Wonderstruck
Chapter 24
Authors' Notes: Okay so housekeeping things to make an announcement of: I've been steadily editing this piece for small little issues here and there. I'm not doing the big edits until I've finished this piece. Also I'm splitting this piece into a series of "Books". Book 1 entitled When The Snow Melts What Does it Become? It Becomes Spring is now Chapters 1-20. 21 and on is considered Book 2 What Makes the Desert Beautiful? It Hides an Oasis. May split this into three books but I'm not sure yet. I've also changed a few names but you don't need to go back and read Book 1 in order to figure out anything significant to the story. It was just small little things that were contradicted that I spotted over the course of a read through I did starting two weeks ago. Also we're going to start to see more of the other Kingdoms and other parts of the world the Enchanted Forest is apart of. Fear not, our main characters will remain Emma and Regina for I don't intend to make this a confusing, hard to follow piece. I'm doing some serious world building in Book 2 so please pay attention and if you catch an error, please let me know so I can fix it. This world is very large and it's hard to keep track of little tiny pieces that I may miss. The style of this story is going to change too. It started as a cute fluffy piece and quickly became a Monster chock full of political intrigue and action (to come in later chapters). I hope you enjoy and as always please please please let me know! It really does help motivate me to continue to work. ~ Scarlette
"Majesty, may I have a word?"
"What is it Lancelot?" Snow asked, motioning for the man to come to her side as she moved towards the throne room.
"I know I don't hold a vaulted position on your war council but I may have a bit of advice that might help."
"Of course, you know I would listen to whatever you have to say with the greatest consideration." The Queen paused, studying her old friend's face.
He dipped his head briefly before he spoke, "When I still…resided in Camelot…I heard about several things." He hesitated. "One of which was a group of sellswords across the sapphire sea."
"In order to access the sapphire sea, we'd have to go through Sunfaire. Their navy is the strongest in all the Kingdoms and I doubt they'd allow us to bring a group of sell swords back from wherever you think they are."
"The Knights of Fortune aren't well known in these parts but in Camelot we dealt with them a few times. They work for those that offer the highest price and they'll do whatever it takes to keep their bounty intact."
"And I would be responsible for having them here. Hosting them, keeping them from attacking my people and not only that but possibly compromising an alliance I formed with King Eric and Queen Ariel years ago?"
"I am aware of the tentative grounds of the alliance with Sunfaire." Lancelot began.
"Sunfaire and SpringFall have a lot in common. They've kept to themselves for the most part though Princess Melody has a standing engagement with Prince Louis of Moonshollow. For the most part Sunfaire seems more content to trade with the Radiance Isles across the sapphire sea."
"Do they not support a strong alliance with Arrendale?"
"Yes, they do though I believe that alliance not to be as fostered as it once was. It's why Eric got closer to the Radiance Isles." They continued through the large doors and up the aisle though their pace was slower to accommodate the length of their conversation.
"These sell swords…The Knights of Fortune…what do you know of them?"
"Are you going to consider their help your Majesty?"
"I prefer to have all the information in front of me so that I may make an educated decision."
Lancelot shifted, his armor clanking ever so slightly as he rested his large gloved hand on the pommel of his sword.
"It's as I've said they only favor gold. It's their only desire. Money, power…they rose to prominence in Agrabah before the Sultan…Sultanna Jasmine's Father, drove them from the city."
"Why would he do such a thing?"
"They were a rowdy lot, but effective. More effective they say than his well-trained soldiers. He was afraid of the power they were gaining and so he struck before they could strike him."
"So they left Agrabah and relocated across the sapphire sea?"
"Yes, to a land not well known by most, a land supposedly forgotten by time itself."
"Is it the holy land? The land that's been lost to time?" Snow asked, feeling a bit belligerent that Lancelot was folding to mysticism. "I can assure you that has long since passed from this world."
"No majesty. It's a place known only as the Abyss."
"The Abyss…I haven't heard of it before. How close is it to Arrendale?"
"A few days by sea will put you within the empty bay, another night will let you dock in the Abyss."
"You know a lot about them." Snow remarked as she settled herself at her husband's round table.
Lancelot hesitated, "Arthur thought to employ them. He decided against it eventually but he wanted to know what I could gather about them. So I did my best."
"But you never reached them?"
"I never went to the empty bay nor to the Abyss Majesty." He offered tightly.
Snow nodded, "I will consider your words. It may not be a bad idea…we are starting to run out of able bodies to fight."
"The Ogres will overrun us eventually…if we don't do something Majesty."
"Agreed, but for now I will give these Knights of Fortune some thought."
"Venar?" Regina called, drawing the hood of her cloak up a little higher. It was colder in the older wing of the palace, still as dusty and unused as it had been the first time.
"Highness, I'm glad you decided to seek me out. I was unsure if you would." The older man offered her a small smile which she was certain was meant to be comforting but was actually anything but. She dipped her head slightly, the platinum circlet with it's dancing diamonds flashing slightly in the dim light as her head moved. She preferred the circlet to the crown. It was much more comfortable and didn't pull on her hair as much as the crowns. Plus Emma had said she liked the way they looked on her.
The man moved slowly towards her, joints creaking with each movement as his dusty dark robes kicked up dust.
"I'm sorry I didn't come sooner. My wife wished us to spend time together the past few days and I've had to make myself available."
"It is your duty to do so Highness. I'm glad to see you not skirting that. I can wait, time is relative after all."
Regina's brow furrowed at the eager look on the older man's face but nodded, "Yes time is a making of our own devices." She agreed. "One cannot measure time no matter what anyone says."
"You're well read Highness. Not that I doubted you would be."
"One of the few things I could control was how much I could learn." Regina offered. She lifted her hand to pull her hood back to better view the older man. She doubted he had the strength or speed needed to do her physical harm but that didn't mean he hadn't found someone that did possess those things.
"You're nervous around me Highness. I noticed it the first time too. Why? I have done nothing to threaten you or make you believe that I would see harm come your way."
"You're very observant Venar. I've…learned to be vigilant not only as a royal but as my Mother isn't someone I wished to cross."
"The Queen of Hearts yes…I imagine she would be…difficult at best…"
"You know my Mother's title?"
"I know a lot of things Highness but your Mother is only one of many things I've learned about over the years."
"Why haven't you sought out others to share your knowledge?"
"I'm afraid the ramblings of an old man mean little to many people Highness. Yourself not included of course."
"I suppose the Northern Kingdoms are rather known for their battle prowess and not their knowledge." Regina offered to which Venar dipped his aging head.
"Summerslanding has one of the best philosophy schools in all the realms not to mention the fact that they value knowledge above all else."
"It was a pity when King James was killed. He was strong man but he had a head for strategy that his wife lacked. Though she made up for it by being an exceptional marksman."
"The North was much stronger for them ruling it."
"Yes, it was. With James' death, things have gotten strained. The North struggles mostly Wintersend though Moonshollow and Starsflow have their problems as well. The strong alliance between the three Northern Kingdoms has stood for many generations." Venar motioned for Regina to follow him slowly through the halls, which she did hesitantly.
"You're afraid the alliance will fall?"
"It's rare for a Northern to trust anyone from the Southern Kingdoms. The closest I've ever heard was your Mother-in-law. Most of the time the Northern Kingdoms will marry to one another and keep outsiders out."
"I'm an outsider Venar. Does that make me a rarity too?"
"Yes but it gives us an advantage."
"Us? I was unaware there was an us."
"Highness…if I may speak plainly."
"Of course." Regina waved a gloved hand, allowing the older man to step closer.
"We are both outsiders in a strange world. I've lived here a long time and I've seen people including the royals come and go." He paused, shifting his hands inside his robes as though he were digging for something. "I learned a long time ago that outsiders are not tolerated here and that if we wished to survive we had to stick together."
"Are you suggesting an alliance with me Venar?"
"I wish to help you Highness…in any way you allow me to."
Regina paused causing the older man to continue forward for a few steps before he too stopped, turning on the dusty white marble floor.
"Venar," She said his name softly, "I am…I was an outsider…but I'm a Northern bride and my wife is good to me. She doesn't treat me like I'm foreign or that I don't belong. I cannot willingly enter into an arrangement that might compromise not only myself but Emma as well."
"I believe with all my heart Highness that your wife will be a great Queen unlike her Mother who is only a good Queen. Emma has the ability to adapt unlike her more rigid Mother. She's more flexible than Northerners are known to be."
"I once heard Northerners compared to the ice they live amongst. Unyielding until broken." Regina offered.
"It is true…most Northerners do no yield until their last breath leaves their bodies."
"But Emma isn't a Northern. Not fully anyways. Her Father was from Summerslanding."
"Yes, which is why I believe she will be a great Queen. She has the ability to adapt and I do believe she loves you so."
Regina parted her ruby lips, staring at the older man whose icy eyes peered back at her face. "I see a great deal Highness. I would use my sight to help you if you'll allow me to remain at your side…I believe I could be of great use to you in your navigation of the North and it's people."
"I don't want power Venar. I don't want to be in control. I want my freedom and nothing more."
"Then you are the best person to rule at the Princess' side. Those that don't want power, they never abuse it."
Regina chewed her bottom lip, studying the older man.
"Power can give you freedom Highness. It can also constrict you until you cannot move under it's mantle. Which will you choose? The ability to be free or the ability to remain powerless and controlled?"
"Isn't there a third option? My freedom at the cost of nothing?"
"You were born a royal Princess Regina of SpringFall. The only living heir and now you're married to a Northern girl who will inherit the strongest Kingdom in the North if it doesn't fall against the Ogres and it's enemies."
"What other enemies does Wintersend possess? A war that's been raging for years; do you know something about it?"
"I know where to go to find out the information you desperately seek Highness."
"Where is that?"
"The Abyss."