Part 28

Barry watched Caitlin from across the table. He then glanced at the end of the table and felt a cold shiver go down his spine at the look Queen Carla was giving everyone. Under the cold watchful eyes of her mother he could see that Caitlin seemed more closed off and reserved.

"Caitlin, have you come to your senses and do your duty by marrying Prince Bartholomew?" Asked Carla

"Mother, I am going to marry Barry. Not because it is my duty. But because I love him." Said Caitlin

"Caitlin, you were not raised to be so informal. It is disrespectful."

"You're Majesty, I asked the Princess to call me Barry. Unless protocol calls for it my family is much less formal." Said Barry

"That is expected with who your mother is. Nora's family never had anywhere near the understanding of what is proper." Said Carla

"Carla, have you ever considered that your way is not the only way things could be done and still be proper?" Asked Thomas

"Thomas, if there is no order to things then we risk crime and disorder like in Gotham. They abolished their royal family fifty years ago and it has been a mess ever since. A different leader every few years."

"Actually since Bruce Wayne became President crime has gone down. In fact since Zoom has been on the attack the crime rate here has gone up. He and his men have murdered over a thousand of our people. That is not counting the ones that lived but were maimed. Or the women and girls who have been violated." Said Charlie

"None of this would have happened if Caitlin weren't so stubborn and done her duty and become engaged to Lord Hunter Zolomon." Said Carla

"What are you talking about mother? What does Hunter have to do with anything?" Asked Caitlin

Charlie looked at Thomas realizing that they never informed Caitlin of Zoom's true identity.

"Caity, Hunter is Zoom." Said Charlie

"What?! I know that he has an obsession with me. But to rage a war over being turned down for my hand in marriage? That is insane!" Said Caitlin

"Caitlin, you hold a lot of power whether you realize it or not. You have this power just by being my daughter." Said Thomas

"I understand that dad. But it won't be for much longer. As I have agreed to marry Barry not out of duty but because I love him. I will no longer have any claim to the throne when I leave after Charlie and Erin's wedding. So you two better get at making an heir after the wedding." Said Caitlin

Charlie looked at Erin who was not meeting his eyes. He knew that she had been acting differently as the date of the wedding got closer. He also noticed that she was the only one that declined wine with dinner. But he had just thought that she was getting a bit nervous. He would need to talk to her after dinner when they could be alone.

"I am sure your brother and Lady Erin will fulfill their duty and provide an heir." Said Carla

"Mother, not everyone feels like you do that having a child is a duty." Said Charlie

"Victoria and Steven are proof of that. I don't understand why anyone would choose to have more than one child. If I had had my way Charles you would have been an only child. Especially with the way your sister acts." Said Carla

Caitlin stood up and ran from the room in tears.

"Barry, go after her. She is most likely in the garden." Said Thomas

Barry nodded and headed out.

"Carla, that was uncalled for! You just confirmed what Caitlin has always felt. That you never loved or wanted her." Said Thomas

"It is the truth. That girl needs to push aside these emotions and do what is best for her people once she is Queen."

"My mother was one of the most loved Queens in the history of the Snow Kingdom and she was kind and loving. We will continue this later in private."

Erin looked at her soon to be mother in law and wondered how such a heartless woman could be the mother of the man that was so loving to her.


Barry walked out into the garden. He didn't see Caitlin, but he did see a trail of frost going down one of the paths. He followed it and found Caitlin sitting on the ground next to a river. He walked over to her and sat next to her.

"Why doesn't my mother love me?" Asked Caitlin

"I don't know. But I know that I love you. Your brother and dad love you, and that is what is important."

"But to know what I feared is true. My mother never wanted me. She only had Charlie out of duty."

"Cait, you are not your mother. Any child we have will be out of love. You have too much love in you to not love a child you carry inside of you."

"Barry, thank you. I needed to hear that."

"Once we are married you never have to see your mother again if that is what you want."

"I might take you up on that."

Barry pulled Caitlin close and gave her a soft kiss.


Edward Clarliss made his way through the woods to Zoom's camp. He didn't see his leader. But he could hear the cries of a girl coming from the warlord's tent. He smiled to himself. If everything goes to plan then it would not be long before it would be the princess that Zoom made cry like that. Not that Clariss had not made girls cry like that in the past several months. In fact his favorite had been a girl barely of child bearing age he had until a few weeks ago who died when she got the hold of a knife and cut her own wrists. Just then Zoom or as he was known to the Royal family Hunter Zolomon walked out of his tent wearing only his pants. He spots Clariss and waves him over.

"What do you have for me?"

"My Lord, Princess Caitlin has returned."

"That was expected. Her brother is getting married in three days."

"Yes but the Prince of the Central Kingdom has come with her and it will be announced soon that they are to marry."

"Then I will have to make sure the stupid prince does not live to take the woman that is mine from me."

Clariss smiled. He was looking forward to watching Zoom destroy the Royal family.