The First Betrayal

Chapter 12

When I arrived back at the palace it was enveloped into chaos. Everyone was running around and bumping into me without a sorry. It was unusual to not have people say sorry to me, not that I minded but it meant something was extremely wrong.

I rushed up to Noah's office without a second thought. When I walked through the door his head jerked up and his eyes narrowed onto mine.

"And just where the hell have you been?" He said while running his hands frantically through his hair.

His office was a mess. There were papers scattered everywhere, and it clearly looked like he had broken a few things as well.

I crossed my arms across my chest, "Well, if you must know I was out on a horse ride because I thought you didn't need me. Heaven's sake I haven't even been gone five hours and the entire palace has fallen into madness." I pinched the bridge of my nose to stop a headache from forming, "Would you mind explaining just what in the hell happened in the few hours I've been gone?"

He finally calmed down enough that he wasn't staring daggers at me anymore but the fire from his gaze still remained, "Caiden did it. He sent word that he is going to war with me. You were right, I should have listened to you."

Even though he was rambling everything went silent from the rush of my heartbeat. If we were going to war that meant that Jonas and Jacob would be sent off as well. I wouldn't be there to protect them, and I wouldn't have the resources to find them if they were in trouble.

Noah was still rambling on, spiraling farther and farther into his own feelings. I managed to lift my head and, as calm as I could, walked over to his desk and slapped him clean across the face.

He had finally gone quiet and when he looked at me, he clutched his face; disbelief was painfully written all over his face.

"You need to pull it together. You are their king, and they are expecting you to lead them. You might not have wanted this position, but it has been unfortunately passed to you. There are women and children who are counting on you to win this fight. This might not have been the life you wanted but it's here. You brought this upon your people because despite the fact you didn't want the throne you refused to give it up. Now it is time for you to rise up and be a king. If you don't, your kingdom and the people inside it will fall." By the time I had finished my chest was heaving as if I had run a thousand miles. Standing up to him was always hard, but I couldn't sit back and watch innocent people die because of him.

He closed his eyes for a moment and leaned back in his chair, "You're right. I brought this upon my people. I will take responsibility to lead my men through this war and protect my people."

Relief flooded through me but there was still one more thing that was eating at the back of my brain.

"Another thing." He stared at me with confusion, "I would like to join my brother and Jonas in the battle. I am highly trained with a sword, and I can clearly handle my own. I mean, I did survive a fifty foot fall off of jagged rocks so I think I can handle war."

He shook his head, only once, "I need you here to rule the war with me. Look, I'm truly and deeply sorry about all the things I have done before but there is no other person I trust to run this war with. You are staying here, that's final."

I did not want to argue with him. As much as I wanted him to listen my mind was already made up. Weather he supported me or not I was joining the war. He just wouldn't find out until it was too late. My only worry is how well our troops would do with such a weak king. My hope is that this newfound positive attitude sticks, and he actually rules. Maybe he will rule even better once he is forced to. There is nothing on this Earth that would keep me away from the two of them.