The morning had never seemed so cruel; or so mocking. The birds chirped gaily as Hera groaned in agony, her head throbbing from where it had pounded on the floor the night before. Thin slices of sunlight slipped under her drawn drapes, and slit through the darkness across the floor of her chambers. One errant ray trespassed onto her bed and pressed its warm blade across her forearm, cutting down through the deep cold until it burned into her veins. She drew back with silent contempt, drawing the drapes down further.
A knock sounded on her door, echoing through her chamber like the sound of a cathedral bell. She cursed, burrowing herself down deeper in the tangle of sheets and pillows that enveloped her in a fluffy cocoon.
"Come in," she finally called out, instantly regretting it as her chapped lips cracked painfully bleeding out. Her throat burned as she swallowed, her saliva feeling like she had just swallowed a thousand bits of glass, all scraping down the walls of her throat. She grimaced, reaching blindly for the glass of water that had been placed beside her bed. It was found to be empty, and she smashed it on the floor in her anger. A thousand bits of glass either glittered on her floor in the sunlight like little crystals, or hid themselves from Hera's wrath in the deep shadows that engulfed her chambers. She eyed a particularly sharp one with mad interest, tremendously tempted to take it and bring it across her throat.
She was disturbed from her sick reverie by a careful cough in a corner of dark somewhere. "My Queen," followed, "You are recovering wonderfully! Here!, another glass of water to drink. I will return with broom and pan to recover the glass already broken. Now rest, rest!"
Hera had not opened her eyes as the voice came closer and layed a glass of water, presumably, on the table bedside beside her bed. The servant girl -it could only be a girl- whoever it was, disappeared under the cloak of shadows and Hera heard a soft click as the door closed. Almost instantly, another knock came. She called out again, cracking her lips for a second time, and running her tongue over the opened wounds to soothe the pain with the balm of her saliva, but her tongue was dry, heavy, and felt like sandpaper. She sipped the glass, and returned it to its former place.
Closing her eyes again, Hera settled into her bed, drawing the covers up snugly around her shoulders. Three pairs of heavy feet padded across her chamber floor and stopped before her bed. Only her guards could enter her chambers like this, and only under certain circumstsnces. She was hopefully waiting to hear a report of how successfully they had managed to capture the two men, when:
"They escaped."
A silence descended on them, stretching and expanding uncomfortably around the guards as Hera reposed peacefully beneath their gaze. But they knew not to believe in the illusion that their Queen was content with what she had just heard. And Hera didn't deign to look at the pathetic guards who had, had both of them - Eramis and Enamore- in their grasps, and had still managed to let them go. With two words they had shattered her hopes in two, more pieces to be added to the broken glass already on the floor. Hera heaved a great sigh to show her displeasure, as the guards watched her, fearful of her next move.
"How?" she rasped. "How did they manage to escape from a banquet hall full of expertly trained guards?" She reached lazily for a glass of water with long, pale fingers as she waited for them to reply.
They knew they had blundered badly by allowing those two men escape. They also knew that their mistake could cost them their lives. But, they had hope in one thing that transpired as they all gazed down at their Queen. The guards had seen Hera fall, along with everyone else in the hall. But only a chosen few had seen the after-effects. As a result of the fall, Hera lay in bed, sickly pale and weak. She closed her eyes often, as if troubled by a tremendous headache, and she constantly massaged her temples with vigorous fury. They watched her hold the glass of water with trembling fingers, and a thought occurred to them simultaneously: We can kill her if we had to. Even deprived of their weapons, they didn't doubt they could find an alternative tool of death - strangle her with their hands, or a pillow maybe. Yes, we will kill her - but only as a last resort.
One guard cleared his throat. "Eramis, somehow, managed to elude our guards."
"Obviously,"the Queen snapped. "But, how?"
The guard winced at the Queen's tone and shot a quick side-glance at his comrades for support. They gave none as they examined something of interest on the floor. He looked back at the Queen, fingers twitching. "Somehow," he offered lamely.
Hera closed her eyes again, wearily rubbing at her temples. "You are a fool," she told him. He conceded with his head bowed. "But you are brave to speak to me first. So, you will behead one of your fellow officers. But only one. You may choose whom."
They all froze, trying to wrap their heads around what she had just said. The first guard visibly sighed in relief as he realized that he would live to see another day. Curse those other two! They did not jump to my aid when my head was in the jaws of the lion. The other two briefly glanced at each other, panicked, and fell at the Queen's beside, uttering all sorts of things, anything that would save them. The first guard watched them with smug satisfaction, as he contemplated which one of them to behead. After all, he hadn't been the one to actually let Eramis and Enamore go. Those two had just brought him along to speak for them, promising to jump in and help if he faltered, which they had not done.
Hera silenced their utterances with a sharp gesture. "Enough!" She motioned to the first guard who looked down at his companions with smugness and contempt. "Go; bring the sword of the one whom you have chosen to slay."
The guard took a step towards the door, then faltered. "I..." He turned back and faced his two companions, unsure of which to behead. Both of them were vile, disgusting, lying, cheating scoundrels, but...they had, had some great times together. Could he really take one of their lives? And what about the one he didn't behead? Would he forever have to look over his shoulder in fear of the survivor coming after his own head?
The Queen seemed to sense the reason for his hesitation. It only amused her. "Either you or them," she called out languidly.
He shook his head and exited the room. They had left their swords at the entrance with one of the guards, who had placed it neatly against the wall. He took a breath, closed his eyes, spun around six times, and reached out to take a sword at random. He opened his eyes and making sure it wasn't his own sword, he turned to re-enter the room when a voice spoke to him.
"Where goest thou with thy sword?"
It was one of the guards for Hera's chambers. His black armor glistened omniously in the flickering flames of the torch on the wall. An equally black helmet protected his face and obscured the identity of the wearer from being known. His tone seemed mocking and light, but the inability to see his expression made it hard to discern.
"He-...er, the Queen, said I should bring a sword in."
"Oh, did she now?"
"Yes."
"Any particular reason?"
"Er, well, see, she, I, uh..."He trailed off.
The chamber guard laughed. "Almost a complete sentence!" he jested. "But shall we attempt it again?"
It was more of a command than a question. So he attempted it again, for the heavy sword that the chamber guard had swinging from his waist if for anything. He swallowed. "I have to...behead one of my companions for...they failed to secure the capture of...erhm, Eramis and...eh, Enamore."
The guard stood straight up. "You speak so hesitatingly. But, if that is the case, you may re-enter. But," and he placed his gloved hand on the hilt of the sword, "I will be listening in. Closely."
Nodding, the guard nearly tripped as he went running back into the chambers.
"What took you?" the Queen snapped at him, for the second time that day.
"One of the guards," he panted. "Questioned me."
Hers frowned, then moved on. "Well? Have you decided who?"
He nodded, head bowed.
"Then proceed."
"Please." His companion begged, ignored.
He stepped forward, clearing his mind of all thoughts. He was at war, about to kill an enemy. It was life or death, him or them. The man at his feet was not a friend, not a human even, just...
He swung. The head tumbled and thumped across the floor; blood bubbling out of the man's neck like lava out of a volcano. The sword clattering to the floor as the guard stepped back, turning to retch.
The second companion stared in shock until the sword clattered to the floor like opportunity, and he seized it. The first guard was vulnerable, unaware of his surroundings and bent over as he vomitted. The second companion crossed over to him and unmercifully plunged the blade of the sword into the first guard's back. Now, blood spilled out of the guard's mouth, as he screams of pain finally turned silent.
The second companion pulled the sword out of the first guard's lifeless body and turned to the Queen. She could see the murderous gleam in his eyes and step as he moved towards her. She smirked. He stopped, confused, a moment before the door slammed off its hinges into the wall behind him The chamber guard rolled in, sword drawn, sweeping his gaze across the scene. In an instant, he had peiced everything together and, before the second companion could act, a sword protruded from his back. He fell to his knees, dropping the sword on the floor where he breathed his last breath.
Hera collapsed on her bed, chest rising and falling heavily. The guard stood. She looked over at him, gratefully. "Thank you."
He bowed deeply, and stood. "Will I be rewarded?"
"Oh, of course! You may have whatever you wish."
He chuckled. "I can still remember the first time you said that..."
She frowned, a slight smirk on her face, puzzled.
"...It sounded as beautiful then, as it is does now. You were as beautiful then as you are now."
Slowly, comprehension seeped in. The smirk slid off her face.
"Remembering?" He laughed, hands rising up. The helmet rose up with his hands over his head, his locks spilling out over his face. With a dramatic gesture, he brushed his hair away and grinned.
She regained her senses and rolled her eyes. "Eramis," she huffed. "I should have guessed."
Enamore had hidden outside, on the grass where he could daydream and gaze up at the sky. The sun warmed him and the birds sang pleasing songs to his ears. He inhaled the sweet smell of fresh air, and felt the green softness of the Earth under him. He couldn't feel any more happier. He closed his eyes and joyfully sighed.
And then a boot kicked him in the side.
"Up up!" Eramis laughed, seeing the dirty look Enamore was giving him. "The Queen awaits! And guess who she wants to see," he winked.
Eramis strode off, and Enamore followed in a daze still unsure if Eramis' wink meant the Queen wanted to see Eramis or him. He shrugged, but couldn't shake the feeling that something bad was about to happen.