Heeeeey, how you doooin'? B-been a while huh? Um. Yeah, no excuse really, other fandoms got me by the ankles- But here you go! If there are any of you still out there. Hello?
Chapter 16: Battle's Beckoning; Prepare
Harker was finding it increasingly hard to get time alone to start planning. If Milanun wasn't pressed to his side or floating somewhere about the room, then her brother Ismir was breathing down his neck, ready to ridicule him for so much as blinking too quickly.
"This guy!" Harker groaned, slumping against a pillar that overlooked a grand garden, Carol at his side and rubbing his bicep sympathetically. "Honestly, you'd think I pissed in his cereal or something!"
Carol snorted in a quite an unladylike manner at that, getting a side-eye from a noble whose lip curled in outward distaste. While Carol had been pardoned from outright causing the murder of their Hattian princess, it seemed the hatred and stigma remained well stated over her head in the palace. Especially with the Queen, who still considered her as the root of many of her dear daughter's problems.
The Australian whined and leant against his fellow Westerner, Carol scrambling with the sudden weight dropped onto her.
"Hark, you're heavy!" she whined, struggling to keep him up as he slumped further, adding to her load. "Get off!"
"I come all the way to Hattie for you, and you're not even willing to carry me. Ungrateful."
Carol scoffed and bat at Harker's face, making the man splutter and poke the young woman in her side. She yelped and buckled, taking the man down with her and left them both piled on top of each other on the floor.
"Harker!"
"Carol!"
The two Westerners withheld a unanimous groan and looked to the voices, the royal Hattian siblings storming down the hall towards them. They looked to each other before Harker slowly rose to his feet, dragging up his companion as well.
"Harker, mother wants to speak with you in the gardens," Milanun smiled, wrapping her arm around the Australian man's and leant against his side. "Come! We must not keep her waiting!"
"What was it this time? Five minutes?" Harker huffed to Carol before he was dragged away.
Milanun hummed happily as they made their way down to the gardens, her dark fingers woven into his pale ones. She had a bounce in her step, and her stride was confident, like having the man at her side boosted her beyond even her royal status.
The garden was an oasis of nature within the walls of the Hattian castle. Tall fruit-bearing, flowering trees hung over the heads of those who walked its paths of sandstone and gravel. Bright, exotic flowers and low foliage grew in natural patterns across the land, showing signs of daily care, but not the strict manicuring Harker would have recognised in Western gardens.
The Queen herself was sat on some kind of risen level in the garden, three steps elevating the platform which was lined with soft, woven carpets. A nest of pillows and blankets were cradelling the Queen as she ate sweet fruits from a platter at her side, a large woven fan used to fan the woman from the high degree.
"Hello, mother," Milanun greeted, bowing slightly, "I have brought Harker, as you requested."
"Daughter," the Queen acknowledged, before looking upon the pale-skinned being. "...Harker."
"Wow, she remembered my name," Harker murmured idly before squeaking as the princess horse-kicked him in the shin. "Ow!"
The Hattian Queen observed the interaction with a single raised eyebrow.
The two youths withered a bit under her gaze, feeling properly scolded despite not a single word being sent their way. It made the royal woman huff and she concealed the slight smile that had begun to appear with a long drink of wine.
She hated to admit it, but the more she watched her daughter and her desired, the more she began to grow just the slightest bit fond of the man. The way Milanun was happy and loose, smiling uninhibited and just as ready to cuddle as she was to scold gave the Queen hope that at least her daughter could marry into love.
And the fact that Harker was apparently a being born of the mythos and Gods wasn't too disappealing either. What was better than marrying her only daughter into the House of Heaven? No worldly kingdom could compare.
Harker shifted awkwardly as neither of them were addressed, the Queen continuing to observe them without a word.
Milanun smiled after a moment and sat down on the platform, her legs coming to cross comfortably in a manner she had adopted from Harker when balancing on that rocking boat. She grasped her partner by the arm and drew him on as well, curling against his side once he stopped moving around and got comfortable.
"It was so good to sleep in a proper bed again, right, Harker?" she chirped, tugging his arm to wrap around her so she could get close. "Much better than those scratchy hammocks."
"Yep," he agreed, going along in desperation to keep some conversation going. "Much better. I actually got a proper sleep this time, rather than falling onto the floor in the middle of the night."
"Well if you didn't toss so much," Milanun scoffed, remembering how often she woke up in the pitch black to a heavy 'thud' and a prolonged groan. "Though, it was funny the first few times."
"So glad you find my pain enjoyable," the Westerner grumbled and got a cuddle for his troubles even as she giggled at his expense.
The royal mother glanced between the two as she popped a grape into her mouth, the sweet juice bursting between her teeth.
"So, Harker," the Queen began and Harker snapped to attention. "Tell me, what is your home like?"
Milanun perked up, and turned to her love, excited to hear more about Harker's homeland. The one they couldn't reach by sky or sea.
"Uh," Harker began eloquently, not missing how even the scuttling servants had slyly turned their ears to the conversation. "Well, it's very green. Everyone thinks it's all hot, scorched land and sand but since most of us live near the water we've got a lot of greenery."
"And those structures you showed me!" Milanun joined, nearly bursting at the seams to rhapsodise her mother with all she knew.
"Yeah, we've got the Harbour Bridge. And skyscrapers in the city, mainly."
The Haittian Queen nearly jolted; sky scrapers. Why would they need to gouge the sky?
"And those wonderful beaches?" Milanun continued, and Harker was so glad to have the woman helping him along with those prompts.
"Our beaches are the attraction mostly. I spent most of my time surfing." Harker paused and that familiar frustration hit him in the head as he struggled. "I really can't think of the word. It's, ah, water riding."
"Your boat! With the sun engraved on it," the princess gasped, "Do you think we'd be able to get it back at this rate? I'm sure Sephora will keep it safe, but can you be without it for so long?"
Harker winced and shifted a bit, trying to push past how his mood soured. He smiled thinly and assured, "I'll be okay. It has emotional value, but at least I still have my tattoo."
The Queen listened to the pale man toss about ethereal words between eloquences, trying to imagine the land of the Gods in his simple descriptions. It made her restless, and the fact that Milanun had 'seen' it herself made her a touch jealous.
But, the Queen supposed, it was only fair that she who would one day live among the stars should be the one to see first. Which made her eager to ask this Harker how he intended to carry out their marriage. Did he intend to only wed her daughter during her mortal life and then leave their kingdom with blessings? Or would they together outgrow their human flesh to ascend as newly stated Gods and Goddess? And if so what would her daughter's domain be as an ethereal?
She was getting ahead of herself, she knew, but who could blame her? If the rumours were true, her only daughter would be wedded to a God. A God so closely tied to the Sun itself.
The Queen ate another sweet fruit before turning her attention as her daughter began to com
Harker bit his lip for a moment as Milanun launched into a conversation with her mother, her hands still pressed against his arm in a secure hold. He felt restless. The Egyptian boats were still sailing their way, and the longer Carol and Harker loitered here in Hattie, the closer the shadow of war loomed overhead.
Honestly, Harker hated the thought of leaving this place. Yes, it wasn't the home that he nor Carol were aiming for, but it was leagues safer than the bipolar atmosphere of the Egyptian court. And granted, Ismir was an absolute pain, but he was just a prince, and Harker had both the princess and the Queen in his graces. If they were to stay here, Harker could see himself and Carol managing to find some kind of footing, at least until Ismir took the throne - but that could be years away.
And the war was days away.
The pale man sighed and rubbed his brow as stress began to compound in his temples, stopping only when Milanun reached and cupped his cheek with an expression of concern.
"Sorry, just a bit tired," he smiled, leaning into her touch.
Milanun cooed gently and brushed his hair from his face, touching his brow to feel his temperature.
"Mm, you've been up late recently, haven't you?" she sighed, a bitter taste coming to her tongue when she remembered the night she had woken up to the sound of her love and Carol speaking their strange tongue.
"A lot of stuff has happened," he reasoned.
"Why don't you both take an afternoon rest?" the Queen suggested, "It will get far too hot soon, get out of the sun and cool down together."
"That's a good idea," Milanun smiled and urged Harker to his feet, "I will see you at dinner, mother."
"Uh, bye your highness...?" Harker uttered, glancing to Milanun for guidance only to get a giggle at his expense.
Milanun leant her head against Harker's shoulder as they walked back to the palace, the guards sending the strange man a glance from the corner of their eyes but not daring to step against him with the Princess so obviously pressed to his side. The Haitian royal interwove her fingers with Harker's and brought them to their shared chambers, dragging them both onto their bed.
Harker huffed as Milanun brought his head to rest on her chest, her fingers finding his hair and carding through it.
"Your scalp is so pale," she murmured to him after a while of gentle brushing, blue eyes half-closed.
"So is yours," he huffed, letting the woman play with his locks. He shifted on the bed before letting out a sound of exasperation and sat up. "Milanun, I need to leave."
"Huh? Why?" the woman gasped, sitting up as well with fright.
"Our way home is through Egypt," he sighed, "Carol's connected to the Nile, and I'm not even sure what my way home is. All I know is that if I want to get home I need to be in Egypt."
"But..." Milanun glanced away and restlessly played with the sheets of her bed. "Can't...you stay here? And make Haiti your home?"
Harker blinked in surprise before he frowned softly.
"I'm not gonna lie, princess. Between Hatti and Egypt, I'd rather stay here-" Milanun lifted her gaze in a rise of hope. "But I want to go home. I want to see my mother, I want to see my friends. You understand that, right?"
She hated it, but she did understand. Milanun has suffered the isolation and alienation, the ache for home and family. She just hated that she had yet to convince Harker that he could find it here, in Hatti. The royal girl drew her knees to her chest and nodded wordlessly, getting a soft look from the Western man.
"I helped you get home, Milanun," he urged, "Now please, help me."
Milanun hugged her knees tight and grit her teeth. She hated how fragile he sounded, she just wanted him to live comfortably!
"I..."
A huge rise of noise made the two look away from each other, soldiers running through the halls and shouting like town criers.
"Egyptian warships! Approaching from the islands!"
Harker took a sharp breath and pushed off the bed, running after the soldiers with a panic. He gave a shout as four men rounded the corner and grabbed him tight, hands holding him down and making him bend as Ismir towered before him.
"Take him to the cells."
"Brother!" Milanun hissed, storming to them. "Release Harker this instant, what is the meaning of this!?"
"The Egyptians are sailing towards us as we speak, sister," Ismir responded evenly, "We cannot risk threats from the inside. The Daughter of the Nile has already tried to escape once, we cannot be sure about this man either."
Harker paused and took a moment to register what was said; Carol had tried to escape again. He took a deep breath, urging himself to think. Even if Carol had meant to leave him in Hatti, the matter of Egypt was more important. For better or for worse, even Carol would understand that. Harker just needed to keep it in mind too.
"Carol managed to escape?" she echoed, balling her fists. "She managed to leave the palace without anyone knowing?"
"We've contained her, your Highness, rest assured," a soldier spoke and Harker bared his teeth at them.
Milanun brought her hand to her lips in a moment of consideration, her brows furrowed in distress. Carol had managed to sneak out, and if that girl left - though she loathed to admit it - Harker would follow. She'd drag him along and away from her. But if they were contained, held in cells until the war blew over… Even if it took years for the unrest to settle then it would still be years Harker would spend in Hatti with Milanun.
"Very well," she agreed finally, ignoring how Harker' head snapped around to her, face pale with distress and betrayal. "However, once my Harker is contained you must not be distracted from the war, brother. Do not let yourself become bloated with pride."
Harker blinked as he was dragged away, a slow realisation coming to light as he watched Milanun stand in the doorway to her chambers, a sad smile on her lips. Do not become distracted, she had told her brother, pay attention to the war...Do not spend too much time around Carol and Harker.
Harker grit his teeth to bite down a grin, it felt good to finally have people on their side.
()()()
Ismir only took half of his sister's recommendations to heart, and all too late for Carol's mind as she sat curled in Harker's lap, shaking all over and unable to concentrate on one train of thought before another intrusive idea rampaged through. Soon after Harker had been brought to the cells, Ismir had taken Carol and used her to threaten the Egyptians, and in doing so had broken the girl somehow. Harker only had half of the story, only hearing what he could between Carol's hysteria.
"It's my fault," she panted. "It's my fault, so many are dying for nothing because of me, oh God, oh God, oh God!"
Harker squeezed his arms around the girl, feeling a heavy guilt in his chest.
"I saw them die, they called out to me to protect them and-" a high keen of pain and distress crawled out of her throat as she doubled over, holding her head in both hands and fisting her hair. "Memphis! Oh, God Memphis!"
"What happened to Memphis, Carol?" Harker asked softly. He understood she was in no way a sound mental state to handle his questions, but he had to know in order to help. The more he understood about the situation, the better he could figure out the next steps to get them out - and once they were safe he'd make sure Carol got the help and stability she needed.
"He's dead!" she cried and Harker jolted in alarm. "Will die! History says he will die at eighteen! It's my fault!"
"Carol, Carol, I need you to calm down and make sense," he tried to soothe, grasping her shoulders to ground her. "Shiela, I need you to take a breath and focus. Come on..." Harker shifted and tied to remember things to ground people while his own thoughts were racing. "Carol, tell me your last name."
"My- my last name? Reed, but I don't- how can- Memphis-!"
"Good, now, what's seven plus twelve?"
"Uh, it's, nineteen but-"
"Well done," he praised softly, reaching to slowly unravel her fingers from her hair and soothe down her nerves. "Carol, can you tell me where your feet are?"
"They're, uh, they're on the ground," she shuddered out, her mouth feeling dry.
"And where is the sun?"
"In the sky."
"And the colour of our eyes?" he smiled, seeing her starting to calm down as she stared up at him, almost as if trying to remember the simple term for labradorite.
"Blue," she murmured, "Our eyes are blue."
"Correct again," he nodded, running a hand along her arm as she took longer breaths. "Carol I want to help, so I need you to tell me what you know. You've done well so far, you know maths, you know where your feet are, where the sun is, and the colour of our eyes. Now, what do you know about Memphis? Come on, you little Archaeologist."
Carol stared at Harker for a moment more, using blue to keep her in the moment and her mind forward.
"Before all of this, I was on a University trip to a new Egyptian dig. My family were the sponsor for the dig, so my class was given access to all the artifacts uncovered," she said slowly, reciting facts.
"What was in the dig?"
"Found inside was the tomb of a young, unnamed Egyptian Pharaoh, along with his possessions. The Pharaoh was estimated to have died at age eighteen."
Harker swallowed thickly, already guessing where this was going. But he needed to be sure.
"What was the identity of the young Pharaoh uncovered in the tomb?" he asked, being sure to phrase the question carefully. He was trying to sound like a questionnaire or an exam, to make it as mechanical as possible.
"Memphis," Carol responded, still gazing into blue.
"And what is the… suspected cause of death?"
"A spear," she whispered out, "The Pharaoh Memphis was pierced by a spear..."
"Full sentences to your open answer questions, Carol."
"The Pharaoh Memphis was pierced by a spear, that is the suspected cause of death at eighteen."
Shit, he wanted to say, but instead, Harker smiled and gave Carol the tightest hug he could painlessly administer.
"Look at you go, Carol," he praised. "You know Carol, despite everything you're actually...incredibly brave."
Carol blinked, tugged out of her state by the shift in the atmosphere. Tears still clung to her cheeks as Harker touched her face with warm fingers, exhaustion clear in affectionate eyes.
"All I do is cry and cause trouble," she murmured, "Even I know that. I even dragged you to Hatti despite your warning."
"Honestly, what else can you expect to happen? I mean, there's only so much you can do in a situation like this," Harker sighed, "In a way, you're smarter than me. You move where I stay put, too cautious to take risks. Yes, those merchants turned out to be Hattian royals who were out for your blood," Harker cringed at his wording before he gave a pathetic laugh. "But, if they had just been regular merchants, you would have found a way out. I would have made us give up on our ticket to freedom, or you would have been halfway across the desert, and I would have still been under Memphis' thumb."
"What are the chances, right?" Carol managed to hiccup a laugh as she fell into his chest.
"Usually they'd be in your favour, but if the Gods exist they're getting a kick out of fucking with us."
Carol closed her eyes as a few more tears fell down her face, her body still wound so tight as adrenaline and stress flowed through her veins.
"So, Carol the daredevil, what do you say we fuck up Ismir's plan to screw over Egypt?" Harker offered and Carol smiled a fragile little thing.
Then the doors burst open and the royal family of Hatti took up the way, the Queen holding the shoulders of her dear daughter in an open show of support. Ismir sneered at them when he saw how they were wrapped around each other, Milanu's expression pinching in distaste.
"Daughter of the Nile, for your part in the Princess Milanun's suffering you will receive punishment by lashing," Ismir announced, some kind of sadistic pleasure staining his tone.
"What?" Harker gaped, holding Carol tighter. "Milanun, you know Carol never-"
"Please, Harker, this does not involve you. You have been nothing but kind," she said evenly.
Ismir came and tore Carol out of Harker's hold, the Western man letting go out of fear for Carol's shoulder. Harker got to his feet and loomed close, fists clenched and so ready to punch a prince. His desire for justified violence went unquenched however when, like before, hands grabbed him, two burly guards working together to hold him steady.
"You will not be rough with him," Milanun ordered sharply, narrowing her eyes at her brother's men "If I see a single bruise you will both suffer."
Harker heard the soldiers holding him gulp softly, and he fixed his gaze on the Hattian girl, trying to understand why.
The Hattian prisons were a cold place, but it was the kind of cold that made you sweat. Harker stared around at the fire pits that roared along the walls, chambers chock full of bruised and battered bodies greeting them as Ismir yanked Carol to a halt.
"You there," Ismir shouted to a guard who snapped to attention. "Prepare the torture equipment! The flogger!"
"It's the Daughter of the Nile!"
"It's her!"
"And Harker! The Golden Set!"
"Egyptian prisoners," Harker breathed out, staring into the cell with too many people. "Jesus, there's so many."
"Get ready, you rats," Ismir laughed, "I will humiliate your Goddess before you, let's see if you worship her bloody and wrecked!"
Harker twitched when he noticed Carol's struggling kick up a notch. She gave a shout and stomped her foot down on Ismir's shin, then pushed him off her, sending herself sprawling in her hurry. Carol let out a grunt as she landed on the ground and tumbled down the stairs.
"Cowardly bastard!" Carol spat.
Harker narrowed his eyes. She was clutching something in her hand. Reckless, moving when he would stay still. That was Carol.
"Carol! Harker, it's me!"
Harker jolted and cursed loudly when the familiar, boyish face of Sechi appeared in the front of the crowd. The idea that Sephora's son of all people had ended up in Hatti was a kick to the gut, and Harker dreaded the thought of what would have happened had they never found out-
The Western man turned to Milanun who stood tensely at her mother's side, her eyes scanning the crowd of faces in the cells.
Milanun hated that Harker wanted to go, she hated that he couldn't find peace in Hatti. But she understood the need to go home, if it made him happy, she wanted him to go home...she wanted them all to go home.
"Harker!" Carol yelped as she was dragged across the ground by the hair.
The call made Harker try to launch himself forward, but the guards had a steely lock on him, holding him in any way that wouldn't directly bruise his skin and thus save their own from the princess' wrath.
"You called me a 'cowardly bastard', I dare you to repeat that, you wench," Ismir sneered, dragging her to her feet.
"I'll do you one better," she huffed, and for a split second blue caught blue from across the room. "Fuck you, you son of a bitch!"
"Oh Gods," the Queen gasped, absolutely appalled.
"Not you, you're lovely, she just hates your son," Harker cackled, pride sky high at the complete stupor in Ismir's expression.
The King seemed to get a kick out of it nonetheless, an expression of amusement and pleasure marring his face as he watched on.
"You vile-" Ismir began, face red with rage and indignation, before he was cut off as a soldier stumbled into the room.
"Your Highness, reinforcements from Hausa are here!"
"Oh, wonderful, I've been waiting for them," the King laughed, brushing himself down. "The Egyptians have no clue of their arrival, we will make a surprise attack tomorrow. What do you think, Ismir?"
Ismir was visibly torn, duty driving him to return to battle, but his own anger urging him to continue the punishment. In the end, it was Milanun who made the decision, standing straight to call attention.
"Do not be distracted from the war, brother, you promised me that. The punishment can be carried out later, we are in no rush," she huffed, brushing a lock of her hair behind her shoulder. Then she addressed the guards holding Harker with a steely tone. "Return Harker and the girl to their holding cell."
Carol all but ran to Harker's side as Ismir begrudgingly released her, she shoved at the arms of the guards and pushed herself into Harker's chest, one of her hands cradling the bruise on her shoulder from that tumble down the stairs.
"That's quite the mouth you've got on you, hun," Harker snorted as he accepted her quickly, touching her back to feel for the still-healing damage.
It was tender if Carol's flinching meant anything, but it hadn't reopened completely.
"I learnt from the best," she sniffed, and Harker let out a laugh. "Hark, we have to find a way to escape."
"Well," Harker hummed, lightly clasping her shoulder. "There are two of us, and two guards...I think Milanun just helped turn the odds in our favour."
Carol blinked and then gave a soft noise as they turned the corner, no longer surrounded by men and now isolated with only two guards who seemed thoroughly distracted by the curve of her shoulders. She shivered in dislike, before giving a yelp and stumbling.
"Carol-" Harker began, crowding her against the wall that she leant against, hiding her body from the prying eyes of the guards as she bent down.
"What happened? Did she hurt her ankle in the fall?"
Harker pulled back as Carol lashed out with a decorative pot and smashed it over the prying guard's head. Before the other one could raise the alarm, Harker took an offered plant stand from Carol's hands and swung into their face, making a sympathetic hiss as they crumbled to the floor in an unmoving lump.
"Oh Gods, they're going to feel that in the morning," Harker tsked.
"Time to run!" Carol urged, grabbing Harker's arm and taking off in the direction furthest from the voices of people. "We have to get out of here."
"There are guards all over the city," Harker grit out as they ducked into a shadowed doorway, letting a pair of men stomp past. "Did Unasu tell you anything? He had to know something in order to be going around without being caught, right?"
"Uh," Carol uttered, frazzled and trying to order her thoughts. "Unasu- Unasu said that there was an empty dungeon. Under the palace."
"Under the palace," Harker echoed, before he jerked and asked, "Then there should be a dock or port to the ocean, right? For transporting prisoners?"
"Yes!" Carol gasped, the realisation of a channel either manmade or natural existing beneath the palace coming to light. "It'll be risky, but, if we can hide for long enough we might be able to make it!"
Carol pushed off from their hiding spot and made to run, but paused when she saw Harker hesitate. She turned and waved for him to hurry.
"You go," Harker said, and Carol's brow furrowed.
"What do you mean? No, you can't stay here."
"And we can't leave all those prisoners," Harker fought.
"We won't," Carol assured, ushering them both deeper into their corner as footsteps ran past. "I gave them the keys to their cell earlier, while Ismir was distracted. They have the means to escape, they just need the right timing!"
"And if they don't get the timing?" Harker pressed, "Sechi's in there, I can't return to Egypt knowing Sephora's son is in that cell because of us."
Carol stared at her fellow Westerner for a moment, distress obvious in her expression.
"Carol, find Memphis, get them to create a distraction. I'll get the prisoners out, guide them out, and we'll have this done."
"But-"
"Carol, hun, I'm running on 4 hours of sleep right now, I do not have the energy to keep this going for another day. This Hattian shitshow ends tonight."
"It will," Carol agreed vehemently. "But you cannot stay inside the castle. We're getting out together. And the prisoners will escape too, I promise."
Harker frowned.
"I trust you as much as I can, Carol," he began and Carol bit down the hurt that gripped her heart for a moment. "But I won't stake Seichi's and tens of lives on your word. Get out there, lure the guards. I'm staying here."
Carol could only watch as Harker burst from their hiding place and disappeared down the halls of the palace. She bit her lip and turned, making for the secondary dungeons Unasu had told her about.
Carol ran, her sandals clapping against the stone floors deafeningly. She squeezed her eyes shut and threw a prayer out to whatever gods were watching; she hoped they'd all make it out of this night alive.