Medieval Hammerstacks

Ryia's POV

The celebration was even bigger than Endolynn's wedding which was something special. I stood all dressed in my armor sporting Hudde's red cloak edged in gold. He stood beside me in his armor still and talking to me about all the preparations he had left behind for me to take over. I could see Akillia come in leading in Queen Endolynn and her husband my new king. Gerald hadn't changed but Endolynn of course has stripped down to something lighter which made me smirk.

"So Girlie, how does it feel to finally not be under some cranky old man?" Hudde asked his dark eyes watching me. I rose and brow and snickered.

"Hudde, I have never been under you." I answered and he grunted in amusement crossing his arms over his breast plate.

"Ok smartass,-"

"That's Captain smartass to you now Hudde." I teased, this time he chuckled.

"Girl, you got no manners."

"I have plenty!" I disagreed, we were quiet for awhile as we watched the party, then Hudde's posture shifted. I notice him go tense an his face tighten up. I searched the room automatically out of knee jerk reaction but found nothing new, I gave him a questioning look and her grunted.

"There's something that I haven't told you yet Ryia." He said, I straightened up at the serious tone in his voice.

"You've found more wizard's haven't you?" I whispered glancing around to make sure no one was listening to us, Hudde shook his head.

"No, its the green eyed guard you've been seeing." I froze an tried to ignore the bad gut feeling that was festering in my stomach.

"Tanin?" I asked, Hudde nodded and for a moment he just looked at me. He didn't speak and I could tell that he didn't want to say what he was going to say, I felt sick to my stomach so I looked away as he started.

"Your boy was caught helping some magic folk out of the city and was using Lady Marta's home to house them for a bit without her knowledge. He was smuggling some out of the city a few days ago and was stopped by some castle guards that were patrolling to find the rest of the wizards. When they got him he wasn't brought to the castle because he fought,"

Hudde's voice dropped more and his hand reached up to grip my shoulder. As he continued speaking my vision blurred and I tried to breath as my throat closed up. I knew what he was going to say and I didn't stop him I just was silent looking out into the crowd my face stone like but my eyes tearing up.

"He was hung, he tried to buy the wizards free time and he fought the guards." It felt like with every word Hudde has spoke a boulder was being set on my shoulders. My legs were shaking as he finished and I knew he could see that I was going to collapse because he helped me away and once we were outside he let me fall to my knees tears streaming down my face. He kneeled beside me and hugged my face to his chest plate and I cried.

"Im so sorry Ryia." was all he said and I cracked, I was bawling clutching at his arms and pressing my tear soaked face into his chest plate. It was a blur and then I being held by someone else and I could hear my name was being called but I just clung to the person. It was a while before I could see clearly and I jerked away as I realized that the long paler arms that were wrapped around my shoulders were not Hudde's.

"Are you ok?" Pate whispered softly his voice sounding scratchy and vaguely stuffed. I took the embroidered cloth from him and nodded viciously whipping at the snot and using my sleeves to dry up the rest of the tears. "Are you sure?" His hand touched my cheek and I jerked away looking at him with a hiss.