A/N: I ended up writing the battle a little quicker than I anticipated so I'm glad I'm getting to update already! Just 3 chapters (this one included) that you're getting today, Tuesday and Wednesday...

I also reconsidered reshuffling my timeline and made some changes for the better (Thanks, Curse-04... Finally listened to something you suggested two months ago... oops.). I think I am aiming at 50 to 60 chapters total but could be a little more too...

I also want to thank all the people who have had to hear me moaning about writing these chapters for over a month! (Not naming names because I am worried about forgetting some) But thank you for all the advice and encouraging words, it is truly truly appreciated.

Thanks for the beta for the following chapters, megonagall410 and two additional amazing beta-readers, because I REALLY needed some encouragement for this.

Ginny lay nose to nose with her husband, who was still soundly to sleep. She would have left him to sleep if they did not have a full schedule ahead of them. She reached out and softly caressed his cheek. He stirred and his eyes fluttered open.

"It's almost time to get up," she told him. "Morning, my King."

He smiled. "Morning."

She kissed him softly, her hand still stroking his cheek.

"Did you sleep well?" he asked.

She nodded. "Yes. You?"

"Exquisitely," he told her. "You did tire me out," he told her with a grin.

She laughed. "I did tell you having a Knight in your bed would be a bit of a challenge."

He pulled her close and chuckled as he placed a kiss on her shoulder. "I have been training really hard!"

"It did pay off." She kissed his ear and then his temple until she reached his lips. She sighed against his lips. "We really do need to get up now. Otherwise, Neville will have to come in here to tell us to get off our arses and I can assure you he does not want to do that."

Harry glanced under the sheets. "That's probably for the best." Then his hand went up her waist, caressing her breast.

"My dearest Henry, don't start with that."

His hand paused. "Don't call me Henry," he groaned. "Ginevra." He pulled the covers away and kissed her breast. "Molly." He kissed her other breast.

"Don't say my mother's name with your lips there," she muttered.

"Cedrella." A kiss to her stomach. "Prewette."

Her hand covered where he was going to kiss next. She shook her head. He placed a soft kiss against her thigh instead. She let her head drop back onto the pillow.

He pushed off the bed and stepped out of it. "Come on, my love. Out of bed, we need to get to breakfast."

She would have retorted but she was too busy staring at his ass.

They got dressed quietly, they did have to get going with their day after all. As Harry moved to knot his undershirt, she swooped in.

He nodded, already knowing what she wanted to do. Her hands moved to knot it neatly. Eyes focused, hands steady. She adjusted it a little until she nodded approvingly to herself. "There."

"Thank you." He kissed her softly as her hands rested on her waist.

She moved out of his arms quickly. He put on his vest as she finished up getting ready too. Then she fished the dagger from under her pillow and attached it back to her leg.

Harry watched as she adjusted her dress. "Are you ready?" he asked.

She nodded. He offered his arm and they walked down for breakfast together. Her brothers were already at the table.

"Morning," Ginny greeted them as she sat down.

Harry sat down beside her. "Morning," he greeted too.

"Morning," Bill said, looking at the two of them. "Welcome back."

"Did we miss anything?" Harry asked.

Quick glances between the brothers made Ginny pay attention too. "What did you do?"

"Well, we didn't want to stop the party so we got a few more drinks — no more Firewhiskey, don't worry— and uhm..." Charlie smiled. "We got Neville drunk."

Ginny's face broke into a smile. "Good. He promised me."

Harry frowned at her.

"To have a drink," she clarified. "He's been so busy all week he could hardly really join in the festivities."

"Everything was decent," Bill clarified. "And we left Viktor alone."

"That's probably a good thing," Harry said. "You never know with those Durmstormers." He glanced at Ginny as she began to quickly work down her breakfast.

"Final training today," Charlie noted.

Bill shook his head warily. "It feels weird for the moment to be here even though I have been trying so hard to achieve this."

Harry nodded as he prodded around in his plate. The tension seemed to have been rising steadily with everyone. "Indeed. This will decide history."

Bill looked up at him abruptly, blinking. He let out a weak laugh. "That doesn't make me feel better at all."

"Sorry."

Somehow Ginny had already cleared her plate and rose from her seat. Harry looked up at her in surprise.

"I need to get changed," she clarified, signing at her dress.

"You know training isn't for another hour, right?" Harry told her with a frown.

She nodded and bent down to place a kiss against his temple. "I am going out before then."

Harry looked at her as she walked off and then looked at her brothers. "Leave it up to Ginny to go out for training even before training commences."

A few of her brothers chuckled at his comment as they calmly continued breakfast, not in an equal rush as their sister.

Harry and her brothers walked out onto the field, meeting the guards there. The wind was turning icy, a little foreboding for the battle. Ginny stood beside Alastor.

"Everyone will have to go up against Gwyn today," Alastor informed them. "You can duel against each other and I'll call you up when it is your turn"

No one really seemed eager to go up against Gwyn. The guards had mostly fought against each other up until this point.

"King Harry," Alastor said. "You can go first."

He walked towards them. At least if they started duelling, he'd warm up a little. He pulled his sword out and faced her.

She moved so quickly that he had almost missed it. His sword moved a little too slow and he was already walking backwards trying to avoid her swinging sword. He thought about the training, how to see his own advantages. As he jumped aside for another attack, he brought his sword down from the top. She was quick to adjust and she was still winning, but not as easily as before. She ended up hitting him on the thigh and while he was still reaching to protect his leg, her blade was already at his neck.

"Good. Good work, both of you." He dismissed Harry, who found a guard to fight against.

Alastor immediately called the next person to go up against her. She didn't even take a breather, ready to face her next opponent.

Harry had a bit more success with fighting the guard and managed to win against him eventually. Then he moved on to someone else to fight. All the while Ginny was taking opponent after opponent and winning every time. Some fights were closer calls than others and Bill almost won against her, but she still had the upper hand.

After two hours of fighting, Alastor told them all to stop and come closer.

"I know fighting against Gwyn is tough, but I want you all to be prepared. It assures that you are ready. Opponents will vary. Some will be young and eager for a battle, and some will be experienced and hardened by war. It won't be a pretty sight and it won't be easy."

"I can't tell if he's trying to lift our spirits or not," George muttered.

Harry bit back a smile.

"There will be blood. And pain and you will be cold to your bones. But you are brave young men who have chosen to fight with your King."

"That's a little better," George commented.

"And you have trained well and hard. I am proud of you all." He nodded to himself. "If I am not available to give you commands, you refer to Gwyn. But above all, be vigilant and use your common sense," he spat. "Go inside, warm up and rest well. Tomorrow is an important day."

Harry was about to turn but he noticed Ginny gesturing for him to come closer. It was the same hand sign she had used in bed yesterday and he almost blushed as he remembered it.

"Let's try again," Ginny said softly as the guards trod off inside. "I want you to win."

Harry looked at her for a long moment. "And what if I can't?"

Ginny didn't reply. He nodded and took out his sword. Alastor stepped back to allow them space. Harry started the attack, hopeful it would help him win, but to Ginny it was all the same. A shove to his ribs a minute later knocked the wind out of him. Ginny didn't give him one second to recover and though he tried to move, she was faster.

She backed up and waited for him.

"Why?" he asked her.

She didn't open her helmet, but he knew she was looking right at him, eyes focused. "It would make me sleep better."

She was worried he'd die. And she knew if he could beat her, he'd stand a better chance on the battlefield. That is why she could not go easy on him.

She told him to try again. He approached her and waited for her to make the first hit in the hopes of hitting her when she was off-balance, but she was too stable on her feet and dodged him easily before getting upright again. He had been too cocky, assuming it would work and so she had an easy win.

He walked a few paces away from her and turned around.

She approached again and he barred the attack. Once, twice. Then his foot swept under hers and she had to swing her arms to regain her balance. He pushed her back and she stumbled, then fell backwards and he eagerly put the blade at her throat. He had won.

She opened her helmet and beamed up at him, her eyes proud. He smiled back at her.

"Can we go inside now?" he asked her.

She nodded and he pulled her up.

The majority of the guards were too busy warming their butts by the fire, so Ginny didn't have any trouble sneaking back into their room. They both undressed to their underwear. Ginny poked at the fire to help the flames grow.

"We are going to freeze our arses off, aren't we?" Harry asked, holding his hands up to the fire.

She nodded. "We can't afford this battle to take more than a few days. They're in a cosy castle, we will be out in the open. Toes fall off, people get sick... the quicker we are, the better." She stepped a little closer to him and wrapped her arms around him. "And you need to sleep really close together, naked, to exchange body heat and keep warm."

"Aren't I lucky you're with me?" he said, eyeing her body. "Would hate to snuggle up close to a guard."

She chuckled. "Trust me, if you're cold enough, you would."

"How did you manage? Because something tells me you weren't lying naked among the men," he told her.

She looked at the fire. "I took on fire duty during the night. I would get a tent close to the fire and I'd have to get up at night to keep it going. Then I could heat up and sleep under plenty of furs. Short nights but it beats freezing to death."

"Every time I am surprised by the things you've been through, the measures you had to take to keep yourself safe." He shook his head. "It isn't fair."

"Life isn't fair." She met his eyes.

When the fire had heated them enough, they sat down on the couch.

"I wanted to talk to you about the battle." Her legs folded up as she turned towards him. "If things are starting to go south, you need to leave and come back here. This country needs its King," she told him sincerely.

"What?" he asked in disbelief.

"If you see we are losing, and we are dying. You leave us and go home."

"That would go against everything I stand for," he told her firmly. He wasn't even going to consider it.

She shook her head. "You need to live."

"So, I leave behind my wife, the people I swore to protect, my men, my troops and I wear a crown I couldn't deserve?" He frowned at her.

"Harry, please."

He locked eyes with her. "What about our vows, the 'for better or worse', what about loyalty?" He paused and looked at her.

She looked down. "I can't lose you."

He closed his eyes and breathed in slowly. "Then why are you asking me to leave you?"

Her expression was torn when she met his gaze again. She remained silent.

"Coming back here a coward...? Telling the mothers their sons died while I fled? Leave you to rot in Bellatrix's hands?" He rested his hand against her cheek. "I won't do it and you can't ask it of me."

"You know..." Her eyes danced over his face. "You know I won't stop until she is dead, or I am."

He nodded his head softly. His forehead settled against hers. "I know."

"And I can't ask the same sacrifice of you."

"You're not." His nose pushed against hers. "You're not. I am a King and I choose what battles I fight. This is my choice. I stand by it. We fight together. And if we die together, we die together."

"Okay." She nodded and let out a big sigh. "I'm not used to having personal stakes in a battle. And I have way too many in this one."

"You're our best fighter," he said and kissed her cheek. "Just keep moving forward and the rest will follow." He searched for her lips. "We will fight, and we will win." His lips pressed against hers.

She leaned into him, lips sliding over each other as her hands came to his face. They were searching for comfort, for reassurance. Their time together seemed fleeting and they did not know what the battle would bring.

As they arrived at the field where the troops were gathering, Ginny grew hopeful - the numbers were good, and the men looked ready to fight. If she had her armour on right now, she would have dismounted and walked along the tents but as Queen, it was better to survey them from her horse. Harry looked over at her and she smiled reassuringly.

As they made it to the back of the camp, men gathered around them. They got off their horses and met Alastor.

"It's looking good, doesn't it?" the Head Guard said.

Ginny nodded. "Never seen an army this size."

"They don't have this many men, right?" Harry asked.

Alastor slowly shook his head. "I don't believe so. And there is a famine... It should be in our favour."

"They know we're coming, presumably they've been fed in the meanwhile?" Harry asked.

"Some of those boys grew up hungry, you never make up for that," Ginny said. "They will have maybe a month of good food, if that. Our troops are much stronger."

"Good." He breathed out. "Good."

"I think you have to speak now," Ginny said, pushing him towards the little podium that was set up.

He nodded. "I know. I don't like it."

She took his hand and stepped onto the podium with him. She offered him a reassuring smile.

Harry nodded and faced the crowd. "I want to thank you all for coming here to join in this fight. Some of you have come quite far, travelling from Orion and the Moonlands."

Ginny looked over the crowd, observing the men as they listened. She took notice if they looked determined, scared, arrogant...

"War is terrible, and you must know that I would not ask you to go to war for me if I didn't think it was absolutely necessary. People have been starving for too long, and their ruler does not care. Taxes too high, food reserves confiscated... Those of you who live close to the Harpian border know how many refugees we get, especially in the winter months when they run out of food."

Mumbles of agreement went through the crowd.

"It is time to bring a change and I know the people who ruled it fairly for centuries will do so again. We do not go to war for personal gain or glory. Fifteen years ago Queen Bellatrix usurped the throne, it is time to take it back." He looked over the crowd. "I can't guarantee all of us will come out of this unscathed. Some of us may not come back at all but know that when we win, we will be saving more lives than we lost. Children won't have to go hungry again, men and women won't be slaughtered at a cruel ruler's whim. It's them we do it for."

"We fight for Harpia!" a man in the front yelled, lifting his sword into the air.

His cheer was quickly repeated as the rest of the army joined in, a voice three thousand men strong determined to go to battle for them. Ginny tried to take it all in.

As Harry finished his speech, Ginny walked over to Alastor.

"And?" he asked.

She pointed at the man who had just started the cheer. Then she pointed at four more. "They all seem confident and ready to fight." She pointed at another guy. "Not him."

Alastor frowned. "Why?"

"Too arrogant," she told him.

Alastor grunted in disagreement. He pointed at the man and asked him to come over. He stood up and pushed past some other men and Ginny refrained from offering Alastor a knowing look.

"What's your name, young man?" Alastor asked.

"Winston, Sir."

Ginny decided to join in the conversation. "Ever been in a battle before?"

"No, your Majesty."

"How long have you been training?" Alastor asked.

"Since I was fifteen. It will be five years next month." He didn't divert his gaze once as he spoke.

Alastor nodded slowly. "If they had ten men and you had fifteen, how would you approach a fight?"

"Spare five men and approach one-to-one. If any of the first fall they can be replaced by one of the five others, the opponent will have already been tired out," Winston said.

"Thank you. You can go."

Winston trod off back to the group. Ginny waited for Alastor to speak.

"No instinctive consideration for skills or equipment," he thought aloud.

"Putting ten men at an unnecessary disadvantage to potentially spare five," Ginny added.

Alastor looked at her sternly. "You were right, are you happy?"

She offered a small smile. "Just want the best, and he wasn't it. Arrogance and bravery are very different things."

"What are you discussing?" Harry asked as he joined the conversation.

Alastor looked at him. "Some potential squad leaders. Your wife is giving me a run for my money."

Harry nodded in understanding. "That comes naturally to her."

She clicked her tongue at him and he met her eyes with a daring smile. She turned to Alastor. "Your experience and insights are invaluable to the cause. Just not cocky young men who would get every man behind him killed. He may be a good fighter; he would not make a good squad leader."

"I agree," Alastor grumbled. "I just wanted to give him a fair chance."

Coming back to the castle, Ginny remained in the stables to do a last inspection of the horses. She crept into Red's old stall to check on Sepio. She knew Hagrid was going to check them too but she did not want to leave anything to chance. She went over every horse quickly to assess whether they were healthy. She made sure all her brothers' horses were done.

She bowed to Prongs. He was only coming along as a spare but he needed to be ready too. She got into the stall without difficulty now and he was happy to let her check him. "You're a little stubborn, you know that?" she mumbled.

She moved on to Red and Lightning and spent extra time there. She could tell Red knew tomorrow was the day. She spent time braiding their manes so they would stay out of their way and wouldn't get stuck on anything.

"Lightning, when in doubt, just follow Red's lead. She knows what she's doing." She petted his head. Then focused on Red. She was by far the easiest horse to check; to her this was routine. She came back up to Red's head. "All good?"

Red's nose bumped against her hand in confirmation. "Good girl." She placed a kiss on her head. "Cuddle close tonight, the next few days will be challenging but you are going to do great."

When she went back inside, she found Neville and Harry in his office going over a few more details. Ginny walked in and joined.

"Realistically, if you win, how long will you be gone?" Neville asked.

"A few weeks at least," Harry spoke. "There will need to be a coronation, charters to put in place..." He looked at Ginny. "We could come home in between but if not needed I think it's better to remain there."

"If anyone tries any funny business, you and the remaining guards have to guard the castle," Ginny told Neville.

"Indeed," Neville said, not sounding too sure.

"They would have to come either through Harpia, where we are, or through Orion or the Moonlands. It would never be many, and I am confident you can fight off a few assailants. But if I am over in Harpia they may prefer to stab me there," Harry said a little too chipper.

"And I'll stab them instead," Ginny added.

Neville looked down. "We are not going to talk about if you don't win, right?"

Harry sighed. "If we both die, there is no heir... it would be up to the council."

"Yeah," Neville said. "Just don't die, okay?"

"Okay," Harry replied with a chuckle.

"For you, the Queen, we have readied the carriage. There will be a change of clothes in there for you and otherwise just supplies. People will be too busy worrying about the battle to notice you switching I think," Neville told her.

She smiled. "Thank you. At least now that we're married, I worry about it less. They can't do anything about it at this point, can they? And it is no longer my livelihood." She glanced over at Harry.

"If you want to prance around half Knight, half Queen, have at it. I am not going to stop you," Harry told her.

She laughed. "Right. Well, let's win a battle, then we'll see about that."

"Okay, that's all for me then for today." He stood up and turned to Ginny. "We talk before you leave."

"Of course, bye Nev."

Ginny watched Neville leave and then turned to Harry. He waited for her to speak.

"All horses are okay and ready to go. Ours have their manes already braided so it's out of their way. Hagrid will saddle them in the morning but I'll check if it's all secure before we get into battle," she told him. "You do not want your saddle to twist mid-battle, trust me."

"Yeah, I made that mistake once as a kid when I was convinced I was old and wise enough to saddle my own horse." He shook his head. "At least Lightning was a good sport about it."

Ginny bit back her smile. "Yeah, I bet he was. Did you get hurt?"

"Only my pride," he replied. He stood and came around the desk. "I noticed Dean was quite distressed... he's not the one going to war."

Ginny closed her eyes for a moment and then shot Harry an amused look. She wondered if he was going to finally figure it out. "Because someone he cares very much about is going..."

Harry's brow furrowed as he mumbled to himself. "But there are hardly any women..." Realisation washed over his face. "You said they worked for me...then it must be either kitchen staff or a guard..." He gasped. "It's Seamus!"

She smiled. "Yes. Yes, it is. I don't know if they're actually together, but clearly something is going on there."

"Should we do something?" Harry asked her. "Can't Seamus stay? He can remain here with Dean."

Ginny took his hand and patted it. "While that is very endearing, if we leave every man home that has a loved one waiting for them, we would not have much of an army. And the guards all got to choose. Seamus decided to join himself."

"You're right," he agreed. "I just don't want to cause them pain and it's personal because I know them."

She kissed his cheek. "I know."

The evening was spent together in the sitting room. All her brothers were strewn across the couches. Ron was in a chess battle with Hermione. Ginny lounged together with Harry, enjoying the fact they no longer had to watch themselves. Her head rested in his lap as he silently brushed his fingers through her hair and caressed her cheek. She had considered dragging him upstairs early, but she wanted to enjoy the evening in proximity of her brothers as well.

"How's married life?" George asked.

Ginny opened her eyes and grinned at Harry before looking at her brother. "Pretty good."

Harry nodded in agreement. "Pretty good."

Bill rose from his seat and cleared his throat. "Before we all head upstairs, I want to say something."

Ginny sat up and settled beside Harry to listen to her brother.

Bill righted his shoulders and took a deep breath. "One way or another, tomorrow we are making history. I am so grateful that all of you are here with me and ready to fight. I am sure our parents would be proud of all of you. While being King was my birthright, you know I don't do it in search of power." He looked at every sibling in turn as he spoke. "I do it because it is our home, and that is where we belong. I do it because the people need us. If I can be half the King our dad was, I know I've done well. If I can rule like Harry does, I know I will have ruled fairly and justly."

Ginny reached for Harry's hand and squeezed.

"Which brings me to my next point," he said. "Harry, I can never thank you enough for what you're doing for us. I know you think it's simple, because it is the right thing to do, but I know many who wouldn't do this. I will be in debt to you for the rest of my life, however short or long it may be." Bill turned to look at Ginny now. "Dearest youngest and strongest," he said, making the rest chuckle. "If you hadn't started working here, this never would have happened. You took a chance on him and on us and it has led us here. I felt as the youngest you needed the most protection and I felt like I failed you for a long time..." He paused for a moment, recollecting himself. "But of course you prevailed despite your hardships. You made this possible and you are the best fighter we have. I don't want to put all this weight on your shoulder but you offer to carry it all the same. Thank you."

Harry squeezed her hand now and she smiled at him, moved at her brother's words.

"If I die but we win, whoever is next in line will have the right to the throne," he said, glancing at Charlie.

"I'll do it," Charlie said. "But don't expect me to make any heirs, I won't do that."

This comment lifted the mood in the room somewhat.

Bill bit back his smile and nodded. "I am sure someone else will take on that duty." His eyes danced over the remaining siblings.

"Hey, don't look at me," Ginny said. "I already have the pressure of Ignotian heirs, someone else can take care of the Harpian lineage."

"If I live," Bill continued. "I'll take on all Kingly duties so let's just hope we don't have to worry about it otherwise."

George shifted a little closer to Ginny. "Bet he wants to do some 'Kingly duties' with Fleur." He wiggled his eyebrows.

She had the greatest difficulty suppressing her snort as she hid her smile behind her hand. "Don't test him," she whispered back. "I think it's a bad day to get on his nerves."

George hummed a reply and stayed silent.

"I am hoping for the best, I know we are as ready as we will ever be. Thank you and I love you all."

Ginny looked at George again. "I haven't had a chance to properly test out the dagger you added on the back, but it doesn't feel instinctive at all. How do you put it in again?"

"You don't," George clarified. "If you have your sword and your dagger, that last one is only a last resort. You can tuck it back when you're out of danger."

She nodded. "I suppose you're right."

Bill neared her and pressed a kiss against her hair. "Goodnight."

Fred gasped. "Oh, so she gets a goodnight kiss because she's a girl?" He crossed his arms. "That's not fair."

"Agreed," Ron said with a daring look at his brother.

Bill sighed but kissed both Fred and George on their heads. Then he went to Ron. Percy objected some but then gave in.

Charlie pulled Bill down and placed a kiss on his head instead. "Goodnight, brother."

Bill righted himself and turned. "Harry, I assume you're good?"

"Don't worry, I've got it," Ginny said, squeezing Harry's side.

"Such a relief," Bill said. "Don't stay up too late!"

"Shall we go up too?" Ginny asked Harry.

He nodded and she stood up and pulled him along.

As soon as Harry closed the door, she pulled him firmly close to her.

"Careful," he said as his body collided with hers. "Spare your strength." He leaned down and kissed her lips.

Her fingers moved with ease to undo the buttons of his vest and unknot his trousers, she didn't even need to move away from him.

"This is part of my training," she said happily as her hands squeezed his hips.

Harry let out a low groan. "Who am I to deny you training?" His hands landed on her waist and turned her around. This time he only needed a moment to undo the knot and he was quick to pull her close again as he pulled her out of the dress.

By the time they made it to the bed, they were completely undressed and eagerly slipped under the sheets.

"I love you," Ginny said later as Harry placed a kiss on her shoulder blade while he held her to him. Her back rested against his chest, legs entangled lazily.

"I love you too," he replied.

Her fingers found his as they rested against her skin, sliding into the gaps in between them. Every moment since the wedding had been bittersweet but she revelled in it anyway, taking in every piece of Harry as much as she could. Just in case the worst would happen.

"You can't look for me on the battlefield, that's how you get distracted and die," she told him, though she knew she would be looking for him and her brothers every moment she could pause. "Just keep going, move forward and trust I'm there."

There was a moment of silence. Harry's fingers pressed against her skin a little harder. "Okay."

"Try to catch some sleep, rest is important," she said then.

He kissed the nape of her neck. "I sleep better with you near."

"Me too," she replied, settling against him and she could feel she was already dozing off.