So, this week is dead week. Who came up with that term? See, I've always thought people were referring to it as being "dead" because of all the social activity that is not being had, being replaced by homework and study. For the first time in my four years at college I finally understand that the "dead" does not refer to the week itself, but the people in it.

For we are all DEAD. Least, that's how I feel, anyway. I feel like I'm dying.

Which could be an overstatement, but my body seems to be overreacting to a lot of things lately. I personally am not a hypochondriac, buy my body seems to be.

Speaking of which, freaking allergies. If Texas could make up its GODDAMN MIND about what weather it wants to partake in, I would not be suffering so. I have been literally crying tears of fire. Fire tears. In my eyes.

Anywho, thanks for the wonderful reviews! It makes me happy during all this craziness that someone out there is enjoying my story! I have some more planned for this, and I've started working on something for Mirror's Edge. And OF COURSE I've been planning something for my beloved Jak and Daxter! But not until we finish our adventure in Albion!

ONWARD, WARRIORS!

(By the way, this chapter is short. Sorry, my lovelies.)

ONWARD SOME MORE!

Chapter 11

Eve of Battle

They stayed in Aurora for a few days while Walter recovered, and the Auroran docks were busy with activity as the navy prepared to leave for Albion as soon as the knight was well again. The temple priestess had spent countless hours hovering over Walter, working to restore his eyesight. Karin assured Mara that in a few days he would be back to normal, though she couldn't help but worry that he hadn't woken up yet.

Ben was very protective of Mara after her ordeal, and though he knew they were not in danger with the Aurorans, he refused to let her out of his sight. He slept in a bedroll beside hers, he walked closely next to her, and even when she bathed he sat outside the door, much resembling Aldous in his patrol. Mara laughed at him one night as he settled into his bedroll on the ground next to hers, and he looked up at her in confusion. "What?"

"Nothing," she chuckled, "I just thought you reminded me of Aldous just now."

Ben exchanged glances with the dog, who had his head resting on his lap. He then wondered when it was that the animal actually started to like him.

"How so? I don't look anything like him."

Mara laughed. "Not like that! I mean the way you lay down. You sort of went in circles for a moment. I almost expect you to growl every time someone knocks on the door."

Ben huffed and dropped his head on his pillow. "Well, excuse me for wanting to keep you safe."

"You don't have to worry so much, you know," Mara said after a moment, and Ben turned to look at her. "I'm fine now." He looked at her for a moment, and reached his hand out to stroke her cheek. "Can you blame me for worrying?" He asked.

Mara leaned into his hand, imagining what would have happened if he had died in the shipwreck. He would not have found her in the desert, and she would not have survived the Crawler's temple. She would not have gained Kalin's support, and the revolution would probably be over. He would not be laying next to her right now. That thought alone frightened her and sent a wave of panic through her blood, and the thought of losing him, she realized, was stronger than her guilt for Elliot. Mara began to believe that she was in love with this man.

That thought frightened her even more. If she was in love with Ben, would he be cursed to the same fate as Elliot? What dangers would be presented to him now that he was the object of the future queen's affections? The last thing she wanted was to put him in danger, but here, in this moment as he looked into her eyes, she couldn't fathom loving anyone else.

I'm sorry, Elliot, she prayed, I've fallen in love.

Mara scooted to be closer to him and rested her head on his chest, and he wrapped his arms around her. She slept soundly that night, with no nightmares daring to come near as her protector shielded her with his warmth.

The sun, though dampened by the Crawler's affect on Aurora, was still bright enough to send Walter's head spinning as Mara and Ben led him out of the temple.

"Hopping hobbes!" He growled, "that bloody hurts!"

Ben laughed and nudged Walter's arm. "You've been asleep for days, Walter, of course it hurts! Just wait till we're on our way, I think the sea air is just the thing for you."

Walter groaned at the thought, but followed them to the docks anyway, where Karin was waiting on a boat. "Are you ready to push off?" she asked happily, and smiled sympathetically as Walter squinted against the sun. "You can rest in the cabin if you'd like. We'll be leaving shortly."

Mara ordered Walter with her eyes to do as Karin suggested, and without a word, he reluctantly hobbled into the cabin to rest. She tried not to smile at his stubbornness, but felt it inch across her mouth anyway. She looked up at Ben, who was also smiling, and he winked at her as they turned to join Karin at the helm. She was showing a map to a group of sailors, pointing as she spoke quickly in her native tongue. When Mara and Ben stepped up to her, she happily waved them into the group.

"Ah, Princess, Captain Finn," she said, gesturing to a burly man next to her, "this is Shaheen, the captain of our navy flagship." The man bowed deeply, and Mara could see that there was hardly a spot on his body left untouched by tattoos. They were the same design as Karin's, though differing in some measures, and Mara noticed that every Auroran on board sported some variation of the same pattern on their skin.

The man spoke, his voice low and husky, and his accent very strong though he spoke her language almost flawlessly. "Greetings, Princess Mara of Aurora. Captain Finn. I am Shaheen, and I am honored to have you aboard my ship."

"I thank you for your help," Mara said, and the man smiled, showing a mouth with gaps where teeth used to be. "I presume Karin has informed you of our plans?"

"We were just going over them, Princess," Karin explained, and she went back to the map, this time continuing in Mara's language so that she could listen. "We will aim to the east of Driftwood, and wait there for Princess Mara to receive word from her allies in Albion. Once we have word that they are prepared, we will sail west to Bowerstone Old Quarter, where we will strike."

"By that time, Logan's elite will surely be waiting for us," Ben added, "it won't be an easy fight."

"No," Shaheen said, "but it will be a fight we win."

The sailors scurried across the docks, making final preparations for the fleet to depart. Mara's heart leaped when she felt the ship begin to move, and she leaned on the side of the deck, watching as the shore drifted further and further away. She studied the land for a bit, and she shivered when she remembered the events of Shadelight. But that was behind her now, and she took a deep breath as she felt Ben's arms wrap around her waist. She had no more reason to fear the Crawler, and with Ben by her side, she knew she would have no reason to fear anything that lay before her.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"

Logan looked up from his papers to see one of his guards rushing through the doors of his war room, and he leaned his head on his hand as the man huffed for breath. "What is it, soldier? Spit it out or leave my presence."

"Your Majesty, a whole fleet of warships have been spotted in the South Sea just off the Albion coast! They look to be Auroran ships."

Logan's head shot up at the word. "Auroran?" He felt his blood run cold as he stood, and he looked out the window out onto the castle courtyard, which was being bathed in the warm dusk sunlight. "It can't be," he whispered, and he turned again to the soldier, who jumped to attention when

Logan's sharp eyes met his. "Fetch me General Wilcox. Tell the Guard to prepare for battle."

"Yes, sir," the man said. He saluted the king and swiftly turned on his heel to leave.

Logan sighed and again looked out the window. An image of his beautiful sister crossed his mind, and he sat back in his chair. "So," he whispered, "I suppose my time is coming soon."

"En guarde!"

Mara giggled uncontrollably as she watched Elliot and Logan spar in the gardens with their rather sad looking wooden swords. Logan had just hit a growth spurt, and he towered over Elliot as he fought him. Elliot swatted at the giant wildly until his sword was flung to the side, and Logan jabbed his weapon into the boy's side, securing it between his arm and torso.

"I've got you, Sir Elliot!" Logan proclaimed with a mighty laugh. "You should have known better than to go against the great Logan of Albion!"

Elliot fell to his knees dramatically and threw his hands to the sky. "Woe is me, I am bested!" His death scene was overly theatrical, and Mara laughed as he gasped and choked with hardly a convincing act before he fell stiffly to the ground.

"No!" she cried, and playfully jumped on her brother's back. "You will pay for killing the great Sir Elliot!"

Logan snatched her and pinned her to the ground, and she screamed as he tickled her. Elliot jumped to his feet and rushed to her to free her, but decided instead to join in her torture. Her stomach ached as she laughed and desperately tried to fight her assailants.

"Master Logan!" A voice called from across the gardens, and the children stopped to see who had called. Logan stood and wiped the dirt off his pants as Jasper, their butler, hurried to them with a concerned look on his face.

"Jasper," Logan said as the man huffed for breath. "What's the matter? What's happened?"

"It's the King," Jasper gasped, his face painted with worry. "Your father. I'm afraid he hasn't much time left." The man straightened himself and motioned for Logan to follow. "He's called for you, Master Logan. We are to prepare for your coronation immediately."

Mara jumped to her feet and grabbed Jasper's jacket, unable to control the volume of her voice. "What do you mean, Jasper? Father is just ill, he told me he would be fine after a few days' rest!"

A gentle hand was placed on her shoulder and she looked up to see her brother, his face full of fear, but stern. He didn't have to say anything; Mara felt the sting of tears filling her eyes, and she looked helplessly from Logan to Jasper. They had already lost their mother, why did their Father have to die too? She fell to the ground and sobbed at her helplessness, and Elliot knelt next to her to comfort her as Logan followed Jasper into the Castle.

The moon was full as the Auroran ships lined the Albion coast. Mara shivered against the breeze as the boat glided over the calm waves, and she could see glints of light on the coast as Logan's soldiers hastily pulled together their defenses.

"Alright, I've got it." Page slapped her palm against the map they had set out on a makeshift table as the others gathered around her. Kalin, Shaheen, Ben and Walter were now joined by Sabine and his towering companion, Boulder. The fiery little man was eager to start the fight, and he jumped with excitement as Page waved her hand over the map. "I will take a small group of soldiers down this route and blow up the west barracks. It will draw their attention and open up the main route."

Ben crossed his arms. "How is that better than my idea?"

"Hush, boy!" Sabine pounded his staff against the deck. "What I want te know is what my men will need te do."

Walter nodded. "That is for the future queen to decide."

Mara felt a rush of fear and excitement when she realized that Walter was referring to her with that term. The future queen. This was it; now was the deciding factor for her campaign. If all went according to plan, she would be sitting in Logan's throne by the morning.

"Page knows the city best," she said, astounded by the amount of authority in her own voice, "we will follow her plan."

Shaheen pointed a large finger to the map. "My ships can drop you off at this beach. We will cover you from the water."

"You can expect heavy mortar fire," Walter commented, "but Logan's men should be distracted by Page's group."

Sabine hopped as animatedly as his old knees could allow him. "I want te be in the thick of the smoke and the fire and glory! If Page takes the west route, it is only fair that I take the east."

"Which leaves the center for us," Ben nudged Mara with his elbow. "Less chance of getting lost!" Mara smiled when he winked at her, and knowing that he would be fighting by her side filled her with a new courage that she was eager to act upon. She turned to Walter and gave him a stern look.

"Are you sure you're up to this, Walter?"

Walter smiled mischievously underneath his bushy mustache and straightened himself. "Oh, don't worry about me. I may look old and tired, but the day hasn't come yet when I can't charge into a good old-fashioned fight!"

"Good man!" Sabine reached up as high as he could and clapped Walter on the shoulder. "We may be old, but we are fierce!"

Mara felt Ben slip his hand over hers, and she turned to look at him as the others were distracted with the two old warriors. Ben grinned and squeezed her hand. "Are you ready?"

The Princess took a deep breath, and nodded. With her loyal companions by her side, there was no way she could fail, she knew it.