A/N: This is a long one.
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Eliot sat down at his table in the Tavern with a smile on his face. He was there to learn some things about the townspeople in the kingdom. He liked to call it recon because that's exactly what it was. He was learning everything he could about the people he had to protect. Plus, he wanted to know who Parker and Sophie Devereaux were. He needed to know actually. He had to think of his King's safety now.
"You look like you've got a few questions you need answered," Cora observed. She slid him a pint of mead and smiled brightly towards him. Then she sat down across from him with a smile on her face and a drink of her own in her hands.
"I need to know everything you know about the two women who live upstairs," Eliot nodded at her statement. He wasn't going to lie to her. Cora was obviously trustworthy if the King spent most of his time in her Tavern.
"You mean you want to know everything you can about Sophie," Cora smiled at the thought. It was a crazy smile. It held sadness but it also held irony. Apparently it wasn't unusual to be asked about the mysterious Sophie Devereaux. That was good.
"For security purposes I assure you," Eliot winked. He couldn't help it. Flirting was in his DNA. Besides, the barmaid was very pretty.
Cora laughed at his statement and it definitely wasn't the flirtatious kind. It was the laugh that happened when people said a funny joke. Interesting.
"Sophie wouldn't hurt a fly," she said, "She's the absolute nicest person in the whole kingdom. She's the one brought King Nathan back to us. She won't even collect a reward for it. The King practically had to twist her arm in order to pay for her room and board."
"That's just it," Eliot interrupted before she could go on a tirade or something, "I need to know her relationship with the King. It's very important."
Cora blinked at his serious tone and took a moment to collect her thoughts. She frowned a little bit in frustration and started moving nervously around in her seat. "You want to know if she has feelings for him, don't you?"
This time it was Eliot's turn to blink. Feelings? No, he didn't want to know that. He wanted to know if the woman was interested in killing his King or not. He didn't care about any feelings. He only cared about his King's safety.
Cora didn't seem to take his moment of silence as that though. She thought it was something else. "She's been asking questions about you ever since you arrived," she said. She looked disappointed.
"What kind of questions?" He really needed to know. If she was the asking the wrong ones than he definitely made an enemy at the feast.
"She just wants to know where you're from and how long you're planning on staying," Cora answered. Her tone was a bit snippy and she seemed moody all of a sudden. Did she find him attractive or something? Because he totally would court her if she was willing. "She looked… relieved when she found out you were knighted last night."
"Relieved?"
"Relieved," Cora nodded. She looked angry now. She looked downright upset and miserable. She must think he's asking because…
"I'm not asking out of my interest in her for that," Eliot stammered out quickly. He needed to make his intentions perfectly clear. "I'm just wondering if she has the King's best interest at heart."
"Trust me, Eliot." Cora placed her hand on his and continued, "You will never find another person more willing to protect the King than Lady Sophie Devereaux. She has the King's interest and she will never let it go."
Then the barmaid stood up and took her empty pint with her. She returned a moment later with a refill and some food. Eliot smiled gratefully towards her and immediately started eating. The barmaid slowly lowered herself until her mouth was right against his ear.
"Please, don't hurt her," she whispered, "You will have more than just the King's wrath to answer to."
Eliot paused in confusion and she left him there. Cora just walked back towards the bar and started filling pints for the regulars. She wore her usual smile and didn't even act like she just gave a warning. The warning was completely unsettling though. Why was everybody telling him not to hurt her? He wasn't interested in hurting her. He was only interested in finding out if she was a threat.
"Is this seat taken?"
Oh that was the one voice he didn't want to hear. Eliot looked up into brown eyes and sighed in defeat. Sophie Devereaux was back again. Well, at least she was determined. He just wished she wasn't asking about the seat directly beside him.
"Sure, darlin," Eliot smiled towards her. He still had to be polite and all.
Sophie smiled at his polite gesture and delicately placed herself in the chair beside him. She turned her gaze towards him and studied him for a few. Eliot felt like she was staring into his soul again. It was a very uncomfortable feeling.
"I believe we got off on the wrong foot the other day," she said. She held out her hand and grinned charmingly towards him. The whole thing shouted fake. "Hello, I'm Sophie Devereaux."
"Sir Eliot Spencer," Eliot grabbed the hand and shook it. He was surprised to feel a light squeeze on his hand before she let it go.
"I heard," she said, "Congratulations. Believe me when I say our King doesn't choose his knights lightly. He must see a lot in you to name you his top knight and royal advisor."
Eliot ducked his head shyly and then internally cursed at the gesture. She was flattering his ego on purpose. She was good. "I hope I can earn the title he's given me."
"I do too," she said. Her voice was rougher now. There was something in it that hinted at danger. Her entire tone seemed to be filled with warning. "Our King has made mistakes in the past when it came to trusting people. We would all hate for him to make that mistake again."
She was hinting at Blackpoole. She had to be, but why? Why would she be warning him about the last time the King was betrayed? Why would that matter to her? She was a spy for Moreau. Of course, she was probably looking for a weakness to manipulate. Ooh, she was very good.
"I don't intend on betraying his trust anytime soon," he said. He was proud to note the brief look of surprise on her perfectly schooled features. "I'm going to do everything in my power to protect him even if that means from the ones he trusts most."
"I'll hold you to that," Sophie said back. There was a light smile on her lips again. It looked like relief. Why was she always relieved?
"There's a rumor going around that says you've been asking for me," Eliot decided it was best to change the conversation, okay? He needed answers and he wasn't going to be getting them if he kept answering her questions. He had questions of his own.
"It's true," Sophie admitted delicately. There was a playfulness about her now. It would seem genuine if the interest actually reached her eyes.
"May I ask why?" It was a simple question but everything depended on how she answered it. One false move on either of their parts and the whole thing could be lost.
"Isn't it obvious?" She gently placed her hand on his arm and rubbed it.
"You hardly even know me," he said. That was the way the conversation had to go. He had to at least make her think her intentions were warranted. He needed the information. The only way he would get that was if he played along.
"I would like to change that," she said. Her eyes actually sparkled this time but it wasn't the kind of sparkle you'd expect. It was dangerous and predatory. It sounded like she was offering more than was necessary but really she was in it for something else. He just needed to know what that something was.
"Perhaps that could be arranged," Eliot winked at her. She at least had the decency not to fake another blush. She just smiled at him seductively. Then the Tavern door opened and revealed the day's newest customer.
Nathan entered the place with a smile on his face and Eliot immediately felt a change in the woman beside him. The hand currently resting on his arm grew lax before it squeezed harder than before. Eliot raised his left eyebrow at the gesture and tried to figure out why she was so hesitant to have her hand seen on his arm. It was the angry glint encompassing the King's eyes the moment he caught sight of them that clued the knight in. There was more between the pair than anger. It was something deeper.
"Hello Eliot," Nathan greeted kindly. He walked towards their table and stopped with his hand on the chair below him. His hand gripped the back tightly, "Sophie."
"Nathan," Eliot muttered out with a low tilt of the head. He noticed that the king's eyes were glued to the lady's hand so he immediately dropped his arm. Sophie didn't even seem to notice her eyes were so glued to the king.
"Hello Nate," Sophie said. She inclined her head slightly but kept her eyes level with his. Nathan's eyes seemed just as caught by her. It was as if magic had been cast upon the pair.
"How are you?" she asked.
"Fine," Nathan smiled. His gaze was firmly implanted on the lady's. It was as if Eliot wasn't even in the room. The knight couldn't even find fault with the idea. It was too fascinating to see the way the two stared at each other. "How are you?"
"I'm doing well," Sophie chuckled. There was a silvery richness to her voice that hadn't been there when Eliot had begun talking with her. She seemed less distant now, more open. She seemed relaxed and calm.
"That's good," Nathan explained, "I wouldn't want you to be anything but well."
"Would you care to join us, Nathan?" Eliot asked. He had to interrupt their staring contest. He was afraid that the king would be standing for hours if he didn't say something now. It was his duty as the top knight to protect the king from everything, including sore legs.
Nathan stumbled over the offer. He looked down at the chair and then his gaze fell on Eliot. The knight smiled invitingly but the king quickly looked at the pair and shook his head. Sophie reached out and placed her hand gently on the knight's shoulder.
"It was kind of you to ask but I have plans," Nathan stared at the hand with vengeful thoughts. He clearly hated the idea of Sophie touching men. "You two have a good day."
"We will, Nate," Sophie said. Her smile was sad this time and held longing. Her eyes followed the king until he was near the bar. Then her gaze landed back on Eliot's.
"That was a lovely conversation," she said, "It was so kind of the king to greet us. He usually just goes straight to the bar when he enters."
Eliot watched the other woman cover up her mistake in seconds. There was something deeper to her relationship with the King than just a need to argue. It was banter. They weren't mortal enemies in the least. On the contrary, those were the feelings Cora was hinting at earlier. He could use that to his advantage. In fact the opportunity just presented itself.
"You know the King wouldn't happen to have the interest of a lady such as yourself," Eliot asked with the nicest smile he had, "would he?"
Sophie jumped at his statement but that was it. She looked at him with a flustered and puzzled look. She seemed confused but her eyes held something icy in them. "Why do you ask?"
"Because he is currently leaving with that blonde over there."
Sophie whipped her head around with wide, angry eyes. Sure enough, the king was happily talking with a blonde woman in a ruby red dress. The two seemed completely engrossed in each other. The brunette shivered and immediately turned her gaze towards her drink of mead. She took a big gulp of the stuff and slammed it onto the table. She looked back towards Eliot with a smile.
"She's pretty," she said.
"It could be worse," Eliot sighed. He may have been enjoying this form of torture a bit too much. "It could have been Parker."
"Nate isn't interested in Parker and she isn't interested in him. Don't tell me you haven't noticed that Parker and Hardison are quite smitten with each other." That time the woman's smile was genuine. She had a real fondness for the blonde thief and the scientist. That was useful information too.
"The true question is why does the king constantly have Parker arrested just for the sake of goading you into an argument?"
Sophie's eyes grew wide at that statement. Eliot could practically see her anger rising to the surface. Oh yeah, he had her exactly where he wanted her. "He doesn't?"
"He does," Eliot smiled. She was easily distracted by the King. The funny part was that she didn't even seem aware of it. The poor woman had no idea that she had just given away highly important information about herself.
"Ooh," Sophie scowled at the knight's words. Her temper was obviously gaining the better of her because she was seriously thinking about marching over. Eliot smiled at her frustration. She obviously didn't want to leave him but she wanted to attack the king.
"Go," he said, "Clearly he is in need of a good tongue-lashing."
Sophie turned towards him with embarrassment. "It isn't right for a lady to yell at a King. I'm certain he wouldn't be so cruel as to take money from me just for the sake of taking money. He's a very good King."
"He doesn't take your money," Eliot admitted softly. Hey, deflecting attention was his specialty. "He gives it to Parker as payment for her assistance."
Sophie's brown eyes grew dark and stormy at the news. Her emotions were winning against her better judgment. She was practically on the verge of marching over. There was just one more thing to be done.
"He also has Hardison in on it," he said.
"Ooh!" Sophie scowled at the knight's statement and took another swig of her mead. She clenched her hands together and visibly tried to force herself not to react to this new information. She was really good. She knew when to stick with her con, but she wasn't prepared for the next part.
She looked towards the King and noticed something positively awful. The blonde was leaning into the King heavily. She was making her way closer and closer to the King's lips, and Sophie finally snapped. The woman took her pint of mead and immediately marched towards the King in a fury. She splashed her drink all over the man and his blonde accomplice.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Sophie said towards the blonde. She handed her a cloth and then pushed her out of the way. "I meant to only get him."
"Sophie," Nate swallowed.
Eliot grinned at his evil work and sat back to enjoy the show. He would sneak out before she realized what happened.
"You son of a bitch," Sophie screamed towards the man in anguish. Nathan actually looked surprised by her outburst. "You've been having Parker arrested simply for the sake of goading me into a fight. Oh, allow me to rephrase. You've been paying Parker to get arrested just to goad me into a fight!"
Nathan blinked at the question and turned towards his knight with a deadly glare. He then snapped his face back towards the angry woman and smiled wide and innocent. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Your knight just told me everything!" She yelled, "How could you do that to Parker? She's trying to be a good person and you're taking advantage of it!"
"I am not taking advantage of Parker's good character," Nate argued naturally, "I'm helping."
"How is encouraging her to steal helping her?" Sophie shrieked towards him. The entire Tavern was doing everything in their power to stifle their laughter. Apparently they were all in on his little joke.
"She's helping me improve the dungeons," he said. Then he cockily gulped down a tankard of mead and motioned for another one. He seemed quite invigorated all of a sudden. Apparently he was happy to have his arguing partner back.
"And what exactly is Hardison's job in all of this?" She asked with a knowing smile. Everybody in the Tavern noted the triumphant grin on her face the moment the blonde left the bar. The brunette watched the woman exit the place and refused to look away until she was gone. Even the King caught onto the satisfaction in her eyes.
"He's my scientist," Nathan was suddenly in a very cocky mood now. It was like the world actually worked the way he wanted it to. That was odd.
"But is he aware of how you are abusing that privilege?" Sophie demanded of the King sharply, "You're making him help you with crimes, Nate!"
"It isn't a crime to pick on people!" Nate defended solemnly.
That was the part in the argument where Eliot felt it was his duty to get out and run for his life. The King could handle himself against Lady Sophie Devereaux. Besides, he had more important things to do. Like locating Parker and arresting her for theft for example.
"Hi Eliot," Parker waved towards him. She literally just lifted a pouch of gold from some passerby. She then proceeded to wave it in front of the knight with a bright smile.
"Parker, put that back," Eliot rolled his eyes. She made his job difficult sometimes.
"But it's Blackpoole's money," Parker purred. She even pouted her lips in disappointment. "Nate lets me keep Blackpoole's money. Sometimes he even lets me keep Sterling's."
"Well Sophie knows about your game so you better put it back before I have to arrest you," Eliot whined towards the girl. She didn't seem to grasp what he was trying to give her.
"Ooh," Parker's eyes glowed with excitement, "You should arrest me and then send somebody to inform them so Nathan will drive Sophie towards the castle and then can argue some more."
"You really enjoy watching them fight, don't you?" Eliot stared at the thief in shock.
"Yeah," Parker nodded. She immediately stuck out her wrists for the cuffs, "So?"
Eliot obliged and put the cuffs on her wrist. He then took away the pouch of gold and walked towards her victim. He dragged the girl with him and rolled his eyes when she whined at the fact that they were returning it.
"Excuse me, sir," Eliot growled towards the man with the nicest smile he had, "This thief seems to have taken your gold and I would like to return it to you."
The man with white blonde hair turned around and Parker hissed at him. The man just grinned from ear to ear at her and politely took his gold. Then his grin grew wider when he actually looked at the knight's face.
"Eliot Spencer," the man gasped gratefully. He stuck out his hand and the knight immediately reached out to shake it. "Ian Blackpoole, it is so nice to finally meet you. Did Damien send you?"
"Damien?" Eliot asked. He jerked his hand away the moment he heard Ian Blackpoole. This was the man who tried to destroy Nate's kingdom and now he was greeting his top knight like a friend. What did he mean by Damien? There was only one Damien Eliot knew. It couldn't possibly be him.
"Moreau," Blackpoole finished with a wider smile than before. He then looked towards Parker and winked at her.
Parker's face went deathly pale and her eyes went wide. Then she lunged towards the man with death in her eyes. Eliot had to do everything in his power to stop her too. By the time they were finished Blackpoole had several scratches on his face and Eliot had one on his arm. Parker was breathing heavily and glaring at Blackpoole with complete and utter hatred.
"It's about time somebody suitable put you behind bars," Blackpoole scowled towards the thief. He then lifted his chin and left.
Parker spit at him from behind and then looked towards Eliot. She lifted up the pouch of gold she stole with a hint of teasing glee. Eliot smiled at her dead and nodded in conceit. He didn't mind losing to his favorite little thief. He had more important things to worry about. He might have just found the spy for Moreau and it blessedly wasn't Sophie Devereaux.
"Come on," Eliot ordered Parker a bit rougher than intended. She didn't really seem to care though. She followed him without a complaint. That was stranger than Blackpoole's announcement. Everything was slowly starting to become one big mess of chaos.
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"What did she do now?" Sophie demanded angrily the very moment she entered the throne. That was when Eliot decided to attack. He grabbed the woman by her shoulders and shook her hard.
"What do you know?" He asked.
"Excuse me?" Sophie's face was furious now. It was red with rage and her eyes were practically on fire.
"You heard me! Now what do you know?"
"Hey!" Parker took notice of what he was doing. It was only a matter of time before everyone else did to. "Let her go!"
"About what?" She screamed.
"I said," Parker continued, "Let her go!"
"About me!" Eliot hissed towards her just as loud. He wasn't going to take it easy anymore. He needed answers now. Something bad was going to happen. He just knew it.
"I don't know anything about you," Sophie hissed. She started squirming against his grip but he just tightened his hold. She stopped squirming and huffed towards him in anger. "Let me go."
"Tell me what I want to know," Eliot ordered darkly. He ignored Parker tugging on his arm. The girl was strong but she wasn't strong enough to break through his rage. Nobody was, not even King Damien Moreau.
Sophie glared at him for a solid minute while Parker beat at him from behind. Both women were keeping the secret and he needed to know why. Sophie rolled her eyes and finally relaxed against his grip.
"Stop it, Parker," Sophie ordered softly. The blonde stopped immediately and the brunette turned her eyes on him once again. "What do you want to know?"
"Everything," Eliot barked at her.
Sophie arched a brow, "That's a lot to know."
"Then you better tell it quickly," he ordered directly in her face.
"What's going on in here?" Hardison's voice echoed through the room.
The knight and the lady both turned their solid gazes towards the source of the noise. Hardison was standing in the entryway with fear and disgruntlement all over his face. His hands were on his hips and his sword was on its way to becoming unsheathed. There was no doubt what he was talking about.
"Hardison!" Parker cheered. The blonde raced towards the scientist with a wide smile of relief and quickly sheathed his sword. "They were just having an argument. What's wrong? You're sad. You're never sad."
"King Damien is here!" Hardison announced to the room in general. His sour expression only deepened at the news.
Eliot felt his stomach drop. Moreau was here. Damien had never had any plans of taking on King Nathan and the Blacklands. He was too concerned that Nathan would have the ability to defeat him. He didn't even have the forces to really enforce his law against so kind a ruler. It went against his plans. There could only be one reason why King Damien of Moreau would be here.
"He found me!"
Eliot stared at Sophie in disbelief. The woman just said the exact same thing he said at the exact same moment. He knew because he watched her lips form the very same words. She was working for Moreau. Why would she be surprised he was there?
"What do you mean he's after you?"
Eliot blinked. They did it again. They spoke the same thing at the exact same time again. Only now Sophie was glaring at him as if he was the greatest evil the world had ever known. The knight stepped back at the narrowed brown eyes upon him. He knew now that Sophie had never truly hated the King. No, the terrifying way those brown eyes formed perfect slits and carried so much venom towards him was true hatred.
"You're the one who told him where I was," Sophie concluded angrily. Her tone was deadly. It sounded like an arrow slicing through an apple in no time at all. She was about to get very dangerous. Hang on?
"No, you're the one who told him I was here!" Eliot pointed his finger towards the woman in confusion. He wouldn't tell Damien anything. They had an understanding. He didn't work for Moreau anymore. "You're the agent working for Moreau!"
"I would never!" Sophie scowled at the accusation. There was something in her eyes that just wasn't right. It wasn't guilt but it was something similar and bright. It looked almost like fear.
"I stole Sophie from Moreau!" Parker growled towards the knight. She popped up out of nowhere and was standing in between the dueling pair, bristling. There was cold fury in her eyes. "What about you?"
Oh! "You're Moreau's…" Eliot gaped at the brunette. He knew exactly what was going on. He knew why Moreau was here. It wasn't because of Eliot after all. This was not good.
"What's going on?" Nathan's voice boomed through the halls of the castle in agitation. He was upset over the way Eliot and Sophie were acting, the knight was certain. Now everything made sense. The woman wasn't doing it to make the King jealous. She was doing it to save her life and Parker's. This was not good.
"Um…" Eliot's eyes grew wide with fear at their current situation. Sophie was shaking her head and Parker's eyes were flying between the pair. They were frightened by the truth. Worse, they didn't want the King to know the truth. Sophie's face went pale the moment the King finally entered the room.
"Why is King Damien in my kingdom?" Nathan demanded immediately. He stood at the main door and glared daggers specifically at Eliot. The King knew his knight had once worked for him. It was the first thing Eliot told him. He clearly didn't know about Sophie and Parker.
"Your majesty, I can explain," Eliot decided he was going to lie. It was his duty to protect the King and right now protecting the King meant saving what he loved most. And only a fool would think that what he loved most wasn't Lady Sophie Devereaux.
"Sophie!" Nathan's glare turned to her in an instant. There was something cool in his eyes now. It was a cruel shadow filled with death and despair. He knew more about the situation than they thought. He knew a lot more.
"Yes, your majesty?" Sophie's response caused nothing but pure silence. The guards gawked and the servants gasped. Hardison stared with shock and horror on his features. Parker stared at her friend in confusion. The woman just stared at the King and Eliot swallowed thickly. The King's glare hardened at the formal address. His temper was high now.
"He's here for you, isn't he?" Nathan took a few calculating steps forward. Sophie slowly copied him. Their eyes were not going to leave each other's. It was like the day Eliot first met the couple except so much more. There was true pain in their gaze now.
"Yes, your majesty."
"Why?"
Sophie turned away from him then. She bent her head down in shame and a light sniffle could be heard in the air. She wrung her hands together nervously and tried to comprehend what was going on. She twirled around and faced the King with sadness in her eyes.
"He wishes to marry me, your majesty."
Nathan flinched at that. Of course, everybody flinched at that. Everyone knew what catching the eye of Damien Moreau meant. If you didn't agree, you lost until you did. Eliot watched as the King drew in a staggering breath. This one was probably going to hurt.
"Do you wish to marry him?"
"No, your majesty."
"Why?"
Sophie smiled sadly towards him at that. There was something in her eyes that seemed to be pleading with the King to take the question back. She didn't seem to have the strength to answer him. Nathan moved closer, his eyes boring into hers. It was quite clear that he expected an answer.
"Sophie," he said the name in a whisper of worship and care. The King slowly reached out a gentle hand and shakily moved closer to the brunette woman. He caressed the lady's cheek and wiped away a tear with his thumb. It was the first time the pair acted civil towards each other. It was heart-wrenching to say the least.
"I don't love him, Nate," Sophie cried. She then placed her left hand on top of the King's and squeezed. It was then that the truth of the pair became known.
"But you guys hate each other?" Parker stared at the pair in bewilderment. Hardison's eyebrows were raised high in confusion as well. Eliot rolled his eyes. Apparently he was the only member of their little band that understood what banter was.
"You're not leaving with him," Nathan concluded, his voice held finality. His thumb continued to rub against the woman's cheek. It was as if they were the only people in the castle. Nobody existed but them. It felt right that they should look that way. "I won't let him have you."
"He'll take away your kingdom if you refuse to give him his prize," Sophie cringed at the offering. She didn't let go of the King's hand though and Eliot sighed in relief. There was another offer on the table. He could live with that. The lady wanted to stay. He would make certain she got her wish.
"You're not a prize to be glorified over," Nathan shook his head at her thoughts. He carefully moved his hand to brush his fingers against her cheek and then he pulled away. They could hear footsteps beating through the halls. "You are so much more. You're the reason the battle is even won."
Sophie smiled sadly at the compliment and opened her mouth to speak. The King quieted her with a simple look and stepped away. His back straightened and his entire demeanor switched into neutral. He was King Nathan now. Eliot couldn't help the feeling of pride in his chest at the knowledge.
"Your majesty," the herald announced in a quiet whisper of a voice, "King Damien wishes for an audience with you."
"Send him in," King Nathan waved. He calmly moved towards his throne with no real intent to sit down. It was merely for formality's sake. Everything about him seemed to be for formality's sake. The only exception being the way he was keeping himself in between the door and Sophie.
King Damien entered with a political smile and an entourage of three men. Eliot grimaced when he noticed one of them was his old nemesis, Perry. The three goons stopped just behind the entryway while their king walked forward all the way to the center of the room. He inclined his head towards the King of the Blacklands and Nathan did the same.
"Welcome to my castle, King Damien," Nathan began the pleasantries as expected. He was certain to keep Sophie hidden behind him. "What brings you to my…?"
"I have been told by an acquaintance of mine that a woman by the name of Charlotte Prentiss the eighteenth Duchess of Hanover is here," Damien interrupted with cool twisted grin. "I am merely here to see if those rumors are true."
"Then allow me to put you at ease by saying that there is no woman by the name of Charlotte Prentiss in this kingdom let alone duchesses." Nathan waved the king off and turned around as if their discussion was over. He was quickly pushing Sophie into his office chamber to keep her out of sight.
"I was told by the good Lord Blackpoole that she goes by the name of Sophie Devereaux now."
Nathan froze at the cocky tone and the names mentioned. He swirled around with a moment of anger flashing across his gentle face. Everybody recognized the name the other king had mentioned. Lord Blackpoole was the one responsible for the injustices against the kingdom after Nathan's son and wife were killed. This was how he would get his revenge.
"Blackpoole is no longer lord," Nathan explained to the other king with fire in his voice, "He was dismissed from the title the moment he started hurting my people. He is an untrustworthy source. I wouldn't trust him."
"And neither did I until he mentioned and perfectly described my former knight Eliot Spencer," Damien sighed, "I had one of my spies look into it and they confirmed my suspicions. I gave Blackpoole the gift of a Lordship in my own kingdom."
"How much did you pay him to spy on me?" Sophie demanded angrily. She raced out from behind King Nathan's protection and glared at her unwelcome betrothed. "How long have you known?"
"From the very beginning my dear, Charlotte," Damien politely tried to kiss the lady's hand. Sophie withdrew it in disgust. Damien snarled at the behavior and quickly snatched the woman's arm. He roughly pulled her towards him with every intention of evil as he spoke. "Is that anyway to treat your king, Duchess?"
He threw her to the ground and raised his hand to hit her.
"That is enough!" Nathan shouted at the other king. His body was twitching with the effort not to help Sophie up. Any sign of affection for her would only hinder any chances he'd have of freeing her. They all knew it. "This is my kingdom, Moreau, and I will not have you treating my subjects that way."
"This woman is my subject," Damien explained with a political air back upon his form, "and engaged to me. She was stolen away from me as a sign of war and I have scoured the Earth in search of her. I had no idea the thief had brought her here or I would have come to you sooner, Ford."
"I've heard otherwise," Nathan growled.
"Rumors are very rarely true," Damien nodded at the threat, "After all nobody would have ever believed a king with such wisdom as yourself actually hired Eliot Spencer as his most trusted servant. Can you imagine the rumors running through your town when they hear of his nickname having once been the Demon of Moreau?"
There was the challenge. Damien wasn't interested in claiming someone he loved. He probably didn't even know how to love. This was a purely diplomatic decision. This was simply a test of power and will. If Nathan wasn't careful, he would declare war.
"What exactly are you after, Moreau?" Nathan demanded harshly. He knew this was a trap. He had no choice but continue into it though. It was a trap he could not think his way out of. Damien held all of the cards and they both knew it.
"I've come to collect my bride," Damien smiled politely. He even winked at Eliot as he did it. Eliot had to fight the shiver running down his spine. He could feel the fear pumping through his veins at one hundred miles an hour or more. He knew exactly what that wink meant.
"She's not yours," Nathan came to Sophie's aid without a moment of hesitation. He even blocked Damien's view of her just to make certain he was understood. The King would not allow this to happen.
"Give me Charlotte or I will take Eliot," Damien shrugged in response. He was the one in control and everybody knew it. "Those are your only options."
Eliot tensed at the ultimatum. He knew he wouldn't be able to stay in one place without Damien coming after him. He knew it was too good to be true. He knew the moment he found a home he would lose it to Damien Moreau. At least this sacrifice was for a more than worthy cause. The soldier took one step forward.
"I'll go with you," a voice of unearthly conviction announced to the cold, quiet room.
Sophie pulled herself from behind King Nathan and slowly approached Damien. Her head was held high and she refused to look back to even acknowledge the horror of her deed. She would not let others suffer for her. It was why she and Nathan were so attached to each other.
"Excellent," Damien held out his hands towards his fiancé in sneering bliss. He won just like he knew he would. King Nathan was always known to avoid a war for his kingdom. It was obvious he would now think of his people even at the expense of his own heart. It was a highly bittersweet truth. "You're invited to the wedding of course, Ford."
Damien took Sophie into his arms and steered her out of the building with nothing but victory in his stride. The gate slammed shut and nobody moved. The shock of everything was still too strong. Nobody could do anything but watch the steps Damien had taken in and out of their lives. It was horrifyingly quiet.
"She didn't even wave good-bye," Parker broke the silence with a tiny sniffle of a voice. The poor girl looked like a dejected puppy or child without a mother. The fact that she pretty much lost the only influential woman in her life probably had something to do with it.
"I should have spoken up sooner," Eliot huffed in dismay. This was his fault. He was the only one who could have saved Sophie from her fate and he failed her.
"No," King Nathan's voice growled at the statement immediately. He stared at his knight and shook his head vigorously. "No, this is my fault."
"Your fault?" Hardison stared at the King in complete confusion. He wasn't the only one. Eliot and Parker were just as confused as he was. What could he have possibly done to save Sophie and his kingdom?
"Blackpoole was my enemy and I should have expected him to do something like this," Nathan explained himself simply, "I should have seen this coming and I didn't and now Sophie's paying the price just like my wife and son."
"He killed her fiancé!" Parker shouted towards the King with fiery tears in her eyes. She raced towards the King and clawed her fingers into his coat. She started shaking him fiercely as if in betrayal. Even Hardison couldn't penetrate through her foggy mind of grief. "Moreau killed her fiancé because he wanted to have her for his property! I stole her away from him and we found home! She brought you back and you let her go! You let her go! Why did you let her go?"
The thief collapsed against the King's chest and cried. Her entire body shook with the forceful sobs. Hardison tried to peel her off but she refused to release the King. In fact, she tightened her embrace around the man's neck and cried harder still. Nathan was her only salvation.
"I…" Nathan's voice caught at the hysteric thief crying against him. His arms slowly wrapped around her and he started rubbing his fingers up and down her spine. He moved his mouth to finish speaking but no words came out. His icy blue eyes were dulling fast and there was nothing for him to say. There was no need. Everyone could see how broken he was.
"Why didn't she tell us?" Hardison demanded violently. His anger at losing Sophie and the pain of watching Parker not wanting his comfort were high in his voice. He felt betrayed at the surprise attack which meant he was taking their silence to heart. He didn't understand what Damien Moreau could do.
"They were protecting you," Eliot couldn't believe his own boldness. He had actually spoken and knew it was the truth. They were trying to save their friends. Their silence had guaranteed it. Until he invaded their town, that is.
Hardison squeaked at the truth. He knew it was the truth. Eliot wouldn't have said it if it wasn't. It still hurt to know though. They had just lost a dear friend and quite possibly Parker too. The King was most definitely taking a turn for the worst. His grief at this loss would be sure to cripple the surrounding kingdom in moments. Not that there would be much of a kingdom left, Sophie was taken away from them as well.
"I need to speak with Sterling!" Nathan growled into the air. Parker released him immediately at that growl. She blinked away her tears in confusion and stared at the King with a mixture of horror and awe. Eliot just stared. The only good thing he ever heard about anybody named Sterling was that he lived in the kingdom to their east. Hardison wasn't so shocked into quiet. He was sputtering, moaning and scowling at that one statement.
"Why the Hell do you need to speak with Sterling?" Hardison was practically purple by the time he was finished breathing out the question.
"I'm bringing Sophie back."