The Dead war.

Chapter Seven: Return to Prophis

I woke up the next morning while Oliver still slept. I put my leather pants and jacket on and my boots. I walked out of the room and walked into the basement for training. I was training some new recruits before we left for Prophis again. I leaned on the doorway while Nathaniel taught them some basics.
"Alright, I can take it from here." I said. Nate looked over at me and told the boys to go get their water to prepare for actual training.
"You're engaged?" He asked there was a hint of bitterness in his voice that I picked up quickly on.
"Yes, what does it matter?" I replied
"Don't you think it's a little early? He asked again.
"Nate we are in the middle of a war, death is on the like and I don't want to die not being with the person I'm meant to." I replied.
"You don't know him!" Nate replied, raising his voice. "We kidnapped him and then all the sudden he is willing to help us, and then he decided he is going to marry you, you have only known him for 7 weeks not even two
Months." He replied, yelling.
"That's none of your business! Ok he is everything to me. And we may have only known each other for 7 weeks but that doesn't matter. What matters is that we are happy." I replied defensively. Nate stormed out of the room slamming the door and I rolled my eyes turning back to the boys.
"Alright boys and girl let's get going!" I said excitedly, winking at the only girl in our group. Amelia was 11 and the boys were 14. We started on punching bags and I taught them technique and the proper way to punch to not injure yourself. I walked over to the wall to get the fake swords and I heard laughing and then crying. I turned around to see the boys laughing and little Amelia Was standing there crying holding her arm. I walked over to the boys and they immediately stood up straight and Amelia turned around, she was embarrassed and I know because I did the same.
"What is going on here?" I asked
"We don't know why she is crying." One boy replied.
"They told me I hit like a girl and I'm weak." Ameilia said in between sobs.
"Boys that's enough, hitting like a girl doesn't mean anything, I am a girl and I hit like a girl and I'm one of the strongest warriors on the team." I said. I sat all the boys and Amelia down in my lap.
"I want you all to listen real quick ok? What you said isn't ok boys, I was a little girl, I couldn't hit or punch or lift s swords when I was your age. But look at me now I'm the Chief in army and a princess I can fight a war in heels. I fight as a warrior and save my kingdom as a princess. Just because you're a girl doesn't mean you can't do anything that a boy can do. So boys next time just remember she may not be as strong as you but it's your job to help and protect her. Us in the guard we are a family we work together. We protect our family. Everyone has each other's back and that's how we survive. We survive by depending on each other. No matter if you're a girl or a boy, if you're short or tall, If you're bigger or thinner no matter age or anything of the same we are family and we protect our family at all times." I explained
The boys nodded their heads and I smiled. We all got up and led them over to the beginner training course and before I knew it they were working together and helping each other. They were helping Amelia lifting her over big areas and helping her hold her gun. I looked over to the corner of the room and Oliver was standing there smiling.
"What are you smiling at?" I asked with a smug look on my face.
"That was amazing the way you handled them, the way you taught them about equality and protecting your family." He said, nudging my shoulder.
"Well I mean it's true when your in a guard or something similar you grow a lot together and you need to know they have your back it's the best part of being in the guard you always have a family and someone to protect you." I replied. The boys ran over with Amelia and were all chattering excitedly about how they did.
"And that is a new record my friends." I said proudly "Now I have to get going on a very important mission and don't forget what I told you. Now run home." I said with a smile. They all ran away and Amelia ran back to hug me.
"I want to be just like you when I grow up." She said and kissed my cheek and then ran after the boys.
"And that's why I do what I do." I said smiling.
"I'm becoming more and more grateful that you're my fiancé now." Oliver said with a grin.
"Oh stop it! Now we need to get going." I replied. This time we would be traveling by carriage instead of hiking. I put on my normal leather pants and jacket and put my engagement ring on and pulled my hair back in a dutch braid.
"I hope you're prepared for this." Oliver said as we stepped into the carriage.
"As ready as I'll ever be. I'm just worried." I replied. He grabbed my hand and held it tight.
"What's up?" He asked.
"I'm worried about this war, I have been having nightmares about it, almost like they are glimpses into the future you were in my nightmare, Nathaniel was in them my dad was in them. This war is going to be more brutal than we ever thought possible. It's like this war is going to be a Death war." I replied.
"What do you mean by a death war?" Oliver asked.
"This feels delayed, I mean it's been over 2 months since you've been gone and going on two years since the beginning of the broken truce when your father Leonard killed my mothers first born when he went to visit and accidentally spilled a drink on the king at age 15. This all happened two years ago and if it hasn't happened yet what's the reason. I mean winter is in 2 months and we haven't even seen a hint of an attack other than you in the forest with viridia. And then the attack on the village but no one died. It feels delayed and put off like they are building suspicions." I replied, looking at Oliver.
"And when we were in the forest we weren't there to spy on you guys we were there to find a criminal who escaped to close to Umbris so when we asked what they were gonna do next and about the war we were worried that this criminal was an umbris descendant and that would Quicken the war faster then we could keep up." He replied.
"Exactly that's why all of this is so strange. If both our country's are so angry then why hasn't one attacked the other. And why are the attacks so tiny when they come. What is your father planning?" I asked quietly.
"And what damage is this gonna do to the world when it happens. Oliver replied.
We drove in silence for the next three and a half hours. When we finally arrived in Prophis. Oliver's mother greeted us with a smile.
"Oliver we missed you dear! Where on the earth have you been son!" She hugged him tightly.
"I had a little hiccup in umbris. I was taken and interrogated. This beautiful woman Serena is a part of the guard there. She got me out and she spent 2 months helping me and getting me out of Umbris with no one noticing she went against her father to help me. So we started courting and then I asked her to be my wife. Mother, I want you to meet Serena, my soon to be wife." He said proudly he had really been working on a convincing story even I believed it.
"Oh my dear thank you! Welcome to the family!" She hugged me.
" Thank you queen Lillith,'' I said bowing.
"Oh no need to bow to me or put the queen in front of me, I'm going to be your mother after all." She said excitedly. "I love your style, it's so modern warrior. I love that you're willing to go against the normal and be yourself. It's very admirable." She said,
"Thank you." I replied. Oliver squeezed my hand and he could tell I was uncomfortable. She grabbed my arm and led me inside the castle once again. We walked to the main ballroom where Oliver's father sat in his chair. Looking down at guards who immediately stopped talking when I walked in.
"You're the woman that was here with the doctor weeks ago, how is our dear friend Liam." He asked
"But wait, you're an Umbris princess." Queen Lillith stated. Oliver explained the story of how we were sent to cure the queen and this kidnap the prince to get information and how I helped him escape before they could kill him and how I protected him for 2 months and how we fell in love and how he proposed to me. Oliver's father sat there and listened before he nodded.
"And why has she returned?" he asked. And now it was my turn to tell my story.
"I've come to tell you my fathers plan for the war. I want my father taken down and then when you win Oliver and I will rule Umbris under your control." I said bluntly
"Straight to the point, powerful, I like her." He said grinning.
"What's in it for you?" He asked
"Watching my father suffer." I replied. Gabriel smirked and then nodded.
"Very well Alex take them to the suite they will need an upgrade since they are to be married." Leonard said. Alex turned around and I saw him. The man I shot in the leg. My brother, My body stiffened and Oliver held my hand tightly. He glanced at me and gave me a weird look and then as fast as it came it disappeared.
"Alright let's go." Alex said, leading us away. The other boy who I learned was Samuel who looked identical to me walked side by side with Alex and the woman who cleaned the suite was the same woman from before my mother who I'm not sure knew she was my mother. who I learned her name was Melody, once they had left the room Oliver looked over to me.
"What was that about?" He asked.
"That's my real mother, and those guards Alex and Samuel are my biological brother and Samuel is my twin and Jacob he died by me. I was the one who killed him." I replied, my voice breaking. I sat on the bed with my head in my hands and Oliver walked over and sat next to me, I laid my head on his shoulder and sighed.
"This is gonna be a lot harder than I originally thought." I said softly.
"I know Serena, I'm not prepared to face my father, especially his rage when he finds out this has all been a ploy to get him on the wrong side of this war." Oliver replied, leaning his head on mine. We sat like this for a good 10 minutes before Samuel knocked on the door and asked for Serena to follow him. Oliver asked why and Samuel wouldn't answer. I looked over at him dead and panicked displayed on my face.
"You can tell my father that wherever Serena goes while we are here in Prophis I go as well, this kingdom doesn't take well to women especially if they knew she was a princess and soon to be queen." He said. Samuel left the room and when he came back 5 minutes later he nodded that Oliver could come. I let out a breath I didn't know I had been holding in. Oliver followed closely behind me as I walked to Leonard's office where he sat at his desk with a huge map displayed on the table.
"Now is the moment of truth whether he believes it or not." I whispered to Oliver.
"Let's hope for the first option." Oliver whispered back.
"Yes king Leonard." I said
"Serena, wonderful to see you, I have brought this map so you can tell me exactly where the weak points of Umbris are." He said. I nodded and walked over to the desk.
"This is where Umbris is the most weak. They mainly keep all their guards in these font sections because this is where most of the attacks take place. My father has most of his men stationed there or in the main room
Of the palace. He has a man that patrols the woods around called poachers. I was hit by one as a child because I was playing in the woods and they mistook me for a Prophis child." I told him. I could see the look of realization hit Oliver when I looked over at him. I had told him I was hit by a poacher when I was a child when Liam found me. I was playing in the woods when the poacher found me and shot me and Oliver now realized.
"They stay in the woods and with any notice or any visual of a Prophis man or woman or guard in or around Umbris the poachers will alert the other guards. So to avoid the poachers we must come in at this angle at the weakest point then you will have full access to our back villages where we house the weak and sick older men and women who won't be able to fight back or alert anyone. Then you have full access and the element of surprise on Umbris. My father does his rounds every Friday at 8 right after I take my rounds with the little kids at the north end of Umbris. He will be with the sick and injured people at around 9 pm. He will have no guards with him because no one attacks there. And then he can be killed. And once they are done you have full access to the kingdom and the people. I will take care of my mother." I explained. Leonard was just staring at the map looking over his expression was blank. I looked over at Oliver and he looked up, his arms still folded. He was leaning on the wall. He looked so flawless and so perfect I couldn't believe I was engaged to this man. He looked at me and gave me a reassuring nod.
"It's alright." He mouthed to me.
"This is for sure going to work?" Leonard asked.
"I'm positive my father knows I'm engaged to a man named Oliver the prince from Prophis. We have him the opposite information of what we gave you so he believes you are going to attack from our strongest points. And now you know. My father thought we came over here to kill you but instead it's the opposite. I want to kill him." I replied.
"Very well if you get us in Umbris safe and sound I will give you the opportunity to kill your father." Leonard said. I nodded and Leonard smiled.
"I knew I would like you, ever since you came in the first time I knew you were powerful you outboxed all of our men here and broke a punching bag Samuel tells me." He said proudly.
"I thought you hated women?" I asked
"Not all women, just the ones who have broken the law. But the women who are royalty get a pass because we have power over the lesser people." He replied. I cringed at his words, my back stiffening.
"Just like my wife, she is the most powerful queen in the world. People fear her, and I admire that. Your guards fear you which in turn makes you a powerful leader. I wanted to yell out that being feared doesn't make you a good king being respected did being a good and powerful king means treating everyone equal, being there for your subjects, your people, I wanted to fight the urge to scream and slam his face into the desk and pull out my dagger and kill them both. But I stopped myself and took a few deep breaths before Leonard excused us. We walked back to the room and once in the safety of our own room I shuddered and Oliver noticed.
"That bad huh?" He said grinning.
"I wanted to slam your fathers face into the desk." I said bluntly, taking my shoes off and putting heels on to prepare for our welcoming dinner where Oliver's mother insisted I wear one of her dresses she had saved for Oliver's future wife. It was way too extravagant for me but I obliged her and wore it anyway. After I put on the dress and walked out Oliver whistled at me. I glared at him and he laughed.
"This is not me at all. I'm not makeup and jewelry and dresses and heels. I'm a warrior and a fighter . I wear pants and leather jackets." I said laughing. Oliver walked over and helped me put on a necklace.
"It's definitely weird for me to. It's not the Serena I know, that's for sure." He said, kissing my shoulder. I sighed and put on my engagement ring. The ring was a silver ring with an emerald stone. It had a combined of three rings two Of them had triangle shapes at the top with diamonds all over the same with the end ring the middle one had the Emerald gem placed on top of a silver band.
"Alright let's get this over with so I can get out of this dress." I said pulling it up so I could walk properly. Oliver laughed and held my hands as we walked to the dinner room. Leonard and Lillith sat next to each other while me and Oliver sat across from them. Samuel and Alex stood in the corner. I periodically glanced over to them and I could see them talking and then looking at me and talking again sometimes they would point. I stiffened my body and Oliver noticed immediately he placed his hand on my thigh and I grabbed his hand and held it tightly. He made me feel safe and I was so grateful for that. Lillith kept saying how beautiful I looked she said I was a natural at beauty to which Oliver agreed. I smiled at only her and he kissed my lips softly. I was only able to stomach a small portion of my food and I told Leonard I was only allowed a little bit of food to stay slim in Umbris. He then said he knew why I wanted out.
One dinner has finished Oliver stood up and I gave him my hand.
"If you don't mind it's been a long travel day I think we are going to head to sleep father." Oliver said politely.
"Oh of course! I'm sure you both are exhausted." Lillith said as she walked over to hug me.
"Good night everyone." I said politely. We walked out of the room and back towards our room.
"What's going on?" Oliver asked.
"Why do you ask?" I asked him
"Because you tenses up the only time you do that is when you're on edge or uncomfortable." He replied removing his tie
"Alex and Samuel kept pointing at me and staring at me and then talking to each other. I got a bad feeling. I tried to ignore them and it's probably nothing but I just got a bad feeling." I replied while I removed the dress.
"What do you think they were saying?" He asked.
" I don't know and I don't know why they kept pointing at me and talking and then looking at me and talking. I know I'm being paranoid but my intuition is never wrong and something about this situation is off." I replied.
"My father was acting very weird. I didn't want to alert him or you but he never acts like this. It's weird for him. He is never this kind of loving or anything toward anyone including me and would never let my mother act like she has. And he said he lets my mother do whatever she wants and that isn't true at all. I agree this whole thing is suspicious. I think you should keep your dagger on you at all times even in bed and keep it within safe reach." He said, squeezing my shoulder. I barely smiled and he could see I was very worried and nervous. He walked over and pulled me into a hug and I placed my hands on his chest along with my head.
"I'm scared Oliver. And I'm never scared, something is going on and I don't know what it is." I said panic displayed in my voice.
"It will be alright. I won't let anyone hurt you." He replied holding me tightly.