ground where maven had fell and placed it on his own head. "General Marcus please take lady Elara and her supporters to the dungeons."
"What about…" Mare glared down at her feet, "… him?"
"His room should be cleared of all material that can catch fire. For the moment he can stay there. A stone door will replace the current one and only windows that he cannot climb out of should remain."
General Marcus smiled, "It will be done."