Chapter 45 - Confrontation

Morning time came to an empty chamber where Princess Zelda and Link had been sleeping the night before. Mirian hadn't found them gone - thankfully, she thought to herself - but when she did hear about it, she acted as surprised as she could. She'd been readying a meal for them both, and once she'd learned the truth, she turned to the plate and decided that she should probably just add it to what was being served for breakfast elsewhere.

She had to wonder though just how Link had managed to get his sword back and escape with Zelda with no one finding out until this morning. She was glad for it either way though. Hopefully, they'd already found Aggie and were well on their way to helping stop all this mess that was going on.

But Mirian soon learned that whatever Link and Zelda might have been up to was a secondary thought to her own plight.

It was getting a bit closer to noon when she was heading to Gabriel's chambers to find out if he was reading the book he'd been assigned by his teacher to read when she noticed a few shadows behind her. Turning around, she came face to chest with a guard, and she craned her neck back to look up at him.

"Anamirian," the guard spoke, "would you please come with me? Lukas asked me to fetch you."

Lukas? Mirian blinked in a little surprise. "He did? Did he say why?"

Even as she asked, she went to walk with the guard, who just shook his head in ignorance. "No idea honestly. But it seemed important, whatever it was. I hope it's not interrupting anything important."

Most people knew the chambermaid and liked her, so Mirian wasn't surprised at all by his politeness. Shaking her head and telling him he hadn't specifically, she was led down the hallway across the marble floors and to the tower so that she could be taken to see Lukas. On the way, she kept herself calm and contained. Yes, she knew about Link and Zelda's escape, but Lukas didn't know that, and if he asked any questions, she'd tell him what she'd been planning on all along.

Mirian didn't consider herself a brilliant, or even a great liar, if even one at all, but when faced with the safety of loved ones, she was quite confident in her ability to pull it off.

Once they made it to the Grand Duke's office - which actually belonged to the King but Lukas had done his work there since Risek left for Hyrule - the guard announced to Lukas who sat behind the desk, "My Lord, here she is as you requested."

Lukas looked up to see the head chambermaid and he gave her a little smile. "You may leave us. Anamirian," he then addressed her while the guards turned to go, "how has your day been so far?"

"Good, my lord," she nodded, hoping it would continue to do so.

"That's good, I hope I didn't interrupt anything important."

"Oh no," she waved her hand, "just going to check on Gabriel, make sure he was reading his book. You know how little boys can be sometimes."

Lukas smiled with a nod of his head given before he stood up, setting a quill pen into the inkwell. He then turned to walk around the desk and head in her direction, stopping to stand just in front of her. "Yes, boys will be boys," he responded, then added, "and I know it seems odd of me to summon you, but I'm sure you've heard of the investigation we're performing."

"On Risek's attack?," she asked curiously. I hope so.

"No, though that is pressing and somewhat related," Lukas informed her, simultaneously dashing her hopes in the process, while he waved a hand in explanation. So it was about Link and Zelda's escape, but she kept her expression neutral as he spoke further exactly what she'd just thought. "It's actually about the Princess's Zelda's disappearance along with her Knight. I just wanted to ask you a question or two."

"Of course," Mirian agreed with a nod, pushing a strand of red hair behind her pointed ear while she wondered what those questions were.

Seeing her willingness to answer him, Lukas started with the question, "You've been tending to their needs, haven't you?"

"Yes," Mirian replied, "and I was making their breakfast when I heard they'd gone missing."

She knew not to say too much, so she let Lukas do the talking, stopping her words at those lines. When she did, Lukas gave her a nod of understanding.

"I see. Well, we're not sure exactly when they managed to escape, but we've been asking numerous people about their disappearance. They were in their room last night, weren't they?"

Again, Mirian nodded, saying as little as possible, which wasn't hard considering she was a bit shy, especially when she was nervous about something. "Yes, they were. I took them an evening meal and tidied up a bit for them."

Lukas seemed to take those words in before glancing to the side in a bit of thought. "Did they perhaps mention anything to you that seemed strange? Perhaps any complaints about their treatment or Zelda feeling under the weather?"

That was fairly specific. Mirian could only imagine in hearing the lines just how Link and Zelda had managed their escape, but she tried not to think about that, and instead, focused on their last conversation. It was one she definitely wouldn't be reciting for the Grand Duke, but she knew she needed to think about it anyway so that she could form something coherent to tell him.

Her golden eyes traveled off into the distance while she thought. After a brief moment, she shook her head, "Not that I recall. I wouldn't call it a complaint, but Princess Zelda had fallen asleep from little to do for entertainment as Link put it. He never said she'd felt under the weather though."

"So it was just Link you spoke with?"

Careful, Mirian, he might be able to trick something out of you. Mirian shook her head, "No, she woke up just before I left. But she didn't have anything odd to say either."

"I see, that's good," Lukas nodded. "I'd hate to have to involve you further, I don't know you well, but I have the mind that you're nervous about all of this mess."

"I am a little, yes," Mirian admitted. "It worries me for Gabriel the most."

"Agreed," Lukas replied. "He's so young after all. If anything, I want it all cleaned up just so he won't have to suffer some type of mishap. But I do have something else to ask you that I'm sure you'd be the only one who could tell."

Mirian could only wonder what this could be, and she waited patiently for it, nodding her head for him to continue. When she did, Lukas told her, "As you're well aware, being the head chambermaid, there are certain doors specified for servant's use alone in order to make their chores a bit easier. This morning, after we did a search, some of the guards noticed that a few of those doors had been left unlocked. I was curious if it was a common practice for doors to be left in such a state after dark."

"No," Mirian answered honestly, keeping herself from panicking when she realized exactly what he was asking her. After all, just because he'd asked didn't mean he blamed her. Did he even know about the keys she had to begin with?

"I didn't think so," Lukas returned, then stepped toward her. "Would you please empty your pockets?"

"Of course," she replied, reaching into one to tug the inside out and show that it was empty, and then grabbed the key ring she had in the other pocket which was the only item she carried on her at that moment.

Please don't let him know about the keys.

Despite her thoughts, once she had the item in hand, Lukas reached out for it, and she placed it into his palm. Lifting the keys up, Lukas looked them over, and he asked, "Which one of these is the master key that opens all of the doors?"

Don't panic, Mirian.

The key he was asking for was the key Mirian had given to Link, and there were no copies of it because of security reasons. Only the head chambermaid had them, and she'd already passed it on. But she'd do it again if it was needed, even if something bad happened to her now. Mirian reached up her hand and pushed some of the keys about, brows narrowed.

"It's not here, my lord."

"That's what I thought," Lukas spoke knowingly. Once he had, he turned with the keys still in his hand, and Mirian could feel a bit of sweat breaking out on her forehead which she swiped away quickly while he wasn't looking.

Coming to a stop next to his desk, Lukas began, "I'm guessing, since neither Link nor Zelda had anything to say last night, that Link possibly stole them from your pocket when you were unaware. You did have them then, didn't you?"

"I did," Mirian replied, "but I didn't think I'd gotten close enough."

"Perhaps you didn't," Lukas went on. Turning about, he added, "Perhaps you only got within arms reach to hand the key to him. After all, the key was on this ring, and it would take a thief more than just skill to reach into your pocket and tug the key off without your notice, wouldn't it?"

Mirian's lips parted a bit. Her mind went blank, and she had no idea what to say. First of all, she wasn't a practiced liar, and secondly, she was scared. If ever there was a time to panic... Shaking her head, she finally told Lukas, "I didn't–"

"What's going on here?"

The sudden words spoken by Risek were clipped and a bit cold. Mirian looked up quickly to see him walking into the room behind her - heart completely filled with relief and gratitude toward the Goddesses for that. Maybe now she'd have a chance of not getting blamed for all of this.

Lukas replied as Risek stepped toward them, coming to a stop near the chambermaid after he'd asked his question. "We have reason to believe that our head chambermaid allowed Link and the Princess Zelda to escape. She was the last one with them, and knows the Palace better than even I do, you as well as far as I know. The master key to the servant's doors is also missing from her key ring."

Risek didn't make any type of expressive response to the words, practicing his stone cold face as he so often did when dealing with these matters, which gave him an advantage. He was surprised in truth however. He didn't know Mirian had given Link the master key to the servant's doors, but he was glad that she did. Still, though Mirian had done this, she had nothing to do with what was going on.

Risek had to defend her honor. He would take the blame if there was blame to be dealt out.

Before Risek could say anything more though, Lukas went on, lifting the keys that came from Mirian's pocket. "Look for yourself," he told the Prince, handing them over. "It's gone, which is evidence enough against her to bare the proper punishment. It also raises several other questions about the attack on you. She may well have helped to orchestrate it."

Mirian's eyes went wide, and she shook her head immediately, because that was blatantly false. But despite the threat, Risek's face was still blank. He knew what a punishment for this kind of treachery was. Releasing anyone who was named a suspect and being held in the dungeon or under any other form of arrest without proper command was to be given thirty lashes with a whip publicly and then sent to spend a month in the dungeon themselves.

There was no way Risek would allow this fate to fall upon Mirian, much less would he allow her to be further accused of orchestrating an attack against him. So he told Lukas the truth.

"If this is your problem, then you can let her go. She's not the one you're after for this."

Lukas looked genuinely surprised, lifting his brows over the words. "Oh? And then, if I may, who is?"

Risek's face was still flat, and he tossed the keys back to Lukas who caught them easily and informed the Grand Duke without missing a beat, "I am."

That admission made Mirian turn a set of wide eyes up at Risek. He didn't look at her however, kept his gaze settled on Lukas as he went on, "I told them last night that they should leave this morning sometime because, as I see it, there's something left to be desired about the Althor I've returned to. Anamirian was simply performing her duties as the chambermaid when she went to visit them, and I swiped the key to give to them later."

After a moment of letting that information set in, Risek added, "My aim was not to set up Anamirian to take a fall for me, but rather, to give Link and his Princess an easier time."

Lukas lifted a single brow, tilting his head slightly. He looked completely incredulous. "Even though they attacked you? You allowed them both to leave? And without proof they had nothing to do with your attack, still claiming they were under the control of magic? Why?"

Risek's expression grew even more cold than before, and with it settled on his face he replied, "Because I know they're both innocent. Furthermore, I know there is a real traitor among us here in this very Palace, but for some strange reason, you're too interested in the peasants of Newbern to care. So if you want the culprit behind Link and Zelda's escape, then look no further."

"My Prince, I–"

Mirian was cut off when Risek raised his hand to stop her, not wanting any of this to fall on her shoulders. For now, he needed to confront this man. Before his arrival just then, earlier that day, Risek had looked into a few things before dragging Lukas off to see the secret chambers he himself had visited, stood in, and cursed aloud after breaking several objects stored within them. No doubt, Charlain was going to return to her little witch's lair and be very unhappy with what she found.

Now, after asking about discreetly, Risek had managed to learn something very interesting about Lukas, and he was going to confront the man right here, right now.

When Risek held up his hand, Mirian grew silent, and the Prince said, "I also know that your wife has been up to something, along with your brother, but what I'm still unsure of. I was curious if perhaps you'd fill me in on the gaps, Lukas."

Even though Risek knew full well they'd been poisoning the King, he wasn't going to tell Lukas that straight out. He wanted to see if Lukas would tell him anything else he didn't know, so he just waited for a reply now.

Lukas's brows narrowed, staring at Risek as if the Prince might've grown a second head. Without replying to him or looking at Mirian, he told the chambermaid, "Leave us."

Mirian looked torn. She didn't want to leave, not in this situation, but Risek suddenly told her, "Listen to him. Resume your duties, Anamirian. We need to talk."

Breathing out heavily, she nodded and turned to leave quickly. While she didn't want anything to happen to Risek, she had to let him do what he needed to, but still felt completely helpless as she once more fled a scene where someone she cared for was in trouble. Then again, Risek didn't seem to need aide, and his cold demeanor toward Lukas made her completely grateful that she wasn't in the Grand Duke's shoes just then.

She'd leave the room, but she wasn't leaving the corridor beyond it. After all, eavesdropping was a chambermaid's specialty.

Once the door had shut, Risek pulled something from a pouch attached to his belt. It came from Charlain's chamber, a vial full of purplish liquid, and Risek set it down on the desk with a resounding tap of glass against wood.

"I found that in a secret passageway last night, one in which Aggie saw my sister adjourn to before I returned from Hyrule. Dreamwart, used to keep my father in a deep sleep." The words angered Risek so much that he had to stop for a moment before continuing on. Staring at Lukas, he finally managed to continue what he meant to say.

"I was going to bring it to you as proof of treachery, but I still wasn't completely sure I could trust you, so I asked someone a few questions about recent events. Unknowing that I was aware of the treatment of certain townspeople in Newbern, they dropped your name without a second thought. You gave the order to have Aggie cornered, to murder him and three other Knights, along with a group of townspeople, by burning them alive!"

Risek couldn't help the anger evident in his voice, the tone harsh and cold, raising in pitch as he went along. He shook his head in disgust at Lukas, finally finishing his litany, "That's why Aggie was labeled a traitor, isn't it, Lukas? He found out what your brother and my sister were up to, so you sought to silence him. And knowing this," Risek added, "I have only two questions to put to you."

Sneering, Risek asked him pointedly, "First, how does it feel to sit in a place of power and use it to do for yourself as you see fit instead of using it to benefit others? I've never done that, so I wouldn't know." Shaking his head, he added, "The second question, and much more importantly, is are you one of the White Knights of Alnaric, or are you simply helping them?"

Lukas looked completely angry, but a part of him looked shocked as well. Risek was fairly certain it was because he couldn't figure out just how Risek had learned all of this. But the Prince had seen it written down as clearly as daylight. Now he wanted answers.

It was then that Lukas tilted his head down, leaning against the desk with a little sigh of breath. Risek thought he might've had a look of disappointment on his face when he'd done so, but suddenly, the blonde Grand Duke looked back up with a smile. "However did you guess that, Risek? I know the Knights confronted you on the fields in Hyrule, but I never would have thought you'd know their true origins. Do Link and Zelda know also?"

Risek's green eyed gaze got as cold as it ever would. His fist clenched, but despite his rage, he shook his head. He didn't want Lukas to know that Link and Zelda also had information on their true identity. Instead, he answered with, "I knew that crest as soon as I saw it. It's shown to those of royal blood as a reminder of atrocities committed by our ancestors, so that we might never repeat them, but the crest is forbidden in all other forms of test and imagery."

Risek then shook his head and waved a hand with the question, "So, what's your plan? Are you the one leading them?"

"Oh no," Lukas shook his head, "you met my lord on the field while I was here ruling in your stead. Though, you might be able to think of me as a higher commanding officer perhaps."

One of them, Risek thought, one of Marcelle's murderers. One of the ones after Mirian, and even worse, one of the ones hurting my father. Risek had to control himself until he had more information, and he gritted out the words, "Why, Lukas? Why are you poisoning my father? Why has he been so sick? Dreamwart alone wouldn't do that. Is it to keep power so that you can take the throne?"

"No, no," Lukas repeated, the word sounding earnest, "we're not trying to kill your father or take his throne, not at all. Only contain him until we can reestablish ourselves. After all, your family has suppressed us for a very, very long time, long enough to forget what power we actually did once have. Your sister? She's not a traitor, simply trying to atone for past sins committed against our Goddesses. She's redeeming herself in their eyes."

Risek sneered over the words, telling Lukas blankly, "The Goddesses would weep to know what you've done."

"Poor, blind Prince," Lukas shook his head, snorting in amusement over what Risek had just sternly told him. "Too self righteous and not humble enough to see the truth. Those men in Newbern? That wasn't murder, Risek, it was purification. All of them had incited revolt, and that is not what we will allow to happen."

"It was murder," Risek told Lukas coldly, his tone infuriated as he continued to speak. "No trial, only words. If one of us is blind Lukas, it's you. You tried to murder them, and my best friend! Now you have my father under a deep sleep, and your using others to blame your actions on! You're all twisted!"

With a quaint sigh in the face of Prince Risek's ire, Lukas responded, "I'm sorry you can't see things our way, but perhaps after some time in the dungeon, say a month or so, along with thirty lashes as you know the punishment entails, you might just change your mind. Or, you can change it now, and to avoid public confusion and revolt by an already unstable people questioning their royalty, we can just use Anamirian as a scapegoat. That way, and maybe now you'll understand our reasoning, you don't have to put the people into a tempest of confusion and chaos, wondering why their Prince betrayed them."

Risek continued to glare at Lukas, and despite the fact that he could never allow Anamirian to come to harm, he also knew that the greater good was to keep these Knights from having their way. They already wanted Anamirian for something, and having her in the dungeon would put her in the perfect spot to get it. So he told Lukas without hesitation, "She has nothing to do with this, and you will not harm her. Why are you after her?"

Lukas didn't seem inclined to respond to that question. Instead, he just asked a question in return, "Risek, are you going to allow me to have you arrested properly, or are you going to be difficult."

Lukas had to be out of his mind, Risek thought to himself. Arrest him? If anyone, it would be Lukas. Risek had enough evidence to prove that he was the one responsible for this, and had known about the King's illness all along without saying anything.

That thought in mind, he told Lukas, "You're not arresting anyone. I'll be the one to do so. I have enough evidence against you to have you thrown into the dungeon for two lifetimes, along with your brother and your wife," he added, refusing to call Charlain his sister anymore. With a disgusted shake of his head, he added, "You were my friend, your father like my own. What would Arrik think of what you've done?"

Lukas didn't react the way that Risek had thought he would. Instead of realizing the truth and perhaps becoming afraid or angry, he simply started chuckling softly. "My father? Well, he's not here to see any of this currently, but you won't be speaking to him anyway."

"Oh, but I will, Lukas, while you're rotting in shackles."

Smirking, after Risek gave that comment, Lukas sighed softly, "Now Risek, don't be melodramatic. What would happen to Gabriel if he were left to the mercy of the White Knights once I'm gone?"

Lukas didn't remain standing where he was once he threatened Gabriel like that. Instead, he was slammed into the wall behind him, grabbed and shoved by Risek. Glaring up at him, even as Lukas just laughed softly, Risek gritted out the words, "You won't touch him!"

"I won't," Lukas agreed, "but I can't guarantee what our commander will do. Though, I know he wouldn't be pleased with an incarceration befalling one of his best Knights, and believe me, I have no control over what his orders are."

"Who is he!"

"Risek, calm yourself. You're not in a position to make demands. However, I am. Now settle me down and let's deal with this like adults." After making the irritatingly quaint suggestion, Lukas added, "You'd do well to listen to me, after all, you really don't know just how far your Kingdom has already slipped away from you."

Somehow, Risek knew that he was completely right. With Gabriel's life on the line, his father already in their grasp, and who knew what else lurking in the shadows, they had the elder Prince under their thumb completely.

Risek cursed himself inwardly for not sending Gabriel away the moment he knew his sister was up to something. But finally, he allowed himself to lower Lukas back to the floor. Still though, he glared at the man angrily.

Once Lukas was settled down, he dusted himself off as Risek stepped back from him, and then glanced over at him. Confidently folding his arms behind himself once he'd righted his appearance, he told Risek, "You can still have Anamirian blamed for your crimes. If you're so dead set on figuring us all out, then it would do you much more good to be free for the next month, instead of in the dungeon where you can do nothing."

Risek didn't even have to think about that. "If you're going to have me arrested, then do so now."

The words seemed to disappoint Lukas. Shaking his head of blonde hair, he sighed out the words, "You're definitely a stubborn one, Prince. I figured as much after your first encounter with our commander though. It doesn't have to be this way, but if you're so insistent, very well then." Once he'd given those lines, he turned his head and called, "Guards!"

Just a moment later, the doors opened and three guards came into the room. When they were all standing there in a neat row, Lukas commanded, "Place Prince Risek Miason under arrest for treason against the crown, and have him taken to the square where he can admit to everyone these acts against his own Kingdom and properly receive his punishment."

The guards did as they were told without question, leaving Risek to wonder if they'd perhaps fallen under the Knight's influence already somehow or another. After all, Lukas had already pointed out that his kingdom had fallen farther away from him than he'd thought. But either way, they began walking toward the Prince in order to disarm him, which he allowed, and then took his arms to be shackled behind his back.

Risek never removed his gaze from Lukas while this went on.

"Lukas, mark my words," he began as they finished shackling him, "those Knights, including you, are going to pay for everything. Whatever it is you're after, I promise you, you won't gain it."

Lukas just smiled quaintly, waving a hand at the guards. "Take him away and have the square prepared. In the meantime, we'll just have to corner that chambermaid again, as I'm sure she's already spoken to you over."

Risek glared at Lukas, and had to be tugged along at first. If he could've reached the Grand Duke in that moment, he would've killed him with his bare hands. But finally, when they got him into the hallway, he decided to simply walk with them, jerking his arms away as if to tell them he didn't have to be drug anymore without words.

Lukas simply watched them pulling Risek along, and when they were gone, he couldn't help but smile. This would please their commander endlessly. It didn't matter that the Prince knew the truth. This instance had already been prepared for a good long time ago now. So things were definitely working out well for them.

Now they could search the Palace for the amulet and finally have what they needed.

Mirian watched Risek being walked down the hallway in shackles with an aching heart, wanting to do something, but she knew that anything she did wouldn't make things better, and instead, only worse. Not to mention she'd heard everything. From where she hid in the corridor behind a large set of armor, she peered out, knowing she had to be extremely careful now, otherwise she was going to get hurt, and so was Gabriel. The youngest son of Seriun needed her now, and she couldn't let him down.

Mirian quietly snuck away, a helpless feeling washing through her soul and chilling her. Risek was taking this punishment for her, it was hers to bear, but he was being dragged off to be lashed now.

Mirian didn't think she could ever forgive herself.