Naryssa's Choice (The Fate and Destiny Chronicles Vol. 3)

The Calm Before the Storm

When we reached the city of Darcy, I could feel the shift in Darren's demeanor and energy.

"You okay, soldier?" I had teased him with a playful nudge on the arm trying to lighten up the mood as we slowly approached the palace but my playful attempt didn't seem to help much. "I'll be fine" He reassured me as we continued the walk in a sudden heavy silence, when we reached the gates, I let down my hood and was immediately recognized by the guards who instantly let us inside. We entered the palace and Darren silently followed me to the throne room which I knew had to be even more painful for him given he'd almost died the last time he was there but it was where my father was usually found. When we arrived at the throne room, we found he was not alone but arguing with Caspian. I didn't get a chance to hear what exactly they were arguing about though as they went dead silent the instant, we entered the room and their gazes turned to us. They were both shocked to see Darren by my side as I entered the room suddenly feeling nervous about the news that I had come to deliver. My mind briefly reflected upon the fight between me and my father, knowing I still likely had the bruises and black eye to show for what had happened between us.

"Darren?" Caspian said incredulously as he recognized him immediately but I knew like I had he was wondering how the fuck he looked the same as he did twenty years ago. "It's been a while" Darren said stiffly, clearly not as happy to see Caspian as he was to see him. "Wait, Darren from her journals?" My father interrupted sounding equally confused which led me to realize during their previous and likely first meeting fists were exchanged instead of names. Even if I had spoken Darren's name when I got between them, I am not surprised my father hadn't at all noticed or cared to recognize it from the journal. Especially given he would have thought Darren from the journals as he'd called him to be closer to Caspians age. "How are you still so...young?" Caspian asked Darren ignoring my father who seemed to be completely reviewing the situation going on here. "Damned if I know" Darren said with a shrug obviously not wanting to talk about it, "Don't we have more pressing issues right now than me?" He redirected clearly, not enjoying the center of attention he'd taken. "As interesting as this topic is, he has a point" my father agreed much to everyone's surprise and Caspian seemed to take a deep breath and focused himself before responding. "So, when is the queen sending reinforcements?" Caspian asked me. I found myself looking away and biting my lower lip before nervously speaking "About that...." I started off before outright saying it deciding there was no way to sugar coat it, "She won't... send them" I explained slowly.

My father looked pissed and Caspian just looked confused when I looked back up at them before continuing to explain, "She basically said unless the situation is make or break, she won't send them, I tried to get her to see reason but she wouldn't change her mind." I finished answering, bracing myself for the response. "This is exactly why you should've been at home!" My father shouted in outrage, "I can't believe you fucked up something so simple! I thought you were taught better!" He told me harshly. I flinched slightly as I looked down at the marbled floors as I felt immediately guilty. He kind of had a point. Perhaps it had been my fault we failed to gain her support immediately or maybe it would have been the same if he had gone himself, who knows. "She didn't fuck up anything!" Darren defended catching me off guard for some reason, "She did everything she could but the bitch wasn't going to agree no matter who asked" He argued.

My father got up off of the throne and seemed ready to go to Darren but Caspian grabbed hold of his arm just as I stepped between them and spoke with a seriousness and warning that made me nervous. "Take a walk, Atticus" he told him and with that my father ripped his arm away from Caspian before proceeding to storm out of the throne room. I could hear the crashing sounds of what was likely an end table with a vase on it as he moved down the hall. I flinched as I heard the sound. "Sorry about that, Nyssa" Caspian said apologetically, "I'm sure it wasn't your fault...Your dad isn't himself today just give him some time..." he explained. "Sure, seemed like himself" Darren replied like a smartass but I cut him off knowing damn well my father likely hadn't told Caspian about the fight we had that turned physical. I was hoping if he hadn't already assumed my fresh injuries were my father that he wouldn't find out. "It's fine, I'm sure the whole impending war shit has everyone on edge..." I explained away as I shifted nervously and while Caspian looked suspicious, he didn't ask as he looked over my face. If Caspian did know what had happened or had realized the difference between what came from my father and what came from the rebels, he didn't let me know it.