Heartfelt - sequel to Heartless

Chapter 24

IT HADN'T TAKEN MORE than a few hours before they heard that the King's army had entered the Queen Square. The army was moving fast, but to take the whole square with the best guards there would take longer than Cath wanted, so they had to stay put until then. Jest assured her that there were no trainers in the Eight Square or, if there were, there would be only one or maybe two.

Usually, the people living in a square were the said piece and trained the same one, with little exceptions. One exception was Catherine, who although was a pawn, was trained in the Rook Square because she was the White Queen's champion. The second exception was for the Queen Squares, where there stayed different chess pieces as trainers and guards, because there was only one queen but the place still needed to be guarded, and there stayed the best guards at that, as taking down the enemy Queen Square had a symbolism bigger than any other. That was also why, most likely, there was also only one trainer. In case someone ever became queen by crossing the White Queendom. In the King Squares were no trainers.

After four days, as the army left nothing behind in the Queen Square and had finally entered the city, most soldiers stationed at the Beach joined the fight.

The chaos in the city had gotten so bad that people started leaving, so, a lady, with her husband on a horse, a hatter with a raven on his shoulder, and a few -more- of their friends fleeting to the safe shores of the Beach didn't look too suspicious. Except the part where the friends were White soldiers dressed as peasants, split from the White King's army to protect a future queen.

They rode fast this time and didn't stop a moment until they got to the shores.

Catherine took a deep breath in as she looked over at the soldiers left to protect the Beach. The number wasn't great though. They obviously couldn't expect all the soldiers to leave the Beach and this was roundly the number they had expected to remain.

As they got closer, the Red soldiers noticed them and their hands immediately went to the swords strapped to their belts.

'They expected you to lead them,' Jest whispered in her ear. 'The King told them to do as you command them.'

Catherine looked at him and he nodded. She also took a glare at the White soldiers that came with them. She saw that they as well had their hands prepared to draw their hidden swords out.

She turned back to the Red soldiers. She took a deep breath. 'Surrender now and we'll let you go unharmed,' she called with a steady voice. The soldiers seemed to think for a moment, then all drew their swords out and attacked.

The White soldiers didn't hold back.

Catherine watched as soon the golden sands mixed with blood. Watched as swords clashed together, the sound ringing in her ears.

The Red soldiers still held their line, even though many fell on the shore, some of their blood being washed away by the waters.

Jest quickly got off the horse and extended a hand towards Cath. Her mind went spiraling as they made their way through soldiers, back to back, cutting everyone in their way.

Catherine could see the path almost cleared out, a few soldiers still holding steady.

She didn't know exactly how many she had killed, nor remembered their faces, she remembered just how Jest pulled her quickly by the hand and she could finally feel the water going in her boots, the sounds of the fight fading. She let out a breath and turned to Jest. He simply smiled at her and pointed with his head toward the fight. Or, what had previously been a fight, she realised as she turned and saw only her soldiers standing. Hers.

Cath watched as they dropped to their knees and bowed their heads. She sat straighter and smirked at Hatta as he did as well. She could sense how annoyed he was that he had to kneel from a mile away.

Catherine felt Jest lowering down and looked at him. He had her left hand in his still. He smiled at her and kissed her hand. The ring placed upon her finger more specifically. 'I'll be by your side 'til the rest of my days,' he whispered on her skin and looked up.

Cath bit her lip, smiling, and nodded, answering his unspoken question.

A lifetime with Jest.

'Get up,' she said, remembering the soldiers who were waiting for her command. They did as told. She turned to them, holding Jest's hand firmly in hers, not caring if anyone had anything to say.

'I am Catherine Pinkerton. Once Queen of Hearts,' She could feel Jest freeze next to her as he heard those words. 'but now one of yours. And I promise you, I will lead you to victory and finally end this war that has haunted Chess for this long.' She looked between her soldiers. 'And although no one remembers the beginning of it, everyone will remember this day as the beginning of the end. We will soon meet with the White King and together we will attack the Red Castle!'