Part 9

A/N: I haven't updated in FOREVER. It feels good to be back. I can't guarantee that I will update regularly I was for a while. School is a lot right now. Hope you enjoy the chapter!


Giselle leads the way to the castle. The dirt roads puff up brown dust as they quickly maneuver their way through the debris. The sky was a dirty gray color and the stormy clouds are moving fast across the sky like a shooting star, if shooting stars were gray and cloudy. Giselle glances up toward the sky a lot, causing Madge to have a feeling of unsteadiness fill her stomach. She finds herself looking up at the gray clouds, wondering if a bomber jet will swoop down and rain bombs on her and Giselle like clouds do rain water. So far, so good, but that doesn't settle the anxious nerves rising like maverick waves in her stomach.

At that thought, a flash of the ocean out of her window in Capitola snapshots it ways past her eyes. The murky black waves crashing against the bank her home sat on during a heavy storm was all she could see. Just like her stomach, the waves tested the foundation it crashed upon.

She gulps, tightens her hand on Giselle's cold on, and keeps moving. There's nothing else to do but move. Standing still will do nothing but let valuable time pass and bomber jets to spot her. So she moves, she moves faster than she ever has because if there's one thing she knows it's that Gale Hawthorne is worth the pain in her legs and lungs, the worry clenching her heart, and the drive to upturn everything in her path to find him.

Oh god, she hopes Hazelle has a plan because she doesn't even know where to begin.

"This way, Madge!" Giselle yells over the thunder booming over their heads. The skies become even darker and the night is slowly seeping in in a slow, creeping crawl across the sky. The feeling in Madge's stomach tightens, but she follows Giselle in between the two grimy buildings.

Madge has to stop and gasp, stopping short. In front of her lays a beautiful caste, the center of its kingdom. The castle's main building rises up with four corner towers and gorgeous blocky arches connecting the four towers. There is a triangular roof adorning the main part of the castle. Attacked to each side of the building, about halfway up, were connecting hallways made of a beautiful tan stone, Seamlyn's coat of arms is etched into each one in red, with windows lining the hallways. From there on was larger building that made up the outside, surrounding the main building, probably a half a mile out from the main building on all sides. Each one had a gallery built into it with extremely small windows just big enough to point your eye and a gun out. Madge realizes this is where the military hides during watch to keep the grounds safe. Each one of the walls connects in a turret that shines in the gray weather, sparkling stones glittering off in every direction. The East wall circles out into a gorge tower, facing them. Back inside the territory, a spiral tower swirls its way in white stone, a glistening golden cross embellishing the peak of the roof – the chapel. And finally, the keep – a place to keep refugees during a last resort situation. Madge had been wondering where they were keeping all these refugees. The keep was the tallest building inside the castle's walls, and by far the oldest. It was the first part of the castle, built around it as if it was holy ground.

To say in the least, the castle was by far gorgeous. And, as much as she hates to admit it, by far the best piece of architecture in Seamlyn. She can see why Gale loves his home, despite the fact that it's in so much despair.

Giselle looks back at Madge and smiles at the look of wonderment on Madge's face. It was like her face relaxed and her eyes sparkle even more and her lips twisting up into a gentle smile that lite up her whole face. Madge definitely was a beautiful girl, all radiance and sunshine against the Prince, who was all dark and stormy. They balance each other, she decides, and in a good way like no other pair can. She squeezes the Princess' hand tightly and tugs her forward toward the entrance.

The guards lining the gate eye the pair suspiciously. Madge can't even begin to imagine what she looks like. Grimy? Dirty? Just plain disgusting and unrecognizable? Probably. Absentmindedly, she raising her hand to wipe away some of the dirt under her eyes. She notices the guards eyes follow Giselle, they must feel a sense of familiarity about her because none of them raise their gun at her. Giselle releases Madge's hands and approaches the men with hand raised to her chest.

"Giselle?" one whispers. Giselle says nothing, just raises an eyebrow and gestures to the gate.

After a moment of silence and all the guards standing as still statues, Giselle says in a demanding voice, "Well, are you just going to stand there all day and keep Queen Hazelle waiting? She's expecting my arrival and I'm sure she doesn't want the Princess of Capitola looking so ailed and dirty." That seems to get them moving, four men on each door line the gate's entrance and tugs, muscles straining, to pull open the unlocked gate. Giselle and Madge slip through the cracks, making it easier for them to close it.

Madge is about halfway up the cobblestone walkway when she hears the definite sound of the gate closing. It rattles the ground and her bones. Her ears ring and her heart skip a beat. At least she knows the castle walls are safe.

"This way, Madge." Giselle murmurs.

"Alright, I'm coming." Two more guards lining the front door open it for them. Madge about faints at the sight of the man in front of her, her heart beating wildly at a familiar face and she can't quite believe her eyes. "Finnick?"

The broad man spins on her heels, his uniform freshly pressed and a sword dangles from his slim hips, his hands on the hilt.

"Madge." He nods formally at her, although his green eyes do shine with mischief and relief.

"What are you doing here!?" she starts to walk to him; her hands outstretch to make sure he was real. He is.

"Well what did you expect of me? To lounge outside on a raft in the ocean outside your home when my Prince is MIA?" he laughs a little and draws her in for a quick hug. "I don't suppose he is with you, is he?" he whispers lowly in her ear, so low she's sure only she can hear him. She nods sadly and Finnick curses. "I'm sorry, my lady, I did not mean to curse in front of you."

"It's okay," she pulls back a little to wink at him, "I hear it from Gale more than you think."

He shakes his head in a friendly gesture, "Does that boy not know how to be a gentleman?" Madge laughs and shakes her head. It feels good to laugh. These past couple of days has been so serious and life threatening that it feels good to be able to enjoy a moment. It almost makes her feel like she's home, where it's safe and no danger lurks outside her window.

"I'm sorry," Madge says, bringing her hand to rest on Finnick's warm chest. She traces her fingers along the wet spot on his uniform from her soaking wet body, "about your uniform."

"Don't worry, my lady, it's not like I can't get another one. I have hundreds of them." He winks.

"I bet you do." she whispers, staring at her own fingers as they trace over the spot.

A beautiful woman descends the staircase in everyday clothing, a loose dress that is wrinkled, making Madge wonder if she slept in it, and her hair tied up behind her head. She looks powerful, even from here. And she most definitely was Gale's mother. They look so alike, even the exact shape of their noses was the same. Did she really pay that much attention to Gale's nose that she knows he shares it with mother without even looking at his and comparing?

She smiles weakly at her. "Princess Margret."

"Madge," she says immediately.

Hazelle nods back at her softly, "Madge." She smiles again, but this time up close Madge can detect the exhaustion in it. Hazelle leans in closer to her and Finnick moves out of the way, "I suppose they got to him, didn't they?" she whispers so lowly Madge can barely hear her. Tears spring to Madge's eyes and her lips form into a water line as she nods yes. Hazelle takes the smallest step backwards and her sucks in a hurried, painfully breathe, "We mustn't tell the children. They will be devastated." Sorrow lurks in the depths of Hazelle's eyes and Madge's heart sinks in her chest.

She failed Hazelle. She failed the woman she just met. She failed Finnick. She failed herself. Most importantly, she failed Gale. Tears slide down her cheeks before she can stop them. Angrily she wipes them away with the side of her hand, wishing against hope that she didn't look as pathetic as she feels. Instantly, Hazelle pulls Madge gently to her, wrapping the girl tightly in her arms. Hazelle wishes she could rid this young girl's burden away, but she can't even rid herself of the horrors this world has to offer.

"It will be okay, Madge. Gale is strong." She whispers into Madge's ear. "I'm working on saving him, but I need your help." She strokes Madge's wet, dirty hands and pulls her even closer to her. She's not going to let anyone hurt her. Gale would kill her if she did.

Madge lets out a shaky breath, making ugly crying sounds as she goes, "I love him." Hazelle's heart cracks. "I love him. I love him." Madge repeats over and over again until she runs out of breath. She knew she loved him before, but now…now she knows what being in love with someone meant, what it feels like, what it is. She feels like she can't breathe with him, like he held all the oxygen in the world and she couldn't tap into it. It feels like she's floating when he's near and drowning when he's not. He was everything. The sun, the moon, the earth, her heart, her life, hers…

And now he was gone.

Just like that. He was gone.

Every bone in her body feels broken and her lungs deflated. Her entire body aches with an unbearable pain that cannot be extinguished. Everything condenses. Without him here, nothing meant anything. The world moves at an impossibly slow peak and everything heightens – pain, love, anxiety.

The world was bleak without him.

She wonders how she ever slept in a bed without him. She wonders how she filled her time without him. She wonders how she ever said she loved something before she loved him. She wonders what she will do if he dies…

"I love him." She sobs into Hazelle's shoulders. Oh god, what Hazelle must feel? Her son is gone.

"I know… I know." She whispers heartbroken and pulls Madge even closer. Tears slide down Hazelle's cheeks. Crushing Madge's body to her own, Hazelle whispers, "I love him too."

Hazelle called upon the few servants the Hawthorne's had to take Madge to Gale's room. And honestly, Madge couldn't be more thankful for anything more in her life. His room was just as she thought it would be. It was dark green in color with millions of photographs on the walls and a bow hanging on the wall by the door. The room was small but spacious. His bed was situated in the corner of the room with a desk parallel to it, stacked high with books and cameras. His closet was off to the right of the door, the door set ajar in its frame. His minimal amounts of clothing was color coded and straighten to perfection. The other side of the walk in closet stored his suits. Even looking at them, Madge knew they weren't Gale, just a mask he put on because he had too.

As the servant readied a warm bath for her, she wonders through his closet. She selects a plaid, light blue flannel and a pair of pajama pants. She lays them out on the bed and curls up against his pillows. Even though he hasn't been here in a while, his items still smell like him and Madge can pretend for just a moment that he is here.

She doesn't know how long she lays there until the servant fetches her, but she feel a part of her leaves itself on the bed as she goes to the bed. She strips down to nothing slowly, watching as her bruised and cold body slowly reveals itself in the mirror. She idly wonders what Gale would think of her now, all bruised and broken. Somehow…she knows he'd love her even more than he did yesterday.

She sinks into the warm bath water and revels in the warmth it provides. She feels like she's been walking in snow for day. The suds from the bubble bath tickle her chin and she smiles a little, remembering all the time her and Gale shared a bath. His hands would wonder mindlessly across her stomach and inner thighs and he left a trial of kisses her neck and into her hair. She would lean back against him and whine her arms around his neck. Those times were blissful. Oh how she misses them.

If she thinks hard enough, he's here with his wondering hands and sweet kisses. She can feel his warm skin against hers. He was always warmer than the water surrounding them. She can feel the hard lines of his muscles pressing into her skin.

She keeps her eyes closed. Just one more moment, that's all she ask for before the moment shatters.

The next morning, the sun peeks into through the open window. A light breeze blows through, rustling the covers. She curls more into the bed and Gale's shirt and briefly closes her eyes for another moment. The bed feels uneven and it's as startling as it was last night when she cried herself to sleep because he wasn't there. She ignores it for now and takes a huge whiff of him just as the servant walks in.

"Ma'am, sorry to bother your sleep, but Queen Hazelle wants you immediately." Madge instantly becomes alert, spring out of bed with a newfound vigor. She doesn't even bother changing her clothes.

Hazelle smirks when she sees Madge in her son's clothing. Her hair is a mess and her eyes a vibrantly alert. She looks comfortable in his clothing, like it is the most natural thing in the world. It probably didn't even occur to her that any other day what her outfit would suggest to Hazelle Hawthorne.

"Did you sleep well?" Hazelle begins, handing Madge a cup of warm tea. Madge takes a sip and smiles into the tea cup. Hazelle knew she would. It was Gale's favorite – peppermint.

"Considering the circumstances, well I would suppose."

Hazelle nods, "Good," after a moment, "Do you have the coin Giselle gave you?" How could she not, she hasn't let it out of her sight since Giselle gave it to her. She produces it in front of Hazelle, offering it to her, but Hazelle doesn't take it. Instead, "Do you know what it means?" she asks.

"The Embassy."

"That's right. Do you know what that means?"

"There's hiding Gale in the Embassy in the room where Capitola's and Seamlyn's seal combine."

Hazelle nods again. "That's correct."

"I don't understand."

Hazelle pauses for a moment before speaking again. She looks at the young girl in front of her and reconsiders what she's about to tell Madge. "Do you know how I got that coin?" Madge shakes head no, "It was sent in the mail addressed to my husband and I. It was the first of many letters, but only one coin ever came. I suspected I would get the rest of the coins, but I never did. Then Gale started getting stuff in the mail, weird things like little figurines and letters that would only say his name, a different handwriting each time. Then one came soaked and stained in blood with his name crossed off on it. That's when I realize Gale was in danger. I had suspected it for a while, so I kept Gale as close to me as possible. But that last letter was the last straw. So I arranged to send him to Capitola, staged the whole thing with your father's help, and kept Gale blind to it all.

"Then, I began to research things. I found what the coin represented and I gather an Intelligence Team." She looks at Madge hard before continuing, "Madge, we don't know who out to get him, but we know where they are taking him. They got there chance now."

"They expect you to come after them." Madge finishes and Hazelle nods.

"I need my son back," she says gravely.

"I need my future husband back." Madge agrees. "So what do we do?"

Hazelle closes her eyes and takes in a deep breath, holding it for a moment before releasing. Her fingers rub the necklace around her neck worriedly. She wonders if she's doing the right thing, if she should have just kept Madge out of the whole thing. But like she said to Madge…she needs her son back.

"I need you go to the Embassy and get him."


A/N: What did you guys think?

Shoutouts to: damndonnergirls (love you to pieces), Indiana1985, bookloverforevah18, infinitegraces, Estruck (thanks for the comment yesterday, it was a lovely surprise and a great reminder that I hadn't update the story yet)