Chapter 55

The pain in my feet got worse as he approach the beach, the ride up the hill was torturous. Brent has to take the horse by the bridal from time to time to get him to climb.

It was sunset over the ocean, the waves looking like rolling flames. I could see the flags at the castle where down, the bell chiming in the chapel tower.

The castle was having my funeral and here I was still very much alive. Abigail looks very tired, the journey a tad too much for her.

Brent stops, looking out at the castle. "That is Tabor castle?"

I try hard not to chuckle at his expression, his mouth hanging open.

"Aye, that is Tabor castle and my home. Have you never been here before?" Brent shakes his head, his mouth still open.

"I have never left me home sire." I see the wonder in his eyes, his face as bright as the setting sun.

"Once I am back in the castle I will see about finding a place for you and your grandmother. You saved my life and for that I will always be in your debt." Brent takes the lead, guiding my horse along with his.

The waves on the beach are like music to my ears, the salt water spraying as we ride. My thoughts quickly turn back to my Snow, my beautiful children and my friends. How they must be suffering, their hearts completely broken.

It had been three days since I last lay my eyes on my raven beauty. I stormed out during Hope's party leaving my sweet daughter without a word. I was certainly an arse, my Scottish pride getting the best of me.

After seventeen years of marriage I thought Snow knew me well enough not to question my loyalty to her and to accuse Lily as well. That was all behind me now; we would work this out after I had made my resurrection from the dead.

Out on the beach where some villagers, placing funeral lanterns in the waving surf. I ride up to them, the young man and woman holding each other.

"What village are you from?" The young man looks up to me, his face long.

"Romani village, we came to pay our respects to the king. I am Jonah and this is my wife Rachael. The queen and king have done so much for our people, Bassett day is a great day in our village. We owe that to them, they honor our once great leader and now we honor them." Jonah takes Rachael's hand, the young woman staring at me.

"Can you tell me what you know, what goes on in the castle?" Rachael squeezes her husband's hand, her soft brown eyes looking so sad.

"The word in the village is that Duke Hammond's wife Lady Lillian had a vision of the king's death. She saw smoke and fire but the flames consumed him. Her son Lord Hunter had the same vision but he saw a crown melting into the flame and an axe made of fire floating toward the hills. They rushed to the hunting lodge, Knight Farron and Duke Hammond, only to find the lodge burning. Once the flames died and the wood lay smoldering they went through the remains. That's when Duke Hammond found the king's burnt body, his axe blades where only a few feet from him. His horse is missing; Knight Farron thinks it got away during the fire. Today is the last day of grieving for the queen; we bury the king in the morning." Rachael's voice is so soft and gentle; it's as if she's singing me a lullaby.

Brent points to the castle gates, a figure riding towards us. "Thank you, you have been most helpful."

We ride up to the approaching figure, it was Nate and I was so very glad to see him. "If you have come for the king's funeral you will have to wait till morning. The ceremony has already begun."

Nate looked older somehow, his voice stronger and louder that I remember. Three days and I feel like it has been a lifetime.

Riding closer I watch Nate narrow his eyes. "It cannot be. No, you're dead…your body…you burned."

"No, that was not me. Queen Margaret from Darton sent a Lord to visit us with a gift and that is the body you found." Nate jumps from his horse, his eyes pooling with tears.

"Sire." He bows on one knee in the sand.

"Nate, take me to my wife." Nate looks up at me, one single tear rolling down his cheek.

"Queen Margaret has been worried about Lord Benton, she has sent out a party to look for him. He was bringing Princess Hope a gift from Darton. I am sorry for his family but you are alive my king…alive." Nate looks me over, his eyes taking in my injured feet.

"Don't worry about those, Sirra will take care of that. This is Brent and Abigail and they found me and took care of me. They will be coming with us, I owe them so much." Brent smiles at Nate, the two sizing each other up.

Nate mounts his horse and we ride toward the gates. He calls up to the guard and the gate opens. The stone and the marble looked so good, the smell of summer wafting from the garden. I never want to leave these walls again, never want to travel father than the boarders of this kingdom. This is home, this land and its people. My true home was in Snow's arms and my children's smile that is where my heart resided.

The courtyard was so quiet, not one person stirring about. I see a figure in the darkness and call out it. "You, come here."

The figure lowers its cloak as it approaches. "Sire, you live."

Imagine my sure when I see standing before me Edward Duggery. I had released him from his prison after he tried to poison my queen and Lily. Hope and Iris begged for his freedom and so I granted. I had though he was in Winslow or Darton but here he stands before me.

"Edward, how long have you been back in Tabor?" He gazes at me, his hands rubbing his eyes.

"I arrived this morning. I heard of your funeral my king and decided to come for Iris and Hope. I would not be a free man now if not for them. I will leave if you want but please allow me to stay. I am not that boy you found so many years ago. I have a blacksmith shop in Darton but I miss my home. King, do my eyes deceived me, are you an apparition?" I couldn't blame him for acting so odd but he was looking at a man declared dead and a man that once promised to kill him if he ever returned to Tabor.

"I am real Edward and you can stay but only if the queen agrees. Come back in a few days and we will talk then." Edward doesn't move, his hands still on my steed.

"Can I stay; I would like to see Iris." I nod, needing to get to my wife.

Nate leads me to the stables, even there was empty. Not one stable boy around or the stable master. Brent and Nate help me carry my weight, one on each side of me.

"Sire, where do you want to go?" I look to the chapel, the sounds of a choir coming out.

"Is the entire castle in the chapel?" Nate nods, his eyes never leaving my face.

"You look to be in pain, perhaps your chamber or Sirra. She is at the funeral but I could get her for you." Nate and Brent walk as fast as they can, the guards staring as we pass by.

"Take me to the throne room and let no one enter but my Snow." Nate grins as he guides Brent there. Abigail isn't far behind, her tiny feet padding along.

They place me on my throne, pulling a chair over for my burning, aching feet. Abigail puts on more ointment, wrapping my feet again. Nate takes them to the kitchen, returning to me.

"My King, the funeral is breaking. Snow is greeting the nobles now. I can bring her here if you want." Closing my eyes I try to think of what I should do. I want to see Snow but I need the news to be given to her first.

As I'm about to tell Nate what I want to do I hear the throne room door open. "Nate, what are you doing here? What the hell, who is that on my father's throne…" Hope's words fall to a lull as she sees me.

"Hello my sweet girl." She looks at me as if she's frozen in place. I hear her break out in sobs, her feet flying towards me. I want to stand to take her in my arms but my feet will not permit it.

She falls over the throne, her arms wrapped around my neck. "Da, is it really you. Are you really here? I told Mum you couldn't be gone, you just couldn't be. Please never go away again, please Da. My heart has broken so many times in the past few days; I just need my Da to hold me. I want to be your little girl again." Her tears roll like a waterfall, her small frame balling up in my lap.

I hold her, stroking her long raven hair. "Da isn't going anywhere Hope. I'm right here sweet girl and Da loves you. I'm sorry I cause you such worry." I kiss her forehead as she gasps.

"Da, your feet." She climbs out of my lap to look at them.

"They are badly burnt Hope but a good woman and her grandson have been caring for me." Hope looks up at me, her blue eyes glistening.

"You need Sirra. I'll send Nate for her and you need to rest. Let me help you to bed Da and then I'll get Mum." Hope sits in my lap again, her head on my shoulder.

"No, not yet. I need to see your mother. Hope sweet one, please get her for me." Hope kisses my cheek, giving me one last long hug.

"You stay here, don't move. I'll right back with mother." She looks at me till she exits the room.

When next I hear the door open I fully expect to see my Snow but instead it's William, his face full of shock.

"Eric, can it be? Hope almost ran me over in the hall and she told me you were in the throne room. I thought it was her grieve talking but here you are. How, what happen? It's really you; we thought we had lost you." William squats down by the throne, his eyes starting to tear up.

"Do not cry for me Hammond. I cannot abide that." William gives me a bear hug, his tears flowing.

"When I found that burnt body I did not want to believe it was you but there where your axes and it was the only body in the lodge. It looked tall enough and big enough to be you; perhaps I was too quick to claim you dead. My heart broke Eric; I had lost my best friend and brother." I hug him back, the two of us showing more emotion to each other than we had ever before.

"Snow, how is she?" William wipes his tears, smiling at me.

"I have not seen her cry once. She won't let anyone near her, not even Lily. She has been locked in her room with children since we returned with your body, well a body. Rose has been all but shunned by Snow and the nobles. Many blame her accusations for your death. You are very beloved Eric, so many have come for your funeral. We mean to place the body in the tomb of kings first thing in the morning. Snow is not the woman she once was, her heart is not broken, it is gone." My heart aches for my wife, my arms long to hold her. I had to end her nightmare, to end my own.