"What do you mean there's more?" Christine felt her world spinning, she had only slept three hours in the days that the fighting had started and they were beginning to catch up with her.

"They are preparing now." Jake nodded. "Everyone that can fight and is able is going to the lines."

"And the king?" She questioned.

"Christine." Kat came by her side. "His Majesty must fight, he feels a need…"

"Damn need." Her voice came out in a throaty whisper. "Damn this fight." She wiped the tears that had become loose and were trickling down the side of her face. "Well," Christine cleared her throat. "Let us fix the rest of these men so they can either fight another day or live a day to see their families."

The two nodded and left her.

Christine wiped angrily at the other tears that were streaming down her face. She wanted so badly to curse at the heavens for giving her an idiot for a husband. Her eyes caught sight of the tents and small people coming out of them by the camp for the soldiers. Everything seemed so tense, and her heart raced. He could die, she kept thinking, he could die and I would never love again.

She watched as one man, seemingly, stepped out of the big tent and appeared to look at her. More tears came down her face as she felt a gentle breeze blow the curls that had sprung loose. For some reason she whispered,

"I love you."

The man below still stood and seemed to watch her closely. No movement came either one as they just sat staring. In that moment, she felt a little bit warmer and a little bit calmer.

"Majesty." Someone came through the door and into the room.

"Yes, Dr. Mitchell?" Christine wiped the remaining tears from her face and turned to face the man that had just intruded into the room.

"The volunteers seem to be suiting up for battle." He seemed puzzled. "Even the women. Majesty, women are not allowed…"

"They are." She nodded.

"But they will be killed," His voice was a little urgent. "It is proven that women's bodies are not…"

"I know, yet men are not the ones who pass something the size of watermelons through their privates." Her brow lifted. "Do not try and stop these women they may beat you worse than a man."

"But, Majesty…"

"They will do what they wish," She looked at him. "This will not be another discussion of what women can and cannot do, am I clear?"

"Yes, Majesty." He quickly bowed and left.

Sighing, Christine sat in her chair and covered her eyes, trying to quickly fall asleep, hoping it would be over soon.

"Christine," Another voice called out to her.

"May I just a moment of peace?" She whispered quietly to herself, and lifted her head to see the person standing in front of her, her eyes widened. "Beatrice? What are you doing here?"

"I have a message." The woman handed her a folded note. "It is from the king."

"What?" Her heart began to race and she stood to take it, walking over to the window to get better light, she began to read it, all the while speaking in rushed sentences. "Is he alright? Has anything happened?"

"He knows." She said softly as she watched her queen read over the letter.

"No." Christine shook her head and then looked at the young woman across from her. "I cannot do this."

"Christine…"

"Tell him I could never do this." She held up the letter, in an almost furious motion.

"Do you want to…"

"No," Her eyes stopped Beatrice from speaking any further. "Tell him that I cannot do what he asks, if this instance should occur."

"And if he asks why?" She questioned, not really understanding what this was about.

"Say to him," she thought for a minute and she smiled for the first time in weeks. "It is because of honor."

-------------------

He hated war. He hated the way it ruled people's minds, he hated the fact that it tore friends apart, and he hated seeing another die because of someone else's words. It was a brutal act that he knew would never cease because of pride.

His arm worked the new armor that he had put on and decided he was satisfied with all that covered him he stood. He walked to the main entrance of the tent and noticed Beatrice standing there staring at him, her armor on as well.

"You are going to fight?" Erik questioned her.

"I am to lead the army of Liren." She pondered for a moment. "I gave the queen the letter you wrote."

"Indeed."

"She said that she could never do what you asked if that instance should occur."

"Of course she would." He almost smiled to himself. "Did she give you a reason why?"

"She said it was because of honor."

Erik sat down in the chair and put his face in his hands. He began to chuckle, which soon burst into laughter.

"Majesty?" Beatrice asked cautiously. "Is everything alright?"

"Yes." He said as his laughter subsided, and he stood regaining his composure. "Now, let us go and fight for Liren."

"Yes sire." She smiled and followed him out to the field, where men stood lined up and ready.

The soldiers stood at attention as the officers and king got on to their horses. Beatrice got on her horse and went beside the king.

"Sire," She looked at him. "What did you say to Christine in the letter?"

"In short?" He watched her nodded. "I told her she should go back to Borswan in case I fell."

"Majesty," Her forehead creased. "With all due respect, you should know better."

"I may be a king, Lady Beatrice." A small smile appeared. "But I am also a man."

"That is true." She smiled.

"Do not tell Christine I said that."

"Worry not, Majesty." Her smile widened. "I will not tell the queen something that she may have over your head."

"Thank you." He nodded, and held out his arm, in which she took. "May you ride swiftly and steadily?"

"And may you ride safely and stealthily." She nodded and rode off to the small Liren army to the right. "Alright ladies and gentlemen!" She called to the people. "To the hills!"

Erik watched as the undersized army march to the hills and then turned to his own large one.

"Borswan!" He called to his people. "I know you are tried, hungry, and frustrated because you are fighting for a country that you think is no longer worth saving! You have were taught that Borswan is a strong and fierce country, you have been taught to regard other countries as territories or something that Broswan will conquer soon.

"That is not true! You have been called to protect one of the last countries that could beat Borswan in its prime. Although small and insignificant, it may seem, Liren is a country that will be restored with your help, and will look up to each one of you as a hero.

"You have done your country proud showing that you have the stamina to do anything and may you keep the power that you have shown through out the days. Today is the last stand; today you fight more than is necessary and I thank you."

That day the king of Borswan bowed to his people as they cheered.

----------------

It was quiet there, cold, but quiet. The distance shouting, fighting, and pain ridden rooms were far away from her. Now her thoughts were silenced as she stared out the window of the tall tower.

Her eyes roamed over where the fighting was, it was a long way away, but it was still there. She knew that many men would die because of hurt pride and rueful idiocy. The whole point of war was young men dying for a cause that they only knew so much about. Perhaps they were not supposed to know everything, perhaps they only needed orders, and perhaps they were terrified.

What if they did know that if Erik were to die that she would, by law have to marry Raoul? What if they knew that if she married Raoul that he would become ruler of Borswan? And if marrying her would not make him king of Borswan he would kill her and marry Cecile. Would that change the way they looked at this fateful war?

She stood still and watched as people fell to the ground outside, as they screamed in agony. Her ears did not hear, nor did they want to, they did not want to hear that her husband lay in the dust never to speak, see, taste, hear, or touch again. He would never see his daughter grow to a beautiful and delicate adult. He could die and she would never feel his touch again. But if he did not die, and leave her… a tearful smile came to her lips and she left all her thoughts on that hope.

---------------

Erik ran his sword through another man who fell instantly at his feet. He walked away and noticed a horse coming straight for him, wearing Plante colors. Lifting his heavy sword, he knocked the man off the horse and watched him fall to the ground. Erik picked up another sword from the man that he had just killed and stuck the two swords in the man's face.

"Have mercy on me!" The man shouted as he cowered against the two threatening swords in front of him.

"Under what circumstances?" He questioned.

"It is I!" The man took his helmet off and presented himself. "The Viscount de Chagny!"

"Viscount." Erik's eyes narrowed and backed away for a moment. "Give me a reason not to kill you."

"Lady Jane is still alive." He answered, scrambling to his feet. "Upon my death or word, she dies."

"You will order your men to stop then." He nodded. "There has been enough blood today."

"No, I don't think I will."

"Order your men to stop!"

"Order yours to stand at attention then!"

"You are in no position to speak as such, Viscount." His voice dropped as he gave the man a deadly stare.

"Neither are you." Raoul lunged at Erik, but he successfully parried it.

"You will die if you keep this up Viscount." Erik shouted as they began a vicious battle.

"So will Lady Jane!" He again tried to injure the king but failed again, so he tried a new tactic. "How is she? Your wife?"

Erik refused to answer, and desperately trying not to kill him as he began his outlandish words.

"Does she let you taste her sweet lips?" His words were spiteful. "Does she let you touch her and hold her? Or does she turn in fear and revolt?" Raoul knew he was beginning to hit a soft point as he fumbled a bit as her counterattacked. "Does she know the monster you are?" He had gotten through the strong barrier that had been King Erik as he barely sliced the king's stomach. Erik doubled for a moment, but Raoul took the opportunity to run his sword through the king's calf, making him weaken and fall upon one knee.

"Do her eyes hold fear and regret?" He began more questions as he circled the king and came around to his front. "Well at least have comfort in knowing that she will no longer have to look upon you hideous face, or cringe at your touch. Know that she will smile in pleasure as I touch her, and know that when I kill her that it will be a quick death with poison." He bent down and leaned to whisper into his ear. "But do not worry; I will not touch your daughter until she is at least thirteen."

Erik looked up at the malicious man; he felt the blood rushing to his wounds and began to feel the loss of it. "You will not touch either of them."

"Let me remind you, king." He smiled, and dug a dagger into Erik's shoulder. "You won't be there to save them."

"You will not touch them." He winced as Raoul withdrew the dagger this was too much.

"Really?" His voice held a quip of curiosity but it was false. "Who will stop me?"

"I will." With that, Erik ran his sword through Raoul's abdomen, and Raoul's mouth gapped as he stared at the man. "You will never come near my family again." He moved the sword upward to make it cut through more. "And her lips are not just sweet they are heaven."

Raoul collapsed in a pile as Erik drew his sword from him and made an effort to stand, putting his weight on the leg that was untouched. As he looked around he noticed the men staring at him and Raoul, but they watched as Raoul took his last breath. One soldier from Plante came forth and checked for a sign of from the Viscount.

"He's dead." He said, and looked to everyone around him and shouted, "The Viscount is dead!"

"Majesty!" General Phillips came forth and looked to the king. "Liren troop destroyed the reinforcements from Plante! Liren has won!"

With that, Erik fell to the ground next to Raoul, barely hearing the troops as they gave a cheer throughout the field.

Its long! Life has been crazy and my muse is fading in and out so thank you to those who are baring with me! Please review it helps and thank you!

EV