Two Sides of the Coin
Chapter 8
Windmire
Mckenzie marched alongside the cart, no longer wanting to remain cooped up inside the canvas walls with a hostile Charlotte, a smarmy Shura, and a silent Benny. The awkwardness of being around them on its own made her want to dive out as soon as the weather wasn't atrocious. Corrin made it a little more bearable for the few moments she was in the cart, but one of the Princess's siblings always managed to pull her away before long, leaving Mckenzie to deal with the unpleasantness of her saviors. Anna and Sam weren't much better either, mostly because they did not say much of anything to her. Their focus was on the road, and whatever small talk they were making with each other.
I wonder if they're more than friends. She hummed, tilting her head, a fleck of snow landing on her cheek as she strolled along. They obviously know each other better than they know the others.
Mckenzie's eyes flicked to Sam and Anna. Sam was lounging in the passenger seat, hood pulled over his eyes, arms folded, apparently asleep. Anna, meanwhile, sat slumped in the driver's seat, reins resting in her lap as she kicked her feet up on the railing between her and her horse.
That doesn't even look comfortable. Mckenzie grimaced as she watched Anna yawn then roll her head back, looking at the gray sky for a moment. The amount of joint pain I would have-
When Anna's eyes fell, she smirked and nudged Sam awake.
"We're here."
Where's here?
A sharp breath shot from Mckenzie's lips when she bumped into Prince Leo's back. The magician glared over his shoulder at her. Her sheepish smile was more than enough apology, she hoped. Either way, he turned around and kept walking toward… nothing.
Where is here? Mckenzie wondered once again, her eyes flicked across the flat horizon, searching for any sign of civilization through the cold fog that had encompassed the road.
Then, through the fog, she spotted a lantern. A few more lights flickered to life within the mists, creating a golden glow. Other merchant carts trundled along the road, their wooden wheels running through well-worn troughs in the gravel road. Most of them were as gray as the land around them. Boring, dull, and completely uninspiring in both appearance and wares. A stark contrast to Anna, whose red ponytail bounced whenever the cart hit a bump in the road.
Still, despite the uptick in traffic on the road, Mckenzie did not see any civilization. No houses, no shops, just people. She arched a thin eyebrow, puzzled.
"I don't see anything."
"That's the point," Leo replied before nodding ahead.
The mists remained thick, but Mckenzie could see something strange about them up ahead. It was as if they swirled, pirouetting down to the ground. Sucked into a funnel by the air. It took her a second to realize why, and it only sank in when she watched a lantern ahead of them disappear beneath the ground.
"Windmire is underground?"
"Sort of," Leo remarked, completely unenthused by the conversation. "It's more like a pit than an underground fortress." He blew out a long sigh. "But, it's home."
The road sloped downward. Anna clicked her tongue, urging her horse to slow down so the cart didn't go careening off the side. They passed through a small tunnel.
When the tunnel opened, Mckenzie's jaw fell open.
Leo was right when he described Windmire as a pit, but that seemed to only be correct in the physical sense of the word. In reality, this place appeared to be something out of a dream. One long road crawled along the sides of the pit, narrow and winding. Alongside the road, dug into the earth, were shop entrances, houses, apartments, and services. The further down they ventured, the larger and fancier they became, until the facades of these "homes" sprouted pillars and carved entryways.
Soldiers in chainmail armor, wearing Nohrian colors, purple and blue, weaved their way past the royals, Mckenzie, and the cart. As they marched past, they gave Prince Xander and his siblings respectful bows and salutes. All of their faces were grim though, like the rest of the residents of this place.
There isn't a smile to be found here, huh?
"Amazing…"
Mckenzie blinked, realizing that she almost bumped into someone again. Corrin stood still in the middle of the road, staring up, gawking at the city spiraling into the sky around her.
"You think so?" Mckenzie asked.
Corrin blinked. "I mean- look at it! The number of places to explore; the things I could go see; it's uncountable!"
A small giggle sounded nearby. Princess Elise trotted over on her horse, a wide, friendly smile on her lips. The only smile Mckenzie had seen so far.
"Yup! That's home for you," she remarked. Her fingers drummed the shaft of her staff. "You should see it when the mist clears and the sun comes out. Oh! Or better yet, when there's a full moon and stars."
"I must admit, that is a breathtaking sight," Leo droned.
For a gigantic hole in the ground, it was impressive. After a few more terraces, the group reached the bottom of the pit. There, jutting up out of the ground like sharp spikes, were tall spindly towers made of black stone. A strong wall sat in a ring around a central keep, which Mckenzie assumed was the palace. Although, she would have been remiss to call this place a palace. It looked more like a fortress, with its robust design and lack of any decorative features. There were a few gargoyles, but those appeared to be there for intimidation rather than decoration.
This is luxury?
A heavy gate groaned open ahead of the cart, yawning open to allow the royals and their party into the Palace yard. Once inside, Mckenzie sighed, feeling a weight lifting off her shoulders.
"Finally…" She breathed, glancing around as several of the guards patrolling the palace gave her curious glances. She inched closer to the cart as Anna brought it to a stop. "Say, Anna, do you-"
"You're new and weird, so you're going to get looks. Get used to it," Anna curtly replied as she hopped down from the cart.
"Geez, Anna, do you have to be so crabby?" Sam asked as he slipped out of his seat. He patted Anna's horse before strolling toward Mckenzie.
Anna rolled her eyes. "Need I remind you how I treated you when we first met?"
"Those were very different circumstances."
"I don't know. Prison bars, bandits, a wild escape into the wilderness with someone who barely knew how to handle themselves; sounds pretty similar to me."
Mckenzie cleared her throat. Her burning question could not stay inside any longer.
"So, are you two like… you know?"
Sam blinked. "Huh?"
Anna burst into loud, raucous laughter; the first time Mckenzie had ever heard anything more than sharp words or grumbles from the merchant. Her question practically brought the woman to tears. She was laughing so much that, when she tried to reply, more chuckles bubbled from her lips. Instead, she walked away, shaking her head.
"What did I say?" Mckenzie asked.
Before Sam could reply, Prince Leo's voice cut through the air.
"Mckenzie, this way. Samwise, you may get some rest. I'm sure my father will speak with you later."
Mckenzie whipped her gaze to the Prince as he spun on his heel and marched toward the stairs leading to the palace doors. She looked back to Sam, but he was already gone, marching toward what looked like a barracks embedded within the walls. Shura, Benny, and Charlotte went with him, leaving her to fend for herself.
Nothing new there.
So, she followed the prince and his siblings to the Palace. The doors were open, waiting for her when she reached them. As she stepped inside, she noticed that the royals were greeted by several others who were waiting indoors for them. More retainers, if Mckenzie were to take a guess. They all chatted among themselves, letting her slip to the edge of the group, unnoticed.
That's when a loud boom sounded from the end of the hall. Mckenzie jumped. Massive stone doors slammed shut behind two tall, black thrones. A tall man, broad-shouldered, and powerfully built marched toward one throne. He wore dark robes with hints of indigo layered within. He didn't wear any jewelry, save for a golden circlet over his creased forehead. Carefully combed locks of blonde hair, graying at the roots, ran down from his scalp, and slicked back behind his head.
A woman strode in behind the king, her indigo gown sweeping against the floor as she walked. She was thin and tall, almost bony in appearance. Sharp cheekbones and a gaunt face gave her a haunted look, but her blue eyes burned as she looked at the royals. Slowly, her gaze shifted to Mckenzie, scrutinizing her. Her thin lips twitched into something close to a smile. Perhaps it was an attempt by the woman to comfort the one person who looked uncomfortable? It didn't work.
One last figure moved into the room, stepping to the side of the Queen's throne. Her eyes were serene and soft, with a gentle smile that immediately made Mckenzie feel welcome. Blonde hair ran over her shoulders, loose and free, while bangs covered her pale forehead. Unlike the royals, she eschewed the dark indigos and blacks that dominated the palace, opting for tan robes that looked incredibly comfortable. Out of the corner of her eye, Mckenzie caught Prince Xander staring for a moment before Camilla's snickering tore his gaze away.
King Garon and Queen Arete of Nohr sank to a seat on their thrones. When they did, the king cleared his throat.
"My sons, approach," King Garon said, voice rich and powerful. It wasn't a request. He demanded obedience.
Together, both Prince Xander and Prince Leo moved to the throne and bowed low at the waist when they drew near it. Their father, the King, nodded in approval.
"I trust your return journey went without incident?"
"Nothing out of the ordinary, Father. The bandits closer to Windmire have been properly culled," Xander replied, relaxing a little. Leo remained rigid.
"But?" Queen Arete asked, her sharp fingernails tapping the armrests of her throne.
Leo grimaced. "But we have evidence of a slave trade moving through our northern reaches."
The Queen's eyes narrowed. A furious snarl emanated from the King, making Mckenzie's hairs stand on end.
"Those Hoshidans…" King Garon rose to his feet. "It has to be them. Only they would dare—"
"I don't know if it is their handiwork, Father. Only my witness can testify to that, but her knowledge is admittedly spotty," Leo replied.
The King's fury ebbed. "A witness? Did you perhaps bring one of the worms here for me to speak with?"
"No, father," Leo stiffly replied. He glanced back at Mckenzie. "I brought one of their victims. My retainer, Samwise Daraen, rescued her with some assistance from a turncoat among the slavers' group."
King Garon hummed. "Daraen again?" He sank to a seat again, looking thoughtful. "Have your witness approach."
Leo looked at Mckenzie. Her cue. Swallowing hard, she stepped forward. A slight nod from Leo reminded her that she needed to show some sort of respect to the royals. So, she bowed, earning a slight snicker from the woman beside Queen Arete.
Was I not supposed to do that?
"Clearly not someone who grew up around nobility, if she chose to bow instead of curtsey," the Queen remarked, amused.
"What is your name, child?" The King asked.
Mckenzie steadied her breathing. Her mind drifted back to why she left Wisconsin for Los Angeles. She always wanted to perform in front of, and with, the rich and the famous. She wanted to be somebody. A name highlighted in lights. This world may be medieval, but this was still an audition.
"Mckenzie Jensen, your majesties," she replied, swallowing all her fear as her more performative nature finally shone through. "I hail from the land of Los Angeles, though you may have never heard of such a place."
To the side, she noticed Leo giving her a puzzled look. Lord Xander, likewise, looked a bit confused. They had grown used to the quiet, nervous girl they met, but Mckenzie could perform when she wanted to. Besides, she didn't feel as afraid, as isolated, now that she was in her element.
The King shifted in his seat, leaning forward as he peered at her. "And how is it that you came from such an exotic place to the land of Nohr?"
Mckenzie's mind blanked. How to explain inter-universe travel, if that was really what happened to her? She couldn't. She didn't even understand it herself. A nervous chuckle threatened to leave her lips, but she quelled it and forced an answer that she hoped would be satisfactory.
"Caravan," she replied. "It was my first trip and I, unfortunately, became separated during a storm. I don't know what became of the others. All I know is that those dastardly fiends captured me as I tried to get a drink from a river."
They don't need to know that I almost drowned.
"And the fate of the slavers?" The Queen asked.
"Samwise reports he killed their leader, and the group suffered enough casualties to not pursue him and his team," Leo answered. His weight shifted to and fro before he spoke again. "Samwise also requested that Mckenzie be retained as a member of his infiltration team."
Mckenzie's entire body froze. "Huh?"
The King hummed. "I don't see any reason for that not to happen. Can the girl fend for herself?"
Mckenzie braced for Leo's inevitable "no". Instead, he gave an answer that left her stunned.
"I'm sure he'll find a use for her. Samwise has proven to be a good teacher, judging by how he whipped proteges into shape."
"That he is," Garon nodded. "Very well. I'll allow it. Now…" His eyes shifted past Leo, Xander, and Mckenzie toward Princess Corrin. His stern lips formed a small smile when he saw her. "I think it is about time the Queen and I greeted Princess Corrin."
Does that mean I stay?
A gentle hand touched her shoulder, making Mckenzie jump. The woman that was by the Queen's side waved for her to follow. Mckenzie hesitated, but when Leo nodded at her, she reluctantly followed, moving with the woman toward a small door off to the side. The door led to a long corridor. The woman kept walking, moving up a flight of stairs at the end of the corridor. Halfway up those stairs, she paused beside a narrow slit that somehow counted as a window.
"There," she breathed. "I think it's a good time to let the royal family have some privacy. Now, are you well? Do you need anything?"
Mckenzie blinked. "Uh… I don't know? I mean, to be honest, I don't have a clue what's going on for the most part, and I've been that way since I got here."
The woman slowly nodded her head. Before she said anything else, she extended an elegant hand. "Emmeryn."
Mckenzie gave her a suspicious glance then took her hand, shaking it. "Mckenzie."
"We are properly introduced now, ergo we can be considered friends in the simplest of terms," Emmeryn continued. "While trust from you may take time to build, given your circumstances, I'm sure we can be of assistance to one another. Come this way."
She continued up the stairs, and Mckenzie followed. Briefly, she glanced out the slot on the wall. Torches burned across the immense walls of Windmire's massive pit. Silhouettes shadowed them out occasionally, making them flicker like sparks. It was actually a pretty sight, but one Mckenzie did not linger on.
Once at the next landing, Emmeryn led Mckenzie down a corridor lined with doors. She took her into the first door on the right. An empty bedroom. The furniture had sheets thrown over them to shield the expensive woods and fabrics from dust and decay. Emmeryn nodded.
"This should do, for now. You'll be close to me at least, which should help." She moved further into the room, heading toward the foggy window, which she threw open. "That should help with the mustiness."
Mckenzie blinked as she drifted toward the window as well. "I'm sorry, I think you missed the part where I said I have no idea what's going on?"
Emmeryn blinked. "Oh, yes, that. Well, Samwise wants you part of his team."
"Okay, yeah, so shouldn't I be where they are?"
"Do you want to be where they are?"
The directness of the question threw Mckenzie off. "God you people can be blunt sometimes," she muttered.
"I'll take that as a no. Let me guess, you met Charlotte?" Emmeryn smiled a little when Mckenzie's expression soured. "Don't take what she says to heart. Charlotte has a very… strong personality. She's like an old friend of mine. Slow to trust, but once that trust is earned it is not easily broken."
"Yeah, well I think I broke it right away," Mckenzie replied. "Not helping your rescuer when they're about to die can do that."
Emmeryn furrowed her brow. "Samwise almost died?"
"Not just him. Shura too," Mckenzie answered as Emmeryn looked out the window. Mckenzie followed her gaze, realizing she was looking down at a now crowded castle yard. The various retainers to the royal family were gathering, greeting each other, and catching up. It almost looked like a small party down there.
And Samwise was not participating. He was seated on a bench outside the barracks, head leaning against the wall, eyes closed.
"He must be waiting for Anna," Mckenzie said.
Emmeryn blinked. "Anna?"
Mckenzie nodded. "Yeah. The chemistry between those two is-" Emmeryn snickered, making Mckenzie balk. "Okay, fine! What am I missing, because Anna had the same reaction as you, only a lot louder?"
Instead of answering, Emmeryn nodded at the yard. Mckenzie frowned then looked down again.
Sam's eyes opened. He rose from his seat and moved across the palace yard, a massive smile on his face as a little toddler with a cute bob of red hair. He scooped her up in his arms and spun her around, her green dress twirling in the air, as she bellowed out a loud laugh. Trailing behind the toddler, arms folded, a slight smile on her lips, was a red-haired woman wearing leather armor. Not Anna.
Mckenzie's lips puckered. "Oh…"
"You make judgments rather quickly, don't you?" Emmeryn said.
Mckenzie winced. Despite her gentle tone, those words stung. Her lips thinned as she watched Sam wrap an arm around the red-haired woman and give her cheek a kiss, both of them grinning as they embraced. Meanwhile, the toddler sat on his other arm, looking around with wide eyes.
"I guess I do," she admitted.
Emmeryn nodded. "At least you know. That means it is a flaw, but a fixable one." Mckenzie snapped her eyes back to Emmeryn. Despite her sharp glare, the woman did not waver. "We all have them, Mckenzie, though most are different from others. I was much like you, although my judgments were born of naivete and not—"
"Being a terrible person?"
Emmeryn blinked. "I never said such a thing, nor insinuated it."
"Yeah, well, I—" Mckenzie huffed. The look of pure surprise on Emmeryn's face was enough to steal her furious momentum. "Alright, fine, I'm sorry. That was uncalled for." She ran her hands over her eyes. "Look, I'm just very tired, confused, and, quite frankly, still terrified. I don't know where I am or how I got here. So, could you give me a little break today?"
Emmeryn's gentle look returned. "Of course. You may stay here tonight, while Severa and Inigo figure out your living situation in the barracks. Given Princess Corrin brought her retainers, that may prove difficult. I'm sure something will be arranged though. Now, rest well. I must return to Queen Arete. She'll have need of me."
With that, Emmeryn left, her steps hardly making a sound. The door clicked closed, and Mckenzie was left in blissful silence. Although, the bliss did not last. For the first time, she was truly alone, and her thoughts went from quiet to loud fast.
She was in a strange medieval world. She wasn't dead. Somehow, she had escaped that fate, and an even worse one than that at the hands of truly vile slavers. Now, she was in a palace. An intruder that was a mere curiosity to most. The King was not very welcoming, even if he listened to her recounting of events with respect. She couldn't shake the feeling that, at any moment, just like on the I-41 bridge, life would pull the rug out from under her. That, just like when she left home at eighteen, the universe would decide to upend her world.
And Joey… where was her little brother? The pit she had in her stomach regarding his whereabouts still gnawed at her. Her heart hammered in her chest. Each breath felt shallow.
"One…" Mckenzie closed her eyes, drawing in a deep breath through her nose. "Two."
Her eyes opened. The window was open. Outside was gray. Torches flickered across Windmire's ascending walls. The details were getting blurry. Everything was getting fuzzy. Her breaths were short and quick.
"Three." Her voice quivered as a tear bubbled in her eyes.
There were sheets on the furniture all around her. She tried to register them but felt numb instead. She stood in a cold, lifeless room in an icy, relentless world that had already robbed her of her peace of mind. Her hands shook at her sides as she stumbled back from the window, falling to a seat on the bed. Her chest tightened.
"F-Four—"
No more counting. It wasn't working. Not this time. Tears burned down her cheeks, plopping onto the bed, washing away dust as they stained the fabric. Mckenzie didn't care about the condition of her room right now. She curled up on the bed, tucked her knees close, and cried.
She wasn't sure what else to do.
Severa uttered a heavy sigh as she closed the door to her room. As soon as it clicked closed, she reached for the leather bands that kept her twin tails in place, untying them and letting her scarlet locks free. When she first arrived in Windmire, this would have meant it was time for her to relax. Kick her feet up and do nothing. But not anymore.
Now, she had a little toddler running around the room, badgering Sam with questions about his latest mission. Thankfully, he spared her the harrowing details. He was always good about keeping little Morgan's spirits up.
Glass crashed beyond the door, making Severa roll her eyes as she started unbuckling her armor. The party was in full swing in the barracks common room, but she and Sam did not join the revelry. Charlotte, Shura, Benny, and all the other retainers could sing and laugh to their heart's content over spiced wine and mead. But not them. Morgan was more important.
Slowly, Sam rocked back and forth in a rocking chair. In his lap, his daughter looked at him expectantly.
"You promised a story," Morgan said, giving him a toothy smile.
"I did?" He leaned his head back against the chair. "Hmmm… I don't remember." She smacked his chest with her little hand, making him chuckle. Across the room, Severa shook her head and laughed as she sat on the edge of their bed, undoing her boots.
"You better get to telling her a story," Severa warned as she kicked one boot free. "She's been waiting months, you know."
"I think the slap might've jogged my memory."
"They tend to," Severa replied, making Sam chuckle.
"Story!" The little girl exclaimed.
"Patience, Morgan," Sam chided, though not seriously. He was simply happy to be holding her again. That gentle, happy look on his face alone made Severa's heart flutter. "Hmmm, what story though? What to tell?" He kept rocking, pondering.
Severa sighed as she kicked her shoes off. She stretched her legs, rested back on her elbows, then looked at Sam. "In a hole in the ground, there lived a Hobbit..."
"Ah, yes!" Sam replied, smiling as Morgan's green eyes lit up. "And it wasn't a nasty hole either, filled with worms and creepy crawlies. This was a Hobbit hole, you see…"
And the story went, but not for long. A few minutes later, right after the arrival of Thorin and the dwarves at the home of Bilbo Baggins, Morgan's eyes drooped. Seconds after that, they closed. Her breathing evened out, and her small body became heavy in his lap. With a soft laugh, Sam stopped his tale, brushed some of Morgan's red hair from her forehead, then placed a soft kiss against her cheek. Without a sound, he scooped her up and carried her toward a little cot in the corner of the room. Severa watched him tuck her in, feeling her hear leap as he treated her so tenderly. Then he stepped back, unfolded the small divider that gave them some measure of privacy, and turned around.
Severa smiled at him. "That story gets better every time."
"Doesn't it?"
"And you really livened it up for her," Severa replied as she stood up and undressed, reaching for a nightgown on a nearby coat hanger. She shrugged it on, sighing as the comfortable silk embraced her. "You were never that animated for me."
"When I first told you the beginning of that tale, we were freezing on a temple patio in the middle of a mountain range," Sam replied, causing Severa to roll her red eyes. "The shivering was the animation."
Severa scoffed. "Well…" She sauntered toward him, leaned forward, and kissed him long and slow. When their lips parted, she smirked. "I expect better now."
"Of course, you do," Sam replied as he kicked his boots off, wincing.
A flash of concern shot over Severa's face when he undid his shirt, revealing old scars, fresh scabs, and spiderwebs of purple and yellow. Another wince caused her to reach over and help him shrug his shirt free. When it was gone, he rolled his shoulders, sighing as muscles popped and groaned.
"How close?" Severa whispered.
Sam's lips thinned. "Shura had it worse."
"Naga, Samuel…"
"I'm fine, and it was worth it." He twisted to face Severa, staring into her eyes. "I… I think I found someone."
Severa arched an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"
"Not like that," Sam replied with an eyeroll of his own. "Someone like me."
It took a moment for his words to register. When they did, Severa drew back, eyes widening.
"From your world?"
Sam nodded.
"How?"
"I don't know." He flopped back into the comfortable embrace of the fur blankets. Despite the lack of a fireplace in the room, the roaring hearth in the common room managed to provide plenty of heat to their small living space. Cozy and comfortable, enough to already lull him close to sleep. "I'm still trying to figure that part out."
Severa laid down beside him, resting her head on his arm. One of her fingers brushed against a patchwork of bruising across his abdomen. He didn't even flinch. Instead, goosebumps formed on her skin as his cold fingers touched her shoulder, gently caressing it as he pulled her close.
"Was it that one girl talking to Anna?" Severa asked. "The one Charlotte was complaining about to Inigo?"
"Mhmm," Sam replied, eyes closing.
A round of bawdy laughter erupted from the nearby common room. It sounded like Inigo made a fool of himself… again. A part of Severa wanted to be there for that, but she also preferred to be here. Sam had been gone for too long.
"Did you tell her anything?"
No answer. Severa furrowed her brow, looked up, then relaxed when she saw Sam's eyes closed and his mouth slightly open. His chest rose and fell in steady, relaxed breaths. Already asleep. He was far more exhausted than he let on. Of course, he hid it long enough to make sure Morgan didn't worry about him.
Did you even sleep on the way back?
A yawn slipped from Severa's lips. Her eyes were heavy as well. She nestled closer into Sam's side. As sleep moved to claim her, her mind raced one more time.
Sam found someone else from his world. What did that mean? What was this mystery girl doing here, and why had she wound up here? Was it pure coincidence, like Sam's arrival so many years ago? Or, was something else going on?
Is it Anankos?
Questions upon questions, and Severa never liked trying to figure out the answers. These were the sort of problems that could not be solved with a fist or a sword. So, she decided to let them go for now. All that mattered was that Sam, her love, was home.
She could figure out the rest later.
Alright! Back with a new chapter, and this has a moment that I was super excited to write for a while now. Sorry for the wait on it too, by the way. I think the best pace I can manage, with work, is a monthly update for this one. Life be busy. But, I'm glad I finally got this one out! I hope you all enjoyed it as well. Let me know what you all think. And, as always, have a nice day!
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