Author's Note:
Hello, anybody still reading this! Thanks for sticking with me to this point. This is another OC chapter, so enjoy!
-Tangent
A drop of sweat fell to the floor as the prince of Thais lashed out at his training dummy, striking it precisely where he had been aiming. His practice sword, weighted and made the same as his real weapon, bit into the compacted straw of the neck and stuck there, quivering. He left it there as he turned, brushing his hair out of his eyes.
As always, his thoughts returned to his most contemplated topic: His brother.
Are you doing well, Nicholas? Are you safe? He supposed Ean would have mentioned in his letter, delivered by an elven owl a day ago, if his brother had been hurt. Still, he couldn't help but worry.
The letter had been accompanied by a much longer one, written by an elf named Elkian, who was in a position of authority in Verashema. It had been wondrous news to hear that another nymph had been freed, and that the city stood ready to aid them in the war. Already, Elkian had told him that a boat of nearly half the remaining warriors had departed, and would be arriving at the city in a few days. Uthar had promptly sent a letter back, thanking him for his contributions and sending a ship to open trade negotiations.
As for Ean and his party, they had already sailed for Happily Ever After. Uthar hoped they would return within the month.
"Sir?" One of his guards opened the door to his training room. "Princess Ella and her group are approaching the city gates."
Oh, damn. I forgot Ella was coming today. As it was, he knew he wouldn't have time to change before they arrived at the palace. He would just have to freshen up and hope it was satisfactory. It wasn't as though he cared what some of the Candar nobles thought of him, but Ella… perhaps that was different.
Realizing he had been standing there for at least a minute, lost in thought, Uthar blinked and swiveled around.
"Tell the gate commander to let them in, after verifying their identities. And assemble the guards in the throne room. I'll meet you there."
"Yes, sir." The man said, and vanished. Uthar caught his breath and headed for the door on the opposite side of the room, which contained his own personal bath.
After a few minutes, he emerged, much more presentable than he had been before. His hair was fixed, and he had straightened his clothes, humble as they were.
It'll have to do. I doubt Ella's wearing fancy clothes anyways. He left the training hall, leaving his sword stuck in the wooden dummy, and descended the four flights of the stairs to the ground floor. As he entered the throne room, a squad of guards immediately fell into place on either side, and he nodded to them as he stepped forward towards the door.
The doors opened smoothly, and the guards on either side of the main aisle saluted as their guests appeared. Uthar had to hide his sharp intake of breath as Ella entered first, wearing traveling clothes that nevertheless fit her well. Behind her came her guards and a few assorted nobles and scholars. Her eyes lit up as she beheld Uthar, and a smile graced her fine features.
"Welcome back to Thais, milady." He spoke, bowing at the waist to the princess opposite him. She curtseyed in return, her eyes moving over him as she took in his appearance.
"Thank you, Prince Uthar. I have no doubt we will enjoy our time here." The words were formal, both of them accustomed to events such as this. Still, he knew the real Ella, his friend, lay just underneath the surface.
"Are their rooms ready?" Uthar asked his head servant, who was standing nearby and awaiting orders.
"Yes, your highness. Do you wish me to show them to their rooms?"
"If you would, please." Uthar responded sincerely, and the man smiled at him before stepping forward.
"We will attend to your luggage momentarily. For now, I will-" Uthar stopped paying attention as Ella stepped closer to him, her smile never wavering.
"Caught you off guard, did I?" Her voice was low, and Uthar returned her smile.
"I'm afraid I was training, and forgot you were arriving. I have to make time when I can."
"Perhaps we can continue our lessons later, then." Ella said, eyes twinkling with humor. After her kidnapping, Ella had asked Uthar to stay in contact with her via letter, and he had agreed. The contents of the letters were not particularly important, but if it helped her feel safer, Uthar was all too happy to oblige.
It's not like I didn't like the idea… A month or so ago, Ella had asked Uthar if he would be willing to train her in basic swordsmanship, and he had agreed, seeing the logic behind the request. He had already made several trips to Candar, each lasting a day or two.
"Of course, after you get settled in. Will you meet me in my study in an hour?" The princess nodded slowly, before turning and following a servant up the stairs.
On the other side of Thais, the market was bustling, as it usually did in the late mornings. Nobody payed much attention to a man wearing a hood and cloak, who slipped through the crowds as though he was made of water. As he approached an alleyway, he glanced around before slipping down it and out of sight.
After making absolutely sure he was not being followed, he wove through the backstreets of the city until he arrived at a nondescript house, same as any of the others. He knocked three times, in a certain pattern that he knew would be recognized. A moment later, the door opened, and he slipped inside.
The house was decorated much the same as any of the others, with the usual pieces of furniture and comfy chairs. It was a shame that the owners had passed away, leaving it free for the taking. The man removed his cloak, revealing short brown hair that matched his emotionless eyes perfectly.
"Shadow? That you?" He rolled his eyes slightly as he entered the living room, where his companions were sitting. Although he wouldn't consider any of them to be his close friends, they were all sworn to the service of their queen, and that was good enough.
Crescent sat in a chair to his immediate left, her eyes locking on to him as he entered. She was a calculating, practical woman who he had never seen miss a shot with a bow. Her black hair fell to her shoulders, and she smirked as he nodded at her. Bear was next to her, the leader of their happy little band. He was big and muscular, and one of the better swordsman he had seen in the Queen's army. Despite his muscle, the man was sharp as a whip, and he knew better than to underestimate him. Last was Snake, a diminutive man who was quick and agile. His blond hair was half covered by his hood from his place on the couch.
"Well?" Bear said. "What did you find?" Shadow sat opposite him as he gathered his thoughts, before speaking in a voice that was slightly raspy from disuse.
"The sewers are a maze, but there's a path through. I marked the walls so the men wouldn't forget. You saw the princess arrive today?"
"Yeah." Snake said, lips curling in distaste. "Why didn't we have Crescent just shoot her from a distance? We could be done with this mission so much sooner." Bear let out a sigh.
"Because, Snake, we'd be raising the alarm. Killing Ella would be a good bonus, but we can't forget why we're really here."
"The plans." Crescent put in, eyes on the floor.
"Exactly. Commander Wart was clear: destroy any information pertaining to this ancient weapon they're searching for first, then try to assassinate Uthar and Ella."
"At least those heroes aren't in town." Snake put in bitterly. "They'd put a real damper on all of this, huh?" Bear leaned forward, pulling out a map Shadow had obtained the day before. It showed the streets of Thais, as well as the entrance to the palace.
"So, here's the plan. They'll probably have a meeting or two today to discuss the information. You'll infiltrate under a disguise, and identify the people who went to the meeting. They'll be our targets for elimination later. Find out where they keep the info, if possible." Shadow nodded slowly, running calculations about times and people in his mind. "Then, we bring in the extra soldiers hiding in the woods on another night and strike."
"Is the uniform clean?" He asked Crescent, who nodded. They had chosen this location for another reason: the house next door was owned by a servant who worked in Thais Castle. Crescent had gone to greet him, and once inside, had promptly killed him and hidden his body in a cupboard. He was due to return to work after lunch, which gave Shadow a little over an hour before he had to head back out.
Normally, you'd notice that a different person had taken his place. But with this strategy meeting between cities, a lot of servants are being hired, which means nobody will even notice another new hire. A little makeup, and I'll blend right in.
"I'll get ready, then. Snake, help me with the disguise?" The man nodded slowly and followed him up the stairs.
This'll be easy, same as every other mission we've done. After all, they're the best of the best.
Uthar had just sat down at his private table when the door to his rooms open, and Ella walked in. She was wearing a casual dress now, and Uthar had to admit that it looked nice on her.
"May I join you? Your guards said you were about to eat?"
"Of course." Uthar said, getting up to pull out a chair for her. He knew it wasn't necessary, but his mother would have beaten him for not doing so if she was there.
"So, how are you doing?" Ella said after pouring herself a glass of water and filling her plate with various foods. Uthar swallowed his own food before responding.
"I'm alright. Running the city isn't ever easy, but the harvest looks to be good this year."
"I'm glad to hear that. And what of Ean? Has he sent you any messages?"
"Aye." Uthar said. He told her briefly about the progress that Ean and Iya were making, causing Ella to smile.
"Good. Hopefully by the time they free Aisling, we'll have found a way to get over the mountains surrounding Eredar. My scientists are still working on it, but hopefully soon…" Uthar nodded as he cut his meat apart with his knife and fork. "So much depends on this weapon… What can we do if this is all a myth?"
"Even the Snow Queen is not all-powerful." The prince said after a moment. "Her energy will wane eventually."
"I suppose that's true." Uthar set his fork down on his plate before looking directly at Ella.
"And how have you been?" Ella hesitated, and he saw a flash of something cross her face before it vanished.
So, she's not healed all the way…
"Well, I suppose. Candar doesn't need much guidance from me, except for in matters of state."
"Speaking of which, did you ever meet with that emissary from Seri?" Uthar said with a smile. "Goddess, that man did like to speak."
"Oh, I know." Ella replied with a grin. "But we managed to iron out the details all the same. His soldiers should be arriving in a week or two, and I've sent our first convoy through the teleporters Ean discovered."
"That's good." Uthar said, and the rest of the meal passed with pleasant conversation between the two royals. When they were finished, Uthar stood up and gestured to a door on the other side of the room.
"We still have some time before our meeting with the other researchers. Would you care for a walk?"
"I'd like that." Ella said with a small smile. The door that led to the kitchens creaked open, and a servant came in, pulling a cart used to carry dishes.
"Oh, sorry, sir!" He said in a voice that was raspy. "I didn't realize you and the princess were still here." He was a younger man, someone Uthar estimated to be around twenty-five. His hair was black, and his features slightly pudgy.
"It's alright." He said, patting the nervous man on the shoulder. "We were just leaving. Are you a new servant?" The man stiffened slightly, but nodded.
"Yessir. They hired more since the guests from Candar are here. I'm supposed to be helping serve drinks at any events too."
"Well, thank you for your help." The prince told him sincerely. "I appreciate it. We have a meeting later today, so I expect I'll see you there."
"As do I." Ella put in, nodding gratefully to the servant. They exited through the far door, and Uthar held out his arm so that Ella could slip hers through it. After all, it was proper etiquette when dealing with a princess.
As if that's why you're doing it. Uthar forced the thoughts out of his head as they ascended a set of stone stairs, before going through another door and out onto a wide balcony that went around the castle. From here, they could see over the whole town. He glanced at Ella to see that she was smiling at the sight.
"I like visiting." She said quietly as they leaned against the stone railing. "It's so different here, but in a good way."
"I like it too." The prince admitted. "But it'll be better when I'm not the only one running it." Ella seemed to sense that he was holding something back, and leaned a little closer to him.
"You miss him." It wasn't a question.
"Of course I do. I know Nicholas is safer with Ean than anywhere else, but still… I miss his crankiness."
"Perhaps he's changed." Ella offered, and he nodded.
"I expect so. Ava's probably thrown him off the ship once or twice by now." He turned to look at Ella, leaning a little closer as he did.
"Your turn. What's really going on, Ella?"
"I… What do you mean?" The princess said, turning her head away from him. Her hair, the beautiful color of straw, shimmered in the light.
"You're hiding something." Uthar responded quietly. "I just wish you'd let me know what it was."
"I…" She seemed almost scared now, and he tried to give her a comforting smile.
"You know I'm not going to judge you, right?"
"I know that." She said quickly. "I just feel like a… coward. My nightmares haven't stopped." Uthar knew what she meant. Ever since her experiences in the forest, Ella had suffered from nightmares that forced her back into the same scenario. Although she wouldn't tell him what exactly occurred in the dreams, he could gather enough to know that it must have been a truly harrowing experience.
"Your physician can't help?"
"I… haven't told him." The woman confessed, and Uthar let out a sigh.
"Ella…"
"Look, I get it." She interjected, cutting him off before he could say something. "But he won't be able to help. If I could just figure out why they keep happening…"
"What do they show you?" Uthar said in a near whisper. "Why are you letting yourself continue to be haunted by those memories?" Ella seemed to pale at the question, and she shook her head almost immediately.
"I can't. Please, Uthar, just leave it alone." Her voice was so small that the prince had to agree.
"I understand. Let's talk about something else, shall we?"
"I'd like that."
Shadow let out a breath as he entered the kitchen, carrying another round of dishes from the knights' daily meal.
"Ah, thank you, Cedric." The dishwasher said as he set the plates and cups down upon the counter. "The head servant told me to tell you that you are to help serve drinks at the meeting that is starting soon."
"Oh, thank you." He replied automatically. "In the main room?"
"Correct. You'd better head up there." He nodded and exited the room, climbing up a set of stairs. Subtly, he slipped his hand into his pocket to make sure his knife was still strapped to his leg.
All good. Nobody suspects a thing. He had been trying to slip into Uthar's room, but had been foiled by the presence of the prince and princess eating lunch at his table. Thankfully, Uthar had been friendly, rather than suspicious.
"Oh, good." The head servant, an overweight bald man said as he entered the main hall. "The guests are being seated right now." He gestured with a flabby hand to the door Shadow recognized as one of the larger rooms used for social occasions. "You'll ask them for a choice of drink, and pour it for them. When you're done, come outside and stand near the door. If they want more, I'll tell you. Understood?"
"Yes, sir." He said softly, moving over to the cart containing a variety of alcohol, as well as a cask of water.
This'll be my chance to identify the nobles. Shame I can't listen to all of it, though. I could get more information that way.
"Okay, go ahead." The servant told him after a moment. "And please, don't drop anything." Pushing the cart in front of him, Shadow straightened his uniform as one of the other servants held the door for him.
The room inside was furnished with a large, round oak table that had fifteen guests seated around it. They were all wearing nice clothes, and a large pile of books and paper was scattered around the area. At the head of the table, Uthar and Ella were waiting patiently for him to serve drinks before beginning. Figuring it was customary to begin with the princess, he wheeled the cart around to her.
"What to drink, my lady?"
"Just water, please."
"Water for me as well, thank you." Uthar said next, and he nodded as he poured their drinks. In the back of his mind, he was already memorizing the face of every person at the table, as well as any names he could remember based on his reconnaissance.
Have to be careful… Serve drinks first, and then get out. You'll have another chance to look at their faces. As he poured the last drink for one of the Candar researchers, he bowed to the table before exiting the room swiftly. As he left, he could hear Uthar beginning to address the group.
"How long you think this'll go on?" Another servant asked from his position near the doors.
"I dunno… A couple of hours?" With an internal sigh, Shadow leaned against a wall and waited patiently until he was called again.
This will all be worth it in the end…
A couple of hours later, Shadows exited through a door leading into the gardens and made for the gates of the castle. The guards let him pass without question, and it took him another quarter of an hour to reach their base of operations in the residential district.
As he came through the side door, locking it behind him, Crescent appeared in the kitchen. He pulled off his hat and jacket, hanging them on a hook attached to the wall.
"How'd it go out there?" Her hair was slightly disheveled, as though she had not touched it for a few hours.
"Fine. You make contact with the soldiers?"
"Course. Snake and Bear will be back in a moment." He stepped into the living room and took a seat, taking the opportunity to remove his boots and place them next to the couch. A few minutes later, the other half of their group entered quietly.
"So, what's the verdict?" Bear said after they were all sitting. Shadow pulled some papers from his pocket, unfolded them, and laid them out on the table.
"I was able to snatch a few of these on my way out, but the rest are getting locked up somewhere. If I had to guess, they'd be with either the prince or princess, since they've got the most security." Bear examined the papers closely before passing them to the others.
"Well, it looks like Commander Wart was right. They've definitely got more than rumors and myth here."
"So we destroy the rest." Snake said calmly. "Burn them in one of the fires."
"What about the names?" The man asked Shadow, who nodded.
"I don't know all the names, but I've got their faces memorized. And, they're all staying the north tower near the prince's quarters."
"Good man." Bear said. "Crescent, how are we looking?"
"Soldiers are ready to go, all thirty of them. Equipment and gear stowed away for transportation."
"Only question is, when do we do it?" Snake asked. Bear contemplated for a moment, eyes still on the papers.
"… We do it tomorrow night. Tomorrow, I want Shadow and Crescent bringing the main force in pairs into the sewers. The guards don't patrol there, so it'll be safe. We know the guard changes at midnight, so we'll do it around eleven, right when the current shift is laziest. They'll be looking forward to some rest, and that's when we strike. Good so far?"
Shadow nodded, as did the others.
"Now, the sewers don't go into the castle, but we can come out inside the main gate, at least. Shadow, you remembered to get a copy of the servants' key?"
"Of course." The man said, holding it up. "Kitchens should be empty by then, except for a servant or two."
"Good. You'll neutralize them, then we'll bring the others in slowly. We take the servants passages to the north tower, and we go up while the others hold the stairs. We find the papers and researchers, dispose of them, and get out if we can."
"What about Uthar and Ella?" Crescent asked. "I'd certainly like the chance to put an arrow through them."
"I know, Crescent. If we can manage it, we'll kill them too." Bear gritted his teeth, and Shadow saw the lust for blood in his eyes. "These pigs'll get what's coming to them."
"They certainly will." Snake snarled, and Shadow merely grunted in assent, his senses tingling as they did before the start of every big mission.
"Then it's settled. Tomorrow night, this rebellion will die."
Ella let out a very unladylike cough as she fell back, clutching her sides. Although the swords she and Uthar were practicing with were padded with foam, such a blow still hurt. She had changed into a set of training clothes, and her hair was pulled back into a ponytail.
"Sorry." Uthar said almost immediately. "Still, you did better that time."
"It's fine." She wheezed. "You shouldn't hold back. A real opponent would."
"I suppose there's some sense in that." The prince agreed, kneeling down next to her, handing her a cup of water. "Drink."
Always so concerned about me. The thought made her smile as she took a sip of the cool liquid, immediately feeling the ache subside. Uthar offered her a hand, and she marveled at how soft his hand was as he pulled her to her feet.
"Ready to go again?" He said, smirking slightly.
"Of course." She said, tossing him a wink as she moved a few feet away.
Keep your guard up… Wait for him to strike first. The first lessons he had taught her had implanted themselves in her mind, as he began to circle around her. She turned to face him as she did, keeping the tip of her sword angled towards the prince at all times.
Then, with sudden speed, he swept forward, his blade sweeping towards her waist. She had a moment to admire his movements before she swung her own weapon upwards, deflecting his to the side.
When you see an opening, that is your chance to counterattack. She thrust out, and Uthar leapt backwards, avoiding the tip of her sword narrowly.
"Good!" He said, before moving in once more. This time, he did not back off, as she force to step back as he struck at her five or six times. She managed to deflect the first few strikes, but the last knocked her sword from her hand, and Uthar raised his weapon to her throat.
"I believe I win." Even as he stepped closer, she lashed out with her foot, tripping the prince and sending him to the ground. His weapon left his hand, and she pounced on it, seizing it and bringing the blade to lay across his throat. Uthar froze, and she was worried for a second that she had hurt him.
"What was that?" He said finally, and she smiled.
"An opening." His eyes met hers, and she saw several conflicting emotions in them.
I wonder… Suddenly, she become aware that she was all but laying on him, with a sword across his throat. She blushed as he pulled away, and Uthar chuckled.
"You never cease to amaze me, Ella."
"You were going easy on me."
"Still, I wasn't prepared for you to knock me down." The prince admitted. "If that was a real fight, you would have won. And, that's another lesson worth learning: If you aren't better than your opponent, you might have to use a couple tricks to obtain victory."
"I'll remember it." The princess said as she got back to her feet. "Ready to go again?"
They continued practicing for the better part of an hour, until Uthar finally lowered his sword.
"I think that's enough for tonight. It's already past ten."
"Agreed." She said, unstrapping her sheath from her waist and placing the weapon in the rack along the wall. Uthar did the same as he brushed the sweat from his forehead.
It's not fair… He's good-looking, and talented too. He's not making this easy.
"Stop that." She muttered, and the prince raised an eyebrow.
"Stop what?" She glanced at him in confusion for a moment before deducing that she must have spoken out loud.
"Oh, it was nothing. Just thinking out loud."
"I see." Uthar smiled slightly as he held open the door. "Well, I'm off to bathe, but ask the guards if you need anything, alright? There's two outside your door, and I'll be just up the stairs."
"Thank you, Uthar." She said, and the man gave her another smile before vanishing up the stairs. She leaned back against the cool stone wall, her heart still racing for more than one reason.
"I need to get this under control…"
The woman stirred, blinking slowly as the world came back into focus. She was leaning against what felt like wood, and she turned her head slightly to see that her wrists were bound with rope.
"No… Not again…" She struggled, but her strength was not enough to break her bonds. Around her, her captors were moving, indistinct shadows that took the form of monsters. Water fell onto her face from overhead, and she knew she was lost.
And then, the drumming of hooves came to her through the air.
"No, no… Please, make him stay away…" A horse burst into the clearing, and the man atop it sliced out at the two closest monsters, feeling them.
"Ella!" Uthar cried as he ran towards her, cutting down monsters as he went. But for every enemy he slew, two more blocked his path, and the prince of Thais was forced to back away.
"Get away!" He bellowed as he burst through their ranks. "Let her go!"
"Uthar, run!" She tried to scream, but no sounds came from her mouth. The prince was close now, close enough that she could almost touch him…
And then, as it always did, one of the shadows thrust a spear into his back. Uthar's eyes widened, and he let out a choked cry as he fell. Her bonds fell away as the shadowy monsters disappeared, and Ella lunged for the prince, already knowing that she could not save him. Blood stained her hands as she turned him over, and Uthar met her eyes.
"Ella… Why didn't you save me?…" His eyelids closed, and the prince of Thais moved no more.
"I tried." She whispered, despair crashing down on her. "I tried, Uthar!" But there was no response, and she was left to hold his body as the rain poured down upon her. And then, darkness engulfed her, and when she opened her eyes, she was no longer in the forest. Instead, she was running up a flight of stairs that looked oddly familiar. There was shouting and screaming below her, but she did not dare look behind her.
"Come on!" Uthar shouted as he yanked her through a door and slammed it. "Are you okay?" She could not speak, but the prince was no longer looking at her. They were standing in a room, a large open space that seemed to stretch away into infinity. From somewhere far away, lightning cracked, and the wind howled.
And then, Uthar's head snapped back as a hand emerged from the shadows and cut his throat ruthlessly. She screamed, and the sound echoed through the air before the knife found her too.
"Ella!" Her eyes flew open, and she let out another cry as she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Let go of me!" She was half-covered in some sort of cloth, and it wrapped around her as she tried to wrestle free of it.
"Stop, Ella! It's only me!" The voice gave her pause, and she stopped just enough to finally realize what had happened. She was in her bed at Thais Castle, and Uthar was kneeling next to her, his face almost white with fear. Beyond, she could see that her doors were open, her guards were silhouetted in the dim light.
"U-Uthar?"
"He's not dead… He's alive… He's alive…
"It's me." He was wearing his nightclothes, robes that looked a little too fancy compared to what she was used to. He wrapped his hand around hers, looking into her eyes. "Another nightmare?" She did not respond. "Ella?"
"Yes." She murmured. She knew she should feel relieved, happy that he was alive, but she felt so cold inside.
It's your fault.
"Hey, stay with me." Uthar shook her gently. "I've already called the doctor."
"No." she managed to say as she blinked a few times. "I don't want him to come."
"Ella, be reasonable. The guards heard you screaming and couldn't wake you, so they called me. At the very least, let him get you something to help you rest."
"No. I can't…" She said again, her body still shaking. Uthar must have felt her tremble beneath his hand, because he moved closer.
"Ella, why? What did you see?"
He got hurt because of you.
"I don't want to talk about it. Uthar, please." She met his eyes, and saw conflicting frustration and concern. "Just go back to your room. I'll be fine." Hurt flashed in the brown orbs, and she felt a stab of it in her own heart as the prince moved away.
"Okay. Okay." He got up, and she heard him speaking to the guards. "Don't let anybody in, unless she asks for it. Understood?"
"Yes, sir." The two men said quietly, and Uthar closed the door behind him.
I'm sorry. I never meant for it to be like this.
She did not sleep any more that night.
"Are you ready?" Bear asked Shadow finally, stretching his arms. "We should start suiting up. Night has almost fallen." A day had passed, with Shadow gathering any and all information he could about the rotation of the guards. It was hard work, though, since a normal servant wouldn't be interested in things like that.
"Of course. Give me a minute to gather my things, and we can head to the sewers." Rising from his chair where he was sharpening his throwing knives, Shadow moved into the adjacent room and opened a box they had brought from Shaenlir. It contained their battle armor, a perfect blend of offense and stealth.
Feels good to put it back on again. He knew he shouldn't rely on the armor, but it had served him in countless missions, and he had no doubt that it would do so tonight. After donning the dark, padded armor that made no noise when he moved, he looked into the mirror. A man, eyes overshadowed by his cowl, glared back at him. His throwing knives were strapped to his chest, and he had two longer daggers on his waist. A wide variety of tools were resting in sheaths along his legs, and a cloak covered the whole package, making him look normal.
When he went downstairs, he found Bear already geared up, with his heavier armor attached. He had a sword and shield on his back, as well as a hammer for breaking down barriers. He too pulled a cloak over himself, hiding the armor from view.
"Ready?" He asked again. Shadow merely nodded, and the two men stepped out onto the street.
It took the better part of half an hour to make their way into the sewers unseen by anyone, and another fifteen to navigate to the meeting point. When they arrived, they found thirty armed men, all armed to the teeth with swords, shields, axes, bows, and other weapons besides. Some raised their hands in greeting as Bear entered, and he nodded to them. Crescent and Snake emerged from the back of the group, clad in their own black armors. The men were all expertly trained in fighting and stealth, and were some of the finest warriors in Shaenlir.
"An hour until sundown." Snake said quietly, and Bear nodded.
"Nobody saw?"
"Nobody."
"Right. Everyone make sure your gear is good to go. We'll start moving in two hours. That gives us another hour to move through the sewers to the castle. You all know your jobs?" The soldiers nodded, faces grim at the prospect of battle. In fact, many of them knew that they were not going to come back from this mission alive.
We might not either. Shadow reminded himself. We're not invincible, no matter how hard we try. He checked his weapons one more time before sitting down on the floor. Might as well get comfortable…
The clock had struck five past eleven when a small grate in the ground of the castle's garden was pushed upwards, revealing a dark figure. Shadow slipped out and into the shade of a bush, surveying the situation. The guards were patrolling the battlements, but nothing out of the ordinary. About twenty meters away, he could vaguely make out the servants entrance to the palace. He shook a wire he had dragged with him when he emerged, a signal for "all clear." Crescent emerged from the sewers next, and she moved up a few yards to the next bush. Raising his hand, he gestured to the door. They were to secure the kitchen first, and if all was going as planned, alert Bear and the men to enter one at a time.
They made their way to the door quietly, and Shadow inserted his key into the lock. It clicked, and he pushed the door open every so slightly. The candles were unlit, and he smiled ever so slightly under his mask. The pair moved slowly into the kitchens, making sure there was nobody else sneaking around at that time of night. When it was clear, he signaled Crescent, and she nodded, vanishing out the back door.
It took fifteen minutes for the men to make their way inside, each moving painstakingly slow so as to not get caught by the guards above them. When they were all assembled, Bear hissed:
"Lead the way. Check corners, and kill anybody who might raise the alarm." The soldiers nodded, and Shadow crept out into the servant's corridor. These smaller passages ran parallel to the main halls, so that the servants could move around without interrupting the flow of traffic in the castle. It was an efficient design, he had to admit.
Thais Castle was dark, and they encountered nobody as they moved near silently through the halls, checking each passage before moving down it.
Perhaps it was unluckiness, or just fate acting against the man. Regardless, a door in front of him opened, and a man wearing pajamas stepped out with a yawn. He saw them, froze, and opened his mouth to speak.
In an instant, Shadow was upon him, slicing his knife across the man's throat and catching the body as it fell.
"Good reflexes." Crescent murmured from behind him. "Just chuck him in his room." Moving quickly, the assassin laid the man on his bed, leaving blood to leak out onto the sheets and floor. With any luck, he wouldn't be discovered until morning.
Fate is a fickle thing. My apologies.
When they reached the north tower, Bear moved to the front of the group.
"Two sentries each for the prince and princess. Two more at the top and middle. We take them out quietly." The other three nodded. "I want the rest of you to break into each room on the way up. Kill whoever is inside, and hold the stairs. If the alarm is set off, shout up the stairs and we'll hear. Once we have the papers, kill anybody you see." There were several grins among the men, and they began moving up the stairs in unison.
The first two guards, situated at the halfway point of the tower, were easy to take down. A knife from Shadow, and an arrow from Crescent were enough to put them down. Two men shoved their bodies against the wall, and they continued upwards.
And then, shouting and screams from below. Bear whirled around, and Shadow grabbed for his knives.
"Snake, Crescent, get up the stairs and find those papers! Shadow, help me hold them off!" He leapt down the stairs, and Shadow followed, heart racing at the thought of an imminent fight. Snake went the other way, followed by their silent archer.
No way out, now.
Ella had begun to stir when a hand clamped over her mouth and nose, pinning her to the bed.
"Don't move." An unknown voice snarled in her ear. She opened her eyes to see a shadowy figure lying on top of her, a knife held in his other hand.
No…. no, no, no… Uthar? The others?
"Where are the plans for the weapon?" The man demanded, leaning closer. Her heart leapt into her throat at the words. The Snow Queen had sent assassins, and they had not thought to…
"I said…" The man said again, squeezing her throat tighter. "Where are the papers?" She thrashed, but could not break his grip.
Somebody… please, help… A distant scream came to her ears, and she jolted. Who else was being killed right now? How many were there? She pointed to the cabinet next to her bed, and the hand relaxed ever so slightly.
"Sorry, Princess, but we'll be taking them off your hands." The door squeaked as the man pulled it open, and she acted. With a violent motion, she jerked upwards, slamming her head into where his face should have been. There was sickening crunch, and the man let out a cry as he fell backwards. She scrambled free just as he rolled of the bed, and the knife flew out of his hand. She dove for the blade, but so did her, and their hands closed around it at the same time.
"Not… so… fast." Her attacker growled as they fought for the weapon. She refused to let go, knowing that doing so would surely mean her death.
Stars filled her vision as he slammed her head into the bedpost, hard. She fell back, stunned, and the man wrenched the knife free from her grip. Distantly, she saw the hand holding rise up, and knew she was about to die.
Uthar…
"You filthy harlot!" Her attacker shouted. "I'm going to rip your heart out!" The knife fell, and she closed her eyes. There was an odd ripping sound, and she felt her opponent torn away from her and flung against the stone wall. He let out a gasp, and was silent.
"Ella!" A hand grabbed her, yanking to her feet, and she opened her eyes to see the one man she needed more than any other. Uthar, his face contorted with anger, a naked blade in his other hand. Against the far wall, she saw a man wearing a strange black armor, blood leaking from his body. Behind Uthar, she saw two guards facing down the hallway, weapons and teeth bared, The haze cleared, and she felt the situation hit her quite suddenly.
"They're after the research for the weapon" She gasped out. "We have to get them out of here!" Rushing over to the cabinet, she seized the stack of papers she had placed earlier.
"They're below us. My men are coming, but they've blocked the other passages to the tower. We have to go up, do you understand? Stay close to me, and run if anybody gets past me and the guards." Uthar's face was set with anger and determination, and she nodded.
"Good. Now, we have to-" Behind him, there was a cry and a squelch as the guards at the door collapsed, knives protruding from their throat. A split second later, another shadow leapt into the room, already flinging another blade at Ella.
She would have died if Uthar hadn't slashed it from the air with his blade before stepping forward to face the unknown assailant.
"You can't have them." He snarled, before leaping at the figure. They produced two long knives from their belt and parried his blow, leaping to one side at the prince continued his onslaught, his sword gleaming in the dim light.
What do I do? Ella's gaze flew around the room, looking for anything she could use to help distract Uthar's opponent. There! She leapt across the bed and seized a candlestick made of solid silver. Behind her, the prince let out a cry as one of the knives grazed his abdomen, sending a spatter of blood to the floor.
"Uthar!" She shouted even as she flung the candlestick at the armored man. It struck him in the shoulder, and he stopped just long enough for the prince to stab him through the stomach. Their attacker let out a cry, which was cut short by Uthar's second blow.
"Go, go!" He said, leaping to the doorway and peering out. "I'll be right behind you." Ella ran to the doorway, still clutching the papers in her hand. The stairway was empty, but she could hear shouting and the clashing of steel on the floor below them. Suddenly, a third shadow appeared from around the corner, coming up the stairs.
"There!" She heard a female shout as a bow came up, and Uthar yanked her up the stairs to her right even as she heard the bow release. There was a sharp impact, and she thought she felt the man behind her stagger slightly, but he kept pushing her upwards.
"They've killed them!" She heard from below, but she did not stop to look for the speaker. Up they went, and now there was only two floors between them and the roof. A clatter of metal, and the two guards from the roof came flying down.
"Prince Uthar!"
"Hold the stairs!" Uthar commanded them. "I will join you as soon as Ella is safe!" The men ran past, weapons raised, and disappeared from sight.
When they reached the top floor, Uthar pushed open a familiar door. It was the training room, where they had been practiced the night before. A single candle burned in the window, and Ella panted as she placed the papers on a table.
"What do we do now?" She asked, but Uthar did not respond. "Uthar?" She turned to see him leaning against a wall, blood dripping from his side. "Uthar!" She shrieked as she ran towards him. He had been hit by an arrow, but why?
He was protecting me. She recalled his sudden movement on the stairs, and knew he had shielded her body with his own.
"Why did you-"
"Wait here." Uthar said quietly, adjusting his grip on his sword. "I must help my men. Hide if you can, just please… stay in here." His face was turned away, and she could not see his expression.
He means to go back out there.
"You can't leave." She said desperately, feeling tears begin to well in her eyes. "You'll die, Uthar."
"Maybe, but that's yet to be determined. Promise me, Ella." The prince said, and a drop of water slipped down her cheek.
"Don't go. Please, don't sacrifice yourself for me."
Not again.
"If I have to die for you to live, so be it." The prince said, tenderly, finally turning to take her hands in his. Her eyes met his, and she saw an emotion in them that was new, and yet, familiar to her.
"I love you, Ella. I always have." And having said that, Uthar pressed his lips to hers. Her tears began to fall in earnest as he pulled away, knowing full well that it was him saying goodbye. He rose, and clenched his jaw as he turned towards the door, sword ready for one last battle. And then, the door to the hallway was blown off its hinges by the head of a metal hammer. Splinters flew everywhere, and a monstrous figure entered the room, blood dripping from several holes in the black armor.
"Finally. The prince and the princess."
"You are already doomed." Uthar said quietly, raising his sword slightly. "Surrender, and I may not kill you."
"My comrades are dead. The rest of my men will be soon." The man said, removing his helmet and dropping it onto the floor. "I know I will die tonight, but I will take both of you with me. The Snow Queen shall have her justice."
"What kind of justice is murder?" Uthar spat at him. "Because we do not bow to her icy fist?"
"Your rebellion dies tonight, Prince." The man merely said, and the two leapt at each other. Ella was frozen, rooted to the spot as the two men fought, trading blows. But it was not a fair fight. The man was less injured and better armed, and fear clutched at her heart as Uthar was pushed back.
Please, stop… Her heart seemed to twist into a knot as the man punched Uthar in the side, right where he was already wounded. The prince howled and fell backwards, and his sword skittered out of his hand.
"I expected more out of you." The soldier growled, raising his blade over Uthar's head. "Too bad my companion shot you first."
"Stop!" Ella shouted, swinging the sword at the man. He leapt back, more out of surprise than anything else. He saw the blade in her hand, and burst out laughing.
"That's funny, Princess." He moved in, but she swung again, aiming for the legs like Uthar had taught her. He parried it, and she barely had time to get her sword up again before he slammed his blade against hers. The man shoved her back, and she stumbled.
I won't let you have him.
Ella felt pain burst through her as he deflected her sword and left a cut along her right leg. A second later, his fist slammed into her side, and she fell with a cry. The blade left her hand, and she felt him leap at her.
"Die!" He snarled, and she merely smiled as Uthar came up from behind the man, holding the sword she had slid to him. One hand wrapped around the man's throat even as the other drove the weapon directly into the man's back. He staggered, and the sword fell from unfeeling fingers as Bear passed into the void a moment later.
"We did it…" Uthar said slowly, before falling back to the floor, next to the man he had killed. Blood was staining his clothes, and Ella scrambled over to him.
"Hold on, Uthar. The healers are coming." She did not care that her nightgown was torn and bloody as she placed her hands over the wound, putting pressure on it.
"It might be… easier to let me go." The prince groaned, his face ashen and covered in sweat. "I'm not sure I'll make it."
"You will." She insisted. "The man I love can't be killed so easily." Uthar's eyes widened, and a smile spread across his face.
"Is that so? Well, maybe…" He coughed, and Ella heard footsteps on the stairs. A second later, the knights of Thais burst into the room, only to find one dead man and two living ones.
"Get a healer!" The commander bellowed. "And secure the rest of the castle!" A minute later, or perhaps it was ten, a middle-aged woman was grasping Ella's arm.
"Come, Princess. The healers will tend to Prince Uthar."
"No, I want to stay-"
"I insist." The woman said sternly. "You are no good to him in this state. You're bleeding, and you may have a concussion."
"I-" Everything that had happened seemed to catch up to her brain at once, and she heard shouts as the world faded around her.
Princess Ella IV was leaning against the battlements, a solemn look on her face. Although her body had healed from the attack a week ago, it would take much more time for her mind to heal. The scar on her leg was proof of that.
Wood creaked behind her, and she whirled to see Uthar limping out onto the balcony. He was wearing plain clothes, which did not disguise the bandages wrapped around his waist. His hair was limp, but his eyes had a familiar gleam in them once more.
"What are you doing?" She hissed, moving over to support him. "You're supposed to be resting, remember?"
"Who says I'm not?" The prince said, faking a look of sincerity. "I can't visit my dear friend Ella once in a while?" She rolled her eyes to let him know exactly how unimpressed she was.
"You had to climb up stairs to get here."
"True." Uthar said, wincing slightly. "And I will admit that they did not do me any favors." She saw his teeth clench, and she stepped away from the balcony.
"Come sit down before you pass out again, and I have to call the healers." She helped him back into her new rooms, situated in a more secure location at the center of the castle. Uthar had been moved right below her, and guards were posted around their doors and through all the hallways.
We should have seen it coming.
Ella helped the prince onto her bed, where he leaned against the backboard while she crossed to the end and sat down.
"Now, what is so important that you almost killed yourself getting up here?"
"I wanted to see you." Uthar said simply, and the words made heat rise up into her cheeks. That wasn't fair.
"And yet, I could have come down to see you.' She countered, trying her best to look intimidating and not let her voice squeak.
"That's true. But I need the exercise. Now, stop avoiding the question." Uthar said firmly. His tone became more gentle as he spoke: "How have you been sleeping?"
"I…" Ella hesitated. After everything, it seemed silly not to trust him with something so trivial. "Not well. My nightmares still come, but they've changed. Now…" She paused trying to collect herself. "Now all I see is you, being shot by the arrow and stabbed by that man. Over and over…" She closed her eyes, and felt the bed shift under her slightly. "We should have expected the Snow Queen to send somebody. And now, innocent people have died." Suddenly, she felt an arm wrap itself around her, and her eyes shot open as Uthar pulled her body to his. When he spoke, his voice was quiet.
"I know. We should have been ready. When I was recovering, all I could think about was how you almost died. I nearly failed you, Ella." Her eyes widened, and she felt tears beginning to well in them.
"That wasn't your fault. You took an arrow for me, remember?"
"I should have been more alert." Uthar said again, and she wrapped her arms around him to return his hug.
"Do not blame yourself. It's only because of you that either of us are still alive. That assassin would have killed me, and then you would have followed." Uthar let out a slow sigh before pulling away from her. The prince leaned back against the bed frame, yawning.
"I suppose." He glanced at her for a moment before his gaze moved up to the ceiling. "Ella, do you-" He stopped frowning, and she raised her eyebrows.
"Do I what?"
"That night…" Uthar said slowly. "I told you that… well…" Ella knew full well what he was talking about, and she flushed before looking away.
"I remember." She said in a near whisper. "Did you mean it?"
"Yes." Uthar said instantly. "A thousand times over." Ella turned to face him, a small smile on her lips.
Finally… I never thought I'd get him to admit it.
"Well, I suppose that is a good thing."
"And?" Uthar prompted, his eyes gleaming with something other than light. She moved closer to him, so that she was leaning against the bed frame next to him. Ella studied his face for a moment, eyes moving over his jawline and hair.
"I love you too, Uthar Pendragon." The prince smiled at her, and for the second time ever, reached down and captured her lips with hers.
How long it went on like that, she could not say. Half of her was afraid that she was doing it wrong, while the rest of her knew she was doing it right, based on Uthar's reaction. When they pulled away, Uthar yawned again, forcing her to mirror the action.
"I'm tired." She said, rubbing her eyes. "I think I'll try to take a nap."
"That's good." Uthar said encouragingly, making to get up from the bed. However, Ella reached out and touched his arm, making him halt.
"Stay with me, please." The prince looked into her eyes and saw the love mingled with the fear. He nodded, and Ella adjusted her pillow so that her position comfortable. The last thing she felt before drifting off was Uthar's arm around her, and she smiled.
Two hours later, she opened her eyes, surprised at how much better she felt. Next to her, Uthar had evidently fallen asleep as well, his arm still draped over her. When she moved, the prince stirred, blinking a few time as he opened her eyes.
"No nightmares?" He asked, and Ella blinked.
That's right. I didn't have any while I slept. A feeling of joy seemed to bubble up in her stomach as she smiled at the man who loved her as much as she did him.
"No nightmares."