Broken Beginnings

Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine- Last Minute Plans
"We have to do something." I related for the fifth time to Ashered. He stated out the window of our room, he didn't say a word.
I blinked at him, pacing frantically. "Ashered." I snapped.
He didn't look at me. I stomped in front of him, hot with anger. "Why aren't you speaking to me."
Ashereds stormy eyes met mine. They were filled with sadness. I furrowed my eyebrows taken aback by his expression. "Hope." He said gently.

I took a tentative step back. "I don't like the tone you have." I said referring to the softness of his voice, as if he were about to tell me something bad. "I want to rule the kingdom." I blinked again confused. "What?" I asked incredulously. "They want to take our baby and you want to give them to those women on a silver platter." Ashered shook his head, reaching forward he brushed a strand of hair from my neck. Tingles ran down my spine and he quietly led me to the edge overlooking the village below us. "No, they deserve a leader who cares and we can give that to them but without Maeve, Violet or Sena."

"But?" I asked.

Ashered sighed heavily. "It will come at a cost."
I watched as he ran a hand through  his hair.

"What is that supposed to mean?" I asked cautiously. 

"I can get back my wings and my full power." 

I clenched my jaw, not liking where this was headed. "How exactly do you plan to do that?" I asked tartly.

"Frost knows the witches that were going to give Simone wings."

"You want to get help from the man who killed my mother?" Ashered placed his hands on my shoulders. 

"Hope, he can help us save our child."

I glared at him. "I could defeat those women downstairs. I just need to form a-" 

"No."

I curled my fist tightly. "Why? You know I am capable. I'm not weak."

"You may be, but not the baby." 

I was silent at this. I had no remark for the truth. "I can." I said defeated. I knew I couldn't but the stubbornness pushed me forward. "I don't want to lose you again."

Ashered brushed his hand against my cheek. "I know, Hope. I will be back in no time." I could tell that he had already made his decision. "When do you leave?" I asked quietly. 

A kiss was placed on the crown of my head and Ashered pulled me into his arms. "I leave tomorrow night." 

I furrowed my eyebrows at him. "What is your excuse going to be?" 

"That I went out to meet the people of Goldmoon and familiarize myself with the land."

I looked up at him with hooded eyes. "Let me come." I stated, although it came out as more of a question.

"I can't. I begin packing tonight."

I squinted my eyes shut, wishing that upon opening them everything would not be the way it was. 

"Are you going alone?" Ashered shook his head. "Killian stepped down from my second to protect Amy; his replacement Arthur will be coming with me.

"I want to meet him before you go."

Ashered nodded. "Ill have that arranged beforehand."

That night I barely slept. I woke up to a dry throat and chugged the glass of water from my night stand. The balcony doors were pulled open and the sun spilled in. The sounds of birds chirping and voices echoed throughout the courtyard. I pulled my robe around myself and padded to the edge. "Good morning, your majesty." A jaunty man bellowed from below. 

He smiled exuberantly, his hands dripping in blood.  A woman laid before his feet. I could tell she was a servant. Her hair was pulled into a tight blond bun. Her dress was cream and a dark black apron was untied from the back. Her face was frozen with fright and her eyes bore into the clouds. 

Anger pooled inside of me. "Who are you?" I snapped. The man smiled, his teeth were pearly white and sharp. "The names Wolf. Although ironically enough I am not." His eyes flashed red and I dared not show my fear. My hand gripped the fabric of robe tightly. "What do you want?" I asked tartly. "What any king wants, a bride." My skin ran cold. 

Wolf laughed manically. "Oh darling, not you. The child inside of you. It will have strong parents." My teeth ground together but before I could get a word out, his head was rolling on the ground. I gaped at Ashered who held a sword at his side, kicking Wolfs body so that it toppled over. It was then that I realized the gravity of the scene before us. Over thirty bodies lay slaughtered along the courtyard, a mix being who I assumed worked for Wolf. Ashered was heaving, his hair was sprawled across his face, eyes gleaming. "No one is going to marry my unborn daughter." He growled. The men that were left from Wolf sprinted at the sound of his voice. 

"Get them." Ashered ordered. Guards collected the few men left, dragging them away kicking and screaming.  

I stayed standing there, unsure how to react when Ashered looked up at me. His gaze softened, the fire still burning within his iris's. "Stay in the room, love."

After an hour I sat on the bed changed into a light grey dress. I smoothed out the silky material and left my hair un-brushed and tangled. I couldn't bare to do more than change. Ashered finally walked in silently. His shirt was unbuttoned and dried blood clung to the white fabric. He pulled the shirt off, avoiding my eye contact. I listened as the water started and stopped. Soon enough there was silence. 

I walked into the bathroom where he stood. His hands gripped the sink and he looked at the floor. His back was red, the scars oozing a black puss. I reached forward to him, turning his body to face me. His eyes met mine and his face dropped. "They were right outside the window." He said quietly. It took me a moment to realize what he was talking about. The balcony doors being open was not his doing. 

I tried to contain myself in response to what he had said. I swallowed audibly. "You kept us safe." I assured. Ashered shook his head. "Sena, Maeve and Violet let him in. They were going to let him do whatever he wanted to you, to the people here. I wouldn't let that happen so I killed him."

I pulled Ashered into me tightly, his wet skin clung to my dress. He buried his face in my shoulder, I let our touch take the pain away from his scars. It was only momentary. He was getting worse and I didn't understand why.