Gloria Regali || Larry Stylinson

Chapter Eleven: Chronicles II

The darkness which dotted across the starless sky felt like a premonition of death. The seas were calm, rumbling against one another while the salt in the air was prominent enough to frustrate him relentlessly. The decision of his misjudgement was weighing him down like the sky on Atlas' shoulders. The trip did him good to the extent he felt he could finally stop running from the inevitable. He was returning to Vindicta as a changed person but the circumstances of his return were the most unfortunate.

After Fiona had sat down, she had explained in detail the number of catastrophes which lined up as soon as he stepped foot on that godforsaken ship. Everything had been quietly proceeding for the first few weeks, there hadn't been any problems but suddenly Nick thought that it was appropriate to call for a meeting and raise the taxes to get the revenues of the war quicker. And the most hilarious sequence was that Zayn had agreed to it in spite of Liam's many protestations. The spiral hadn't ceased there, on knowing the lack of a monarch the rogues at the border had grown bolder at their stakes and safety of any traveller was compromised. That was when the real problem began.

Nick had gone down for negotiations and returned pleased. He did not explain in any detail whatsoever the success or lack of and neither Liam nor Zayn had pressed on it and thought it was a job well done. But Nick had done something unspeakable, he had bartered that thirty per cent of the loot would be given as tax and the rangers at the borders would not bother them.

Louis was horrified by the admission.

And that resulted in not just civilians to be mugged but also royalty. It went on for over a year but eventually Niall and Shawn were returning and they weren't mugged but attacked. Louis felt a chill down his spine when Fiona paused, he prayed dearly that the narration would not end up with assault. It didn't. It ended up in something much worse, Niall miscarried because of the impact.

It did not take long after that for Harry to declare war on Vindicta.

"So this Harry of yours-"

"-he isn't mine."

Louis hadn't even realised when Alfwin had approached him on the deck. Clearly, he was not paying attention to any detail of his surroundings. Turning to the Alpha, his eyes fell upon the concern they were clearly holding for him. "Is he rational enough to listen?"

The Omega nodded his head promptly, his gaze on the water which seemed black without the rays of the moon. "He always has been but this issue changes things, it's reasonable if he doesn't listen to me but I hope to God he does."

"I think, he'll listen."

Louis seemed hopeful by the comment, "Yeah?"

"Yes," his red hair blowing through the wind, as he nodded, "I think for how patient he is, he will at least let you talk your part."

"I hope you are-"

"Land Ahoy!" The man from the crew's nest yelled.

The next hour was spent in gathering the horses which were present because of Fiona's discretion. How she managed to procure all of it was beyond him but he was glad she could. The carriage was already advancing in the direction of the war camps with his entourage from Cyarian. He prayed relentlessly to assure that something irreversible hadn't occurred which would take him too long to correct and even longer to erase.

On travelling through the hardly lit forest, he felt the pit in his stomach to gnaw against him. The repercussion of this entire scenario was too threatening, not only to his claim as a Queen but also the little grace he held in Harry's heart. He was still contemplating which situation was more threatening and heartbreaking because the array of possibilities were adamantly throwing one worse situation after the other before him. He held onto the beads which were wrapped around his wrist, as he sent out prayer after prayer like kindred spirits.

When they reached the borders of the camp, a Vindicitian soldier patrolling the border came up to the entourage for an identification check. The carriage came to a halt and Louis sighed before pulling the curtain away from the glass. The lamp cast a shade of gold over his face, the crickets in the background holding their breath while the soldier recognised the monarch.

His lips parted and he closed his eyes, as he let out a sigh of what seemed like relief.

"Thank God."

Louis felt his heart clench very briefly at those two syllables. There were more problems than what was painted and if a single soldier responded in such a manner, he was dreading the array of problems which were going to be catapulted in his direction.

"How many days have you been here from?"

"Over three days," the man informed him hurriedly, "but Emperor Styles' army arrived a week back, we have been at it for two days."

Louis closed his eyes and let out a breath of worry, he had been very late. But he shook his head, his spirit could not be shackled now, he had travelled an ocean to insure peace; he could at least afford to raise hell to achieve that. This was his life, his soul, his very breath on line. He was the Queen and he would defy heaven, earth and everything in between to ensure the protection of his people and if Nick thought he was above any of it, he would be sorely mistaken.

The horse pulled the carriage at the edge of the camp for the commanders. Noticing the lack of commotion, Lous knew this was nothing but silence before the storm. Taking in a deep breath, he slapped himself with the knowledge that he was still Queen and if there was a force to reckon with him, it would only be due to divine intervention.

Alfwin very gently opened the door and the cold wind brought him back into the actuality of the night. He slowly placed his hands in Alfwin's and very briefly slipped but the Alpha's firm arm caught him carefully. Pulling him back onto his feet, his eyes remained on the Omega. The lamps lit around the carriage casting shadows more than light.

"Set them on fire, Your Majesty."

"I have every intention to do exactly that," Louis smirked.