Disclaimer: I do not own the Fable universe. Characters you do not recognize were created by me for the purposes of this story.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story, any feedback is appreciated! - Fallon.
Chapter Fourteen
The castle shook ferociously and then, the world became terrifyingly quiet.
Milena looked up from the pillow she had been crying into and waited for something to happen. She was not sure what she was waiting for, but the silence was too complete to last forever.
Her breathing seemed louder and the grandfather clock in the corner of her room was chiming so quickly it scared her.
Footsteps broke the silence and Milena stood to face whatever, or whoever, was approaching her room. She heard the guards outside her door draw their weapons and she held her breath.
Two shots exploded and there was a loud thump.
Her door opened and Captain Ben Finn entered her room.
He lowered his rifle once he realized who she was and smiled. "Good to see you in one piece, love."
Milena looked behind him and saw the guards on the floor. Their blood was pooling around them and splattered the doors Ben had just opened.
Ben saw her look to the dead guards and raised his hands. "I'm not going to hurt you, Milena. We are just clearing the castle."
She brushed away her tears. "Where is the King, where is Logan?"
Ben looked at her strangely, surprised to hear her say the fallen monarchs name. "Rebecca and Walter found him in the war room..."
Milena gasped.
"He's alive, Milena." Ben said, seeing her panicked expression. "He will be put on trial for his crimes, but right now I need to get you somewhere safe..."
Milena tensed. "Logan said to stay here..."
"The King told you to stay here?" Ben asked, an eyebrow raised in confusion.
She nodded.
Ben offered her his hand. "Come, we'll get you to a secure area of the castle."
Milena did not move. She was afraid that leaving the room would make Logan`s fate come to fruition, and she refused to believe he would actually be killed. She looked at Ben's extended hand. Would he kill Logan? He had every reason too, it was Logan who ordered Swift's execution after all.
"Milena," Ben said softly. "did Logan hurt you?"
She bit her lip to stop its trembling.
"Milena? Did he...did he touch you?"
Milena shook her head. "No..."
Ben didn't look convinced, but Milena took a step forward so he did not press the issue.
Milena accepted his arm and closed her eyes as they walked past the two dead guards just outside her room. There were more dead bodies in the corridor that lead to her room, and she forced herself to keep her eyes open after they passed the first few. Most were elite guards but there were a few that she assumed were part of Rebecca`s army.
They passed an elite guard slumped against the wall that was not wearing his helmet and Milena stopped. His eyes were open, revealing striking green eyes. They were cold and still though, possessing no sparkle. He was dead, but had not been that way for long.
"Milena..." Ben tried to urge her forward.
His face was smooth and his chin had no stubble. Milena guessed he couldn't be older than twenty. And now here he was, laying dead against a richly decorated wall from a gun shot to the chest.
"You wonder" Milena said aloud, not to anyone in particular. "what his name was and who he has waiting for him at home..."
Ben squeezed her arm. "Thinking about that will drive you crazy."
Milena wondered if Ben killed the boy, but said nothing, not really wanting to hear his answer.
The pair continued down the hall.
Rebecca, second child of the late hero-queen, was crowned Albion`s new Queen.
Milena watched the ceremony alone from a window in one of the small parlours on the second floor of the castle. The crowd in the courtyard was massive.
Milena sighed and turned away from the window just as the cheering was dying down. She had bumped into Karen, who had told her that she had seen Logan being led to the dungeon in chains.
She felt better knowing for sure that he was alive, but he was still facing a trial that could change that.
In the few hours since Rebecca`s victory, she had tried to come to terms with the fact that Logan may very well be sentenced to death. But no matter how hard she tried, the idea was still too outrageous for her mind to grasp.
She could still faintly taste him on her lips and his scent, oh his scent, was still fresh in her mind.
Unable to sit idle any longer, Milena wandered the hallways of the castle. She had yet to speak to Rebecca, and was unsure of her future, but she was in no rush to speak to the new monarch.
Her wandering brought her to the doors of, what once had been, Logan`s rooms. She had passed them numerous times before, but now they seemed to be calling to her, begging her to come in.
She looked around, and upon seeing no guards, slipped into his room. She reasoned that she was returning to Millfields regardless, and that sneaking into the former monarchs room was not causing anyone any harm.
The room was large, with one large purple rug covering the entire floor. There was an elaborate fireplace in one corner, and a large fourposter bed in another.
Milena tiptoed to the bed and touched the sheer white panels of fabric that hung from each corner. Her fingers fell to the bedding, made of a rich purple fabric and decorated with gold lace.
She sat down and looked around the room.
A large portrait hanging on the wall across from her caught her attention and she slowly approached it. She smiled sadly, it was the royal family. Logan was perhaps ten and Rebecca was just a toddler. Behind the prince and princess, stood their parents. Logan`s father looked much like Logan did now, if not with slightly greyer hair. His eyes were dark like Logan`s, but the man was smiling, which was something she rarely saw Logan do.
Aurelia was, to put it simply, stunning. Her hands rested on Logan`s shoulders protectively and her eyes reflected wisdom.
Something around the old hero-queen`s neck caught her eye just as she turned to look elsewhere and she stepped closer to get a better look.
Her eyes narrowed to analyze the detail, and upon realizing what it was, shot open wide.
It was the necklace Logan had given her.
She had to give a few deliberate blinks before looking back to believe what she had seen. She had known there was more to the story when she was given the pendent, but she never would have guessed it belonged to his mother!
She touched it tentatively as it rested around her neck, her eyes still fixed on the portrait.
But what did that mean?
Perhaps he truly had no sentimental connection to the pendent and giving it to her was nothing? But, she pondered, if it meant something to him then why would he give it to her? Did he care for her?
Milena continued into what she suspected had been Logan`s dressing room.
On one wall was a large wardrobe carved of dark, rich wood with gold handles. Across from that was a little padded bench.
Milena opened the wardrobe and was hit by a wall of his scent. She ran her fingers over the various jackets it contained, many of which were varying shades of purple.
She brought the sleeve of one of the jackets to her nose and breathed in his lingering scent. She smiled, but felt like she was violating his space, even though he was no longer using the rooms, and shut the wardrobe.
She held onto the handles of the door, resting her head against the wood.
The thought of only having the memory of him made her heart ache. She needed him to live.
But he does not love you, her rational mind said, he has pushed you away!
She tangled her fingers around the pendent. Was it proof that he cared for her?
Milena closed her eyes and squeezed the pendent in her hand.
She could not ignore what she felt, and she could not sit by and allow him to be killed.
She opened her eyes, regardless of what he had asked of her and what he claimed to feel, she had to at least try to help him. Maybe it was naive and wishful, but the pain in her heart demanded she take action.
The trial was only a few minutes away and time was running out for Logan.
Karen had told her that only the Queens` allies, including Walter, and a few guards were going to be present during the actual trial. Milena was glad that it was not going to be made a show of but knew that, if she was going to get in, she had to be smart about it.
There were guards at every entrance to the throne room and she panicked at the sight of them, not sure how she was going to get inside.
She reminded herself that Logan`s life was on the line and swallowed hard, slipping down a side corridor that led to the war room.
With no guards standing outside of the empty room, Milena easily made it inside and shut the door. She exhaled in relief, the first step was behind her.
She picked up her skirt and hurried to a closed door that she hoped would open into the throne room. She had never actually seen the door open, but with few options, she was willing to give it a shot.
To her horror, the door was locked.
Milena spun around and searched the room. A desk in the far corner caught her attention and she quickly crossed the room.
Just as she crouched behind it, the door to the war room opened and she hurried to conceal herself.
"The trial is beginning soon, are you having second thoughts?"
Milena recognized the voice as belonging to Ben Finn.
"I am just not sure that killing him will make anything better..."
And that was Page.
"He had Swift killed, I know exactly what I am going to suggest to Rebecca." Ben said angrily.
"How is his death going to fix anything!" Page asked. "We fought to rid Albion of a tyrant, why force Rebecca into a similar position? It will do no good."
Milena heard Ben snort. "It will make things even."
"Are you listening to yourself? What would Swift say?" Page demanded.
Milena held her breath.
"Well he can not tell us Page, he's dead." Ben replied sadly.
Milena remained quiet until another person entered the room to tell Ben and Page that the trial was beginning. They hurried out of the room, allowing the doors to shut loudly on their own.
Fuelled by adrenaline and certain she had limited time, Milena tore through the desk until she found a ring of identical gold keys.
She hurried back to the door. The keys shook in her hands and she struggled to separate one from the other.
Logan needs me, she told herself. She singled out a key.
First key.
"Damn." She whispered. Not a match.
Second key.
Nothing. The lock did not move.
Third key.
She held her breath and slipped it into the lock in the handle. Turning it slowly, she prayed that it was the right one.
Click.
She exhaled, called upon all of her courage, and opened the door.
The Queen spun around in her throne at the sound of the door opening, and soon enough, the eyes of everyone in the throne room were on her. Milena ran forward, and prayed to the gods she would succeed.
She was afraid, but they had to know that he was worth saving.