Long Suffer the King

XV

A/N: Short update because I had this random burst of inspiration to write these scenes, enjoy!

She heads back to her tent to change from her training gear to a dress. She's still not accustomed to wearing pants and a tunic, all she's ever known were dresses. I'll grow used to them at some point.

The pavilion is already buzzing when she makes her way up. She notices the family sitting at a table far from everyone else. Helen is trying to get her daughter to eat while the sons stare at their food, their father talking to them in a low voice. She gets her food and walks over, smiling.

Helen notices her and stands up quickly, bowing. Before anyone else can do likewise, Ophelia motions them to stop. "I told you, here I'm your equal. There's no need to bow to me."'

"Regardless, it is an hour for you to eat with us, m'lady," Thorin begins, moving over so she can sit next to him, "the people here haven't been very welcoming."

Ophelia raises her eyebrow. "Nonsense. They're giving you space. We all know what you've been through." she promises. "Tell me about your family. Have you lived in Ragnabrok for long?"

"Yes, all my life and all my children's life. Ragnabrok is all we've ever known." Thorin tells her. Ophelia nods. "How old was he, your son that died."

Helen looks about to cry as Thorin tells her. "He was twenty-three. Set to marry a lovely girl in the town. She was all he could talk about. They both... they both died that day." he sighs.

Ophelia stares at them, unable to speak. "They both...." she whispers, feeling nauseous. A husband and wife, no, soon to be husband and wife... dead. Because of me.

"M'lady." Jorn reaches a hand out to her and grips her fingers, hard. She winces and jerks away. "Is everything okay?" he asks, pretending like it didn't happen. Ophelia shakes her head. "I'm so sorry for your loss, I shouldn't have come to the city their deaths could have been avoided."

Helen leans over and places a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Ophelia, m'lady, this couldn't have been avoided. It was going to happen regardless, dear. They were both headstrong and believed in the greatest good for the country. At one point or another they would've have done anything to see you on the throne. Maybe it was best this happened sooner rather than later." she sighs. Ophelia shakes her head again. They need comfort and yet here they are comforting me.

"Maybe, but I swear to you, on my life, their death will not have been for nothing. I swear by that." she clenches her spoon and stares forward at her bowl.

Jorn and Orrin look at one another then back to their father. He nods his head to them.

"Your Grace," Orrin starts and waits for her to pick her head up to continue, "we would like to pledge our swords and our lives to your cause. We want to fight for you. If m'lady will be willing, we want to accompany you through your succession and reign." he sounds a lot older than he looks. Ophelia wonders for a moment how old he is.

"I would be honored." she says, smiling. The brothers look at one another and then back to her. She thinks for a moment, remembering something she had read in a book back at the castle. A group of men (and women) dedicated to the queen of the country. Their lifelong servitude always proved useful. "Jorn and Orrin of Ragnabrok, I would be honored to have you as my loyal followers. If you would like, I will want to form a Queensguard when I take the throne back. Will you be the first of my guard, the lord commanders, and induct more in as you deem worthy?"

The boys both nodded vigorously, smiling. Ophelia nods, thinking about more into a queensguard. "You'll need to be properly inducted but for now, I give you the title in secret, between us."

She turns back to Thorin. "Now, I need your help. I need to know everything about that town."

Ophelia walks back to her tent alone, having spoken long enough to Thorin about Ragnabrok to understand the town inside and out. She promises Helen that she'll talk to her more personally tomorrow.

She steps into her tent and doesn't notice Klaus sitting on her cot at first until she lights a candle. She turns and nearly screams. "Klaus!" Ophelia hisses.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." he looks tired, more tired than usual. Ophelia takes in a deep breathe and slowly releases it. "What do you want? You never showed for dinner like I had asked."

"I know I didn't, but I have good reason why. I was looking for someone." he stands and the tent feels smaller somehow. "Must have been an important someone. Glad we cleared this up, you left me to go find someone who probably wasn't that important. I could've used your help tonight at dinner, I barely knew what I was talking about!"

"You sounded like you were doing just fine, m'lady, from what I've heard. A queensguard? Do you know how serious that is? You don't just appoint anyone to be apart of the most valuable and trusted men on Anivard. Especially for the lord commanders!" his voice remains steady and doesn't get louder but Ophelia can see he's holding back. She steps forward. "I'm sorry, I was thinking and my ideas got ahead of me. I wanted alliances and those boys deserve better for themselves, their whole family deserves better."

"Why, because their son and brother died?"

"Exactly why! I killed him! I killed that boy and I killed his wife." Ophelia yells at him, her voice wavering. Klaus opens his mouth to speak but can't. She can see the shocked look gracing his face at her change of emotions. "Ophelia..."

"They died because of me. None of this would have happened had I just drowned and died in that river. Don't you get that? I caused this." she motions to the tent, signifying her new life, the encampment, all of it. Klaus sighs. "You're right. None of this would have happened at all had you died but fate has decided that you would live and you would fight. With every action against the king there will be a consequence. Everyone understands that and they're willing to bear the consequences brought onto them due to their actions. Now it's your turn to accept the consequences. It's time for you to grow up and realize this is your life now until the day you die."

"I should've died." she whispers. Klaus grabs her shoulders and leans down to meet her eyes. "You realize what difference that would have made? None. Your life would have changed nothing if you were dead but it will change something if you are alive. None of this would've happened but you know what would have? Your brother would've ruled till the day he died. He would've hurt thousands of people without even batting an eye. This madness of the kings would've continued on. This isn't about you, sweetheart. Not any longer. This is about Anivard. Do you understand that?"

Ophelia breaks eye contact and looks to the opening of her tent. She can see the people walking around, chatting with one another. She can see the kids running around, sees the elderly being walked to their tents. "I understand."

Klaus takes his hands away and stands up straight. "Anivard is in turmoil and poverty. These people are dying. They've been itching for a change but they cannot make one without a leader. You're the perfect leader. You're of the royal blood and your brother has transgressed the laws of fate. You, rightfully, are the queen of Anivard. Take it back and restore Anivard to what it should be."

She doesn't say or do anything, just crosses her arms and closes her eyes, trying to control her thoughts. "That's a lot of responsibility." she mumbles.

"There's another reason why I came here." Klaus changes the subject, trying to take her mind off the sudden reality that world that now rests on her shoulders. "Do you remember that prophet we mentioned and didn't tell you of?"

"Yes." Ophelia's interest perks. "There's a reason Joan didn't want to tell you who he was at first. I'll be going against her wishes telling you but it's important and you must know. He wishes to see you. I think it'll motivate you to want to take your throne back."

"Who is it, Klaus?" she insists, urging him to continue.

"The prophet is your uncle. He was kicked out of the kingdom because he warned his brother, your father, that you and your brother had to rule together or else the line of the Morsteins would perish."