Royal Blood (Part 2)

The blade of a large kitchen knife is wavering after being lodged into the crevice between two bricks in the wall with a loud “SHICK!” sound. The head of a woman, a kitchen maid, is just underneath the blade. A few strands of hair float to land on the kitchen counter. The girl spins to look at the source of the flying weapon. She screams.

It is just after dinner. The royal family has been mourning Riveth for hours, the kitchens have been producing food for the substantial number of guests that for a long time seemed to be growing with every minute. Everyone and their mother have come to bring flowers, gifts, condolences, tears and what have you to present to the new king, Raven.

Raven has more or less been absentmindedly pushing food around on his plate. If he dislikes anything more than human food it's overcooked human food. To him food is just dead things on a plate. He misses hunting. The cold of night. Seeing one's breath in the air. Listening for foot falls in the dark. Raven misses the game that comes with being the predator seeking out one's prey.

People have been stealing glances at him, but after a while it seems he is a bore to everyone at the table.

Just when only the royal family and the help remain once again within the castle and Iza stands up to return to her chambers, they hear the scream.

No one is faster than Raven. No one is better than him at finding the source of the scream.

Like a phantom he was once in his seat at the table, next he is in the archway to the kitchens. Then he is looming over both the startled kitchen maid and her attacker.

The one responsible for throwing the knife turns to find the source of the shadow eclipsing her.

No scream escapes from either one this time.

Raven swiftly covers the mouth of the kitchen servant and he retreats to the shelter behind some shelves, planting the frightened woman on a crate.

Raven points toward the door to the kitchens, saying to the brown-haired servant who comforted him before he met with Riveth the day before, to close and locks the doors.

“You were there for me in a time of need. Until I come to a decision about the scene before me I will treat you as an innocent. Now go sit in a corner and stay away from this frightened girl before she attracts even more attention.”

The strange brown-haired girl retreats to a corner as fists bang against the door.

“What's going on in there Raven?!” Iza demands.

“One minute you were here and now you are gone, having locked yourself in the kitchens. Are you mad?!” Iza will not be ignored.

“Quiet Iza! A kitchen servant frightened herself, nearly cut off her own hand and she must be comforted. I will not have the entire household storm in here. It has been a long day with Riveth gone and I will maintain order in this house. Now go rest, woman!”

There is silence on the other side of the door.

“As you wish. Thank you, Raven, you are a kind soul.” Iza retreats.

Raven mutters as he holds the shaking kitchen maid, “If you only knew.”

He turns his attention back to her, “You're okay now. Please be quiet. I will release you so that you may go back to your quarters but you have to promise me you will be quiet and not cause any more trouble.”

“But I have done nothing your majesty, it is that wicked girl, the cook, she threw the kitchen knife at me because she didn't like my sauce.”

Raven shakes his head, and thinks to himself, Are all humans insane?

With a lack of anything better to say he blurts out, “As your king I command you to shut up and go to your quarters and not say a word about this. I will take care of the cook, you hear me?”

The girl's eyes well up with tears. She nods, picks up her skirts and runs to the door, unlocks it and runs out.

Raven watches to see what the brown-haired girl will do now.

He spies her tippy-toeing toward the door, about to leave.

Within seconds he is at the door and he has grabbed her by the hem of her dress and pins her against the wall above his head.

He is trying to be gentle, but apparently that has failed. The seam is constraining her throat, making it hard for her to breathe. She is gasping and scratching at her throat. Her eyes are watery as she strains to break free.

He drops her and she falls in a heap.

She looks up at him with fiery eyes. She gets to her feet and stands before him with closed fists, defiant, her chest heaving.

He sees her dash toward the wall where the knife is planted.

He is a blur of moving limbs as he chases her.

She grabs the knife.

But by then his hand is clasped around her wrist. He twists and she drops the knife.

She cries out from the pain of her twisted wrist.

His eyes appear very dark, black almost, and he bares his teeth and appears to the girl more like a wolf than a man.

Instinctively she shrinks away from him.

Again he grabs her and she tries to get away.

“You're coming with me.” Raven growls.

“No! NO--” He clasps a hand around her mouth.

Raven runs through the door holding the girl, and though she knows the castle well, the experience of traveling through it in the king's grasp is like traveling through another dimension. The walls, the ceiling all spin and rotate at bizarre and seemingly impossible angles, like time and space itself is bending. She looks down to see his feet are moving, so fast, as if in a blur.

It's as if they are navigating through a labyrinth she has never seen before or never knew even existed. Where is everyone? Will anyone see her being swept away by Raven? Will anyone help her? If they even care after what she has done? Her mind is reeling.

She feels like she is about to be flung over the railing of the stairs as he yanks her about traveling up and up, and her limbs bang against the banister. Her body careens and seems like she is airborne and about to fall from the height of two stories at the top of the stairs nearby Raven's chambers. Suddenly time slows back down to normal and just as she is about to fall down his hand is there grabbing her by her arm, yanking her to her feet.

She falls a couple inches before landing on her feet, actually, and she realizes she must have truly almost fallen. Raven is there, towering before her, looking down at her with his dark look of anger. He pulls her by her arm, not having yet relinquished her. He throws open the doors to his chambers and flings her onto the ground inside.

He closes the doors behind him and bolts it shut.

The woman runs to the fireplace and grabs a poker and points it at him.

He turns, back hunched over, and he looks over his shoulder at her with his fangs bared. He growls.

He glances out the window. The moon and the stars are out.

Raven appears to float toward her, his arms out before him, fingers bent at odd angles like claws.

He slaps the poker out of her hand and it flies, shattering an oil lamp, casting deep shadows across the room.

He has her pinned against the wall again. He looks at her now with blackened eyes, his fury palpable.

He opens his mouth, again revealing the sharp canines. He bends his head down toward her neck but stops. He looks at her again. He closes his eyes and takes a couple deep breaths. Finally he lets go of the girl and she slides to the floor.

She is quiet now as she catches her breath.

Raven looks more like himself, now. He runs his hands through his hair. He looks the girl up and down.

“What do they call you?”

“Andrea, your majesty. I am so sorry to have upset you. I am wrong for having thrown the knife at the kitchen maid. I am so sorry. Please don't hurt me. What are you going to do to me?”

“Whatever I like!” Raven spits out.

Andrea stands up and brushes off her skirts. She holds her hands and looks at him expectantly.

“What is it that you want?” She asks calmly.

Raven begins pacing around the room, mumbling to himself.

Finally he sits on the edge of his bed.

“Come, sit.” He instructs her.

She approaches him. Then she eyes him suspiciously.

“Look, if you expect me to perform some sort of favor in exchange for mercy, you are sorely mistaken. I would rather die.”

He looks down at her, the darkness returning to his eyes.

His blackened eyes lock with her fiery ones.

Like a viper uncoils itself like a whip, then dangerously latches onto its prey, Raven's fingers clamp down on her shoulder. He throws her down on the bed.

She struggles and begins kicking him.

He grows tired of her defiance. “I told you to sit.”

Suddenly her body seizes up and she cannot move. Next thing she knows she is laying flat on the bed, her hands at her sides.

“I can't move.”

“I gave you the option to sit, but you wouldn't listen! Now will you listen?”

She nods.

He releases his mental grip on her. She takes deep heaving breaths and sits up, holding her chest.

“I couldn't move, I felt like I couldn't breath.”

She looks at him, flames in her eyes.

“I should not have been so kind to you earlier.”

She darts for the door.

“So you're a coward now, then are you? You were not fearful in the kitchen. Not afraid and able to throw a knife at that girl, and yet you aimed so well you were able to cut off some of her hair without hurting her. Now why would you do such a thing? Hmm?”

Andrea double takes.

“Where will you go, Andrea? Now that they know you tried to hurt someone? Tried to kill someone?”

Raven refrains from telling Andrea that he is not planning on saying anything about what she has done to the others.

Andrea points a finger at Raven, “No I did not try to kill her. She made me mad so I threw the knife nearby her to scare her. Teach her a lesson.”

Raven smiles and waves his finger at her now, “Tssk tsk, little Andrea. Aren't you old enough to know that you shouldn't throw knives at people just because they upset you?”

Andrea puts her hands on her hips, “You are toying with me. You find this amusing, do you? Playing with people's lives. You royals. You just love playing God and watching the rest of us suffer.”

“Now Andrea, don't you think I would have hurt you, I would have taken advantage of you by now, if I wanted to?”

She is clearly puzzled. “Well if you're not going to punish me, then why am I here?”

Raven turns around and walks over to the window. He throws open the glass. He looks back at her, the light of the moon illuminating his face. He smiles mischeviously as the light plays across his flawless features. He can feel her being drawn to him, but is amused to see her withdrawing toward the doors still. Such a fierce streak of independence, he mulls. As if you have any control over your life now, you silly little fool.

“Where will you go, Andrea? The kitchen maid will tell everyone you tried to kill her.”

Andrea drops her head. “They will have my head for this.”

He holds out his hand.

She looks surprised.

Reluctantly Andrea walks toward him, but still does not take his hand.

“How about we make a deal, Andrea?”

“A deal?” She asks nervously.

“I'll take care of the kitchen maid and I'll keep your crime a secret. I'll protect you. But you have to do something for me.”

“I told you I would rather die than be some sort of slave to you, I bow to no man,”

“You're a saucy thing, aren't you? How about I fling you out this window right now? That'll take care of it.”

She looks at him defiantly, “I am doomed but I still have pride, even when facing death.”

“Give me your hand, girl.”

Her eyebrows knit together in puzzlement. She holds out her hand.

He takes it. He leaps into the air and, then like that they were in his chambers, now suddenly they're out of the window, drifting over the snowy fields surrounding the castle, drifting toward the forest. Now they're over the ocean, drifting toward the cave where Raven lived for so many years.

Frightened, Andrea clings to him and screams at the top of her lungs.

Raven revels in the sound of her screams. He says nonchalantly, “There's no use. No one will hear you over the sound of the crashing waves.”

Then they land, Andrea's eyes are closed, but then she opens them and peeks around. They are standing on something soft. But it is not cold like snow. They're on the beach.

Waves the size of buildings are roaring and crashing onto the shore.

Andrea clings to Raven still. She looks up to see him smiling down at her, his same mischevious look from before. She lets go and crosses her arms, holding herself.

“What are we doing here? What do you want from me?”

Suddenly he is walking across the beach. Then he is on the hillside at least a quarter of mile away, just above it. Just like that.

“Wait!” She cries.

How in the world does he move like that?

She chases after him.

Then, his face is right in front of hers.

She nearly jumps out of her skin. “What the hell is going on?”

He grabs her hand and leads her back up the hill.

“Why--” He puts a finger to his lips to quiet her. He motions with his hands, palms down, motions for them to go down to the ground. They are both crouching. Raven is looking into the trees.

Andrea peers into the dark forest, trying to get a glimpse of what Raven is looking at.

Eyes shine like beacons through the dark. A silhouette emerges.

Within seconds Raven is leaping in the air and descending upon the shadowy figure.

Andrea gasps but dares not to make more noise than that.

A blood curdling cry erupts from an animal, then suddenly the night is silent again. With only the sound of the waves again in the background.

Fearfully, Andrea approaches, quietly. When she nears, she cannot believe what she sees.

Raven is bending over the animal, his mouth clamped down on the neck of a stag, and blood is dripping down. Raven takes long draughts from the stag, tugging at its neck when he does, reminding Andrea of a wolf she saw once, when it was tearing away at the flesh on the neck of a horse. But he is not eating, he is drinking, Andrea realizes.

She puts her hand over her mouth, stunned.

And like that, the two of them are back in the castle, in Raven's chambers.

Her head is spinning. The two of them are both covered in blood, and Raven is drawing a bath.

“I think it is time for me to leave.” Andrea says as he begins to remove his clothes.

“Sorry, I forgot about humans and their humility.” He says through a crack in the door to the bathing room.

“But please Andrea,” he calls after her, “Don't leave. You can't. They'll kill you. Well, it's your choice.”

“I could just leave and tell them what you really are. They'll be so caught up dealing with you, the monster in the castle, that I can just slip away.”

“And where will you go?”

She is silent a moment.

“That's what I thought. It's your word against mine anyways. Take a tunic from the chest and change out of your dirty clothes. Grab some pillows off my bed. Sleep in the corner by the fireplace to stay warm if you like. I'd offer for you to sleep in the bed with me but clearly that is out of the question for you.”

Andrea simply cannot understand this strange man, or creature. What truly are his intentions?

“You keep my secret Andrea, I'll keep yours.”

“What is my secret, then King Raven? You have more to lose than I.”

She finds a tunic of his and is relieved to change into something clean. It is made of a fine satin and she admires it. She has never worn anything of such high quality.

“That you're a killer. A monster. Like me.”

Andrea goes quiet.

“You could have killed that girl. You wanted to. You didn't, but you almost did. Understand me now?”

“I'll sleep in the corner.”

“Good girl. Now I'm going to finish my bath. Rest up. I will decide what to do with you in the morning.”

Andrea curls up on pillows nearby the fireplace. She puts her head in her hands. She asks herself, “Why, just why, couldn't I control my temper today?” If she made a better choice, if she didn't act so rashly out of anger then she wouldn't be stuck here with this mad creature.

What have I gotten myself into?

…..................

Raven is sitting in the courtyard of the castle, several yards behind the towering stone structure. He is overlooking the ocean, lost in his thoughts as he watches the distant waves break along the shore.

In his hands he holds a dove.

Andrea approaches him and is surprised to see the bird in his hand.

“What are you going to do to it?”

She is wearing an apron, holding a tray with a wheel of brie cheese, wine, and a croissant.

He gestures for her to sit in the seat nearby him.

He pets the dove and she gives him an odd look.

“Just let it go.”

He opens his hands and it flies away.

She sighs with relief.

He gives her a crooked smile.

“You didn't seem to have much regard for life, last night, Andrea. Why should your heart soften now?”

“Don't be mistaken. There are still those I think this world would be better with out.”

She sets the food tray down on the table and sits in the chair opposite him.

One long leg is bent, his foot resting on the seat of his chair, the other is stretched out before him. He is resting his head and elbow on his knee. He is so languid, seemingly lazy. Like a panther. But last night I would have gone with the wolf comparison. What is wrong with me and why must I serve this mad king because of my mistakes?

Suddenly he is staring at her.

Andrea gulps.

He reaches out and takes her hand in his.

She whispers, “Your majesty, just because we're outside the castle it does not mean that someone isn't watching you.”

“Let them watch.” He says.

He continues to rest his head on his knee. One hand hovers above hers as if there is a crystal ball there she cannot see. He moves his hand around and he looks down a moment, as if he is truly reading her fortune.

“So tell me Andrea,”

He captures her eyes again and she cannot help but feel vulnerable. She finds herself leaning forward, drawn into the deep blue of his eyes. The world around her feels as if it's collapsing, falling away, disappearing from existence.

She takes a great big breath of air, only then realizing she had been holding her breath.

“Why did you throw the knife at that girl?”

“Why didn't I kill her, you mean?” Andrea's eyes widen, afraid.

He nods at this. “Good. Good. Yes tell me both.”

She tries to pull away, realizing their faces became much closer than they probably should be.

He doesn't let go. He tugs on her arm a bit, pulling her closer. He traces her arm, running his finger down it. The sensation sends shivers down her spine, but it is not necessarily bad. Then this realization inspires even more fear.

“I was mad at her. I told you. She needed to be taught a lesson.”

He tilts his head. “You were trying to scare her? Intimidate her?”

Andrea looks away and says quietly, “I don't know. Something happens when I get mad. I become a different person.”

Raven licks his lips. “That's fascinating, Andrea.”

He relinquishes her and leans back in his chair, regarding her.

Catia is headed towards them, and it looks like she can barely keep herself from running toward them. She is trying to keep her composure, though.

It seems Raven does not need to see Catia to know she is there.

“Raven it's me--”

He flicks his hand irritatedly in her direction. “I could smell you coming.”

Andrea, wide-eyed, stares at Catia. She feels as if she is trapped. Upon seeing Catia, Andrea is contemplating escape.

Raven looks at Andrea a moment as she begins to stand up. “Stay, my pet,” he says simply.

Catia's jaw drops at Raven's blatant demonstration of breaking social norms and traditions in the way that he is interacting with Andrea.

Catia takes a deep breath and regains her composure. “Can I speak with you a moment?”

Raven shrugs, “Whatever you want to say you can say right here.”

Catia is fuming. “Fine. You cannot just sit outside lazing about all day. Also you cannot express any affection at all toward this servant here. Izabella will become jealous and this is not a good thing. She is highly respected within her court and the rest of the city, Raven. When people catch word you are fraternizing with the help it will not go well.”

Raven looks at Catia with blackened eyes, a glimpse of the dark side of Raven she saw last night.

Catia is not intimidated.

“You think you're untouchable because you're a king now, do you?”

“What do you care?” He challenges her.

Catia storms off, “You will not see the end of me! And don't you dare leave any carcasses in the woods, or the men will find them when out to hunt! You'll be in trouble then. Do you hear me?”

Raven ignores her and turns back to Andrea, “Shall we go to my chambers, then?”

With Raven's abilities it not long before they're back in his room.

Andrea goes into the study and dusts Raven's desk. There's a pile of documents for him to go through.

She sweeps underneath it. She begins to clean the windows. She turns to go to his bedroom to look for more cleaning rags.

He is holding her wooden bucket full of her rags.

She looks down at the floor and sighs. “You know, I am not a maid. I am a cook.”

He lifts her chin, “You're neither. You're a fighter.”

Holding her chin he leans in toward her, baring his teeth.

She closes her eyes, a tear rolls down.

But instead of biting her he closes his mouth and brushes his face against her neck, smelling her hair.

He puts down the bucket and grabs her hand, turns it over and stares at the vein in her wrist.

She gulps.

He pulls her toward the bed, “Sit. I'll do you no harm.”

She breaths a few nervous, ragged breaths.

He traces the path of the vein up her forearm, until it disappears, to be replaced only by her olive skin.

“So, where are you from?”

“Caianna, your majesty.”

He smells her hair again and this time she leans into him, wondering what she is supposed to do next.

She looks into his eyes, searching for answers.

“Please tell me the truth. Why do you keep me here? Why am I here? What do you truly want from me?”

His eyes begin to turn a shade of red, and look as if they're bleeding.

She gasps.

He wipes his eyes.

They look clear, but there are blood stains on his face and the back of his hand.

“Are you crying?” She asks.

Suddenly Raven stands up and walks out the door.

Baffled, she just stares at the doors of his chambers for a while, unsure what to think.

…........

Andrea walks into the dining room, holding a tray with slices of ham, boiled carrots and potatoes. She walks from guest to guest, offering each of them the food and serves them. When she reaches Raven she tries not to stare at him.

With Raven's viper-like grasp he latches onto her wrist after she serves him and tries to walk away.

She looks at him with wide eyes.

He whispers, “Meet me in the gardens tonight. All you have to do is nod if you hear me.”

She nods and looks away.

He raises her hand as if to kiss it, but instead bites it, between her thumb and forefinger.

She jumps and Izabella looks up at her.

Andrea spins and runs away into the kitchen.

“I wonder what's gotten into her lately. What happened that night, Raven?”

Everyone in the family at the table turns to look at him.

Raven is poking his food around the plate and barely eating like usual.

He looks up to see Catia staring him down across the table.

“Well,” Raven begins.

He watches Catia very distinctly cut a piece of ham and put it in her mouth. She is eyeing him like she wants him to follow suite.

He smiles and copies her.

“Yes, well there was a problem in the kitchen. But I took care of it.”

He nods, as if that is the end of it.

Everyone is staring at Raven.

“But why were there screams? And the other kitchen maid, she is nowhere to be found. What happened to her?” Izabella implores.

Raven scratches his head. He sets his crown on the table. Izabella clearly does not like this and she frowns when he sets it on the table.

He shrugs, “She cut her hand, I comforted her and helped her bandage her hand. Then I sent her home.”

Aaron, Adrian, Alexa and Sybil exchange glances. Alexa and Sybil are sitting across from them, to Raven and Izabella's left and right. Catia looks at his bloodlings and shakes her head.

I'll have to talk to them later, Raven thinks to himself. He does not know them very well, but he has a feeling that some of them know about his true identity. He knows that Riveth has always been close to his nephews, Aaron and Adrian as he had no sons, so he would treat them as if they were. As for Alexa and Sybil, they likely do not know. They have probably been sheltered from the truth like their aunt Izabella.

Alexa flashes a suspicious look at Raven, like she knows he's up to something.

Sybil is expressionless and reserved. She continues eating.

When everyone is finished and Raven stands to leave, he feels someone following him.

Raven is not as familiar with Iza's scent as Catia's and Andrea's, but he knows when she's there.

Touching the wall next to him he can get a mental image of the layout of the castle, within his mind, and picks up on a hidden room, concealed by a decorated banner hanging just feet away from him. He smiles and looks quickly over his shoulder. The footsteps are drawing nearer, but she has not turned the corner yet.

Raven slips behind the banner.

He can hear her footsteps approach. She hesitates.

“Raven?” Iza says.

He waits for her to walk a little bit further before he slips out of the shadows behind the banner. He makes a mental note that he should start taking the secret passageways to travel instead of his powers, at times. Otherwise someone will eventually get a glimpse of something that looks like a phantom traveling through the castle at unfathomable speeds. This would not good for his reputation if anyone is to make the connection.

Raven stands close behind Iza now and simply waits.

Slowly she turns and upon seeing him she nearly jumps out of her skin.

Holding her chest she says, “My goodness, Raven, you startled me. Where in the hell did you go?”

“I travel like smoke. No one can find me.”

Izabella just looks at him a moment.

“Ah, I see.” she says awkwardly.

She grabs the hem of his jacket and stands up on her tippy-toes, tugging at him. “If you would like to visit my chambers tonight, we could go over some politics and have a glass of wine. Just for a little while, if you like.”

He peels her fingers off of him.

But he holds onto one hand and she looks up at him with a smile. He kisses her hand and bows.

“I must retire. But I look forward to speaking with you about politics over wine tomorrow. Sound good, Iza, dearest?”

She regards him a moment, looking somewhat suspicious.

“As you wish.” Iza answers over her shoulder, watching him as she walks down the hall. Soon she disappears around the corner.

Raven sighs and rolls his eyes.

The scent of rosemary fills his nose. He looks down to see Andrea.

“Why hello there.”

He wraps his arms around her and she stiffens but tolerates him and does not try to squim free.

That'll do for now, he thinks to himself, laughing inwardly. You'll learn soon enough, delicate mortal. Or should I say delicate morsel? Ah, what's the difference?

….....................

Soon enough they're in the garden.

Nazareth, Raven's white horse, walks into the garden.

“Where did he come from?” Inquires Andrea.

“Always so many questions. He does as I command, even if he is not within sight.”

Andrea smiles and pets the horse. “What is his name?”

“Nazareth. But you can call him Naza for short.”

“Sweet boy,” she tells the animal, stroking its head.

Grabbing onto Nazareth's mane Raven makes a small hop and swings a leg over the creature's back. He holds out a hand to Andrea and this time she is smiling when he grabs her hand. He lifts her up to sit behind him on the horse.

“Why travel by horse, what with your abilities?”

“I thought maybe this time you might be more comfortable if we traveled this way instead.”

Andrea sighs and wraps her hands around his waist.

He smiles down at her.

Andrea is looking at the snowscape and comments, “You're lucky your horse is white. They'll never see us in the snow, we might as well blend in. It's perfect.”

Raven hands her a bow and arrow.

“Now it's perfect.”

Nazareth takes off across the snow until they reach the cliffs by the ocean.

Andrea is nervous but she sees that the horse is actually really quite skilled at navigating down the narrow paths zigzagging down the cliff. Soon the castle is high above them and they are walking on the beach.

Nazareth gallops down the beach a while before returning to the hillside nearby the forest.

Andrea is wearing the quiver and bow, but she is not very familiar with the weapons.

“You should know by now that I am most skilled with knives, Raven.”

He puts a finger to his lip now as they are getting off the horse and they continue walking up the hill. He passes her a knife in a thigh holster which is about the length of her forearm.

“Here, put this on.”

Andrea stops and looks down at it.

“Are you serious?”

They have stopped as Raven peers into the forest. The horse has wandered back down to the beach. “Smart beast, at least he knows better now and to stay out of the way.” Raven comments.

Andrea scratches her head.

“What do you want me to do?”

Raven puts his finger to his lips again and gestures for her to follow. He falls into a crouching position and quietly makes his way closer to the forest.

Raven slips behind a tree. “Now run toward the forest, go quick!”

Andrea just looks at him.

“Go!”

With nothing better to do than do as she's told she runs toward the forest.

A couple deer run out of the trees.

Raven yells to her, “Quick, now shoot! The one on the right! I'll take the one on the left!”

Andrea quickly attempts to knock the arrow into place as Raven takes off after the first deer and pins it down.

She shoots, but misses. The deer escapes.

Andrea runs over to Raven and curses, “Sorry, Raven. I tried.”

“Nevermind,” He says and adds, “Take out your knife, quick.”

She takes out the knife and looks down at him and the deer. He is holding its head down, and he has one foot planted on its body. The animal is whining and struggling against his grasp.

Only a man or creature such as you, whatever kind of supernatural being you are, could hold down an animal like this so effortlessly. Andrea thinks to herself, looking at Raven.

Raven looks down at the animal's neck, “Slice, do not stab,” Raven instructs.

Why on Earth am I doing this? Andrea wonders.

She listens anyway, and slices. Then she screams as the blood spurts everywhere.

…...................

The unusual duo has returned to Raven's chambers. Raven has just washed and put on a fresh tunic and tights and is laying on the bed. Andrea is soaking in the tub in the bathing room.

Everything seems very quiet and peaceful after the wild events of the evening outdoors.

“Andrea?”

She is quiet a moment. “Yes?”

“Are you okay?”

“I'm fine.”

A few moments later Andrea emerges, wearing a night dress that Raven grabbed from Sybil's chambers when she was not looking. There's a couple of them inside his chest now that he put there for Andrea.

The mute thing won't notice if she has a few of her hundreds of articles of clothing missing.

Just as Andrea walks through the bathing room doors, the doors of his chambers open. Raven's guard is chasing Izabella as she runs into his chambers, trying to stop her. “I'm sorry your majesty--” the guard stammers. Then the two women see one another.

Andrea looks like she saw a ghost. Izabella is seeing red.

“You!” Iza cries out at Raven, now pointing a finger in his face.

“And you!” Iza points at Andrea now.

“Leave us,” Raven calmly tells the guard. The guard looks afraid of the scene he walked into. He nods and quickly closes the doors. Raven locks the bolt.

This infuriates Iza and it's as if a storm has been unleashed inside of Raven's chambers. Iza runs to the windows and tears the curtains off the wall. She grabs his chest of clothing and dumps it on the ground. Then she reaches for a candle holder, the candle falls to the floor and the flame goes out. Iza throws the candle holder across the room at Andrea. The servant ducks just in time. The queen growls angrily.

If it were not her queen attacking her Andrea would strike back.

But she knows better than to engage with one so powerful and venemous.

She takes a step back and says, “I'm so so sorry your majesty, this isn't what it looks like.”

“Oh it isn't, is it?” She barks.

Iza closes her eyes, straightens her posture and lets her hands drift down to her sides.

Andrea drops to her knees and puts up her hands as if in prayer.

Raven is watching everything mostly with amusement, but he is beginning to tire of the scene that is unraveling before him.

Iza regards Andrea as if she is the lowest of scum, an insect she plans to smash beneath her heel.

Raven feels that he is learning a lot about the powerful woman who is suppose to be his future wife. We will see about that, Raven thinks.

Raven steps forward toward the women and is clapping his hands, smiling. “Well done, ladies. Is that all then?”

When he's done Andrea is wide-eyed, looking at Iza, clearly fearing her reaction.

Iza looks as if she is going to explode.

She narrows her eyes and regards Raven with fierce eyes.

“So this is all a joke to you, is it?”

The formiddable and much taller Iza backhands the svelte, slight Andrea with such force that she goes flying into the flagstones on the floor at their feet.

Andrea whimpers and holds her face, wiggling her jaw in an attempt at recovery.

“Get out! Go to your chambers before I chop off your head right here and now!”

Andrea runs out the doors.

Raven cracks his neck, his knuckles, and steps forward, staring Iza down.

“You didn't have to slap her, Iza. She did nothing wrong.”

Iza spins on him and pokes Raven in the forehead over and over as she screams at him.

He takes a deep breath, trying not to slap her himself.

“How dare you humiliate me like this! You damned fool!”

She takes a deep breath and goes and grabs his navy blue jacket from the pile of clothes strewn across the floor and throws it at him. Next she throws his leather pants on his head.

“It's no matter that in our personal lives we are clearly pitted against one another now, enemies forced to rule side by side! The reason I am here is because my messenger just arrived here from the South and he has a message from one of my spies, we are under siege! He says that by first light an army of five hundred men strong will be here from Zenia!”

On her way out she grabs a sword off the wall and throws it at him as he attempts to finish putting his clothes on. It clatters and skids toward him across the floor.

She pulls out a long dagger and starts down the stairs saying as she goes, “Just in case they've already begun to infiltrate our walls. You never can be too prepared!”

“Meet me in the throne room at once!” She yells from the bottom of the stairs. A team of ladies, nobility and servants both appear out of nowhere, ten in total in close pursuit in order to attend their queen.

Raven runs out of his chambers with one boot on and he is pulling on the other as he starts across the landing. His guard looks at him then over the railing toward Iza. He shakes his head.

“Good luck your majesty. Should you need me on the battlefield I will be there to defend you.”

Raven looks over his shoulder at him, now with boots on he is fastening his belt and puts his sword in its sheath. He responds, “I don't need your help, Galeth. I likely never shall. But I appreciate your loyalty, nevertheless.”

He hesitates and runs his hands through his hair. “Actually I'll take that back. Remember me and rally all to vouch for me when the bitch tries to oust me and turn the privy council against me. That's when I'll really need you.” He throws a few gold coins at him before he runs down the stairwell.

Galeth's face is puzzled as he picks the gold coins up off the ground.

He is impressed to see the king's own face engraved on the gold coin. He looks down at the king as he runs toward the throne room and back down at the coin.

The year is 1557. On the coin it reads “Prince Raven of Axelgard, year 1207.”

Fortunately for Raven, Galeth is not the brightest guard at court. He is smart enough to know that Raven could not have created his own supply of gold in the last two days after Riveth's death. He knows that the currency must have been produced a while ago since is reads “Prince” instead of “King” on the coin. The year puzzles him greatly but he shrugs it off.

“Must be a misprint, then eh?”

He bites the coin and with a grin he says, “I'll back our king anyday. In two days he's taken over the kingdom, found himself a cute servant girl to sweeten the deal, and somehow hasn't had his balls cut off by the queen yet. If anybody will save the kingdom, it's King Raven. Bring it on, you bloody Southern bastards!”

….......................

Upon reaching the bottom of the stairs Catia comes running out in her nightgown, barefoot and her hair messy.

“So you heard the news,” He says, looking past her.

She nods, “What will you do, Raven?”

She clings to the lapels of his coat and he begins to drag her as he continues to walk toward the throne room.

He grabs her by the shoulders, picks her up, and sets her absentmindedly on the ground, “Don't worry about me. I have been to war, and I know how to rally troops, exact justice as is seen fit upon the battlefield. The common people love me, and the warriors are one and the same.”

Then he spins and looks at her, clearly thinking hard about something all of a sudden.

She blinks quickly, “Well you look like you need something. What do you need?”

“Take care of Andrea, the servant from the kitchens. If Iza tries to have her taken away you tell her she has my protection. She is to be in my battle tent and I will see to it that she and a group of other kitchen servants produce food for the armies. That will shut her up.”

He grabs her and looks her in the eyes as he says this. Catia scoffs and yanks against his grip.

“Do it, Catia! Promise me!”

She rolls her eyes, “Fine. But I do not think this is what your father meant when he asked that I look after you. I hope you know what you're doing. I hope she's worth it.”

Catia runs off to look for Andrea.

Raven has a crooked smile as he thinks about his new friend, “Oh yes, she's worth it.”

He opens his palm, inside it is a strand of her hair. He cut off the strand while she was sleeping, not wanting her to know how much he truly does care for her. He wonders if in her home Caianna that they are familiar with such practices between lovers.

“She will learn the truth soon enough,” He thinks as he puts it in the breast pocket of his coat, over his heart. He is relieved to have it with him should they go onto the battlefield at dawn's first light.

“For good luck, then.”

….......................

Raven straightens out the collar of his coat as he strolls into the throne room.

Royal guards close the doors behind the king.

All eyes turn to him and there's a chill that fills the rooms as he enters, the occupants fold their arms and hold their shoulders, bracing against a cold wind that is felt but the source of it undetectable. The darkness in his eyes lingers now, appearing almost completely black, due to all the excitement the events of the night has brought. There's a thin blood-colored line bordering his irises, giving his eyes a glowing look not unlike burning embers.

He is still reveling and feeding off the the strength and empowerment he feels from having his most recent kill. He is relieved to have been feasting upon beasts of burden as opposed to humans for the last couple hundred years. Otherwise the hunter's instincts might threaten to take over him, especially when in preparation to take to the battle field. Fortunately he has matured, due to his age and as a result of his training; he looks around at those in the room as his to protect instead of his to subject to his insatiable thirst.

Adrian and Aaron stand nearby the head of the table with Iza, also accompanied by Alexa, Raven is surprised to find. His nephews and niece are wearing battle armor, with their helmets in hand. Upon seeing Raven entering the room Iza gives him a dangerous look but otherwise appears levelheaded and prepared for what may come. Five generals and a group of high-ranking warriors are seated around the table and they watch Raven as walks in and takes his place at the head of the table. In the background Iza's ladies and the servants look on, eyeing Raven suspiciously.

There are maps laid out on the table and figurines, symbolizing armies, warships, and catapaults.

Iza gestures to the general nearest to them, an auburn-haired man with full facial hair, but cut trim and well-groomed, “This is Duke Cameron of Baltizar. He leads our greatest and most skilled forces, a combination of both cavalry and archers. In the late king's absence from the battlefield, due to his health condition in the past, Duke Cameron led all of our armies collectively. He will brief you now.”

Iza regards Raven icily for a moment. But she is cordial and nods encouragingly at the new king and takes her seat.

Raven sits beside her and takes his hand in hers and squeezes it. He looks at her and smiles. It is his way of apologizing for being the selfish being he is. He truly cannot help it, but at the same time he acknowledges it is unfair that Iza suffer for it all the same.

He can see the hurt in her eyes before she looks away.

“Duke Cameron. It is an honor to have you here to help protect our realm, clearly you have done an excellent job of it in the past. Now tell me, what is your plan?”

“Your majesty, the honor is mine. Now see here, we have many vantage points. Axelgard is stationed very carefully and it is very difficult to plan a siege against our kingdom for this reason. We have the Andula Sea to our North, the Serius mountain range flanking us to the West and Southwest. Then to the Southeast we have the Artemes river. Access to our home here is through the Elles Mountain Pass, which is also gives us access to our most important trade routes, and unless we travel by sea, is our sole point of access to any other place in the region.”

Raven scratches his chin, “So our greatest asset is also our greatest weakness. If the mountain pass is to ever be blocked then we are trapped, except by sea. And Zenia is to the South, do they have control of portions of the Mountain Pass?”

The duke nods, “That is the truth of it your majesty. And yes, Zenia controls the first half of the pass, the southern side.”

Aaron and Adrian exchange glances and look from Raven to the duke. Alexa looks on as well. Raven can feel them watching his every move, listening to his every word. Just you wait, children, he thinks to himself.

Cameron continues, tracing the mountain pass with his finger on the military maps before them, until he reaches Zenia, which is to the South East of Axelgard on the other side of the mountains. Raven notices with interest that Andrea's homeland, Caianna is to the Southwest.

Suddenly Raven blurts out, “Well isn't it our dumb luck that one of the countries that so happens to border us wants to take us out. Where did we go wrong? I don't remember having any problems with Zenia before.”

Everyone at the table, including the duke look at him incredulously.

Iza clears her throat, “Excuse our young king, he has only recently taken to the throne just two days ago and is still becoming familiar with our foreign policy. Isn't that right, King Raven?”

Raven ignores her, “We buy wood from Zenia, we sell them goods from our port to the far North, only miles away from your homeland, Baltizar. We sell them fish and other goods shipped here from aboard. We protect them from invaders who travel by sea. I don't get what the problem is.”

Iza rubs her temple.

Cameron smiles, “King Raven, though you may be inexperienced in politics I do admire your directness. You would think this is enough. The problem is that we have raised taxes on our trade goods that come from the Andula Sea, there is a lot of risk that comes with trading through our port, often times more risk than we can afford. So we have increased the taxes on those goods three fold.”

The duke continues, “Zenia has overfarmed their region and their livestock has been dwindled down to almost nothing due to the growing population of wolves in the mountains. As you may expect they have become dependent on the our goods from the sea, but they cannot afford the high price we charge for those goods.”

Raven scratches his head, “Honestly I like a good fight like any man, Duke, but could we come up with a diplomatic solution, to avoid some serious losses? Why not reduce the taxes?”

The Duke sighs, “It's not that simple. We are dependent on those taxes, it is a small port and the fisherman's yield as well as the lack of frequency with which foreign goods come through there provide just enough revenue for our country. Important revenue the crown needs. We can discuss the economy another time your majesty, but I can assure you that there is no diplomatic solution here, my king.”

He continues, “In reality there has been famine in Zenia off and on for months. They are dependent upon us and though it is not necessarily our fault they are struggling, they are angry with us.

We have what they do not and we are not in a position to give or cut costs. So the tension has reached a tipping point. They do not only want what we have, but they need it, and are willing to kill for it.”

Raven sighs and nods, “Alright then. Please continue.”

“King Raven, unfortunately you were right when you pointed out our weakness, which is that except by ocean there is practically only one way out of Axelgard. With Zenia bordering us to the South, with exception to Caianna, which is a weak country facing similar problems as Zenia, we are practically surrounded. But there is Thadon, to our North West. There is a very narrow mountain pass that leads to their country and out the other side of the mountain range.”

Iza rolls her eyes, “Thadon is hardly an ally to consider, Cameron.”

Cameron shrugs, “Queen Iza, we could call on Thadon's troops and even hold them in reserve. Were we to become surrounded by Zenia's troops it could be our last chance of survival to call on them for help.”

Aaron, Adrian, and Alexa show their displeasure with this as well.

Aaron speaks up, “The treasury is dwindling right now, we cannot afford to hire Thadon to help us.”

Adrian gripes, “We should have their allegiance irregardless. The Agradon War should have shown them who has their best interests in mind.”

Alexa interjects, “Thadon has their best interests in mind and it will always be so. Let the Duke talk for god's sakes.”

Raven cocks an eyebrow at the three of them, wondering who is the wisest of the Iza's nieces and nephews. He looks forward to having someone besides Iza to discuss policy with, at least.

Duke Cameron continues, “So I have our troops ready to be stationed at the base of the Serius Mountains, waiting for Zenia's troops. Our foot soldiers will be here at the opening of the pass into our fields and meadows. I will place archers in the mountains, so that they can help to eliminate as much of the first wave of the attacks as possible. Our cavalry will be stationed at the bottom of the hill here, to take on the final wave of fighters and wipe them out. See here, the Axelgard citadel is positioned at the top of the hill.”

Raven adds, “And if that fails, then we have Thadon. How will they know when we need their help?”

The Duke nods and answers, “We will light a signal fire from the North Tower should we need their help. And, well, my king, it could very well come to that.”

“What makes these people such a threat, duke?” Raven implores.

“They have nothing to lose, my king.”

Raven straightens his posture and takes a deep breath.

There is silence a moment as everyone waits for his response.

“Well there's no more time to waste, then is there?”

Raven draws his sword and says, “Duke Cameron, my generals, let us rally the troops!”

The Duke is emboldened by Raven's confidence. He draws his sword and cheers and the other generals join him.

Raven slaps the duke on the back and says, “Are you ready to protect what's ours?”

“Never been more ready, my majesty!”

“That's the spirit, Duke, now let's go kick some Zenian asses!”

The generals laugh and Raven walks out with them and the Duke.

Iza and the rest of the royal family trail behind them. Her ladies and servants disperse and return to their quarters.

Alexa, Adrian, and Aaron are all staring at her. Raven has surprised them all.

“What?! Maybe if we're lucky he'll die out there. You all know you're thinking it!” She says and storms off.

The three exchange glances.

Alexa says with a crooked grin, “I was thinking that thank God we have a king with a fighting spirit.”

Aaron and Adrian smile back. They nod.

Aaron shrugs, “He may die out there. He may not. If not, well then, we've got a promising king on our hands.”

“Long live the king!” Adrian and Aaron say and they draw their swords.

…........................

King Raven, Duke Cameron, Adrian and Aaron are atop their horses on the hill with the cavalry and the Axelgard fortress behind them, the cold wind whipping snow drifts around them. All of them are wearing capes with hoods lined with fur over their armor. They are looking down the white-capped hills toward the Elles Mountain Pass, where the foot soldiers await, with the archers lurking in the shadows of the trees. The sun seems to be crawling ever so slowly behind the mountains. Purple light, then pink, then finally shades of orange and yellow begun to erupt over the horizon.

“Do you see them yet?” Adrian asks the Duke.

The glare from the sun suddenly is quite intense as the sun rises, and the Duke squints in the direction of the pass. The reflection of the sun on the snow makes it all the more blinding. “Not yet.”

Raven is picking his nails with a knife as he waits. Aaron is beside him and seems taken aback by Raven's sense of calm.

“You've got to be kidding me.” He says.

“What?” Raven asks.

“Aren't you nervous? This is your first battle.”

“Listen here little man. You may have been apart of a many battles such as the War of Agradon or what have you, but let it be known I have had my share of war.”

Aaron nods, “Ah, so it's true then. What they say about you.”

Now Raven is a bit nervous. He puts the knife away.

“And what do they say?” He says levelly, testing Aaron, to see what his brother and sisters may or may not know.

“That you are much older than you look. That you are not a young king at all. But a very old prince. One that hid in a dusty cave for centuries. Sucking the blood of innocents. But of course only us fighters know. We always must know more, us working, fighting men.”

Raven rolls his eyes, “What do you know about being a working man, eh Aaron?”

Aaron laughs, “Alright, you're right. I don't work like the common folk. But I'm not hanging about in the castle just lounging in my study, reading scrolls and signing papers, mind you. I train, hunt--”

Horns sound.

Men begin to emerge through the pass. There is the sound of clashing swords, screams. Bodies begin to hit the ground.

“It has begun, your majesties.” The duke looks at all of them.

“What now?” Raven asks.

“All we do is wait, for our turn to strike.” The duke says.

Raven looks on thoughtfully, “ 'Tis a shame, don't you think?”

“What?”

“All those bodies. Across the ground. Lying there to rot in the sun. Well actually, I suppose they'll just freeze so perhaps that's better than the latter.” He shrugs.

The duke exchanges glances with Aaron and Adrian.

But before he has a chance to say anything Raven has turned and left. His horse is running off at top speed toward his tent and he soon disappears from sight behind curtains of falling snow.

The three of them watch him as he goes.

The duke is baffled, “What in the hell is he doing?”

“Whatever the hell he wants, obviously.” Gripes Adrian.

“I like him.” Aaron shrugs.

The Duke and Adrian look at him incredulously.

“It's not right, to just leave for one's tent in the midst of battle!” The Duke says.

“I suspect there's someone there he's worried about.” Aaron says.

They look at him.

“I tell you now, he's leaving for a good reason, whatever it is. He will be back, I promise you.”

“That blood-sucking prick better be back here soon, and he better not make another disgraceful comment about the fallen or I am going to kick his arse myself.”

They all laugh at this.

“Might as well get our laughs in now. Could be our last.”

The duke nods to Adrian and Aaron, “Milords, it is always an honor to fight by your side. May the king prove himself useful as the two of you have time and time again, during the most challenging of times when protecting our realm. Or else, chances are, we all shall face a timely death.”

…...........................

Just when she thought she could not stand the smell of burnt bread any longer she finds herself pulling out another burnt loaf from the oven. She curses and throws it to the ground.

A woman pleads with Andrea, “Please, I need these wages to feed my children. I am so sorry, I am no baker, ma'am.”

Andrea growls and points to a far off place outside the tent, “Get out of my sight! You said you could cook! I'll see that your paid but all I want from you is to make gruel, because clearly that's the only thing your good for!”

The woman sulks as she wanders out of the tent.

For the first time that morning Andrea looks up from her work as she hears the cries of men and horses engaged in conflict, just barely over the howling wind. She cannot see much but every once and a while the snow lets up a moment so that she can see the battle on the fields below. She can just hear sound of steel clashing against steel. Bodies are strewn across the snow, patches of red popping up everywhere.

It oddly reminds her of red tulips in bloom. She shakes her head at thoughts of something so beautiful during such dark moments.

The ground will be stained with blood soon enough, she thinks to herself sadly.

“Ahh!” Andrea cries out as hands grab her waist and lift her up off the ground.

Raven spins Andrea around to face him and she nearly slaps him in the face, but seeing that it is him she stops herself.

He puts her back on the ground.

She looks around frantically. “I cannot be seen here with you! You heard what Iza said!”

Raven shakes his head, his handsome crowned head, the jewels on his crown bright against the drab color-scheme of the winterscape. “Andrea, sweetheart, it's okay. You're going to be okay. You're here on my orders.”

Andrea looks down at her feet, puzzled a moment. She looks up at him with hope, “Is that really true?”

“Why of course!” He says and scoops her up again.

He holds her and she rests her head on his shoulder.

She lifts her head and looks at him, “But why am I here?”

“I had to bring you here to keep you out of the castle. Away from Iza and her people, the court. I'm sure they would have tried to lock you away. So I brought you here. With me.”

She smiles at him and to Raven it is much more meaningful than even today's fateful sunrise.

Then Aaron's concerned face appears just outside the tent, looking in through the opening, beckoning him to follow.

Raven sighs. He looks down at her, holding her gaze, “I'll be back. Don't leave this tent. You hear me?”

She nods. Before he runs out she grabs his wrist. He turns to look at her.

“Please live. Don't die. For me, okay?”

He smiles, “Sweetheart. I won't die.”

Then he's gone.

Andrea falls to her knees, putting her head in her hands.

….............................

Duke Cameron is racing down the hill, yelling at the top of his lungs, “Onward!” Aaron and Adrian are at his side. Alexa is a distance away following suite, with an arrow knocked in place in her bow as she charges forward.

Clods of snow and soggy grass and earth flies as the horses' hooves tear away at the fields, the pounding of their collective hooves filling the ears of all around.

The duke raises his sword as the final wave of fighters has reached the bottom of the hill. The clamour of battle is upon them, iron clashing against iron whether it be blade to blade or blade upon armor. The cries of dying horses and men surround them soon enough and it does not take long before not a soul is without blood upon them.

All that is except for most of the archers, and Raven, who finally has made an appearance upon the field.

An axe twice the size of the duke's head is descending seemingly in a fatefully slow motion toward his jugular, not unlike how the moments pass when facing the guillotine. Like a bolt of lightning Raven is there, removing the offending soldier's head from his shoulders. The soldier's horse takes off running until finally the deceased man falls off.

Gasping for breath the Duke reaches out and grabs Raven's lapels, “I thought myself a goner, there, my king! Next time I'll deliver the death blow that saves your hide!”

Raven laughs, a little too enthusiastically, and then he's off. The king with his long reach easily takes out several men, ending them with little effort.

Aaron narrowly misses a mace to the face.

He has arched his back so far he is nearly lying down flat on his horse.

With a PAT! Alexa has shot his opponent in the chest, straight through his armor. The man collapses on the ground and his horse runs away.

The duke strikes a man down.

Right after that another man pulls him down from his horse.

The duke tucks and rolls and spins on the man, striking him as he spins with his shield.

The man collapses.

Adrian is fighting on the ground as well. He runs over and leans down and slices the man's throat as the duke is catching his breath, leaning on the shield. It's not easy to catch one's breath in the freezing cold.

The field is thinning out where they're located, though the fight continues across the snowscape.

The party of warriors appear to have found some breathing room for a moment.

They watch Raven as he surges on, hacking through the fray.

The duke takes off his helmet and runs his hands through his hair.

“My god, our immortal king is all but cutting down our enemy like a lumberjack cuts down timber!”

A general from the Zenian army is closing in on Raven now. They can recognize him from the yellow colors of his shield, whereas the Axelgard colors are black and red. The two are in hand to hand combat. The general shoulders Raven, sending him flying off his horse into the snow.

Then the general steps on Raven's sword hand. Raven cries out in frustration as his opponent kicks his sword away. It disappears in the snow.

The four of them exchange worried glances.

Alexa climbs higher up the hill, headed in the direction of the king and the foreign general.

“I've got this under control.” She says before she is out of ear shot.

The duke, Adrian, and Aaron look on, the color draining from their faces. It is never good to see one's leader, no matter how fearless, on the brink of being slashed to death by one's enemy.

Raven is down on one knee, his arms raised above him to shield himself from a broad sword descending upon him.

“AHHH!” He cries out.

PI-TACK! PACK! Two arrows strike the Zenian general. One arrow to the eye, the other in the neck. The man stops in his tracks, with his arms still raised, holding the sword. Raven ducks and rolls out of the way as the man collapses where he just was.

Raven's breath is ragged. He looks up wide-eyed, and sees Alexa on her horse, standing over him.

“You're welcome.” She says as coolly.

She holds out her hand and he takes it, she helps him up on her horse.

“Let us regroup, shall we?”

…...............................................

With the first Zenian general dead the tide of the war turns in Axelgard's favor. Duke Cameron, with the cavalry behind him, after several hours into the battle, begin to slowly push the enemy forces back into the pass. Alexa has resolved to aide the archers who remain in their position in the trees around the pass, picking off enemy soldiers one by one, playing an integral role in helping to drive the forces back into the pass. Though the foot soldiers took significant losses, with the help of the cavalry, those who remain are able to press on. Axelgard warriors hold their own, determined to survive and continue to protect their loved ones tucked inside the walls of the fortress.

At the beginning of the battle Raven, the duke, the nephews and Alexa stick together, fighting side by side. As time goes on though Raven and the duke remain at the helm of the cavalry army while Adrian and Aaron get lost in the fray. Eventually the cavalry, which originally was three hundred men strong, were commanded by the duke and the generals under him to surround the Zenian forces. In order to cut off the enemy soldiers to prevent them from gaining ground and getting closer to the fortress, the cavalry is commanded by the duke and the other generals to surround the southerners in a horse shoe-shaped formation.

Then men on the frontline are chanting in unison and it echoes against the walls of the pass and step by step they drive the enemy forces back, cramming them in between the rocky cliffs. The frontline is heaving as they are using all their brute force to drive them out of the meadows of Axelgard.

“Come on men, we're almost there! Push those brutes all the way back into the hell hole they came from!” Duke Cameron commands, his voice hoarse after hours of yelling over the loudness of the battle.

Raven is at the frontline farther down but he can see the duke clearly. He sees men to his left and right collapse under the effort of pushing back the opposition, farther down the frontline. Raven is grateful to be the strong being that he is and is relieved to know that with exception to being hacked to pieces is essentially indestructable and tireless. It truly saddens him though that the same cannot be said for his mortal comrades. He can hardly bear to watch so many good men fall and go underfoot as the rest of the men surge onward, and it feels like he is having his heart broken over and over as the war goes on. There must be another way, a way to end this bloody mess.

As time goes on Raven watches both sides lose scores of men, but now as the sky is darkening and the afternoon turns to the early evening, hundreds of fighters are sent to their graves. How can mankind do this to themselves? Raven is astounded at the determination of men to fight to their last dying breath for what they want and believe in, because of desperation. He understands the plight of their enemy as well, and it is even hard for him to cast thoughts of Zenia's plight aside as well.

The general nature of man pitted against man sickens him, he is mentally weakened by the horrific nature of the experience, and the realization that humans truly are the most self-destuctive creatures on the planet. He wonders how it was that he ever was one and was able to fearlessly rush into battle and justify the sacrifices made because of, time and time again.

The king shakes off these disturbing thoughts and fights inwardly to stay sane even as he fights outwardly to stay alive. Then he thinks I know what to do.

Raven backs his horse up out of the line gradually, telling the men to his left and right to close the gap, and like the loyal citizens they are they do as they are told. He works his way back to Duke Cameron and shouts at him over the din.

“Duke! We must end this before we all die of exhaustion or freeze to death! Or both!”

“What do you have in mind, majesty?!”

It takes some effort for them to reach one another to stand side by side on their horses, and the both of them are wiping blood and gore off of their faces by the time they do. The two of them are holding their shields over their heads, protecting themselves from flying arrows.

“We must block the pass from the other side.”

“That's not a good idea, Raven. There's too many of them, who will be trapped inside here along with us. It would be a blood bath.”

“It's a blood bath right now. Anyway, no, I mean we can block it from somewhere inside the pass, can't we? We could cut off some of the other troops.”

“How do you suppose we do that? Would that not take too much men to do, men we could very well lose? You plan to create another shield wall and surround them?” He asks skeptically.

“Not exactly. I've got a better idea. The pass is rocky, there are large rocks and boulders everywhere, we could send some of the foot soldiers up to gather some, and they will be protected by the archers. If they gather enough rocks and boulders I could time it so that they will drop them all at once and block the pass, cutting off most of the army. Whoever remains we can deal with.”

The duke thinks on this a moment, “It likely will not stop Zenia from attacking us altogether, but it will force them to wait until they can get through the pass again. They may even retreat for a while, because of the weather. It could allow us to recover and build our forces back up again and prepare for the next battle. Good thinking, King Raven. Go then, lead the foot soldiers into the mountains, have Alexa lead them on one side of the pass and you can lead the others on the opposite side.”

Word spreads quickly across the Axelgard army of the new plan to end the first battle. Together Raven, Duke Cameron, and the other four generals rally a clutch of foot soldiers and send them into the mountains. Raven is on the East side of the pass, with Alexa leading soldiers on the West side.

Raven pries, pulls and pushes the largest rocks and boulders he can find and positions it several yards deep into the pass by the edge of the cliff. Alexa is coordinating with him and they send hand signals to one another as they work in unision, even from across the distance between the two cliffs. Within about a half hour or so together, along with the remaining foot soldiers, they create a formiddable pile of rocks, boulders, and rubble. On both sides of the pass the piles stand tall, at least twice Raven's height.

Before issuing the final signal to push the rocks into the pass Raven looks down and checks out the scene below. Half of the Zenian army is in the pass, with the other half still holding up at the entrance, trying with all their might to force their way back into the meadows of Axelgard.

Raven looks at Alexa and nods. With a wave of her hand and a wave of Raven's sword all the soldiers on both sides of the pass begin pushing the rocks and boulders into the pass. Stones rain down on the heads of the opposing army and some soldiers below cry out with arms hopelessly upraised just before being crushed into oblivion. Once it's all over Raven cries out and Alexa and the rest of the foot soldiers join them them in celebrating the success of closing off the mountain pass.

A resounding thunder of voices echo and bounce off the walls of the cliffs at the entrance of the pass as the Axelgard army closes in on the remaining Zenian soldiers. Cries of panic ensue and Raven and Alexa from their respective positions look down with amazement as the trapped enemy soldiers fall to their knees, raising their arms in the air in surrender.

Raven commands his forces to drop their weapons.

Duke Cameron, the other generals, and the Axelgard army let out joyous shouts and cries.

For now, victory is theirs.

…............................

Exhausted and covered in grime, Raven climbs back up the hill to his tent, nearby the fortress. He can feel himself smiling from ear to ear as he approaches the tent. He climbs down from his horse as he reaches his destination. He throws open the flap of the tent and looks around but there is no one inside. Andrea's pots and pans and other cooking items are scattered across the ground. Her chest which had her clothing in it is on the ground, its contents all strewn about.

He hears someone moaning outside, behind the tent. Raven rushes to find the source of the noise.

The servant that was working with Andrea is on the ground bleeding and gasping for breath.

Raven kneels down and holds her head, “Girl, what happened?” He tries to be gentle. He holds her and he can feel her pain. He bites on his lip, trying to hold back panic.

Why must the world of man be so cruel? They think I'm dark and hideous, but they are just as merciless as my race.

The girl's eyes threaten to roll back into her head. She gulps and takes shallow breaths.

“They came and took her. They struck me.”

He looks on the side of her head and sees the wound.

“Where did they take her?”

She looks at the forest nearby.

When the girl's eyes return to his they stare at him as she descends into the world of eternal slumber.

He closes her eyelids and says “Farewell, child.”

Rushing off into the woods he veritably is flying as he travels in between the trees, everything in his sight is a blur until he reaches the clearing.

Aaron is calling out to him nearby the tent outside of the woods, but he pays the voice no mind. In this moment nothing else matters.

Andrea is in the middle of the clearing, covered in blood, which is quickly spreading and encircling her in deep red snow.

“My heart,” He says, blood tears welling up in his eyes.

She is still breathing and she turns to look at him, “Raven?”

He falls to his knees.

He can hear rustling in the wood behind him. Without looking Raven knows that the duke, Aaron, Adrian, and Alexa are there. He can smell them a mile away.

Raven stands, holding the blood soaked Andrea in his arms.

It is a macabre sight, the king covered in grime and gore and his eyes dripping with the red liquid that is both his elixir and poison. Andrea's cream-colored skirts are awash with a deathly shade of maroon. The two of them stand framed by the starkly contrasting white snow and the silhouettes of the woods behind them.

Raven thunders, “Someone get my goddamned horse! NOW!!”

Aaron grabs Raven's horse and rushes to his side, “Raven, it does not look good.”

Aaron looks down sadly at the poor Andrea, taking her in his arms as she struggles to breath. He lifts the woman up so that Raven can take her into his lap atop his horse.

Raven ignores his comments and takes off toward the castle at a gallop.

The rest of the party looks on quietly as they watch the king go, holding Andrea in his lap.

….............................

Raven storms into the castle, the doors swinging open violently and slamming against the walls loudly and startling the occupants within. Iza comes running out in her nightgown, as the day has evolved from the late afternoon into the night. Snow drifts come into the castle doors when he enters, bringing the chill from outside into the building.

He starts to runs up the stairs with Andrea in his arms, ignoring the queen. She grabs his arm and with an infuriated tone she questions him, “What is the meaning of this Raven?! You bring that filthy servant girl up the stairs to your quarters and you can declare war against me then! Forget Zenia, Raven, let it be known I will take you down!”

He turns on her, his eyes dying embers in the darkness, the red halo bordering his irises. He bares his fangs and he all but roars at Izabella, “Stand down or I will end you here and now you selfish wretch! Can't you see the poor woman is dying?!”

“So be it, let the peasant die and you shall bathe in her blood, you conceded ass!”

Raven slaps Iza hard and she falls down upon the steps, shocked, holding her face. She looks up at him in silence as he turns and leaves, running up the stairs. Andrea is barely clinging on to life.

“I'll end you myself, do you hear me?! You will pay for this! YOU WILL PAY!!” Izabella screams up at him.

Raven flings open the doors to his chambers and lays Andrea down on the bed.

He yells at Galeth to shut and lock the doors and to keep the queen out.

She turns her head and looks at him, a distant look in her eyes.

Suddenly she begins to shake and begin gasping for breath.

He holds her head, “No, no you cannot die. You cannot.”

She begins coughing up blood.

In between gasping breaths Andrea says quietly, “Raven. At least I will die in your arms, in the arms of someone who understands me for who I really am.”

He shakes his head as he cries blood and it drips on her face, mixing with her own.

“No, no, you cannot. Sweetheart listen to me, quick, before your pulse weakens any more. We don't have much time.”

She swallows and closes her eyes.

“Open your eyes.”

Her eyelids flutter a moment but she opens them reluctantly.

“It's over, my mad king. Thank you for being there for me until the end.”

“Goddammit, do you want to be my equal, Izabella's equal in every way and more? Do you want the freedom to do whatever you like, to roam wherever you like, with no one to stop you or tell you no?”

She looks at him longingly and sighs, fading away, “Raven.”

“Answer me. Do you want to know what it's like to be stronger, wiser, and to see and hear what others cannot? There is another world for you that you can be apart of, but you must cross to the other side, you must take a leap of faith. Can you do that? Can you be brave? Can you trust me?”

Andrea closes her eyes again.

“Open your eyes, please, please. Answer me. If this is what you want, to go into an eternal slumber then so be it, but if you want something more and want to live, then please, please open your eyes.”

She opens her eyes and looks straight into his.

“Help me, Raven.”

Gently he bows his head over her, stroking her hair and brushes his lips against her neck. Then, he bites into her neck, her jugular vein, and slowly drinks.

Raven holds on tight to Andrea and he can feel her pulse, it is so faint it is barely detectable.

Her heart is weak. Just before her heartbeat fades away he says quietly, “It's time, my love. You must drink. Now. Before it is too late.”

He pulls back, hoping to god she will do as he has told her to do.

He holds his breath, waiting.

Her eyes have closed again.

Then her eyes snap open and she grabs his wrist and bites down.

Startled, Raven cries out and braces for what comes next.

She clings to his arm, her nails digging into his skin, taking long draughts.

Raven's head is spinning and his world seems to be collapsing around him.

He has never created another vampire before and had no idea it would send him so far into the depths of the underworld as Catia calls it; the underworld is a place that only vampires, spectres, and the deceased venture into.

The mortal world as he knows it is fading away. He feels as if he is entombed in darkness.

Then, he feels a rush, like that of adrenaline but much more profound, as if being lifted from fathoms beneath the sea to the surface.

He gasps, taking deep breathes. He is reeling, and must have fallen to the floor. Andrea is standing over him. She is looking down at him, blood staining her mouth, which has run down her chin and is dripping on the floor. He looks at her fangs with curiosity, wondering what sort of creature she has become now that she has crossed from the underworld back to the world of the living.

Is she the same girl, does she feel the same way now about me as I do about her?

Raven is gathering his strength. He leans against the bed and allows himself to swim in his thoughts a moment.

A hand reaches out to him. He takes her hand and she pulls him up and helps to steady him and sits him down on the bed.

He laughs tiredly.

She lays down on the bed and looks up at the ceiling. He lays down next to her and does the same. After a while they turn to look at one another.

Raven breathes out, and like a wind has swept through the room, the oil lamps go out and it is dark inside the room.

Her eyes glow in the dark, like his. Like a cat's eyes do. Their eyes appear golden-red in the dark.

“Will you be here in the morning?” He asks her.

“Where would I go?” She asks.

“Wherever you like. You will live now. And you will live freely. You no longer have to do what others tell you to do. You can overpower any human or animal and go wherever you please, anytime you please.”

She is quiet a moment.

“I can leave if you like. If that is what you want.”

Raven is quiet a moment. He does not like feeling vulnerable. He does not want to be alone, either.

“I don't want you to go. I want you to stay.”

“Is this why you brought me here, all these days? Because you don't want to be alone?”

He shudders. Now she can detect my thoughts like Catia. Raven is not sure what to think of this.

“Yes, it is true. But of course now, I see, you do not need me to tell you that for you to know it.”

He can feel her admiration, her desire for him now. Desire to be with him. For the first time Raven is beginning to feel like he truly is no longer alone.

“You must know then, how I feel. I care for you too, Raven. And not just because you are my king.”

Her words hit home and awaken a part of his soul, his heart, that he never knew he had. It truly is quite powerful to him for her to voice such a feeling, and he finds it a curious thing, because this time it is such a distinct feeling that it is one he cannot detect on his own. There truly are feelings and ideas that only words can describe, he is reminded.

“Andrea.”

“Yes?”

“Thank you for not dying. Or at least, not entirely.”

She laughs. “You too.”

“I made a promise to you that I would not die. So here I am.”

“So here we are.”

He takes her in his arms and they fall asleep.

….................................

Raven awakens with a start, it seems his body can feel dawn coming, and he has become accustomed to rising with the sun like a real human. Except his body knows better he always awakens just before it becomes light. He drinks one of Catia's potions and wakes Andrea.

“Drink this. So that you can be among the humans and walk into the light, live during the day.”

Andrea drinks it.

“Do you want to rest a little bit longer, now that you know we're safe?”

She nods.

He pulls the curtains closed, not yet ready to face the human world.

They hold each other again and do not speak for a long time.

Together they wait for the rest of the realm to awaken.

Until that happens Raven and Andrea find themselves at peace and free of worry for now.

It is only a matter of time before they must face reality, and face the world and the kingdom together.