Hello everyone! Life's been busy in the build-up to Easter for me, and I'm pretty sure it's the same for some of you. But during such a turbulent week, I'd like to extend my thanks to all those who reviewed my story: FierceDeity24, A happy reader, TheGreatAthlon5, Darklord, Clytuis, Randonfire, HumanicHedgeHog, .taylor, 1977, Ssi'ruuk, MarbleSky and pyro159. Please continue to review my story!
So here we go. Not much action in this chapter- I'm using his chapter to establish the setting for the coming conflicts. Granted I am not sharing the whole background, this is still an essential chapter in setting up certain events, alliances and possible battles. So please read this chapter carefully, and I sincerely hope you enjoy it!
This chapter is written from Gregor's perspective.
Chapter 5: Falling Apart
"All you had to do was ask!" Luxa yelled at Ripred.
"You know just as well as I do that you would have stopped me," Ripred snarled back, "Because you've become just as drunk with power as Conrad was. You can't bear to share it with anyone else!"
"Would you guys just cut it out?" Gregor sighed in frustration.
They had gathered in the war council room, which hadn't seen any life in months. Following Conrad's departure, the demand for transparency had let to meetings being held in the Council hall so that the Council was under the intense scrutiny of the public to make sure that nothing was done under the table without the approval of the Regalians. Luxa may have hated this situation, but her position as monarch was as fragile as a kite floating about in a thunderstorm.
So here they were, breathing life back into this room quite literally. Luxa was outraged at Ripred's decision to go behind her back and leak out information to Gorger, while Ripred was sick of Luxa's insistence on taking matters into her own hands without consulting him. This was just the end of the War of Time all over again. Ripred versus Luxa. The two most arrogant, stubborn leaders in Regalia choosing to lock horns over the amount of control each of them had with both unwilling to retreat or back down from their stances.
Except this time, Gregor wasn't in the mood to go around breaking a sword he had broken eleven years ago just because they were bickering again.
"You deliberately disobeyed my orders to leave that dirtbag in solitude," Luxa accused Ripred while ignoring Gregor, "You even committed high treason by divulging information to him. What's stopping me from having you arrested?"
"Oh yes please, go on and arrest me," Ripred spat back, "Throw your strongest political ally and your bond behind bars, because that will definitely protect you from the storm that's coming your way. Just don't forget to kneel and beg for my help when it reaches you."
"Keep pushing your luck, gnawer," Luxa retorted, "You think I don't have the resolve to destroy you and the rest of your miserable life? Think again. The only reason you are still alive is because of my mercy. You have been at my mercy for the last decade of your life."
"You choose to threaten me now," Ripred said, nodding his head slowly, "When you need support the most. The rebel gnawers have destroyed two nibbler colonies east of Regalia. The Fount will be at our gates soon, demanding an explanation for our battle against Gaius. Flavius' strength grows as each and every day goes by. Vikus and Mareth are dead. Your own people want you to abdicate- the same people who once adored your name and sang songs about you. You only have Gregor and me left. Which queen in her right mind would even dare to threaten one of their last two allies in the face of disaster?"
"You don't know this queen," Luxa replied, "She will tear down all who stand in her way."
"You are confusing me with your enemies, Luxa," Ripred growled, "All I have ever done this last decade has been for the good of Regalia. I could have jumped ship anytime and left you to ride the waves alone. But I've stayed on to help you. Is this how you repay those you are in debt to?"
"I must be a just leader," Luxa insisted, "I punished those who betrayed the crown and committed treason. Even if you were the most important figure in Regalia, I would still have you arrested for your crimes. The law must be obeyed in every circumstance, whether we like it or not."
"Then you are a fool," Ripred replied bluntly, "The survival of this city can never take a backseat to the barbaric laws it insists on upholding. We don't even have the ability to uphold the law if we don't even have basic security. The only way we get that is by acting above the law."
"Nobody is above the law except for me," Luxa stated simply, "I am the law. My word is final, and you know that, Ripred."
"Then you are not just a fool, but you are deluded as well," Ripred snarled, "You saw what happened to Conrad and now it's happening to you too. You have so much power in your hands that you can't bear to see someone else in control of power. You've become just as insecure as he was!"
"Don't compare me to him!" Luxa yelled, "I am nothing like him!"
"You've become too powerful for your own good!" Ripred persisted, "Don't do this alone, Luxa. You can't handle the incoming forces on your own. You might hate the truth, but the truth is that you will need all the help you are going to get!"
"Not from you," Luxa said coldly to Ripred, "Get out of this room now. Prepare to be arrested by my guards."
"You've become nothing more than a reflection of your husband. You could have been so much more than him, but you've settled for less," Ripred replied brutally, before walking out of the room.
The moment the doors closed behind him, Luxa slumped down on a chair and let out a huge sigh. The blood in her face seemed to be drained away as Gregor saw beads of sweat gather around her forehead. Luxa looked like she was struggling to balance the burden of managing Regalia on that petite frame of hers. Her shoulders sagged as if she was feeling the very weight of the task slowly crushing her.
"You shouldn't have said that to Ripred," Gregor said honestly, "He wasn't lying when he said that we need him."
Luxa closed her eyes and whispered, "Not you too, surely?"
"We can't afford to lose Ripred, as much as you hate him," Gregor told her, "For all his faults, he truly cares about saving this city, even if he doesn't care much for you. If you arrest him, we're on our own."
"So be it," Luxa replied, "If I do not arrest him, he'll think that he can continue working behind my back. I cannot allow that kind of power to go unchecked."
"He's probably thinking the same thing," Gregor pointed out, "He feels that he needs to be the check and balance against the sheer amount of power you have. You guys need to start trusting each other."
"Easy for you to say, Gregor," Luxa replied icily, "Your parents were not killed by his kind. As unique as Ripred is, no gnawer can be trusted. They always have the most devious of intentions and cannot be trusted."
"I can't believe this," Gregor said aloud, voicing his deepest and most honest thoughts to Luxa, "You bonded with him all those years ago as a show of trust and respect. Now you're gonna go to war against him because he's a gnawer?"
"He broke the law, Gregor," Luxa explained, "I cannot pardon him, or that will weaken my position as a monarch, the position he is supposedly trying to defend. Regalians are fickle- they will pounce on any opportunity to enact change, even if that means tearing me to pieces. I cannot give them that opportunity."
"You are forgetting one very important detail," Gregor pointed out, "Only the three of us know about Ripred's indiscretions apart from the prison guards. As long as we can handle those guys, the city will never even hear about his little rendezvous with Gorger."
"You underestimate how fast information travels around Regalia, even after all these years," Luxa said slightly condescendingly, "I wouldn't be surprised if people have known about his actions for a long time and are waiting for the right time to use it against me. If I don't take him down now, I risk losing any credibility left as monarch."
So this was the true meaning of being stuck between a rock and a hard place.
"I'm not trying to change your mind," Gregor replied sympathetically, "I just want you to consider the other side before you do anything."
"You think I have not?" Luxa asked sarcastically, as she let loose another defeated sigh, "Arresting Ripred also has its political consequences. I know the backlash I am going to face from the gnawer community if I go ahead with this decision."
"Delay the decision," Gregor suggested, "Don't announce it right away. Get the Regalians to focus their attention on something else and then wait to see what's the right thing to do."
"Easier said than done," Luxa answered, "I have no idea how to carry on managing this city, Gregor. Sometimes I just want to escape and run away from it all- the politics, the wars, the deaths, the grief, the hate… I want to go somewhere with you and just live there in peace. Just you and me with nothing to worry about and the whole world ahead of us."
"Sounds like a plan," Gregor said with a wistful smile.
Luxa's disconsolate expression quickly faded away and was replaced by the hardened, authoritative features of a queen who knew no fear. "The arrest of Ripred is one matter. Gorger's plan is another," she reminded Gregor.
"Don't take the deal," Gregor said immediately, "He's CLEARLY trying to manipulate you. Giving him too much power and control over the rebel gnawers is like…" He paused as he struggled to find a simile.
"Like returning a blade to a battle-starved rager?" Luxa suggested innocently, but the slight hint of mocking in her tone had not gone unnoticed.
"Look," Gregor said slowly, "Unless he does this on our terms, we're not going to come out of this deal with any kind of satisfaction. Gorger is as sly a negotiator as we're going to get. We need to think this through carefully."
"I have!" Luxa insisted, "If we get information from Gorger, we can possibly coerce him to lead the rebel gnawers into battle against Flavius. Think about it Gregor, we can forge an alliance!"
"An alliance with the rebels?" Gregor said incredulously, "They'll backstab us! They'd rather fight for Flavius then fight for us!"
"But what if Gorger can reign them in?" Luxa said hopefully, "What if they listen to Gorger like they listen to the Bane? He can convince them to fight against the schemers, can he not?"
"Gorger isn't stupid," Gregor reasoned, "He'd definitely choose to side with Flavius against us. All he wants is his power back, Luxa. We cannot agree to anything he suggests because it is always going to favour him!"
"But we can get him to sign a contract," Luxa pressed, "Then he cannot go back on his word!"
"Are you even listening to yourself?" Gregor said in frustration, "Can you hear what you're saying? Gnawers are deceitful bastards- you said it yourself! So what if there's a contract? You'll go to war against him? That's exactly what would happen anyway, with or without that contract. So why are you going ahead with Gorger's suggestion? He'll go back on his word because that is what he does best! That's what happened to Henry!"
Oops. Gregor had now just stepped down on another sensitive topic, which was sure to trigger an explosion from the time bomb in front of him. Luxa's eyes were alight with rage once more, and this time she hissed, "Don't you DARE mention Henry again, or you'll find a comfortable spot next to Ripred in prison."
But Gregor was sick and tired of backing down in this relationship. It was far too exhausting to bear the brunt of the tongue-lashing and nagging he got from her. "Is that a threat, your Majesty?" he asked coldly, as he loomed over her.
Luxa was up in a flash as she sprang to her feet and stared into his eyes. Even though she as more than just a couple of inches shorter than him, Gregor didn't feel like he was towering over her at all. In fact, he felt as if they were both at an equal height as they engaged in the fiercest staring contest Gregor had ever been involved in. Within seconds he was already feeling exhausted of staring at her. It wasn't healthy for the soul to look upon the love of your life disdainfully as if she was a crippled leper.
But it was Luxa who broke down first. Gregor thought he caught a glimpse of a tear in her eye as she quickly turned her back and walked out of the room in the most placid manner he had seen from her in a while.
For a few seconds, he stood there dumbfounded and stumped by what he had witnessed. Luxa hadn't just physically walked out on him… He felt as if metaphorically speaking, she had just walked out of their relationship. Stunned by that possible revelation, Gregor stumbled backwards, before sliding into a chair as he stared into space.
"You look like you could use some company," Ripred said as he trotted into the room, before closing the doors behind him.
"You were listening all along?" Gregor asked, still slightly traumatised by Luxa's actions.
"No," Ripred answered, "But I was loitering around the corridors. And once I saw Luxa leaving this room, I figured you two had gotten into another argument. Not unusual for a couple so close, mind you."
They sat in silence for a while, contemplating the last couple of hours, before Gregor broke the silence.
"Was it ever supposed to work out, Ripred?" Gregor wondered mournfully, "Was I ever too low-class for her? Or too independent for her? Or too different from her?"
"Stop whining and moaning," Ripred snapped, "Of course you're different! That's what makes a couple special, because you two are different. You will always have your fair share of disagreements, but that doesn't mean a relationship has failed. It's because of you that she's returned to being the strong leader she once was. I didn't recognise the Luxa who was married to Conrad. She was always sulking and tame and boring. I had to resort to arguing with that clown Conrad in order to keep myself entertained because she wouldn't say a word at meals. You made her great again."
Gregor looked at Ripred in surprise and remarked, "You actually complimented me. You said I made Luxa great again."
"Don't bother thinking so highly of yourself," Ripred snorted, "You're still a pathetic pup to me. Although… in all honesty, as much as I hate to admit it, you really did help Luxa return to who she was supposed to be."
"I don't think we can ever marry each other, though," Gregor pointed out, "The people are already starting to doubt me because I spend too much time in her room. The soldiers I talk to all say that the people are afraid of me becoming king. And especially with Luxa's position as queen coming under scrutiny right now… I don't know, Ripred."
"Oh please," Ripred replied, rolling his eyes, "Cry me a river. You're worried about marriage? Marriage is an outdated institution back in your world. Why are you suddenly so concerned about it here?"
"I'm not sure," Gregor said shyly, "Maybe it's because I want people to recognise me and Luxa as a true couple."
"Recognition may not always be the best thing," Ripred advised him, "You attract far too much attention and you make yourself a possible target for assassination attempts."
"Hmm," Gregor responded, "That's true. But back on topic, how long do you think it will take before she makes up with me again?"
"I don't know," Ripred replied with a shrug, "Depends on how the both of you handle it and perceive it. Can we stop with the girlfriend questions now? It bores me."
A sudden realisation dawned upon Gregor. "You didn't come here to spend time with me," he said slowly, "You came here for other reasons."
"Oh dear Sandwich, you're daft," Ripred responded, "It took you ages to realise that. Did you really think I came here to gossip with you like the women at the market every morning?"
"So what do you want to talk about?" Gregor asked, slightly irritated by Ripred's irreverent tone towards his relationship with Luxa, "I'm not staying here if you're going to insult me all day."
"Allow me to explain this in great detail," Ripred said, getting straight to the heart of the conversation, "You know that Luxa has been losing her credibility as queen for months already, and that the Fount is steadily becoming unhappy with her. I suspect York will launch a delegation to speak to Luxa about her conduct as queen and to renegotiate the terms of their current alliance. If Luxa doesn't reform and change, things WILL escalate and I am sure that York himself will come down to meet her. Knowing Luxa, not only will she not change, but she will confront the delegates over Gaius' allegations that they attempted an alliance with the Fount. And of course, Luxa will try to punish them for allying themselves with the rebel gnawers."
"I thought that was just a rumour," Gregor remarked.
"It's true, you stupid boy," Ripred sighed, "Obviously neither party wants to admit it yet, but the rumours seem to fit the observations of our scouts. Clawsin's scouting group has spotted Bloodclaw speaking to York on numerous occasions."
"Who is Bloodclaw?" Gregor asked, confused by the unfamiliar name.
"You must live under a rock," Ripred said scornfully, "He's Bloodblur's brother and was one of the main revolutionaries back when Regalia was in schisms and factions. So anyway, my point is that the Fount will be under heavy pressure by Luxa to dissolve their alliance with the rebels, which will result in the Fount going to war against Regalia because that's what York has anticipated all along. Even if they weren't planning to ally with the schemers, the damage has been done. Our political alliance has been all but destroyed and within a month, I assure you that we will be at war against the Fount. It will be us versus them. The nibblers, the crawlers, the spinners, the diggers and the fliers will all have to choose sides. It will be a bloody civil war, and we would have just played right into the hands of Flavius and Operation Claw."
"Why are you telling me this and not involving Luxa in this discussion?" Gregor questioned.
"Because she cannot know what our plan is," Ripred said quietly, "The only way we can avoid this bloodshed and unite the Underland against Flavius and Operation Claw once more is to defeat either York or Luxa. Both of them hold the key to the Underland's survival, and we must take it from them forcefully."
"That's not true," Gregor disagreed, "We do it like we did last time. Show the Underland that if we do not unite, the foxes and Operation Claw will overrun us."
"Unlike us," Ripred explained, "The schemers and Operation Claw have learned from their mistakes. They are willing to play a very patient game, and it begins by pitting the two largest armies in the Underland against each other. And when the dust has settled, whoever wins will only have achieved a pyrrhic victory because that is when the schemers and Operation Claw will swoop in and destroy what is left of the Underland. They will not show their hand until they are sure that the game has been won. Then they will throw all their chips in and victory will be theirs."
"Then we surprise them," Gregor recommended, "We launch an assault into the Dead Lands."
"My bollocks, you really ARE slow and stupid," Ripred said in mock surprise, "That's been our plan all along. But Gorger won't give us any information, something which I've been trying to extract out of him all this while without losing anything important along the way. I have never been closer to breaking him, Gregor. He's so close to cracking under me, and Luxa just had to swoop in like a hero and reduce all my months of hard work to nothing but irrelevant trash."
"There must be another way you can break him," Gregor commented, consciously deciding not to address Ripred's harsh remark about his intelligence level.
"I wish," Ripred sighed, "But there really is no other way. I've thought about it. And to add insult to injury, our dear queen Luxa has elected to arrest one of her most precious allies out of spite."
"I won't talk about your arrest," Gregor said instantly, "I've gotten into enough trouble with her as it is, and I have no intention of being some kind of mediator for the both of you."
"That's not important," Ripred replied, "What's important is how we go about handling Luxa. She's become far too greedy with her power and she has no idea what to do with the sheer amount of power in her hands. She might have once had Vikus to guide her and act as her mentor, but now that he's dead she's starting to feel the raw temptation of abusing the power currently in her hands. There is no one left to check her, Gregor. It's just me against her."
Gregor didn't bother responding. He could tell from the agitation in the way Ripred fidgeted that he was on a roll, and Gregor had no intention of slowing him down. "But since I'll be arrested soon," the old rat continued, "Someone else has to continue in my stead and act as that check against her. I'd like to think you are capable of that, but you do have some kind of vested interest in allowing her to have power because of your relationship with her. So that leaves me with one last option- to bring her down just before she brings me down."
Gregor immediately tensed up. This was the kind of conversation that could get the both of them in deep trouble. The old rat taking the queen of Regalia. The devil versus the deep blue sea. Gregor didn't want to imagine who was what, but he knew that this was the moment which would come back to haunt him. Even after breaking his blade all those years ago, it was always going to come down to a power struggle between Ripred and Luxa. "We never had this conversation," he said tersely.
"We never did," Ripred agreed, "But don't worry. If anybody comes close, I will have warned you by then. I can sniff their scent if they come close."
"I'm still not entirely comfortable," Gregor replied with a shrug.
Ripred leaned forward and snarled, "This is important, Gregor. Our future depends on whether you are on board with this plan or not."
"Don't force me to choose between you and Luxa, Ripred," Gregor told him, "Because I won't."
"Just hear me out and stop behaving like a drama queen, will you?" Ripred snapped in exasperation, "The plan is for me to propose to York and the Fount to force Luxa to undergo an election. The first glimpse of democracy in the Underland."
"Democracy here?" Gregor said in shock, "Are you sure we are ready for that?"
"I've been reading your books, Overlander," Ripred reasoned, "No country or city is ever truly ready for democracy. It just comes when it comes and that's that. Same thing here in Regalia. I'll suggest that the Council and the delegates from the different cities and species get together to vote on whether Luxa stays as queen or not. That way, if she gets voted out of power it will be through legitimate means and not because a coup forced her out. We want to do this with as little fuss and violence as possible. If she gets voted to stay in power, then there's not much else we can do. But if she is voted out, which is highly likely… then we can form a republic in her stead."
"You want to destroy Luxa's authority?" Gregor asked incredulously, "Are you out of your mind? You just said she's your ally!"
"She has become far too powerful for herself!" Ripred argued, "I'm protecting her from herself. She's making far too many enemies and the only way to keep her alive is to remove her from the throne!"
"You don't know what you are doing," Gregor warned, "You could start a war by forcing her to abdicate."
"Don't lecture me on what to do and what not to do, Overlander," Ripred retorted, "There's a saying back in the Overland, isn't there? 'Absolute power corrupts absolutely'- John Dalberg-Acton, I believe. You do know who that is, don't you?"
Gregor just shook his head sheepishly.
"You are truly hopeless," Ripred sighed, "Look, my point is that if we allow absolute power to fester in Regalia, whoever sits on that throne will abuse it. Gorger did it, Conrad did it and now Luxa is falling down the same dark path. And if she continues to abuse her power, her enemies will far outnumber her allies, which is probably the case right now."
"What makes you think that the Fount will back down and support us if Luxa abdicates?" Gregor inquired.
"The Fount has been beaten to a pulp over the years," Ripred explained, "They want to ally themselves with Regalia but they can't at the same time, because they know Luxa will always favour the interests of Regalia over the Fount. But if Luxa abdicates, that will be our peace offering to them. The new republic established will consist of some representatives from the Fount, and that will be more than enough to satisfy them because now they have a say in how the Underland is governed and run."
"I hope you don't plan to drag me into this mess," Gregor remarked concernedly, "I'm not going to vote for either side."
"No," Ripred replied firmly, "You have no choice. The people see you as a symbol and a hero, so your opinion cannot be neglected or overlooked. Because of your relationship with Luxa, voting against her will restore your reputation and send a message out that we are willing to make a compromise. Then we take each step slowly but surely towards securing victory against the schemers. Luxa's fall from grace will encourage Gorger to take advantage of the situation by feeding us with information about the schemers. The Fount, now allies with us, will convince the rebel gnawers to forge a temporary alliance with us against the schemers. Can't you see, Gregor? We are neutralising our enemies one by one just by bringing Luxa down. She is the KEY."
Gregor just shook his head, unsure of whether the overriding emotion was confusion or disappointment. "No, Ripred," he said sadly, "I don't understand. All I see is you obsessing over defeating Luxa. We're supposed to stand together during this time, not fight against each other."
"I'm making the sacrifice here, Gregor, not you," Ripred hissed viciously, "I'm the one who is on the verge of going to prison, I'm the one who is making myself Luxa's enemy. I'll be lucky if I'm still alive at the end of this. But you have to listen to me and vote against her, even if your feelings tell you otherwise. Don't let your relationship with her blind you to the truth. We have too many enemies in this war, Gregor, and sometimes we have to sacrifice our own in order to win."
Deep down, the bitter truth for Gregor to swallow was that Ripred was probably right. "How do you know for sure that this plan will work?" he asked Ripred.
"I've been through much more than you, Overlander," Ripred replied, "I know how war and diplomacy works. I know the necessary measures we need to take in order to win this game of chess against Flavius. He is the real enemy at the end of the day, not anybody else."
"You forgot about Operation Claw," Gregor reminded him.
"Oh yes," Ripred mused, "Them too. Clawsin has reported that Overlander buildings are being constructed in the Dead Lands. I don't know how much truth there is in that rumour, but we need to act fast. If we are going to find the strength to launch an assault against them, we need to make sure we have as little hurdles in front of us as possible."
"And so you want me to bring down the only woman I have ever loved so that you stay out of prison," Gregor said bitterly and to be honest, a little resentfully.
"Stop being an emotional prick, Gregor," Ripred spat back, "I've done what is necessary to save this city and it's your turn to be pragmatic. If you returned to the Underland just to spend time with Luxa I suggest you get out of here before it gets dirty!"
There it was. The same dilemma- choosing between the city and Luxa. "This city needs you to step up now," Ripred went on, " I don't care how difficult it is for you to decide, you can cry yourself to sleep and I won't bat an eyelid. If you want this city to survive and for Luxa to endure along with it, I suggest you follow my instructions very carefully."
Gregor looked up into Ripred's eyes, and saw the same intelligence, deadliness and pain he had seen all those years ago. This was a rat hell bent on doing what he thought was needed, even if it meant smashing down countless ethical barriers in the process.
A horn suddenly sounded out, reverberating throughout the city ominously. "They're faster than I thought," Ripred commented, getting up and stretching.
"Who?" Gregor asked.
"The Fount," Ripred replied, "The first part of my plan is about to begin."
The old rat began to make his way out of the room, before Gregor called out, "Ripred."
Ripred turned around and faced Gregor.
"What if I choose not to follow your instructions?" Gregor asked the old rat calmly. This was no mere question though, and both of them knew it. This was very risky, but Gregor was adamant about it. He was levelling a threat against Ripred, and the old rat was now being forced to respond to it.
Ripred cleared his throat and replied, "If you are not on my side, then you are technically against me."
Both of them had made their threats implicitly, but the intentions were crystal clear. Gregor might as well not conceal his thoughts any longer, so he said in return,
"May the best rager win."
There we go! Sorry if the quality dipped as it progressed- I just celebrated my birthday and I'm kinda in the party mood so it wasn't exactly my best piece of work. I hope you still enjoyed it though, especially the tease at the end for a possible Ripred vs Gregor battle. Do remember to continue reviewing please. Follows and favourites are also appreciated.
Question: In all honesty, would you guys look forward to a Ripred vs Gregor fight? I may or may not adjust my plot based on your suggestions, but I'd just like to hear from you guys anyway.
