A/N: Really sorry for the long wait guys. I've been really busy writing my own novel and it has taken part of my life right now. But the inspiration is back and the story shall continue. This chapter's a little short so bear with me please.
Chapter 11
Later that night, Odette was getting ready for bed. She had had a very tiring day and was ready for a well-deserved sleep. Not only did she find out that Rothbart was back, she also found out that he was her godfather.
She emerged from her dressing room in her nightgown, which was white as snow with a thin sky blue layer around it. She walked over to her mirror and sat down in the chair and began to brush her hair. As she brushed, she began to think of the day's events. Then she began to think of the future for her and her family. She wondered what the future would hold for all of them. Her thoughts were interrupted, though, by a familiar figure. Derek, who had been moved to the bedroom earlier that day, looked at his wife with great love.
"You look beautiful Odette," he said. Odette looked at her beloved husband through the mirror with a loving smile. She placed the brush down and made her way over to the bed where she removed the covers and slid right in. She then snuggled up to Derek, being careful not to hurt his sore body, and kissed him before resting her head on his shoulder. Derek looked down at her and placed a kiss on her head.
"Very eventful day wasn't it?" he asked. Odette let out a tired laugh while nodding.
"That's an understatement," she said as Derek rested his head on hers. "I found out that I have a long lost brother, who also turns out to be a Dark Lord, and that our once great enemy was really my godfather," she placed a hand on her stomach, "and that we have a baby on the way." Derek saw the movement and placed his own hand on her stomach.
"You are going to be a wonderful mother," he said sweetly. Odette glanced up at her husband with a smile.
"I really hope so." Her face then fell as she looked towards the end of the bed. "But what if I can't protect it from Sargon?" Derek looked down at her with concern as she glanced back up at him.
"What if I'm not capable of keeping this baby safe?" Derek grabbed hold of one of Odette's hands.
"You are Odette," he said with confidence and tighten his grip on her hand. "You are the strongest person I know. And there is nothing you won't do to protect the ones you love. And don't you let anyone tell you differently." Odette smile a bit before frowning once again.
"But Sargon has so much power. You heard what Jacob and Rothbart said. He is the most dangerous man in history. No one has stood a chance against him. Not even you!" She regretted her words the moment she said them. She watched as Derek's eyes grew sad as he looked away from her. She knew that he felt bad about losing to someone like Sargon. He felt that he had let her down because he wasn't able to stop the villain this time. That he had won. Odette shifted her position so she could sit up.
"I'm so sorry Derek," she said. "I didn't mean tha—"
"It's alright Odette," he cut her off. "I know you didn't mean it. And it's not your fault anyway. It was stupid of me to go running head on into a fight like that. I let my anger get the best of me. It was my own fault for letting him draw me in like that. I wouldn't be surprised if you were ashamed of me."
Odette knew by the sound of his voice that Derek was being honest and felt ashamed for letting her down. But that wasn't the case with her. She reached up and placed her left hand on his right cheek and turned his head to look her in the eyes.
"I could never be ashamed of you," she said in a sweet voice. "You were only angry about your mother losing her kingdom. And Sargon talking about your father like that didn't help the matter. I understand completely Derek. I would have been the same way." Derek smiled at his beloved wife and placed his own hand on hers.
"Thank you Odette," he said as he leaned in. "You truly are my beautiful angel." Odette's heart melted when he said those words. They stared into each other's eyes for a good ten seconds before they closed the distance between then and shared a loving kiss. During the kiss, it seemed like nothing else mattered, that all their troubles seemed to disappear from reality.
When they parted the kiss they stared at each other again for a few more moments.
"Come one," Derek said. "We better get some sleep. It's gonna be a busy day tomorrow." Odette raised an eyebrow at him.
"How?" she asked. "All you're gonna be doing tomorrow, and for the next few months, is sitting in bed." Derek just rolled his eyes at her while holding a smile.
"True, but not for months. Rothbart came to me earlier today and said that he could use his magic to heal my body. I should be up again in just over a week." Odette smiled and kissed his cheek.
"That's great to hear Derek," she said. "It'll be good to see you up and about again." They shared one more kiss before the snuggled into their bed and fell fast asleep.
The next morning, everyone was in the dining hall eating breakfast, even Derek and Bromley, with a little help getting down the stairs and to the table. Though it wasn't the best breakfast that anyone has had. The food was excellent of course, it was just a little too quiet for everyone's liking, but no one had anything to say, even Uberta. All she would do was occasionally give Rothbart a few glares thinking no one would notice. It went unnoticed to everyone, save for said enchanter. Even though he didn't show it, he knew Uberta was glaring at him. But he didn't call her out on it, even though he didn't exactly know the reason for it. He just kept silent about it. Jacob seemed to have noticed the glares as well. But same as Rothbart, he didn't know the reason for it. It continued to be a quiet breakfast until Derek decided to speak up, getting irritated with the silence.
"So how close are the training fields until they are completed?" he asked. Rothbart and Jacob both perked up their heads, glad to finally have something to discuss.
"They should be completed by the end of the day with my magic," Rothbart said. "But we still need to plan where each equipment is going to be and how many soldiers we will be having in the first training session."
"We also need to discuss where each soldier will be assigned," Jacob jumped in. "It's crucial that we have multiple units within each session in order to increase the chances of having a successful army within a short amount of time." Derek thought about this for a moment before replying.
"How many of the soldiers from Mother's army will be joining us?" he asked. Jacob smiled at him.
"All of them," he said. "That's over eleven hundred soldiers, plus another four hundred from other volunteers from the refugees. Now all we need is to wait until Lord Rogers returns to inform us of how many men from the surrounding villages will be joining us." Derek nodded at this information. He then turned to a servant who was waiting by the table.
"Any sign of Rogers approaching the castle yet?" he asked. The servant shook his head.
"No, your highness," he said. "There hasn't been any sign of him as of late." Derek frowned slightly. He turned back in his chair and placed his hand under his chin in puzzlement.
Where are you Rogers, he thought to himself.
Odette noticed the look on Derek's face and reached out to take her husband's hand.
"It's only been a day," she said. "The kingdom may not be as big as others, but there are still a lot of places to go. I'm sure Rogers will be here soon." Derek looked at Odette and his eyes softened.
"I know," he said. "You're right. I'm just a little anxious, is all. I just want to be prepared for the worst." Odette gave him a sly grin.
"You're anxious?" she said. "What about me? I'm the one that's gonna be carrying a new life inside of me." Derek chuckled a bit after her comment.
"I know," he said. "All the more reason for us to make sure that everything goes perfectly." Odette smiled again.
"The first thing you need to be worried about is making sure your body is well before anything else." Derek shook his head at her.
"I'm gonna be a father. It's my job to worry." He turned back to the servant beside him. "Make sure to let us know the very moment Rogers comes in to the castle." The very moment after he said that, the dining hall doors burst open and in came a little Chamberlain running as fast as he could.
"Lord Rogers is approaching the castle your grace," he shouted excitingly.
"Or not," Derek said. Jacob and Rothbart stood up immediately after hearing the news. They both ran over to Derek and assisted him in standing up. Thanks to Rothbart's magic, Derek's leg wasn't broken anymore, but the pain was still there and it would still take a while before that went away, even with magic. Derek was able to stand, but only just a little. He still needed help getting from place to place.
Rothbart and Jacob helped Derek out of the dining hall and on their way to the foyer with Odette, Uberta and their animal friends following right behind them. Once they w ere in the foyer, they made their way out of the castle doors and down the steps to meet with Rogers when he approached. They waited for not even two minutes before they saw him. He, along with twenty-five other servants following behind, riding on horseback towards the castle. And from the look on Rogers' face, he seemed to have good news. Once Rogers and the others servants arrived and were dismounting off their horses Derek and the others decided to approach him.
"So," Derek said, now leaning on only Jacob. Rogers, after almost falling off the horse, made his way towards him holding a scroll.
"Very good news Derek," he said. "These messengers and I have been to every village and town in the kingdom to recruit anyone willing to join our cause and—" That's when he notice a certain red haired enchanter standing right behind Derek and Jacob.
"Good Lord!" he shouted with wide eyes. "What on earth is he doing here?! I He's supposed to be dead!" Rogers was almost shaking upon seeing the enchanter. Rothbart, upon seeing the cowering scholar, just rolled his eyes. Derek glanced behind him at Rothbart and shook his head.
"I'll explain later," he told Rogers. "Now please tell us the news." Rogers, trusting Derek's judgment, just pushed it aside and began his announcement.
"Anyway, we have been to the surrounding villages and towns and we have some outstanding amount news." He paused for effect. "We have exactly 4,382 volunteers willing to join our new army. And a eight hundred more willing to join when they come of age in the next six months."
Everyone was shocked about his new information. Nobody was expecting so many volunteers to sign up to form an army. And no one was more impressed than Jacob himself. But Uberta came a close second.
"That's over six and a half thousand men!" she said enthusiastically. The king of Lincolnshire looked down at the prince he was holding up.
"I guess you both have made quite the impression on the kingdom." Derek chuckled a bit.
"I guess so," he said with a slight blush. He looked back up at Rogers. "When did you tell them to arrive here?" Rogers paused for a moment to think.
"I don't think I told them a specific date on when to arrive," Rogers admitted. "I only asked which of them were willing to join our new military."
"Tell your messengers to head back to the villages and tell them to come here in one week's time." Jacob chimed in. "By that time we should have the training fields and Barracks all finished." Lord Rogers bow his head.
"Right away sir," he said. "And after I do, would you care to explain why this heathen is here in the first place?" He finish his question while pointing at Rothbart. Said enchanter narrowed his eyebrows at him.
"Heathen?" he whispered sharply. Derek looked back at Rothbart and back at Rogers.
"Yes Rogers," he said. "We will explain everything soon enough." Rogers, after accepting the answer he received, turned around and order the servant to ride back to the villages and deliver his message. After they all bowed and did as he asked, Rogers turned back around and stood in front of Derek, waiting for the explanation. Derek just grinned and rolled his eyes.
"Come one," he said. "Let's talk about this inside." With that, they all made their way back inside the castle, were they would have to give Roger a very long explanation for Rathbart's sudden appearance.
About an hour later, they were all in the Derek and Odette's bedroom, except Jacob and Rothbart, who dropped off Derek back into bed before going back down to the training fields to finish construction. During that time, Derek and Odette had explained everything to Rogers, even the part where Sargon wants the baby instead of her. After they had finished, Rogers was completely at a loss for words, for once.
"I can't believe it," Rogers stated. "Rothbart has been on the side of good all this time and has been spying of Sargon for King William. That must have been quite an experience." Odette and Derek nodded in agreement, until Odette, who was sitting on the bed next to Derek, remembered that they have forgotten one final piece of information.
"Oh yeah," she said, "He's also my godfather as well." Rogers' eyes grew wide, for about the fifth time that hour.
"Your godfather?!" Derek and her nodded. "What else am I missing from all this?"
"That pretty much covers everything," Derek said. Rogers looked over at Uberta.
"Did you know anything about this beforehand?" he asked the queen. Uberta only scoffed at him.
"We all found out about this just yesterday," she said with and uncaring tone. "But it doesn't matter now. What matters now is that we have a child on the way and I still need to plan the baby shower!" Odette and Derek just rolled their eyes and gave a slight laugh.
"You're really excited about this, aren't you mom?" Derek asked. Uberta look at him as though she was insulted.
"Of course I'm excited about this!" she exclaimed loudly. "After all this time I can finally have a grandchild to spoil all I want." Derek shook his head at his mother but still wore a smile on his face. His mother's behavior didn't surprise him at all. All she would talk about during Odette and his marriage was wanting a grandchild to spoil endlessly. He felt bad when they have been able to produce a child in the years they've been married, feeling that he would never be a father, nor Odette a mother. It was good to know that a child is on the way and everyone is happy about it, despite a certain Dark Lord wanting the child for himself.
"I still have big plans for the baby shower," Uberta said. "Big plans. I will invite every queen and noble woman that we know. They will bring gifts for the baby, pink wrapped for if it's a girl and blue wrapped gifts for if it's a boy." Uberta was practically squealing with excitement. She was so excited about it. And when she was excited about something she threw a party for it.
Odette seemed excited as well. She looked down at Derek with a warm smile as Uberta continued to discuss the party plan.
"This could be fun," she said with a slight giggle in her voice. Derek seemed to nod in agreement.
"Mother's parties are usually fun," he replied. "Most of the time." That last part was just above a whisper so his mother wouldn't hear him. Odette had to place a hand over her mouth to muffle a laugh that was threatening to expose itself. Everyone in the room seemed to be excited for the party, especially Jean-Bob, who thought that this was the perfect opportunity to finally get a kiss and finally become a prince. Then a familiar voice spoke up.
"Too bad it's not gonna happen."
Everyone turned towards the door to the source of the voice and saw Jacob leaning against the door frame, with a serious look on his face. Uberta was the first to speak up.
"Jacob, what are you doing here? And what do you mean it's not gonna happen?" she asked sternly. Jacob leaned off the door frame and entered to room with his arms crossed.
"Rothbart offered to finish the construction on his own with his magic," he said. "And I mean just that. It's not going to happen." But Uberta wasn't going to let it go that easily.
"I have put a lot put thought into this baby shower and I intend to host it for my grandchild."
"Not if it means the safety of Odette and other kingdoms are at risk," Jacob replied. Derek and Odette immediately perked their heads up at this.
"What do you mean?" Derek asked. Jacob looked over in his direction.
"I mean that if Uberta were to throw this big Baby Shower and every queen and noble woman around that wasn't there for Odette's birthday party were to come, it would be like asking Sargon to march his armies here right away. The temptation to rip the kings and noble men away from their loved ones would be too great for him to pass up. It's too risky." Everyone in the room was silent. That thought had never crossed their minds at all. But then Jean-Bob, who was determined to get as many lovely ladies around him as possible, decided to speak up.
"Why not ask these guest to bring as many soldiers with them as possible?" Jacob looked at the little frog like it had lost its mind.
"And how would you plan on explaining that little information to them?" He then made a mock attempt to be happy. "'Dear lovely queens and noble women from around the realm. There will be a grand Baby Shower for the Princess Odette and her unborn child and we would be ever so please if you were to attend. But just be sure to bring as many of your soldiers with you as possible in case we come under attack.' I don't know about you but that doesn't sound very inviting to me." Jean-Bob looked down at the floor and felt disappointed that he may never get a kiss. Jacob looked around the room and continued.
"It's too dangerous," he said. "Even if we had a decent sized force to protect the kingdom from an attack, there's a chance Odette could be caught in the crossfire." That's when Derek got an idea.
"And that's exactly why we should do it." Everyone looked at him with a questioning gaze, especially Jacob.
"What the hell are you talking about, boy?" he said strongly. "Didn't you hear what I just said?" Derek nodded and grinned.
"Yes," he replied. "You said that there was a chance that Odette would get caught in the crossfire. And that's a risk I highly doubt that Sargon would take that risk." Jacob was caught off guard by Derek's theory, but he began to think about it nonetheless. Derek saw this and began to press onward.
"The people need to know about Odette's pregnancy," he continued. "The soldiers that join us will need to have something more to fight for. Something to give them hope that there will be a brighter future. And this will give them just that. Sargon may want to become immortal, but he's not going to risk destroying that chance by attacking a little party like this. He needs our baby alive and well. That's why he didn't take Odette with him when he had the chance to. Because Odette could just easily kill herself at any chance she got in order to keep his hands away from our baby and Sargon knows it." Everyone was shocked by Derek's observation. They thought about what he had just said and thought about it hard. Odette was especially surprised with Derek. Even though she would never have thought about it on the spot if Sargon had taken her, she would have done just that sooner or later. It was sad to say, but she once the thought entered her brain, she would have done it on the spot, or found anyway she could to do so. Fortunately he didn't and she was still here with the ones she loved.
Jacob looked from Derek to Odette and back. He was caught off guard by Derek's words, but began to think about it nonetheless. And the more he thought about it, the more the idea of throwing this Baby Shower was beginning to sound much better. And not only that, but it seemed to him to be a major taunt to the Dark Lord. Jacob looked back at them with a slight smile.
"Alright," he said. "You can have your little party." Suddenly everyone in the room erupted in a cheer after hearing Jacob's approval, especially Uberta and Jean-Bob. But after a few moments Uberta's face suddenly turned serious.
"Alright people," she said loudly and with authority in her voice. "We have a lot of work to do and I want no mistakes made. Chamberlain! Bridget! I want you two to follow me and assist me in the decorations. Puffin! Speed! Frog! Bird! I want you to assist Rogers in making the invitations. Rogers! After you've finished the invitations, I want you to gather anyone you can to send them to the appropriate addresses that I will give to you later. Alright people let's move it. I want this to be big!" With that, everyone in the room left as quickly as they could to complete their assignments. The only ones left in the room were Jacob, Derek and Odette. Jacob stood in the middle of the room while facing the door with his eyes wide open. He turned around to look at the bedridden prince and his beloved wife and smiled.
"You mother is still obsessed with making a good party I see," he said with a hint of amusement in his voice. Odette and Derek just laughed at the whole situation.
"I don't know how she was when you were younger," Derek said, "But she's been this way for as long as I can remember." Jacob just smiled and shook his head.
"No, she's pretty much the same as I remember her." He then turned around and made his way towards the door. "I guess I'll go back to the training fields and see if Rothbart has finished working yet. I trust dear Odette will look after you?" Odette giggled before nodding her head.
"I will," she promised.
Jacob smiled again before leaving the room and closing the door behind him. Odette and Derek were now the only ones left in the room now. It was silent for a few moment before Odette turned to Derek to ask him something that had been on her mind for a while.
"Derek?" He looked over at his lovely princess.
"Yes?" She hesitated for a moment before continuing.
"Do you really believe that if Sargon had taken me with him that I would do something like that?" It wasn't a question he was expecting at that moment, but he knew that after he said it, it was something that would come up eventually.
"I believe that you would do whatever it takes to keep our child away from him," he said with honesty. "And from being used in such a way."
"But killing our child?" She was sure she would be able to do it, but now she was doubting she could.
"I'm not saying it would be something that won't come with a price, but would you rather just hand him our child over to him?" Odette immediately shook her head. "I know it wouldn't be easy, but I know you and you would put yourself in harm's way in order to keep others safe. Even if it came in a sacrifice."
"But what if there's a time when I have to make that choice?" she asked in a shaky voice. Derek immediately took his wife's hand and brought her closer to him in a warm hug.
"You won't," he said confidently. "You're here now and safe. I'm sorry for bringing up in the first place. So don't think about it anymore okay?" He felt Odette nod and could feel her grip on his shirt tighten.
"I love you," she said almost on the verge of crying.
"And I love you," Derek whispered to her soothingly. They spent what felt like an hour in that position, just enjoying each other's company. After a while they both fell fast asleep, both with a smile on each of their faces. Little did they know that they were being watched.
Back in the great fortress of Pyro Morte', The Dark Lord Sargon, who had witnessed everything that had just transpired, watched the young couple through the crystal orb in his hand.
"So the little prince is smarter than I took him for," he said with a straight face. A moment later he had a wicked smirk on hid face. "No matter. I'll let them have their little party. It'll make ripping their child out of their clutches all the more sweeter." With that, he placed the orb back on its pedestal in the center of the room and left, planning for the excitement of the war that was soon to come.
A/N: sorry if the ending was a little too dark for you guys. I kinda wanted to demonstrate the gravity of the situation that Odette's in and could have been in incase Sargon had taken her with him as prisoner. I should be working on another chapter soon. And don't worry, it will be much happier that this one. Please leave a review and tell me what you think.