A Twist of Fate

by BethanyD18

Tris's life has been planned out since birth, initiated properly into the family at 16, then choosing her husband and future King at 18. The Choosing has never made any errors, but this year it looks like a large one has occured. Tris’s world's getting turned upside down, and somehow she is still expected to carry on with her duties and make the most important decion of her life.

37. Chapter 37

A/N- Just want to thank you all for the really nice reviews, it always puts a smile on my face knowing you're all still enjoying this story! It's crazy that I'm nearly at 150k words! I think it's just hit me that I've just written a full book lmao. And as you all know, we're slowly coming to the end of this story- which means I'm closer to picking back off from where I left 'Eye of the Storm'! Will be great to finally give that winter romance my full attention! Anyway, I hope you all enjoy the chapter and are anticipating the next! See you all soon! Love Jeffrey x

Chapter 37

"So, what's the plan?" Tobias asks from behind, following my gaze through the sparse trees. The castle sits at the bottom of the woods, the sandstone sticking out like a sore thumb.

Looking over my shoulder, I press my anxious smile into a thin line. We've been quiet most of the way back, which should have given me, and him, enough time to figure something out. But with the shrug of my shoulders, and his raised brows, I'm assuming we're on the same page.

Tugging slightly on Snow's reins, he starts his slow descent down the hill. "Our only issue now is Mar and Christina," I begin, eyes filtering through the dark trunks, "we can worry about Arthur and Celia's plan to take over the world when they're back at my side." Let's hope the rest of our friends didn't make it to Erudite. The forest is a far safer place to be than that faction.

"The world, huh?" He laughs, squeezing my hips harder as Snow moves along some unstable ground. My fists tighten on Snow's reins as I try to hold off a shiver.

"First Tosken, then our neighbouring countries. It'll only be a matter of time before they'll want more." Maybe they should team up.

"They'd make a frightening team," Tobias mumbles, reading my mind. "Let's hope neither of them have the brains to put two and two together."

I hum in agreement, steering Snow to the left as we come to the bottom of the decline. I let Tobias show me the back road to the stable, and soon enough Snow's home, heading straight towards a fresh hay bag. I drag the lock into place, even though it's pointless with the horse's attention anywhere but the door.

Holding the saddle bag close to my chest, I turn back to Tobias. He glances at his watch, then back to me. "It's half 5."

My eyes lift to the high sun out of an unnecessary habit. Just like Athua, the Sun is pretty useless for me to gage time in the summer. Athua's winters would give us a maximum of 5 hours of daylight- Toskens summers will be giving us a maximum of 5 hours of darkness.

"We need to pick up our pace." I state. Grabbing his hand, I pull him up the flowery path and over to the one many side entrances. I nod at the guard as he holds the door open for us, leading into the castle.

Rushing through the winding halls, we make it back to the bottom of the steps that lead up to mine and my friends' quatures. I turn to tell him to go find Uriah and Zeke, when I see Natalie, and two Erudite members walking towards me.

"That doesn't look good," I say quietly, tempted to move behind Tobias.

His attention moves towards the hall, coming from the main entrance. The tall windows shine golden light on the three, but all I can focus on is Natalie's tense face.

When they get a metre or so from us, they stop, Natalie's hands wringing with nerves.

The guards go down into a bow, whilst Natalie curtseys, "your highnesses," she starts, coming up. Her attention shifts to me, eyes alight with worry, "I've been sent to retrieve you, Princess. Prince Arthur has requested your presence. There is talk of a welcome gift."

My body tenses with the use of his name, my hands turning into tight fists. "That sounds wonderful, Natalie. But I am not interested in any gifts, nor am I interested in being in the Prince's company."

Tobias stands tall next to me, his impressive arms crossed loosely over his chest. "What authority does the Prince think he has in this castle?"

Natalie's eyes flick from his to mine, and I think I see the two guards step closer. "The King has authorised the Princesses' presence. Myself and his guards are to escort her there now."

Tobias is shaking his head, but there's little we can do. So, I place my bag into Tobias's hands, tightly smiling up at him. "Put this in my room, would you?"

He takes it quickly, his eyes locked on mine, "I'll find the King now, then I'll come get you."

I shake my head ever so slightly, trying to get my point across, "I'll be fine, Four. Go find Zeke and Uriah and get ready for the ball."

I walk over to Natalie and the Erudite guards, not letting myself look back at Tobias. "Lead the way."

…

We walk to the lower right wing of the castle, the halls down here still unrecognisable to me. There's still many places I haven't explored in this home. With its size and age, I'm sure it'll take me years to become wholly familiar with it.

As I pass through the old halls, I can't help but imagine growing up here. Playing with the Princes like I did with the Athuans, exploring every nook and cranny of our home.

I think I would have liked growing up here, just as much as I enjoyed my childhood in Athua. But at least with this timeline, I've gotten to enjoy both sets of Princes. If I stayed in Tosken, I would have never known the Athuan brothers- and Mum and Dad would be merely a King and Queen of a far away kingdom.

And as we round the corner to Arthur's rooms, I pray I can stay grateful for the life I have been given. With my stomach slowly churning, I also pray I don't throw up the little that's in me.

"I've been promised that your ladies are waiting for you inside, Princess," Natalie says, and my heart skips a beat, "so this is where I will leave you." One last curtsey, and she's backing away. Eyes of warning follow me into Athur's room, a cautionary tale left unsaid.

With the door magically opening, I step in. A large lounge sits in front of me, decked out in that stomach twisting Erudite blue. And there, sitting before me, is Eric and Jeanine.

Jeanine stands at my presence, which I have to submerged a smile to. "Your Highness," she gushes, her curtsey having seen better days. "What a pleasure it is to see you again. I do hope your visit to the Southern Shore was pleasurable."

I smile back, "oh, more than pleasurable. It is beautiful out there this time of year, isn't it, Eric?" I move closer to them, not taking my eyes off of the second in command. "All those ancient trees and the wildlife! Oh and how could I forget the tones and tones of machinery! Really brings the landscape together."

I think I see her eye twitch, and it's more than enough for me now. Taking a quick glance of the room, I don't see Chris or Mar. "I was promised my ladies, where are they?"

"Some patients, please, Princess Beatrice." My eyes slowly shift, trying to control the shiver running through me. Arthur stands at the other end of the room, a single doorway closing behind him. "They'll be with you in due course. But I think we should have a little chat before that happens."

He moves over to the sofa, sitting down where Jeanine vacated. She goes to take the seat next to him, but Arthur stops her harshly. "You'll give us some space."

Bile's in my mouth, and as he moves his attention to Eric, I know I'm on my own.

Jeanine hurries out, with Eric following behind. I try to keep my composure, but I feel myself failing miserably.

Eric stops briefly, squeezing my arm. "I'm right outside," he says quietly, "he can't do anything on Palace grounds, he knows that." One finally nod, and he's gone.

I watch as the doors click shut, the guards disappearing with it. And then it's just us.

"Have a seat, Princess. I want to hear all about your adventures with the factionless village."

Crossing my arms protectively over my chest, I stay standing, "all you need to know is that I have what you want."

He feigns surprise, looking around me, trying to spot the book. "Well, I don't see it on you? Do you really think I'd be so stupid as to let you have your precious girls without my return?"

My eyes thin, "and do you think the same of me? You won't have the journal without passing them over, first."

He repositions his large self, resting his forearms on his knees. "Let me change the subject for a second." He smiles at me, one of those smiles that could never reach his eyes, "Marlene? Would you bring in the dress?"

My heart rate skyrockets as I watch the door Arthur came out of mere moments ago re open. Marlene, stiff as a board, walks into the lounge, a large dress bag draped over her arms.

Her eyes are on me, but mine are running from her head to toe. Nothing seems broken, nothing out of place.

"Using my ladies as your servants now, are we? I wonder how well Queen Evelyn would like that."

Mar places the bag into Arthurs waiting hands, then takes a step back. "Thank you, my dear." His eyes follow her as she moves back into the other room, "that one was a lot easier to come around than the other." He stands, moving closer, "It's a shame that happens when you're bred outside of the country."

"You are speaking to someone who was also bred outside of the country."

"You are different." He slowly unzips the bag, "your Mother and Father should have never lied to me. You could have had the most fantastic upbringing in Toskens Erudite."

I keep my stance ridgid, but my eyes are unable to stay away from the slowly unzipped bag. Blue reflections hit every surface of the room, and suddenly Arthur's standing, holding the jewled dress away from him by its hanger.

Thousands of sewn in sapphires make up the floor length gown. I take a step closer, absolutely mesmerised by the work of art. With two thin straps of gems holding up the dress, I can no doubt say this is an engineering feat.

"I knew you'd be impressed." Arthur says smugly.

But I can't take my eyes away from the shimmering stones to tell him otherwise. "This is why you've been mining the lake?"

My hand travels out without thought. My fingers skim the dress, and what feels like a familiar electrical surge flashes across my arm. I pull back jaggedly, sucking in a sharp breath.

"That energy, Princess, is power. Power only you can harness." He slowly puts the dress back into its cage, locking it away. "Tonight, at the ball, you will be wearing this."

I'm shaking my head before he finishes speaking, "no, I can't. It's painful to wear, that power you speak of hurts."

But he's pressing the bag into me, and like we're two opposite magnets, my arms encircle it. "Your body will welcome it with time."

He has to push on my stunned self to get my feet moving in the direction he wants. "The girls will help you get ready, then you are all to meet me in my office before the ball begins."

Unable to think straight, I just keep walking. The door is opening and shutting behind me, and then I'm in a drab looking bedroom.

I look around, feeling icky, "please tell me this isn't his room."

"I won't lie to you."

Dropping the bag hastily, I fling myself into Christina's awaiting arms. Tears spring into my eyes, but I try to breathe through it as I squeeze her closer.

My arms feel around the back of her, trying to find Mar. Like she could feel me reaching out, I grasp her arm, pulling her towards us.

"You're both okay?" I choke out, pulling back just enough to look over Christina. Apart from the aura of irritation, she looks just like she did the day we parted.

"Boringly fine, Bea," she sighs. "Arthur's Erudite is the drabbest place ever."

I laugh, pulling away, but keeping grip on their arms. "Is it too much for me to ask if you two know anything new?"

Christina looks over at Mar, a silent conversation spoken between them. My heart pangs slightly, a quick, sharp stab of jealousy running through me. They've been held captive together Bea, of course they're going to be closer than before.

I push away the irritating feeling, knowing I shouldn't think that way. I want them close, this is good.

"Mar got some information out of one of Arthur's guards. He sometimes stands outside of those important meetings Arthur holds."

"Boys and a pretty face," Mar grins, moving to sit against the bedside table. Staying far away from the mattress, Christina and I join her on the floor. Mar, suddenly becoming serious, grabs my attention. "We know what he's planning. He wants you to choose him as your husband."

I laugh it off, "well that's stupid? All of the younger brothers would have to be gone before he could-" you'd think the realisation would hit harder, but coming from Arthur, I wouldn't expect anything less. "He's going to kill his nephews? Tonight?"

Christina shakes her head, "not him, Bea."

But that does it. A wave of nausea hits me like a tidal wave, and my head starts to spin. "How would he-? I would never-"

"Take some deep breaths, Tris." I think Mar says, but I can't hear her well. Standing on uncertain feet, I rush to what I hope is the bathroom.

When I finish throwing up the last of my stomach contents, I watch as the blood flushes away. Wiping my mouth with my sleeve, I turn to find two concerned ladies in waiting.

Christina's eyes stick to my arm, "blood?"

"Long story," I croak out. I cough a few times, trying to clear out my throat. "I'm not seeing a doctor today, so don't bother suggesting that. And anyway, it's getting better with time."

Moving to the sink, I rinse out my mouth. Christina and Marlene just watch me through the mirror silently. When I've finished, I say, "go on."

Chris, with a concerned look at Mar, hesitantly says, "he thinks with all that power the sapphires will give you, you could easily get rid of them. He says it's the only way for the public to accept the boys going, and him becoming King. If the people's 'godly lost princess' chooses this, they won't question you."

"So," I start, trying to find my train of thought, "he doesn't know anything about any gods?"

They look at each other again, confused, "no," Mar shakes her head, looking back at me, "the guard didn't mention anything about any gods. But who knows?"

"Do you want to explain that?" Chris asks.

I shake my head, "when I have time I promise, but we have more pressing issues."

I move through them, back into the bedroom, and stand just before the dress. I wait there, just staring down at the gown. If Arthur wants me to harness more power to take out his competition, then what does the journal have to do with it? I don't think I need any magical history to harness the power the dress will give. So what more could he want? Frustration eats away at me, so I push the relentless questions away for now. I decide to find Tobias as quickly as I can later and see what he thinks.

"I don't see a way not to wear it." I look at them, "I mean, how could he make me kill them?"

…

"Hopefully all this numbing cream does something," I mutter, holding my arms out to the side to keep off of my sticky abdomen. My skin feels tingly, and when I tap my fingers on it, it feels odd. It's like I can feel the pressure, but not how it should feel. Like a deep tissue scar.

Rubbing the last of the cream on my hands, I wave them through the air to dry them, "I wonder if the freezer burns will scar myself? Maybe I'll just have to be angry all night to keep healing myself."

"So after a period of time, your injuries become permanent? Like the rest of us?"

I nod, "I think so. It was hours before I woke up after the lake, and now I'm feeling light headed all the time, have this disgusting wet cough." Looking into the mirror, I study my face. I look older somehow, like the day I stepped foot off of that ship changed me forever. "So who knows what sort of damage these sapphires are about to do."

Having put it off for too long, I motion them forward. "Let's get it on."

Mar brings over the black bag, placing it down on the bed in front of me. I unzip the fabric quickly, knowing if I take my time it'll never get put on.

I try to be careful when revealing it, wanting to expose myself to the stones as little as possible. But when the bag has been tossed to the side, and the hanger is nowhere in sight, I know there's no more putting it off.

Large ringlets fall past my face as I gaze down at the beauty. We did hair and makeup first, and then I let the girls get ready. Looking at the clock, I stare back at 8 o'clock.

"Do you think there's a zip?"

"Maybe a hidden one?" Mar guesses, "they must have had some Amity help with this. No way could it only be Erudite."

"Those poor workers," Christina tuts, "I can't see how they could ever work again."

"Don't say that," I whine, feeling even worse. If I never had these stupid abilities then none of this would be happening.

"Sorry," Chris replies, moving her weight from one foot to the other. "We better get going, Bea, or he's going to get mad."

Nodding, I slowly go to pick up the dress. Instead of that electric shock, it feels more like an ice cube sitting on your skin for too long. And from experience, I know with time it's going to feel worse and worse.

Turning it over, I find the hidden zipper. "Maybe I can heal them and then hire them for the castle?"

"That sounds like a nice plan," Christina agrees, and I nod to myself, feeling slightly childish.

It's unzipped, and on in seconds. One strap, then two, and I'm awkwardly trying to zip it up. The back's quite low, so the zip is kind of hard to grab. I shoo off the girls trying to help, knowing they'll accidentally touch the gems when zipping. But it's done, and I don't think it's too bad.

When Christina asks how it feels, I go to say about the ice cube. But then it turns into tiny needles pricking my skin.

"It's starting to feel like I've fallen into a needle stack."

"And power wise? Do you feel it more now you're wearing the stones?"

Trying to think past the tiny stabs, I can just about feel my skin vibrating. "A bit yeah. But it just feels like I've had way too much caffeine."

"I wonder how much all those sapphires will affect your healing powers." Mar muses, "you said Celia can use her powers by will due to her practice? Maybe you could bypass all of that with that amount of stones."

"Anyone got a knife?" I joke, moving towards the door. But then I stop, turning back around. "I have a knife!" I quickly go to my riding boots, pulling the blade from the strap. Holding it again brings back the memories of where it's been, but luckily I cleaned it at the creek, so it's clear of Tobias's blood.

Swiping my hand without thought, I turn as I watch the blood seep out of the wound. But then, like magic itself, I watch my skin stick itself back together again.

When I look back to the girls, they're hypnotised by the workings of the magic.

"Guess that answers that question?"

Chris's wide eyes move back up to me, "you could definitely say that, Bea."

…

"You can't see it, right?" I ask the girls as we stand in front of the door to Arthur's office. I can hear the workings of the ball from here, the office only two levels above the venue.

The knife sits on my right hip, just where my hand naturally lays. The girls shake their heads, and I nod.

Not in the mood for manners, I push open the door. Entering, I see that only Arthur and Eric inhabit the room. Arthur stands behind his large desk with a glass of whiskey in hand, whilst Eric paces across the wooden floor before him.

But when I move into the room, Eric comes to a halt.

Heat pools into my cheeks as he stares at me speechless. Eyes glued to my face, I shift uncomfortably.

"Exactly as I imagined," Arthur's voice booms across the sharp silence. Eric, finally coming out of his stupor, whips his head to his uncle's naturally aggressive voice. Arthur moves around his desk, raking his eyes up and down my body. This, with also the slowly increasing stabs of needles, sends my nervous system into overdrive. My heart rate picks up speed, and I can feel my palms become slick with sweat. "She's the image of Tosken, isn't she, Eric?" He adds, leaning against his desk.

Still at a loss for words, Eric nods numbly. Arthur, seeing his nephew so unlike himself, laughs humorously. "She will be yours in no time, my nephew."

Trying to keep my face as neutral as possible, I say to Arthur, "Is there a reason why my ladies and I are not already at the ball?"

This seems to remind both of them that Christina and Marlene stand behind me.

Arthur's eyes run over my friends lazily, "I had thought you'd be handing over my book."

"Not until you release my friends. I no longer want your guards following every step they make."

Taking a swig out of his stubby glass, he nods to himself. "Very well," placing the glass on the impressive desk, he shoos the guards off with the wave of his hand. I look behind my shoulder, and watch as they melt into the palace walls.

I turn back to Arthur slowly, knowing what's coming next. Looking at me expectantly, but also with some boredom, he says, "the book?"

Eyes flickering to Eric, his shoulders give me a small shrug.

"I've left it with Four," I finally get out, "he's bringing it with him tonight. We didn't think you'd be so accommodating with the girls."

Searching his glazed eyes, I find that he's not buying my fib. Pushing up from his leant position, he moves close to me. My breath catches in my throat as his dead eyes cling to my own. "If I don't have that journal by the end of tonight, it won't just be your ladies you will be mourning."

Unable to take another breath in, all I can do is nod as I imagine the horrors he could try and make me commit tonight.

"Let's try and enjoy the evening then, shall we?" He says quietly, his lip turning upwards. I nod slowly as he takes my arm and weaves it between Erics. The girls move out of Arthur's way as he walks over to the door. "Let's show them all what Erudite really is capable of."