Blue Blooded - [Mick Schumacher]

Twenty one

After some emergency discussions with the generals of the Royal Army, King Mick of Geneva had let everyone know about his decision to evacuate the people in the castle. This meant that they were going to shelter in the castle of Geneva, and Mick didn't want it to take any more time, so the plan started right away. The maids were scared, which Queen Lucia noticed, and she was just as scared as them. Nevertheless, Lucia saw it as her purpose to help them, to calm them down and tell them everything was going to be alright. With trembling fingers, she helped them pack up their little luggage cases, stuffing in clothing, while the kitchen maids took the baskets of food in case they would be isolated in the other castle. Lucia had no idea how long this war would take, but she guessed as long as either of them, Mick or Joaquim, were dead. Mick's death, which at the same time seemed surreal yet so possible in the near future, terrified her the most.

It caused her lungs to collapse in her chest, her throat to squeeze closed, and it made her sweat with fear she had never felt before. The thought of their little baby not being able to grow up with a father, brought tears to her eyes and let her mouth ran dry. Gina worked alongside her, showing the maids were to go and where they could bring their luggage. The war horn had sounded and let everyone in Geneva and Aosta know that it was serious. The panic had risen in the cities, people were rushing to find shelter, to hide, or to get out, saddling their horses and leaving towards the Italian or French border to escape the war that would come. It was heart-wrenching to see, especially for the families with their children. Mick made sure the carriers with the horses were ready to bring the castle staff and most important, his family, to the neighboring castle of Lucia's family. He was tired, but adrenaline kept him awake and sharp, and he received constant updates from the patrolling soldiers at the border.

It would take some time for the army of Bern to move all the way to the other side of the Swiss empire, but it was unclear how quickly they moved, and Mick wanted to save as many people from the horror, as he could and had in his power. He made sure the families who escaped Geneva left with at least some food, he advised them to stay away from the northern and eastern borders, to find shelter with their family. The horn would sound again to indicate the war was over, but that moment was far from soon. Mick stood at the gates of the castle, the night had fallen and its darkness coated the landscape in a gloomy, empty area. It was raining once again, the horses stepped into the water puddles on the stone path, splashing it up each time. Servants arrived with the luggage of Lucia and Gina, however, only Gina joined him at the carrier. "Where's Lucia?" Mick asked, causing his sister to give him a faint smile. "She went to the stables," Gina replied.

Mick nodded and made his way through the courtyard to the stables behind the castle. He found her at Elias' stable, his heart clenching in his chest at the sight of her with the large Frisian horse, who left his head hanging for her to caress his nose and forehead, as if he knew what was happening. "My love?" Mick asked softly, making her turn around. He saw her bloodshot eyes, and she chuckled a little. He moved into the stable with her, his arm curling around her while Elias' nose nuzzled against Lucia's hair. "I told him to guard over you well," she sniffled. Mick smiled at her sweetness. "I'm sure he'll be a great partner for me in the war," Mick said. Lucia rested her head on his chest, embracing him tightly. "The carrier is ready for you, Gina and my mother," he started. They really had to leave now. Her fingers curled tighter into his jacket, she didn't want to leave him. Her sobs got louder and Mick's jaw clenched as he tried not to cry, he tried to stay so strong.

His fingers lifted her face from his chest, and he dried her cheeks, wiping her tears away. "I love you, I love you, I love you," he whispered to her, kissing her lips each time. "Please, come back to me," Lucia whispered, her voice filled with desperation. "I promise," he promised her again, taking her hands in his and kissing her knuckles. He entwined his fingers with hers, and they walked out of the stables to get back to the gates of the castle. Gina and Corinna were already seated in the carrier, blankets wrapped around them. Mick helped Lucia into the carrier, and in the doorway she stood still, leaning down to embrace Mick again. She didn't want to let go, but she had to, as Gina softly called her name. They kissed firmly, to which Mick held the back of her head to kiss her just a bit longer. They let go of each other, and Mick watched her close the door of the carrier, which went off when the horses started to dribble forward. He looked up at the hand that was placed on his shoulder.

"We will protect them with our lives, my King," General Bühler spoke, and he nodded, his eyebrows furrowed together as he reminded himself of the purpose of letting Lucia and his family travel to Aosta, so that they would be safe there. Mick turned around, seeing the maids that moved into the other carriers. Only a handful, very brave maids, offered to help at the camps of the soldiers, to provide them with what they needed, and to take care of the wounded. Mick was sure that they were nearly fearless, and he appreciated their braveness a lot, to which he promised that it would be greatly rewarded after the war. The army spread over the castle, and guarded in different shifts towards the night. The camps were set up at the borders, and defense lines were created. It was hard for Mick, as he wished he could be at all sides of the border, and at the same time be with Lucia, to make sure she was alright. The thought that she was together with his sister and his mother, comforted him only a little.

The goodbye they just had, felt like a goodbye for forever, and the feeling was gnawing at his chest, the feeling of her lips on his, and the tight way her fingers had curled into his jacket, lingered on him still. Mick walked around to check up on everything, but also the soldiers and General Bühler himself saw how tired he was from wanting to be in on each thing that happened. "My king, please, take some rest. So far we have everything under control here, if you are needed, we will request for you," General Bühler told him. Mick had looked at him skeptically, but then accepted the suggestion. When stepping into the nearly empty castle, Mick felt drained of all energy he had this morning. The last couple of days had gone by so fast, yet at the same time incredibly slowly. All the worry and everything that needed to be thought of, the safety of his loved ones and the people of his kingdom, it was time and energy consuming. The fact that he wanted to drag Joaquim through landscape behind his horse and leave him gargling mud while fearing of Elias' large hooves, was his drive to continue each day.

Mick washed his face before he went to bed, moving his fingertips through his hair. He undressed himself, and the room filled with quietness. Normally, Lucia would chat something about their day, or they'd make love before falling asleep in each other's arms, but there was none of that now. Mick looked at his reflection in the mirror, there were bags visible under his eyes, and his skin looked even paler than before. He ate and drank well nevertheless, he knew he had to take good care of himself, else he would be useless in the war. It made him feel good that he had the respect of the Royal Army, everyone included. He didn't have to work hard for it, the soldiers respected King Michael's son as their King right away, and Mick's natural intelligence and down to earth character suited everyone in every negotiation or discussion, which made it easy to work with others, even if they were not of Royalty or in a high hierarchy. For Mick, everyone was the same, and had to be treated equally.

Royal guards were situated at the door of his room, in the hallway, the stairs, and down at the gates. Mick still felt uneasy while crawling under the sheets alone, and he moved to lay in the middle of the bed. He sighed deeply, turning to his side to grab onto Lucia's pillow. His nose caught a whiff of her flowery scent, the lavender oil of her hair. He wrapped the pillow up in his arms, blankly looking at the wall next to the bed. Tears easily flowed down his cheeks when he thought about his beautiful queen being pregnant. The timing could not be worse, but if God decided that Lucia was pregnant now, he hoped it would be a sign that everything was going to be alright. She wasn't far into her pregnancy yet, she knew it when her period didn't come, and when she felt nauseous in the mornings. Mick wished for the little boy or girl to be born in a peaceful period, and it stimulated him only more to finish the war soon. The political motive behind it upset him, because Mick was an honest man, and the lies of Duke Joaquim angered him.

Mick clenched his fingers into the pillow case, not able to forget the way Lucia had looked at him before she had to leave. He was at peace with his decision to send Lucia and his family away. He didn't want her to see the horrors of the war, the bloodshed of the soldiers, the purging of the villages and their castle. Mick closed his eyes meanwhile, taking a deep breath, feeling his lungs rasping after he had cried. After the war, they would reunite again, celebrate life and the victory of Geneva and Aosta. Mick was determined to go into battle, and return as the invincible King. There was a complete army behind him, trained well by his father, and to defend the crown that had been passed onto him, was something that fuelled his anger towards Joaquim only more. The move the Duke had made, by going into war with Geneva, had been his worst and last decision. Because Mick wasn't going to stop till the person who treathened him, his queen, and his people, would surrender.

A/N: Oh my, such a delayed update! I tried to publish this as quickly as a could, and splitting Lucia and Mick up in the middle of everything broke my heart a little... Let me know what you thought of the chapter in the comments!