Chapter 14:

Pamela was quickly transferred to a cell after her appearance but she didn't care. Her plan had worked perfectly and now nothing could bother her. Even sitting on the dusty floor was fine to her. When the door opened she expected to see anyone but Peter. His only change was his now grayish hair colour. Peter crouched down in front of her with his same old disgusting gaze.

"What? Can't take your eyes off my beauty?" she said sarcastically as she still had the same hatred toward him. Peter reached to touch her face but she pushed his hand away. "Don't you even dare." she hissed and he dropped his hand.

"I'm glad to see you." he said with a rough voice and motioned at her arm. "You truly are a Fearless. I like it." he winked and got up. "Don't worry about the Queen. I can convince her to let you out." he started to leave that Pamela bolt up.

Raged by his unchangeable arrogance she moved to him. "I don't need your help." she smiled just to restrain herself. "I didn't ten years ago and nothing has changed now."

"You wasted ten years of your precious life." he moved closer to her with his eyes fixed on hers'. "Grow up. You are now 28 so think like one. Those who want to survive need power and I am that power." he was so close now that she had to narrow her eyes to focus on him. "The Queen once told me that the one who has people's heart is their true ruler. I am the person whom the whole palace respect so you need to start acting with respect now." he yelled at her. "I came here to see if a beautiful girl like you has learned some respect or not but you're disappointing me. You really think a mere girl can stand up to me?" he smiled with satisfaction.

Pamela let out a short laughter. "I'm shivering in my bones from fear." she mocked him. Before he could answer the door opened once again to reveal a guard. He bowed his head at Peter who took a step back from Pamela.

"Sir, the Queen has ordered lady Pamela to be escorted out." he announced to them and Pamela briskly walked pass Peter who was looking at her with enjoyment. The guard led her out without saying anything. She didn't meet anyone along the way which was pleasing. They reached a small door that when the guard opened showed a small street. "Her royal majesty asked you leave quietly to not attract attention." he saluted but Pamela frowned.

Taking a step back, she held her chin high. "I won't go through the back door." she turned but the guard stopped her. "Move aside." she ordered but he didn't which was exhausting. "Then convey my message to Chief Martin." she smiled when seeing the bewildered look on his face. "Tell him that Pamela is back. It's time for the plan to be done. If you promise to do so I'll go through the back door."

The guard nod his head and with a smile Pamela left the palace. She could guess that the guard would report her message to the Queen or Peter and it was exactly what she wanted. As she walked aimlessly people pointed her out to each other. Pamela liked their notice in her but she also wanted to rest so she turned inside the Ramblings narrow alleys. In there she saw Brian sitting on the small steps in front of his house. Cerys and James were talking to him.

They stopped as they saw her approach. James ran to her jogging. "Wow, you are amazing. How did you manage to do that? I thought that was it and you left me but then you appeared. Brilliant, just_" he would keep on talking if it weren't for Cerys silencing him and pointing Pamela's stare at Brian.

Brian took his head between his hands and didn't look up. Tears started circling in Pamela's eyes as she saw him so confused and defenseless. She sat in front of him but the sight of her made him jump as if he was going crazy. Pamela too stood up, seeing him unable to talk made her tears run.

She gently took his hand. He trembled at her touch but began to relax slowly. "Hello Brian." she smiled through her tears as she saw the realization in his eyes. She showed him the necklace and the bracelet. "Thank you for giving me your heart for all these years." she then touched his face that now was looking more mature with beard.

He opened his mouth but no voice came out so instead he leaned down and embraced her. Pamela returned his embraced passionately while crying in his shoulder. "I missed you." she admitted so quiet that only he heard it. Neither wanted to break the embrace that fulfilled all their longings and sorrows.

They stayed that way until James spoke up. "Oh come on. I want to know all about your plan." he said despite of Cerys's attempts to silence him. Pamela stood back and wiped her face while Brian just kept staring at her. James looked hurt but he smiled wryly. "Shall we go in or grow roots out here?"

"James." warned Cerys but Brian smiled and opened the door. He waited for Pamela and Cerys to go in and then followed them.

His house was welcoming as ever for Pamela as she sat on the sofa with Brian at her right and James squeezing himself to fit at her left. "I'm sorry for not telling you about the solar eclipse." she apologized to James who gave up and went to sit on the other sofa near Cerys. "I needed you to act naturally so that Artemis would make everything public."

James smiled at her with enthusiasm. "I actually liked it." he didn't know why it bothered him so much to see Brian hold Pamela's hand. "Where are you going to stay? The Wizard Tower?" he asked to change the subject. "I told Alther and Chief Martin to meet us here."

"I wanted to see them as well." she didn't care about Martin much but truly wanted to see Alther. "The Wizard Tower is not an option for me to stay at. Maybe I'll go and stay at the inn that's on the top floor of the pub." as she said that Brian pulled her hand to make her look at him and shook his head. "I have no where else to go." answered Pamela to his silent opposition.

He pointed at the second room in his house and then at her. His actions forced Pamela to look away for a moment so that she wouldn't break into tears. "Staying at your house is not an option, Brian." she said softly. She wanted to stay there but knew it to be impossible considering her circumstances.

Cerys snapped her fingers victoriously. "How about the palace?" her suggestion was so odd that everyone stared at her. "There are a lot of rooms and besides you will be close to everyone." she seemed serious about this. Pamela couldn't agree more to such an opportunity.

"Thank you." she mumbled to Cerys who returned it with a smile. With the knocking sound, Brian walked to the door and James too stood up. Alther came in with his glance keep shifting around the room. He spotted Pamela who too stood up and embraced her as friendly as before. He had gone thinner than Pamela remembered and his skin had a sick colour to it but he was grinning anyway.

Alther stood back. "Welcome back." he was still same as before and Pamela noticed Brian shooting him poisonous look. It was soothing to see some things unchanged. "I was ordered to curse you but I'll defy it." Alther laughed at her.

"Send my love to DomDaniel as well." said Pamela sarcastically and crashed on the sofa. This time James sat next to her before Brian could. Alther sat on the table but Brian remained standing. "I have a lot of things to tell you but later." Pamela clapped her hands and leaned forward. "We have work to do."


Cerys had positioned Pamela in a luxurious chamber in palace but no one knew about it. She seemed nervous about it herself. "I'll tell mom at dinner. She'll take it better that way." she ran her hand through her hair but Pamela took it and looked at her.

"Cerys, calm down. I will talk to her myself." she had to establish her spot. "Just tell me where she is." Pamela waited until Cerys asked the guards and walked alone to the royal pavilion. She had changed her clothes and no longer dressed like beggars. The sound of her long fiery red skirt on the carpet gave her a sense of authority as if she belonged to the palace. She reached the royal pavilion just as Queen Mathilda was having tea.

Pamela didn't wait to be announced and went forward with confidence. "May I join you?" she smiled as Queen Mathilda frowned but nodded. She sat in front of her and crossed her legs. "Didn't expect to be released so easily from the prison." she leaned back.

Queen Mathilda put her cup down and played with it. "I thought you wanted to be back from exile so I did you a favour and let you free." she looked up at Pamela's smirking face. "We had a deal, remember? You were supposed to keep quiet."

"And you weren't supposed to put me on house arrest or change my location every year." Pamela snapped but then softened her tone. "Anyhow the past is past. Let's talk about now." she enjoyed the Queen's disturbed look. "I still want to be the royal advisor." she demanded so rashly that the Queen laughed. "What will people think when their beloved Queen refuses the person in the prophecy?"

The Queen no longer hid her despise in her. "I see you still haven't changed." she twitched as Pamela shrugged bluntly. "The same arrogance, rudeness and violent personality. You were nothing and if it weren't for me_" her insults were cut short when Artemis followed by Ethen Beetle walked in. "Later Princess." Queen Mathilda dismissed her to continue her conversation but Pamela smiled.

She raised an eyebrow at the Queen. "Please, let her join us." she then motioned at the empty chair. "Don't be shy Princess, sit." she was pleased to see Artemis's face become angry to be treated like a child that is no obstacle for Pamela. "Bring her highness a cup of tea." she ordered as if she had every right to do anything.

Artemis sat down proudly and held her head up to let sun shine on her gold circlet. "Quite a show you performed yesterday." she clapped her hands twice. "I should start learning from you." she meant to be sarcastic but couldn't stop the shake in her tone. Pamela noticed that Ethen was looking at Artemis with worry.

Just looking at Ethen's glances and Artemis's shaken face made Pamela think. The possibility of her idea was low but it was too beneficial for her to let it go. "I am always available to assist you." Pamela nod her head at her then gazed at Queen Mathilda. "Thank you for your generosity, Your Majesty." her sudden expression changed bewildered Queen Mathilda. "I have made numerous friends on my... adventures. If you insist then I must call them all here." Pamela knew that Artemis wouldn't understand a thing of what she was saying but saw the realization in the Queen's eyes.

She had to become the royal advisor to built her way to becoming the Queen and would use all the people she met on her exile if necessary. "Oh, forgive me for continuing our conversation without informing you of the great news." she told Artemis since she was confidence that Queen Mathilda couldn't object. "Her royal majesty was kind enough to not only return me my status as the Ice faction army commander but make me her personal advisor." she finished the silent deal brightly.

Queen Mathilda knew that Pamela would actually bring the village people to dethrone her if she rejected her so she just stood up. "Yes, do your job well since it'll be hard." with that she strode off leaving Pamela with Artemis and Ethen. Artemis took a sip of her tea to calm down from the news.

Pamela saw her pale face but she had to be sure. "Congratulations." she didn't know how she had come to such a statement but she went on. "And to you as well ." she saw Artemis exchange a horrified glance with Ethen and became more sure.

"What are you talking about?" asked Artemis with a trembling voice.

"Marriage, baby." Pamela shrugged and leaned forward to Artemis who lost the little colour she had on her face. "How are you going to announce the big news?" she smiled and glanced at Ethen. "I am quite close to Brian so I can be considered as the child's aunt." as she said that Artemis let out a smile sigh so Pamela captured her hands on the table. "Don't worry about the Queen. I can tell her the news." she then pretended as if she had just remembered something. "Wait, isn't there a rule about a non-crown princess not being allowed to marry a commoner? Isn't he a commoner?"

Ethen sat in front of Pamela with his sword placed at his side. "Please, don't tell anyone about it." he pleaded and pointed Artemis's frightened eyes. "It's true that we got married in secret and she's with a baby_"

"Ethen, stop!" called Artemis to stop his confession but he went on.

"I have talked to Brian about you and I know of your relationship so please let this one slide. For his sake at least." Ethen's use of Brian wasn't pleasant for Pamela as she didn't want to draw his in this but it showed their fear of having their secret revealed and that was enough. She let go of Artemis's hand and got up to leave.

She walked passed Ethen who was now checking on Artemis. "My secret keeping skills are perfect." Pamela turned on her heel to them that were both looking at her. "However, there's a flaw in every perfect and that flaw will only be determined by Princess Artemis." her warning was enough to pull Artemis down from her ego. With a smile of satisfaction she left them. The list of people she had to defeat was circling in her head. She crossed Artemis in her mind and then counted. First Peter and then the Queen.

Thank you guys so much for reading. Please review for encouragements and improvements. Bye.

P.S. What kind of person do you think Pamela is? Is she on villain category or hero?