As You Wish
Chapter Seventeen
King Phillip stood alone at the round table consulting the map that laid before him for what seemed like the zillionth time that morning. Days had passed since Joshua had disappeared into the night with his men and his anger fumed with knowledge that Justin had placed the ideas into Joshuas mind of going on a quest for the Larks. Without Justins foolish words, Joshua never would have galavanted off in the night on a foolish and impossible mission and he would see to it upon return that Sir Justin paid for his foolishness this time.
The walls of Camelot stood in quaking silence as the word of Princess Alise kidnapping spread amongst the village, and the festivities had come to a halt since those events. The Palace hummed with activity from the guest that had continued to arrive intending on a celebration, now awaiting word on Joshua and the Princess and King Phillip grew more tired with worry as time marched on.
He closed his eyes, no longer able to focus on the map before him as his deep slow breaths echoed through the muteness of the room like a distant thunder rumbling through the clouds. The Gods were punishing him for his past. His offerings to them not enough, and now he was certain his son would be taken from him as his sacrifice. He could not lose his son, his only child, and tears brimmed his eyes threatening to spread down his plump cheeks at such thoughts.
He beckoned to the large guard posted outside the room and sent him with word to find the one person he knew could halt any harm coming to Joshua before it was too late. His son was bright, and quite brilliant with a sword, but once the Larks placed their hands upon him, his skills would prove worthless. He knew where the squire could be found, he had had him watched since discovering Joshua had fled in the night there for finding him was not what concerned the King. Finding him in time, however, was.
His lithe movements carried him across the room, his heavily jeweled blue velvet robe dragging along behind him as he made his way back to the table, his palms placed flat against it as he stared back down at the map still splayed in front of him. His head fell forward hiding the bitter rage at himself, rage at his failure to protect his family, rage at the possible loss of his son, and with sudden force his hung head flew back as screams of that rage flew from him showering the room with sounds of anger. Too much had gone wrong, too many had become involved, and now he had to end the betrayal fallen before them.
Soothing hands met his shoulders calming the screams till there was silence and his head fell forward once again hiding his tears from view.
"What tortures your soul so my love?" Danielle whispered, attempting to keep the calm that had finally found her husband.
For years his missions and duties of a King had remained unknown to his wife. His involvements with Lord Andrew and the others still withheld from her knowledge and he had to do what he could to keep it that way.
"Do not worry wife. The only troubles you should worry yourself with is keeping our guest entertained for the festivities to come."
Putting forth his brave face he turned to her, cupping her ivory cheeks in his hands.
"Our son shalt return soon and we shall have a wedding lavished with nothing but the finest one has to offer. Leave all else for me to trouble with."
A smile graced her as he placed a small kiss to her lips and released her, folding his large hands across his stomach.
"Go. Leave me be."
She hesitated a moment, still concerned for what ailed him, and turned her back to him glancing over her shoulder but once before exiting the room to leave him to himself. Sooner or later his troubles would come forth, until then her top priority laid fully with her son.
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Plop plop plop plop
The sound of the dripping water hitting its puddle below bounced off the walls of the prison causing Yvette to sigh in frustration. She longed for a cool lake to dip her body into and wash away the filth and grime that covered every inch of her body making her feel full of disgust.
It had been quiet recently with only the monk coming to them once a day to serve them food, foul with taste, and water too unclean to wash ones hands with. Jon had not returned to see them since he rushed out leaving her with threats and she'd tried to determine the days that had passed since then with fail.
Her bruises had faded, leaving pale blemishes where bold colors once stood and her fingers continued to ache in a dull pain where they had set themselves in a slight crooked, out of shape form.
The young boy had chosen no longer to speak to them, keeping only to himself in silence and even Alise had very little to speak, her hopes of being captured by the Prince and his Knights vanishing completely as the sun rose and fell a time too many without any knowledge to any of them.
The jingling of keys drew her eyes from the floor where thy had been transfixed and she squinted through the bars into the darkness watching as approaching light cast shadows around her. The sounds of the sole of boots echoed heavily till the light of the fire was thrust before her, blinding her from the view of the visitor who came to claim her.
She backed from the bars cowering into the far corner of her prison holding her hand in front of her face to block the fire that inched closer to her as the doors to her cell clanged open allowing the stranger to enter in with her. She kicked her feet, aiming to strike the predator and screamed, a horace sound through her dried throat as a strong hand reached out grabbing her ankle and pulling her across the stone floor. Her head hit against each rock, one after another, giving sharp blows with each hit until finally darkness over took her knocking her into unconsciousness and leaving her unaware of the brutal attacks about to face her.
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