Womanish Lady

Chapter 41:

   Bonnie also had a quick sense of planning and somehow got them both out of the forest and briefly out of sight of the King's Troops.

She practically threw Fuyaiyah off her shoulder and both girls cried momentarily.

"You have absolutely no reason to cry!" Said Bonnie. "I never approved of my Queen investing so much thought and time into a troublesome woman like you! But I had to stand beside her and watch her talk about you all day! I never thought you were worth my Queen's life! You have no reason to cry!"

Despite it all, Fuyaiyah stood back up and, surprisingly, bowed at Bonnie.

"I'm so sorry Bonnie. And thank you!"

"Don't thank me when I never liked you!"

She kept her head bowed low.

"A conflict that has absolutely no relation with you two - but one of you passed on due to it. I'm sorry!"

"Ugh! Don't pretend to be so modest!" She wiped her tears and stood straight then spoke bitterly.

"The situation, overall, had nothing to do with her. But if you think about it deeply, this almost does involve her too. But, more than the situation, it was you that had more relation to her. She loved you so much that it still makes me upset!"

Fuyaiyah slowly came up from her bow to look at Bonnie.

"So, if you're really sorry - go! Go and make sure it all ends so my Queen's death doesn't have to be in vain! Hurry and go!'

"Come with me Bonnie!"

Bonnie shook her head.

"I'm going to be with my Queen."

Thinking it was a normal response, Fuyaiyah nodded and rushed off back to where her village was waiting. When she was out of sight, Bonnie looked up at the strangely sunny sky. She almost felt like crying.

"When's the last time I've seen the sun? I can't remember."

However, the King's Troops, only now making their way out of the forest, jumped out on their horses from within the trees. The General, who was upset that Bonnie made his job harder, had his men draw out their arrows and penetrate her.

Bonnie only felt the pain for a moment. But with all of those arrows shot through her, she didn't fall completely to the ground and still had a good view of the sky.

The troops paid her no extra attention for her and continued their search.

Bonnie also paid no extra attention to them and continued to gaze at the sun until her eyes closed.

Fuyaiyah tripped in the snow, felt immense heart pain, but got back up, retrieved Bon-bon, and made her way to her family. They all wanted to know what delayed her, but she didn't say a word, and faced the Everwinter Kingdom.

Less than ten minutes later, King Lenon, who joined up with his Troops, approached and stopped a good distance from their enemies.

"You once said you were coming in peace, but now you're about to fight against us?"

"Wrong! But we were fine until your troops started going after my life!"

On his side, the King looked at the General, who kept looking straight.

"I only said to restrain her! Not go after her life!"

"But there's nothing more to say! I have told you the truth! Make your decision here whether you'll let us live peacefully or not!"

"I still have things to tell you! So disassemble your -"

A messenger rushed to his house and whispered in the King's ear. His eyes grew wide as he looked back at Fuyaiyah with alarm and fury.

"Is my Queen really dead?" He yelled.

Fuyaiyah bowed her head.

The King was so furious that he charged ahead. Fuyaiyah and Nali warned everybody to be on their defense and soon, both sides had merged into a battle.

He was made to think that Fuyaiyah was charging straight for him, but actually she was riding past him. King Lenon was too furious and in grief of the Queen to avoid such a simple battle strategy and chased after her.

Nali and Norekeito - fighting side by side, saw Fuyaiyah advancing with the plan, and followed after her.

However, Prince Tuquor and Prince Kyuni - who was able to leave his chamber after the guards carelessly left, were riding to the battlefield and stopped to look around. The distance and the swarm made it hard to spot the ones they were looking for, but then, coming out if the crowd was Fuyaiyah, their father, Nali and Norekeito riding their horses to a secluded spot.

They rode after them.

"How far will you run! Face me!"

"This looks like a good spot," thought Fuyaiyah, as she finally stopped Bon-bon and turned around.

"Now there's no one to influence or distract you!"

The King had no patience to listen and drew out his sword. Fuyaiyah, not surprised, drew out her bow and arrow and the two circled each other.

"Despite all that you have done, I was about to be kind to you and give you closure about your mother. But you went and got the Third Queen killed! Your actions cannot be forgiven for as long as you live! Not in this land!"

"Likewise to you! All that you've done to me and my village - I could've most definitely caused great damage while I was enslaved, but I only wanted to peacefully be free along with those I love. But all of your actions made it difficult! But even now - I'm still using words with you when anybody else would be using violence!"

King Lenon chuckled.

"You don't have to be physical to be violent. From your records, you got many people killed without laying a finger on them! Will you really try to defend against that?"

Fuyaiyah just drew her bow out further and held the stance. She had no intention to defend herself and make those who passed on instead of her be in vain.

After a moment in his thoughts, he turned sober from his anger. The King was acting strange - she observed.

"But let's deal with one thing at a time. You first brought up the matter with your mother. Wasn't you also the one who wanted me to tell you what happened?"

Now she realized why he was acting weird; he desperately wanted to get it off his chest. Fuyaiyah still wanted to know as well, so she kept silent.

Unfortunately, with only herself forgetting the plan, Nali and Norekeito finally found them and both threatened the King. Plus, the two Princes intercepted them not long after Nali and Norekeito did.

Nali, according to the plan, made a quick shot at the King, but his horse stood on it's back legs, the fell off and the arrow missed. Fuyaiyah dismounted to check on him. Prince Kyuni, always loyal to his father, tried to make an attack on Nali but Norekeito stopped him. Prince Tuquor went close to his brother - being ready to protect him.

Fuyaiyah wanted to know what her Uncle was going to say, but she didn't want to seem like a traitor. However, at this scene, she would have no choice.

"Give me a moment with him! Please! Go back and help everyone else and I'll join you two later!"

"Fuya! Are you serious?" Nali yelled with a bit of fear for her sister, and the feeling of betrayal. "I'm not leaving you alone with him!"

She was patient and her eyes twinkled for her older sister.

"Don't worry. I promised I'd definitely return to all of you. Some things just need to be confirmed before I continue."

While Nali hesitated, Fuyaiyah helped her Uncle up and they both ran on foot. Nali, about to see her sister disappear, was about to go after her, but Prince Kyuni stopped her, and she tried to strike him in response. Then both remaining parties got into their own duel.

Finding yet another secluded area, Fuyaiyah stopped abruptly and turned around.

"As you can see, we don't have the luxury to hesitate." She let down her guard. "So if you want to let me know something, you'd best hurry!"

The King ignored her and started when he was ready.

"You were told about your mother, so you must've been told a little about the Kingdom's beginning history."

She nodded.