Chapter 41
Danni peered around the trees and into the clearing before her. She wasn't that amazed at the army assembled before her. She could care less about the numbers. She knew that she could take them out easily. It didn't matter what magicks that Dedrick had at his disposal. She would end him. He didn't understand how magic worked and she knew that she couldn't die. A smug smile crossed her face as she watched the troops he had around him. She spotted him easily.
She shook her head. Only a pompous ass would dress himself like he did and then make sure that he had troops around him. It told her a lot. And, the biggest thing was that he was afraid. He was on a crusade to end magic everywhere, but he was deathly afraid of it. He was also using magic to defeat magic. He really didn't understand the laws of magic and being in a magical world, he was about to suffer for his ignorance. But, not only would he, the magicians that were with him would as well. More than likely, they were untaught and rough with their magic. They saw it as a means to an end. They were using it for profit and it would be their downfall.
She was trying to find the best way to walk in without being detected until the last second. She knew that it would be a futile effort, but she wanted to see how much of a problem that Dedrick and his Silver Army were going to pose. She knew that surrendering herself wouldn't stop his madness. She would be the one that did that. She finally saw her opening and decided to see how long it would be open for her. She knew that she would have another chance, because of the changing of the guard around Dedrick. But, what she was really worried about was Will and Nicola coming up behind her or trying to stop her from doing this all together.
It was about another hour or so before she stood up and moved through the underbrush again. She crept along making sure not to alert anyone to her presence. When she found the hole she was looking for, she moved through it and into the heart of his encampment. She entered an armor tent and took up some. She wanted to walk around, blend in for a while, and scope things out. She had her own ways of getting word back to her mother without Regina or Will knowing about it until it was too late.
The men looked ragged and worn, like they had been hiking and prepping for far too long. They were dirty. They didn't look like they were too happy to be there. So, she found a campfire just a few hundred feet from Dedrick's command tent and sat down. She didn't say anything. She just waited because she knew that the men would tell her what she wanted to hear. She knew that like anyone, a little down time and a beverage in hand, complaining would follow. She just needed to bide her time.
"Do think that Midas will let us in the city?" the man to her left asked the circle.
"No, why would he?"
"I thought Dedrick told him that we would raid the city if he didn't," the man replied.
"You can't raid the Golden Kingdom. Many have tried and all have failed. It doesn't matter that Dedrick has his sorceress at his side. She can't stop Midas' touch. The man can literally fund an army until the end of time. Besides, he's loyal to Regina. And, while she isn't the Evil Queen any more, she is still the Queen of the Enchanted Forest. Midas isn't going to break that alliance. She has too many kingdoms behind her besides her magic."
"Aren't the Charmings on her side now?" another soldier asked.
"Yeah, Regina is their daughter in law," a dark haired woman replied.
"Wow..."
"So, why are we here? And does Dedrick really think that he can win this fight? I've heard the Ulf are on the move, too," a blond soldier stated.
"They are," Danni said.
"We're doomed. Between the Winterlands and the Summerlands, throw in the Golden Knights of Midas and the Weres of Ulf and we'll be slaughtered," someone added.
"We should leave in the night," the blonde said.
"We can't. You know that. Dedrick had that sorceress cast a spell. Once you're in camp you can leave without his permission. Something about words being his bond," the dark haired woman stated.
"Can we get around it?" a different soldier asked.
"Only if we have orders."
"Can we fake them?"
"They would need his signature or that of his sorceress, but you know he doesn't let anyone near her tent. He's very protective of her. And, he'll never sign it. He wants us all close. He'd rather us die then himself, selfish bastard," the dark haired woman replied.
"I'm still trying to figure out why I'm here. Did you come of your own free will? Do you remember?" the blonde asked the dark haired woman.
"No, I didn't. I woke up in camp after working my family's fields. My two little brothers are here, too. They told me they were in the barn working on their morning chores when all of the sudden they ended up in camp. I don't know what magicks Dedrick has, but for someone that doesn't life magic and is trying to destroy it, he sure is using it a lot. What do you remember, Trane?" the dark haired woman asked him.
"I was just getting ready to go out on my fishing boat at the harbor on the edge of the Summerlands when I woke up in a tent. I was dressed in his colors and had armor. That is all I know. I haven't seen anyone else that I know from my tiny village, but I've seen people from the market village that I sell and shop in," Trane answered.
"What about you?" the dark haired woman asked Danni.
"I showed up a day or so ago. I was at my house and then I was here. Like Trane, I just woke up in a tent with armor," Danni replied.
"How do we stop him? How can we get away? I don't care for magic, but even I have to admit that it is helpful sometimes. I don't want to destroy it," Trane said.
"I don't, but I want to look around some more. I know I'm new, but I want to get the lay of the land. I want to know what he's got before we all get slaughtered for him," Danni told them.
"I'll go with you," the dark haired woman stated, standing up.
Danni stood, too. She really didn't want the company, but she didn't want to shake the woman off yet. She could be helpful because she had been in the camp longer than it seemed anyone. She knew where they were allowed to go and where they weren't. It would be those areas that she would be the most interested in.
"Okay," Danni answered as she followed her away from the campfire.
"Have you had guard duty yet?" the woman asked.
"No, I haven't. Is it hard? I am not sure what I am supposed to be doing here."
"It puts you closer to Dedrick, but really only his tent. He barely leaves it. I think he's paranoid."
"He never leaves it?"
"Well he comes outside to bark at us, give us some weird morale talks, and to shout order, but other than that, no."
"And, no one goes in?"
"No one but his page," the woman answered.
"Who's the page?" Danni asked her.
"I don't know his name. I've never heard it. But, he's never far from Dedrick's reach. He does most of the order giving, too. If I didn't know that Dedrick was in the tent, I would believe that he was the one in charge not some of the generals that are here," the woman stated.
"What's your name by the way?" Danni asked her as they got closer to Dedrick's tent.
"My name is Andrea, but everyone just calls me Drea," the dark haired woman told her.
"Fair enough," Danni said as they stopped just in sight of Dedrick's tent, but far enough away to talk.
"Do you really think that you could do something that no one else has been able to yet?" Drea asked her.
"I didn't say that. I just wanted to know what we were doing. But, it does seem odd that Dedrick keeps himself so isolated and expects that the troops would follow him blindly. He has to be using magic. I mean, how else did we all end up here like this? And, how else is he keeping us here?"
"Just be careful. He keeps spies among us. You never know who they might be," Drea told her.
Danni just nodded at her. Quickly Danni cast a spell on Drea. She needed to know if she was on the right side of the magical fight. Drea checked out. Heeding her warning, she cast the spell farther over the camp. Those who were firmly in Dedrick's camp and believed what he did glowed for her. She knew that no one else could see it. She would use that to her advantage. She needed to get closer to the one of the glowing members. Maybe they could get her closer to the sorceress or to Dedrick. She didn't want to start something that she couldn't get out of. She needed to plan it out better. She needed a little more time, but she didn't know how to get word to Nicola and Wilhelmina.
Regina stood in the middle of the courtyard. The Rocs were flying in and her smile could light up the entire kingdom. Emma and Rachel stood back and watched as Regina greeted each of them, bowing low and smiling. She seemed happier than she had been in days. Quinn joined them at the edge of the courtyard. Her smile rivaled that of Regina's. They were all amazed that the beauty and grandeur of the majestic birds were.
Rachel stood back and waited. She knew that Thoran would be the last to come in and Regina would welcome him like a head of state. And for the Roc, he was. Rachel was the only Vulcannonian at the castle and she knew that she would have a lot of work to do with the Rocs before any battle would happen. She would have to name them in her aunt's and Wilhelmina's absence. She watched on as Regina greeted them all. When she saw Thoran begin to make his descent into the courtyard, she pushed off the wall she was leaning against and started her way towards to Regina.
Quinn fell into step behind her. Rachel knew that she was there. She also knew Emma would follow them as well. She looked down at the royal blue dress that she was in. She couldn't believe that Regina had given her the dress. It was too nice, but she surmised that Regina was trying to treat her like the princess that her blood afforded her. She still wasn't too keen on the idea, but she was learning to live with also knew that if she didn't look like royalty when Thoran showed up that he would question her and Regina's need for them to be there. She also knew that he would want to meet Quinn and Emma.
They stopped just short of Regina. The Rocs were all forming up like platoons in the courtyard. The men of the Winterlands formed up as well. As the armies stared at each other, Rachel finally stepped up to where Regina was standing. As she made the steps forward, Thoran landed before them. Regina and she bowed just as Thoran bowed before them.
"Hellllooooo, my ladiiiieeeesss," he squawked out.
"My liege," Rachel answered as she rose from her bow.
"Guardian, is this your mate?" he asked.
Quinn bristled at the question, but Rachel slowly reached back for her hand. She saw that Regina did the same thing for Emma and Emma stepped forward taking her hand. Quinn reached out and met Rachel's hand.
Thoran bowed again. Rachel squeezed Quinn's hand and she bowed back. As Thoran raised his head, he met the questioning eyes of Quinn. He cocked his head and let his golden eyes roam over the blonde. She watched the giant bird as he gazed over her.
"Yes, Thoran, she is. Her name is Quinn and she is an High Elf of the Woodland Elves. She has been by my side for a very long time."
"Sheeeee issss special," he replied.
"She is."
"And, this is your mate, Queen Regina of the Enchanted Forest?" he asked turning to face Regina now.
"Yes, my liege, she is the Queen Emma, my consort, wife, and first knight," Regina answered.
Emma bent at the waist to bow. She didn't curtsy. And, she watched as Thoran watched.
"My liege, I am Queen Emma Swan, General of the Enchanted Forest. Welcome to the Winterlands and the Enchanted Forest. I am glad that you are here."
"Yoooouuuuu arrrrrreeeee Snnooooowwwww'ssss?"
"She is my mother and Queen of the Summerlands, my liege," Emma replied.
Thoran nodded his massive head. If the bird could smile, he was Emma was sure of it. Regina waved him over to a small area in the courtyard. It was shaded and bore some large barrels of watered down wine and fruit for the Rocs to imbibe. Regina had really outdone herself with their arrival. But there was something else in her eyes that Emma couldn't place. There was a mirth that she hadn't seen since Storybrooke. Regina was starting to be truly happy again. If the Rocs could give her that, then Emma would do whatever was needed to keep them happy as well.
"Princess Rachel," Thoran said as he turned back to face her.
"Yes, my liege," Rachel replied.
"Where is the queen and her consort?"
"She is near the Gold Kingdom. Princess Nicola and Queen Wilhelmina went with the Princess Coraline Danielle to scout out the camp of the Silver Army. We are awaiting word to send troops to aid them," Rachel answered.
"And the Phoenix legions?"
"Are all gone, my liege. Nicola, Wilhelmina, my mother and I are the last of Vulcannonians. But, as the last of the royal houses of Vulcannon, we stand with the Queens of the Enchanted Forest. We've pledged allegiance to the Kingdoms of the Enchanted Forest. Our word has not broken. Wilhelmina still serves the Queen Regina as her Royal Vulcannonian guard. And, as the Princess Royal, I have sworn my service to her as well," Rachel said and gave him another deep curtsy.
He curled his legs under him and sat down. He wasn't so monstrous like that. He cocked his head and looked around the courtyard at the men and his fellow Rocs.
He squawked and all the other Rocs sat down as well. He let out a series of chirps and whistles and another a Roc came up and sat beside him. This Roc looked battle hardened. There were torn feathers and what looked like a scar running from the edge of his beak down its throat on one side.
"This is my General, Princess," Thoran told her.
"Should I name him?" Rachel asked.
The newest bird stood to his fullest height. He spread his massive wings for Rachel to see. He was obviously proud and a strong warrior. He was trying to show Rachel his prowess and his loyalty to her at the same time.
"He's a Thunderbird," Emma muttered, but Rachel heard her.
"Thoran, should I name him?"
"Yesssss, my laddddyyyy," Thoran replied.
Rachel took a step towards the warrior Roc. She noted his dark and light brown feathers. His head was covered in white feathers. He resembled a large bald eagle, but he was most definitely a Roc. She bowed to him and he bow in return.
"Myyyyy laddddyyyy," the warrior Roc said in greeting.
"In my world, there are eagles that look like you. They are noble and strong. They are symbol of my kingdom. The knights and warriors of my kingdom there wear him as a symbol. But, I don't believe that I want to name you after him, general. I believe that you need a stronger name than his," Rachel told him.
He puffed up, obviously happy with her assessment. Regina smiled. Emma wondered where she was going with her little speech.
"But, there is a legend among the natives of my kingdom. A bird, a warrior, that lived in the western parts. He was revered and feared in equal parts, but he was a friend to man. Like you, he was a warrior, too. The natives used him as a symbol as well. I believe that you would be better suited with his name."
"And, whatttt issss thatttt, myyyy laddddyyyy?" the warrior Roc asked.
"He was called Thunderbird. I believe that I will name you Thunder. Do you like that?" Rachel asked the giant bird.
He nodded and bowed again. He leaned forward and rubbed his beak against her side. It was meant to be a thanking gesture, but Quinn and Emma weren't sure at first. Rachel reached out and petted him in response.
"I am Thuuunnnnndddddeeeerrrr!" he screamed and all the Rocs squawked in response.
He nodded again and then returned to Thoran's side. Thoran again turned to the gathering of the royal woman and smiled, or they assumed he was. The Rocs seemed pleased with their welcome and their reception. Regina bowed again to them.
"Please be comfortable. I hope to have word from my daughter soon, my liege. If you need anything, let us know. We will do our best to get it for you."
Thoran's head bobbed. He then laid his head down. Regina looked around the courtyard. There seemed to be twenty to thirty Rocs resting there. She wondered if there were more, but she didn't want to ask him now. She knew that they were tired from their journey. She also knew that they needed to hear from Danni. Without word from Danni, they wouldn't know what to do in order to stop the Silver Army.
Inside Dedrick's tent, he paced. Nothing was going to plan. Midas hadn't surrendered. The men were getting restless. He felt like he was losing ground. He needed to talk to his sorceress. He needed to know what was wrong. Why was he suddenly losing? The people there had to be afraid of magic. So why weren't they supporting him on his quest to rid them of it. What was he missing? He huffed and called for his page.
"My lord?" the page questioned as he entered the tent.
"Still no word from Midas?"
"No, sire," he replied.
"Send another a missive. I want an answer by tonight. I don't want to be kept waiting or I might have to do something drastic to make him understand how serious I am," Dedrick told him.
The page quickly saluted and ran out of the tent. Dedrick was pacing again. He just didn't understand it. Why wouldn't Midas support him? He understood the dangers of magic. He was struck with the Golden Touch. Sure, it sounded wonderful, but it wasn't. Midas was constantly on guard because of his magical ailment. Dedrick assumed that he would just give him what he wanted, but Midas hadn't. He'd stalled Dedrick at every turn. What was he up to? Was Midas plotting against him with the Evil Queen? Dedrick needed to know.
The page came back into the tent. He waited for Dedrick to notice him. He could see the ire and worry on Dedrick's face.
"Has word been sent?"
"Yes, m'lord, it has," the page answered.
"Good," he replied and stopped pacing for just a minute before he began again.
The page waited for more orders. He stood fast as Dedrick continued to pace. When Dedrick spun around and saw the page standing there, he grabbed his goblet of wine. He drank it completely. He sat it back down and neared the page.
"Bring the sorceress," he said quietly.
The page nodded quickly and left the tent again. Dedrick felt uneasy about his quest. He needed bolstering. He needed to know that his men were loyal. He would give another speech later. He needed to make sure that the men weren't wavering on him. He couldn't have dissension amongst the ranks. He needed them to be ready to go and he needed to know that they were going to follow orders when the time came for the attack.
The page returned with a woman in tow. She was wearing armor and looked just like one of the troops. Her red hair made her standout, but the men never commented on it. She knew that they were scared of her, but she wouldn't harm them. She was more interested in what Dedrick could do for her. She was actually surprised that he hadn't realized that she was playing him. She had no intention of letting him eradicate magic from this world.
"Dedrick, you asked to see me," she stated as she stepped forward.
"I did," he answered and then waved the page away.
They both watched as the page left. He seemed to be loyal enough, but the sorceress wondered how long he would remain that way. After he was gone and the flaps of the tent were closed to prying ears, Dedrick motioned for her to take a seat on a hand carved chair near his planning table. He started pacing again beside it.
"Midas has not surrendered," he stated.
"Did you believe that he would?"
"He should. He's surrounded and out numbered. He has no way that an ally can help. I've cut him off," Dedrick stated.
"So you believe. He still has ways of communication that you cannot disrupt. You've stopped the ravens, but magic doesn't need them."
"Why won't he just surrender?"
"He is a king. He isn't just going to hand his kingdom over to you. And you have nothing to offer him. He isn't going to let his daughter marry you. She is already married. He has no reason to support you," she told him.
"But you do," he stated.
She nodded, but didn't elaborate. She waited to see if her words would galvanize him into action. She wasn't sure what he would want from her now.
"I'm thinking that I am going to give another speech. The men need to be reassured that we will be victorious. I want you by my side."
"Sure," she replied.
She sat there and waited. She knew that he wanted something else, but he looked like he was afraid to ask for it. He hated magic and those that used it, but he kept her close. If he knew who she really was, he'd probably try to kill her. So, she was making sure that he never found out her real name and heritage. She was from a magical family in the Enchanted Forest. She had more power than he knew about and more power than she was willing to admit to having.
"Good. I need to show them that we are still strong, that we are still forming up, and that we are still going to wage our war. We need to show a united front. I want them to understand that we are doing this for them. Magic has no place in this world or any world. It is too dangerous," he ranted.
She arched an eyebrow at him, but held her tongue. She needed to get close to Regina and Emma, but she didn't need him. She could find another way. She may not be from the world, but she wasn't going to let him know that. She also wasn't going to let him win. She knew that the dissension in the camp was growing stronger. She would use that to her benefit, but first she needed to find a way to deal with Dedrick. He was going to be a problem. She didn't want to remove him per se, but she needed him to get noticed. Once she was done with him, she would move on to her own mission. Right now, all she had to do was wait for him to hang himself but get her close enough that she could move on her own. She knew that finding a way to get close to Regina was going to be the only way that she would find her way home and that was all she wanted.