A/N: So sorry for the extreme delay with this chapter! This was a rough one to get through. I will do my best to get the next one out a little faster.
Chapter 25: Katerina Beker
"I'm concerned about Chancellor Beker…" Sturgis uttered quietly as he walked with General Andersen down the castle corridor. "He's been behaving rather strangely as of late."
"In what way?"
"I fear he's growing too soft about the mission." Sturgis replied.
"I doubt that" Anderson snorted, "I just sat in on his negotiations with King Gregor of Maldonia. He practically had the monarch on his knees." He clasped his hands behind his back, "…I'd say within the next week at most, we'll be spreading north-east."
"That varies greatly from what I had witnessed in his study. His orders were… peculiar, to say the least. They have been as of late when involving the Isles Queen."
"Why? What does she want?"
"Trouble, that's what." Sturgis' eyes narrowed, "Days ago, he permitted her servant to remain in quarters with her— "
"—Well, she is with child," Andersen interrupted, "I hear a woman's health could be unpredictable during this time."
"She is still a prisoner." Sturgis replied, "and should not continue to receive so much extra attention. The Chancellor even goes as far as to dine with her at every opportunity. I swear to you Rolf, that woman eats better than either you or I."
General Andersen glanced at his companion with a mild look of skepticism. "You do realize that with the Arendellian Princess' flight, that queen is the most important prisoner that we have? Her being here is the only thing preventing the Southern Isles' military from completely bombarding us."
"I also fear that her influence will hold the Chancellor back from doing what needs to be done. She is using wiles to her advantage. Mark my words, Chancellor Beker will betray his vision if we don't intervene before it's too late."
"I highly doubt that." Andersen sighed, "He is a man dedicated to his mission. The queen is an attractive woman, yes, but she represents a lifestyle of privilege and inequality that we are working to eliminate from the entire realm. Our leader would never allow himself to fall prey to anyone, especially her."
Sturgis' eyebrows raised. "I'm only reporting on what I see. But I suggest that you keep your eyes open around her— around both of them. Because if something is really going on, it must be stopped before everything we've worked towards falls to ruin."
"You're very quiet this afternoon." Beker said calmly as he casually turned to the next page of his report."
"That shouldn't surprise you by now," Charlotte shot back and returned her attention to looking out the window to the grounds below, "I never have anything to say to you."
"I suppose I'm merely waiting for the day that you do."
"You'll be waiting a while longer," she muttered and shifted slightly on the padded window seat. It wasn't the most comfortable place to sit long term, but it was far enough away from Beker's desk, and that's what really mattered.
Charlotte had never considered herself a rude person—living amongst all of the Westergaard men was certainly an endurance trial for her patience— but now she couldn't resist doing everything she could to ignore Beker. It didn't start out that way. The first few meals spent in his company, she did try to be coy and weasel some information out of him, only for the gesture to backfire in her face. All that became of her efforts were carefully worded taunts and personal probing with a chilling, too-smooth-too-confident tone of his voice. So, she resolved to speak as little as possible in his presence going forward from there. Perhaps if he grew too tired of her silent treatments, he could leave her in her quarters. She couldn't quite understand him. He allowed Agatha to remain with her in her room but then made sure that she spent as little time in there as possible. Part of her was a bit confused and shocked that he even agreed to her request in the first place. What was the point in it?
"And here I thought the change of scenery would make you more amicable."
She could practically feel her eye starting to twitch. "Do you honestly think that I enjoy sitting in here with you while you continuously plan how to best ruin every kingdom in the realm?"
"You say ruin…" he said and turned to glance in her direction, "I say bring into a new age."
"Oh? And what will happen to the leaders of those lands in this new age of yours?"
"I suppose it depends," he replied, "on how willing they are to accept change."
"Considering that your idea of change involves invasion and a forced removal of power, I imagine they wouldn't take it too well at all." She shot back dryly. "Do you plan on doing away with them just as you did King Wilhelm?"
"King Wilhelm was different, dear Charlotte. That was a personal vendetta." He picked up his pen and marked his signature on the bottom of the document he was reading.
Charlotte crossed her arms. "That didn't answer my question." She sighed and refocused her attention on a pair of squirrels prancing about the grounds below. They scurried in between the bushes and shrubbery. One of them even broke away from its companion and darted across the grass towards one of the guards patrolling along the stone pathway. Other than sidestepping the creature at the appropriate moment, the man paid it no mind at all.
I've never been more envious of such a simple creature… Charlotte sighed quietly and managed a spare glance back to the desk. Beker seemed preoccupied once more with whatever he was reading. How nice it would be to walk about freely outside… or anywhere really. I'm so tired of all of this. How long will this entrapment really go on? Beker can't really expect to keep everyone up in this castle indefinitely….
…Right?
Her breath hitched as a horrifying prospect came to her. What if she really were trapped here for months? Even if Hans' escape were a success and he managed to get back home, there would be no telling how long that would take. Beker's influences could easily have spread to other lands by then. Any rescue mission would turn into an inter-kingdom conflict. And wars….
Charlotte shuddered and lowered her gaze to her lap. One of her hands came around to rest gently along her stomach. I can't bear the thought of Frederick not knowing about this for so long. Or worse… for me to carry this child and deliver it here of all places. A stay tear managed to slide down her cheek. And what will happen if Beker should win this fight? What will become of my husband then? Of my family? Will this baby be all that I have left in the end?
...Or when the time comes, will Beker get rid of all of us, too?
How can so many people blindly support such a cruel and vile man?
A swift knock at the door startled her, and she leaned forward in her seat to see Sturgis walk into the study. Once he was fully in the room, his eyes scanned about and the moment they landed on her, they immediately narrowed. It was such a cold, angry stare that it put a shiver down her spine. Of all of Beker's officers that she had the displeasure of meeting, Sturgis was most certainly the worst.
"Sir," the man began, finally returning his attention to his commander, "The King of Malengrad is ready to negotiate."
"Is he?" That seemed to suddenly grab Beker's attention. He immediately set his papers down and looked up to his subordinate. "That's quite the change of attitude from yesterday."
"Yes. Well, you and I both know how persuasive I can be." Sturgis replied as he moved to stand in front of the desk.
With Sturgis now closer in the room, she managed to get a glimpse of his hands as they rested along the back of the armchair. Her face paled as an unpleasant feeling began to form in the pit of her stomach. The tops of his hands and his knuckles had bits of red all over them.
Is that… blood?!
It suddenly became clear to her how King Alastor submitted so easily. She shuddered to think of what the older monarch had to endure. Alastor was an old Westergaard family friend. She could only pray that he was all right.
"Indeed." Beker replied. "What has he agreed to?"
"Nothing yet," Sturgis said, "He will only discuss terms with you."
"Ah," Beker nodded, "that's understandable. Have a man fetch the king, will you? It's best not to let these things linger. We don't want him to change his mind after all of your hard work."
Sturgis cleared his throat. "Are you going to hold your meeting with the man in here? Right now?"
Beker leaned back in his chair and raised a curious brow. "Yes, why?"
Sturgis' eyes darted back in Charlotte's direction. His piercing stare made her shrink back against the wall. "You don't really expect to conduct business while she stays here, do you? Eavesdropping on your conversations-or worse- what if she tries to re-sway the king-"
Beker chuckled briefly and raised a hand to silence the officer. "Fear not, Sturgis. The queen knows her place and what would happen if she stepped out of line." He glanced in her direction, but his gaze was far more contemplative than frightening. "Still… you may have a point. These relationships are at very delicate stages. We should not let anything undermine proceedings."
"In that case, I'd be happy to take her back to her room." Sturgis replied and stalked over to the window. Seeing him approach, Charlotte jumped to her feet and immediately backed away from him. She retreated further into the study in an effort to keep a proper distance between the two of them. After one turn, she tripped over a footstool and stumbled, and in the effort to correct her balance, Sturgis latched onto her arm. His grip was painfully constricting, and she choked out a cry for help as she attempted to free herself.
"Let me go!" She tried to firmly plant her feet into the floor, but it wasn't much use. Sturgis was so much stronger than she, and instead of complying with her request, his vice-like grip tightened and tried to yank her back towards him.
"Come on, woman. I don't have all day-"
"-Ouch! Please, stop! That hurts!"
Her outbursts finally got Beker's attention, and he glanced over to their commotion across the room. His mild expression suddenly turned far more serious as he rose to his feet. "That's enough, Sturgis. Release her." He said in a commanding tone.
"Is that wise?" Sturgis prompted. He made no effort to loosen his grip. "While you speak to the King of Malengrad, I could extract what we need from her and neutralize the Southern Isles threat for the last time. It would only take… maybe ten minutes…."
"I don't doubt it." Beker said, "but not all matters can be- or should be- settled with brute force. Our dear Charlotte is a delicate creature and will need to be treated as such. Now release her."
Sturgis narrowed his eyes and glared in her direction before dropping his arm away. Desperate to get away from him, Charlotte slunk backwards until she ended up falling into the seat of an armchair. As she cradled her arm against her chest, her eyes darted wildly between Beker and Sturgis. She really didn't expect Beker to come to her aid. While she was thankful, she knew the feeling would be short-lived. No doubt, the next thing to come out of the man's mouth would be something unfortunate...most likely at her expense. Still, if given the choice, she would rather be forced to spend an entire afternoon in the awkward-silent company of Viktor Beker than endure a mere five minutes with Sturgis.
"You coddle her." Sturgis muttered under his breath, though not softly enough because Beker crossed his arms as he came a few steps closer.
"On the contrary, my friend, I merely recognize that in her fragile state, it is not her words nor her actions that will ultimately bring King Frederick and the Southern Isles to their knees. She is worth far more to me alive and well. Therefore, you may leave her to me, and arrange for King Alastor to be brought from his confinement. We'll have our discussions in a more neutral setting- the South conference room will do nicely."
"Very well…" Sturgis grumbled. He turned around enough to give his commander a proper salute before storming out of the study.
Charlotte's heart thumped harder in her chest as Beker moved and positioned himself right in front of her. "Come along, my dear," he said calmly, "our time today has been cut short. I now have other business to address."
He motioned with his hands for her to rise from the chair, but she made no effort to comply. Between the throbbing of her arm and her immense fear for King Alastor, she could barely think straight. Too many questions lingered in her mind. Just how bad did Sturgis have to beat the man into submission? What kind of surrender would Beker force him into? Would caving to pressure allow him to go home and rejoin his family?
That last query hurt the most. She wanted nothing more than to be free of this place; to be surrounded by the warmth and safety of her husband's embrace. Such a proposition would probably never be offered to her. She could spill all of her kingdom's secrets, but it wasn't within her power to allow Beker and his men conquering rights to the Isles. A true surrender and removal of power could only come from the king.
And Beker certainly made it clear how valuable of a hostage she was whether or not she even did anything.
"Charlotte." Beker's voice broke her from her thoughts. His tone was much sterner, now. "If this is merely an attempt to delay the inevitable, I'm afraid your efforts are rather futile." He sighed and reached down to her. His hands latched onto her arms and in one swift movement, she was pulled to her feet.
"Don't touch me!" She spat, immediately wrestled her injured arm away from him and took two steps back. Her upper body turned away as she pressed her arm back against her chest. "I've been snatched enough by you and your men."
"If you had risen when I asked you to, you would not have forced my hand." He replied bluntly with a raised brow. His eyes then traveled downwards to how she cradled her arm. "Are you hurt?"
"What do you think?!"
He remained pensively quiet for a few moments before softening his tone. "May I?"
Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. "May you...what?"
"Take a look?"
"NO!" She balked. "You people have done enough damage!"
"Please, Charlotte," he sighed, "I only want to help."
"If you really wanted to be helpful, you would have stopped your overgrown ape from grabbing me in the first place!" She shot back angrily and tried to step around him, but his arm splayed out and stopped her in her tracks.
"And where do you think you're going?"
"Back to my room!" Charlotte said warily and made sure to put a bit more distance between them. "That is where you were going to escort me, was it not? Since you now have more important things to do than babysit me."
He seemed to stare blankly at her for several seconds, then suddenly it appeared he regained his senses. A scoff escaped him as he finally moved aside and gestured for the door. "Oh please. Babysitting implies dealing with children. And you…" he paused briefly, enough time for his eyes to give her a once-over. "...have long since grown from infancy."
"Well, you're no spring-chicken yourself, if you're daring enough to imply that I'm old..." She huffed and followed him out into the corridor, making sure to stay as close to the far side wall as possible. "...considering you're older than I am."
"I've only got a few extra years on you, dear Charlotte. We're closer in age than you are with your husband."
"And you'll refrain from speaking of him if you know what's good for you." She shot back and crossed her arms over her chest. Beker didn't seem to have a remark after that, thank goodness. She welcomed the silence, no matter how awkward it would be. The discomfort would be limited. Soon she would be back in her chamber with the relative safety of Agatha's company. And Beker… he would just go on with his plan to ruin yet another kingdom in the realm.
"I will… have a talk with Sturgis." Beker eventually said, breaking the extended period of quiet between them. There was enough remorse in his tone to get her attention, and it compelled her to look in his direction. "He should not have hurt you."
"You should learn to have better control over your animals."
"Sturgis is no animal. He's just… a bit rough around the edges."
"He's a monster. His hands were covered in blood. Or did you not even notice?"
"I didn't, actually."
"Well, seeing as you too have blood on your hands, I suppose you're quite desensitized to it." She sighed and turned away again but not before noticing him turn his palms upwards and his gaze lower to glance at them. His skin was clean, but the implication was enough to give him pause.
"Your apologies could also use some work." She added for good measure. "Because if that was your earnest attempt at one, I'm not accepting it."
His head had raised back up suddenly, and he turned towards her with a cocked brow. "So, you're saying a better one will garner your favor?"
"You will never garner favor from me, Chancellor Beker, and I highly doubt that I will ever accept any such gesture from you as genuine. I don't trust your men and I certainly don't trust you, therefore I have no reason to believe anything that you say."
"Then perhaps my actions will speak louder than my words."
"I doubt that very much."
"Challenge accepted."
There was a sense of glee in his voice, a stark contrast to mere minutes earlier when she thought he may have been troubled over his subordinate. His moods seemed to flip-flop more than all of the Westergaard men combined, and it was most unnerving.
"Why does everything have to be a challenge with you?" She asked.
"Because what is life without goals to achieve?"
"I'm sure you have far more important ones to waste your energy on- your delusional takeovers, for example."
"Ah," he smiled to himself, "you'd rather I get on with my mission. I can assure you, dear Charlotte, that everything remains on schedule. I still have plenty of time and energy to spend on a few… side projects."
"...and I'm one of those side projects? Why?"
"Because you are valuable to me."
"...I'm only valuable because of who my husband is…" she muttered and brushed past him. The corridor split up ahead and she veered more towards the path to the right- the direction back to her room. Her pace quickened considerably as she approached the connecting corridor and from behind, she could hear Beker suddenly dart forward to catch up to her.
"No, Charlotte. Not that way." He said and grasped her upper arm with only the minimum force necessary to stop her in her tracks. It didn't stop her from yanking herself free from his hold, but at least she didn't attempt to get away again.
"My room is that way." She pointed to her intended direction. "I thought that's where we were going."
Beker shook his head, "You assume as much. No… I think perhaps a gesture of good will help convince you of my intentions." He said and gestured for her to accompany him down the other adjoining corridor.
Charlotte made no immediate effort to move, "whatever it is, I'm not interested."
"I'm fairly certain you will be. Now come along."
"...must I?"
He turned to glance back at her. "One day, your right to choose will be reinstated." He said and gave her a pointed look, "but not today."
Charlotte sighed loudly and glanced behind her. They were the only two people in the corridor, but that could change in an instant. It wouldn't surprise her if her stubbornness only earned her an armed escort to make her compliant. Beker had never needed to pull that card before, but there was always a first time for everything.
Without any other option, she let her arms drop to her sides and stepped forward to catch up to Beker. He waited until she was beside him before offering his arm. She stared at it for a few seconds before giving him a skeptical glance. She certainly wasn't going to indulge him and made a point to shift a few extra steps to the side. The extra distance finally made him lower his arm back down.
"Where are you taking me?" Charlotte couldn't resist asking as she was led through parts of the castle where she had never been before. Some of the corridors were long and empty; no paintings, no doors leading to adjacent rooms. There were only sconces spread out on the stone to light their way.
"You'll see."
She sighed again, "Can't you just tell me?"
"And ruin the surprise? What good would that do?"
"I don't think I'm comfortable with the idea of you of all people giving surprises. It's probably something horrible."
Beker shrugged lightly, though his facial expression remained stoic. "Do you really think so?"
"It couldn't possibly be anything detrimental to your great cause…" she huffed and started rubbing at her arms. She winced briefly as her fingers ran over her tender skin. There were definite bruises there now, but she wouldn't dare try to look at them with Beker present. That would have to wait until later.
There was a large wooden door up ahead and she watched as Beker undid the lock to get it open. It was clearly a door that didn't get much use. It was stiff and only really budged when he put a great deal of his weight into it. The loud creaking sound echoed loudly through the vacant corridor and put a bit of a shiver down her spine. Moving forward just a few steps, she could see a set of stairs going down, but beyond that the corridor looked dark. Not even the stairs themselves were illuminated very well. She swallowed nervously. What on earth could be down there that he wanted to show her?
"Come along, Charlotte." Beker called for her. He had already made it about a third of the way down before realizing she wasn't following.
Charlotte shook her head slightly as her fingertips clenched into the excess fabric of her outer skirt. "I don't think I want to go down there."
"Oh? Where's your sense of adventure?"
"It died along with King Wilhelm," she said dryly. "Not that I would consider this an adventure in the first place." Her protesting had little effect on the chancellor. After a few seconds of her remaining in place, he waved her forward with exaggerated circular arm motion.
There was no railing to hold onto on the way down, so Charlotte shifted closer to the wall for support. One of her hands leaned into the stone while the other grasped her skirts so she wouldn't trip and fall. It was a slow descent, at least until she came within his arm's reach. That's when his outstretched hand grasped hers clutching the wall and he guided her down the rest of the way. Were he any other man and this a completely different situation, she would have thanked him for being a gentleman and offering his aid. But this was Beker, and the last thing she really wanted was to acknowledge needing his help.
Their footsteps echoed loudly as they made their way through the darkened hall. The air was much colder in this portion of the castle and the lack of decent lighting did not help. Charlotte could barely see the path in front of her and had to rely on Beker's outline walking a step ahead to navigate, especially during sudden turns.
After what seemed like an eternity in the dark, there was finally light coming off an adjacent corridor. Her eyes immediately turned towards the source as she passed by and she had to resist gasping out loud. Scattered barred doors lined that passageway. It suddenly became clear why this area of the castle was so cold and dark.
He's leading me through the dungeons? But… why?
"We're an awfully long way from your conference with King Alastor." She said, "Is this extreme detour really worth it?"
"Of course, it is," Beker replied and stopped at a door flanked by two soldiers blocking the end of the hall. "Nothing I do is without reason."
Charlotte stopped a few feet away from him and watched as he rested his hand on the door handle. There was no effort made to open it. Yet. "I hope you aren't planning on locking me up for good down here…" she added. It was the first and only reason she could think of as to why they were taking a tour so far from the rest of the castle.
"Oh, no…" Beker chided, "your increasingly defiant behavior hasn't warranted that drastic of a punishment. But I warn you that eventually my patience will run thin, and when that time comes, you will find firsthand that my hospitable nature will no longer benefit you." After that, he twisted down on the doorknob and pulled the door open. Instead of stepping through the threshold, he merely moved aside and made a sweeping arm motion to her. "This is your stop."
Charlotte leaned a bit to try and get a glimpse inside, but the door blocked her vision. "Aren't you going in, too?" She asked. It wasn't that she actually wanted his escort any further but knowing that she wouldn't have to face whatever– or whoever– was in there all alone would have been the slightest of comforts. If Beker himself refused entry, that couldn't bode well for her.
"It's better that I don't. And besides, as you so graciously pointed out, the King of Malengrad is upstairs waiting for my arrival. It's best that I don't keep him alone too much longer and have his cooperative nature evaporate. So…" he motioned for her again, "in you go."
"So that's it… you're just dumping me down here."
"I'll return for you when my negotiations are complete– or for our evening meal. Whichever comes first."
Charlotte sighed. With the armed guards standing within reach, she didn't want to protest any further. After a few steps forward, she barely made it to the doorway when Beker's one arm suddenly jutted out to block her path. The motion was so fast that it made her jump, and he leaned in towards her and lowered his head to level with her own. The sudden closeness sent a chill down her spine.
"Do remember, dear Charlotte, that this is a great act of kindness on my part. Perhaps in giving you something that you want, you will in turn regard me as something more than a mere monster."
His eyes locked into a piercing stare with hers and she found herself unsure what to say. She felt frozen in place until he finally lowered his arm back to his side, stepped away from her and straightened back to his full height. Her heart thumped loudly in her chest as she watched him whisper something to the guard before retreating back through the corridor. Her eyes didn't leave Beker's form until the guard cleared his throat to get her attention. Not wanting to cause any more trouble, she quickly side-stepped into the room. As soon as she cleared the threshold, the heavy door was slammed shut and locked behind her.
There was a short hallway ahead of her with a decently lit room ahead, so she slowly made her way to the light source, not sure what to expect. Once in the open room, she slowly turned about to assess her surroundings. This was clearly a dungeon cell, but not one that she would typically envision— a far cry from the ones in the Southern Isles. The walls were smooth and paneled, though they were devoid of wallpaper or decoration. There was one window at the top of the room that was barred shut. The corner closest to her was walled off with a door. Judging by the size, Charlotte assumed it to be a water closet of sorts. As her eyes swept across the rest of the room, she noticed there to be little furnishings. A frail-looking wooden chair was situated under the window, and on the far end of the room there was a cot.
Charlotte gasped and immediately covered her mouth with one hand. Queen Helene and Princess Josephine were sitting side by side on the small bed with the princess' head resting into her mother's side. She was asleep. On the floor leaning against the side of the cot was Prince Oscar. His knees were raised up with his arms resting on them. He looked terrible— there were marks all over his face, a cut on his lip, and what seemed like remnants of a black eye. Helene and her daughter at least appeared physically unscathed. The ladies also seemed to have gotten a change of clothes. They were no longer dressed in their finery from the ball. Oscar's formal tunic, however, was discarded across the room and there were blood stains all over it— too many unsightly splotches for it all to have come from him. Her stomach turned a bit when she realized whose blood it truly was.
At the sound of Charlotte's gasp, Helene glanced up from her daughter and her eyes immediately widened in shock. "Charlotte?"
Oscar looked up, too, and he struggled to get up off the floor. "Y-Your Majesty—"
"No, please!" Charlotte quickly waved her hands and rushed forward before the prince could really get up. A gentle hand placed upon his shoulder to keep him down. "Are you alright?"
"As well as can be expected…" Oscar muttered. He turned to glance behind him as his mother tried to wiggle her way off the bed without disturbing Josephine. At the slightest protests from the princess, his efforts to get up were much swifter, and he soon took over his mother's previously occupied space. Once his arms were around his sister, she grew quiet in her sleep once more.
Once she was stable on her feet, Helene wrapped her arms around Charlotte for a tight hug. "Oh Charlotte…" Helene cried softly, "I'm so happy to see you well."
Charlotte winced slightly at the tightness of the embrace but didn't hesitate to hug her back. What a tremendous relief it was to see the rest of Wilhelm's family alive. "Oh Helene…" Charlotte said softly, "I'm glad you're still here. I was afraid that the men did something horrible to you all… especially after…" She pulled back and kept her hands resting on her friend's shoulder. "I'm so terribly sorry for what's happened—"
"My dear, why are you apologizing?" Helene asked softly, "The fault does not lie with you."
"I know… but it still needs to be said. I fear you haven't been the subject of much compassion and care since being brought down here."
Helene subtly shook her head and pulled Charlotte over to the other side of the room so they could talk amongst themselves without disturbing Josephine. "We've barely seen anyone since being detained. The soldiers come, of course… and one of the servants brings us food to share, but whoever comes is never allowed to speak to us." She sighed, "Sometimes they make eye contact and it's as if I can understand what they're thinking and feeling through one sparing glance. It's… it's not much, but enough to know that at the very least, our staff is still on our side."
The two women sat down in the corner and leaned against the wall. "What about the soldiers?" Charlotte asked and made a point to glance at Prince Oscar. Her eyes focused on his marred skin. "Have they really hurt you? Your son looks dreadful."
Helene took a deep breath and allowed her eyes to follow Charlotte's. "In the beginning, they would come in and cause trouble. The soldiers would taunt us about their mission and how eager they were to be rid of Wilhelm…" Helene sniffed and wiped her eyes with her blouse sleeve. "I don't understand how these people could be so cruel. Oh Charlotte, the things they said about my husband… a-and right in front of his children. They whipped Oscar into such a rage that made him attack them. That's why he looks as he does." The deposed queen sighed, "he was protecting his father's good name… and our family's honor."
"And Josephine?" Charlotte asked. "I've heard of these soldiers and what they've been up to in other lands. Absolutely disgusting men with no morals. H-have they hurt her, too?"
Helene hesitated before shaking her head. "That first night, one of the officers used her as a shield against her brother… but that was the only time they touched her. It doesn't stop the men from spewing their sinful comments or giving filthy stares when they come, though. Josie stays on that bed with me or Oscar. He shields her whenever they come, now… and to be honest, these barbarians get more enjoyment out of striking him than catcalling after her." Helene grew silent for a few moments before more tears started to slide down her cheeks. "It's very difficult… to lose a husband so suddenly… so violently… and then to have to watch your own children be beaten and tortured… and for what?" Her voice trailed off as her body leaned to the side, right into Charlotte. "… it makes me feel so very weak and helpless."
"Helene…" Charlotte wrapped a comforting arm around her friend the best she could. "You are the very opposite of weak—"
"—I certainly don't feel strong… not when I cannot even protect my children." Helene replied. "I can't help but feel afraid every time a soldier walks through that door. Is he here to feed us? Taunt us? Or… or kill us?"
"Are they violent towards you every time they come?"
Helene shook her head slowly, "No… not every time. It all depends on who it is. Usually, it's a rather burly man that barges his way in. He is dreadful. But once or twice recently there was a much lankier one. He's younger, with eyes and a voice too kind to truly belong to someone in Beker's command. He at least knows how to behave appropriately." She sighed softly, "It's been a little while, though, since any of them purposefully tried to be antagonistic."
"Perhaps Beker put a stop to it," Charlotte said thoughtfully, "Has he been down here to see for himself what's been going on?"
"No." Helene said, sat up straighter and turned more to the side to face Charlotte. "We haven't seen him since the ball."
"Really?" Charlotte blinked in surprise. "He hasn't come down to discuss what's been going on at all? After all this time?"
"Why should he bother when he has subordinates to do his bidding?" The elder queen sighed, "No, I imagine he won't show his face because he's afraid to face his family after what he's done."
"His family?" Charlotte asked, her mind immediately flashed back to that afternoon with Beker in the portrait gallery, "then… you already knew that he and Wilhelm were—"
"—that he was Wilhelm's firstborn son? Yes. I've known all along."
There was a scoff from the other side of the room. Both women turned to see Oscar shaking his head in disgust. "Mama please…" he drawled, "Must you bring up that nonsense?"
Helene narrowed her eyes on her son. "There is no harm in discussing the truth, Oscar, no matter how difficult the subject. History is not something to be ignored. That is a lesson your father taught you."
When that placated the prince, Helene turned back to Charlotte, "I think it's for the best that Viktor Beker not come in here… for Oscar's sake. My heart couldn't take it if he lashed out in his father's honor and got himself hurt… or worse. I can't lose him, too. We've all been through so much…"
Charlotte placed a comforting hand over Helene's. "At least you're together. I didn't know what happened to any of you after we were all taken away. I thought perhaps you were separated from your children."
Helene shook her head. "No… and you're right. It could be so much worse. I thank God for Beker's shreds of mercy."
"Chancellor Beker is a…" Charlotte struggled to find the right words, "peculiar man to say the least. I find him both strict and ruthless… and well… in his own strange way, humane–at least to me. I don't think he wants to needlessly hurt anyone else. He came here for King Wilhelm… the rest of us are just pawns."
"What of you, my dear?" Helene asked. "Have you been mistreated?"
"Not by Beker personally, no…" she started and after a brief hesitation, she undid the button on her sleeve and pushed up the fabric to her elbow. Her heart sank at the unsightly marks on her skin. "But I can't say the same for the gorilla that works for him."
"Charlotte, those marks looks dreadful!"
"They feels just as terrible." She sighed, "Beker eventually put a stop to this before Sturgis could do even more damage… and he at least gave the barest hint of an apology for what happened. I know it doesn't erase the cruelty of the whole situation at large, but something is better than nothing." Charlotte furrowed her brow briefly and reflected on events from the last few weeks. "As a whole, he has treated me with some shreds of respect. A-and as much as I don't really want to acknowledge it, he has gone out of his way to be kind to me."
"In what way?"
"I—"Charlotte paused, unsure if she should really divulge her true condition. The last thing she wanted was to worry Helene even more than necessary. "I… I was sick for a short while. Beker put forth the effort to fetch a doctor. A-and he even allowed my maid, Agatha, to stay in my room with me," She frowned, "As far as I know, I'm the only one receiving such special treatment."
"It's because you're with child, I imagine." Helene said softly and placed a hand on Charlotte's shoulder. At the younger's reddened cheeks and questioning glance, the elder shrugged lightly, "there are no secrets in this castle— not even down here. These soldiers enjoy good gossip." Helene sighed after a brief pause, "Still, you are quite fortunate to be shown such leniency. Any redeeming qualities that that man has could only be passed down through Wilhelm. He certainly could not have inherited such traits through his mother."
Charlotte sat up straighter. "He told me some about her," she mused, "about his time growing up—"
"—did he regale you with tales of how much of an angelic, doting, and loving mother she was? An image of the perfect woman treated unjustly by the evil royal house? Because if he did, I can assure you that it was a lie."
Charlotte shook her head slightly. "No, he didn't spin his story with that much exaggeration… but he certainly made every member of the court out to be the villain of his story."
Helene exhaled loudly. "I suppose the fault cannot lie solely with Viktor Beker. He knows only what his mother had told him, after all. Her words are his only truth. Unfortunately for him and the rest of us, they are not the entire story."
"Did you know his mother personally?"
Helene folded her hands into her lap. "I knew her, though as I'm sure you could imagine, she and I were not close. We certainly were not friends." There was a period of silence. The older queen's expressions morphed from sorrow to a more uncomfortable musing, "Wilhelm met her during his first tour. She hailed from Heidelberg, which is a city in the southeastern region of Alvania. The…" she paused in an effort to come up with the right word to use, "...the establishment where she worked was certainly not an official stop on his route, but nonetheless, they decided to go anyway. That's what started all of this."
"Beker said that's when the journey stopped, and everyone returned to Rheland. But he made it sound like a hasty decision on Wilhelm's part to end the tour. I have a hard time believing that one woman could make him abandon such an important duty."
"Katerina Beker was certainly an impressionable woman, but not at all for the best reasons. And in his youth, Wilhelm was indeed a man easily susceptible to a woman's charms. However, she's not the reason the tour suddenly halted. There was a health scare within the family. Queen Alexandra became severely ill. Courtiers were worried about the heir to the throne being away in case she passed." Helene sighed, "they didn't want the public to be alarmed with the news and came up with an alternate excuse to why Wilhelm had to come home. It was just coincidental timing that the messenger delivering the summons caught up to Wilhelm in Heidelberg."
"I wonder if anything would have changed if they only released the truth," Charlotte wondered aloud, "A family emergency is a far cry from a territorial slight."
Helene shrugged, "Who can say what would or would not have happened at that time. But I imagine that thanks to that woman, her son would have still risen to power, and we'd still be in the same situation. Truth or no truth, Wilhelm still brought that woman here. The only way there could have been a true change in history is if they never met at all."
"Were you here in the castle when she first arrived?"
"Just barely. I moved in while Wilhelm was on tour. It was all supposed to be a surprise for him when he returned. I had just become of age, and since Wilhelm and I were betrothed from an early age, our families were eager to start wedding plans. Queen Alexandra especially wanted the comfort and security of knowing that the crown's future was safe, especially with her illness.
"When that woman arrived with him, it was all rather shocking… for everyone. Any excitement I felt upon seeing my future husband after years of separation just evaporated. He was so smitten with this stranger that I didn't know what to say or do. She was practically attached to his hip from the moment she stepped through the doors. The story she spun made her out to be a girl of a desperate and hopeless situation in dire need of rescue. So, she was given some clean clothes and a room with the understanding that the arrangement would be temporary, and in time she would be relocated somewhere in Oskberg to live a dignified and independent new life." Helene sighed, "Well, she cleaned up nice, but a fancy gown and a sweet smile only accentuated the front that she put on for everyone."
Charlotte blinked as her mind started to race. Her curiosity was getting the better of her. She didn't really expect the chance to see Queen Helene in the first place, but now, knowing that she had an alternate perspective of Beker's story to share…. This was an opportunity she could not pass up. "What did she do?"
"She got a taste of royal life and did everything in her power not to get cast back out. She used her relationship with Wilhelm to get close to the other members of the household. I watched as she tried to charm her way with the Queen's ladies-in-waiting, as she shamefully flaunted herself around the dukes and lords. I was one of the few who didn't fall for her act, but I had really no one to confide in about how I felt about her. Being the odd woman out, the last thing I wanted was to make everyone believe I was unnecessarily causing trouble. Even the Queen's husband, Prince Gregor, seemed indifferent to her presence." Helene recalled, "I always hated having to be in the same room as her. It wasn't easy to sit on the sidelines while my betrothed intimately entertained another woman. Even without Wilhelm present, just the sight of her made me feel so inferior. I'm not ashamed to admit that Katerina was indeed far more…well, alluring than I was– I could easily understand why Wilhelm was attracted to her. She represented everything that I wasn't, and she easily took liberties where I could not. As time went on and her hold on him deepened, I was starting to wonder if my engagement should be broken so I could return to my home. It would have been an embarrassment to my family, but at least I would have kept my dignity.
"But then, out of some strange hand of fate, her power just dissolved. To this day, I still don't know what happened to trigger such a change, but the consequences of losing her personal favors made her desperate to hold onto every little remaining privilege Wilhelm had given her– especially when members of Court were trying to find a way to get her out of the castle once and for all. One night, I overheard Katerina talking to Wilhelm about marriage. She tried to pressure him into breaking apart our engagement so she could take my place, but Wilhelm wouldn't have it. He actually stood up for me– me! Someone he barely shared any acknowledgement with since his return. Charlotte, I was shocked. After everything, he still wanted to marry me, and tried to reason with her about duty and honor, but she wouldn't listen." Helene sighed softly, "and that's when she told him that she was with child."
Charlotte's fingers clenched into the fabrics of her skirt. "I imagine she dropped that to force his hand. How did Wilhelm react?"
"Well, just hiding outside the room listening in, I couldn't exactly see his response. But from his tone of voice alone I could tell he was shocked, even a little bit terrified. I'm not entirely sure if they warned him about what could potentially happen if he took a mistress to his bed or not. They certainly didn't discourage him from doing so." Helene looked down to her lap once more. "I could tell just by his tone that he had no idea what to do. He wanted to conceal the news from everyone. But from there, I stopped listening. I knew that Katerina would never accept that answer. That's when I made the ultimate decision to take matters into my own hands. Once I fled from my hiding place, I went straight to Queen Alexandra and her husband and told them everything that I overheard and how I felt about the whole situation."
Charlotte nodded slowly as she mentally tried to piece Helene's story together with the one Beker told her. It didn't really surprise her that the two tales differed, though she didn't expect Helene to be the one to ultimately trigger Katerina's exit from the castle. "What happened then?"
"The Queen was furious over the ordeal. The very next morning she had a private audience with Wilhelm, and a few days later, Katerina was sent by carriage back to Heidelberg." Helene said softly, tilted her head slightly to one side and squinted her eyes as she pulled from her memories. "I remember peeking out through the curtains at an upper window to the courtyard below. I felt obligated to watch her departure, and it was strange in a way. Her exit was surprisingly calm. I really expected her to put up more of a fight, all things considered. But she was allowed to keep most of her finer attire, and we sent her on her way with enough money to get back home and find a way to support herself. And just like that, she was gone."
"I'm honestly surprised she seemed to leave without much of a fuss. Judging by how Beker was brought up to despise his father and everything that he stood for, I would have anticipated more of a fight."
Helene shook her head. "I suppose it was a battle she knew she couldn't win. But in the end, that moment really didn't matter. She knew she had a way back to the castle. All she had to do was bide her time and wait."
"Is it really true that she brought her child to Rheland?" Charlotte asked. "Did she really expect to regain her place here?"
"She did return, yes. And she did demand an audience with Wilhelm." Helene said sharply. "But no one wouldn't have it. The last thing I wanted was for her to try and charm Wilhelm again, but I was too afraid to face her alone, so Prince Gregor came with me, and we met with her in a secluded area of the grounds. She put on the same act that she did her first time here, though this time the child was dragged into the mess. And I did feel sorry for the baby– the poor dear was merely an unknowing pawn in the woman's schemes. Well, Prince Gregor was quite firm with her about the crown's position regarding her and that child and turned to threatening her if she didn't remove herself from the capitol. The instant she realized that she wouldn't get what she wanted, her entire demeanor changed, and her true colors came out. She lashed out on the both of us, and probably would have gone further if the child weren't there. It took summoning the guards to make her orderly again, and I'm sure it was only to keep the baby from harm. I couldn't tell you everything verbatim what she said, but as she was being escorted out, she did vow to get revenge on the family for ruining her life."
"Beker's tale was quite different." Charlotte commented after a brief period of silence so she could absorb everything that Helene shared, "He was under the impression that Wilhelm was in love with her, and that he was the one to initiate a marriage proposal of sorts." She frowned, "he also made it sound as if everyone in the castle were against Katerina because of her Alvanian origins."
Helene shook her head slightly, "Love or lust… whatever it was, it was a secret that died with Wilhelm in the end. But the rest isn't quite true. Those were Katerina's spiteful words to mold her son into her own weapon. We all turned against her because of her actions, not about where she came from. Her dismissal from the castle had nothing to do with Alvania at all! It was about her not understanding and accepting her place and the rules we royals had to follow. She meddled in affairs that were none of her business and in the end it ruined her." There was a long pause before she continued, "...and I suppose we've all come full circle. Now her son has ruined us."
"Only because much of what he believes in is a lie." Charlotte replied softly.
"It's not as if you or anyone else could possibly convince him otherwise. I doubt he would ever come down here to talk to me, and even if he did, why should he believe anything I say?" Helene asked. "It's my story against his mother's. And there's no one else alive that could vouch for either side."
Charlotte opened her mouth to reply but was suddenly cut off by the sound of a key fumbling in the heavy door. She, along with Helene, immediately turned towards the small corridor once the door opened and then closed loudly. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Helene shift further away from her seated position towards the corner of the room, and her expression was far more cautious than her own curious one.
It couldn't be Beker coming for me… Charlotte thought, there's no way he managed to finish pressuring Alastor so soon.
Her suspicions were confirmed when one of the guards came into view carrying his rifle tucked under one arm and a covered tray in his other hand. He appeared fairly young, and so thin that his uniform swallowed him.
That must be the one Helene mentioned before…
"Your Majesties." The man said softly, even going as far as to nod his head in Charlotte's direction. That surprised her. No one under Beker's command ever showed her any kind of deference before.
"What do you want?" Oscar was the first to speak up as he released his sister and quickly rose to his feet.
The guard gestured to the tray and set it down on the empty chair. "Provisions. There are… problems in the kitchen. Your supper tray will be late." He said, giving a cautious eye to Oscar as the prince approached, then turned on his heels and quickly left.
"I'm surprised they even bothered." Oscar muttered under his breath and lifted the cover of the tray. His brows immediately lifted in surprise at seeing some cheese and fruit hiding underneath. "How nice of them that they were able to spare such delicacies."
"It's better than bread and water." Helene said and waved her arm towards her son. "At least there's nutrients there. Take it to the bed, Oscar. A-and wake Josie. She especially needs to eat."
"But what about you, Mama?"
"I'll wait for the evening tray."
Oscar looked reluctantly at his mother before sighing. He plucked an apple off and forced it into her hands before taking the rest and carrying it to the bed.
Charlotte leaned in closer to Helene. "Are you not hungry?"
Helene shook her head. "Not really. I haven't had much of an appetite at all since that night. But… even if I did, I wouldn't take much anyway. I want them to have it." She watched as Oscar gently nudged Josie awake and offered her some cheese once she sat upright. "They need it more than I do."
"They still need their mother, too. You'll waste away if you don't keep your strength up."
Helene turned the apple around in her hands and spoke barely above a whisper. "They are the important ones. They are the future of our kingdom. Assuming we all make it out, Oscar will need to reign in his father's stead. I know he doesn't like to discuss such things. It's all too soon. But still…"
Charlotte placed a comforting hand over Helene's. "And he'll need you to help guide him, and mold him into a proper ruler… one that would honor his father's good work and make him proud. Don't sell yourself short–"
"-Er.. Your Majesty?" Oscar's voice suddenly interrupted her, and when Charlotte turned to look up at the young man, he was fidgeting his hands together with a worrisome expression across his features. "May I ask you something?"
"Of course." Charlotte patted the floor near them for him to join them. From over his shoulder, she could see Josephine slowly nibbling on the cheese cubes and staring off in their general direction with a curious look on her face.
"It's just…" He began quietly, "You're the first person that we've seen from upstairs. Someone that we've actually been allowed to talk to." He sighed, "I suppose I'm wondering if you know anything about the others held hostage?"
"I haven't seen anyone else since the party." Charlotte replied sadly, "All I know is that King Alastor has been more or less beaten into submission. He's with Beker right now."
Oscar's shoulders slumped a bit. "Oh…" he paused when Helene leaned forward to caress his cheek. Almost immediately, he grasped his mother's hand and squeezed it tight. "I'm worried about An– that is, Princess Anna. I… I wasn't able to protect her when the chaos started, and I fear for her safety among these barbarians."
Charlotte hesitated. She was surprised that Helene knew about her pregnancy, but the unexpected news of Hans and Anna's escape never traveled this deep beneath the castle. With the guards screaming about missing persons right after it happened, it wasn't exactly a secret that Beker's security was breached. And she recalled in the study that Beker revealed the escapees to her without much hesitation. She was under the impression that all of the prisoners had been told what happened. Perhaps that wasn't the case after all, and Beker only revealed their names to her because of her connection with Prince Hans.
Well, there couldn't possibly be any harm in revealing the truth at this point with all the time that had passed since the breakout. And with practically zero visitation, who would Helene and her children really tell?
"Princess Anna is safe." Charlotte said softly and leaned forward to place a comforting hand on his arm. "She managed to get out of the castle in time."
His eyes immediately widened. "What? But how?"
"Prince Hans helped her. They got out together. With luck, they're far, far away from here."
A mixture of emotions flashed across Oscar's face. Everything ranged from surprised shock to relief, to even flashes of envy. "She's with… Hans? But…" he paused for a chance to gather his thoughts. "...I don't understand."
"Well…" Charlotte's gaze drifted off to the empty space beside Oscar. "I didn't think I could manage to escape with him– and thank goodness I didn't with my condition. I'd only have slowed him down at this point…" she sighed, "but Hans saw Anna being threatened in her captivity. I told him to get her out however he could."
"Where are they headed?" Helene asked.
"Arendelle. Or the Southern Isles. Wherever they could manage. It was our hope that the sooner they could get home, the sooner a rescue could be arranged for everyone trapped here. And getting Anna back to Arendelle would hopefully get Queen Elsa to help. If Alvania is indeed stronger than we all imagined, we may need her magic to give us an advantage."
Oscar and his mother exchanged glances. "Do you really think they'll manage to get to their homelands?" He asked. "It's such a long way from here, and I'm sure there will be plenty more dangers if they're out roaming alone. Will Hans really be able to protect her?"
Charlotte could tell Oscar was conflicted by the whole thing. There was of course the relief of knowing Anna was far from the castle's current dangers, but at the same time, he seemed uncomfortable at the idea of her only close company being Hans for a prolonged period of time. And she could understand where he was coming from. There were times when Hans confided in her throughout the festival about Anna and Oscar's budding relationship. In the end, she knew Oscar had nothing to worry about. Anna and Hans' flight wasn't meant to be a chance for rekindling a damaged romance. It was a dangerous, desperate flight to freedom with the highest of stakes.
"I do." She answered him, "Hans is strong, level-headed and resourceful. He's a fighter through and through. If anyone could keep her safe; if anyone could get them home and send help for the rest of us, it's Hans. I believe in him. I hope you can, too."
Time seemed to fly by faster than she thought. Sitting with Helene really felt like an escape from some of the everyday stresses she had grown accustomed to. As conversations transitioned into more personal topics, it really brought her back to the pleasant days of the festival. When one of the guards returned– the same lankier man from before– to tell Charlotte that her visitation was at an end, she was reluctant to get off the floor. The guard's appearance certainly dragged her and the others back to reality, and as she was forced to say her goodbyes to her friend, a most unpleasant thought lingered in the back of her mind – would this be the last time they would see each other?
When she stepped out of the room into the corridor, she saw Beker standing off to the side. His back was to her as he conversed quietly with one of the guards on duty. Her arms crossed over her chest as she stood behind him and not so patiently waited for him to finish. As her fingers tapped along the crook of her arm, her mind began to race. Whether Beker intended for it or not, he allowed Queen Helene to give her some interesting information about the past. The real question was, what was she going to do with that knowledge?
Helene was right in a way. Just bluntly confronting him about the truth would do no good to anyone. He was a man set in his way and strong with his beliefs. Getting him to change his views about anything would be a miracle in itself.
But… nothing was impossible.
This wasn't the first time that he had gone out of his way to be kind to her. Were there ulterior motives to doing so? Probably. But if he were willing to show niceties without being prompted, perhaps there could be a way she could reason with him in a way that didn't seem like an interrogation waiting to happen. It was far too late for King Wilhelm, but perhaps she could manage to save his family… and maybe others trapped here, too.
And if Beker truly couldn't be stopped, perhaps she could at least slow him down. Somehow. She would contemplate it during dinner.
Her arms unfolded and fell to her sides once he gave the guard a final nod and turned to glance in her direction. She was expecting his gaze to be smug and confident after meeting with King Alastor. Instead, it seemed more neutral. And when he raised a brow at her, she shot him a curious look back until he finally cleared his throat and gestured for them to move on down the corridor.
"Why did you do this?" She asked quietly. "Why did you bring me down here?"
"Because my previous apology wasn't good enough. And you were desperate to talk to someone. Anyone, really, so long as it wasn't me." Beker said.
"And what gave you that impression?"
"Oh please, Charlotte. It was practically written all over your face these last two weeks. You may accuse me of being many things but being blind is not one of them. And as I've now proven to you, I am a man of honor and a man of my word. You have now seen for yourself that no harm had truly come to Wilhelm's family. The same goes for everyone else in this castle."
…A man of honor?! That statement couldn't be further from the truth! Charlotte had to bite down on her lip to avoid saying something too antagonistic. "...not from your direct hand, perhaps. But what about your subordinates? How could you say no harm has come to anyone when there are bruises all over my arm? And what about King Alastor? You saw him for yourself just now!" She sighed, "And putting all of that aside, how can you even claim to be honorable when you've both lied and stolen from me?"
He turned to her with a curious glance. "I'm not sure what you mean."
"Don't you?" She shook her head in disbelief. "Then you deny going through my desk and taking my husband's letter?"
"Ah. That." He cleared his throat. "No, I won't deny it. I do have it in my possession– and no, you may not have it back. As I've said before, I have the satisfaction of knowing you're being kept in line. You are still a prisoner, after all, and we can't have you getting too comfortable."
Charlotte ignored his offered hand when they reached the stairwell. If she had the hindsight to know that he would have confiscated that piece of paper for himself, she wouldn't have stopped him from burning it in the fireplace. At least then he wouldn't be able to invade her privacy by reading it whenever he wanted. "No, I imagine if I did, I'd end up like poor Alastor." She huffed. "How easily did he agree to your demands?"
"Not as easily as you probably imagined." Beker replied. "But no additional harm came to him, if that was what you were wondering."
"You forced a surrender out of him. I'd say he can't get much lower." She sighed.
And if Beker's men really do start to push further on, then I can't imagine how the situation could get any worse for the rest of us….
When they reached the main floor, they were immediately met by General Andersen at the entrance to the stairwell.
"Sir, we've just received a message from Dolos and Apate in the field–"
Beker's eyes immediately widened. "Oh? This must be good. What do they have to report?"
The corner of Anderson's mouth twitched upwards. "Princess Anna had been spotted in both Heidelberg and Fehemitsgrad. She's traveling with a red-haired male–"
Charlotte gasped and immediately covered her mouth.
It just got worse….
She had hoped deep down that no news of Hans and Anna's travel meant that perhaps they made it through the worst of the flight– that they would be lucky enough to be either in Corona or already at sea heading towards Arendelle or the Southern Isles. But… if they were still actively being hunted? By now, just how close were Beker's men in capturing them all over again? If they were caught, what hope would any of them have?
Her outburst earned her glances from both men. "Well then…" Beker chuckled, "it would seem she and Prince Hans headed west after all."
"There's more." Andersen said, "the Underground is helping them."
Beker's eyes narrowed in disgust. "Aidoneus…"
Aidoneus? Charlotte blinked in confusion. Who is that?
"Can we intercept them before they reach the next link in the chain?"
"At the time the message was written, they had already made preparations to do so, Sir."
Beker nodded and his expression improved significantly. "Very good. The sooner we reach them, the better. After all," he said, his eyes shifting briefly to Charlotte, "it's rather dangerous with all of those unlawful bandits out there. And we wouldn't want any harm to come to our runaway friends, now would we?"