Chapter 5

"What?" I whispered. I sink down into a crouch, putting my hand over my mouth as I continue to stare at this beautiful...monarch in front of me.

"We stole the Queen. We had to do something. Now we can trade." Emmett said as if he had been rehearsing it.

This wasn't making any sense.

"Trade? What are you talking about? And who's we?" I spat out.

"Me, Jasper, Rose and Royce." My eyes move around the shed to find the rest of them leaning at various points where the wood wasn't weak with rot. "We borrowed Royce's father's horse and cart. We planned it perfectly! Now we can trade her for father!" He said smiling.

I moved back to looking at Emmett. But now my mouth is hanging wide open.

"Are you out of your ever loving mind?!" I roar as I bolt upright and grasp him by the sides of his collar. "You've kidnapped the Queen! They will hang us all for this! What were you thinking?" I hiss, shaking his bulky frame as much as I could. I may be a year older than him but he is a lot stockier than I and around the same height. If only we had a similar brain capacity. He pushes me away from him and I stumble back. I approach him again.

"What do you think they are going to do? Hand Father over to you once you've made your demands?" I question, arms flung wide. "The royal guard are probably all over London looking for her as we speak!" I implore. My body vibrating from adrenaline and fear. "Once they know where she is they will kill us all for treason, you idiot!" I shout. I step back as I see his face fall. I run a hand through my hair as I look around at the others. "Well? What do you have to say for yourselves, huh?" I ask the group of idiots.

I cannot believe this.

This must be a dream.

"We thought it would work, Edward." Jasper says from his spot against the back side of the shed. I look at him. Really look at him. Before I look back at Emmett. I then look at Rose before finally at Royce.

"How much have you guys taken?" I ask with teeth gritted together from anger. They've never been the brightest but even this idea is too idiotic and suicidal to have been thought up without the added benefit of drugs. They all just look down. I choke out a humourless laugh. Exhausted already from trying to take it all in, and knowing that I will have to…try and somehow fix this.

"Get out." I whisper. I look around at them. "All of you. Leave. I don't care where you go but you don't go in the house. Go on. Get out!" I yell. They all scurry out. Emmett and Jasper linger but end up going too. The shed door shuts behind them.

Silence. I don't want to turn around. If I don't look at her, then it didn't happen. I can almost feel the nouse around my neck already. I heave a sigh before slowly turning around.

There she is.

Exactly the same as before. Still looking directly at me. A shiver runs down my spine out of fear. I swallow before moving closer to her. I crouch down as I reach out to untie her hands. I make swift work of the knot and gently remove the rope from around her wrists. They are a little chaffed but no skin has broken. I place the rope to one side as I look up towards her face.

My, she is stunning.

I reach up before hesitating. I clear my throat before reaching up again. I have to raise up from my haunches to reach. I slip my hands past her head as I use shaky fingers to untie the cloth. Once it is untangled, I freeze. The cloth falls to her lap as I retreat slightly. She turns her head slightly to look at me as I look back at her. I lower myself back down again and her eyes follow me. I swallow, hard.

"I-I'm so sorry, Your Majesty." I'm at a loss of what to do. I run my hand through my hair again as I look down. What am I going to do. I've got to keep this away from Mother and the youngsters. If the rest of us go down, we cannot take them with us. I am so busy in my head that I almost miss her tiny gasp. I snap my head up to find her incredibly pale.

"Your Majesty?" I ask franticly, jumping to my feet. I watch as she grasps at her midriff. She looks up at me as she grits her teeth.

"Help me." She gasps, breathlessly.

I need my bag, I think to myself as I move to go and get it.

But I don't want to leave her alone. I conflict with myself. I do the only think I could think of.

I bend down and scoop her up.