Story Notes: I'm very happy with this chapter. I've patiently been waiting to upload this chapter. I had a lot of fun, trying to work out how to put it and in which order. I thought this would be a little bit longer, but it works so please enjoy.

Chapter Summary: Can Tintin find the King and stop Dymitr before it's too late?

Suggested Music

1. Night on the Bald Mountain - Modest Mussorgsky

2. Inferno - Ad Infinitum

3. En Livstid I Krig - Sabaton

4. Walk Through The Fire - Zayde Wolf

5. The Crown - Zayde Wolf

6. The Quest and the Curse [Piano Version] - Delain

x

Tintin sprinted up the stairs with Snowy close behind.

Where is he?

Where's the King?

A gun blast pierced the silence of the palace.

No!

Have I just lost?

Tintin turned and ran back the way he came to find the guards desperately trying to force the door. A second shot pierced the air inside the locked room.

"What happened?" Tintin exclaimed.

"The king is inside with Prince Dytmir, we heard shots, but we can't open the door!"

Tintin stumbled back in shock.

I'm too late...

Muskar's dead, and it's my fault.

As Muskars voice echoed through the room, Tintin pressed his ear to the door.

Great Snakes, he's still alive! How am I going to help him? How can I get to him?

Olek appeared beside him, slightly out of breath as Muskar spoke again.

"Where are we? What room is this?"

"It's the balcony room," One of the guards grunted.

"The Bal.." Olek exclaimed before his eyes lit up. He grabbed Tintin's shoulder, pulling him away from the door. "There's another way in! Follow me,"

Tintin and Olek sprinted back downstairs and into the King's Study.

Tintin froze slightly. It didn't feel right to be in the study without Muskar there. Olek ran his hand along the fireplace until he found what he was looking for. A panel popped out at the side of the fireplace, revealing a narrow passageway with a steep incline.

"It's too small for me, go. We'll get that door down,"

Tintin motioned for Snowy to stay put and edged into the small space, thankful he wasn't claustrophobic. At some points, the wall came close to nearly suffocating him, but he held strong even as the dust-filled stone walls pierced his lungs and irritated his nose enough to make him sneeze. He resisted his body trying to ensure he could take Dymitr by surprise. After a strange twisty incline, the voices of Muskar and Dymitr amplified, and the passage widened.

Peering from his hiding place behind the old fireplace he glimpsed the King and the prince on the balcony.

"See you in hell brother,"

I don't think so!

Tintin dived from his hiding place, grabbing Dymitr from behind. The pair plummeted to the floor, causing the key to the door to skitter across the polished floor. He risked a glimpse at Muskar, realising he didn't have enough strength left.

Hurry up!

Get the door open!

Muskar started to cough.

Dymitr kicked Tintin to one side, turned and raced at his brother like a charging bull.

Tintin sprung to his feet only to see the evil prince grab and push his brother over the edge of the balcony.

"NO!" Tintin screamed as Muskar disappeared from view.

Tintin raced to the balcony readying himself with a punch but Dymitr blocked the punch and thumped him in the stomach. He groaned in pain but it didn't stop his resolve.

No. I still couldn't...

Dymitr turned to him with a smile on his face.

"How could you! How could you kill your brother!" Tintin shouted, unable to hold himself back. the Prince circled him like a vulture waiting to strike, watching his every move.

"I don't expect you to understand. You're just a commoner. I will stop anyone who comes between me and the crown. I've bided my time for long enough. I'm the King now,"

Tintin bit the side of his mouth at the statement.

You will never truly be the King.

You don't deserve that title.

You're a murderer.

"You kidnapped your Nephew, his wife and his son.. your own blood. Do they mean anything to you?" Tears rolled down his cheeks.

A good man once told him; Family is everything, cherish every moment.

Dymitr ignored him and walked over to pick up his gun, swiftly whipping him with the end of the barrel. Tintin fell to the floor, clutching his bleeding cheek.

"You're just like my brother.. weak, conflicted by emotion. This was not part of my plan. How should I dispose of you? "

x

Muskar latched onto the stone as Dymitr pushed him, managing to grab one of the loose cables in the process. He inhaled sharply and steadied himself on the ledge under the stone balcony. As grateful as he was to be out of the room with his brother, he couldn't leave Tintin to face him alone. He held on. He tried his best to not cough out the entirety of his lungs, alerting his brother to him.

I can't climb back up.

He's right... I'm too weak.

As he breathed in the oxygen in the cold night air a thought struck him.

How did Tintin get...

Of course... the secret passages.

If only I could...

Turning around precariously, he faced the wall, anchoring himself onto the gaps and started to move, acutely aware he only had a certain amount of time to save Tintin. He did not doubt that Dymitr would dispose of him by either shooting him or throwing him out the window. I won't allow that! Even If I die doing it.

He made his way around and started to drop himself down to his office window, which was thankfully open.

He heard a voice and a bark. As he lowered himself down Olek's face came into view. He paused for a moment as he registered the amount of bruising on his face.

Olek helped him manoeuvre into the safety of the office and he leaned against the table trying his best not to collapse.

"Your Majesty.. how .."

"I'll explain later," Clutching his chest he coughed hard. The voice of his brother and closest friend echoed down the secret passage. A boost of Adrenaline filled his system, overwhelming him enough to hopefully finish the situation once and for all. He pulled his bottom drawer open and sighed as he removed his gun and slowly loaded it.

I don't want to do this.. if there was any other way...

x

Dymitr dragged Tintin towards the balcony, throwing him onto the steps with a thump. determined to eradicate the last potential problem and threat to his plan.

From Tintin's vantage point, he could see the entire room, including a hand slowly appearing from behind the fireplace. His eyes narrowed, trying to ascertain the identity of the hand.

Olek? Is that you?

The ring on his finger told a different story.

The King... What is Muskar doing?

"This will be an interesting scenario to explain,"

Tintin kept his eyes on Dymitr, trying his best not to give Muskar away as he silently emerged from the fireplace holding a gun

"I doubt it," Tintin exclaimed.

As Dymitr turned, he raised his gun.

Only one man managed to squeeze the trigger.