The handmaiden had been dreaming of late. After so many years with naught but bitter regrets, it was no wonder her mind would grant her no peace even in slumber.
Alecto did not like it when they closed the shutters of her queen's grand study. She disliked the dark, disliked what it always entailed, hated the dull shine of Ofnir's hideous helm in the low candle light.
"Thou'rt certain all our efforts have passed beyond Wain's sight?" her queen asked, worrying at a nail. It was a behavior that Alecto was sure few alive had ever seen.
Ofnir's raspy voice was distorted by his helm, it annoyed Alecto that he would not stop rubbing at his knuckles when he spoke, "Aye my lady, he knows not what Prince Messmer has begun. My confessors have so far successfully intercepted all of his captains' messengers." What dreadful business this was, it turned her stomach.
The sear of her lady's gaze was sickly in such deep shadow, "Good. Good." she trailed off, wide eyes staring into nothing.
Ofnir, arrogant git, cleared his throat, "My-"
The queen ripped herself up from her seat, the weight of her magic making Alecto sway on her feet, "He must not know, Gideon. He can not, not until I am done!" The wizened man fell to a wobbling knee as the eternal one towered over him.
Ofnir could not maintain his balance and collapsed to his side, Aecto could see the glint of his beady, panicked eyes in the slots of his helm, "It will become ever more difficult to halt the spread of rumors soon, great queen, 'specially to Stormveil. If you would allow me the use of but a few companies of Leyndellan knights, I could see your will done in surety." he croaked. The queen's roiling mana grew even heavier and Alecto felt cold sweat drip down her back. Ofnir's proclivity for such flowery prose in the queen's presence was irritant enough, could he not stop antagonizing her lady?
Queen Marika raised an arm, Ofnir along with it, grip fumbling at his throat, "What use art thine hands if they canst not act in shadow? See my will done, Spy Master! Know well thy purpose and thy place." she threw him to the ground, sneering at his wheezing form.
Ofnir rushed into a low kneel, head bowed, "O-of course, Your Majesty." he coughed.
"Out." her study doors blasted open, startling the four sentinels that stood guard just outside of the bounds of the queen's spell of silence. Ofnir retreated swiftly, the sentinels shutting the grand door anew.
The eternal collapsed into her seat, hand to weary eyes, "Alecto." she whispered.
Alecto rushed to kneel beside her, "Yes, my lady?"
"Fetch Wain." she commanded listlessly.
Alecto nodded, "Aye, my lady.
Oh, how she hated this darkness. How she detested the irony of her fate. That she could in one moment stand within the light of the sun, in the fresh air, in safety and security of the gilded life of a handmaiden. Only to be forced into such mired and twisting shade the next as a reluctant assassin. Duty bound and sacred oath sworn to carry out any and all of her holy lady's honored commands. Each tally etched to her heart only inked it an ever deepening shade of abyssal black.
She could see clear that her lady sought something beyond Alecto's ken, that it would all be worth it. Alas, it was to her horror that she knew her queen hated this dark world as well, that she knew the golden queen was only doing what must be done, even if it was against her kind nature.
Her heart too, must ache.
The noblest reaches of her Queen's spirit desired sweet Owain and noble Godwyn to remain in the sun, away from these sinful toils, something she and Alecto agreed wholeheartedly on. How many secrets had they hidden from those two stalwart pillars? How many lives had been lost in the pursuit of perfect silence? How much blood had Alecto and her sisters spilled so that neither golden son nor burnished shield need sully themselves?
She knew they both relied upon Owain too much. Knew that her queen depended upon the lord of the golden rampart too heavily for her own well being. Alecto did not blame her lady, it was so easy to lose one's way in the dark, too easy to cling to a light so unwavering as his. She missed Lord Godfrey and the peace he brought forth in Marika.
Alecto's musings had seen her all the way to Owain's door in a haze, she quickly gathered herself, needing to appear presentable. As she patted down her hair and dress, the sentinel beside the door coughed in a way that sounded suspiciously like a laugh, Alecto willed away the flush that heated her cheeks. It must have been Friso then, the teasing arse, "Pray, announce me, Friso."
He did as she asked, opening the door. Alecto knew he was smiling behind his helm and it irked her. Owain was just turning from his desk as she entered. He leaned on it with an easy smile, the muscles of his forearms catching her eyes before she could stop herself. Egads, he was short sleeved!
"Alecto? Did you and Tiche wish to have supper with me? What good timing, I was just going to make an order to the kitchens." his rumbling voice was so soft, did Princess Ranni get to hear it even sweeter? Alecto's jealousy knew no bounds.
Goddess preserve her, his shirt was partially unbuttoned and she feared it would be her full undoing. Look away, treacherous eyes! She cleared her throat, at last meeting his blazing gaze, "Ah, no, Wain. Her Majesty bid me fetch you. Perhaps after." Must he be so dashing? It made maintaining her distance unbearable, especially when she watched the subtle shifting of his posture to that of a man on duty. Lo, what regal bearing and here she was all athirst.
He pushed off from his desk, brow settling into its usual scowl, "Then we should not keep her waiting, my friend." he halted, patting his chest. Realizing his lax appearance he chuckled, buttoning his shirt to its utmost, "Come then, Alecto."
Alecto sighed wistfully, saying farewell in her mind to the view. Only for her foolish eyes to level to Owain's rear as he passed her. He must have been out riding earlier. Those days he wore his riding pants about the palace were her favorite. How had her mind turned from such dark matters to such mush in only a few moments? She chuckled quietly to herself.
Their walk to the queen's study was as amiable as all their time spent together, though Alecto did have to clasp her hands behind her back as they kept unconsciously seeking to hold the sentinel's. Being such a love sotted fool for so long was taking a toll on her equilibrium. At least Tiche was not there to see her act such an idiot.
Owain dropped to a reverent kneel as they entered the study, Alecto closing the doors behind them, "My lady, how might I aid you?" Had the queen lit more candles whilst she'd been on her errand? The shutters as well had been pushed wide, that the evening breeze and setting sun could now grace them.
A seemingly easy smile made its way onto the eternal one's face as she bid Wain rise with a hand, her chair now placed before her grand desk, "It hast been far too long since thine last sojourn. Away with thee, burnished one. Off to…wherever it is thou scamperest to." she rolled a delicate wrist towards the windows. They all knew where he would go, and why she would not name it.
His lips were downturned, "Have I…have I given you ill service, my queen? If so, please forgive me. It was not my intention, nor realization." Of course his dutiful mind would first go to such a thing, it was quite unusual for Queen Marika to let him willingly from her side.
The eternal one scoffed with a laugh, "Prithee, Wain. Thou hast been a lingering stormcloud about my shoulders. Thou needst rest. Go, returnest to mine side by winter." Alecto knew this scene was not true, but even she was being fooled by her lady's efforts.
Wain scowled at his feet, hands fisted behind his back, "I had not realized." His eyes, earnest and pitious and lovely, found Her Majesty's, "Are you sure, my lady? I would never dare ask for such long leave. Pray, I can be rested and returned to equanimity within a fortnight." If Alecto could hear the hurt in Wain's voice, than so too could the queen. Her lady's brow furrowed, this must have not been what she had expected.
Her voice fell to a soothing lilt, "I didst not mean to say thy service is not as sterling as ever, only that I worry for thee, mine cherished compass. Too much has piled atop thy shoulders, too much hath I asked of thee of late." she graced them with a wide smile, pale teeth shining, such a rare blessing, "I would seest thee rewarded for thine efforts with Messmer."
Alecto noted the heavy way Wain swallowed, the tautness of the muscles of his thick neck, he was still upset. "I…perhaps you are right, perhaps matters with the princes have had more of an effect on me than I'd realized. Forgive me for making you put forth such effort on my behalf, my queen." he bowed low. Oh, noble highlord. To fool him thusly, Alecto almost wept.
The queen tutted, smile sliming to a smirk, " Perhaps I am right? Am I not always right of judgment, Wain?" her lady's eyes twinkled with false mirth.
Wain smiled softly, "You are, my lady."
The queen laughed, low and musical, a song seldom heard, "Forgive the meddling of thy queen, only indulge her that she might be appeased. Thou'rt too precious to the throne, I endeavor always to seest thee shine."
Owain shifted on his feet, brow finally unfurrowing, he had been suitably comforted, "You honor me, my lady."
Queen Marika smiled warmly, "Go, we shall have thee for supper, dare not be late, Wain."
Owain knelt, "Aye, my lady. I would not dream of it." he said before exiting, doors shutting closed behind him.
With him went all the warmth in the room. The queen slumped once more in her chair and it seemed to Alecto's eyes that she was a different woman entirely, "Alecto." she groaned.
Alecto rushed forward to kneel before her, "Yes, my lady?" Her lady's mein was so very weary, Alecto's heart sank.
Lost was the joyful tease, in its place a manic intensity, "He must not know, not yet. Whatever subterfuge it takes, even if I must have him from his place. I-" she slapped a hand over her eyes, scrubbing at her face with a groan, "I am not yet ready to bear his questions nor his qualms, I will have my satisfaction." It was such a heavy thing, this crusade of vengeance.
Alecto put forth a hand, taking her dear queen's tenderly, "Of course, Marika." she affirmed softly.
It did not surprise Alecto when the queen took her into her arms, sobbing quietly into her shoulder. As her oldest and dearest friend, there was no other her lady could show herself to thusly, not since Lord Godfrey. Alecto's tears mingled with her queen's, shed from the same horrible weight.
When had they become so draped in dread and secrets? When exactly had her lady's shining dream become a faraway promise, ever forstalled, obscured by masking guile. When Lord Godfrey had left? When Queen Marika had discovered whatever hidden face of the Greater Will that had sent her on a slow spiral? This restless hate, it tore so viciously at them both. Alecto worried for the day when at last her righteous queen would be able to bear the bleeding no longer. What would break in the fall, what would be left should a goddess lose her mind?
Her dreams shifted. Her mind, ever masochistic, showed her the worst moment of her life. The night that all she had ever loved fell away from her.
It was her hand, her ignoble, ruinous hand that did the deed. Iva and Tabea and four more of her sisters held him back but it was not enough. His righteous arm shot forth, grip of melting iron against Enna's neck for only an instant before Alecto heard the sick snap of bone. How many times had they stabbed him, why would he not die? This nightmare would never end!
Eyes nigh blind with tears, Alecto screamed, hoarse and hurtful, as she slashed her blade across her beloved's exposed throat. He struggled for a few moments longer; he hated, goddess did he hate her. His eyes of burning, burnished gold looked upon her with such abject hate as they flickered once, twice, then not at all. The dullness unnatural, the wide wrath of them unnerving.
The others dropped him, her sisters all collapsing into despairing heaps. Thirty had they numbered at the start of this terrible night, only nine yet remained. The brutalized corpses of her sisters, their hopeless eyes, Alecto had nowhere to look to distract her grief. Her blade clattered to the stone beneath, dropped from her violently shaking hands. The deed, the evil was done! Wain's stern face was affixed in an expression of complete wrath, his body covered in blood both red and gold. Alecto retched unto an empty space of stone, collapsing to her knees amidst the cries of her mourning sisters. The price of their duty was too high! The cost of seeing both highlord and golden son dead had been nigh their order entire.
Alecto tried to rally herself, they had little time if they wished to escape. "Go, sisters! Go! I will follow!" She commanded, frail voice a mockery of its usual strength. They knew her heart, knew what this had meant to her. Eight shadows fled the room.
Honest sobs ripped from her then, a woman surrounded by the corpses of her loved ones. She crawled forward, running a feathery hand across Owain's face. She closed his disdaining eyes, she could not bear his look of furious hate a second longer. "Forgive me, my burnished lord. F-forgive me." she moaned.
Alecto draped herself over him, shuddering grief stealing her wits. She placed her scalding brow to his of rising ice. Agony! Agony! What bitter misery. Madness took her, madness that she had held at bay for all the centuries that she had loved him from the shadows. It was in these torturous shadows that she committed yet another sin. Alecto closed her eyes, imagining just for a moment that she had been braver as a young woman.
She kissed him.
"Forgive me, old friend." she pleaded. His lips were already cold, tasting of the blood of her betrayal and the salt of her tears. It made her sob all the harder, fingers threaded in his blood matted hair. She pressed her lips to his brow, a final farewell to he who she had loved most all her life. "Forgive my-my cowardice, my jealousy, and a lifetime of l-lies." she begged, knowing she would find no absolution.
Alecto sat back on her heels, eyes tracing the painted walls of Godwyn's room with a far away numbness. Should she kill herself? She wished to quite desperately. The assassin snatched up her fallen blade in one hand and Owain's fingers in the other. She compelled the freshly sharpened edge to her throat, pressing hard enough to draw forth plentiful blood. Was she truly such a coward she could not at least die with him? She increased the pressure, fingers now slick with her own red.
Cold logic stayed her, an unfeeling hand flinging her weapon away. Her body would implicate the queen, she could never allow that. Her maiden's heart had forsaken her, leaving only the black knife. She must flee, and at least die far from the capitol. She stood on trembling legs. In a moment of ridiculousness she made to grab Owain's ornate helm, but could hardly lift it. The rubies that capped the golden tree glittered at her tauntingly, as if to spite her for slaying their master.
Her head snapped to the shattered doorway, the voice of little Oswald sounded out. He called for his father. Alecto let out a pathetic whine. She took in the sprawling corpse of the commander, seeking to take her greatest shame into perfect detail. He'd fallen beside his lord, even in death, his arm thrown over Godwyn in defense. Oswald's shouts were growing nearer. Alecto lept to the open window, crouched atop the sill. She considered killing herself once more before the weight of duty once more guided her heart.
"Sister?" her eyes snapped open, hand instinctively going for the blade beneath her pillow before another's halted the motion. "Alecto, it is Iva."
She was panting, she realized, "I-Iva." she gasped, blinking tears from her eyes. They were in their camp. They were safe. The muddy lowlands of Caria greeted her nose.
Her lieutenant slowly pushed her hand down before sitting beside Alecto's curled form on her cot. "Miana has arrived." she said softly. Iva's hand was tender as it brushed away the sweat stuck bangs on Alecto's brow.
"Good." she said tightly. Alecto heaved a sigh before sitting up.
"He lives, sister." Iva said lowly. Alecto squeezed her eyes shut tight.
"I can not speak of it, Iva." she felt soft lips at her temple before her second left her tent.
Alecto spent the next few minutes collecting herself. She would need to before what was to come. Her armor of weaving black was adorned in silence. Her face was cleansed with cloth and water before it was hidden in the deep shadows of her hood. There was no time to linger in the past, not when she could yet improve the future. Not when she could yet exact revenge on he who had forced her to slay her beloved sentinel.
She and the three other sisters she had yet reunited with had searched through many of the safehouses and hidden lairs of the rat, Gideon Ofnir. All had been empty save for the latest, in which they had slaughtered several squads of his soldiers and captured one of his captains. There were still many such places she had yet to check, but Alecto could bear it no longer, she must see Owain once more. The captive was a fitting pretense to bring her at his side.
Alecto greeted Miana warmly, with a long embrace and tender kiss to dark cheek before settling her into a cozy space of their small camp. They had secured a low outcropping of lush grass hidden by tall stones that sat at the Carian swamplands western edge.
It was balming to see another of her order had survived the shattering, it was her hope they would yet find the five of her sisters that had yet to surface. Alecto placed hands on hips, "I go now to inform Wain of our progress. Iva, Tabea, see this cockroach before Caria's gates." Both knives nodded silently and Alecto was off into the creeping dark of dusk.
She waited until the witch was in her tower and the Highlord was alone. Alecto was grateful for his proclivity to stargaze; it left him easily blindsided. She skulked along the sloped roof of the manor, the enchantment of her armor granting her nigh invisibility to both eye and ear. Though, remaining undetected by the hundreds of sentinel and carian knights that swarmed the manor was difficult even for someone of her peerless skill. It was clear Owain's tendency to over prepare had not abated in his second life.
The hand-maiden watched him, perched just out of his line of sight on the roofline above. He was unarmored, a relief as it allowed her to see the rise and fall of his chest with ease. He lived. He breathed. Alecto wiped at her eyes. She knew her time alone with him was limited, but she could not help but simply sit in his proximity for a few minutes. They'd spent countless hours like this, in a different, better life. Memories of Tiche cuddled betwixt them as Owain told them the stories of the stars stuck her as a physical force. She sighed.
Alecto gathered her courage, she was here on business. She dropped noiselessly to the veranda, creeping up beside him. She did not wish for any nearby sentinels to hear him shout, for a long moment she debated on how best to alert him to her presence.
With a frown she decided to simply whisper his name, "Wain."
Perhaps she should have expected that such a man as Owain would not appreciate being caught by surprise. He was up and off his bench almost faster than she could track, callused hand wrapped about her throat even as the other was a crushing fist to her gut. The wind was knocked from her as he slammed her into the stone of the wall. "Another of Ofnir's mutts? Another stolen set of armor?" he growled, the bass of his voice shuddering through her.
"Ale-Alecto." She wheezed even as the light of her vision was begging to fade.
He released her as if burnt, "Ah. A-Alecto! You know better than to sneak up on me." he scolded, voice low.
Alecto could not help that she stumbled into the hard panes of his chest, nor that her hands wrapped about his muscled arms. She could not help it, she was lightheaded. "For-forgive me, my…my breath." she gasped.
Steady hands took her shoulders, bodily pushing her back and standing her upright. Her hood fell to her shoulders as she gazed up at the scalding eyes of the Lord Commander. Alas that he made his mistrust so clear, her heart twinged in pain. "Can you stand?" he questioned, brusquely.
Alecto was being foolish! She cleared her throat, and lightly stamped her feet. "Aye, Wain. I can-I simply-" she coughed, already annoyed at how poorly this was going, "I come to apprise you of our progress."
Owain released to lean against the railing with a heavy scowl, arms crossed about his chest. "Would a letter not suffice? You risk death within these walls, Alecto." She knew it was not death from his hands that he referred to.
She shook her head, "We captured one of Ofnir's captains. My sisters secure him at the manor gates as we speak. I have a report of what hideaways we have yet raided as well." she slipped the scroll from her belt, offering it to him silently.
He took it with a small smile, "Excellent progress, my fr-" he caught himself with a frown, "Thank you for your hard work. I would offer repast but…"
"I know, Wain." she stood silently for a moment, reluctant to part from him, "I am gladdened to see you hale, my friend."
His face contorted oddly before settling once more into dourness, "We shall depart for Leyndell within the moon, I've set Os off to find Tiche, hopefully they'll be with us when next you seek us out."
She nodded, swallowing heavily, "Aye." her small voice sounded pathetic even to her ears.
Her way out of the manor was as difficult as her way into it. It was only as Alecto reached the pitch dark that lingered at the far edge of the city's torches, atop a low gnoll, that she released a deep sigh.
"Didst thou think thyself clever?" a voice, cold in its anger, questioned at her back. Alecto whirled around, the icy eyes of Ranni the Witch greeted her with a sneer, "Didst thou think me blind to thy secret steps?" The princess stalked closer to her.
Alecto stumbled to her rear, ice had crawled its way up her boots. She snatched her hands from the ground before the frost could claim her fingers. "Mi-mistress Ranni. I meant no disrespect, I-"
"Didst thou not?" The lunar princess tilted her head. Alecto'sheart was racing a frantic pace. The towering woman's eyes were too wide, the wrath she saw in Ranni's gaze, the promise of horrific suffering, it made even her tarred soul shake.
"Forgive m-me, my lady." Ah, this cold! The raging mana in the air made it hard to breathe, hard to think. "I-I-I-" her teeth would not stop chattering!
"Silence." Alecto's mouth snapped shut. "It is because I know your love for him is pure and true that I am furious." The princess crouched, robes pooling atop ice, her long mane of crimson curls were a low shine in the twisting shadows. A hand snaked forth to grab Alecto's jaw, grip just as cold as the ground beneath her, "Should I remind thee of thy place? Should I threaten thee with dreadful torture?" The witch's questions were a gutteral snarl.
Oh goddess. Her eyes, her eyes were so full of hatred that it froze Alecto's breath. They burned with such searing and concentrated loathing that it cast her mind back to the moment she had slain Owain. Her mouth opened and closed several times but no sound came forth.
"I bid thee silent, slinking shadow. I shall have thy obeisance-" Ranni's venomous voice hitched at her own words. Alecto watched in disbelief as the woman seemed to transform completely. The mana in the air abated, the frost receded, the princess stood with slumped shoulders, "Alecto. Rise." she said tiredly. The handmaiden gawped for a moment before scrambling to her feet. The princess continued, voice low and… kind? "That path has long been lost to thee, it shall only break thy heart further to keep such a flame embered. We were, both of us, fooled by Ofnir. I had nigh as much a part in slayin' my husband as thou didst." Ranni sniffed primly, "Speak."
"My lady-"
Ranni interrupted her, "Do not name me so, t'is disingenuous to us both."
Alecto swallowed nervously before starting anew, "Ranni…I realized some weeks ago that I never apologized to you for my part in things. I would do so now." she bowed low, hands fisted at her side, "Pray, noble princess, forgive me for my terrible crimes. Know that that night was the worst of my life and I mourn my grave foolishness every moment I yet breathe. I am-" her voice hitched, throat tight, "I am but a-a shade of the woman I was, I am lost to grief and s-self hate." Alecto was sobbing now but she could not allow herself to stop and sully even her apology, "I despise m-myself so completely and I hope that this misery of mine m-might bring you solace, Princess Ranni." She could not even see the ground beneath her face, so heavy were her tears. Alecto remained in her bow, her shame a binding weight about her neck that would not allow her to lift her head. Naught but her hitching cries filled the thick night.
A gentle hand, possest of trembling fingers alighted on her short cropped hair. "Stand straight, Alecto." Ranni's voice was low.
Alecto did as she was bid, swiping furiously at her eyes, angry that she could not stop crying, "For-forgive me, Ranni. I can not s-seem to-"
Willowy arms wrapped tightly around her, the princess cradling her face into the crook of her slender neck with gentle hushing noises. What…what was happening? "I see in thee, a mirror of me. I know well this self-hatred thou feelst, know it far better than most." deft fingers brushed away Alecto's tears, "Thy misery dost not bring me solace, only discontent. Thine tears make mine own heart ache. I know what it means to be naught but an angry shade of a woman. I know what it means to suffer thusly, to peer into thy own reflection and hate what stares back." To her amazement, Alecto felt the clasp of the heavy necklace that had weighed upon her throat for months be undone, "Thou'rt forgiven, Alecto. Thou'rt release of mine compulsion, I would beg thy freely chosen aid instead."
The necklace was dropped to the mud, Alecto staring at it dazed. She had truly been…forgiven? Not by Wain, not completely, but by Ranni of all people? She could not help it, she flung her arms about the princess, burying her face again in Ranni's shoulder. "You have it always, Ranni. Your words and comfort have lifted from me a century's worth of piling weight. I would say you do not know what this means to me, but I suspect you know better than any." the princess smelled of soothing lilac, the sting of Alecto's eyes was cooled by delicate winds, "I would name you sister, I would name you friend, if you would accept such titles." She murmured into the startled woman's embrace.
There was a long pause before slender fingers made their way into Alecto's hair, trailing passes of gentle touch made her shudder forth a sigh of relief. Ranni spoke, velvet soft into her ear, "I am trying so desperately to walk in the light, to be worthy of my people's hopes. To be worthy of my husband's radiant love. I wouldst accept both titles, if thou wouldst walk at my shoulder, sister."
Alecto chuckled messily, rearing back to regard the princess straight on, "It would be my honor, sister. Together let we women of long kept dark stride into a sunlight future."
Ranni laughed then too, husky and unguarded, "I do not possess many friends, so the gainment of even one is precious." She smiled before looking imperiously down her nose, "I will warn thy hands away from Wain, this once though, Alecto."
Alecto laughed as well, though hers was half in nervousness, "My hands shall be kept to myself, Ranni." Impossible hope sparked in the handmaiden, that this inky heart of hers might live to see a brighter dawn.