A/N: Wishing all my American Readers a Happy Thanksgiving tomorrow! :)

Chapter 14

Morning had dawned bright as always in Corona despite the circumstances and with the evacuations underway, word had spread quickly about the coming war. Now at the city's main gates, men streamed in to see what they could do to protect the kingdom. General DeWitt manned the gates to ensure all was being done properly.

"We heard you were in need of men with weapons," Hook-Hand said to the General as he approached him. Behind him came the rest of the Pub Thugs.

"That is true. Hope none of you are afraid of death," DeWitt told him.

"If it's for the Princess, then we're up for it," Hook-Hand smirked.

"Despite all that happened not so long ago?" The General wondered.

"What's done is done. I'd rather be pounding skulls in than reliving the past," the thug said.

"Well then you'll get your wish. Prince Fitzherbert will be addressing the troops shortly. Head for the large tent in the middle of the city for your uniforms," DeWitt nodded.

"All right, you heard him! Get a move on!" Hook-Hand shouted to the other thugs and quickly they all marched to the tent.

Back at the Palace, Eugene was trying to explain to Rapunzel why things had to be the way they were. However he wasn't gaining much ground.

"I should be here to help! I could do so much good!" She protested.

"Blondie for the last time, you are going out on that last transport with your father and your mother. It will be safer and should we fail, you will be needed to rally those who were not here. Corona must survive and the only way it does that is by you staying alive. If something happened to you and our baby, I'd never forgive myself," Eugene tried to make her understand.
"I'm not so fragile!" Rapunzel said. Her husband sighed and pulled her close, putting his hand over her stomach.

"But this little one is," he smiled and pulled her in for a kiss on her temple.

"Pascal will be going with you. He's under strict orders to keep you safe and I'll be riding Maximus into battle, now you couldn't ask for more than that," he continued.

"I can't handle this. If something happens to you…" she paused.

"Know that I love you and that a little piece of me with always be with you. Now you have to go," Eugene smiled slightly and gave her a quick kiss before leaving the room for the balcony. He had his announcement to make after all. Rapunzel heaved a sigh, knowing he was right. Quickly she went off to meet her parents for a trip to the mainland and safety.

"What do you think you're doing?" Merlin asked as he stood in Amelia's doorway. She had been given a guest room to try to get some sleep in.

"I'm putting armor on, why what does it look like?" She wanted to know.

"You were supposed to leave already, for your own safety," he said.

"No way. We've been through a lot together already; I'm not leaving you now," she was firm.

"What exactly can you do?" Merlin changed the subject as he moved closer to her.

"It may not look like it but I'm pretty good with a bow and arrow. I'm going to join the archers at the walls," Amelia told him.

"When did you have time to do learn that?" The wizard wondered.

"Malik likes his servants trained in something, which is surprising because you would think not but my guess is that he figured we could be used as bait. Fat lot of good being archer is in hand-to-hand combat," she shrugged.

"My guess is that anything to protect himself. He rather you die than some of his men. I'm not like that. You don't have to fight," Merlin pointed out.

"I don't but I will. Even if something goes horribly wrong, I'll at least have tried to help. We may not have been together long but we can go out together," she smiled slightly.

"That's depressing and yet somehow romantic," he smirked and pulled her in for a kiss. They were interrupted by the sound of a horn being blown, signaling Eugene's announcement. Quickly, they grabbed Amelia's equipment and headed out.

To Be Continued…