AN:

Please use this link to view image references since FF doesn't allow mid chapter images. Please also be reminded that all the photos in the pinterest link are NOT mine. All the credits goes to their original owners because they made really amazing photos that I can use for inspiration.

The board contains images of how I imagine Branwen's looks, Her Clothes etc. I will be continuously updating this together with the fic.

leiiiriuuki/god-save-our-queen-story-board/


Yuuri's POV

In the meantime, the orchestral version of "The blue Danube" by Johann Strauss kept playing in my head. The scorching sun earlier that had burnt my skin had now become milder. Even if I slept out in the open with no sun protection, I wouldn't suffer from a sunburn. By nightfall, the temperature dropped rapidly. The cool gentle breeze caressed my skin and brought me back to consciousness. Vaguely feeling like being rocked back and forth, I woke up to find myself lying on the head jailer's rocking chair. Still sleep-deprived, I carefully forced open my eyelids, stuck as if being glued. My eyes were dry and sore.

"What ..." I mumbled. It strained my larynx to talk. My mouth was dry and parched. The first thing that I could see was thick golden strands shimmering in the moonlight. I didn't even have time to think 'It's beautiful', when I heard someone scolding me.

"Why do you always do this?" The blond said with worried and stern eyes. He was sitting on a chair beside me and his figure towered me as he looked if I was already awake.

"Wolf?"

"What?"

"Wa...Water..." That didn't seem to be the response he expected. His eyebrows squished together in anger. He grabbed my head and pushed my face into the water basin nearby. "Drown in it!" He shouted.

I drank. Water went inside me not only through my mouth but also through my nose and ears. "Ouch... Stop it! I'm drowning, I'm really drowning here. What the freak are you doing?!" I retorted as I struggled to get my head out of the basin while his hand was still pushing my head to submerge in water.

"Do you know how worried I was about you?" He turned his serious face to me.

I felt tremendous guilt since it was indeed my own impulsive action that caused trouble to everyone. I straightened in my seat and patted his beautiful locks like a child. "Yeah, I'm sorry Wolf. For worrying you guys so much." I smiled at him contemplatively.

I inquired about Conrart's whereabouts and expressed my concern about the imprisoned Gwendal. I tried to stand in abruptly in hopes to rescue Gwen before he got executed. But Wolf barred my movements before I could even take a step. He slumped me back to the chair and explained that Gwen has already managed to break out of prison and is now taking command of their troops.

I shift my gaze away from Wolfram to the darkening surrounding. I could see neither the women nor their slave-driving guards. Since I had slept the whole time, I could not explain how they had been released. I must have done something horrible and frightened everyone. That was why they looked so pale, wasn't it? I must have scared the hell out of them…

After throwing in my face a cloth that smelled like sun, he stomped off noisily toward the hut that used to be Tricolor's office. Can't he be gentler to a delicate flower like me? I rolled my eyes in irritation. He said that he will get something for me to eat. Yes, food sounded like a good idea. I could not even remember when I had my last meal. As a punishment, we had not been given any breakfast.

What had become of my roommates, who were also punished for my mistake? Where was Norika, the leader, or Martha and her half-dead baby? How long had I slept? Were the questions that were going on in my mind. I got up and slowly walked down the steps. Somewhere in the direction of the graves, I saw a small flame flickering. Although cold sweat ran down my back at the thought that it could be a ghost or a walking fire, I was inevitably drawn there. The fluctuating light moved now and then, sometimes lowered down to the ground.

As I got closer, I saw shadows of human beings reflected in the dark. At least that was somebody, not a walking fire. But who would wander in a cemetery at night? There could only be two possibilities: someone visiting a grave or the dead resurrected. "Hey, you over there! Do you happen to be zombies? If so, no problem! I would not do anything to harm you! Nice to meet you." uncertain of what I would face.

"Is it you, Your Majesty?" A zombie wouldn't be able to ask me that question. Thank God, it was only Conrart, holding a torch in his hand. "It's Yuuri to you." I corrected as he lit up the ground for someone who was digging furiously. It was Norika.

"Norika, Why are you digging here in the middle of the night?" I crouched down beside her to see what she was doing. "I'm looking for something," She said. With the torch light, I could barely see her expression. But from the tone of her voice, it seemed important.

Conrart shrugged his shoulders and smiled, as if that were the most normal thing in the world. He raised the torch into the air. Now I could see things around us. "This will be the last one," Conrad said to Norika.

The mounds of earth, which as I remembered used to be in neat rows, had all been dug up but one. In a different situation, this would have been considered grave desecration, a serious crime. I squatted down to help the woman who was working like a demon. Norika stopped me. She says that she was looking for her child and that she wants to find him herself.

"Your child?" I eyed her. I'm sure that my gloomy expression got to her. I want to console her but have found no words will suffice at the moment.

Norika lifted her face up a little bit and smiled faintly as she looked into my eyes. Damn, where were my contact lenses when I needed them? She thanked me for saving Martha's baby and for teaching the soldiers a lesson. It dawned on me that I really did something. I shouldn't really be surprised at that but I searched for Conrart's eyes in the dark looking for some explanation. My knight, who must have witnessed everything, said nothing as usual. His face had the same calm and composed expression, except the corner of his lips lifted a little bit. I was musing at what he could be thinking when Norika spoke again.

"Your real name is not Mabo, is it?" asked Norika.

"No. My name is Yuuri Shibuya but you may call me Branwen." I introduced myself with glee but when I remembered that I'm not wearing my contacts and that I did something scary again my smile vanished. "But weren't you afraid of me? Everyone I've met so far was shocked when they saw my black eyes and when they saw whatever I did." I hid my sad eyes in my bangs. I know that people will think and act differently towards me now.

"Why should I be afraid?" She touched my cheek with her fingers, still covered in sand and dirt. She smiled, lines forming on her tan wheat-colored face around her eyes. "Let me look at you closely. Would you mind bringing the torch a little closer please? Wow, really, your eyes are of a deep, clear black. I've never seen such beautiful eyes. My husband said he had once seen a beautiful old portrait of the revered Sage in the Royal even told me several times that the noble and intellectual Sage had a pair of black eyes, just like yours, and shiny smooth hair of the same color." She said in amusement.

I wondered aloud as to who that was. Norika just said that he was a demon just like us. After a while, a soldier with a familiar face approached to report to Conrart. After receiving a short answer, he returned to his post.

Norika set out to work again, pushing soil aside with bare hands. I scooted up in hopes to get a spade but was stopped by Norika saying that she wanted to dig her child with her hands. She said that the soldiers told her that he was still born and didn't even let her see his face. She is determined to find her son. Even if it was just his bones or a strand of his hair.

Probably she had fallen in love with a demon, just like Nicola. Unfortunately for her, someone must have found out and she ended up being persecuted and forced to work like a slave in this place. However, the fault actually did not lie with these women, but with those who harbored discrimination and deep-rooted prejudice.

"I wish Josak had been just as lucky." Conrart looked up to the sky for a moment. What could have been the past of the orange haired spy? "Countless women and children have been imprisoned in this place. They all shared the same fate. Some have even laid down to rest here forever. Although they are not related to me, seeing how they were treated, I wish they would be freed." He continued.

"Then, have they all been freed?" I asked, still looking at the grave Norika was digging.

"I would say so. The living, and the dead, too. The problem is that the guards have all fled away, so probably their reinforcements will arrive very soon." Conrart reported the news. The torch was held such that light fell on Norika's hands but Conrart's face was hidden in the dark. "Yet you seem to be very happy." I closed my eyes and saw his warm smile in my head.

"You can tell that from my voice?" His voice is now a mixture of wonder and amazement.

"No, not your voice. If you are wondering, I do not know it myself." I shook my head. I did not need to see his face to know its expression. It has always been a mystery to me but it's fine all the same. It's like I can see it from the depths of my soul.

Conrad brought us back to reality saying that he'd like to leave the place tonight to gain some ground on the soldiers that would surely be chasing us in the morning. He also said that Gwendal and his men are already preparing for departure.

"That's right! Gwen! How is he? Was he injured?" I exclaimed and stood to face my knight and grabbed his arm. I remembered how Gwen shielded me from the wooden sticks. Conrart was shocked by my actions. Though I don't know if it was from my worried expression or what.

"Gwen?" He asked with a raised brow and gave out a light chuckle. Ohhh, the nickname. I gathered.

"Gwendal is fine, Your Majesty. He is tougher than he looks. No need to worry about him" He said as he held my hand that was resting on his arm. I heaved a sigh of relief. I was told that Gwen has a few broken ribs and my shoulders slumped at that.

I also asked about what would happen to the women once we left the place. I looked at Norika for a bit when her fingertips seemed to have touched something. She cried out softly and continued digging. After making sure that she was alright, I turned to my knight again.

"They have gone through terrible things. They were chained together and sent into narrow, hot pits. I do not know how valuable the exorcist's stones are, but these women have been exploited shamefully. Can they still return to their families?" My eyes looked straight to him, studying his reactions.

"We have opened the prison's gates. At least for now, they are free to do as they wish. That's all we can do from our side. Now it is entirely up to them how they want to lead their lives in the future. If they return to their homes, it is possible that they will be captured and enslaved again. Perhaps they can seek help from their families and other sympathetic people and escape the dark fate. Anyway, the decision lies with the women themselves, not with us. However, there is one thing ... "

It was very unusual for Conrart not to come out immediately with what he had to say. After shifting his weight from one foot to another a few times, he put on a serious expression. Although he already knew my answer, he got a kick out of keeping me hanging in suspense. I pouted my face in obvious irritation and urged him to continue.

"There were about forty women who had been in a relationship with demons. And all of them want to go to their husbands' homeland." He finally let it out.

I squealed! I opened and closed my hands in obvious excitement, my eyes beamed in delight. And since I can no longer contain my happiness, I jumped to his arms and encircled my arm on his neck with glee! Although he was shocked about what's happening, he still easily caught me and cradled me in one arm since the other was holding the torch. I would have died in embarrassment for my actions but I was just too happy to mind.

"We'll take them! We'll take them! Ohhh Thank you!" I pushed myself away from his embrace and my eyes that still beamed with joy eyed his. "We have Lady Cheri and her support for the pursuit of free love! I will definitely not allow anyone to mistreat these women, ever! They'll come with us, that's the Queen's wish!" I grinned at him again. My bubble popped when Conrart coughed lightly. I turned my head to him confused. His eyes were closed and his pointy finger pointed to heaven.

"Gunther isn't here, I'll take over his role for a moment, 'Your Majesty: Sometimes you must first think about your decision.' This is what Gunther would say." He moved his chin down and opened his eyes to see mine then he continued "However, my personal opinion is that in some cases, it is best to follow your instincts." He said with a wink. It immediately made me laugh. His impersonation was perfect!

"Then we'll follow them!" I grinned at him again.

Wolfram called out to me from a distance. Apparently he had found something for me to eat. When he saw that I was together with Conrart, he immediately started walking over. Suddenly I heard a muffled sob that scared me stiff. After all, I was standing in a cemetery, who could be weeping here in the middle of the night? It was neither a ghost nor a zombie, but the mother who had been searching for her child, Norika.

"I cannot find him...There were no bones, no hair, absolutely no trace of his existence." Tears are already flowing in her face.

"Ten years is a long time," I said. I squatted beside her again and held her as she quietly sobbed. I put my hand into the deep hole that Norika had dug. The heat of the day was gone and the earth felt so cold that I could almost feel a shiver running down my spine. With a click, my fingernails hit something hard. I pulled it out. The object was long and narrow. There were small bumps along its length. For a bone, it felt too smooth.

"I've found it too," Norika said. "But that's not my son. It's just a simple pipe. Probably a part of... "

Pipe ...?! A part of something?! "Impossible!" I cried. Unbelievable! Could it be? Here in this place? From my chest pocket, I took out a dark brown pipe slightly thicker than a thump. It was the pipe Nicola had given us. When I was sent to the labor camp, the guards had thoroughly examined my belongings, but no one confiscated it because it was not a weapon.

"Conrart, I need a light please." I asked and he moved closer to luminate my hands. I examined the pieces. It's indeed the head joint that had been missing! I quickly pieced the parts together. It snapped with a click. The Magic Flute was the precious treasure of the demon tribe, could it be such an ordinary flute? But even though it looked ordinary, it might produce heavenly sounds. Instruments should not be judged by appearance, and there was only one way to tell. I tried to remember the notes I have learned with the flute. Upon deciding that I won't need it at the moment, I still need to test if it was working fine. I wiped my dirty hands on my clothes. Then I took a deep breath...

~Tatüüü!~

It was working fine. If this object was truly the Magic Flute, then my first encounter with a musical instrument was not for nothing! Mom insisted that I should learn an instrument and before I could even pick which one I would like to try, she bought me a flute saying that it was the most basic instrument and perfect for the young me. And that was the beginning of my love for music. Each year, mom would introduce me to a new one until I found the other half of my soul in the violin. Well more like a quarter since I've fallen in love with a lot of things as I grew older.

"Where did you find the other part?" asked Conrad.

"Nicola gave it to me. Nicola and her boyfriend Gegenhuber found the flute... Ah, I see now!" The past events flashed through my mind like movie scenes. How we ran through the capital of Svelera. The bride who wanted to marry a man she did not love to save Huber. The bride in snow-white wedding dress.. A bald-headed man, who had introduced himself as a supporter of the demons, and his ten-year-old grandson, who grew too slowly. His mother, after being taken away for violating the marriage laws, had given birth to a child. Ten years ago, a demon who looked exactly like Gwendal had brought a new born baby to the grandfather. "It was Huber! All threads lead back to Gegenhuber," I cried.

Meanwhile Wolfram was approaching us. When he heard the name of his relative, his mood sank through the floor. "What about Huber?" He asked.

"He had hidden these parts here! In the fresh grave of a baby! The baby was separated from the mother immediately after birth, but Huber dug him up again!" The mother, who did not understand half of my statements, absentmindedly ran her fingers through her hair. "Norika! Your child is still alive! I think we can help you find him!"

"My son is still alive?" She turned to me wide eyed. I then asked her about what her father's name was. Though I already knew her answer, I was still delighted when she muttered "Shas".

"I knew it! He is slightly cripple, right?And your father ... he informed on you?" I queried further. Norika slowly shook her head and said no with a smile and tears in her eyes. I smiled at her. She can return to her family. Although Shas may have informed on me and Gwen, I understand he did it for Jilta. With that, we set out to find them. The reunion between the mother and son that was separated for more than ten years had tugged on my heart. Tears slowly formed in my eyes but before they could even fall, I felt a hand on my shoulder and a cloth being offered in front of me. "Thank you Conrart." Was all I could mutter as I reached out to it and dried my tears.

I was reputedly accountable for the destruction of the exorcist-stone excavation sites, and for the avalanche that shook the mines shut. I had tried to wrestle this information out of both Conrart and Wolfram, but both of them just retreated into a deep silence. Probably, I had pulled off another totally embarrassing display of magic in front of everyone.

We wanted to set out before Suberera's army could mobilize against us. The troop heading back towards the sand dunes at the border was twice as big as it had been on the prior journey. Some of the women had decided to risk an escape attempt with us; they wanted to start new lives. Most of our soldiers marched on foot, since it was decided that the horses should be assigned to the women. The queen herself traveled comfortably, naturally, which did not please me at all.

"I have a guilty conscience, riding in this silly carriage, at least let me ride beside the coachman" I said to Conrart. As I let my head hang out of the makeshift curtain roof my unbound hair flowing with the wind.

"That's not a carriage; it's a sleigh, Your Majesty. A horse-drawn sleigh." Conrart corrected me and I eyed him with discontent.

"Geeez! It's Yuuri!" I didn't wait for him to answer as I was sulking. I just went and sat back at the horse-drawn sleigh. He's somehow infuriating. He's the one who named me but refuses to call me by my name.

Fine, whatever, then Nicola, Wolfram, Norika, Shas, Jilta and I were sitting in a horse-drawn sleigh, which didn't make it any better at all. It felt like a luxury trip on the Orient Express. At first, they'd also thundered at Gwendal to ride in the sleigh, but since he, unlike me, knew how to assert himself, he was now riding upright in his saddle. And that too with broken ribs. I rolled my eyes on that.

Wolfram expressed his desire to be my human pillow but I completely declined. The pushy lord brat tried to capture me in his arms and forcefully push my head to rest on him: "Every time you do some huge magic, you sleep for two to three days," declared Wolfram, unmoved. "This time you only slept two hours. And after such a formidable performance, too. Please be so kind as to stay right where you are. You need your rest." He's clearly enjoying the situation.

"All right, all right! But why the heck does it have to be with you as my pillow?!"

"Doesn't it make you happy?"

"Do I look like I'm happy?!" I forced myself to a sitting position and moved to the farther corner away from him having had enough of his antics.

"Oh, you two are truly one heart and one soul," sighed Nicola with shining eyes. When she found out that we hadn't been able to locate Hube, she cried very intensely again. But her mood improved quickly when we offered her the opportunity to live in her lover's homeland.

Nicola was a refreshingly positive thinker, brimming with optimism. Her smile was getting brighter all the time, and you couldn't help laughing along with her. "Branwen, which of the two did you end up marrying? The older or the younger brother?" she asked. As she curled up beside me and whispered.

"End up marrying...? Neither, of course!"

"You're not? But then why did you elope?"

"I never eloped!" I groaned.

Conrart, who had ridden up next to us, pushed the sleigh's curtain open from the outside. "We'll be arriving soon at the border city. Your Majesty? Oh, there you are! I didn't see you down there at first." A vein almost popped from the side of my temple. But I was not going to argue this time. It's my ticket to get out of the sleigh.

"Conrart, help me! Please let me ride normally, just let me ride behind you on your horse. If it'll bother you just let me sit beside the coachman!" I pleaded to my knight.

With a light sigh, finally Conrart arranged it so that I was able to get off the sleigh. I took my place behind him. The morning sun was so dazzling that it was hard to even look forward. I clung to the back of his cloak and used him as a shield against the sun. In the shadow of his back, the journey passed in a rhythmic sway. I gradually became sleepy. Voices drifted quietly and pleasantly past my ears. I didn't know when I dozed off but was brought back to reality by a falling feeling then an arm served as a railing preventing my fall. "It's dangerous to fall asleep amidst a moving horse, Your Majesty." He said with a huff of relief. "Would you reconsider going back inside?"

I persuaded the knight against the idea. "Then please hold on properly." he reached for my hand and anchored it with his. A sturdy and calloused hand has prevented me from falling off the horse.

"Gwendal scolded me," Conrad said out of the blue.

"Scolded?What for?"

"Because of your hands." Calloused hand that still clasped mine examined my hand.

The handcuffs had only left me with a light abrasion. Gwendal, on the other hand, didn't get off so lightly. Because of his strong magical abilities, the exorcist-handcuffs really affected him. The wounds weren't dangerous, but his skin was pretty well burned, and because of my carelessness, he ended up with broken ribs. His entire body was covered in wounds, actually. In his place, I'd have been a wailing pile of misery.

"Why, what's wrong with my hands?" I asked. Even though he is not facing me, I tried to hide the flush in my face at the thought that the knight is still holding me to keep me from slipping from the mane.

"He probably noticed the calluses on your right hand, when he touched it. At first, he was pleased; he thought they were the result of daily sword training. Until he realized that they weren't normal sword calluses." He explained.

"Sword calluses?" I grumbled. "Well if it's me, it's more of primarily baseball and a little bit of sword calluses." Every evening, one hundred practice swings! Recently, I'd even traded up to a wooden bat. For someone who'd quit the team in middle school, that wasn't a bad accomplishment! And once per week, I would juggle amongst fencing and rock climbing so I'm pretty sure that it's a little bit of both.

"He accused me of doing a bad job of teaching you," Conrad continued. "The correct way to hold a sword is the first thing every beginner must learn."

"Well, no need to teach me the basics. Plus the fencing sword on Earth is quite different from here so it's probably why the calluses are different. Just say that it's not your fault next time" I tried to wiggle my way out of the conversation.

"You try telling him that." Despite him not facing me, I can tell that he's grinning.

Well, yeah, when you put it that way. Like I, just a kid, was going to convince the great Gwendal to change his opinions. It'll never happen! I groaned in frustration.

"You two seem to be understanding each other better now." He probed when I didn't answer his last statement.

"You think so? I'm not so sure." I gazed toward the older brother, who'd ridden pretty far ahead of us. He sat steadily with perfect posture on the horse. No one would ever have guessed that he was injured. The guy was pretty determined, you had to give him that. "Well, I no longer think Gwen hates me, anyway."

"But I've been telling you that the whole time, Yuuri! It is not remotely possible for my brother to not like you."

Well, our first meeting was disastrous. And our personalities aren't that easy to reconcile, either. No one could expect me to just accept that as fact.

"Who knows, he might as well be angry at our adventure." I said as I looked at Gwendal's scowling face. "It's because I absolutely had to get my own pigheaded way that Gwendal ended up with all those wounds."

"No, Gwendal is born with that expression. Besides, didn't you learn a little about him?" Conrad was the first person who told me that Gwendal was actually a good person. So, I should probably tell him that my opinion of him changed. If I were to get along with the oldest son better in the future, then Conrad was surely the one who would be most pleased by it.

"Yeah!" I beamed at him with a smile. I told him that Gwen was not as scary as I thought he is. I learned he has weaknesses like other people and can be emotional at times. He can even laugh every once in a while. "At first I thought that you three brothers were nothing alike but I can see a slight resemblance in your smiles." I said with a smile as I remembered the conversations and the time I had spent with Gwen.

"... -hind, huh?" I was not able to understand Conrart's words that were like lost with the light breeze that passed. "Eh?"

He deliberately turned his head around to face me and repeated himself. He had a smile on his face like always. "Damn it, seems like I've been left behind."

"Nonsense. You two are brothers so you've had much more time to get to know each other. You should try talking one night out under the stars. You'll learn what kind of person your Onii-chan is, I'm telling you." I smiled at him as I tried to encourage the sibling bond.

When Conrad looked back, his face darkened. In the distance he'd noticed clouds of sand rising up. "We are being pursued. That was fast." Conrad gave orders to some of the soldiers at the head of the troop, then he tried to deliver me back to the sleigh. "If they shoot with arrows, the cover could save your life," he tried to persuade me.

"Then it would be better to let as many of the women as possible take shelter on the sleigh!"

"When are you finally going to understand what this is all about? How often do I need to repeat it? Your Majesty's life is the top priority. And you are also a WOMAN" he stressed the words so sternly that I couldn't refute them.

"But..." I didn't get any further, because I suddenly spotted something very unpleasant. Further in front of us, I saw a cute figure wriggling around in the sand dunes. Its arms were spread out, and waving up and down, like a drowning person grasping out with their last strength. What a masterly achievement of stagecraft! However, we already had enough experience from our previous journey to know that this animal really wasn't about to drown in the sand.

"There's a sandbear over there again," I moaned.

"Where, Your Majesty?!" Just like in our previous encounter, no one but me could see the bear. Gwendal had said that it was probably a trap that the exorcist-magicians laid over the area.

The situation became quite tricky. We couldn't turn back, because we'd run right into the arms of the soldiers from Svelera. We also were afraid the women would panic, if they realized how much danger we were in. In front of us, a murderous panda, behind us, an Iroquois army. We stood under a red alert.

"I will handle them with the troops. You escape with the women!" Gwendal's voice was commanding as he throttled his horse and faced the impending soldiers.

"NO! You are in no shape for that!" I shouted at him causing him to turn towards me and Conrart.

"If we could at least delay those soldiers chasing us," said Conrad with agitation in his voice, and placed his hand on the hilt of his sword. My hand went instinctively to my hip as well, but there was no sword. They hadn't given me one after all of my belongings were taken from the excavation site. But there was something else - the flute. I grasped at it.

Could this object actually be good for something? I doubted it, but it was worth a try. I should gather a rain or a storm that will delay the soldiers that are chasing us. With new determination, I urged myself to dismount Conrart's horse. I tumbled unsteadily causing Conrart to worry and pull his horse to a stop. "Your Majesty, are you alright?"

"What are you planning to do?!" All of them eyed me questioning my actions. But I paid them no heed. "I'm fine! Get away from me!" I said as loud as I could. Faced with no other option, they followed my lead and they scrambled to the side.

I eyed the soldiers that are steadily closing in on us and clasped my hand on the demon flute. "I'm fine." Then I turned my eyes to the flute in my hand "This is not the ideal situation to use you but please.. Lend me your strength."

The first note sounded like an old woman screaming, and every face turned towards me. The sand dunes remained hot and dry; there was no sign of rain. Maybe I need to play a little longer. With that in mind and the excitement that I felt as I held the instrument, I closed my eyes and began to play the songs that I have practiced before and memorized by heart. 1. Bach-Minuet , 2. Oepheus in the underworld, 3. The four seasons, 4. Te Deum; just for the heck of it. I felt unstoppable as music engulfed everything around me.

Everyone around me was busy taking the battle formation in preparation for the attack. The audience of my inept solo concert was getting thinner and thinner. My bag of tricks was exhausted. Now I had only a very short piece I knew by heart until the last note. I will not regret playing today even if it didn't summon a storm.

"Ryan...?" Conrad suddenly muttered in surprise.

A great human shadow was running towards us from the direction of the sandbear. Ryan? I've heard this name before. Ryan, who was that again?While racking my brain trying to remember the name, I played the Kimba- The White Lion. I could hear some rumbling sound mixed in the music from below.

"Drat!"

"A thunderstorm!" shouted someone, and an upheaval erupted. The yellow sand was turning gray. The sun that had scorched my neck disappeared. When I looked up, the sky was covered by black clouds. The first drops splashed on my face. Shortly afterward, the rain already became a downpour. Thunder roared and lightning crisscrossed the sky. That was a true-storm!


COVENANT CASTLE


Normal POV

After the stunning escape from the Svelera army, Branwen and her group were now safe in the confines of Covenant Castle. They were telling the tales of their adventure to the silver hair tutor. Gunter cried in awe when they said that Ryan was able to tame a wild sandbear in less than five days! He had wrapped the Magic Flute in a cloth to protect it from fingerprints.

If Gunther had known that it had been buried in a tomb instead of a corpse, he would probably be whining all over the castle halls. Branwen thought to herself; beads of sweat forming on her forehead.

"Yes, I was surprised too," replied Conrad.

"And so was I," I confirmed.

They also stated that the downpour caught the enemy troops by surprise and that gave them the necessary time to follow Ryan's lead to the hide-out built by the tamed sandbear. The rain beat down on Suberera's sand dunes as if the eternal sunshine had become but a dream. The rest of our trip was pretty pleasant and uneventful.

When they finally arrived at the royal capital, they found Gunther completely frightened for some unknown reasons. Apparently a cruel demon had abused the poor fellow as a Guinea pig. Since they took the shortcut route to the Royal Palace instead of traveling through the Kavernikov area, that Branwen did not get to know Lady Anissina, the terror of all men. She didn't know if she should be sad or thankful for it but she wanted to meet the lady.

"Your Majesty, I am impressed!" Gunter sang his song of praise. "Although you played The Magic Flute for the first time, you have already mastered it, by all measures. It is well known how great you are with the violin but it didn't occur to me that you can even play the are blessed with an exceptional talent!"

"Well I love music. And it was my first musical instrument." Branwen explained as a light blush crosses her face.

Everything was peaceful. With a sheepish smile, Branwen excused herself from the group and headed to her chambers. She semi hopped with excitement thinking that since the adventure was done, it was about time for her to go home.

Conrart and Wolfram escorted her and were shocked when the young monarch rushed to her private bath fully clothed and without even asking them to go out of the room. Also leaving the doors to the bath open.~ SPLASH~. Both of them turned their heads down a little blush forming in Wolfram's pale cheeks while Conrart with his years of experience seemed unmoved. Their Queen had submerged herself to the water doing who knows what. The two brothers decided to go out of the room to leave the young Queen; but before they could take another step, they heard her wail. "NOOO!" And they both rushed into the bath without any second thoughts; thinking that Branwen is in danger.

"Your Majesty!" "Branwen!" Both shouted in worry. The Queen was slumped to the pool of water. Her clothes were wet and her wet disheveled hair covered her face. Conrart scanned her looking for injuries and was relieved to find none. What was worrying him however was the slumped shoulders that are visibly shaking.

Wolfram went to her to pull her up not minding that he would also get wet in the process. "What's wrong Branwen?" Conrart just stood by the pool as he watched the two.

"I don't understand" Branwen was still out of it. "I can't go home." Tears slowly formed in her dark orbs.

Wolfram who didn't understand her words corrected her saying that they are already home from Svelera. "I can't go back, to my home, to earth, to Japan!" Branwen wailed.

Wolfram was irked at her statement. He let go of Branwen and placed his arms on his chest. "How much of a wimp are you?! When will you accept it? You.. Are going to live as the Maoh. You can't run from the place where your soul belongs. What kind of a Queen are you if you don't foresee this coming?"

Branwen was frozen at his words. All of them were true. She still sat motionless as the realization of her not being able to see her family.. Her friends… dawned at her. It was too soon… Although she had anticipated it, It was just too soon. Branwen slowly got up, her expression still hidden by her hair as she made her way out of the baths and out of the room without changing to dry clothes.

Wolfram was about to lash out again at her only to be stopped by Conrart. They had no choice at the moment but to follow her wherever she might go. Minutes later, Branwen and her group were already in front of Shinou's temple.

Branwen was pleading to Ulrike. She wanted her to contact the Original King so that he may send her home. But the travel was unfruitful since Ulrike said that she could not hear the Great One's voice at the moment and without him, she could not open the portal to the other world. "All I can say is that everything is according to Shinou's will." Ulrike expressed her deep apology towards her Queen.

They had then no choice but to go back to the castle. Wolfram had excused himself as he was still angry at Branwen's indecisiveness and wanted to rest after the long journey. Conrart went to bring the horses back to the stable thinking about what he can do to ease his Queen's worries.


The sun was already setting, a mixture of orange and violet hues covered the entire castle. In a dark bench in the courtyard alcoves, the double black queen sat with her eyes closed. Her shoulders slumped. She turned her head to the familiar footsteps that approached her.

Conrart had been looking for his Queen after his trip to the stables and after talking to some people that might bring spirits back to those black orbs; only to find her in deep thought by the alcoves still wearing her damp clothes. He sighed. He turned his way to the nearest room where they store lines and other garments and grabbed an over-sized cloth and went back to where his Queen was.

"Your Majesty, you will really catch a cold." He said as he opened the cloth and draped it to Yuuri. Then he proceeded to sit beside her hoping to listen to her and make her at ease.

"Maybe I have chosen too lightly. I have known from the depths of my soul that a time I would come where I would have to choose… But this.. This is too soon…" Branwen lamented without eying the person beside her, She clutched to the cloth that hung loosely on her shoulders to fend off the cold that was already beginning to settle on her body.

Conrart chose his words. "Do you dislike this country, Yuuri?"

"I like it!" It was the only time that Branwen looked at him; big black orbs, glinting for a moment before it was sullen again. "I just didn't imagine that I would get separated from my family and friends like this."

"That's true." Conrart can't help but feel pity towards her. His eyes wandered at the landscape as he spoke again. "I can't take away your sadness or bitter feelings.. But you have the strength of those who support the Queen behind you." He said earnestly.

Branwen listened and turned to the blue pendant that she had been holding since earlier. She had calmed down a bit as she listened to his quiet assurance. The knight had reminded her that she was not alone. He was with her and knowing that had calmed her system. She was now steadily accepting the fact that she could no longer go home. With new resolve she turned to him. "Conrart"

"Please don't regret your decision to become the Demon Queen." He offered her a gentle smile and stood his hands in motion to point into something. Branwen just looked at him. Wondering what he was doing when he spoke again. "If Yuuri had not become Queen, these ladies would not have been rescued."

Branwens eyes shifted from Conrart's smiling face to the people who currently occupied the courtyard. There stood Nicola, Norika, Jilta and Shas. The looks on their faces tells you how happy they are at the moment. "Branwen!" Nicola waved at her. Branwen beamed with joy at the sight and instantly rose to her feet to approach the visitors.

"Excuse me, Your Majesty, Please forgive my lack of etiquette towards you in the past." Nicola said and together the group offered a light bow.

Branwen dismissed the formality. Immediately reminding them that she is still her and that they can call her however they want. Nicola said that she's still amazed by the fact that she really is the demon queen. While Norika chimed in that she couldn't believe it at first. Branwen stepped down the alcoves carefully so as to not trip on the cloth that covered her damp clothes..She crouched down and gently placed a hand on Jilta's head. "Good to see you as well, little man." Jilta giggled at her.

Nicola happily said that Geggenhuber's family accepted her as their daughter-in-law and provided a home for herself and her child. She said that since Huber, their heir, hadn't returned for almost twenty years, the Grieselas were very happy to have a new family member. And the child would even be named after Branwen. "Huber's cousin Lord von Voltaire vouched for me" She said happily.

Branwen turned wide eyed at that. "Gwen did?" They chatted for a few minutes more and then she excused herself to finally change her clothes. Before she could turn away, a soothing voice called out to her again.

Conrart can not be happier as the light in their Queen's eyes returned. "Ohh before I forget. Here. Gwendal asked for it to be given to you." He held his hand out to her as he presented her with a knitted stuffed animal about 30 centimeters long.

"Aww! What a cute white pig!" Branwen exclaimed as she cradled the stuffed animal clearly happy with the gift. She thought that it might have been a thank you gift for the dolphin.

Conrad tried to suppress his smile. "I believe that what you've got there is a white lion."

"What? But it doesn't have a mane... Then is it a female? So instead of Leo-chan, it should be Leoko-chan?" By no stretch of the imagination did Leoko-chan look like a white lion. But after all, it's the thought that counts. With that, she was on her way to her room.

Conrart then turned and thanked the group for accommodating his request despite the short notice. All of them smiled at him telling him it was no trouble at all after all the things that Branwen did for them. All of them are happy with their families now and they owe it all to her.

"She is an incredible person." Norika nodded at her. His eyes full of pride for their young Queen. For being able to gather the admiration of everyone she meets.

Nicola giggled softly to herself as she eyed the proud expression in the knight's face. She had known all too well that expression and had seen it directed towards her before.


R&R! 3