Long Suffer the King

XIII

A/N: Do you ever get really into a good soundtrack and then an ad plays and it completely breaks your focus bc that just happened.

Joan isn't shocked when she sees the new cut. Instead she pulls out a crinkled brown parchment and unrolls it. "Let's discuss strategies shall we?"

Ophelia sits down across from her leans over to look at the map, intrigued. "Is that Anivard?"

"Indeed. You see, there's the dark bold lines that outline our country and the border's. The larger dot is the main kingdom, so your court. The smaller ones are the lord's courts and then the names are just of the town. It indicates what is what." Joan hands the map over and lets Ophelia sit there with it staring in awe. "And the little triangles, those are the trees?"

"Yes." Joan chuckles. She motions Klaus to show Ophelia. He points to the dotted lines, leaning over her. "These wavy thin lines, those are rivers." his beard tickles her chin. Ophelia shies away slightly and Klaus backs up, laughing. "Sorry."

"Maybe you should cut your hair too. Or your beard." she says absentmindedly. He stands up straight, obviously offended. "I'll have you know many women like my beard."

She raises an eyebrow, a smirk playing on her lips. "Not me."

Joan watches their banter, amused. Klaus sits beside her, defeated, and leans his forearms against the table. Joan watches Ophelia eye his scars, noticeably white against his tan skin. She thinks back to how he got those scars, all the things he had to endure, all for someone he thought he could save. And the way he looks at Ophelia makes her want to protect him, because he looks at the future queen like he used to look at-

"Klaus." she interrupts her own thoughts and his gaze by barking his name. Klaus looks at her, grinning. "Right, strategies. Ophelia, are you telling me you've never seen a map of Anivard?"

"I read a book about war, there were maps yes, but of armies and where their positions were. Even then I didn't understand it. You must remember women at court were forbidden to read about war or educate themselves on anything outside of court." she sets the map down between the three of them. "How do we begin to even inform her how to strategize?" Klaus says to Joan. She shrugs, recomposes herself from earlier and points to a small definiton of trees. "This is where we are, Ophelia." she then points to the word Ragnabrok. "And that's the town you were at recently."

"I understand that." Ophelia says quietly. She points to the kingdom then traces a path straight to Ragnabrok. "How long does it take for my brother to get here?"

"Around a day and half, maybe two. If he sends out an army they'll be traveling in a large group and will probably stop frequently. So two days." Joan answers, assessing the situation as she looks down at the map. "They'll stop here, at Manarfall, for the first night. By the second, they'll have already made it to Ragnabrok and set up base. The gates and every entrance whether known or unknown to us will be heavily guarded."

"So if we were to, say, siege an attack what should we do?" Ophelia asks. Klaus clears his throat, battle plans were his strategy. "We would leave here in the afternoon and asses it from there. The problem is no one will have any idea how many soldiers your brother will send out."

"That's why I'll be sending out a guard to be on the watch and see when your brother's men come into the town. There's a small set of trees and a hill overlooking the town and by sending someone out we can learn what to do and when to do it, with however many men and women." Joan informs the both of them. Ophelia nods but most of what the two of them are talking about goes over her head because she's so overwhelmed.

Klaus gets up to grab a pitcher of wine and brings it to them with a few cups. He pours into each of them and Ophelia grabs one, thanking him. He sits back down and takes a long drink before speaking. "We have to start training you, Ophelia. You need to know how to fight."

She stares at the map then looks to Joan. When did she start learning to fight like a warrior? Was she as scared as I am? "Do we start today?" she asks. Klaus nods. "We're going on another run, it'll be short, just to get your heart racing and you in shape before I teach you some sword techniques."

"Oh." Ophelia mumbles, becoming anxious. I cannot do this. I'm not made for this.

"Klaus, leave us." Joan says when she notices Ophelia's change in demeanor. Klaus nods and gets up with his cup.

"Look, I know this is different. And that we are throwing you into this probably all too fast but you have to be prepared now instead of later. Understand?" Joan rests her hands on the table. Ophelia nods, hesitating at first. "It's just really scary." she admits.

"As well it should be, especially for someone like you." she motions for them to stand and they walk side by side out of the pavilion and to the tents. Ophelia notices a group of men helping set up a couple tents, and a family standing around timidly. "Are those the villagers from Ragnabrok?"

"Yes. Husband and wife with three children. They fled when they saw their fourth and eldest son's head decapitated." Joan says it in such an even tone that Ophelia has to look at her and see that she is saddened by it.

"They didn't know where to go so Klaus offered them and many others shelter. This family was the only one to accept. I think they're just so shocked at this point they can barely comprehend the situation." Joan settles her laced hands in front of her. "Go talk to them, they could use support."

"What do I say?" Ophelia's confidence wavers. "You just show them your support, Ophelia, you'll know what to do." she pushes Ophelia forward gently with a smile. Ophelia sighs and composes herself then walks over to the family. At first they don't see her coming until the smallest child tugs on her mother's dress. They look over and hastily bow.

"No need for that, you can get up, please." she leans down to them and touches the little girl's shoulder. "Are you okay?"

The little girl shakes her head. "I apologize, m'lady, she's mute."

"Oh." Ophelia's face drops for a moment but she smiles back at the little girl. "We're going to take care of you, okay? It'll be alright." she can't tell if she's reassuring the family or herself.

"Lady Joan told me what happened to your son. I'm deeply sorry, my condolences don't make up for his death but I will promise you my brother and those men will pay for it." she stands up and smooths out her dress. "What are your names?"

"I'm Thorin," the husband says, "and this is my wife Helen. Our two sons are Jorn and Orrin and our daughter is Piper." Ophelia distinguishes the boys by their build; Jorn is more muscular while his brother Orrin barely has enough meat on his bones. She accidentally catches their eye while looking and them and turns away quickly when Jorn's eyes light up.

"It is nice to meet you all. Please, stay as long as you need and don't hesitate to ask me for anything. Your son's death will not have been for nothing." Ophelia knows she means it too. They had lost someone they loved and she knows that while her brother had kicked her out of the court, she would still grieve for his death.

The men who had been setting up the tent have finished by now so Ophelia leaves the family to settle down with all they had brought. "Join me for supper tonight." she says to them on her way out.