Disclaimer: Queen of Swords was created by Fireworks Entertainment, and is owned by ContentFilm. This story is NOT affiliated with the rights holders or the show's original creators. No infringement is intended and no profit is being made. This story is for entertainment purposes only.

The author would like to thank Robert Vincent for all his valuable support and input.

Chapter 7: Run or You Die

Marta and Maria had decided to go into town reasonably early to get the best produce. They'd decided to bring Lucia Garcia along with them to show her the art of selecting the best spices and herbs for bringing that nice extra touch to cooked meals. After the fiesta, Lucia had been able to hire more workers and regain support from her father's friends to help run the market stalls and farm. Her proven capability to run her family business meant that she could be entitled to a morning off.

Laughing between friends, keen enthusiasm from Lucia and rare normalcy had made up the morning. The only incident that they'd encountered was when Maria had spotted some nice fabric in the market, which she felt she could make into a shawl. Then Carmella de la Calderon - Don Cascajo's daughter - had stuck her nose in, scoffing in that narcissistic tone, "Very good, I suppose…for glorified peasant's dressing."

"How eloquent of you, Carmella," Maria had smiled back sweetly, not in the least bit riled. "And coming from a family of filthy pigs who dress nice, no less."

Carmella's response had been the typical boasting of who she was and that Maria should mind her manners. Mrs Williams had asked innocently if she was going to take her posh gloves off to teach her a lesson, as she took them off for all those men she liked to precariously fondle. Carmella's offended gasp, an attempted slap and Maria countering it into an arm wrench and leg trip that made her eat dirt was what came next. People laughing at the humiliated aristocrat drove her off, with Carmella declaring that Maria would regret 'attacking' a Don's daughter. Mrs Williams had then waved her goodbye, with Lucia secretly pleased that the de la Calderons (who had always bullied the Garcias) had gotten their comeuppance.

After finishing their shopping, Lucia had parted ways with Marta and Maria. The two ladies talked for a little about Theresa, the get-together last fortnight and what Maria had told Tessa about finding her 'soul mate'.

"I didn't mean to tell her what to do with her life, Marta," explained Maria, feeling slight regret. "I was just saying…"

"Maria, we both think the world of you," smiled Marta. "That's why I let you drag Tessa away. The girl needs advice, all the time."

It was Maria's turn to smile now, "She's so lucky to have a mom like you."

The gypsy servant fell surprised, making them stop walking. No one had ever described their relationship like that before.

"I'm just a servant, Mrs Williams," she downplayed, almost ashamedly. "One who forgets her place."

"You're more than that," supported the sergeant's wife, rubbing her friend's arm in affection. Maria then fell emotionally silent as she exhaled, "I wish I'd had someone like you to be my mom in my…previous life."

Marta gazed at Maria, her eyes betraying a hint of being genuinely touched. After a while, she just smiled, raised her finger at her and said in a good-natured disciplinary tone, "Now don't start."

"Yes, ma'am. Sorry, ma'am."

They continued walking and talking…then they stopped, when they saw Vera Hidalgo muttering and cursing to herself.

"Those ignorant pigs! Can they not appreciate that I have to get back home? It's not as though I'm getting in anybody's way!"

"Vera? What's wrong?"

"Oh, Maria! Marta!" she exclaimed, darting over to them as soon as they'd called her. "It's so terrible! Have you not heard?"

"Heard what?" asked the Gypsy.

"They say Captain Grisham shot the Queen of Swords! And Doctor Helm helped her escape! Colonel Montoya's put Santa Helena in lockdown, stopping everyone from leaving and entering the town! There's a manhunt going on throughout the whole country to get them both!"

Maria didn't want to believe the story to be true. But she knew that when it came to Vera's gossip, which she expertly picked up here and there…it was always true. But as horrified as Maria was…it was nothing compared to what Marta was feeling right now.

It was like her heart had just stopped.

Like all the air had been removed from her lungs.

Her basket slipped off her arm.

And the will to cry was overwhelming.

No…thought Marta, seeing the image of Tessa dead with a laughing Grisham standing over her body. Please, no.

Tessa…

It was like someone had just thrown a bucket of ice water at him.

The moment the Queen had finally taken her mask off to him…was perhaps the most shocking moment in all of Robert Helm's life. He'd feared that things would change for the worse if she revealed her identity to him, or if he uncovered it for himself.

But he'd never imagined in his wildest dreams that it would be …that it could be…her.

"Tessa…" spluttered the Doctor, backing away slightly, his hands nearly slipping as the shock made him move back on his rear. "Tessa Alvarado?"

The unmasked Queen of Swords had made the choice to finally tell Robert Helm who she was. She knew it wouldn't be easy for him to accept the truth. And she hadn't discussed with Marta about her decision to do so. This was something the senorita felt she'd had to choose by herself, for herself.

And Tessa was sure that - in the long term - history would view her as having made the right decision.

And the Doctor…was her soul mate.

At this moment in time however, the Englishman struggled to find his footing, wanting to stand in the vain hope that by standing he could maybe take the truth in better. As soon as he managed to get a grip, Tessa carefully stood up herself, remembering her injuries. Robert was so much in shock that he was having difficulty remembering the dangerous situation they were still in.

"Yes, Doctor," she nodded truthfully. "It's me."

"It…it can't be…"

"Why not? After everything we've been through together, why should this be a lie?"

"How? How is this possible?"

"Robert, it's a long story. I swear I'll tell you everything when it's over. I didn't tell you for so long because I…"

"Because you enjoyed it," interrupted Helm, his tone lowering to reflect the brooding that had now overcome him. The young Alvarado was immediately taken aback, her turn now to succumb to shock. And she didn't know what it was that shocked her more. The change in the Doctor's attitude…or the fact that he was right. Tessa had secretly enjoyed playing this game with him. Riling him, manipulating him into feeling guilty over so many things to solve so many cases.

"You enjoyed playing me, didn't you?" snarled Helm, his blood beginning to boil. "All those times you made me feel guilty over what was happening with Ramon and The Serpent! Calling me vain one moment and then calling me honourable only an hour later! Then calling yourself callous and indifferent just to get that reaction out of me! Did you laugh behind my back when you played games with me that time I came to your hacienda? When I had to find Camilla?"

"No, I didn't…!"

"Stupid question! Of course you did!"

"Robert, I did what I had to in order to save those days!" explained Tessa, imploringly. "As I've always done what I had to! I needed to protect myself and Marta! There was no one else I could trust when I came back to Santa Helena! Montoya and Grisham…!"

"You were just trying to suit yourself and you know it!" snapped the Doctor.

"That day you told me how you really felt meant everything to me!"

A silence fell after Tessa had given that heartfelt declaration. Helm just stared at her intently, his anger slightly quelled by her statement, which he knew was definitely truthful.

"Yes…" she began, feeling ashamed. "Part of me did enjoy playing those games with you…" She then turned to look at the Englishman with renewed vigour and continued, "As I'm sure you felt good about yourself after all those cheap shots you took at me."

Robert's mouth opened slightly. He remembered. Then cast his eyes away in shame as Tessa continued glaring, "Going off into that tirade against me when I aided in Churi's capture, which no, I wasn't proud of. Comparing me to the Serpent because you had the nerve to think of him as a better person than me."

"No!" protested the Doctor vehemently. "That wasn't what I…!"

"Damning me for you ending his life, saying it was all my fault when you ran away to escape Latham, giving me the cold shoulder whenever I offered you the sympathy you deserved! By the way, Doctor…I do actually know more about life and death than you could possibly imagine! More than you ever gave me credit for!"

"Tessa!"

The unmasked senorita calmed down slightly, trying to keep her emotions in check. It felt like such a breath of fresh air for the Doctor to finally call her by her first name. For that she was thankful, as she really didn't want their relationship to be like this.

"I was scared," admitted Robert, sighing in dismay. "Scared and scarred. You're right, I am vain. And maybe I am just a coward and disgrace too like Camilla's father said!"

"You're neither of those things," exhaled Tessa, walking closer to him and shedding a tear. "Maybe arrogant, condescending and revels in taking cheap shots to make himself feel better…"

The unmasked Queen looked away in shame, feeling instant regret over those badly chosen words.

Good going, Tessa, she thought to herself. Going that extra mile to get some cheap shots in yourself.

Looking back to the Doctor, Tessa breathed in deep, "After the Serpent died…that's when I knew the real you. That's when I discovered my real feelings for you. That's when I knew it was time to stop playing games. No more flirting, no more antagonism…because we've gone through too much now to continue hiding and playing games with each other."

The young senorita then gently placed her hands on the surgeon's confused and apprehensive face.

Tessa then took another deep breath, not taking her tearful eyes off Robert as she finally declared, "I love you."

It was at that point where Doctor Helm blinked…and let his own tears go free. He thought he might hyperventilate. The most amazing woman he'd ever met had actually come out and said it.

And said it first.

His brain was having difficulty trying to register this. And he wanted to snap out of it. He was desperate for something to make him snap out of it.

The cry of horses from the hills far away and below was what he got.

Both vigilante and doctor looked to the distant view getting closer and closer to their location.

The sight of soldiers, impending death…and a classic case of 'careful what you wish for.'

"…Damn it."

That had been Sergeant Williams' reaction after Montoya's bootlickers had informed of the situation and given his orders. The Queen had been shot, forced to flee and Doctor Helm was suspected in aiding and abetting her. A manhunt was on to get them both and Santa Helena had been placed in lockdown to stop people from entering and exiting the town.

Montoya wanted the Queen's head - as usual - and Lionel knew he had no choice but to play along. He couldn't do anything without blowing his cover, which is why - ever the professional - he'd just nodded to his orders, gathered his men in the fort grounds and was finishing going over the briefing when…

"Clarence? Abigail?" came a feeble voice. The soldiers all turned to see a frail woman, hunchbacked, hooded and cloaked, tapping her walking stick all around to try and get some kind of feel for her surroundings. "My grandchildren? Oh, please where are you? Why do you keep running away from me every time we go into town?"

Some of Williams' men just studied the blind woman with professionalism. Others groaned in annoyance at the inadvertent trespasser. Others laughed cruelly at the handicapped senile and moved in towards her.

"That's okay, granny!" said one, getting ready to wind his fist back. "Here's one of them for ya!"

Williams grabbed the soldier's forearm and twisted the whole arm round his back, wrenching it to make him cry out in pain. Right before the rest of Lionel's platoon.

"Clarence?" asked the shrouded blind woman, starting to panic. "Is that my darling boy?"

"You strike her…" warned Williams to the scared bully, "and you'll literally be paying for all kinds of repercussions from your life savings and beyond. Understand?"

"Yes, sir…" groaned the whimpering soldier.

"And the same goes for the rest of you!" snapped Williams to the rest of his men as he threw the grunt to one side.

"YES, SIR!"

"Abigail? What crowd have you fallen in? I've got to find you! Someone please! Help me!"

"I'll take care of this," the Golden Sergeant informed his platoon as he gently put his arm round the old woman to comfort and guide her. "Now arm yourselves and saddle up! We move out in five minutes!"

Williams' men did as they were told, as the Golden Sergeant gently hushed the sobbing, scared, blind woman, consoling her and guiding her off the fort grounds…

And into a quiet, secluded area near the stockade.

Williams immediately saw Marta and raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"Sergeant Williams…I had to speak with you…"

"Marta? Why are you here?" asked Lionel, confused. He then turned to the old woman and raised the other eyebrow.

"Clarence? Abigail? Sergeant, please you said you'd found…!"

"There's no one around now, we're safe."

The hunched old woman paused for a moment and then straightened her spine gracefully, before throwing her hood back to reveal a confident smile and beautiful face.

"Told you I'd still got it," beamed Maria.

"When were you an actress?" asked Marta, looking the American up and down in a new light.

"I loved theatre. Had to do something to keep my sanity in Spain while my husband was fighting to the death. And it meant I could see him if I really needed to. Which was most of the time."

"Look, this isn't the time," Lionel protested, addressing them both. "I have to move out soon. Montoya's orders."

"So it is true? That she has been shot and Doctor Helm is on the run with her?"

Williams looked away from his wife to face Marta again. Something about the Gypsy's presence was very odd here. And he sensed that it was for much more personal reasons than the servant was letting on.

"Lionel, she's here because she's her friend," explained Maria. "The Queen's our friend, too. You know that. We decided…"

"Marta, just why are you here?" asked Lionel again, eyes focused. "This goes beyond friendship. Just who is she to you?"

"Sergeant, please! We haven't got time! Just tell us what's happening! Please!"

Agreeing that this wasn't the time or place, Lionel confirmed, "Yes, she's been shot. Grisham was responsible for it. Doctor Helm was reported as helping her, which I'm betting is a fact. The whole garrison is on action stations. I'm meant to lead a search party to find her. More troops are rendezvousing with Grisham in his separate manhunt. Sergeant Hernandez is visiting all the haciendas out of town."

Marta couldn't control the sharp breath that left her body. She wasn't at the hacienda, and neither was Tessa. Even if the Queen managed to evade Grisham, her identity would undoubtedly be uncovered if the soldiers discovered that neither the senorita or her servant were at the Alvarado Hacienda.

And the Gypsy couldn't leave because of the lockdown. The soldiers would see her leave!

No…Tessa…I've got to get back to the hacienda SOMEHOW. But how…?

Marta looked back up to see Maria's shocked reaction and Lionel's grave face. Then they both turned to her, equally concerned.

Can I trust them? thought the Gypsy, hesitantly. With this? They are truly fine people who care about those around them. They trust Tessa and the Queen. But…it's Tessa's secret! I can't betray that! But…she could be dying! I have to save her SOMEHOW!

Is this the only option I have?

Marta's struggles weren't going unnoticed by the Williams.

"We're running out of time," reminded the Golden Sergeant. "My men are waiting for me as we speak. Montoya isn't going to like my absence. Are there any suggestions?"

Maria looked away, her mind racing for an idea.

Then it came to her.

"I've got one," she said, facing her husband. Then turning to Marta, she said, "I'll need your help. We've got to get to my house right now."

Marta was confused. Lionel instantly knew what his wife had in mind.

"No!"

"No other way!" countered Maria. "And I can do it! You know that! Just as we all know we can't stand round here any longer!"

The Golden Sergeant gritted his teeth, saw Marta's desperation one more time, and then blew out a reluctant huff, "Alright, fine. But this is how we do it."

I'm gonna kill you both, Grisham vowed to himself. Slowly, painfully…beautifully. I MEAN it this time.

Chico had managed to lead them almost a mile out of town when his pursuers realised that they'd been had. That the Queen's horse had no riders at all.

Grisham's reaction had been very cold and ruthless, more than he was known to be. One of the soldiers who had seen Chico run off and fired on him had apologised for not noticing zero riders sooner, and Grisham had accepted his apology by putting a bullet in his brain. Right in front of the rest of his men.

"Any of you brain-dead monkeys screw up like that again, you meet the same fate as him! Now bag them both!"

The terrified mice naturally obeyed. If the Captain had been thinking straight, he could've continued following Chico. By letting him go, they'd relinquished their chance to discover the Queen's hideout, which her horse could've led them to.

But Grisham still could only think about the endless humiliations at his enemies' hands. The put downs from Montoya. And his…hypocritical favouritism towards the Golden Sergeant. The Captain had rendezvoused with the reinforcements Montoya had dispatched to help him and had been informed of the stolen horses and wagon. Sergeant Ruy had picked up the wagon's trail and were now riding on to the Old Ruins.

As Ruy explained to Grisham about Hernandez visiting haciendas and Williams scouring the other half of the country… Grisham seethed again. Their latest encounter just a few days ago still burned inside him.

That smarmy honour student…the way he effortlessly trounced all our boys, humiliated them one after the next during the training and sparring sessions. Taking all those new rookies who enlisted under his wing, teaching them as though he knows best!

It was a cartload of nineteen-year-olds that had voluntarily enlisted into the army, inspired by what Williams was doing for Santa Helena. The sergeant had been sparring with the veterans and trouncing them in no time, to preach the point that 'people who think they know everything…don't'. He'd proven to be a fine instructor, teaching them the basics of swordplay, giving credit to talent where he saw it, encouraging, advising, criticising and chastising only when necessary…

It had made Grisham sick to his stomach, the way he coddled these rookies when he should be giving them tough love. But Montoya had thought different. He saw potential and honestly spoke that Williams was moulding these new recruits in a way that promised success. Unlike the countless failures that Grisham had bred.

That had been the last straw for Marcus. He confronted Williams there and then, in front of the colonel no less, challenging him to yet another fight. This time a duel. Williams accepted and they'd gone at it hard and fast. Grisham had taunted the Golden Sergeant mercilessly to try and distract him, Williams had remained silent throughout, not in the mood for mind games.

I nearly had you, you smug, self-righteous S.O.B., the murderous captain thought. I knocked that sword out of your hand. Put you flat on your ass, had my blade to your throat…then you CHEATED.

To be precise, Williams had remarked about Grisham leaving himself 'wide open'. Quite literally, in fact. Lionel had gotten his free leg up, kicking his superior officer squarely in the crotch. Grisham had squealed, dropped his sword and then put flat on his back by a rising, trademark head butt that nearly knocked him out again. Williams had then stood over his captain, pinning him down with his boot and putting his sword to Grisham's throat in a way that he couldn't possibly escape or counter.

As Montoya just walked away, shaking his head, the captain had spat at the Golden Sergeant, "You self-righteous asshole. You know, we could have been the best of buddies if you hadn't chose to…"

"I agree with you entirely, Captain," nodded Lionel truthfully, which had surprised Grisham a little. "We could've been great friends. Brothers-in-arms. Fulfilling our duty to the crown with great esteem. But the reason why that never happened is because of you, not me."

"Don't give me that. I'm…"

"You're many things, Grisham. On the one hand, you're a psychopath. A pitiful animal whose kept around purely to amuse Montoya's interests and desires. A glorified coward who's only really fearless in the bedroom."

"You little mother…!"

William's blade had pressed deeper into Grisham's sensitive throat to silence him.

"And on the other hand, you're a captain of the guard. A highly skilled fighter with more brain cells than 90 percent of the soldiers here. You command such respect and/or fear from your men. So you're obviously doing something right.

"You have all the fundamentals that a soldier requires. Your potential is great and you could easily be the greatest who ever lived if you wanted to. And at the end of the day, it's not me or even Montoya who refuses to acknowledge that, Captain Grisham…it's you."

Back in the present, one of his men had snapped him out of his flashback by informing him that the Old Ruins were coming into view.

I'll SHOW you, Williams. I'll show you once and for all what I can REALLY do.

"Put your mask back on and don't ever take it off again," ordered the Doctor, pulling away from Tessa and quickly turning to the wagon. The unmasked Queen looked at Robert, feeling devastated and rejected.

"Robert?" the senorita asked hesitantly.

"My name is Doctor Helm!" he snapped back at her. "You are the Queen of Swords! And there is a cavalry out there heading straight for us! Now put your bloody mask back on!"

The vigilante paused sadly before doing what the doctor told her. Her serious demeanour returning, the masked Queen of Swords walked up to Helm as he frantically worked to unfasten and unbolt the horses from the cart.

"What are you doing?"

"The cart will only slow us down. It may buy us some getaway time once they find it and not us. Now stop jabbering and help me!"

The two worked fast and soon had the horses freed from their load.

"Are you alright to ride?" Robert asked.

"I'll be fine," the Queen nodded. "We need to get back to my hacienda. That's the safest place. Once there we'll be all clear. We can come up with alibis later."

"How far away is it from here?"

The Avenging Angel couldn't believe she'd just heard him say that.

"You should know! You ride out often enough with me for insults or flirts!"

"Well, I've never been to your hacienda from here! Satisfied?"

"Not really, Doctor," as they finished unfastening the horses from their load. "It's five miles away, anyhow."

"Five miles?"

"That's because we have to take the long way round to bypass town and get back home." The Queen then went to the back of the wagon to have a look.

"Now what are you doing?" asked Helm in disbelief.

"Hoping for a smokescreen!" explained the Avenging Angel, rummaging around under the sheets. "You know how careless Montoya's stooges are! Even after the arrival of the Golden Sergeant!"

Helm just looked at her quizzically as she grunted and seethed, still dealing with her injuries.

"But what are you looking for?" he demanded to know, as he looked over his shoulder to see Grisham and his men getting nearer.

"Leftovers," she explained with joy. True to their nature, the colonel's idiots had forgotten to put away all the dangerous toys. A keg of gunpowder, a sword, a pistol, rifle and several loose bullets, spilt out from a bag; all left over from the supplies Williams and his men had brought over from Spain.

Turning to the Doctor, the Queen handed him the weapons. It was a time to be thankful that Helm had long gotten over his guilt and reluctance to take up arms again.

"Get these onto the horses," explained Tessa, still seething over her injuries, before she rolled out the barrel, smiling and patting it. "Then help me with this."

Moments later, Grisham gritted his teeth in more annoyance as they surveyed the site. They'd abandoned the cart to serve it as a distraction and so nothing could slow them down upon runaway.

Yeah, but you haven't thought it all through have you, Helm? thought Grisham, starting to smirk again. The bitch is still bleeding. She's still dead weight that'll slow you down. And no matter how much of a head start you've got, I'll still be able to catch up with you.

Then you're both mine. Finally.

"Finished inspection yet?" Grisham asked impatiently. "Get back on their trail!"

"Capitan!" reported Sergeant Ruy. "This wagon was transporting army goods!"

"So what?"

"There's a gunpowder barrel here! And it's been punctured!"

Grisham groaned his exasperation and then looked to see why Ruy was crouched down on the ground, looking underneath the cart. The captain booted his sergeant out of the way to inspect for himself. There was indeed a barrel, placed right under the belly of the cart and there was a hole that had been pierced in the side of the wood.

The idea clicked ominously in Grisham's head.

"Son of a…!"

A shot went off from afar. The soldiers ducked for cover, Grisham shot up to his feet and ran to get as far away from the cart as possible. Ruy immediately spotted the sight of two people on horses over the hills far away north east from their position.

"There they are!" he yelled, drawing his rifle as the fugitives turned tail and ran. "They're in range! Shoot to kill!"

"Take cover, you idiots!" overruled Grisham as his men opened fire. "The wagon's gonna…!"

The captain's eyes then turned to the direction of the gunpowder trail the Queen had spilled earlier. From over the nearest bank to underneath the cart. The combustible flame came into view over the hill, sparking and advancing with deadly pace and impending destruction.

Grisham knew that it was Helm that had fired that gun. Soft-hearted surgeon that he was, he was nevertheless a crack shot, as the captain had learned for himself. It made perfect sense for the Queen to prepare the trap and the Doctor to ignite the start of the gunpowder trail from a safe, faraway distance with superb marksmanship.

And while the dogs were sniffing at the bait they'd left behind…KABOOM.

"TAKE COVER!" yelled Grisham again, jumping for cover on the slopes away from the ruins. "IT'S GONNA BLOW!"

The confused soldiers ceased fire, not understanding what was going on, except Sergeant Ruy, who noticed barely in time. The corporals saw the flame growing nearer and then stupidly chose to look at the trail underneath the horse wagon. They then turned to look at each other with wide eyes and slack jaws. Both Grisham and Ruy had long fled for cover. Their brainless troops scattered…too late.

The flame had already reached its final destination.

The barrel erupted into a natural and powerful explosion. As the gunpowder transformed into ravenous flame, the cart shattered into a cloud of splintered wood and metal, what was left of the Old Ruins became an assorted mess of charred cobbles and burning timber that now rained down on the landscape along with the other debris. Half the troops were either caught violently by the widespread flames or injured by the debris that came down on them hard. The horses nearby were naturally terrified by the explosion and many of them fled, with the soldiers that were uninjured left chasing feebly after them or trying to gather their wounded.

Sergeant Ruy emerged from his hiding hole to try and salvage something from this mess. Captain Grisham didn't bother looking at the burning, destroyed cart, what was left of the Old Ruins or the decimated platoon. He just rode slowly forward, his eyes burning with a hatred much more fiercer and intense than any surprise the two lovers could cook up.

He wasn't thinking about all the countless humiliations he suffered at their hands. Not anymore. He wasn't thinking about all the putdowns from Montoya and Williams over how he was a glorified lapdog who was his own worst enemy. Not anymore. And as he rode off, abandoning Ruy and his men, deciding to bag the fugitives on his own…Captain Marcus Grisham wasn't thinking about how violently he was going to butcher the Queen of Swords and Doctor Robert Helm once he caught them. Not anymore.

He was just going to do it.

And enjoy every single moment of it.