by Emma Merrell
Luce began to get broken flashes from him of a beautiful girl and kisses and embraces shared. The corner of a smile, a twinkling, the soft curve of a cheek. A rounded, heavily pregnant belly. It wasn't like before, these weren't complete scenes, but she had the feeling that his mind was too jumbled to allow her a clear memory. She did all that she could think of to do and drew him into her arms to let it out. It took some time for him to regain his composure, but at last, he raised red-rimmed eyes to her.
"I'm so sorry, Jonathan."
He shook his head hopelessly. "How could she have done that?"
Oh boy. "That's not all. I saw some more."
"What else could you possibly know?"
"I know that everyone thinks that the curse can only be broken by a child coming into the world, but that's not true. Leona put in a loophole. If your mother had chosen to give her life at any time over the last couple of decades, the curse would have died with her."
Jonathan's gaze broke. The foundations of everything that he believed in had just been shaken at the very core of his being. He rose abruptly and stood with his back to Luce, then with a savage gesture he picked up one of the tables by the bed and threw it against the wall. He let out a scream of pure hurt and frustration. Guards came running into the room, but when they saw his face they quickly fell back. His shoulders were heaving. When he turned back to Luce his expression was blazing with anger. "She knew, this whole time. The kingdom has been failing, the people grow restive. All of you girls, it was all for nothing. What she's done is treason."
"You believe my visions on all of this? What if they were wrong.”?
"They were not wrong. It is so very like her to do exactly as you have said. She cares for only herself. The only reason that she ever cared about breaking the curse was that she feared the people would overthrow her if she didn't."
"You know that the resistance is marching on us right now?"
He nodded. "And mother plans to distract the people from it by using you and our baby. Yes, I overheard that last bit."
"And what happens if they do break in and take the palace? Petunia said that it would go badly for you."
"I and my family will most likely be killed. And who knows what will happen to the people if they try to resist."
Luce had a sudden flash of inspiration, but she was sure that he wouldn't go for it in a million years. "What if they didn't want to resist?"
"What are you talking about?"
"What if tomorrow we get a message to the resistance? We could coordinate away from them to enter the city walls, bargain for a limit on the loss of life. And as they are coming, let the people know what your mother did? They'll be furious, and open to new leadership."
"What you are suggesting, Luce, it's mad. Are you really saying that we should just give up the kingdom like that?"
"Jonathan, they are going to be using magic. The kingdom will fall, one way or another. Especially with your mother being so blasé about the whole thing. I'm sure that we can negotiate for your life. There must be someplace else that we can go live."
"I don't know. I'm not sure that I'm ready to let the kingdom fall. I would lead it well when my time comes."
"Can we just get Petunia in here? Discuss the possibilities?"
"What does Petunia have to do with any of this?"
Chapter Nineteen
Luce
It was hot on the balcony with the full heat of the sun bearing down upon her, and Luce began to sweat under her robes. Of course, it wasn't just the heat that was causing it, it was also the fact that the entire kingdom was kneeling at her feet. It was her worry over Jude and the battle that was about to take place. She also feared for Jonathan and herself and the baby. It was almost too much, and only a look into his calm green eyes steadied her. The queen stood in front of her, resplendent in dark plum and jewels. She was almost glowing with contentedness, with the knowledge that she was about to give her people what they wanted and regain their love. Her face showed absolutely no stress over the army camped outside of the walls, ready to attack.
"Arise."
The crowd shifted to their feet, and then stood silently, awaiting their queen's next words. She glanced back and gestured Jonathan and Luce forward to stand beside her. "I have called you here today to share the joyous news. Crown Prince Jonathan and his concubine are expecting a child."
There was a moment of shock that spread over the people, rendering them silent, but it was quickly overtaken by a growing hum of conversation that mixed itself with crying, laughter, and finally cheers. All eyes were on the couple now, and Luce swayed under the scrutiny. Jonathan took her hand and they only cheered louder. When they quieted it was his turn to speak, "The queen is correct, I am to be a father and I hope it will break the curse that has plagued our kingdom. I am also pleased to say that the mother of my child, Luce, is to be my bride and your princess consort. Today."
There was another ripple through the crowd as well as some gasps. Luce felt like she at least ought to smile for them, and she plastered a grin on her face. It was fake all the way through, not that she wasn't happy to marry Jonathan, but she was too distracted by what was about to happen. Her eyes had found Petunia all the way at the back, and the girl gave her a grim nod as well as a message, they are coming. Luce's heart rate tripled. Jude was almost here. Huge things were about to be set into motion. She hoped that their hastily thrown together plan worked. It would be nice to limit the loss of life on both sides.
She was also worried about what was going to happen to her and Jonathan when the dust had settled, and the people knew the truth. He had his guards set up to spirit them away to a safe place if they were harmed or threatened, but Luce wasn't sure that would be enough when the people found out the secret that the queen had been hiding from them for all these years.
She turned to her future husband and shared one last look before he plunged them into chaos. Jonathan motioned two of his bodyguards forward. It was a risk that might prematurely raise the queen’s suspicions, but one that might buy him enough time to make his next announcement uninterrupted.
“My people. Today does bring much joyous news. Yet, I must now tell you something that will shake the foundations of all you believe. The queen has been lying to you about the curse being broken only by my child being born. She could have broken it at any time over the long years by simply taking her own life.”
Everything happened very quickly once the words had fallen from his lips. The crowd was stunned in silence for only a moment before erupting in a cacophony. Luce could hear people shouting that they were liars and some shouting to kill the queen. They were a roiling angry mass and Luce was suddenly unsure if they could avoid this turning into a battle.
She and Jonathan were jostled forward against the stone of the balcony railing, as the queen’s guards fought Jonathan’s to reach and silence him before he could say anything else. Luce lost her breath for a moment and had only enough time to throw a hand between her pregnant belly and the hard surface. There were a rough couple of moments before the queen’s guard broke through and forced Luce and Jonathan to their knees.
Anne pushed her way through to them and Luce could see the fury etched into every line of her face, but those dark eyes held nothing but pain at her son’s betrayal. “Why?” She hissed. “I thought you loved me, Jonathan.”
His voice was like ice. “I used to think you loved me too. Until I found out that you butchered the mother of my child as she lay dying in birth.”
Anne’s eyebrows snapped up in surprise, and then she turned a hateful gaze upon Luce. “You did this. After my grandchild is born, I’ll have your head.”
“I will die before you take her from me.” Jonathan spat.
“We shall see. Now, I must clean up this ridiculous mess you have made.” She stood and after a moment her voice rang out across the crowd, silencing their chatter to nothing. “Enough! Enough. This is naught but lies told by my craven child. Lies told because of his br
ide.”
The crowd was in an uproar again. The queen turned to her guardsmen, “Take them. Luce was hauled roughly to her feet and she managed to cast one last panicked look back at Petunia. She and Jonathan were forced toward the back of the balcony and into the chamber inside. They were immediately confronted by Norrick, who went up to his brother and whispered something that Luce couldn’t hear. There was sharp movement and she thought he had punched him in the stomach, but when he turned to go out onto the balcony a bloodied dagger fell from his hands.
There was a stain spreading on Jonathan's cloak over his right side and he touched it as if confused. Luce screamed and he looked up towards her. “It will be okay. I promise.”
The guards got them moving once again. They rushed them out of the main palace area and into the maze of back halls. Luce assumed they were heading towards the jail cells where she had been so rudely introduced to palace life. This wasn’t good. She began to struggle against the guard that was holding her, but she might as well have been struggling against a mountain for all the good it did her.
She was beginning to lose hope just as they rounded a corner and ran into a group of men that was five strong. By their colors, they were Jonathans personal guard. The two men that held them were easily outmaneuvered and overwhelmed by the greater number. She realized that Jonathan must have been prepared for this possibility, and had the men waiting down here as a failsafe. It was smart and Luce was grateful for his foresight.
“My Prince, you have been injured.”
Jude nodded and gave wince. “Norrick, I’m afraid. Get us to the safe house. Make sure Luce is safe, she is the most important.”
Luce gave a shake of her head and went to him. She was almost hesitant to touch him, afraid that she would hurt him even more, but she placed a shaky hand on the side of his face. “You are important too. I will not stand by and watch as another person I love is taken from me. We will get through this.”
His pale green eyes met hers for just a moment before his eyelids fluttered shut and he slumped forward into his men’s arms. Luce looked at them desperately, “Is there a healer where we are going?”
“No, my lady, but there is someone who knows a little about treating this type of injury.”
“Quickly then.”
It was a fearful race to get out of the palace unnoticed, carrying Jonathan’s limp body, but at last, they hit fresh air and began to make their way into the city streets. As frantic as she was, Luce still took a moment to marvel at the sheer size of the place. Having been held in the palace she had no idea how big the city truly was. How many people must live here, hundreds upon hundreds, but no children? She hoped to change that.
It took another twenty minutes of winding through the streets before they arrived at their destination, which was a small shopfront crammed into the very back corner of an alleyway. One of the men stepped up to the door and knocked in what seemed to Luce to be a specific pattern. The door opened and inside was a small, elderly woman who looked immediately familiar. Luce couldn’t put her finger on it now, and there wasn’t time to worry about it as they were hustled inside to lay Jonathan on a wooden dining table.
The small woman bustled around the table, trying to get a good look at the prince, shooing the guards back as she went. “I have no room. Out of my way.”
Luce stepped back with the guard, eager to give the woman whatever she needed if it could help him in any way. The woman pulled back his robes and shirt to expose the stab wound. Luce winced upon seeing it, there was so much blood. Apparently, the old woman came to the same conclusion because she went over to a barrel and ladled out a cup of water before pouring it over Jonathan’s abdomen. As the water washed the blood away the stab wound became clear. It was not what Luce had expected, but instead a small red gash of no more than an inch.
The woman leaned close to Jonathan and put her nose to the wound, taking a large breath in. She took one more before flashing a look at Luce. “It doesn’t smell like he got hit in the guts, which is promising. I don’t know about anything else that may have gotten nicked though. I’ll stitch him up and we can go from there.” She turned to the men. “Any of you got a flask?”
She was offered a bevy of options and selected the closest to hand. With no fanfare, she poured a healthy amount out over Jonathan’s wound. The pain of it was enough to bring him to, gasping at the sudden fire he must have felt in his body. He looked around wildly for a moment but subsided when he caught sight of Luce and his men. She gave a reassuring nod, trying to convey to him that it was under control.
“Well, Your Highness, I had hoped you would stay asleep for this next part because it is not going to feel good.”
The old woman left the room briefly and returned carrying a sewing needle and thread. She turned to Luce, “Can you thread this dear? My eyes aren’t what they used to be.”
“Of course.”
Not only did Luce thread the needle, but she ended up stitching the wound after a pleading glance from Jonathan. It was hard for her to do, watching him wince in pain every time the needle entered his skin, but she made the sutures as small and steady as she possibly could. Hopefully, he would heal nicely.
Everyone relaxed a bit when it began to seem clear that he would recover, and the men left their sides to take up other posts where they could watch for enemies. The old woman had gone to lie down, the morning’s events had worn her out. Jonathan and Luce were alone at last.
“Are you sure you’re doing all right?”
“I think I will be. I still can’t believe it, that he would do that.”
“I’m sorry, Jonathan. I know that it is hard to lose family members.”
He shook his head. “It isn’t just that, although I know by the end of the day my family will most likely all be dead. What I can’t believe is how blind I was for all those years. How could I not have seen what they were really like?”
“Because you are a good person, and good people often look to see the best in others.”
“At least I am making it right for my people now.”
Luce stepped up to the table and snaked her arms carefully around his shoulders. “Our part is done for now. The rest is up to Jude and Petunia.”
Chapter Twenty
Jude
The horses were skittish, possibly sensing the tension among all their riders. It was difficult to keep them silent and still among the trees, waiting for Petunia to give them the signal that it was time. Jude stared across the bare field in front of him to the high wall beyond. He could clearly remember the first time he had seen it, from a different horse. It had seemed the grandest thing to him, an insurmountable defense. And now he was about to try exactly that. It seemed foolish, but Petunia had promised that the whole of the kingdom would be distracted by Jonathan’s announcement.
He was nervous, riding into battle was not something that he had ever thought he would do in his lifetime. It certainly wouldn’t have happened if he had stayed in his small village. Yet, here he was on horseback carrying an enchanted sword to fight an evil queen. It was too surreal, even as sure as he was that he was here in this place a part of him was still certain that it wasn’t possible, that he would wake up from this dream.
After what seemed to be an eternity of waiting, Bran gave the signal that he had heard from Petunia and that it was time. The front line surged forward out of the tree cover and into the open plains. The sound of thundering hooves was deafening. They cleared the open space as quickly as if they had wings, too quickly it seemed to Jude as the wall loomed large in front of them.
As soon as they were close enough to get the battering ram in position arrows began to fall around them. Jude squinted up at the top and saw four archers firing their bows as fast as they could knock their arrows. Jude twisted in his saddle and saw the back row of riders, their archers, preparing a return volley. He turned back to see the men around him raising their shields for cover and he thought it would probably be a good idea to follow su
it.
Just as he was raising his arm over his head, he saw the mountain archer’s arrows pierce the sky. He watched in awe as they each made perfect arcs into their targets. All four archers dropped instantly, and a great cheer went up. If only they knew that it wasn’t a skill, but magic, that had given them this moment of victory. It was the same with the battering ram, the gateway gave on the first strong blow that it took.
Bran led them into the city, and it could not have been more different from the first time that Jude had seen it. Before it had been teeming with life, today it was eerily empty. Their horses’ hooves made the only sounds, and all the alleyways were vacant. Doors were shut and windows were shuttered. It was enough to make him wonder if attending the queen’s announcement had been mandatory. He had visions of the guard dragging reluctant people out of their homes and shook his head to clear it. The people had likely all gone of their own free will, he bet that it wasn’t often that Anne summoned them to the palace.
The strange vacancy continued throughout the marketplace and up through the farmlands. It was only as they approached the palace wall that Jude began to hear the rumbling of a crowd. They were loud and very angry sounding. He could only imagine the kind of chaos they would be riding into.
It was surprising how close they managed to get to the gate in the wall before they were noticed. Such a large company should have been heard from far away, but the guards along the top had all been distracted by whatever was going on in the courtyard. Having learned from the last time, shields were raised up over their heads before the first arrow flew. This time there were more than four archers guarding the wall, and the arrows began to fall like rain.
Jude saw a couple of their people fall out of the corner of his eye, but then his attention was drawn by something else. Bran pulled out of formation in front of Jude and rode back to the men who were responsible for the battering ram. Clearly, Leona knew what was happening because she shouted to clear a path and shield the men. He reined his horse backward as an arrow hit his shield with a solid thud.