Story Notes: I'm so chuffed to reach this part of the story. Once I had the idea everything slipped into place. I forced a few stories and they ended up bad so I'm happy I've taken my time with this. I hope you have enjoyed reading this as I haven't written for a while. I gave myself a bit of a break and I came back with the Arabian Altercation, which has a sequel, The Indian Intervention. The Arabian Altercation will be getting two sequels and I am uploading a story centred around Calculus. So I'm busy. I'm also trying to develop an original story to publish. Thanks for reading and for being patient.

Chapter Summary: Who fired the Shot? Where is Haddock?

Suggested Music

1. Justice - Patrick Doyle

2. You are the Best of Me - John Lunn

3. Into the West/Days of the Ring - Howard Shore & Annie Lennox

The gun gently smoked in his shaking hand as Prince Dymitr nursed his bleeding arm.

Muskar's breaths came in shakily. He couldn't quite understand how he'd managed to do such a thing. His tear-filled eyes threatened to overwhelm him.

Muskar put the gun away as Dymitr nursed his arm.

"I never knew you had it in you," Dymitr exclaimed as he leant against the steps.

Muskar squirmed, choosing to ignore him. He slowly approached his brother with one question.

"Where is my family... " His voice broke in the process, even as he tried to hold onto the last piece of composure he had remaining.

It's over

"You're too late.." Dymitr hissed, smiling, clearly happy Muskar had lost.

"Just stop this... It's over. Where are my family?" Muskar begged one last time.

"You still lose, your precious family are gone. You will never get them back. You will get nothing out of me," Dymitr growled as the door finally gave way and the guards rushed in.

Muskar stepped back from his brother in disbelief at the words he needed to say. The guards waited for his command.

"Arrest him,"

His heart broke at the words, but the guards obeyed and pulled the Prince to his feet, and out of the room. As tears slipped down his face, he knelt next to Tintin, who was equally as shocked.

"Are you okay?" He managed, finding it hard to get the words out.

"I am now. Sire, "

Bruises and cuts covered his friend's face, and his lip had swollen so he wasn't completely fine, but it wasn't over. They'd located the instigator, but they had still lost.

Muskar tossed the gun across the room and collapsed onto the steps beside Tintin. His head fell into his hands, as tears slipped uncontrollably from his eyes.

"What have I done?" Muskar sobbed. As Tintin's hand gently squeezed his shoulder, he appreciated the consolation, but it did nothing to soothe him.

"This is not your fault,"

It doesn't feel like it.

"Tintin is right.. you couldn't have known," Olek said, obviously trying to help. Muskar pushed the tears away looking at the pair of them.

"I should have seen it.. all that hate. I should have seen it," Muskar exclaimed, still unwilling to believe and absorb what his brother had done to him. "All the signs were there. My brother.. he took them.. where are they?"

I've lost everything. I will never see my son again.. or Ariadna.. what will become of her child .. and Wojtek...

We've won ... and still lost.

x

Tintin struggled to his feet with Olek's help and struggled to the window, searching for any indication of Koziel and Haddock.

Where are they?

He recalled the car's trapped in a heap as he followed Dymitr, but they should have been right behind him.

Unless something went wrong.

They should be back...

"Tintin, look!" Olek exclaimed, pointing to the ZEPO car approaching at top speed towards the Palace. The sound of brakes echoed from below but no one moved until a shout reverberated through the walls.

Haddock...

"Your Majesty.. quick..." Tintin exclaimed, motioning for the King to follow as he aided him to his feet. As they paced through the corridors, the palace started to erupt from the floor to the roof. More voices boomed through the halls as they gained ground, getting closer as one voice punched through them all.

Muskar stopped as a series of emotions overwhelmed him.

"Krist... Kristofor!"

Muskar bolted sprinting right in front of Tintin as his son appeared at the bottom of the stairs and ran to him.

"FATHER,"

They embraced hard, nearly toppling over in the process. Muskar looked like he didn't want to let go. For the first time since Tintin arrived, a smile finally spread across Muskar's tired face. Tintin watched, feeling himself tear up at the sight of the family reunion, as he slowly stepped down the stairs to see the relief on their faces.

Now it is over, Tintin sighed.

As they pulled away slightly Muskar and Kristofor smiled through the tears and he placed his hand upon his son's face.

"I thought I would never see you again," Muskar sobbed, as he tried and failed to push away his tears.

Haddock appeared as Tintin staggered down onto the last step. Haddock immediately rushed over to steady him.

"Blistering Barnacles, what happened to you .."

Unable to talk, he simply pulled his best friend into a hug, sighing as he realised it was finally over. The nightmare was finally over.

"Grandpa!"

Tintin and Haddock turned to watch as 2-year-old Prince Wojtek ran towards the King. Haddock's eye's watered furiously as Muskar wrapped his arms around the precious boy and held him against his chest. Tears dripped down the King's eyes.

"Where is Ariadna?" Muskar asked, glancing around.

"She's upstairs.. the baby .. the baby is coming.."

x

Haddock and Tintin waited outside the room with the anxious King who'd taken to pacing. The return of his family had given him so much strength. Another series of screams filled the room, prompting Muskar to stop and look towards the door. For a moment everything faded into silence then a cry broke the silence.

As Kristofor opened the door, Haddock and Tintin sprung to their feet.

"Would you like to meet your grandson?" Kristofor smiled proudly.

"Grandson.." Muskar stammered.

Haddock and Tintin stepped back watching from afar as Muskar met the new addiction of the family. Tintin couldn't stop his watering eyes and as Haddock wrapped his arm around his shoulders he couldn't help it. Even Haddock's eyes were watering.

x

The baby in Princess Araidna's arms gurgled as Muskar sat beside her, gently cupping his head.

I haven't felt this happy in a long time.

Even after this nightmare, there is something good.

"He's beautiful," Muskar exclaimed softly "Have you thought about a name?"

"We did but we've just decided to amend it. Tobiasz, Muskar Tobaisz,"

Muskar bit his lip, trying his best not to cry again but he couldn't stop himself

Prince Muskar Tobiasz

Muskar had never been so deeply moved.