The Last Hope

36 - Memories

SONG FOR THIS CHAPTER - Scars, Boy Epic. Linked above! If you enjoy the chapter please vote, it means a lot. Also, I actively encourage commenting and am trying my best to reply to any as quickly as I can. Want a chat? Don't be shy!

________________________________________________________________________________

After hours of dancing and eating, and dancing some more, Mercy was well and truly exhausted. She couldn't get Queen Alexandria's thinly veiled threats out of her mind, no matter how many times Katerina spun her across the dance floor. Her thighs ached like she'd been at one of Keenan's six-hour training sessions, and no amount of water she chugged soothed her parched throat.

The party atmosphere had changed once the Queen had left for the evening - everyone becoming much looser and cheerier. Dancing had evolved from stiff and precise, to wild and free. People chanted, clapping and laughing as dancers were spun around and around in cirlces. Wine had turned to ale and was flowing freely, distributed by waiters amongst those that frequented the dance floor.

Sebastian had left the party earlier - at least, Mercy assumed he had. He'd gotten up shortly after the Queen had departed and Mercy hadn't seen him since - but he hadn't said goodbye to any of the guests. She was taking a break, lounging on the amphitheatre stairs with Katerina at her side, and scanning the crowd for Sebastian's dark head, when Katerina gasped in surprise. "Milos!"

Milos was slumped in his chair at the dinner table, the pitcher of ale he was reaching for tipping its contents all over the silk tablecloth. He was mumbling something under his breath, but none of the other members of the court seemed to be paying him any attention. Katerina was immediately on her feet, slinging his arm around her shoulder. "Mercy, will you help me?"

Together, they half walked, half dragged Milos down a passage at the back of the room. Thankfully, anyone still in the Great Hall was far too drunk to notice their future King being hauled away before he could cause a scene. "He always gets like this whenever mother is involved," Katerina explained as they struggled under Milos' weight. He was still mumbling unintelligibly. "Why does he let her speak to him like that?" Mercy asked quietly, relieved when they appeared to be approaching a ginormous set of double doors.

"You're kidding right?" Katerina scoffed, "if he went against her, she'd make his life miserable. More miserable, I mean." Katerina released her grip on Milo's arm and kicked open the doors to his room. Luckily, she was back at his side before Mercy's knees buckled.

"What do you mean - more miserable?" Mercy voiced, but Katerina hushed her, pointing to two guards at the far end of the corridor who hadn't noticed them yet. When they were safely inside the room, with the doors shut tightly behind them, Katerina elaborated, "my mother denies Milos many things, but she is most adamant that he should never be in love."

Mercy's brows scrunched together, "why?"

"Because, according to my mother, being in love makes you weak. It can cloud your judgement and make you more vulnerable blah blah blah..." Katerina trailed off with a groan as she stumbled towards the bed and practically wrestled Milos onto it in his semi-conscious state. Milos grabbed Katerina's shoulder and slurred, "Lyra-"

Katerina's face became sympathetic, "Lyra doesn't want to see you, Mish. You know why."

Mercy's brow scrunched, "Lyra as in - the healer Lyra? The woman who looked after me in the temple?"

Katerina looked up sharply, "you mustn't speak a word to anyone." For a second, Mercy saw a glimpse of Alexandria in Katerina's intense expression, but it quickly faded as Katerina exhaled a deep sigh. "I want to trust you, Mercy. I want to be your friend - can I trust you?"