So as promised, lovelies, here's the next chapter.
Enjoy and toss me a bit of love too, would you~? :3
P.S. I do not own any of the Hollow Crown characters. I only own Odette and any other OC you might encounter along the way :)
Reconciliation
[...] to ease the King's mind, and her dearest Hal's as well, she had agreed to stay behind and wait him to return with any wounds he'd likely bear, into her arms, with victory upon his brow.
oOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
"Can you not sleep, my Lord?"
Averting his azure gaze from the top of the tent to Odette, as she laid at his side, the Prince did finally smile at the sight of her concerned expression. Turning to her, he pecked her lips and brushed the back of his fingers over her cheek.
"Fret not over me, my fair Lady. You let the sweetness of the night's embrace come upon your brow... and dream of me, as you always have, for your dreams are my source of strength. So dream, my beloved angel, dream of me victorious come morrow and in doing so I know that I shall win."
"Then let me dream awake, my Lord, I pray you..." she pleaded. "For I will find no rest with you, unless I see you locked in slumber's tender spell."
Smiling with an amused huff, the Prince wrapped his arms around her and lovingly kissed her forehead.
"My love, if you should fret like this for me, I may have to forswear all warfare."
"I would not have you do such, for a King is bound to keep his people safe whether by the word or the steel edge of his blade. But I would have you know that I fret... so thereby in knowing it, you would survive whatever battle come your way; and thereby in knowing it, you would return to me and ease my torment."
Pressing a loving kiss to her lips, the Prince did now settle his forehead against hers and closed his eyes with a content sigh.
"Sleep, my love... and I shall try to do the same; you have my word." he whispered.
oOoOo
Dawn found Odette standing in the snowy field next to Hal and the King himself; and though she was fully dressed for battle she knew she had to stay behind. At least she could see the entire battlefield from that hill and would be there to watch the fight unfold.
"How bloodily the sun begins to peer above the busky hill." Henry said whilst one of the knights was helping him put on his armor. "The day looks pale at his distemperature."
"The southern wind does play the trumpet to his purposes... foretells a tempest and a blustering day." Hal replied.
"Then with the losers let it sympathize..." Odette stated, watching as four men broke off from Percy's army and rode across the field.
"True words, my Lady..." Henry agreed with a smile. "For nothing can seem foul to those that win..."
Once the riders approached and dismounted, the King now turned his attention to them.
"How now, my Lord of Worcester? It is not well that you and I should meet upon the terms that now we meet. You have deceived our trust and made us doff our easy robes of peace, to crush our old limbs in ungentle steel. This is not well, my Lord."
"My liege, I do protest." the elder Earl replied. "I have not sought the day of this dislike."
"You have not sought it? How comes it then?"
"Rebellion lay in his way and he found it..." Falstaff chimed in.
"Be silent!" Odette ordered, hoping the old fool's words would not crush any attempts at a peaceful ending to the conflict.
"Peace, chewet, peace!" Hal scolded him as well.
"I must remember you, my Lord... we were the first and dearest of your friends." Worcester now stated, apparently ignoring Falstaff. "It was myself, my brother and his son that brought you home and boldly did outdare the dangers of the time. But in short space such a flood of sudden greatness fell on you, you took occasion to be quickly wooed, forget your oath to us at Doncaster, and being fed by us you used us so as that ungentle hull, the cuckoo's bird, used the sparrow."
Widening her eyes when Henry lunged out to apparently hit the Earl, Odette rushed forth with Hal to grasp the King's arms and hold him back. Whilst Henry stepped to the side and bent forward when his stomach spilled out its contents, Odette rushed to his side and Hal turned to face the Earl himself.
"Tell your nephew the Prince of Wales does join with all the world in praise of Henry Percy. I do not think a braver gentleman, more daring or more bold, is now alive. For my part, I may speak it to my shame, I have a truant been to chivalry. Yet this, before my father's majesty, I will, to save the blood on either side, try fortune with him in single fight."
"I am well..."
With that whisper to the girl, the King now stepped to his son's side.
"We love our people well..." he said. "Even those we love, that are misled upon your cousin's part. But will they take the offer of our grace? Both he and they and you, yes every man will be my friend again and I'll be his. We offer fair, take it advisedly."
Whilst the Earl and his companions walked back to their horses so as to return to their own men, Hal looked to his father.
"It will not be accepted, on my life."
"Well, God befriend us, as our cause is just!" Henry replied whilst turning to face his army.
At his words the men erupted into cheers whilst Odette now reached for Hal's arm to take him aside.
"I fear your father is sick... it is not the first day I have seen him like this." she whispered.
"Then I shall worry over this after the battle." the Prince replied, leaning to kiss her forehead.
"Take care..."
Nodding, he then glanced over his shoulder upon hearing footsteps, to see his father approaching them.
"My liege, I pray that God be with you on this day." she said, offering a slight bow.
"Fair Odette... I pray you, stay inside whilst we do battle. For you are too kind and loving to witness the horrors of war." Henry smiled, taking her hands.
"Shall I stay indoors whilst my father – both he who made me and he who rules over me – ride out with my husband and challenge death upon the field? No, my sovereign liege, I would see all that befalls this grim day and I would see your enemies cut down."
Setting his hands onto the sides of her head, the King now did place a kiss upon her hair.
"You make me proud to say you are my daughter."
With those words he now stepped away toward his horse whilst Hal finally embraced the young woman.
"Be valiant, that God may love you and give you victory." she whispered.
"I will be victorious... and I will return to you." the Prince promised.
Upon leaning back he felt her jolt in his arms and once more glanced behind to see her own father approaching, and found that he had mixed feelings regarding the man. Sure, he was her father, but he had not spoken a word to her all those years since she had arrived in London. Still, he silently stepped aside only to be deterred in his attempt when Odette refused to release his arm.
"Stay, my Lord..." she said. "Are you not his son?"
Bowing his head to her in silent acceptance, he again set sapphire eyes upon the Duke who bowed before him.
"Your Royal Highness, may I request a moment with my daughter?"
"You may and you shall have it, Sir William." the Prince replied. "Alas, my Lady has requested that I stay."
When the Duke straightened his posture and looked to her, Odette merely tightened her hold on Hal's hand.
"I will not send him away, father. For whether you agree to our marriage or not, he is now your son."
"Yes, you would believe I do not agree..." the male replied. "But I would dare defy you and say that you are wrong to judge so."
Stepping closer he somewhat hesitantly reached out to trail his gloved fingers along her cheek. It was then that a warm but bitter smile came to his lips.
"Your mother did leave you her beauty in no small measure... as she left you her stubborn heart and her strong will."
Reaching into the pouch set at his waist, he then retrieved a golden ring adorned with a heart-shaped diamond and offered it to her.
"This was my gift to your mother, upon our wedding day. I know she would have wanted you to wear it on yours."
Glancing to the Prince's sorrowful expression whilst Odette hesitantly retrieved the ring as her gaze grew hazy with tears, the Duke now set his eyes upon the girl and once again spoke.
"God knows I love you, for you are my only child. And God is my witness that I was a fool for not being a better father. I loved your mother... she was my strength and my wisdom, and her death left me without a guide in the world. So I did what I knew best... I cared for the King and left your care to the hands of those who were better at it. And I regret all the time I could have given you... the time I should have given you... as I regret my cowardly demeanor; for I was too afraid to seek your forgiveness all these years, even with you being right next to me. I know not whether I will live to see the sunset and I would ask for your forgiveness now, before I leave, though I am unworthy of it."
Having watched him throughout his speech, Odette soon found no strength to hold back her tears anymore, as all the years of missing her father's presence and love came crashing down upon her. It was his last statement that ultimately compelled her to release the Prince's hand and step forward, latching onto her father in a tight embrace.
"You have been a good father... in your own way." she said in spite of her trembling voice. "I know how you grieved for mother, and though I indeed desired your presence more, I do not condemn you for tending to your duties. I have nothing to forgive, for you did me no wrong... still, if it will ease your mind and heart, then I will say that I do forgive you."
Finally snapping out of his awe William ultimately set his arms around her, giving in to his own tears.
"Your mother would have been more proud than even the most praised warrior, to see what you have become."
Leaning back and smiling to her, he placed a kiss to the girl's forehead before taking her hand. With his other he reached out for Hal and placed his daughter's hand in the Prince's, as was custom.
"I have seen your rowdy days, my Lord, but on this day I am proud to call you my son. I leave my daughter in your care and I advise you to heed her words, as I heeded her mother's, for true wisdom runs in her bloodline."
"And so I shall, for I have seen her wisdom with my own eyes." Hal smiled.
Now releasing Odette's hand he briefly embraced the Duke.
"So then come, father, and God be with us on the field!"
oOoOo
Many an hour had Odette stood at the edge of the camp, looking over the field; and many an hour had she wept for all those who had fallen, be it on the King's side or on Percy's, for in the end men were they all and all English.
It was after midday that she sighted, far in the distance, a pair of men approaching camp, one of them limping as he leaned upon the other, both of them covered in blood and mud. Her heart did leap with joy, however, when she recognized her beloved Hal and his brother, John, and she gave praise to God that they were both alive.
"Look, brother..."
At John's words, Hal did gaze up to where his brother was pointing, a smile coming to his lips as he saw Odette's figure profiled upon the whiteness of the tent behind her. Though breathless and in pain from the wounds he bore, he did now quicken his pace as much as he could, whilst his brother did the same to keep him standing.
"Never... never have I so craved peace... as I have on this day..." he spoke through heaves of breath.
"Is that not every man's desire, when in the aftermath of battle?" John replied.
"You speak wisely, brother John."
Patting the younger Prince's back as they exchanged a grin, he once more turned his gaze upon the camp, to sight his current goal... his fair Odette. His joy did die upon his face now when he saw that she was gone and a cold shiver crept along his spine.
"Brother, let us make haste..." he said, groaning in pain when he placed his weight upon his injured leg.
Averting his gaze toward the top of the hill as well, John then glanced to Hal confusedly.
"Why...?"
Before his question could be fully spoken, the wind carried to their ears the sounds of neighing horses and shouting men.
"Make haste!" Hal ordered, leaning back and pushing his brother out of his grasp. "They have attacked the camp!"
When John looked to him expectantly, he motioned toward the hill.
"Go, go! I will follow!"
Watching as his brother unsheathed his bloodied sword and rushed ahead, Hal now took a moment to brace himself against the pain before moving to follow. The only soldiers in the camp would be those with the worst wounds who had been returned there from the field. Aside from them, there would only be a few unarmed servant boys to guard the camp... and his fair Odette. And as he pushed his body onward, he prayed to God more ardently than ever before, that he would not arrive to find his beloved in the cold grasp of death.
Upon arriving to the camp edge, John was met with a terrible scene; many of the tents had been destroyed and men – soldiers and young servants – were scattered about the ground, many of them already dead, others on the verge of dying. Raising his gaze from the gruesome vision, he glanced about the camp; the reason why his brother had sent him ahead was clear, and by God he would keep Odette safe if it cost him his life.
It was upon turning a corner around one of the tents that he found her, clashing swords with one of the attackers. And for all his eagerness, he found himself entranced as he watched her, for she battled as bravely and as well as any soldier, despite being a woman. Where her enemy surpassed her in strength, she matched it with speed and grace that many of his attacks fell short of hitting her. Before the Prince could rush to aid her, he was now forced to turn and battle when two of the attackers sighted him.
When he moved was when Odette finally sighted him, though soon her attention was forced to return to her opponent... none other than Harold, whom she had hoped never to see again.
"Where is he?" he asked.
"I know not of whom you speak." she retorted.
"The Prince... that cowardly, dishonorable madcap!"
"If your desire is to see him, why are you not on the field where he is?"
"I had a little debt I was due to pay you, before meeting him."
Narrowing her eyes confusedly at his words, the woman then suddenly did understand.
"Is that why you joined with Percy? Because I am to marry the King's son?"
"Because he took what was rightfully mine... and God is my witness, I will have him pay, and you who refused my love to have a man no more worthy of his title than a dog is worthy of being called Sir!"
His anger did now fuel his body as he again lunged forward, this time his sword meeting hers. And it was then that Odette felt for a moment as though her arms would fall apart; such was the power behind his blow. When she stepped back to try and keep her balance, Harold took up his sword from hers and swept it horizontally; the only thing to save her from a deep wound was the thickness of her breastplate that only did allow the sword to cut her skin.
The searing pain rushed straight into her head, blinding her for a moment and cutting her knees from under her. With her palm pressed to her stomach she clenched her jaw and made to stand, when Harold thrust his hand into her hair to pull her head back. Her gaze did settle onto his for but a moment, before she saw that he had discarded his sword, favoring a dagger instead. When he aimed to run it through her neck, she could not tell what made her raise her arms and grasp his wrist.
Her body screamed in pain, and sweat did trickle down her face, and her arms were burning from the strain of holding his as he pushed forward, relentlessly trying to end her life. All she wished was to let go... no... what she wished, was that she could have seen Hal's face again. It was upon that thought – and when her strength began to fade – that she closed her eyes and there, in the depths of her mind, she saw him smiling in the tavern, with Falstaff and with Poins, and heard his laughter and his cheerful voice, and saw his auburn hair and his blue eyes and heard him say he loved her.
At first she knew not what had happened... she heard the rush of footsteps and a shout and then the weight upon her arms was gone. She heard the sound of bodies hit the ground and mail clinking and then swords clashed. And as she lay there, feeling still the coldness of the earth beneath her, she opened her eyes to the sight of her beloved Hal locked in battle with her would-be killer. Within the moment, she now felt a hand upon her shoulder and turned her gaze up to sight John.
"Are you well, my Lady?" he asked, a most concerned gaze upon his face.
Sitting up, she watched him in shock for but a moment before she lunged into his arms.
"By God, I should have been more careful..." the Prince said.
"You are alive and that is all that matters." she now replied.
Leaning away to look upon the fight, she once more pressed a hand to her bleeding stomach.
"Did he wound you?"
"Nothing bad... it is but a shallow cut."
Upon the field, Harold now did clash again with Hal.
"What honor have you to attack a woman?" the Prince scolded him.
"A woman? No... she is but a wench! An arrogant, whorish twat, fancying herself a Princess!"
His words were followed by Hal's fist which hit him in the face, and for a moment unbalanced him enough to let the Prince push him to the ground.
"I pray that God have mercy on your soul..." he said, breathing heavily from the pain of his wounds. "For I will have none after you soiled my beloved's ears with your lies."
Looking up whilst wiping off the blood from his nose, Harold stood with a groan.
"So you're Harry..."
"I am the Prince of Wales!" he shouted angrily, and for a moment Odette sighted Harold shrinking away before his regal tone and his majestic aura. "And now I know you... you are Harold of Hemingway, are you not?"
"I am!" the male replied, taking up his sword.
"God is my witness I have wanted to meet you... and that Odette spoke kindly of you when I asked. Yet you sully her name and call her what she is not... and for what reason? That she would choose another man in your place? Should a nobleman not be above such petty envy?"
"I was more than suited for her hand!"
"You are but a servant!" Hal shouted back with such intensity in his gaze that Harold did take a step back. "Yet you stand here, challenging me, the heir to the throne... this shows how little you are worth. She is of royal blood, the kind you would have spilled onto this ground had I not stopped you. And yet you think yourself a worthy suitor?"
When Harold failed to answer this time, the Prince did take up his own sword.
"Then let us fight, if you will not surrender... and let God decide which of us is worthier of her."