Chapter 24: Sins Of The Father

Elizabeth knew not how long she had taken alone with her thoughts, but she felt as if the wind was blowing shards of ice her way when she was ready to face her father.

"You were there at the battle's start, father, but Arthur then chose you as one of five to ride to a mission of great import. You should have refused. You should have refused."

"Elizabeth…"

"Master Merlin," she said, spitting out the name. "A sage he may have been, but that old man made me shudder."

"He had no choice," Sir Bennet said. "You never saw how these cursed Saxons fought, with only Death to thank them for it."

"I didn't have to see it. I believe they did so for sheer anger and hatred of us," Elizabeth replied. "For how would they not have heard what was done to their innocents left in their villages? If I, practically no more than a girl, heard about the massacres, why would the news have not reached also the Saxon ranks?"

"Elizabeth, we waste our time and energy talking about this from a decade ago. What can anyone here hope to gain now?"

Elizabeth shook her head, ignoring Sir Bennet's words. "News of their women, children and elderly, left unprotected after our solemn agreement not to harm them, now all slaughtered by our hands, even the smallest babes. If this had been done to us, would our hatred have exhausted itself? Would we not have also fought to the last as they did?"

"Why dwell on this matter, Elizabeth? Today, the problem we face is a different one. Don't blame me, Arthur, or even Merlin, my child. The truce once brokered was a thing truly wondrous while it held. How many innocents, Briton or Saxon, were spared over the years for it? That it didn't hold forever is a thing of the past."

"Why do I dwell on it? Father, the problem then is the same as now. Saxons believed in our bargain. Then your deeds, Arthur's deeds, made us Britons liars and butchers. And together with the dark magic of Merlin, you made us all forget the crimes we were complicit in. There can be no forgiveness for our collective sins if we cannot even recall it. You told Darcy so fancifully that our God will bless this dragon. Dragon or no dragon, God will never forgive us for crimes we haven't even asked forgiveness for, crimes we cannot atone for because most Britons cannot even remember them!"

She must have been shivering as she was speaking, because she felt Darcy put his cloak over her shoulders. She must have also been crying as she was speaking, because she felt Darcy wipe tears from her cheek.

Sir Bennet tried a different approach. "My child, I agree with you that atonement is necessary. Why not we all walk away from here, move down somewhere warmer, and we can look at what can be done without further loss of life?"

Elizabeth smiled grimly. "I have already given that idea thought. Today, you and I have been given a rare chance. We may once and for all sever this evil circle, to cleanse our land and our people, and for the hope of peace in years to come."

She took a deep breath. There was no going back from what she was about to say. "Darcy is right. He cannot dream my dream for me. He cannot be made to live with my choice any more that I should be made to live with his choice. We must each do ourselves what is necessary for us. Darcy may slay Querig, but he cannot end the circle of hate that you and Arthur started. Darcy is a Saxon. As is Wickham. No…only you or I can end this, father."

Wickham frowned.

"I fail to understand you, Lizzy," Sir Bennet said, confused but also with alarm slowly creeping into his voice.

Only Darcy grasped her intent immediately, his eyes widened with horror. "Elizabeth, your father's sins are not yours. You cannot…your father, who would have had your sister killed, will not treat you any better when it comes to it! You know this!" He grabbed her hands in his, ready to speak further but Elizabeth gently stopped him.

"If it is my time, if I do not get to roam this land with you, then I will greet God if not with happiness, then with faith that I did my best to do right by my people and yours. My only regret will be losing you so soon after finding you again," she replied quietly. But Elizabeth was not a person without hope, no matter how dire the situation. She smiled, and tightly held on to Darcy's hands. "But you must have faith in me. My memory has been returning in parts and pieces, and I recall what you taught me. I recall what he taught me…there is no reason why I could not best my father."

"Darcy, what is she saying?" Wickham asked.

Before Darcy replied, Elizabeth answered Wickham herself. "I do not wish for Darcy to fight my father. Darcy can slay Querig. If my father wishes to stop that, then he should be willing to put his sword through me. He will have to, because otherwise I shall be the one to spill his blood and atone for all Britons the sins of my father and his kind."

A/N: Sorry for the extremely short chapter, but the nature of it meant that I didn't want to load it up unnecessarily. Also, there was a reader who felt that Elizabeth was not an active player. I hope this pay-off is worth it!