A/N
So, I left you guys on a cliff hanger last week. Sorry, not sorry. Writer's trade. Next update will be in a week. Next overall update is scheduled for next Wednesday, as I'll be taking a four day break to regain my sanity after the past week, and focus on my academics. I'll try to get something in during that time, but I'm unable to make any promises. Hope you enjoy the chapter, and see you in a week!
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Chapter 3
Four days until the equinox
Her eyes opened. The sun was shining through her curtains. Her mind groggy, she eyed the sunlight on the floor. Hadn't she just gotten home at sunrise?
Her eyes started to drift shut, then snapped open. The equinox. Pemica. The invasion. Her meeting with the elders.
She sat up and looked around in fear and worry. She had slept an entire day! Not good, not good, NOT GOOD!
She had no time to be taking naps. The lives and wellbeing of her people and kingdom depended on it.
She went to grab her pen, then cursed. The ink had dried up. She stood from her desk, rushing out of the room from the storage areas.
She ran down several hallways before coming to an abrupt halt.
Her mother.
The two women met eyes warily. Her mother's eyes traced her form with worry.
"it's… good to see you. We missed you yesterday."
"Sorry. I was busy trying to avoid death. And I was sleeping. Now if you'll excuse me…"
Sigyn tried to edge past her mother, but she reached out a tentative hand.
"Please… dear. Talk to us."
She slapped her mother's hand away "The time for talking is over! In four days our kingdom will be invaded. I have mapped out every last contingency. We'll either die, or be their little slaves. And I for one don't want to be a slave! Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go do what Father is too much of a coward to do!"
She ran off, her mother calling after her. She ignored the calls, determined on reaching her goal. She stopped in front of the wooden door, grabbing a small bottle of ink and feather quill from their piles.
She took a scenic route to her room, trying to avoid her mother. But she had a little pit stop. On her route was the open door to her brother's nursery. A nanny was inside, watching as he played with blocks, two guards watching the doors.
The guards nodded to her as she entered. The nanny looked at her, stood, and left her alone with the boy.
She squatted down behind him, "What's up little man?"
He looked behind him and smiled, rushing up to her with a gleeful squeal, giving her a bear hug, "Siggy!"
She smiled softly, "Yeah it's me. What are you up to?"
He turned to his blocks, "I'm making us a castle!"
"Oh really?"
"Yeah! We can play all day, eat nothing but cake and drink apple juice!"
"That sounds really fun. What if we add…" she grabbed a tiny horse figurine and a figure of a tree, "A nice pretty little forest and some… magical unicorns to frolic around our palace?"
He smiled up at her, "yeah! And giant marshmallows as pillows! And the furniture is all chocolate!"
"Sounds yummy." She ruffled his hair affectionately, making him giggle, "Ok little man. I've got some important work to do. But, I'll be able to play with you all day this weekend. Sound ok?"
He looked sad for a second, then smiled, "We can play all day?"
She hugged him, "Yeah. And we can play all night too. We'll eat cake, have apple juice, and we'll build castles to our hearts desire."
He giggled happily, hugging her back.
She whispered against his hair, "You know I love you, right?"
"Yeah!"
"No matter what happens, remember that. I will always love you, and I will always, always, protect you."
He looked up at her as she stood and walked out the room. She swiped tears away from her eyes outside the door. The guards nodded to her again, and she nodded back.
Every step to her room seemed like a thousand, and she felt the weight of her responsibilities even more.
She was just a kid! She was barely older than her brother. Why was she the one who had to save the world? Her father should be dealing with this! But he was refusing to do anything, sitting alone in the darkness of his throne room.
Her teeth gritted.
What a coward.
Well, Sigyn wasn't a coward. Far from it. She was going to be at the forefront of the fight. If she could get the fight to happen.
She sat at the desk and grabbed a sheet of paper, dipping the quill in ink. She set the pen to the paper and wrote.
By order of the King of Lodora
By order of King Roman Martius Hall, King of Lodora, I hereby transfer all control of my armies to the Crown Princess, Sigyn Tara Hall, until otherwise noted. They are to follow her every order as they would me. She is free to lead them as she sees fit. Those are my orders.
Roman Martius Hall
Sigyn sat back and admired her handiwork. Her writing was identical to her fathers. She blew on the ink, drizzling sand over it to dry it, then folded it, sealing it with wax and the stamp duplicate of her fathers. He didn't know she had this, or that she could copy his writing. There was much he didn't know of her.
She smirked, standing up, sneaking out of her room. She grabbed the ropes to curtains in the hallway, climbing up into the rafters. She ran over the heads of unsuspecting workers and guards. Eventually, she reached the messenger's office.
She jumped down lightly, knocking on the door. A young boy, maybe 16, opened the door, looking around, then down. Sigyn, while tall for her age, was just under his line of sight.
"Oh, princess!" he cleaned his robes as best as he could, "What a surprise this is! What can I help you with?"
She handed him the paper, "I just spoke with my father. He wished this to be delivered to the commander of the armies. I believe he has finally come up with a plan to protect the kingdom, and wishes the commander to act upon it. Deliver this to him posthaste. The fate of our kingdom- and our lives- depends on it."
She turned sharply on her heel, stalking away as if what she just did was on the orders of the king. She heard the door close behind her as she turned a corner. She smirked, then pried open the window next to her, climbing out.
She scaled the walls, jumping down to the lower level roofs. Sigyn watched as the window to the messenger's tower opened and a raven flew out. Her eyes traced it as it flew to the encampment outside of the town.
Still smirking, she made her way to the stables, grabbing her horse, racing for the encampment. They arrived minutes later, the army making way for her, surprised she was there, and curios as to who she was.
The horse, who she decided to call Nightwing, trotted to a stop in front of the biggest tent in the area. She dismounted and walked through the flaps of the tent. The commander was sitting in a chair, reading the letter she forged.
He looked up and saw her, standing up to bow. She nodded to him.
"I came to ask if you have received any news from my father. I saw the raven, and was wondering if he had finally come up with a plan to protect his people, which is his solemn duty."
The commander cleared his throat, "I take it you... Aren't aware of the news."
She raised an eyebrow delicately, "And what news would I be unaware of?"
He handed the paper to her, and she feigned surprise, then smiled, "Well, it seems my father finally shows some wisdom and sense at last."
The commander frowned, "I beg your pardon?"
"I proposed a plan to him, but he denied me. Now it seems he is out of options, and is so willing to consider mine."
"And yours is?"
She met his eyes clearly and calmly, like a warrior queen. A leader, not some scared little girl. The commander instantly felt a pull in his chest towards her leadership, whether he liked it or not.
"My plan is simple. Lodora wishes to wipe us out and make us one of their many colonies. So, instead, we shall wipe them out and take them as one of our colonies, and thereby taking all of their colonies as our own."
"You... seem very sure of yourself."
She sat, gesturing for him to sit, which he did, "I have been going over this plan again and again, plotting out every little contingency. With my plan, there is no possible way we can fail."
"And the steps?"
"I can the trust of your army. The day before the equinox, we lower the shield. Thinking we're giving up, Pemica will land, losing their aerial advantage. I will lead the armies to meet them, at the front as any good leader should be."
He frowned, "they are much larger than us. We will be wiped out."
She crossed her legs, "then it's a good thing I got us a very large and powerful ally who's willing to help us."
"Who?"
"The peoples of the Silver Oak Woods, as well as the sorcerers."
He sat forward, "How did you manage that?"
"I appealed to their better nature. It turns out that they also live in the kingdom, and do not wish to die. I offered them a chance to live, and a repealing of the unfair laws that constrain them. They will keep the rogue members under control. They are very civilized. They will help us, if I can get the army to agree to the plan."
He rubbed his face, "Your plan is crazy."
She shrugged, "not really. The army distracts them, and our ally destroys their boats so they cannot escape. Then, Pemica will be flanked on all other sides by their warriors. All who do not surrender will be exterminated. And instead of our king being killed, theirs will. My father will take control over both all the lands, and will reign over and era of peace."
The commander sat in stunned silence. He barely knew anything of the princess. And here she was, talking of huge matter girls, much less ones her age should know so much about, talking so cavalier about murder and conquest. Her eyes glinted with a strange dark fire. He got chills as he realized she had thought long and hard about this.
She was not one to be messed with.
Sigyn smirked as she watched the commander sweat and fidget. Obviously, he was taken aback by her. As he should be. She was not some little pink princess here to marry a prince. She was no damsel in distress. She was a dark queen who brought distress on those who threatened her people.
She did not need saving from the dragon.
The dragon needed saving from her.
She had a plan, and she was going to follow it. even if it meant she died.