It was the middle of a warm, spring night when a violent storm passed over Bowerstone Castle. Chilling gusts of wind breached any opening they could, keeping the servants busy as they scurried about to reignite extinguished lamps. Thunder came crashing down every few moments, and the sky flashed a radiant green with every crackle.
Albion seldom experienced such treacherous weather, and the gypsies often referred to it as "Hero's Tears". Over a great many years, the legend had filtered down from their caravan camps and travelling traders to the rest of the people. Some believed it to signify the birth—or death—of a hero, and on this night, glimmers of hope were restored to the believers.
Just after midnight, one of the oldest trees in the garden became struck. As the smaller, weakened limbs fell to the ground, the trunk began bending away from the fresh, deep split that the lightning inflicted. Despite its age and strength, its integrity was no match for the powerful forces of the storm. The castle guards and servants could do little more than watch as the massive tree crashed into the side of the building, just above the Princess's bedchambers.
The castle may have been in a state of unrest, but Princess Lorelai had been fast asleep in her chambers for the past few hours. It was a well-known fact that the young woman was a heavy sleeper. In fact, Walter had often joked that she could soundly sleep through a siege. It was also because of this fact that the old knight found himself pacing quickly toward Lorelai's bedchamber to ensure that she'd not slept through a potentially harmful breach.
"Balverine's balls, has she not yet woken?" Walter exclaimed, rushing past the guards stationed just outside Lorelai's room, and let himself inside.
The chaos of the storm seeped into the Princess's dreams, unearthing old memories that she'd kept buried for many years.
"Let go of Daddy, little mouse," Sparrow calmly urged young Lorelai.
The Princess may have only been three years of age, but she still seemed very much in tune with the emotions of others. Her mother was smiling softly at her, despite the apparent sadness that was conveyed in the trembling of her voice. Something felt wrong.
"But, Daddy hasn't danced me goodnight yet!" Lorelai pouted, her arms still locked around her father's neck as he tried to put her down.
It had been a tradition, and something special that she shared with her father every night since before she could remember. He would dance with her in his arms while humming a soft tune, sometimes even having the music played for them if the bard were nearby at bedtime. It was also he who nicknamed her "little mouse" because of she was such a quiet girl. She didn't know much about heroes at that young age. All she knew was that her father was her hero, so she couldn't understand why she had to let go.
"Daddy needs to go away for a while, sweetheart," her father, Aldous, said as he came down to one knee, placing the young girl onto her feet and gently prying her clasped hands apart. "But I promise we shall have our dance when I return," he assured her.
Lorelai's eyes welled up, and she reached for her father as he stood back up. Something was very wrong, but she could not understand.
Aldous gave her a quick pat on the head and began to walk away.
"W-wait!" Lorelai cried. "Daddy, please don't go!"
Without turning back, he responded, "It'll be alright, little mouse." He paused with his hand on the doorknob for a moment. "Save me that dance, and I'll return for it soon."
"No!" cried the young Princess, having had her heart broken for the first time ever, by a man she considered to be her hero, nonetheless.
Sparrow scooped Lorelai up into her arms, not able to say or do anything but hold her tightly as the child wept herself to sleep.
Lorelai began tossing and turning in her bed, unable to escape the cruel grasp of her dream. She pulled her knees into her chest and grasped at her pillow, as if she were clinging onto her mother just as she did almost sixteen years ago. Tears began rolling down her cheeks, and her face became fixed with pure agony.
The booming thunder seeped into her nightmare, and with every crash, she started seeing the image of the door closing behind her father. It played over and over again on a torturous loop.
Stop this. He's gone for good. Forget him.
Waves of dark chestnut hair fell across her face as her head thrashed side to side. A cold sweat glistened across her pale skin, and tendrils of her bangs began sticking against her forehead. No matter how hard she fought, she could not break free.
Suddenly, the doors to her chambers slammed, jarring her from her sleep at last.
"Oh, for Light's sake!" Walter exclaimed as he took a few steps inside. "Good to see you're still in one piece," he chuckled, relieved that she was okay. "Truly amazing how you can just doze on through any—"
Walter paused abruptly, noticing that the Princess was extremely shaken and she'd been crying.
"You alright?" he asked, his tone now one of concern.
"I-I'm fine," she stuttered, even though she knew she wasn't. She may have been physically awakened, but her mind had yet to catch up with reality. Her heart ached with a pain she'd not felt in years; something she worked for over a decade to suppress: the pain she felt the day her father left.
She began looking around frantically, her eyes darting around the room as she fumbled to remove her covers. Her bed was no longer a safe, restful place. It was a place for nightmares, and she just wanted out.
Walter stood silent a moment, unsure of what to say or do. Emotions—and the expression or interpretation of them—had never been his strong suit.
"What's happening, Walter?" Lorelai asked as she rose from her bed, her dog quickly following.
Another crash of thunder shook the ground beneath them. Sensing an opportunity for both training and distraction from whatever had upset the girl so, Walter straightened himself and curtly nodded. "That," he responded. "Storms like this don't come around often, Princess."
"I'm not sure I understand," she replied, crossing her arms over herself as a chilling wind crossed the large room.
"You will," he chuckled. "Focus, constitution and accuracy may come naturally for you now, but we have yet to test those skills under pressure!"
Intrigued by the prospect of practicing her skills in a more advanced setting, she raised a brow. "And just how will I do that?"
Walter smiled, proud of his student's willingness, and thankful to have eased her distress with his quick thinking. "Fancy a dance in the practice room?" he asked.
A dance…
A lump swelled in her throat. She knew very well that Walter was only asking her to practice her melee with him, but his choice of words still struck her heart because it reminded her of her father. She felt the sting of an old wound being freshly reopened, and her face fell expressionless.
Walter cleared his throat and scratched his head, uncertain whether he'd said something wrong. "I just, er…thought that—"
Lorelai gulped deeply and decided to channel her pain into something she could control.
"Yes," she replied with determination. "I'd like nothing more right now."
"Marvelous!" Walter smiled as he clapped his hands together. "Meet me there once you've changed into something more…sword-worthy."
As Walter exited the room, Lorelai wasted no time, hustling over to her wardrobe to change. She did not want to be left alone in her room for even one minute longer. All of the painful memories she'd suppressed for so long had just come flooding back in one fell swoop, and unfortunately, her bedchambers were where most had taken place.
In a shuffle, the Princess donned her leather britches and boots, quickly tucking in the linen shirt in which she'd slept before grabbing a coat from the rack. She tossed her tangled hair up into a messy bun, and left the room in a dash.
"Fight!" Walter shouted as he dodged and blocked each one of Lorelai's attacks.
The Princess grunted as her frustration grew. The storm continued to rattle the building from outside, and she found that inside, she was still rattled too. Her focus was unsteady. Every attempt she made to strike was being countered, and the feeling of defeat began setting in.
"I'm trying, but," she replied with strain. "I…" She took one more swing, missing as the old soldier ducked beneath it. "I can't," she panted, letting her sword slip from her hand and fall to the floor.
Walter could see that Lorelai was discouraged and clearly hurting inside, but he was unsure of why. As much as he wanted to drop his sword alongside hers and place a reassuring arm around her shoulders, he knew that that would not help the girl reach her full potential.
"Lorie, fight me as if your life depended on it," Walter demanded, kicking the hilt of her sword into the air for her to catch.
Lorelai caught her sword and she looked back up at him, her brow wrinkling with confusion. She'd never seen him act so…harshly before. "Have I angered you, Walter?" she asked, holding her sword down by her side.
"There's no time for anger," Walter replied, pausing only a moment before resuming his advance. He swung his blade at Lorelai, and she reacted with a successful block. "Good!" he shouted.
The sounds of their weapons clanking together filled the room as she continued to react to strike after strike. Her focus was intense and steadfast, but she could still not break past her mentor's defenses.
"Now, strike me!" he ordered her. "It's time you showed me what you've got!"
Lorelai whipped around with a flourish and directed her blade at Walter's shoulder. She was swift, but not swift enough. Walter blocked her onslaught with the flick of his wrist, abruptly halting her momentum and sending her back onto her bottom. The block from his blade had sent a reverberating pain through her blade and up her arm.
She let go of her sword and propped herself up. "I give up," she puffed, shaking her head.
Walter sheathed his sword and leaned over, extending an arm to his student. "We'll not be having any of that nonsense," he protested as he helped her to her feet. "You're no quitter, Lorie! You pick yourself up, dust yourself off…" He bent forward to retrieve her sword by the blade and placed it back in her hand by the hilt. "You press on to fight another day," he insisted.
Lorelai nodded silently as she slid her sword into its sheath. She felt both defeated and embarrassed. The last thing she'd ever want to do is let Walter down or disappoint him. He'd become the closest thing she'd had to a father in her life since her real father had taken off.
Walter gave her a quick, reassuring pat on the back, and said, "We should get going now anyway." He glanced over his shoulder and out the window. "Storm's died down now, and you'll be needing some sleep before we pick back up where we left off tomorrow."
Relieved that her mentor hadn't lost any confidence in her, Lorelai smiled softly. "See you tomorrow, Walter." As she turned and left the room, she felt truly grateful for his support and wisdom. If not for him, she may still be stuck in that horrific nightmare.
She reached the doorway, turning back to face him one last time. "And…thanks."
Walter waved his hand in a shooing motion, chuckling, "Go on and get that rest, now. Our lessons won't be getting any easier!"
The following day had begun just like any other. Jasper came through at exactly eight o'clock, and pulled the drapes back as he bid the Princess a good morning.
"What a dreadfully sorry sight," the old butler sighed as he looked over at Lorelai, who had just pulled the blankets up above her head in response to the sudden burst of offending light. "Such a beautiful day to waste in bed, don't you agree?" he continued, pulling back the drapes on the last window.
"What? Oh, please go away, Jasper," Lorelai groaned.
"Now that is hardly the response of a princess," he asserted. "I'm afraid it is time to rise, and with your permission, I shall wake your sleeping companion."
Jasper leaned over the side of the bed and pulled back the blankets to reveal Lorelai's dog, Domino. The pooch looked up at the butler eagerly, expecting to receive some form of pets or scratches.
"Ah yes," Jasper said, placing his arms on his hips. "One's heart soars before such regal bearing." The elderly man was a kind soul, but he was also meticulous about order and cleanliness, so he kept most of his interactions with the royal canine limited to words of praise or simply a smile in order to avoid wearing any unwanted fur.
The princess threw an arm over Domino, and the dog retreated back onto his side as she pet his belly.
"I trust you both slept well," said Jasper. "You have a busy day ahead."
Lorelai pushed herself up from her pillow, yawning. "Come on, boy," she said to Domino. "If I have to get up, so do you."
The dog jumped down from the bed as the Princess came around from the other side. Domino sat before Jasper, his tail wagging and ears pinned up in excitement. He let out a faint whimper and looked up at the old butler with begging, puppy-dog eyes.
"It's not going to work. Don't look at me like that," Jasper ordered the dog, but after a few more moments, he conceded. "Oh, very well. Good dog," he sighed, giving Domino a gentle pat on the head.
The Princess shuffled lazily across the room toward her wardrobe, veering side to side as she still struggled to fully wake. Domino ran over to his master and nudged his head under her hand, giving her a bit more balance.
"What a pair," Jasper teased. "The kingdom is doomed."
"Yes, yes," she yawned, stretching her arms up in the air before her eyes reopened, much more alert now. "I understand. What's on the agenda today, Jasper?"
He pulled out a checklist from inside his coat pocket as she washed her face in the basin across the room. "Well, to begin with, Master Elliot is most eager to speak with you this morning, and is waiting for you in the gardens."
Lorelai's heart jumped. Since being caught having 'inappropriate' dealings with one another, they'd been forced to keep their visits scheduled, supervised, and relatively short. She loved him so desperately that these visits almost pained her. It was torturous to see him and not be able to touch or kiss him. They could not even convey their feelings with words, for fear of being overheard by one of Logan's elite guards.
It was because of the agony of being pulled apart that they both agreed to meet secretly, using a weekly reduction in guards to their advantage. Since Logan had become involved with an industrial tycoon by the name of Reaver, the King had also delegated over half of his elite guardsmen to Bowerstone's Industrial District at the end of each week when shipments would come in. The Princess was unsure of just what her brother and Reaver were guarding so heavily, but she could not worry too much over it, because the situation made it possible for her and Elliot to be together.
She found herself trailing off in thought, leaning over her basin, gazing blankly into it as the water dripped from her face. She and Elliot had made no scheduled plans to visit today, yet he was outside waiting for her, first thing in the morning. A sick feeling sunk into her gut. What they had been doing was working, and it was all leading up to the day that she would come of age—the day that they would run off and marry—so why would he go against protocol and risk losing all of that unless…unless something was truly wrong?
"Princess?" Jasper called out to her.
Jarred from her daze, Lorelai blinked as she tried to shake off the negative thoughts before they could consume her. "Sorry, Jasper," she replied, picking up her towel and pressing it to her face to dry it. "Go on, I'm listening," she insisted while combing her hair back into a neat pony tail.
"I've taken the liberty of arranging two suitable outfits, if you would care to choose." Jasper gestured over to Lorelai's changing area.
She walked behind her privacy screen and saw the two outfits hanging on the other side. One looked positively pompous to her when she set eyes on it. Fine linens and frilly embellishments were never her style, though Jasper would never fail to keep giving her the option of wearing such garments. He always insisted that it was most becoming for members of the royal family to wear only the finest clothes, but she had never been one to conform to tradition. She let out a sound of protest as she looked upon the first outfit choice. "Blech!"
"Oh, alright, Lorelai," he conceded. "But just remember that a Princess always ought to project a certain image. And right now, your image is somewhat…lethargic, so you might want to choose something before you're forced to carry out your day in pajamas."
She inspected the second outfit, which was much closer to something she'd choose for herself…except for the skirt. She did genuinely love the soft lines of the cream colored linen top which was tucked beneath a light brown under-bust corset. She wondered why the outfit included a blue skirt if it didn't even close in the front, but the black leggings looked comfortable enough. With little time to waste, she quickly dressed and came around from behind the privacy screen to show Jasper her choice.
"Ah, splendid choice!" Jasper rejoiced. "I'm sure Master Elliot will approve. Perhaps you ought to make your way to him now."
Lorelai made her way to the bedroom doors, calling Domino to her side before making her way out.
"Ah, and one last thing," Jasper added. "I would recommend avoiding your brother today. The King is rumored to be in an ill temper," he warned.
"Will do," she agreed, making her way out the door. She could bring herself to worry about Logan's mood when she was filled with so much excitement to see Elliot. "Thanks Jasper!"
Castle guards snapped to attention, saluting the Princess as she whisked by them and bounded down the stone staircase into the gardens below. Groundskeepers were busy cleaning up storm damage throughout the area, but they still stopped to greet Lorelai as she ran by.
"Greetings, Your Highness! I trust you are well," gushed a noblewoman who was touring the gardens that day. "And how is your wonderful brother, the King?"
Lorelai forced her most polite smile. She did not wish to be rude, but the nobles always came across to her as fake and pretentious. The way that most of them could so blindly follow and worship anyone with the right amount of money or power simply turned her stomach. "Very well, thank you," she responded.
The Princess continued past the family crypt, carefully avoiding any further unwanted interactions with the other aristocrats along the way. She saw Elliot standing at the very back of the gardens, looking out over the tall stone railing that bordered the area. Her pulse quickened as she paused a moment to observe him. He genuinely was the most handsome man she'd ever laid eyes on. She found him wearing one of his finest white suits under an intricately tailored brown vest, polished black boots, and brass buckles and buttons adorning the garments.
'Have I forgotten something?' she thought to herself in a panic, unsure if Elliot was dressed for some special occasion she'd overlooked.
Before she could stress the contemplation any longer, Domino ran over to greet Elliot enthusiastically.
"Oh fierce warrior!" Elliot crouched down to praise the dog. "Are you here to join my army?"
Domino responded by licking the man's cheek.
"Good!" Elliot cheered. "We shall face all our enemies together, won't we? Yes we will…yes we will!" He gave Domino a hug and received a few more licks in return.
"Then the kingdom is safe," Lorelai added, approaching the two with a wide smile.
"Lorie," Elliot sighed with relief as he stood back up, grinning softly as he locked gazes with her. For a moment they'd both nearly forgotten their surroundings and restrictions as they drifted toward one another, both longing for the same kiss.
"I thought you'd never get up," Elliot said as he snapped to and straightened himself. "Did Jasper tell you that I wanted to see you?"
Lorelai let out the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. "Yes. Did… something happen?" she asked nervously.
"Everyone in the castle seems to be upset with your brother…more than usual," he told her in a more serious tone. "And it's even worse down in the city," he continued, turning to look down over Bowerstone Industrial.
"You've been spending time in the city?" she asked, her voice peaked with curiosity.
Elliot cleared his throat. "Stories," he clarified. "They say a factory worker was executed this morning. It may only be a rumor, but you can imagine how anxious it's left all of the workers and their families."
"It's impossible," Lorelai protested. "Executions can only be carried out at the castle, and only for the most severe offenses."
"By the order of King Logan," Elliot added. "Who, lately, has been—"
"Elliot," she shushed him. "Please don't."
Lorelai was well aware of how many guards could be within ear shot of the conversation they were having. While she did not want Elliot to face any type of reprimand for speaking ill of her brother, part of her could not bear to hear the painful truth about what Logan could have truly become: a tyrant.
"Would you at least speak to the staff?" he pleaded. "I'm afraid of what might happen if things don't calm down."
"Do you really think it will help?" she asked.
"I do," he assured her, his voice dropping into a whisper before continuing. "They may fear the King, but they still care for their Princess."
"I'm not sure that I should get involved in what might only be gossip." She shook her head and chewed nervously on her lip.
"I'll be there with you. Please, Lorie," he begged. "Rumors aside, we can't just turn a blind eye to the cruel treatment of the workers."
Lorelai looked into his eyes which were full of desperation. As much as every fiber of her being told her to stay out of this—for her own sake and that of their relationship—she admired his humanity and could not ignore his plea for help.
"You're right," she agreed. "Of course I will help. Just give me a few moments and I will meet you at the kitchens."
"I'd kiss you right here and now if I could," he said in a hushed tone, beaming back at her with a smile. "You're doing the right thing, love."
"Save that kiss for one more evening," she whispered, her lips curling up into a wide grin. Just one more day until they could be together again…
Elliot bowed his head, demonstrating his propriety in their public setting, and set off toward the castle with Domino.
As the Princess stood alone, looking out over the city below, she contemplated all of the stories and rumors. She'd heard so many awful tales lately, and they'd only gotten to be more cruel and frequent. Logan may have changed after being nearly killed and losing all of his men in the desert, but he couldn't possibly be the cause of such horrible violence within the kingdom.
If it were truly happening, he'd know… He'd put a stop to it... she told herself.
Logan was their King, but he was her brother, and it was just a matter of time before he got better and back to being himself again. They didn't know him like she did. The people were fickle, and they needed to recognize all of the sacrifices he'd made…all the good things he did for Albion before…
She gazed down into Bowerstone Industrial. It really had become the eyesore of Albion, always obscured by the thick, grey smoke that came from factories that never closed. Even a town away, the horrible clanking sounds of iron and steel could be heard echoing through the sky.
Lorelai closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Just then, she heard the faint cries of what sounded like a very young factory worker. Her eyes shot open and her mouth hung agape. Did she really just hear what she thought she did, or were the rumors playing tricks on her ears?
The Princess quickly straightened herself and turned to make her way to the kitchens. She was not about to give in to gossip. She would have to do her best to calm the workers, but she refused to give any credence to the wild allegations against her brother. She assured herself that the stories held no water without proof, and that Logan was still Logan, because… the alternative would be far too painful to take.
A/N: First of all, I would like to sincerely thank my readers. After the recent upheaval of my own life, I will admit that my confidence in my rusty writing has taken a hit, but the messages, reviews, faves/follows and support that I've received keeps me inspired and motivated. I'm getting very excited to reveal some very interesting twists and turns in this story, and I thank you all for your patience as I update. I must also thank Kiltsaresexy for being a great friend and beta reader! Lastly, thanks in advance to anyone who kindly leaves a review. I cannot begin to express just how much it helps to know what my readers think!