Part 31

"Miss, do you really think the Queen is in danger?" Lia, sitting across from me in the carriage, looked pale and stressed.

It was the second day of the trip, which had already been very uncomfortable, as I had only allowed minimal breaks, trying to make it back as quickly as possible. I shifted in my seat, feeling sore, and stared out of the window at the passing terrain.

"Hopefully this is just a wasted trip." I answered softly. "But something is wrong... I just don't know what it is yet."

"What about Prince Nathaniel?" She twisted a handkerchief in her hands. "Do you think he'll be safe?"

I didn't know what to say.

I was worried about Nate, my thoughts shifting constantly to what dangers he might be facing. Multiple times I considered turning the carriage around and heading towards the border, but each time resisted the urge. I knew Nate could take care of himself, he would take precautions. But if the Queen was in danger? She would need me.

Not that this made me feel any better.

"..." I didn't respond this time, my expression glum. Hallers, sitting at the front of the carriage, cleared his throat meaningfully, causing Lia to flush with embarrassment and apologize.

"I'm sorry, Miss, I shouldn't be asking such foolish questions and trying to worry you further..."

"It's okay." I rubbed my forehead. "None of this is your fault."

There was a short silence, which was suddenly broken by the sound of rapid hoofbeats.

"What's going on...?" Lia started to ask, but I had already stood up, leaning out through the window and looking ahead.

Rig had been scouting ahead of us on horseback, but he was now riding back towards us at full speed, his face pale.

"GET THE CARRIAGE OFF THE ROAD!" He snapped at the driver on arriving. He turned, seeing my anxious expression and forcing a smile. "We'll be okay. We need to hide."

"What's coming?" I asked, feeling uncertain.

"Men. A lot of them."

The driver took us off the road, into the nearest forest, until we were far out of sight of anyone traveling. Rig, quickly and quietly instructing us to stay hidden, took off on foot. Ignoring Hallers and Lia's calls to come back, I exited the coach and followed him.

Fortunately I had chosen a simpler dress for travel. It was nowhere near as comfortable as the spying clothing I had worn previously, but this at least wasn't too restrictive. I followed behind Rig silently, hiding behind a thick area of bushes as we watched the road.

"Why didn't you stay in the carriage?!" Rig snapped.

"I'm watching your back."

"Who says I need you...?"

"Shush! They're coming!" We glared at each other for a few moments before turning our attention to the rode. The sounds of horses came closer, interspersed with men talking and laughing. We dug in deeper, looking on silently as they passed by.

Bandits?

About 30 or so men, all dressed in ragged dirty clothing. At first glance they seemed like a large but otherwise typical gang, but the longer I watched, the more things seemed to not make sense.

They were riding in an organized group, the horses all high quality mounts. Their swords and bows seemed well maintained, cleaned and ready for war. They seemed to know and treat each other well. Even as they joked with one another, it was fairly tame, their words fading into silence when the leader turned an eye in their direction.

These were ruleless, directionless bandits? They seemed more like... like...

Military.

I felt the blood drain from my face, icy cold panic gripping my heart as I recognized the direction they were heading. I wanted to speak out, to yell, to fight. But I could only regulate my breathing, trying to blend into the background as one "bandit" slowed down, pausing near our hiding place.

"What's wrong, Sarg?" Another man paused and asked.

He shook his head, pointing at the path. "There are carriage tracks going off the road here." Looking up, he stared into the forest. I wanted to hide deeper into the bushes, but knew that any movement would simply draw his attention. I held my breath.

"Who cares? It's not like we're actually here to rob travelers!" The second man clapped the first on the back, laughing.

"But we don't want witnesses..." The man he had called "Sarg" muttered, still staring.

I gripped my knife from my pocket, ready to fight. Beside me I could feel Rig tensing as well. We wouldn't let them attack the carriage. Hallers, Lia and the driver were still there. There were too many of them for us two to succeed... but maybe we could hold them off long enough for them to escape.

I tightened my grip, preparing to spring into action.

"GET BACK IN LINE!" The leader shouted. "WE DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THIS!"

"Okay, Captain!" The smiling man answered, pulling along his friend. "Come on, Sarg! We can't keep him waiting!"

"..." The man stared out silently into the woods for a few more moments before retrieving his gaze and moving on.

I waited until they were out of sight before letting out a sigh of relief. Rig and I exchanged looks of concern and then headed back towards the carriage. On our arrival, Lia greeted me with a cheer, hugging me tightly.

"Why did you run off?! I was so worried! Hallers said that you were talented at sneaking around and wouldn't be caught but how could that be?"

I snuck a guilty glance at Hallers, who was studying me with a solemn expression. I guess I hadn't fooled everybody when I snuck out of the Duchy those few times.

Turning to Rig, I stared at him seriously. "This is bad."

He nodded. "Yes."

"You need to warn Nate."

"No." Rig crossed his arms stubbornly. "I need to protect you."

"That's not as important as this." I pointed in the direction they had left in. "I know he already suspects that something's wrong, but those are clearly military men, and thirty more could make a huge difference to a fight. If he doesn't know what he's getting into..." I swallowed, my eyes burning. "He could die."

"What if you need me?" Rig asked, his face uncertain.

"I do. I need you to warn him. Please." I was begging, but I couldn't feel ashamed. Even if I was still sorting out my feelings about Nate, about my past and the uncertainty of the future, I couldn't stand by if there was a possibility of him getting hurt.

I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms.

I want to see him. I want to make sure he's okay... I thought of his smiling face as he promised to be careful, and could barely hold myself back from jumping on a horse and riding back. But I couldn't abandon the Queen.

Biting my lip, so hard I tasted blood. I looked back up at Rig.

"Please."

He sighed, reaching out to ruffle my hair with an almost helpless expression. "Don't look like that, girl. I'll help him. I promise."

My breath came out in a long sigh. I slowly relaxed, smiling up at him. "Thank you." It wasn't perfect, but at least Nate wouldn't be going into a fight blind.

"Don't worry so much. He's family too..." Rig paused, looking at me with a slight grin, "Or least he might be soon."

He left right after his words, jumping on his horse and riding away, leaving me to stare after him. Does he know how I feel about Nate? Do all of them? Looking at Hallers' and Lia's knowing smiles, I found myself blushing and turning away. "Let's go."

They followed after me, still smiling.

_________________________

We arrived home, and I immediately contact Rig's second hand man, asking him for information on the Queen. The dark clothed man stared at me, confused. "Miss, as far as I know, Her Majesty hasn't left the palace. But..." He shook his head. "I'll have our people check on her."

"Please do. The danger to her might be from within the palace itself." At my cautioning words the man went pale, before slowly nodding.

"And send a message to Angela, the Lady's maid within the Count of Erand's home. She's the one who sent the warning." I hesitated. "She may be a traitor, be careful."

"Yes, Miss." He walked away.

I stared after him, hoping that he would find everything was all right. Sighing, I went to find Henry.

_________________________

"WHAT IS THAT IDIOT DOING? DOES HE WANT A WAR? Because that's how you start one!" Henry angrily watered the plants in the office as he spoke, his motions jerky as he moved from pot to pot.

Having just explained my suspicions regarding the "bandits" on the border, I just sat back, thinking his words over. "There's no real evidence that these men are from Reterand. Even if they kill ..." I paused, unable to say the words out loud. "...Even if that plan succeeds, it would be difficult to trace back to him. The question is why..."

If the king only wanted Nate dead, he would have sent assassins which would be more efficient. It meant he had some other purpose in this plan. I just didn't know what.

"Well, if that bastard hurts my plant heist friend..." Henry paused, his face grim. "I'll get revenge in the most evil way I know how."

I was genuinely curious. "How is that?"

Henry chuckled viciously, rubbing his hands together. "Steal the royal lily breed their gardener has been cultivating."

"Yes... I'm sure that will crush him."

Looking around the room, which had previously been my office, I couldn't help but laugh. "You really made yourself at home, cousin." There were plants crammed into every spare space of the office, even a few pots hanging from the ceiling. My only consolation was that the desk itself was organized, with the paperwork piled neatly. It seemed he was taking his work at the duchy seriously.

Henry followed my gaze, confused. "I just added a few things, though?" Turning away, I heard him add under his breath. "This is only phase 1 of the ultimate plant transformation."

"..." I ignored his words, feeling I would be better off not knowing.

"Well, if Nate's in trouble in Tilendria, something really terrible must have happened to bring you here instead of by his side. What's going on?"

I paused at his words. "What do you mean by that?"

"Well, you look at Nate like I look at my geraniums... like he's the best thing around." Henry grinned confidently. "If you marry him, can I make him my official plant heist planner? He's very talented"

"..." I shook my head, unwilling to comment. "I received word that the Queen is in danger."

I quickly explained about the message I received. He shook his head. "I haven't heard of anything out of the ordinary. She contacts me every few days or so, checking up to see if you're okay." He thought it over. "I haven't heard from her since two days ago though."

I was surprised. "She checks up on me?"

"All the time." He reached out, patting my hand. "She obviously cares about you a lot." Humming, he went back to watering his plants, leaving me to stare and think things over.

This life was so different.

_________________________

I laid in my room, crying, as I had been since I had gotten home from the party yesterday afternoon. Angela had left after a few attempts to comfort me, leaving me alone.

"What did I do wrong?" I whispered, the sound warped by sobs. "I just wanted to be loved."

I missed the Queen, she always knew what to do. She was so kind, so loving. Even if my engagement had just been broken, she would come to see me, right?

Hopefully she would be here soon.

_________________________

She had stayed away from me in the days following the broken engagement, not writing, not visiting, ignoring all my letters. Even once I was out on the streets, she simply disowned me and pretended I had died.

My heart hurt at the memory, even as it didn't make sense with how she had responded in this life.

Feeling stressed, I decided to make myself some tea. As the water heated, I went to select some tea leaves... and paused. In the corner of the tea cabinet there was a small bag that was unopened.

The tea the Queen had given me the day before Ronan's birthday party.

Hadn't she said it would help relieve stress? Shrugging mentally, I added those tea leaves to the pot, steeping it and bringing it back with me to the office.

I'll take all the help I can get.

I sat back down and watched Henry fuss over his plants, pouring us both a cup of the tea I had made. My thoughts on the Queen, and the difference between her past and present actions, I idly lifted the cup to my lips, preparing to drink.

CRASH!

I stared down at the cup on the floor, looking at Henry who had swiped it out of my grip, his face calm.

"What's going on, Henry?" I asked, feeling confused.

"Why are you always drinking poison?" He demanded, rolling his eyes. "It's starting to make me worry that you have a habit."

I stiffened in my chair. "Poison?"

He sniffed the tea in his untouched cup, nodding again. "I was about to drink it too, and I noticed the smell. It's Glat leaf."

"..." I wasn't sure what that was.

"It would cause headaches, fatigues, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea." He spread his hands. "Most people would feel they had simply fallen ill. It can be quite serious, you'd be sick for days at least. More likely a week."

I stared at the broken cup on the ground, my heart racing. "Sick for days?"

I thought back to what the conversation had been before the Queen gave me the tea. It wasn't hers... it was a gift from Edith.

I stood up.

The Queen had been sick in my previous life. Just before the party where Ronan was to break the engagement, unable to assist me. Allowing me to fall on my own, with only my uncaring parents for support.

Edith had planned everything.

But if she had been that meticulous... then... I groaned, putting my head in my hands.

The letters were stolen, both mine to her... and hers to me. She could have easily been prevented from seeing me, even if she had come by after she recovered... a few quick lies from my traitorous lady maid.

Edith had been the one to tell me that the Queen had disowned me... considered me dead... I sat back down for a moment, my legs losing strength. I had believed it, believing in what I had seen at the palace that day.

Frowning, I thought back over that day, that I had snuck into the palace.

_________________________

"NOTHING SHE SAYS WILL CHANGE MY MIND! SHE'S DEAD, AND SO I'M STAYING HERE!"

_________________________

I rubbed my temples. She had said something else... something I could barely hear.

_________________________

"...wish... dead."

What had she said?

"I wish... I were dead with her."

She truly had thought i was dead. She didn't hate me, disown me or despise me.

She loved me.

In this life and the last. So much that she had locked herself in her room to mourn, refusing to leave. She had never changed. I had only been deceived.

I needed to see her. She had adopted me as her daughter, but I had never treated her like my true mother. I had never had the chance to really tell her how I feel.

"Mother." I whispered, standing up in a daze.

"Where are you going, Lenora?" Henry asked. "What about this poison?"

I shook my head. "It doesn't matter. I need to go see the Queen, now."

"Are you sure?"

I nodded. "I'm sure, I've already waited a lifetime too long."

_________________________

I ran out, only taking Hallers and a coachman, too impatient to wait to gather more staff.

I need to see her. I had to tell her the truth.

I was so focused as we traveled, that it took me a moment to realize that the carriage had stopped.

"What's going on..." I paused as we heard the coachman screaming.

Hallers turned to me, his face pale but determined. "Run, Miss, I'll hold them off!"

He stood up, preparing to fight, but was pulled out of the carriage immediately. I grabbed my knife, but through the window hands reached into the carriage, clamping a cloth around my face. An overly sweet fragrance filled my nostrils, overtaking my mind.

"Mother." The word was muffled by the cloth. I reached out, my hand reaching out futilely towards the palace.

I didn't get to tell you that I loved you, Mother.

I'm sorry.

The world faded into black.

_________________________

I woke up slowly, every muscle in my body aching.

Where am I? Looking around, I could only see a dark room, lit by a single candle. I tried to move my arms and legs, realizing that I was tightly tied to a chair. The ropes dug into my skin, the pressure making my fingers feel numb. I flexed my hands, trying to wiggle loose, but couldn't make the ropes budge. I tried a few more times before giving up, feeling tired and dizzy.

The soft sound of laughter filled the air.

I stiffened in my chair, searching the darkness for the source of the familiar voice. I heard a light tapping, the sounds of shoes against the stone floor, the light rustle of fabric dragging along the ground.

Step by step, my kidnapper came into the light, bending over to study me closer with a gentle smile, but eyes so cruel that my blood ran cold.

Edith finally spoke, her voice filled with triumph.

"Welcome back, sister."