Return Of The Queen

Chapter 9

The Choices

Her heart skipped a beat, her cold stare faltering for a second before she regained herself.

Was this because of Ravenna, how did they know ?

Were they here to hold her accountable
Or worse, kill her ?

She cursed herself to quiet her thoughts as Lyla insisted the trio to sit as everyone gathered, stiffness and tension thick in the air. No one had yet to utter a thing. Serephina couldn't stand the silence for too long.

"Excuse me, but what you mean that you're here for me?" She questioned rather roughly.

Her parents both looking over to her, a stern face on as Lyla told her to have some respect.

"Right, forgive me, Excuse me, but what does Your Majesty  mean that you're here for me?"

A small smirk coated the lips of the Queen as Sloane raised a brow in amusement making eye contact with William who held the same look.

"Serephina!"

"No it is alright" Snow gently looked over at the man whose eyes were on his daughter, she then turned to her, mustering the softest voice she could.

"I can understand how frustrated you must be feeling, I am sorry for the confusingly discreet words earlier, I am here because I need your help Serephina"

"You need my help?"

She looked over the three people infront of her trying to see if this was some type of joke as the Queen nodded her head.

"Why exactly would you need my help? And with what?"

"Does she know?" The King Regent softly asked the man and woman who scolded the young girl earlier.

"Yes your highness" replied Brannon

"Good then this will go quicker"

Serephina sat trying to put the pieces together as she caught the eye of the tan skinned soldier, trying to read her expression but failing miserably.

"As you may know, Ravenna has returned and has attacked Trusan , killing Lord Dedderick and most of the village and holds the rest as slaves or refreshments"

"Refreshments?" The younger darked skinned boy asked speaking up for the first time since the guests arrived.

"Yes refreshments to keep her young and her magic strong" Sloane answered obviously as if it was so easy to understand but upon being met with confused and blank stares from the small family infront of her she continued.

"Ravenna sucks the essence, or essentially soul, from young beautiful woman to keep her alive giving her a youthful appearance while also providing her magic with more power"

She noticed the grimace on Lylas face as her hand instinctively found its way to Serephinas.

"Ok so wait what exactly does Fina have to do with all of this aside from the fact that Ravenna's her mother-"

"That woman is not my mother" interrupted the blonde girl scowling.

"Sorry Fina, the woman who gave birth to her and left her to die"

"We have strong reason to believe that had circumstances being different she would have done the opposite" William addressed the younger boy.

"What circumstances?" Brannon inquired his stomach twisting.

"If my mother had not died" The Queen spoke.

"Sources said that Ravenna had no intention to give the child up when she first held her, for three months she had spent every second with you, but when news came of the death of Queen Snows mother, she was blinded by power once more, tried to fight it but ultimately chose to leave" The Queensguard spoke slowly watching over the family infront of her carefully.

A tension could be felt in the air, as each of the family members try to process the information that was just revealed to them.

"I know this is a lot to take in and we do not come here with any bad intentions, we sincerely apologise to spring this onto you but we wanted to meet you and tell you this so you can make your choice" Snow spoke her hands moving tentatively across the table to the blue eyed woman's.

"My choice?"

William cleared his throat looking over the room, locking eyes with the Soldier and and his wife, their heads nodding slightly.

"We offer you two choices, the first is to take your family and run before Ravenna learns of you, a few soldiers will be sent to escort you to the far west and across the seas where can start a new life"

"And the other one?" Questioned Lyla

"The second is to stay and fight"

The trio gave the family a moment to understand what was just said, then the Captain spoke up once more.

"Ravenna has begun to hire mercenaries across the country for an army, scouts say that more and more criminals flooding into Trusan as conditions worsen for those held captive, and insider working behalf on the crown sent word out that she plans to attack every village across the country, including this one, leaving Tabor for last. He was caught by one of Ravennas muscles and his body now stands outside the entrance of the village as a warning"

Snow looked over at the faces of the small family infront of her then to her companions as she stood up, the other two adults following suit.

"We will give you a few minutes to make your choice" , nodding her head at the girl and her small family before leaving, Sloane closing the door behind them.

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The room was quiet, the family looking at Serephina with anticipation.

Whatever she would decide, they would support her and join her on the path chosen. Before she even looked up and made eye contact with each of them, they already knew her decision.

She was going to fight.

And they would fight alongside her.