Divided Loyalties (Incomplete)

Firm Determination

Xenovia

The guards brought Xenovia back to her room, speaking nothing along the way. When she arrived, she noticed three men standing outside her door. Most likely, they had been assigned there to keep her from escaping. Though it was clear no one knew of her earlier escapades yet.

"Mistress!"

She looked up just in time to see Helga rushing out to meet her. "What are you men doing? Release her at once!"

"You dare to order us?" One of the guards grumbled. "The king is the one who commanded us to return the princess."

With that, Xenovia could feel them shove her forward. Helga jumped in and caught her, protecting her from what could have been a nasty fall.

"Even so, I do not think the king would be keen on the way you are treating his daughter!"

The man chuckled. "Not to worry. By this time tomorrow, the princess will be sharing a bed chamber with the prince of Ruto. I doubt there will be anymore outbursts to deal with then."

Xenovia shot him a cold glare but refrained from saying anything back. After all, if people were going to treat her as helpless, she might as well act like it.

"Mistress, come. Let me get you inside!" Helga whispered, taking her gently by the arm.

She consented to the maid's help. In just a few short seconds, she was sitting safely on her bed.

"What happened to you?"

"First, let me ask, did you notice that I had gone missing today?" Xenovia suddenly asked.

The woman nodded. "Yes, when I realized that the balcony was unlocked. But I made sure not to tell anyone, lest you get into any more trouble. That is why I am surprised to see you being dragged back like this. Getting caught is very unlike you!"

Relief washed over her. "Oh, Helga, you are the only faithful helper I have."

"Of course, mistress. My loyalty will always be towards you first and foremost."

"Good. Because I am going to need your help if I am ever to get out of here."

Helga's brown eyes became sad. "You...wish to leave again?"

"Yes. The same way I did earlier. Only this time, I must leave the palace altogether."

The maid shook her head with disbelief. "Mistress, I know you are not very fond of Halvar, but you simply cannot be serious about this. Not only will the king be furious, but you also have nowhere to go. Once word gets out that you have run away, havoc will ensue!"

Nevertheless, Xenovia stood up and started packing a small travel bag. "None of that matters now. If I do not act swiftly, I will be forced to marry a man who will joyfully take his turn tormenting me. I am sure he has been looking forward to the day he could lock me away in a tower deep within the land of Ruto, all while he plans to use my name to further his own greedy schemes."

"But...there must be another way!"

"There isn't, Helga. At least, not yet."

The woman looked curious. "Whatever do you mean by that?"

Xenovia faced the woman with a smug grin. "What I mean is, after I return home as a hero of war no one will be able to look down on me nor treat me as a mere princess."

"A hero of what!?"

She nodded. "My father and fiancé spoke about a great war today, one that could threaten the entire continent. Yet they refused to allow me the chance to fight alongside our generals, despite knowing I am a skilled strategist and very knowledgeable of battle formations."

"Mistress, I am sure that is because you are not a soldier. In fact, if I recall correctly, you are the princess of Luxo!"

"I do not care about that silly title!" Xenovia hissed. "My mind is already made up. Nothing you say from this point on will be able to dissuade me. I will do whatever it takes to join my father's army and show him what I am capable of. I will drive the enemy away from our land and prove that I am in no need of a husband like Halvar!"

Helga seemed to be in shock. "But only a prince or king may go out to wage battle!"

"The rules of the army make no mention of such stipulations."

"I am sure that is because no one felt it was necessary to put something so obvious in writing."

Xenovia felt herself growing angry now. Not because of her maid's words, but because of the traditions that had influenced such speech.

"Tell me, why should a man be allowed to fight for what they love, but not a woman? Why must my only option be to seek peace or prosperity through matrimony? I may not have the same strength as a man, but that does not mean I am incapable of defeating my opponents. Why, I have even bested my father's best knights in hand to hand combat more than once!"

"My dear, knowledge on its own can only carry you so far. Experience and intuition are also important in life, and even more so on the battlefield."

"Then I shall obtain those on my journey." Xenovia reasoned.

"Mistress, please, be reasonable." Helga begged gently. "I fear for your safety, the same as your father. Just because you can outsmart a scholar or outwit a knight does not mean you could conquer the enemy in battle. Besides, if you go through with this venture, you will be completely alone. There will be no one to rescue you or offer you any help. Do you not realize this yet?"

She frowned. "What makes you think I will ever be in need of rescue?"

"But what if you do?"

Xenovia knew that the maid's words held truth, yet she could not bear to accept it. "Then I suppose I shall except whatever outcome proceeds. Though I promise you that I will not face any such danger."

"How can you say that?"

"Because," She replied, tearing off her useless silk dress in exchange for her combat training clothes. "I am no coward. I will fight for myself, and fight for my people. I Xenovia will soon become the greatest hero the House of Basileos has ever seen! A warrior so great that even Halvar will have to bow his head in my presence."

Helga watched her with a mixture of awe and worry. "If that is your final decision, then I will do all I can to assist you, as I always have."

"There is only thing I need from you, Helga. But we must act fast if my plan is to succeed."

"Of course, mistress."