My Finals are over ~(w)~
Do you know what it means? Yup, updates on every Monday hehehe
I have to warn that this chapter gets really graphic at the end. In that same part (begins with : "For endless hours "), listen to Game of Throne season five track 12 "before the old gods." I've listened to it when I wrote the end and I think it fits in pretty well.
Enjoy!
"No...not my little baby..."
Linda Tweak fell back on the sofa, devastated by the news Alex and Kenny were bringing to her. Next to her was a livid Richard.
"He must be so scared!" Tweek's mother sobbed.
"We did manage to capture two of them." Kenny reminded. "They're in the dungeon right now and await their judgement."
"When will the trial begin?" Alex asked him.
"Tomorrow morning and the whole court is expected to attend it."
"Do you have any idea where Tweek could be?" Richard said in a trembling voice.
"Sadly no..." Kenny answered bitterly. "However, I'm going to question them and I'm going to find out. You can trust me." Alex gave him a surprised look.
"YOU? We are going to question them!" the brunet frowned.
"Darling, I want the prisoners to live until the end of the questioning, no offense." the blond explained him with a sweet voice.
It was not very effective considering the offended expression on the bastard's face. The temperature of the room began to sink. Kenny thought it was due to the pressure and tension invading the room but it couldn't possibly go that low. He suddenly felt at home, back in the North.
"Are you implying that I can't control myself?!" Alex shrieked, poking his lover's chest with his finger.
"Hm...maybe? Care to explain why it's so cold all of a sudden?" the taller boy smirked.
"Stop it you two!" Richard suddenly burst out.
The awful draught went away as the two lovers stopped arguing. Richard stood up and went to his second son. He put his hand on the brunet's shoulder and watched within his blue and black pupils.
"Alex, Kenneth is right. You must stay away from them for now and let him handle this. He won't fail us. You know it, don't you?"
"...Yes, I know." Alex answered, his voice barely audible. "I...I don't want him to suffer..."
He closed his eyes, only to let tears roll down his cheeks. He felt his parents' embrace and sighed in relief. His father and adoptive mother were the best parents he could have dreamt of, they were proving it once again. He wished that Tweek would be there with them.
"If you allow me, I will go to the dungeon pay a visit to our prisoners." Kenny finally broke the silence.
"Thank you Kenneth, you truly are a good young man." Richard said, breaking away from the family hug.
"I have some virtues at least!" the northern boy chuckled.
O.O.O.O.O.O.O
Down in the crypt of Goldencrest, King Stephen's body had been washed and placed on a stone table covered with the banner of his house. Marjorine and Craig stood silent for what seemed like hours, the new Queen's gaze stuck on her father's pale face.
"It was not supposed to happen." she finally said.
Her voice was barely audible, only the echo of the cave-like walls allowed Craig to properly hear his wife's words.
"No." Craig replied.
He didn't know what to say. Was there only anything to say? His wife had lost her brother and her father in the span of a few months. He couldn't understand what she was going through, even though the raven had lost his father recently too. But compared to her he still had his little sister and his mother. Marjorine had nobody left.
"I'm sorry." he finally added.
"You didn't poisoned my father, did you?" she looked at him with tired eyes. "Then why do you apologize?"
Craig swallowed, surprised by her flat tone.
"To be honest I.. .I didn't expect you to think I was innocent."
"Me neither." She gave a quiet, bitter laugh. "Your right to the throne has been secured as soon as we exchanged our vows. Why would you kill my Father at your own wedding, among so many witnesses?"
Her logic was quite clear. Craig was relieved to see his enemies' tricks were not fooling her.
"I need a little moment with my father...Could you please wait for me outside?"
"Of course."
The raven turned back and climbed the stairs, back to the lower corridors of Goldencrest.
There, he found Clyde who was sitting on a window's edge, the cold wind ruffling his brown hair. His hazel eyes were lost in the infinite darkness of the sky outside.
"How's the Queen?" the brunet questioned.
"She preferred to be left alone."
"What about you?"
"I'm glad she trusts me even if I feel miserable. She does not deserve all of this. She's just a little girl..."
"This world is cruel, Craig, especially for little girls."
"Then I'll change it."
"How? War? That's pretty ironic, if you ask me." The brunet sounded harsh and bitter.
"What's wrong?" Craig asked.
"It's...it's hard to explain, man..." the other deadpanned.
"I can understand." the raven cut him off.
Clyde took a deep breath and stood up in order to talk face-to-face with his friend.
"You suspect the Testaburgers and the Marshs, don't you?"
"They're openly hostile to me and my family. They are thus my main suspects." The brunet nodded.
"Let's admit they're guilty. What are you going to do?"
"Their leader will be asked to surrender and accept the King's justice. If they refuse, which unfortunately will certainly be the case, war will break out."
The brunet nodded once again, this time more slowly. His gaze was growing darker.
"That's the problem...If your army enters the Cliff, you are going to plunder it. What's the first city you come across when you enter the Cliff from the north?"
"I think it's Redfield, why?" Craig answered, not getting his friend's point. "Redfield is hold by Lady Stevens and I do not want her to suffer because I love her!" Clyde finally admitted.
Craig was left speechless. He wasn't aware of this idyll. How was it even possible in the first place? How could someone as wealthy and superficial as Bebe Stevens have noticed Clyde, a simple lowborn? Was it love or just a one-sided crush?
"You...and Bebe Stevens?" Craig blinked.
"Yes...we met a few days before the wedding, she was one of the first guests to arrive. She was so beautiful...her flowing golden hair and her red dress...How lucky I am to know such a woman...we kept whispering ourselves sweet nothings during the wedding, she event let me eat at her table...me, the squire!"
He was telling his story with bright eyes. The boy was in love for sure. As for Bebe being genuine, Craig didn't want to pronounce himself yet. Only time would tell.
"I'll tell the army to behave." Craig decided. "And if Lady Stevens wishes to lay down weapons, Redfield will have nothing to fear from me."
"What if she doesn't?"
"I'll make sure she won't be mistreated by the troops. I can't say the same thing about her army or castle though."
They heard footsteps coming up the stairs and stopped talking. Clyde just had the time to whisper a quick "thank you" to his friend before Marjorine's arrival.
O.O.O.O.O.O.O
The vivid light coming from the guard's torch almost burned Red's eyes. They had been plunged into darkness for hours and she had to put her arm in front of her to prevent herself from turning blind.
"On your feet, cunt." the man spat at her, catching her arm. "Someone wants to speak to you."
They got out, went down the corridor and entered a small room lit by torches. A wooden table and two chairs were the only furniture.
Red soon noticed the presence of four other men in the room. One of them was Garrison, sitting on one of the chairs. In front of him were two northern soldiers, judging by the blue star on their cuirass. Finally, Kenny was standing between his two bodyguards.
The blond boy turned around when he heard the door crack open. He greeted Red with a false smile.
"We were expecting you. Please take a seat."
She obeyed immediately and sat next to Garrison who had been starring at his feet the whole time.
"The Masters of Whisperers was actually the traitor, how ironic!" Kenny looked down at the old man with disdain. "What did they promise you? Lands? Gold?"
"They forced me to do it my Lord!" Garrison whined. "The Cartmans threatened to kill me if I didn't obey them!"
"The Cartmans?" the blond raised one eyebrow. "Do you have any proof?"
"In my quarters! I kept Lord Cartman's letters into a chest under my desk! The guards took the key from me before throwing me down here!"
Kenny turned towards one of his soldiers and by a simple nod ordered the man to go out verify Garrison's rambling. The Masters of Whisperers was so scared of his fate that he had revealed everything. Or maybe was he expecting that admitting his crimes would reduce his sentence.
"What about you?" Kenny turned towards Red with a blank stare. "You were aware that your Prince's wine was poisoned.
The girl remained silent.
"Yet the King drank it instead..."
"It was an accident!" she protested. "I wasn't even supposed to be there!" She turned towards Garrison with an angry look.
"HE forced me to carry the plate because "nobody would suspect the Queen's handmaiden!"" she pointed at him. "He poured his phial of poison into the wine and he pushed me out!"
"You little bitch!" Garrison hissed at her. "I didn't force you to do anything! The letters in my desk clearly show how willing you are to help your stupid half-brother!" Kenny, Red and even the second bodyguard's eyes went wide at those words.
"Half-brother? You...are one of Liane Cartman's bastards?! Kenny questioned, shocked.
"Yes. I am a Douchebag, too." the girl admitted, bitter. "So I was the one Cartman needed. I didn't want to do it...please Kenny, you know how it feels to be a Douchebag, your "friend" is one!"
Kenny just starred at her blankly as she fell on her knees before holding onto his shirt like the floor was going to swallow her.
"I beg you Kenny...remember how close we were during the tournament!"
"It was a mistake. And it will be Ser Kenneth for you." He stepped backwards, releasing himself from her grip.
"You're pathetic." Garrison mocked her.
"Shut up you old creep!" she barked.
The door opened and the first soldier came back in with a rusty chest under his arms.
"He was right, my Lord. Shall we open it?"
"No, it isn't our problem. We'll give it to the Queen." He turned back to his two prisoners.
"I'm glad that you've been cooperative. See you tomorrow, I'm looking forward to your trial!"
Two guardians entered the room and escorted the prisoners back to their cells while the northerners were leaving the dungeons.
O.O.O.O.O.O.O
"So that was Cartman all along."
Craig was sitting at his desk in the study next to the royal bedroom which he was sharing with Marjorine since...well, since that same evening. Kenny and Alex, who couldn't sleep had brought him Garrison's old chest. For nearly half an hour, they silently read all the letters inside.
"Garrison was about to shit himself. I wonder how he was able to keep the secret that long." Kenny snickered.
"What's that?" Alex stepped in.
He took a little phial from the chest, filled with a pale pink liquid.
"Isn't this a poison phial?" Kenny recognized.
"I don't know..."
"It is." Craig frowned. "Judging by the color, it's the Purple Thorne. It's one of the deadliest poisons...
"But?"
"...But it decays very quickly. Right after you extract it from the flower, you have five days before it becomes harmless."
"What's your point?" Alex lost his patience.
"Cartman's last letter to Garrison mentioned a "gift" for my wedding that a "good friend" would sent him by raven."
"So?"
"The Purple Thorne comes from a flower that only grows in a single part of Telos. The Cliff. And by raven, Radiant Garden is just a day away from Kingsrock..." "Wendy!" Kenny and Alex both understood. "They say poison is a woman's weapon, after all..." Craig sighed and pushed the chest aside.
"Kenny, go and get me ser Leigh, please."
The blond obeyed and went out, leaving Alex alone with the raven. "Craig...I think that means that Tweek has been abducted by Cartman." Craig's face became livid.
"What?"
"Garrison and Red wanted to escape with mercenaries who must have been sent by Cartman. We were unable to stop them..."
"Do you mean that Tweek is alone, surrounded by people who bloody hate us?!" Craig's anger was rising up, blood rushing to his face. Alex wasn't impressed, he was just sad and worried about his brother.
"This...This isn't his fault!" he continued, standing up quickly. "That fucking piece of lard and his cursed country...I WILL BURN EASTEDGE TO THE GROUND IF THEY TOUCH HIM!"
"Calm the fuck down!"
"Calm down? CALM DOWN?! My father-in-law was murdered at my own wedding, my lover has been abducted...and my sister set to marry you, you idiot!" Alex slapped him with all his might. Craig raised his hand to his burning cheek.
"My OWN brother is away from me...and it's because YOU made a scene! Don't you dare take your anger on me when I am the one who should do so!"
The raven wanted to talk back but he was at loss for words. He was suddenly eaten away by guilt. Douchebag was right.
It was because of him that everything happened. It was only his fault.
He felt his legs becoming numb and he fell back on his chair, exhausted. Alex remained silent despite his boiling anger.
"Get out. I need to be alone."
Alex was happy to oblige and left immediately. He slammed the door so strongly that it nearly blew off the candles in the room.
Alone in that big, messy study, Craig cried for the first time since forever.
O.O.O.O.O.O.O
In the early hours of the morning, the throne room found itself crowded. There would be a trial, how exciting! Furthermore, a trial presided over by the new King and the Queen themselves! The nobles and knights were filling every gap between the six gigantic columns which were along the way to the throne. Since the sky was grey outside, every chandelier and torch in the room had been lit.
Craig and Marjorine, though not officially crowned yet, were already clothed like true sovereigns: the Queen was wearing a long, ink blue dress with golden floral patterns. Her hair was flowing over her shoulders. As for Craig, he was wearing his black boots and grey pants along with a light blue shirt. A viridian sash was draping from his right shoulder to his opposing hip.
The two thrones were on top of a stairway so the monarchs could watch at the whole audience from their seats. The thrones themselves were big, shiny metal chairs with golden ornaments. The audience was rather impressed by the huge windows behind them.
The massive wooden doors of the throne room opened, letting ser Leigh and the King's guard enter with Red and Garrison. As they were going down the hall, the crowd remained silent and starred at the two prisoners. Some whispers were heard. Hands tied, they were brought to their knees by a swift kick in the back from the guards.
"Since the previous Master of Laws has deserted with his conspiring people, the new Master of Laws will be Richard Tweak, Lord of the Iron Isles." Craig spoke up. Richard stepped forward, holding a handful of scrolls. He watched at the prisonners with disgust.
"You are accused of perjury, murder of both Prince Leopold and King Stephen, treason, attempted murder of His Majesty and the abduction of Tweek, rightful heir of the Iron Isles. Do you have anything to say for your defense?"
"It was Cartman's fault! We were forced to do all these vile things!" Garrison whimpered once more.
"Really?" Craig retorted. "Did he threaten you?"
"Yes! Yes Your Majesty!" the old man and the girl both whined.
"There is no threats in Lord Cartman's letters to you, Master of Whisperers." the King smirked. "Quite the contrary, he praised your enthusiasm..." A wave of indignation spread over the audience.
"There is still one thing you can do to redeem yourself." Marjorine announced. "Tell us where you hold Lord Tweak's son."
"They're on their way to Eastedge! Lord Cartman's castle!"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, absolutely sure!"
"There is still something we need to clear, ser Garrison..." Richard cleared his throat.
"What is the poison you used?"
"The Purple Thorne, my Lord!"
"You know that this most delicate poison decays within five days. How did you manage to get your hands on it?"
"Lady Testaburger send it to me by raven, three days before the wedding!" The crowd gasped.
"Is that all?" Craig demanded.
"Yes Your Majesty, that is all I know!" he bowed down, shaking. "I beg your mercy!" The room was filled with whispers. All eyes were on Craig and Marjorine.
"Very well. We shall be merciful." Craig decided. "You won't be beheaded." "Oh! Thank you Your Majesty! Thank you! Four blessings on you!" Garrison nearly cried of relief.
"You will only be hanged."
Garrison's face went pale. His mouth was opened but nothing was coming out of it. Craig dismissed him from a hand wave.
"Escort ser Garrison back to his cell."
"NO! NO MY KING I BEG YOU!"
The raven didn't know what was louder, Garrison's desperate cries as he was made to leave or the audience's angry outcries around him.
"Silence! SILENCE!" ser Leigh shouted with his powerful voice.
The room went silent again. Everybody turned his eyes towards Red, still on her knees in front of the stairs.
"You, the handmaiden!" Craig pointed at her. "Your Queen trusted you like her best friend and what did you do in return? You betrayed her! You poisoned her father!" "I did not want to do it!" Red retorted. "I would never kill the King!"
"Yet, you did!"
"I wasn't aware that the cup was poisoned!"
"Really? Then I guess I'll have to call a witness."
Someone was heard going down the hall. Wearing a light beige dress, Nichole stopped next to Red.
"Lady Nichole, you were my wife's second bridesmaid. Did you see this girl after the wedding?"
"Yes Your Majesty. She was serving wine during the dessert." Nichole answered, trying her best to ignore Red's begging look.
"Did she acted strangely?"
"Well, when my husband took a silver cup from the plate, she immediately took it back. She said that it was your cup. We proposed that she stayed with us to enjoy the feast but she said that she was the cupbearer and turned down our offer."
"Yet the official cupbearer was my husband's friend, Clyde Donovan." Marjorine stepped in. "She lied to you."
"I believe so, Your Grace..."
"That will be all, Lady Nichole. Thank you."
The young woman bowed down and returned among the audience. As whispers were growing louder and louder, Red began to break down crying.
"So you knew." Craig stated.
"I did not kill the King! I...I wanted to save you, my Queen!" she yelled with a broken voice.
"Save me? From what?" Marjorine blinked.
"From him! Him there, the usurper who sits on the throne like it was his fucking birthright! This bastard will make you suffer!"
"Funny that you call me that way." Craig snickered. "Considering the fact that you're nothing more than one of Liane Cartman's offspring."
Marjorine looked at him with round eyes then looked down at her former handmaiden. Everyone was so shocked that nobody reacted when the girl stood up, her hands still bound in her back.
"My name is Red Douchebag and my mother is Liane Cartman. Eric Cartman is my half-brother and he promised me that I would be legitimized if I helped him."
Silence. Since nobody made a move to stop her, Red continued her mad rambling.
"I...I wanted you to marry a better man than...that." she spat with disgust. "The Tweak boy. He is his fuck toy. You'll never be more than a womb for him, because he is A BOY FUCKER!
The audience hurled insults at her and fortunately for her they had nothing to throw. A guard kicked her in the leg, making her fall on the ground.
"Watch your mouth, scum!"
Finally, the scolding ceased. Red looked up to Marjorine, who was staring blankly at her.
"Please...my Lady...You have to believe me..." she whined.
There was a moment of silence. Every pair of eyes was looking at the Queen. Finally, Marjorine slowly raised her hand, pointing at the door.
"Get her out of my sight." she ordered with watery eyes.
The guards escorted her back to her cell. As soon as they were outside the room, Marjorine stood up and went down the hall as well.
"I shall be in my quarters. Do not disturb me under any circumstances." A bunch of guards followed her and the doors went shut behind them.
Even though the trial was officially over, other matters had to be discussed that morning. Everyone understood it when the King stood up with a determined look.
"Now that these two have been judged, it is time to deal with the traitors outside. The
Cartmans, the Testaburgers and the Marshs are a threat to the stability of the
Kingdom and thus, I declare them enemies of the Crown. I call Lord Stuart, Lord Tweak, Lord Token and Lady Tucker."
Said Lords stepped forward and quickly bowed down.
"Send a raven to your Lord Commanders, telling them to raise their armies immediately and to wait for your arrival. We are in a state of war."
O.O.O.O.O.O.O
For endless hours and in utter darkness, Red laid down on the hard ground. She tried to rise above her condition and she literally hit rock bottom. What would Marjorine decide? Exile? Hanging? Let her rot and starve to death in this dungeon?
Footsteps were coming her way but she was so tired and in prey to inner torment that she didn't hear them. It was only when the key turned into the lock that she noticed that someone was coming for her. Was it the hangman already?
Despite the darkness of the room and the feeble light coming from the man's torch, the girl noticed that he was wearing a large black cloak...and finally she recognized it. The mask on his face. Eric had sent someone to help her out.
"Get out, it's late and there is no one around. I'll lead you to the stables." the masked man told her.
She nodded and stood up swiftly, following the mercenary all the way up.
"I'm so glad, I knew Eric wouldn't let me down! Wait till I get to Eastend, I'll kill this Tweak kid myself for what his boyfriend did to me!" She almost laughed hysterically.
The man didn't answer. He was walking like a ghost through the corridors, silent. They finally reached a dead-end and the masked man turned around to face the red haired girl.
"Is this a sort of secret passage?" she asked, skeptical.
The man slowly raised his hands towards his mask, removed it and let it fall on the ground. Red's eyes widened in pure horror.
"Y...you...No..."
A chuckle.
"Surprised, aren't we?"
Alex's wicked smile widened at the sight of the frightened girl in front of him. Red watched in utter shock as the brunet's blue eye slowly turned a crystal blue color as clear as ice.
The faint candles around them were melting. Soon enough, that threatening eye would be the only thing the bastard girl could distinguish in the empty dark hall she has been led to.
"How pathetic. You really believed that your dear half-brother would come to your rescue?" Alex spat, getting closer one step at a time.
Red barred her teeth but now was not the time for mind games. Despite her fear she managed to move. She ran as quickly as she could ignoring the sigh that escaped Tweek's brother's lips. Was he so full of himself that he didn't even need to run after her? That would be his mistake then. After all she only needed to reach the door! The castle was too big and the brunet couldn't possibly pinpoint which way she would choose.
Her hand reached for the door. Just a little closer and she'd be free!
"You really are an idiot."
Red's body suddenly went still.
Painful shattering noises were heard followed by the loud crash of Red falling on the ground. The red hair's head roughly hit the dirty floor. She hissed in pain but her survival instincts were quick to kick in. She had to run, right now, otherwise she would be dead.
Alex made his way to her, not bothering to hurry. It was obvious that he was not afraid she could go away. That simple fact only added to the girl's anger. Who did he think he was? She would shatter his pride. That bastard will regret humiliating her like that.
Red used her hands as support to get up but was surprised to find herself falling on the floor once again. The lingering cold creeping on her tights made her swallow loudly and she could practically hear Alex's grin widen. The shattering noises from before were undoubtedly ice hitting the floor, but why? When did Alex do anything to her?
The colors drained on her face as she slowly turned back to take a look at her lower body area.
The frozen ice fragments melted as Alex snapped his fingers, revealing shattered flesh pieces tainted in crimson red.
What was left of Red's legs were frozen as the rest has just burst and was now spread everywhere around the hall.
"Y-YOU MONSTER! Get - Get away from me!" she shrieked.
"Now that's not very nice of you." the brunet almost looked like an unhappy child. "And here I've kept your knees frozen so you wouldn't feel any pain…" his eyes flashed dangerously. "Maybe we should arrange that…"
The traitor's eyes widened in horror at the statement. She was quick to beg for forgiveness and was basically screaming for her life but the ice keeping any pain away was already melting. The girl could only watch the water droplets run down her bloodies tights.
Alex crouched down to her level.
"By the way you don't have to worry. Nobody will hear from here you so you can scream to your heart's content."
The empty walls were soon filled with the poor girl's high-pitched screams. It hurt. It burned. She felt like someone was pushing his hands inside her flesh and ripping the content away. It was killing her from inside and she couldn't do anything to stop that.
Anyone who would have walked on them couldn't possibly recognize the girl who has been reduced as a mess of tears, snot and blood. The red liquid of life was flowing from her shattered knees, hitting the dirty floor in her erratic attempts to ease the pain.
As much as Alex liked to hear her suffer, he really didn't.
The girl's lower body froze once again and the brunet actually waited for her to catch her breath. Her screams eased down but one could still see her blood coagulating inside the transparent ice. It was a nasty shade of red.
"Maybe Kenny was right when he said I shouldn't come for the questioning…"
Red wasn't even looking at him anymore. Tears were still falling from her lifeless eyes as she slowly regained a normal breathing pace. Snot was all over her face and the brunet almost pitied her. She didn't even react when he got up.
She then felt something cold and sharp hit her stomach. The brunet had thrown an ice spike at her. The icy needle turned red and soaked her clothes in the same color. Red coughed some blood while a sad smile stretched on her lips. It did hurt, but it was nothing compared to what she had just endured. That bastard was going to take his time.
She would have praised him if they were on the same side.
"This one was for Kenny."
Her body was helplessly lying against the door as another ice spike struck her. Her breath came in a ragged voice and saliva was drooling from her mouth. Her stare was fixed on the floor as she didn't even want to look at what her mutilated body has been reduced to. The only thing she could do now was to muffle her screams and close her eyes.
"This one was for Tweek."
Alex roughly pulled her hair and formed an ice knife in his free palm.
"And this is for what you just said."
He stabbed her in the chest and then let her fall on the ground.
The brunet seemed lost in thought for a moment.
"Should I send a warning to your dear brother?" he asked, pointing another icy knife under her throat.
It made the girl snap as a bitter laugh escaped her bloody lips. Her voice was barely audible whisper.
"Since when were you so kind as to reunite two siblings?"
Alex let her go and watched her die in a pool of her own blood.
"Don't worry, your dear brother will soon be with you."
He let the corpse behind him. The Cartmans wanted to play.
They would have a hell of a game.
Please don't hate me.
Anyway next chapter will be a cute flashback (dat moodswing) :3