Thank you so much to MJoftheday, AlleyCatz, Foot-in-mouth-disease, Silverdoe42, DrunkenStanzi and VolturiQueen1993 for showing interest, I will be making a big effort to hold your attention!
I live off reviews like Ravenna lives off youthful girls! Though I don't inhale my reviews. That would be silly.
Playlist today consists of two songs back to back.
'The Earth Prelude', and then 'I Giorni', by Ludovico Einaudi.
When "Silence" comes up bold and central, well. Obviously that means stop the music. Enjoy!
2
I don't want to let you know your heart is an attraction,
But I know what you're looking for,
It's me you're waiting for.
You're not allowed to live anymore.
Why don't you just ask her yourself?
Music.
The skies were a curling, smudged grey. A light drizzle fell, and changed the colours of the flagstones in the courtyard of the outer ward. Two magpies twirled and danced between the turrets.
Standing in the great, solid doorway of the castle - the first time I had walked through its main entrance for years - I could survey the full extent of the damage done.
The dead had been laid out in rows, regardless of their 'side', near to the porticullis.
Soon they would be taken out to the beach, and buried. Their weapons, armour and valuables had been salvaged and stored.
Meanwhile, the wounded had been brought through to the inner ward, right into the Great Hall, at my request.
They sat huddled, being tended to with all the medical resources I could offer them; the healthy soldiers each took up his responsibility to aid his fellow men.
There rose the stench of blood and the sound of muffled moans.
Dragging my eyes over the scene I could easily spot my seven remaining, beloved dwarves, hopping here and there with bandages, makeshift tourniquets, salves. Their brows were furrowed in concentration and effort. They had had it best of the lot - only having to fight the stragglers who had escaped our army's onslaught.
If I had lost another of them... I didn't know how I would have stood the guilt.
I had demanded the kitchens be put into use immediately, seeking out the cooks and servants from where they had been cowering in the keep. Now they slaved over enormous amounts of hot broth and loaves of sustaining bread. Duke Hammond, who had become my shadow, raised an eyebrow at my immediate employment of the kitchen staff - but only because he was surprised that I had thought of it so soon.
These things were likely far less significant in the mind of an experienced ruler used to strict battle tactics. But I wasn't going to let anybody go hungry, after they had wasted so much effort to protect me, in the case of my comrades. Or in the case of my enemies, to protect themselves from Ravenna's wrath.
William and the huntsman also remained on either side of me, like a pair of bodyguards. Which was probably what they had in mind. I could see in their shifting eyes that they distrusted this army arrayed in pitch black, despite the fact that all weapons had been gathered and sent to the armoury. Another immediate precaution that I had ordered.
I was doing a lot of ordering today.
Guidance was more the word. I'd really rather Duke Hammond took on all the responsibility. I just wanted to make sure that everybody was rescued, and comfortable, and peaceable.
In reality, I was no leader. Not really good at anything but stirring people's hearts, apparently.
I was deeply anxious, and nervous of everybody.
I had barely recovered from my ordeal in the tower, saying goodbye to all the brave souls who had died looking into my face, with nothing but fealty and quiet sorrow in the intonations of their last words. Now, looking to my left at the bodies in the courtyard, and to my right at the mangled men in the hall, it was a struggle to keep my composure.
I was so tired, and they were all so unfortunate. And it wasn't fair, it wasn't right.
I would have gladly taken the rest of my days in that dungeon - making my own fires to keep away the chill and surviving off scraps - to restore these fallen people their lives, and these maimed people their health. Lock me up, I wanted to scream at the Duke, Lock me away so I don't have to deal with this, and then make them better.
William's hand reached out to catch a stray tear, and then made to stroke my hair comfortingly.
However, a tight grip around my arm made me glance the other way.
My huntsman led me slightly aside, steadying and steering me, with that sturdy hand around my limb. His expression never changed from the solemn, confident one he wore now. Ever since he had shouted for the soldiers to Hail our victor, he had retained this same, calm exterior.
I didn't know how he managed it.
I could feel William's eyes boring into the back of my head.
But I could feel the huntsman's eyes boring straight into my own far more intensely. His sharp blue gaze always seemed to have a magical effect over my limbs. Everything just stopped working.
"You have to assert some self-control; these people are depending on you. There are no more dying men to weep for."
"I'm sorry." I mumbled, and he resumed William's gesture of brushing my tears away.
The way he did it wasn't romantic or lingering. Just calm, solemn. Like his face.
"You need to be strong now." even his voice was firm but supportive, an echo of the hand that held me upright.
He gave me a reassuring, restrained pat on the shoulder, and then a slight nudge towards the Duke.
"He will advise you, from hereon in. You have taken care of them. Now you must begin to organise."
"The huntsman is right." Hammond replied readily as I approached him in a few steps, "We need to decide where we are going to put all of these men. What to do with the spoils. Whether there are going to be executions -"
"Executions?" I echoed with dismay.
He blinked at me.
"Princess, you cannot be certain that every one of these dark men does not intend your murder."
"I would rather take my chances than kill innocents." I whipped back without a pause.
"You must think of your real people. If you die because the fiends have taken advantage of your sympathy, our kingdom will be shattered."
He had a valid point. I turned again to my gruff friend, trusting him to contribute something sensible.
"I shall hold interrogations."
I jumped. The voice was William's.
"Wounded or not, they'll answer to me. I'll know if there is truth or deceit in them." he stated, "The good-hearted fellows are bound to give away our true enemies when pushed."
I stared at him, the thought of being in a potential torture chamber with men I had just spared making my stomach churn.
He seemed to read it in my expression, for he hastily added, "You don't have to be there, of course, Princess."
"Thank you." I barely mouthed.
"Shall we step into a more private area to discuss these matters?" Hammond suggested. His eyes fled across the hall and back to me.
I surprised him again by shaking my head. There was a babble amongst the crowds of men that prevented us from being overheard, and we were a good ten metres from the nearest soldier in the hall.
"The spoils." I addressed him almost too promptly, "They are to be divvied out amongst our men. It wouldn't be right to reward Ravenna's army with trinkets - not that there are enough to share, anyway."
"It... seems like a wise choice." he replied, reluctantly, in as low a voice as he could.
I could tell that he wasn't comfortable with the way I was doing any of this.
I wondered if that meant I was doing it wrong, or just doing it differently.
"These men." I surveyed them with a sympathetic but sensible eye, "They don't belong here. They haven't belonged here since they invaded. They must have come from somewhere."
"Indeed."
"They may remain here, for now. Where they have access to medical care and food. But when they are better, and William has - taken care of the less trustworthy -" I swallowed hard, "I will ask them to disperse. We have enough people to care for."
There was a short silence, and I hoped I was saying the right things.
William's arm softly, abruptly encircled my shoulders. I flinched, then leaned into the embrace with gratitude. I was still shaky on my legs. Still ready to burst into tears at any provocation.
"You're wise, for all the years you have spent under her rule." he murmured, a small smile tugging at his lips.
It was enough to make my face feel hot, and my arms tighten around myself in embarrassment. This wasn't the time for William to be making compliments, but it sent a tingle of pleasure up my back nonetheless.
"Those are the important things decided," the huntsman interjected rather quickly, "the Princess may retire for a time, Duke, yes?"
"It is for the best. A fresh start tomorrow will do your Majesty a world of good." Hammond's eyes twinkled at me, "Later we'll have to begin further business. For now, William and I will oversee the current arrangements, and ensure no traitors slip away. My guard will aid us."
William looked visibly displeased, but didn't argue. For once. I remembered a time when he wouldn't agree with his father for anything. Or me, for that matter.
I cheered him with a small, conspiratory smile that he returned eagerly, pretending to roll his eyes at his parent.
"Come." my huntsman obliged me in that deep irrefutable tone, and took my arm again, much more gently, "We'll find some girls to assist you."
"Girls." I gasped suddenly, becoming stock still.
Before he could react I was off, bounding away towards the dark flight of stairs that took me downwards to the dungeons. I ignored his irritated calls. This was too important.
"Greta!" I shouted, skidding into the dank corridor and towards her door, "Greta, are you there?"
"Majesty?" came the faintest whisper.
My taller companion had caught up to me, and stood panting with me in the dripping, awful place.
A head of wavy red hair appeared in Greta's barred window.
"Thank god!" I cried in glee, rushing to hold her hand through the metal, "I'm so glad to see you!"
She was restored. The plump, fresh look was back in her cheeks. Her clear eyes sparkled with joy.
"I don't know where the key is." I admitted ruefully.
Silence.
"Stand back."
I turned, and jumped.
"I forgot you had your axe."
"Always keep one. You never know." he remarked, before lifting the thing over his head and bringing it crashing down upon the lock, splintering wood.
The muscles in his arms and shoulders strained through his tawny clothing; the sheer force of his body plunged the weapon deep into the door. Three more hacks, and Greta's imprisonment was over.
"I'm glad you are on my side."
He almost grinned at my comment, and though he repressed it, I saw it lingering in his blue orbs.
"You should be. I was impressed with your use of my technique."
It took me a moment to realise what he meant, and even as I remembered I winced. Block, and stab. The Queen's blood dripping, her terrified gasp. Her own weapon clunking to the ground.
"It saved my life." I admitted in an empty voice, "I owe you, too many times over."
"I'm sure you will find a way to repay me."
I shot him a questioning look, but Greta fairly tumbled into my arms and I held her dearly to me, smiling despite myself.
"How long has it been since you've had a hot bath?" I asked, talking into her mane of hair.
"Too long!" she laughed, a pretty, shimmering little sound of pure relief, that made me feel the end of our suffering was genuinely within reach.
It was an error to think that my suffering could really ever cease.
But for the moment, Greta's little hand was clutched in mine, and the huntsman's broad palm was on my shoulder, and the thought of sleep passed a hazy veil over all other things.
For now - just now - it was over.