Nearly a hundred miles away from England stood an enormous stone castle near the ocean. It was once the home of Onyx and Guinevere Leodegrance, but was now the domain of the new Emperor Cameron Eithne. He sat at his large round table along with several other men of his counseling.
(SPEAKING IN GAELIC)
"With all due respect, your excellencies, but I am getting tired of waiting." one of the men said.
"Indeed," another added. "Uther's son pulled the sword from the stone and he is in control now. But he is weak and pathetic. We can't let an opportunity this great slip through our fingers. We need to pull the linchpin before it's too late."
"He's right Cameron. Now is the greatest time to take action."
"Your advice has been heard and completely forgotten already," the Emperor said in his most haughty voice. "You should know me enough to remember that I am not a procrastinator. We just have to wait until the time is right. True, Pendragon's son is basically wasting himself away, thinking he can handle a fraction of what it takes to be King, not to mention pick up a sword without stumbling, but that is not the point right now. Onyx is alive and so is Guinevere, We have to get rid of her."
"Just her? What about the boy? What is the big deal if Guinevere is alive or not, she is a daughter and cannot take the throne."
"That is what you think."
"What do you mean?"
"Ever since this land has existed it was declared that -pathetic as it seems- women can indeed inherit the throne. I learned that right after the murder of course. When she escaped."
"What kind of stupid law is that Cameron?"
"One I cannot change. And he who even dares to declare a ban on female rulers shall lose his head, no matter how powerful his reign is."
"And what about Onyx? We cannot just let him run around free."
"My brother has a new identity and many would not believe his chance of survival as much as they would Guinevere's. They all assumed the Emperor was the first one to die, so let it remain that way."'
"You're really going to let a simple law stop you? Your blade bore the blood of children, Cameron. You killed three of your own brothers for power. And now you are the ruler of an empire. You control the Picts, the Gaels, the Angles, and the Britons! Now you cower before the lone simple law you cannot change?"
"It's not just that, you idiot. I already have an unpopular reputation with these idiotic, hay straws for brains, excuses for people. They say that ten year old brat Onyx was a better ruler than I am! Can you think of anything more pathetic!?"
"So what Cameron? They are just bitter about the execution. You can put anyone to death with a simple word. You can hang the girl, burn her, behead her, drown her, stab her, poison her, or send an army after the girl and nobody can do or say jack about it."
"Not if the army revolts against me, I can't! I was lucky to blame the children's murder on those drunk noble idiots. But their suspicions have grown even more and more and I cannot live in irritation with their assumptions anymore! Nobody must ever know that I killed the Leodegrance children."
"Yes, your highness." the man who had been quarreling with him said.
"Anyways, I already have word from my beloved ally back in England. The trap is set and Guinevere is roped. All we have to do is real her in." Cameron said, talking about his sister as if she were an insect.
"So when can we pounce?" .
"Tomorrow night, and here's what we're gonna do."
The next day passed and the night arrived. Arthur sat in his room still holding Hazel's key in his hand as he played with the red ribbon. That was until there was a knock at the door and he instinctively shoved the key up his sleeve. The door creaked as Hazel's elder brother entered the room, with a candle in his hand.
"Excuse me, King Arthur?" Onyx asked the boy as he entered the room.
"Oh, yes, your grace?" he answered as politely and maturely as possible, even though the thought of having a face to face conversation with this boy terrified him. "What can I do for you?"
"I was wondering if...if you could help me look for something my sister have left here. I would look for it myself but I'd figured you know your own castle better than I do."
"Oh of course I can, anything. What are you looking for?"
"I know this may sound silly but, I was wondering if she may have left a key behind."
"A key?"
"Yes. It was a very important gift from our parents."
"Your parents? Guinevere never said a word about them and neither did you. I just thought it was just you and the other brothers."
"Well, yes, I imagine she would. It brings back vast unwanted memories..for us at least. But I cannot say the same for her: she never knew them. They abandoned Pictland and the throne when we were all very young."
"Abandoned? But..if you never spoke of them I'd figured they'd be…well...gone."
"What I wouldn't give if things could be that way."
"What do you mean? I thought that children couldn't inherit the throne unless the last ruler well..passes."
"That is the rule many domains go by, but our parents were not exactly ones to follow it. They grew quite heartbroken when they bore so many children, especially a daughter. My mother heavily wept when Guinevere was born. For she had brought into the word an innocent child who was doomed to be transferred to another kingdom to breed and never be heard from again. Having those worries and the pressures and criticisms from everyone in the kingdom, life itself became too much to bear."
"So what happened?"
"Well, my father abdicated to me and proposed that he and my mother were leaving the empire. I begged them not to go, but I was unable to dissuade them out of anything. I don't think I was much younger than you when it happened. And it's how I came to be emperor at such a minor age."
"How though?"
"How what?"
"How did you manage to protect a family and an entire kingdom at the same time? Not even a year ago I couldn't write my name and now I'm the King of England."
"It isn't easy; It never was. But sometimes the world deals you with difficult hands, so sometimes you must bear them. The burden they left me with was great, but still, I continued to carry it. For my brothers. For my sister," He paused from his story to sigh. "Gwenny always blamed me for them abandoning us, and that was the reason for her hurt and hatred of me now that we demonstrated last night. The status of the well being of our parents is unknown. We do not know where they are or if they are still going, but wherever they are, I just hope they are at peace."
"So…are you mad that they just abandoned all of you?"
"Very much so. I can never forgive them for it. All of my brothers perished because of their choices. ANd if they ereturned to us I can assure myself that I would deny them as my mother and father. But I feel my pain is more out of loss than anger." He sighed.
"So..about this key…why is it so important?"
"Oh yes. That missing key opened a missing box. That missing box held a magical amulet in it. It was called the Eye of Leodegrance. Before our parents left they gave Gwenny the key and told her to protect it, knowing that one day she would be able to use the power of the family treasure. It was all she ever got from them."
"Do you by any chance remember what the Eye of Leodegrance looks like?"
"I haven't seen it for years but I recall it being a large emerald necklace. Cameron has been trying for months to open its box but no matter what kind of force or miracle you use, the key is the only thing that opens it. But I don't know what he would do with it, even if he had the key, he is unable to possess the stone's power."
"Why?"
"Because, the magic of the Eye of Leodegrance, can only be used by those who are immediate blood relatives of the royal Leodegrance family. Cameron is the son of our mother, who is only a Leodegrance by marriage, in other words, he cannot use its power. However I do suppose its value could be of great worth to him."
"Well uh, I haven't seen any keys around here lately." the boy lied.
"I was afraid of that. But no matter. I am still concerned about what I did to Gwenny last night. You mustn't think I want to shape her into becoming my puppet. She is all I have and I just don't want to lose her."
"I understand. She uh..never told me that part of the story."
"She must really like you if she told you anything at all. Gwen would never open up to anyone. But now, I'm glad she did. Especially with a kind and gentle soul like yourself," Arthur blushed and smiled shyly. Onyx sighed. "I'm going to go turn in for the night. We will need our rest. Something tells me our darkest our is on its way. Goodnight."
"Yeah...yeah goodnight." Arthur said as he watched the boy leave the room. The minute he left he pulled out the key and sighed.
Hazel had made her final visit to Mim as she entered the cottage. She was not going to be a slave to someone who wanted those she cared about dead.
"Well. Nice to see you here Hazel. On time for once," Hazel glanced up at her with teary eyes. "What's the matter? Have you missed me for the last few nights?"
"Stop giving me the dreams! Please..make them stop right now!"
"Why? I did get a good scream out of you with them."
"I want you to set me free. I beg you!" she pleaded as she fell to her knees.
"Oh come now deary, aren't Princesses much too ladylike for begging?" Hazel scrunched her face even more to show determination, only to lose it as she began to sob. "Aw, my poor little Hazel. Completely alone and unwelcomed. Not even wanted by her own family."
"Stop." the girl said weekly.
"Why? You say that as if I am trying to hurt you."
"Well ya got a pretty strange way of doing the opposite." she growled as she wiped a tear.
"Well as long as you talk like that, maybe I won't help you." Hazel stomped out the door, only to see her worst nightmare. Her jaw dropped when she saw Emperor Cameron himself on a horse in front of her while three of his followers surrounded her. Cameron jumped off the horse and approached the terrified girl. "Well Mim, I certainly owe you one."
"You owe me much more than one," she said. "But she's all yours Cameron. I'll be expecting the Eye of Leodegrance gift wrapped at my doorstep within a week!" she said as she slammed the door behind her.
(SPEAKING IN GAELIC)
"Well, look who it is, boys. my long lost sister."
"No…." was all she could say. "How?"
"The answer to your question will be answered in due time. But for now I think you should come with me."
"Over my dead body."
"Well that can be arranged." he sneered. One thought came to her mind: RUN! Hazel immediately turned around and bolted towards the palace. Cameron ran in front of her and Hazel ran deep into the city. Cameron grabbed her hair and tried to pick her up, not knowing Hazel's skill. She may not be able to talk or read without magic, but the one thing she knew how to do was fight.
When he flung her over his shoulder like an angry parent. Hazel gripped the back of his shirt and pulled herself over him and out of his grip. She kicked her way out and started to run.
It took all four of them to try to pin her down. Them grabbing and pulling her dress had caused it to be ripped to shreds. One of her sleeves had been completely torn off, as well as her dress's skirt and tights. She was left in a shirt like garment as well as her tights that had been ripped down to the length of shorts, but she did not care. To her horror, Cameron yanked off her necklace Arthur gave her and threw it into the pile of shredded clothes. Hazel clawed, bit, scratched and kicked at each one when they were forced to let her go.
"After the little rat!" the Emperor ordered as his followers obeyed. The three men began to chase the girl who was now in a one sleeve light yellow shirt and white shorts.. Hazel was able to outrun all of them, but knew she could not do it forever. She had lost her shoes and it felt like a thousand needles stabbing her feet and ankles, but she pressed on. 'Don't stop Hazel! You die if you stop!' "Would you hurry up and get her, you idiots!" Cameron yelled.
"Tis impossible! She has wheels for feet!" Hazel ran through the city and had to get out of view. She quickly tic tacked her way up the side of a building and onto its roof. Running on it, her feet only hurt more, but she knew she was out of their view.
"Where is the little gnat!?" an advisor yelled.
"Up there!"
"Give me the crossbow!" she heard one of them yell, but still continued to run. The man with the weapon stopped running and aimed for his target's feet, knowing he couldn't kill her yet. And so, he shot, but it only managed to slit the girl's leg instead of fully sinking into it.
"You missed you idiot!"
"It slowed her down didn't it!?"
Hazel screamed as she slid off the roof. But she only stumbled as she started to sob in pain from the fire in her leg as well as how cold she was. She turned away from the city and raced into the forest. She continued to run but was mortified when she was met with a still stream that she tripped and then face planted into. But regardless of how diabolically freezing it was, she stood up and plowed through the knee deep water before wearily climbing out on the other side. Now dripping wet with ice water, she continued to run, knowing she was not gonna make it.
The minute the girl collapsed in the snow she knew she couldn't get up. She felt the three Picts grab her and pick her up, bringing her to Cameron. They fully had her arms locked but not her feet. She was not gonna go down without a fight.
"Well little girl, you have put up quite a fight, but—-OH!" Cameron yelled as Hazel sharply kicked his chin and was able to squirm out of the men's grasp, despite the pain in her lower calf. She managed to fight two of them off with her ability to master savate fighting, but one of them grabbed her shoulders, and twirled her around several times before slapping her nasal area, hard. Hazel felt a heavy warm liquid flow down and out of her nose and could not fight anymore. The man picked her up, tied a cloth around her eyes and mouth.
"Put her in the wagon and you won't say a word unless you want a sword in your chest. Don't do anything till I tell you to do so."
"Yes your majesty." the man said as he carried a crying Hazel. With a pierced leg, and a hemorrhaging nose, all she could do was scream. Hazel weakly wriggled as she screamed her lungs out and did not care if it hurt. But it was not long before her energy gave out. Her nose was drenched in a mixture of tears, sweat and blood, and she couldn't wipe it. Her arms were pinned to her side and she had no choice but to accept the disgusting drippy feeling. The tears projected out of her eyes as she knew there was no escaping this. She was going to die.
To Be Continued...
AN: Sorry, this one was published and deleted several times because I was working on it at about 2 in the morning and I was just so eager to get it out and published that I made very stupid and obvious spelling mistakes (Uh-huh, I origionally spelt the title wrong) which was pretty embarrassing. Any who, it was 2 am and now I was able to reread and edit. Hang on till the end to see what's gonna happen to poor beloved girl squirrel. Just a heads up, Hazels gonna be absent for about four chapters at the very least. Byeeee :)
