Hi all, I am deeply sorry for updating so late. The truth is that, I wrote this chapter weeks ago but never got to edit it cause of my entrance exam (please pray I pass). Anyhow, hope you are enjoying this and thank you for waiting. Chapter 18:
It's been years after Queen Mathilda's death and neither Pamela nor Cerys were able to become Queen. Some were on Cerys's side because of her royal blood and many were with Pamela because of her wit and talents. Artemis had taken Pamela's advice to heart and had disappeared overnight.
The commotion was so intense that Pamela sometimes wondered how she would survive without Brian. They were days that she would just play music with glasses to stop herself from going and killing each and every member of the Fearless. She and Brian used the house as their shelter to make plans for taking out the Fearless.
Alther was busy with his new apprentice Marcia Overstand after his previous one quit to live in the house on top of Pamela and Brian's. Pamela had tried to talk with Alther but stopped when he declared their friendship over. That was one of the worst days of Pamela's life. She had started the day with a terrible argument with Cerys who looked at with despise since her mother's death and then saw Alther at her house to hear him no be able to continue friendship with a murderer.
The moment he stepped out of the house, Pamela had started vomiting heavily until Brian brought a physician. The news of her pregnancy made Brian so happy that he treated the whole Rambling. Pamela was happy at first but it didn't last night as the Fearless started pressing her to continue though becoming weak.
Pamela tried to look her best despite having a seventh month stomach as she entered the army's training ground. They were reversing to show Ceres their improved skills. Upon her arrival, Daren who was now the instructor shouted and everyone stopped.
They cleared the way for her and bowed on the ground. Pamela smiled. "There's no need to bow. A simple salute will suffice." she told Daren and walked passed them to her chair that was ready next to Cerys's.
Cerys's change still surprised her as she returned her smiled and went to sit beside her. Queen Mathilda's death had been hard on Cerys and had made her childish face into a grown woman who had lines around her eyes. She no longer laughed with the same joy or looked at Pamela the same way. She had become a greater opponent that anyone Pamela had ever contended with. Only because of Cerys's will to fight and Pamela being reluctant to fight back
"What you done yesterday was very kind." Pamela said sarcastically at the news of Cerys setting the new rebellion group free. "But kindness cannot rule the Castle. Punishment must be as swift and cruel as a thunder and rewards must be slow and sparing. That's how to rule people." she stated firmly but Cerys didn't say anything. "Are you trying to ruin the Castle once and for all?"
Cerys smiled at that. "Unlike you Pamela, I don't want to have people submit to from fear. Yes, that's what you did years back. You planted fear in the rebellion's mind and then showed them mercy to have them on your side." she glanced at the few guards standing behind Pamela that one was the rebellion's leader. "I won't do that. I will rule with negotiation, freedom and hope."
Pamela sighed with pretend frustration. "I thought I was doing you a favour, Princess." they no longer called each other by names and it hurt Pamela. "But what are you saying instead of thanking me; negotiation? Freedom and hope?" she laughed mockingly and gazed at Cerys's eager eyes to know more. "Hope for the right future is out of people's capacity, negotiation is disturbing for their feeble minds and any kind of freedom will make them uneasy. People are realistic creatures and that's why they sometimes show irrational attitudes." she eyed the guard at her right to have their surrounding cleared as the conversation was going in the directions she didn't like.
Cerys ordered her men to go. "Now I understand why the Castle couldn't develop for fourteen years."
"Why... why is that?" Pamela was somewhat scared to ask that.
"Because Pamela..." Cerys smiled with delight. "Pamela you are the Castle's legitimate ruler." Pamela's eyes widened with surprise at that comment. "If you were the true ruler, wouldn't you have cherished the Castle people? Then wouldn't you give them the right negotiation, the right freedom and endless hope? But since you're not their Queen wasn't it like raising someone else's child." her smile became a grin. "Unlike you, I don't have any darkness in my past and have no intention in having one. Isn't that the thing that's makes us different?"
Pamela was set back by that. Cerys had never been so hard. She managed a smiled but was at loss at words that Cerys stood up. "Ah, your words left a deep impression in me." she stated softly while motioning the guards to join them. "Punishment must be swift and cruel as a thunder and rewards must be slow and sparing. I'll take that to heart." she nod her head. "Now if you excuse me."
When Cerys walked out of the training field, Daren ran to her side and crouched beside her. "There's a Witch who wants to see you. If may mar your reputation." he whispered in her ear. Pamela gripped the armrest and closed her eyes to calm down. She nodded with approval since she felt too tired to have an argument with the Fearless.
Morweena walked briskly to her side and shook her. "Found that plant yo little weasel. How dare_" Morweena started but Pamela swiftly silenced her by pressing her finger at her mouth and go up. She motioned at the impatient Morweena to follow her out. The pain in her stomach was ever increasing as she walked pass the soldiers who stood aside and saluted her.
"You're a Witch. What do you think you're doing in the palace? How did you get in?" she hissed at Morweena after going into the corridor. Morweena pushed Pamela back with an extraordinary strength. She threw a large rotten leaf at Pamela that she quickly recognized. "You searched my house?" she asked with great irritation.
Morweena gritted her teeth. "Yes, I finally convinced Tertius to it." she smiled brightly. "I always told them that you weren't to be trusted and here's the proof." she pointed at the leaf in Pamela's hand. "Only a fool wouldn't notice that you took the vase from Queen Mathilda's chamber to just cover up_" Morweena couldn't go on any further for Pamela dropped the leaf behind her and dragged her out. She hoped that Cerys's spies would take it to her.
That might be the only she could make her understand that she had poured the poison in the vase instead of killing the Queen with it. Pamela's train of thoughts was cut when she got from behind and fell from the last three steps of the palace onto the street.
Blinded by pain she searched for anything to hold onto. Morweena's constant talking was making her dizzy. As she reached up a hand caught her and dragged her up. "Oh, lover to aid. Shall I take you out instead of her?" Morweena's mocking voice made her open her eyes.
Brian was staring angrily at Morweena while still holding her. He circled his hand around her. "Let's go. I got this." he muttered and started to walk off with her that something red flew past Pamela's cheek, missing her head by inches. She felt her cheek warm up and turned to face Morweena but Brian forced her to stand back and ran up the steps to Morweena.
Pamela didn't hear anything as Brian was whispering but she was surprised to see Morweena look crossed at first and then a small smile appeared on her lips. Pamela tried to read their lips but Brian talked while covering his mouth and Morweena was silent. Brian raised an eyebrow and Morweena nodded before going off.
Smiling delightfully, Brian took Pamela's hand but she didn't return his smile. "What was that about?" she asked with curiosity.
"I told her how to stop obeying Tertius Fume and the way to get more powerful." Brian explained and expected to see Pamela happy but she pulled free from him and creased her eyebrows from the horrible pain. "What?" asked Brian.
She crossed her arms. "If you knew how then why you never told mr how? I am doing these things to keep our lives." she looked away with annoyance. "No one wants to get rid of Tertius Fume. You should've told me how."
"Don't make excuses Pamela. Not to me at least." replied Brian a bit harsher than he intended. Pamela looked at him with surprise, it was the first time she had seen him so frustrated. "Yes, you don't like the Fearless's pressure to become a Queen but you can't deny that it's helping you to achieve your dream." he said straight forward.
Pamela laughed angrily and rubbed her forehead. "I may be ambitious or even brutal sometimes. I knowledge that, but not when it comes to you." the pain and hot weather combined with her first argument with Brian, brought tears to her eyes. "I thought that I'd proven that to you in all these years." her voice was hoarse as she pushed herself to walk off.
He followed her but she knew it was all because he was concerned about her and that was worse, since it showed that he believed in what he said. At the Rambling entrance, she saw James waiting with Martin for her at their door.
They turned as they saw her approach while holding the walls for support. James ran to her and took her arm to help her but Brian caught up. He silently shove his hand away with a frown and grabbed her himself.
"James, there's something you must do." Pamela said, still avoiding Brian. "Station the guards around all the Ice faction members' houses. I suspect that someone might try to take us out." she glanced at Martin who stood in middle of Brian and James. "Prepare the army. We will need it soon."
"That's why we came Pamela." voiced Martin desperately. "Princess Cerys ordered us to go to the boarder. I know she wanted to weaken us but I couldn't object when she_"
"Then go Martin." Pamela finished and freed her arm from Brian's grip. "I didn't expect Cerys to think that far. She seems to have increased the palace security with Alther's help." she ran her hand through her hair. "Stay alert. I have a feeling that they may use my condition to do something." she ordered and firmly and glanced at Brian's ashen face. "I can get to the house myself."
Pamela was rapidly going through every book that Brian had ever read but she found nothing. The noise coming from the Heap's house wasn't helping her to concentrate. She was about to go and bang at their door that Brian came in. Pamela sat back in her chair and stared at the small mirror on the table.
Brian sat across her. "I never meant it like that. I'm sorry." he said quietly to her who didn't break her gaze.
"Okay," she answered curtly and kept staring at her visage. She had been always praised for the fire of ambition in her eyes. It had caused men to trust her enough to vow their loyalty. Pamela used to love that look but after she had heard Brian's statement about her selfishness, she hated it.
Brian took her hand which she didn't react to. "I am really sorry." he waited until she nodded. Tears ran into Pamela's eyes. "What is bothering you? You seemed troubled earlier today as well." he said with worry as he saw a tear fall from her eye.
"I'm envious." confessed Pamela and finally gazed at Brian who looked at her as if not believing what he was hearing. "Yes, I envy Cerys. I envy the fact that she has a great past and that she can gain what she wants with kindness instead of scaring them." she smiled bitterly and bit her lip to stop her tears from falling. "She never has to do the things I did."
Seeing her like that was surprising for Brian. "Just that?" he asked and brushed her tears off to sooth her.
"Why is it that I'm not from the royal blood?" her voice was trembling as she closed her eyes to calm down. "This Pamela, never had the chance to think of a dream other than becoming a Queen. I had to be ambitious, heartless and sometimes even cruel. If I was of the royal blood then I would never have joined the Fearless or refused to admit my innocence in Queen Mathilda's death." Pamela clutched her skirt and took a deap breath. "It exhausts me, Brian. I do things that I have to do and then I see you hurt by my actions. I gave up on becoming the Queen but the Fearless didn't let me. So why do you think I don't want to take them out. Is that even fair?"
Brian got up and crouched on the ground in front of her. He held her hands and smiled. "I'm sorry, I really am." he smiled as she too took his hand. "I didn't want to press you in between your desire to become Queen and destroying Tertius Fume but since you insist." he took a piece of paper that was ripped from a book and handed it to her. "You can take out the Fearless with the help of the army and the Wizards and Banish Tertius Fume to Darke halls." Pamela studied the Banish spell as he went on. "The problem is we cannot do it without the Wizard Tower's help and Alther_"
"Hates me." finished Pamela and took a deep breath. "But we have to try. I'll try talking to Alther at any cost and you can gather the_" her words were cut as a stone broke the window. They both got up swiftly and looked at the direction that the stone was thrown. Brian forced her to sit and ran to the window. He carefully looked out and jumped on Pamela in time for numerous fire lit arrows were shot at them.
Brian shielded her with his body. The whole house was fire and they could hear the Rambling residents yelling for help. Pamela brought up the emerald stone on the ring she shared with all the Ice faction members. "James. James!" she screamed in it so that her call would be transferred to James. More arrows were shot and now she could hear the sound of the Fyre spells to bring down the house. Brian dragged her up swiftly so that they could escape. "Bring the army. Do you hear me James? Bring the army." she ordered
James's POV:
James was walking between the soldiers in the training field that he felt his ring buzzing. As he pressed on it, Pamela's scream set him on run. He ran to the army to order the dispatch that one of the Ice faction ministers held him back. "Why are you taking the army? We must all give our consent." he interfered.
Desperate to be quick, he shove the minister's hand away. "Pa... Lady Pamela ordered it." he answered curtly and started to gather the soldiers. Cerys and Alther walked into the training field just as he was about to take the lead in taking the army to Rambling. He bowed swiftly when he reached them.
"Did Lady Pamela ask for the army?" inquired Cerys and extended her hand. "She always orders with a written reason. Let me read it."
James couldn't tell them about the ring communication so he looked around for help but none of the Ice faction members around him were of any use. "It was a verbal command, Your Highness." he then drew closer to them. "She is under attack. She had told us beforehand that the Fearless might try to take her out." he knew that Cerys had seen the Fearless brand on Pamela's arm before the exile.
Alther, however, was lost. "Why would the Fearless be attacking her? What is her connection to them?" he asked loudly that made the ministers whisper. "How can we know you're telling the truth?"
Cerys too looked at James with question. His confusion was obvious through his constant lip biting. Somewhere deep in her heart she wanted to help but after what had happened with her mother, Cerys couldn't believe Pamela or James so easily. "You cannot take the army." she declared firmly that made James's heart stop. He glanced at the ministers but none objected. "Alther and I, will accompany you to there. If the army was needed then we will send for it."
Brian shut the bedroom door behind him and tried to breath in between the smoke from the fire. Pamela was in tears from the pain she was experiencing. She was too breathing rapidly that Brian ran to her and covered her mouth and nose with a scarf. "Hang on love. Hang on, I'll get you out." he tried to calm her but Pamela shouted from pain and fell to the ground.
She circled her arms around her abdomen. "Brian, it's coming." it was all she could say before being unable to speak from pain. Brian tried to not panic and find a way out. Since they feared anyone breaking in their bedroom, the windows had been sealed years ago. He broke the window open with a box and ran back to Pamela.
"Okay, it's okay. Come on." Brian said hastily as he dragged her up and carried her to the window. Fire hadn't reached that part of the house yet so they could easily climb out. Brian went out first and helped Pamela out who was about to lose consciousness. Everyone were out and trying to save themselves from the fire. No one noticed them jump to the ground.
They made their way up to the upper floor of the Rambling. The Heap family were wearing their coats to run out that Brian spotted Silas and Sarah Heap who were helping their children. Half-walking, half-dragging Pamela, he stumbled in front of them. "Please, please help us." he pleaded to them. "She needs help."
When Sarah saw Pamela's state she swiftly helped them in and they closed the door behind them. Sarah brushed her curly blond hair that had gone frizzy back with a bandana and opened the bedroom door for them to go in. "Simon, hot water." Sarah ordered loudly and started pulling out bed sheets.
Simon ran in with a large bowl of water and Sarah pushed them all out. Brian tried to think clearly through Pamela's screams coming from the room. They heard shouts to find them and footsteps running up the stairs. "You save yourselves. I'll delay them as long as possible." he told the six Heap boys and Silas.
"Boys go out. We'll handle it." Silas's eyes started shimmering green and magyk buzzed around him. "Don't worry, I was Alther's apprentice for a while. I know my job." he smiled to assure Brian and started shielding the door for the Heap boys to run out as Brian took a large piece of wood and stood in front of the bedroom.
The footsteps were getting closer and in an instant it was a battle. Silas was using all of his power to keep the masked intruders from coming in. Simon and Sam pushed their brothers out and stayed to help him. Brian recognized them as the Fearless so he stepped away from the bedroom door which had now grown quiet and he could no longer hear Pamela's screams.
Brian knew that the Fearless would recognize him as well. "Why are you attacking a member?" he shouted at them and they turned to him. He saw Tertius Fume's ghost hover over them. "What happened to your promises that you wouldn't harm her if she acted by your order?"
"We wouldn't have done that if it weren't for tonight." replied Tertius Fume and tried to come in but he couldn't because of the ghost-hood rules. "You two betrayed us tonight and that is something we can never forgive." he ran his hand down his pale goat-like beard. Brian wanted to answer that a baby's crying sound emerged from the bedroom. "I want that baby. Double the force." Ordered Tertius Fume with determination.
Brian ran behind Silas. "I'll make sure they escape and come back here. Then you and the boys can go while I hold them back." he suggested rapidly as the attack brought Simon to knee. Silas didn't break his concentration and nodded.
Brian ran into the bedroom to see Pamela's eyes closed and Sarah wrapping the blanket around the baby. He forgot about everything and ran to Pamela. He shook her hysterically until she weakly opened her eyes. "She's fine. They're both are." Sarah voiced from behind him.
Feeling relieved Brian kissed Pamela's hand. She wiped her tears and smiled as he embraced her gently. "Thank you." he told Sarah and got up. Brian ran to the window to open it. "You two must leave. Silas and the boys will follow you." he looked out of the window and saw James and two figures running to the fire at the Rambling. "James's here." he informed Pamela as he helped her to a sitting position.
"I'll take the baby. Take care of Silas and children." Sarah hugged the baby and climbed out of the window without any questions. Brian nodded and tried to lift the half conscious Pamela. She grabbed the bed frame but fell back unto the bed with a groan.
Panicked to see her like that, Brian started to lift her up. He looked down the rustic ladder that Pamela let herself to stand. "I can do it." she held the window and shakily stepped on the ladder. Brian took her arms to help her down before going that Pamela grabbed his shirt. "Don't leave me." she mumbled.
"I'll follow shortly." reassured Brian and stroked her hair so that she wouldn't know of the commotion outside. "I promise." he smiled which she returned.
"Okay, so we'll wait for you." Pamela started to climb down slowly. Brian watched her until she reached the ground before going back to the living room.
James saw Pamela on the ladder and ran to her followed by Cerys and Alther. He reached in time to grab her as she fell from the second last step. "See? Send for the army." James snapped at Cerys and looked back at Pamela. "What happened? You okay?"
"Brian," moaned Pamela and glanced at Alther and Cerys. They were her last hope. "Brian's still in there and so are Sarah's children and husband." she took Cerys's hands between hers. "Do something." Cerys didn't know what to do at that point since a small part of her felt that it Pamela deserved this after killing her mother.
Seeing her silence, Pamela turned to Alther. "Please, Alther." she cried and stumbled back. "Hate me all you want but Brian's innocent." she glanced at Sarah's worried look. "And you know their family from way back. You can do it. I beg you."
Her pleading worked and Alther nodded. He climbed up the ladder swiftly and Cerys turned to her guard. "Dispatch_" her sudden change of mind was unheard as Alther made a huge explosion and a large web net that landed Brian, Silas, Simon and Sam to the ground. They swiftly ran away from the house.
Pamela held onto Brian and he kept stroking and kissing her hair to calm her down. They would've stayed that way if it weren't for the Fearless's members who were waiting as a backup. James pulled Pamela away from Brian.
"You must leave." he told her who was trying to break free from his firm grip. Sarah who was also in Silas and her sons embrace broke free with a start and looked at them. Cerys unleashed the two horses that were tied at the small shop. They were all forced to ground from the Firebolts until Alther jumped down to help them. Cerys brought the horses and Sarah sat on it while holding the baby. Silas didn't let Sam argue and pushed him and Simon up the horse.
Brian knew that they would follow Pamela and the baby since Silas and Alther weren't to their interest. He was the only other option than Pamela. "James, you must protect her at all cost." he called to James that made Pamela's look back at him sharply.
James nodded but Pamela clung onto Brian's arm. "What about you? You must come to." she just realized Brian's thought from his silence. "No, Brian. You're not going to sacrifice for me. I won't let you." she demanded.
"Make sure to keep her safe. Take her with you," Brian told James and then looked at Pamela. "You must live so that our child can live. If you're alive then I'm okay. So go!" he reluctantly let James drag Pamela back. She struggled as her hand slipped from Brian's sleeve.
Pamela screamed and cried when Brian took out the jeweled dagger that she had given him for their anniversary and ran to the fight with Silas and Alther. James was begging her to stop but she wasn't hearing. He forced her up onto the horse that Cerys was sitting on. Cerys set the horse on run before Pamela could jump down.
Through tears that had made her eyes blur, Pamela looked back at them. Most of the Fearless members were being pulled into Alther's magyakal JellyNet. Brian was knocking them out by striking at their legs. They were about to turn at the corner of the Rambling that Pamela heard Brian's shriek of pain.
Gone insane from fear, Pamela loosened her feet from the horse and let herself slip. She heard Cerys call her as she stumbled hard against the cold ground. Her eyes were shut from pain but she forced her way to stand and walked back to the battle.
The battle was finished as Alther had captured all the members except Tertius Fume who seemed to have escaped. James whose face was full of scars and was limping blocked her way. Alther and Silas didn't notice her as they sat near a figure against the wall. The fire wasn't completely out and Alther wasn't trying to stop it. The very thought worried her.
She was out of strength as she begged James with her eyes to let her pass which he did. She walked numbly to where Alther and Silas were standing and saw him. Brian was bleeding heavily from a sword's wound. She stared at it with disbelief as if it was just one of her nightmares.
Alther got up when he saw her. "Pamela... I..." he didn't know what to say so he resorted to path her on the shoulder. His touch made everything a reality and Pamela fell near Brian with a quiet scream.
She tried to stop the bleeding by pressing on it but the wound was too deep. Brian looked at her and pulled her hand away gently. Cerys's voice of command for a physician was far from her. She felt her cheeks become wet but was still too afraid to believe.
"Don't cry." whispered Brian and he smiled weakly. He reached up and caressed her tears. "It's not your fault Pamela. It's not." he was talking with great hardship.
Pamela shook her head to clear the fog in it and laughed hysterically as well as crying. "You can't leave me. Remember? We had great plans. We were supposed to end this together." her guilt at dragging him in this was torturing her. She shove him a little to keep him conscious.
"I'm sure that you'll achieve those plans." he was now trembling. "You are the smart and brave. I'm sure you can be a great mother and... A great ruler." he let out another groan as speaking was painful. "Don't waste your life on revenge. Okay? And don't forget that you already have the power of a Queen. Don't risk your life to become one if you can't." his worrying about her until the end made Pamela cry harder and nod to insure him. "Thank you for being in my life Pamela. I never regretted a moment with you." he mumbled.
"Don't say goodbye Brian. Hold on." desperately, she turned to Alther who was looking at them with defeat. "Stop the bleeding, please."
It was too late for Alther to do anything and Brian knew it. "Sorry Alther for all... all the times I was harsh to you. And you too James." he whispered to them and then looked back at Pamela's red eyes. "Don't cry for me. I am happy with my life."
She tried to smile unsuccessfully and kissed his cheek. "I too never regretted a moment. Not when I gave up on becoming a Queen to marry you or when we decided to take out the Fearless." she felt weak from surrendering to the fate. "I love you and I will always do." she whispered in his ear.
Brian smiled weakly and started coughing. "Don't stop talking." he mumbled under his breath.
Pamela nodded at rested her head against his chest just like she used to do every night and Brian circled his arm around her. No one broke the silence as Pamela talked silently to him. She talked about each and every moment they had shared. She only stopped when she heard his whisper.
"I love you, Pamela." she felt Brian's grip on her shoulder become loose and knew that he was gone. She didn't move and closed her eyes to forget it. She felt dizzy. Pamela stopped thinking and let herself to be dragged into unconscious world while being in Brian's arms for the last time.
It was a really depressing chapter for me to write and I wish that I had a way to keep Brian alive since I had grown fond of him. Blame Angie Sage, not me :-) Thank you for reading and please review. Bye for now.
