The Heiress of the Lake (12)
A dark romantic fantasy serial
Chapter 12: Hail to the Queen!
Both Auri and Crane had to rest for some hours to regain their strength.
“What now, Lord Heron?” Marcian asked. “We must get Auri out of the castle, and… and Uli and Magnush are locked in the dungeon.”
“I’ve sent Old Autumn back to his island, he is too old to fight off Red and the soldiers,” Crane explained, guessing Marci’s thoughts.
“You can’t do much, before princess Auriani is recovered. She’ll have to rest here. I think Lord Morten will not care about her, just like he never did in the years before. He is busy with Lady Aurora now,” Heron replied.
Marci fell asleep by Auri’s side. They were awaken by a loud knock on the door.
“Lord Heron, sir! You are needed! Lord Morten is unwell! He would not wake up!” a nervous servant said.
“Stay here! Wait for me!” Heron told Marci.
He hurried out of the chamber.
Heron returned at dawn. He brought clothes with him - two maids’ dresses and a servant’s attire.
“I’ll try to help you escape. Get dressed, quickly!”
“What is it, Heron? Has the vile one got suspicious?” Crane asked.
“I have news. Lord Morten is dead.”
Silence hung in the room.
“Oh, is Auri the High Queen now?” Marcian exclaimed.
“I’m afraid not. Lady Aurora has declared herself the sole ruler of Autumna.”
“But the High Born will not let her! She’s not an Autumnian!” Marci objected.
“I presume she will do anything to keep the power. Auriani’s life is still in danger. Go on, hurry up!”
But before they had the chance to escape, loud footsteps of many men marched nearer to the door. A loud knock made Auri’s heart skip a beat.
“Lord Heron, Lady Aurora wishes to know where has young Lord Marcian gone. You were the last one he was seen with,” it was Regnar’s voice.
Heron showed them to be quiet.
“Indeed, he is here, he shall join you.”
“Keep quiet! We will sort this out,” he whispered to Auri and Crane.
Both men slipped out of the chamber and did not let the Wolfling look inside.
“I was mourning the heiress’ death. Why must you bother me?” Marcian lied most convincingly.
“You are still the High King’s traitor, Autumnian! The new High Queen shall decide your fate,” Regnar growled and lingered looking at the closed door. Heron returned inside, not letting Regnar to even take a peek through the gap.
The Wolfling was accompanied by four soldiers. Unarmed, Marci did not risk fighting back. He went along.
Crane sat completely still, barely breathing.
“Auri, I think we cannot wait. The Wolfling. He may be a corrupted creature, but as one of his kind he can see the spirits in the Afterworld. He can see that your spirit is not among the dead.”
“Oh, no…” Auri whispered.
***
Marcian entered the Throne hall. A new ruler sat there - Aurora the High Queen of Autumna greeted him in a red dress richly trimmed with golden ornaments. Only the crown was missing for her to be truly magnificent. Aurora got up and approached him.
“Marcian, was it?” she asked. “What a good name for the next High King!”
Marci stood speechless, blinking foolishly.
“I’m afraid, I do not understand.”
“Oh, you Autumnians are still such dumb creatures. But have no fear - I’ll be here to guide you.” Aurora paced around him, assessing Marcian’s body.
“Autumnian laws would not let me be the sole ruler. It seems, I need an Autumnian husband by my side. I’ve decided to combine both duty and pleasure. You, Marcian shall be the High King.”
Marci stood thinking. The vision he saw many months ago clearly showed he’s bound to become the next High King.
“I… I’m lost for words, my Lady!” Marci bowed; a cunning spark ignited his eyes.
“What an honour you have given me,” Marci kissed her hand.
“That’s a good boy!” Aurora smiled unambiguously. “The minute I saw you, I knew you’d make an excellent lover. You may not possess the Dragonling’s fire, but you still are a pure Autumnian. I think, I can do without the burns.”
She did not hesitate to kiss Marci, and he played his role perfectly.
“Just as I thought!” Aurora was obviously pleased with the kiss. “I can’t wait to discover the rest of your qualities. The royal wedding shall be held in the afternoon. I’ll not wait until the High Born throw me off the Throne. You may go and prepare for the Ceremony, Marcian.”
Marci kissed her hand and left, accompanied by soldiers. Aurora did not leave anything to chance, she made sure Marci wouldn’t run away.
“My Lady, if I might ask…” Regnar had lingered in the hall.
“What is it?”
“I have my suspicions that the Heiress is still alive and hid by Heron and possibly your future husband.”
“You will not touch Marcian! You may take care of the others any way that you wish.” Aurora waved casually at him.
“I shall enjoy doing it, my Lady!” Regnar gave the most vicious grin and hurried out of the hall.
As soon as Auri was well enough to get up and change clothes, she, Heron and Crane crept out of the chamber, the two women disguised as maids. In the early hours of dawn, they did not meet a soul in the empty hallways. The few guards they saw, were asleep on duty, leaning against walls. Auri knew her way around the castle well - it had been her home and her prison for eighteen years.
Heron and the two women had almost reached the back door of the castle.
“After we leave the castle grounds, hide in the ruins. I shall find you later and help you travel West,” said Heron, handing Auri his sword.
“But what about Marci and Magnush? And Uli?”
“I’ll go back to help them. We’ll meet in the ruins.”
“Stop right there!” a low voice growled behind their backs. “Now, why would Lord Heron and two lovely maids be roaming around the castle at this hour, armed with a sword?”
Regnar gave a loud whistle, the nearest guards woke up. Unwillingly Auri had to turn back and face him.
“Well, well, well, if it isn’t the little princess?! Alive and waiting to please me?”
“Do not dare to approach her!” Crane and Heron stood in front of Auri.
“And who’s going to stop me? The High Queen herself gave me permission to do as I wish with the little bitch.”
Regnar snapped his fingers at her guards.
“Seize them! The princess is mine!”
The guards went at Crane, she fought back with a dagger, but was no match for the soldiers. The Birdling Sorcerer turned into a crane bird, slipped through their hands and flew into the dark hallway.
Heron didn’t follow her example.
“Run, golden one!” Heron would not let the soldiers pass. Auri hurried down the hallway.
Regnar ran up to the old Birdling. Heron’s dagger did not save him; the Wolfling was quick and ruthless. He stabbed the poor old man. With his last breath Heron shouted,
“Run, golden one!”
Auri heard the beast’s footsteps nearing. The back door was too far for her to reach. Instead, she turned back and assumed the fighting position. The sword shook in her hand.
Regnar stopped.
“Oh, the princess wants to play? Why not?!”
Regnar pulled out his sword. Though at first Auri’s hands trembled, she remembered Magnush and the art of Snakeling sword fighting. She had learned so much! And who shall fight to free him? Or Uli? And what has the Queen done to Marci?
There was no one else to fight for them. So, Auri did. Her hands became steady and her posture stern. Regnar attacked, but Auri swiftly blocked all his attempts to slay her.
“The princess has learned new tricks? Oh, you’re just making me more impatient. No matter, you’ll pay for every minute I had to wait!” Regnar growled and attacked more viciously. Their sword’s clashed. Though Auri did not possess the body strength of the tall Wolfling, she was far more skilful and twice as fast as him. Soon enough she was the one attacking the tired and sweaty man. Magnush had taught her to save her strength and fight with the wit rather than with the sword. Wolfling shed his strength pointlessly. One distracted move was all it took to leave his chest unguarded, Auri stabbed the Wolfling with all her might.
The beast howled and fell on his knees.
“You little bitch!” he grunted. Auri pulled out the sword, swung it with a loud cry and slid Regnar’s throat. The Wolfling fell down and said no more.
“Nobody will call me a bitch!” she stated. A whole pack of soldiers ran up to her. Their commander’s death would not go unpunished.
“You are sentenced to prison for murdering a commanding sergeant!” they said. Auri did not have any strength left to fight her way out. The soldiers led her to the dungeon.
***
Marci’s sight darted from one corner to another, he was looking for a chance to escape, but so far, he saw none. The four armed soldiers stood in the chamber all the while he was cleaned up and dressed for the Ceremony. Marcian gave a heavy sigh and glanced at himself in the mirror. The dashing Autumnian would make a handsome young king, dressed in black and silver.
He decided to play along this foul wedding as long as it would take. In the worst case - he’d become the High King to rescue Uli and Magnush from prison, and help Auri escape. Although, it was possible Heron and Crane had already taken care of Auri.
Marcian could escape after the wedding - a runaway King, what a great joke it would be! Marcian smirked, that’s what Uli would have said. A pain stung Marci’s heart - he did not wish to betray Uli, he loved her… but he’d do anything to save her.
A servant came to summon Marcian to the rushed Ceremony. The soldiers walked closely by him.
The groom entered the hall, the Master of Ceremony greeted him cheerfully despite the circumstances; he knew Marci well. The court were not surprised by Lord Morten’s sudden death - the High King had been suffering from the Dragonling’s curse for years. The physician and Birdling sorcerer did not see any signs of a violent death, the High King’s food and drinks were always checked for poisons.
The court did understand the reason for the rush - Lady Aurora didn’t want to marry some man the council of High Born would force upon her. And Marcian had been chosen as the next High King by Morten himself, although there was some scandal with Marcian running away from his responsibilities… But many months had passed and all was forgiven. Everything seemed perfectly reasonable. There were rumours that the Heiress was imprisoned, but nobody would delve into details on such a good day - the old monster Morten was dead, a handsome new queen had risen and the young High King was a charming man loved by the court.
The Ceremony was rushed, that’s true, but otherwise everything appeared perfectly good. Lady Aurora and Lord Marcian glanced at each other smiling, both were wed, the servants brought in the Ceremonial bed for the consummation, which by Autumnian royal laws should seal the wedding and would be observed by the court.
Marcian swallowed hard - if the circumstances were different, he would have been delighted to oblige a woman of such beauty, but… Now his heart ached for Uli. Marcian was laid on the posh cushions of the Ceremonial bed, half-naked Aurora approached and climbed on top of him. Oh, well! It has to be done. For Uli’s freedom, he thought. Marci had to do what was expected of him.
What nobody in the court expected was - the heiress dressed in red, running into the hall with her little heels clicking angrily, dragging High Queen Aurora from the Ceremonial bed by her golden hair and yelling,
“Get off my man, you slut!”
***
Auri was glad to be taken into the dungeon. She would be closer to Magnush and Uli, maybe even see a glimpse of them.
She was imprisoned next to Uli. The guards stared at the two bewildered - they looked like twin sisters. One dressed in red, the other in maid’s clothes.
Auri sat on the cold stone floor exhausted. The Wolfling was slayed, but what was yet to come? Will she ever see Magnush again? And what has her insane mother done to Marci?
Uli knocked on the stone wall, Auri knocked back.
Auri’s heart pounded, when she heard the key turn in the lock. To her great surprise it was Crane and Magnush! He grabbed the girl in his strong embrace. No words were needed, a quick kiss and they ran with the freed Uli.
A swift grey bird had crept through the dungeon hallways, it turned to a woman and snitched the key from the guard. Crane found Magnush, his footsteps were light and the few lonesome guards patrolling in the darkness disappeared after the encounter with him armed with Crane’s dagger. Once Crane told Magnush Auri was revived, there was no stopping him.
But, of course, whole ten guards stood in front of them. Magnush would attempt to take them down, although it was clear he did not stand a chance against so many well-armed men. Auri stepped forward, straightened her back and stated,
“I am princess Auriani, the heiress of Autumna and your future High Queen! I demand you to let us pass!”
“You ain’t the heiress, you’re a maid!” the soldiers objected. Auri looked at herself. Indeed, her attire clearly stated that she’s a maid.
Uli stepped from behind her. Both exchanged looks, Auri gave her a tiny nod, and Uli winked.
“I am the heiress of Autumna! I demand to let us out of this shameful imprisonment!” Uli said loudly. She stood in her fiery red dress, with all the soldiers staring at her cleavage, the piercing sight from her keen eyes burned like blue flames. Her impressive performance convinced the confused guards.
“Of course, my Lady!” The guards bowed and parted. All three rushed up the stairs and to the backdoor of the castle.
“We must run while Lady Aurora is busy at the wedding. I’m sure Marcian will make a good High King,” Crane explained.
“Marcian? My Marcian? Wed to another woman?” Ulis squealed and stopped in an instant.
“Yes, but wedding should be nearly over now! We’re too late!”
“Right!” Uli grunted and run in the opposite direction.
“Is this the way to the wedding hall?” Uli asked the servants on her way. There was no stopping her - Uli’s determination was the one of a raging wildfire. The other three fugitives had no choice but to follow her.
***
Uli dragged the High Queen away from Marcian.
“So, you’re the little bitch I birthed? Pathetic!” Aurora yelled at her.
“You will not touch Marcian!” Uli yelled back.
“Who will stop me? You?”
“Ladies! Please!” the half-naked Marci begged, but they would not listen. Ladies began an ugly fight, as Aurora attempted to climb into the Ceremonial bed, but Uli would not let her. The court observed the spectacle; what a show! Both women fought like wild cats; punching, scratching and biting.
“Why are you staring? Stop this madness!” Crane screamed, but before the guards ran up to the both fighting women, Aurora pushed Uli into one of the large windows of the hall. The magnificent windows were built from the very floor to the ceiling, it was the Grand hall of the Autumna castle, everything in it was made to impress.
Uli hit the window with the glass shattering. Auri and Magnush were near enough to grab her hands and stop Uli from falling out the window.
Aurora grabbed the sword of the closest soldier and ran raising the blade above her head.
“You ruined my wedding, little bitch! I gave you life, I shall take it away!”
With a savage cry Aurora charged at poor Uli sitting on the floor stunned, Marci rushed to stop the High Queen, Magnush raised his dagger, but before any of them reached Aurora, the High Queen stopped with her eyes wide opened. Auri had stabbed Aurora’s stomach with a glass shard from the window.
“My life never belonged to you! And I shall determine what to do with it. No one will decide for me!” said Auri.
The High Queen fell to the floor dead.
The court gasped - what was there to do? The Master of Ceremony hurriedly declared Marcian the High King despite the interrupted consummation - for the ancient law stated, “the newlyweds shall lay on top of each other in front of witnesses to seal the union”. That they did, but nothing more.
The guards did rush to arrest Auri, but Uli got up and yelled at them,
“Do not dare to touch the brave maid who saved me, the Heiress, from the murderous Thilian woman who gave me birth!”
Uli indeed appeared more regal than Auri had ever been, both her confident voice and her stately posture, no one dared to disobey her.
“You could be my Queen anytime!” Marcian approached her.
“You! You nearly slept with that woman!” Uli pointed at him furiously.
“But… but I had no choice!”
“Do not touch me, scum!” Uli yelled in his face and ran out of the hall.
“No, wait! My love… I was forced to…” The half-naked Marcian followed, trying to sweet-talk her.
Was it his words or other qualities of his quick tongue, but after a couple of days Autumna castle buzzed in preparations for a new wedding - this time the freshly-made High King Marcian was to be united with the heiress Auriani. Why didn’t they do it all those months ago, the court pondered, but it remained a mystery.
The wedding was perfect. All was clear - the High King adored his bride, looking into her bright blue eyes again and again. Although many of the court could swear the heiress’s eyes once had been amber-coloured, they did not delve into such meaningless details.
A day before the ceremony, five people met by the fresh grave - this time Lady Aurora was buried, good and proper. She was laid beside Morten, both locked in the eternal embrace of death.
“Are you sure, Auri? It is your throne. You are the heiress of Autumna,” said Uli.
“I have never felt at home here. I long for peace and sunlight,” Auri replied and added, “you have the right to the throne just as much as I do, because of your father, Lord Herkian, the Lord of the Lake. You are the heiress of the lake.”
Both women embraced.
“Since the court cannot tell you two apart, I suggest you keep it that way.” Crane smiled at the two.
“Yes, let’s not meddle with their poor heads,” Marcian laughed.
“Are you certain of your destination, Auri? Thilia valley is an incredibly boring place to live!” Uli rolled her eyes.
“I know where I want to spend the rest of my days,” said Auri.
“And we cannot live with the Snakelings. The Elders shall not forgive our escape.” Magnush smiled sadly.
“Then so be it! To Thilia valley,” Crane exclaimed.
They left Auri and Marcian to say their farewells.
“My little Frogling, so far away from me!” Marci embraced her with tears in his eyes.
“We will always have each other. I love you Marci, my forever-brother!”
“I love you too Frogling!” they embraced, shading tears of both joy and sorrow.
***
“The Foreverold has turned the tides - the last of Autumnian heirs shall have power over water because of Uliani. She was meant to be here all along,” said Crane, as three of them began their journey to Thilia valley. They did not risk flying on the Red, the weather was unusually warm and dry; the Damned land rejoiced for its true heiress had returned. Auri didn’t wish to witness Marcian and Uli consummate their union, and so they left before the wedding.
They rode on horsebacks, accompanied by body guards. On their way they stopped at the Snakeling town - the Lord gave Magnush and Auri his blessing, but the Elders indeed would not let them stay. Of course, with the change of the High King, the Snakeling people were free from the Autumnian soldiers, though Morten’s curse would still make the Snakelings increase in numbers decade after decade, until only a small village would be all that’s left of them.
Thought the journey was long, the three reached Thilia valley on a bright and sunny day.
Lord Lukean gladly received them and granted a lovely house in the valley for Auri and Magnush to live in. The linden trees of the valley bloomed golden above their heads for many years to come. Each spring Magnush and Auri would stand under the sweet-scented trees on a warm night made for lovers, he would kiss Auri’s shoulder and say, I love you, my golden one.
Epilogue
“What magnificence has graced my humble shack! Well I never…” Old Autumn mumbled, exhaling a white cloud of smoke through his nostrils.
“A very good shack!” Marcian noted and all three - him, Auri and Magnush chuckled.
A whole legion of Autumnian soldiers stood around a black lake of nasty smelling mud, because their High King was visiting a dear friend on the island surrounded by the mud. They decided to reunite here, and kept it as a tradition for many years to come.
“Remember, Old Autumn, I promised you the Half of the Kingdom for a pipe of Snakegrass? How about I build you a castle here?”
The old man shook his head.
“A house?”
Old Autumn did not agree.
“A chest of gold then?”
“My dear boy Marci, I would not trade my shack for all the gold in the world. A very good shack it is.” he gave an important nod.
“There must be a way to repay you. I know! I’ll make the land carry your name for all the years to come. This side of the kingdom shall be called Old Autumn. What do you say to that?”
Old Autumn smiled and nodded approvingly.
“It is a good name for a piece of land,” he agreed.
Auri and Magnush were both tanned from the life in the sunny valley and their eyes smiled full of warm rays of the sun.
“I knew you two would come together. My word, you could hardly keep your hands to yourselves a year ago!” Old Autumn smirked at them.
“They can’t! Look at them! Not a cold snake, is he now, Frogling?” Marcian joked, as the other two kept holding each other close.
“Indeed, I’m glad Magnush has submitted to the Autumnian nature, at least in some sense,” Auri winked at Marcian.
“You were right about me, Old Autumn,” said Magnush. “The Autumnian nature has certain benefits!” And the four of them laughed the night away, sitting by the fire in the Old Autumn’s very good shack.
Good Old Autumn! Thank you for the happy for now ending, too. 💜