Marlene sat pensively looking out the window, her book long fallen from her fingers. Her Majesty looked what some would call serene if it weren't for her insistent pacing. Their Ladies in waiting had made a valiant effort to distract them. Emmeline even sang a bit, and managed to coax Marlene to join her. But singing brought little comfort when her safety required she be kept prisoner, and that she had no way to know if cousin and her husband were safe.
The door latched and Marlene turned, expecting the head of the Royal Guard, but her heart soared as her eyes beheld James and Sirius.
Marlene flew to her husband and threw secrecy to the wind as she kissed him passionately. Let them talk, she had no use for the affairs of Court anymore.
When Sirius pulled back she could see something was very, very wrong. His eyes looked haunted again, but his whole frame seemed as if it would crash under the weight of whatever burden he currently carried.
Sirius sighed and looked up at James, "By your leave, your Majesty?"
James looked up from Lily, whom he held tightly against him, "Of course, I'll see you in the Council in an hour."
Sirius nodded and took Marlene's arm. They walked quietly to their rooms and with each step Marlene seemed to see Sirius sink deeper.
When the door finally shut behind them, Marlene pulled Sirius into a chair and knelt before him.
"Sirius, love, what's wrong?"
Sirius leaned forward and ran a hand along her face. Marlene reached for it and held it to her cheek as she stared at his haunted expression.
"We received a letter from my brother."
"Regulus?" Marlene didn't bother to hide her shock.
Sirius nodded and sighed heavily, "He had been working to undermine Riddle and our mother. However he learned that Riddle's spy in our Court was Peter. Apparently the idiot sacrificed himself to give us the time to act now. We hope to march for Semprapuria on the morrow."
"Oh, Sirius," Marlene rose from the floor to wrap her arms around him. Sirius pulled her into him and held her tightly in his lap as his breaths became shallow.
Marlene had grown accustomed to being compared to a fairytale over the years. She accepted the truth in it in herself and knew to some extent that these parallels existed in her husband as well. But she had never been so acutely aware of it as the moment when she first beheld Sirius, in full armor, on a white war horse, calling his men to arms. He was breathtaking; more compelling than any of the knights of legend and myth.
He'd gotten the attention of the crowd and then he began speaking.
"Many of you woke from your beds this day under the assumption that you had time. Each one of you had the experience of learning that wasn't the case. You may feel unprepared to march upon Semprapuria. I am here to tell you that you are in good company. Perhaps more than anyone, I had longed to delay the inevitability of taking up arms against Semprapuria. Because for me this is more than a battle, it is a journey home."
Marlene heard the last words from his mouth and took in a short breath. This was the secret he had clung to as protection for the past seven years. Saying those words took a different sort of bravery than leading these men into battle, and she couldn't help smile with pride. Her husband was so much more than a real life knight in shining armor.
"I have a confession to make to you, my men, upon this eve of battle.
I am not who you think that I am. My name is Sirius Orion Black.
By sunset tomorrow, I will be dead or I will be the Duke of Semprapuria, a position my forefathers have held for generations before my mother, the traitor Walburga, decided to declare herself a queen.
Today I will lead you into my home and rip that pheoney crown off that evil snake's head. Tomorrow we bring King James's lands back together, but today, today my friends I am terrified.
I am, first and foremost a soldier in His Majesty's army. Am I not meant to be brave? Yet I cannot stand in front of you all and tell you that I am not afraid. I can, however, promise you that no amount of fear will hold me back from doing what needs to be done, for King James and for the good of Phoenixordo!"
Marlene looked on as he drew his sword and held it to the sky and he declared his loyalty. The pounding of her own heart was surely echoed in the chests of everyone present. She couldn't even find it in herself to care that ten thousand men were currently almost as enamoured with her husband as she was. He had earned their love, and hers. Besides, it was her bed that he'd be returning to, she reminded herself.
After the crowd had a moment to breathe, Sirius spoke again, this time much more casually.
"Now, if my men will excuse me, I have a wife to bid farewell."
She hadn't been expecting him to bid her goodbye in front of his army. But Sirius rode to her, sword resheathed and armor glinting in the morning sunlight. He stepped from his horse with a grace that could match her own, before striding up to her with an air that would bring any Lord or Lady to their knee. Marlene was vaguely aware of Emmeline stepping back, as Sirius' gauntleted hand touched her waist. If Marlene had at any one time been aware of her small stature, this was that moment. Sirius seemed to tower over her.
"Be well my love, it is for you I ride." And then his lips were on hers and Marlene had to concentrate incredibly hard on not collapsing on the spot. She had not been prepared for nearly anything where Sirius was concerned, but seeing her husband assume his role as the King's right hand man, the Duke of Semprapuria, the leader of armies, had floored her perhaps more than anyone else in attendance. But she was a Princess, and she would not allow for herself to be viewed as anything less than the woman worthy of this man, so she stood her ground.
When Sirius pulled back, the smirk on his face told her he knew exactly what he was doing, to both her and the King's army.
"You told me once, that you would wear my favor. I've been working on it since." Marlene pulled from her sleeve's inner pocket, the embroidered gold material, made from a scarf that had belonged to her mother.
Sirius took the carefully crafted favor in hand. "I shall keep it close to my heart while I am away, my Princess."
"Do come home to me," Marlene grasped his hand as he removed his gauntlet to take her favor.
"It is with every intent of my heart to return to victorious to you, Marly." Sirius brought his hand to her face. "But…"
"Speak not of such things," Marlene brought her fingers to his lips. "I will wait for you, whether it be here victorious or till death doth come to call me to you, I will wait."
Sirius kissed her hand, and Marlene could feel her tears threatening. "I love you, with all my heart I love you, Sirius." She whispered fiercely.
"And I love you, Marlene." He kissed her passionately and Marlene knew if he didn't leave now she would ruin his whole display by breaking down in front of his entire army.
"Now ride, Your Grace," she pulled away and stood dramatically, in the rays of the rising sun, "And lead our King's army to victory."
Sirius smirked at her, but he replaced his gauntlet and jumped on his stallion in one swift motion. Then he pulled his sword from its sheath and galloped to the front of the cavalry.
"For Phoenixordo!" He shouted, and the army roared with him as he charged ahead into the rising sun.
Marlene watched her heart ride off without her, and it wasn't until she was locked safely in her new room in the Royal corridor that she stopped fighting the threatening tears and cried like a child, curled on her very cold bed.