The Places We Go

Chapter X; Arlie

"I think now is the perfect time to attack one of the sub-kingdoms. Luna has to be in one of them, which means Soleil is too. As for which, I'm not sure which would be more important." Arlie posed when Anastasia, Beau, Charlotte and Arlie herself were meeting. "Well, Rielweth has more valuable resources than Faormen. Plus, they'll be easier to conquer." Anastasia proposed. All four were in agreement that they would begin the march to take over the first sub-kingdom.
The day of the march was one that Arlie had feared. The coming to Luna's castle was fine, for she had made the trek before, but she had never seen either of the sub-kingdoms. Nevertheless, her and Anastasia's woodsmanship skills were helpful in finding their way. They marched from the break of dawn to a few hours into the night. They barely slept and when they did it was a very light sleep. This grueling pace caused some to leave the group and go back to Zellarid, but most remained loyal. When they sensed that they were close they slowed their pace in order to keep up morale and so when they inevitably arrived they would be rested for battle. They had sent a scout early each morning to see when they would arrive, and tonight it seemed would be their last in the make-shift camp. To celebrate, they decided to have a bonfire.
They knew that they would be far enough away from the kingdom so that they would not see the fire, but close enough to know that tonight was the night to have it. It was just as festive as the party after the win against the Mirirejar rebels, but with more cheer as they were still celebrating that as well. Scheven broke out his trumpet once more and conducted the other members of their "band". They played customary songs of Zellarid, and many of the villagers danced around the bonfire. Tiered from the marching, Arlie and Charlotte decided to just watch. As Arlie glanced around the bonfire, she saw two people dancing together yet again, Anastasia and Beau. This time it seemed different, not just the setting and the beautiful orange lighting, but the looks on their faces. Beau had looked a little too happy the night after the shutdown of the rebellion, but now it seemed that he was even more ecstatic. Anastasia too looked to enjoy the dance a bit more than she would have with another friend.
Arlie put these thoughts behind her and discussed the plans for the morning with Charlotte. "How do we want to approach this? Do we go for the gates or try to find a back entrance?" Arlie queeried. "Shouldn't we wait for Beau and Queen Anastasia?" Charlotte protested. "Look at them. Do you think they're worried about this right now? At least half of us need to be focused on the task ahead. So, the gate or back entrance?" Arlie responded. "Well, I think we should try to find a back entrance. If we come straight on we'll end up like the Mirirejar rebels. That's just what I think, your majesty." Charlotte said, folding into herself. "Don't be so nervous to speak your mind. That's your job. You have as much authority when it comes to this stuff as Anastasia and I." Arlie said, comforting Charlotte. "Thank you, I'm just still trying to get used to that. Wait, what about Beau?" Charlotte said, looking over to him and Anastasia who were one of the only couples still dancing. Even some of the "band" members had gone to bed, it was only Tristina and her banjo as well as Scheven. "Beau isn't an authority. He's just close to Anastasia and helped with the archery training." Arlie said, still watching him and Anastasia's dance. "Then, if I may ask, why has he been involved in the decision making? He was in our meeting on which sub-kingdom to go after first." Charlotte said, looking away from the dancing couple and over to Arlie. "I'm not sure. He insists on staying by Anastasia's side, so he has come to so many meetings that I think they both think that he is a part of that committee. Truly, however, it is only me, you, and Anastasia." Arlie said, looking over to Charlotte. They soon went to bed, as everyone else had, except for Anastasia and Beau, who had sat by the bonfire that was soon put out. They still sat there, in the cold, and still talked, so far as Arlie had heard the next morning.

Today was going to make history. There seemed to be the remains of a large gathering, for the castle was decorated with streamers and banners all around the wall that surrounded the castle. It was much shorter than the wall around Luna's castle, and when Anastasia got on Beau's shoulders, who was standing on a supply crate, they could see over. There seemed to be no-one around, so the group readied themselves for the climb over the wall. Beau helped the shorter people over before jumping up and hoisting himself over the wall. They almost immediately saw an open doorway where the army rushed in. They made quick work of the servants in the large room and were able to quickly barricade the doors before letting a few soldiers out to search for where they needed to attack. Once they found where they needed to go by interrogating a man who claimed to be the Ex-King of the castle, who had willingly given them the information they needed to take down his ex-husband, they returned to collect the rest of the army. Arlie decided to go for the King himself, while Anastasia, Beau, Charlotte and the army took out the Rielweth soldiers. Once she had made her way to the King's study, Arlie barged in to see the King reading a book.
"Who are you?" He asked in a somehow powerful yet still pathetic voice as he looked up from his book. "I'm Queen Arlie of Zellarid. But you can call me your downfall." She made quick work of him, stabbing him severely before taking his crown, mistakenly becoming the Queen of Rielweth. She left him to die, and went to help the others. They had already gotten rid of most of the army, and soon Rielweth was now a Zellarid territory. A few citizens rebelled but they were promptly shut down, and all remaining citizens subdued. They later discovered that one citizen had sent letters to Faormen and the main castle, describing what had happened and warning them that they would likely be next, and that citizen was thrown into prison. This letter had actually served its purpose of saving lives, beyond what it had intended. It was to save Faormen lives, but ended up causing a situation of no bloodshed.
Whilst strategizing their takeover of Faormen, the response letter had arrived. A servant had brought it into the meeting room, where Arlie, Anastasia, Charlotte and Beau were sitting around the former King's desk, but he had given it to Anastasia, to whom it was addressed. All five of them were confused, but Anastasia read it first silently, thought it over, then read it aloud.
Greetings Queen Anastasia,
                      It is with our sincerest congratulations to you on your takeover of Rielweth. A great feat, truely! We have received a letter from one of the civilians of the new Zellarid territory describing your triumph. This letter contained details of your might and glory in battle, and how Queen Arlie had taken over as Queen of Rielweth. When Queen Luna was here, her guest spoke of you and Arlie's excellent leadership skills. In the name of peace, we offer you our eldest son in marriage, a way of uniting Faormen and Zellarid peacefully. This way no lives will be lost on either side, but rather make us stronger. If you accept, come to the castle as soon as you receive this letter so that a wedding can be planned.
From your hopefully soon to be parents-in-law,
                          The King and Queen of Faormen

Arlie looked around the room. Each person had reacted drastically differently.

The servant was confused. He didn't know how to react due to how the others were reacting. "Shall I go? I'll just be outside if you need me."

Charlotte was happy. She didn't have to go into battle again.
"Well, we wouldn't have to lose any more lives. That's good, right?"

Arlie was suspicious. She didn't think that Faormen would give up that easily.
"But can we trust them? What if they are just trying to capture Anastasia?"

Beau was devastated. He knew that his relationship with Anastasia was about to change.
"Congratulations, Anastasia. This is what you want, right?"

Anastasia was terrified. But she knew what she had to do for her kingdom.
"I guess I'm getting married then. It's what's best for Zellarid."

    Anastasia stared into Arlie's eyes. She seemed to silently say; Why me? Though she knew the answer. She was the only one of the remaining Queens that wasn't in charge of a sub-kingdom already. "Well, at least we know that Soleil has been to Faormen. She and Luna will likely be heading here or to the main castle, so I say that a third of the army should stay here with me, a third should go with Charlotte to the main castle, and a third should go with Anastasia to Faormen. We'd all go to the wedding, of course." Arlie said, failing to change the subject for Anastasia's sake. They decided who would go where, then began to prepare the others on their own treks. Charlotte was worried about the time that was soon to come where neither Anastasia nor Arlie would be there to guide her, but the two Queens assured her that she would be alright. It was later decided that Charlotte would just stay in Rielweth with Arlie and take charge when Arlie left for the wedding, knowing the main castle didn't need to be guarded.
They bid Anastasia, Beau and half of the army farewell, assuring her that this was what was best for everyone involved. She reluctantly left, with the disheveled Beau by her side. Arlie was glad to see him go, for he had forced his way into many meetings and decisions that he shouldn't have been involved in. Charlotte stayed at her side each day, shadowing her so that she would be ready when it came time for Arlie to leave. She looked around the dining hall that night, seeing it half-empty. It pained her that they were gone and that Anastasia was being forced into this, it truly did, but she knew that it was what had to be done. Maybe it would be so bad after all, maybe the eldest Prince of Faormen wouldn't be so bad.