My Hero- A Selection Fanfiction

Chapter 11

Black snake-like ropes dropped from the ceiling uncoiling into the midst of the reception. While we all stared at the ceiling the doors to the room burst open, and rebels poured in. This time it wasn't just a couple dozen rebels, but at least a hundred maybe more. Their guns were drawn and even before the first shot went off people were screaming. One sentence echoed from every rebel's lips:
"Find the princess!"
Woodwork pulls Marlee with him toward a door at the back of the room. Aspen stepped in front of me protectively while Avery worked to block me from the view of the rebels. The newly instated Captain Leger called out orders to the other guards in the room. They drew their guns and shot with much better accuracy than the rebels, but would it be enough?
I watched as Amberly, my mother, was led toward a small door as well, but the rebels spotted them. More shots rang out in room, but this time they were directed at the queen.
"Mom!" I attempted to scream, but Aspen clasped his hand over my mouth.
"Scream. And they'll find you. Her Majesty will be fine. It's you they're here for," he whispered harshly. He roughly placed a hand on my arm. "Get ready. Avery and I are going to flank you, and we're going to move across the wall as slowly as possible. If one of us falls, you keep going. Mer, you are the most important person to this country. If you die, the country dies. Do NOT die. Got it?"
I nod my head quickly, not saying a word, though I'm not sure if I could leave Aspen if he was shot.
His eyes softened, the captain gone for just a moment. He gave my arm a quick squeeze. Then, slowly at first but soon faster than I'd expected, we made our way toward the door. I trembled, remembering what happened the last time I had seen a rebel face to face. Maxon's bleeding head, not even able to whisper final words to me, haunted my vision. I almost collapsed, but my hand hit the doorframe of my escape route.
Avery went through first to check the room through the door. If I remembered correctly it led downstairs to the kitchens. Hopefully the rebels hadn't planned on going much deeper than the main floor. Another guard met us and bowed.
"Captain, we've lost ten men so far, but from what could be counted there are twenty rebels down. Many fled as soon as the first shot was fired. A company was sent after them, but they left the palace altogether. What you see left in the room is about forty rebels, all armed, but our men are winning. Scouts upstairs have found no rebels up there yet, but there are signs that they either are or were there. However, it seems this reception was their main target,"
Aspen nodded. "And the Queen?" He asked with a glance behind him at me, cowering in the doors to the stairs.
"In the Royal saferoom along with Princess May and Prince Gerad," the other guard stated. I breathed a sigh of relief, and he noticed me for the first time behind Aspen.
"Your highness," he said about to bow before Aspen stopped him.
"Don't give away her position soldier. Go back to the fight and act as if everything is normal," Aspen instructed.
The guard nodded and gave a quick salute to his captain before drawing his gun and rushing toward the front of the room where guards continued to intercept rebel after rebel streaming in through the wide doors. Most of the guests seemed to have escaped, but one look at the floor told me that not all of them did.
The kitchens in the palace were large and extensive, so it was no surprise Avery was taking so long to Scout it out, but I could tell Aspen was getting restless. I could see in his eyes that he wanted to go help his men. It was a beautiful look, and it fit him perfectly. His commitment, passion, intelligence all filtered in to one job, and he was wonderful at it.
"Aspen maybe you should go help them," I began. "I'll go down the stairs and wait at the bottom for Avery to finish scouting, and you can go command and help your men,"
He turned halfway around to look at me, his eyes ablaze in confusion. He was torn, I could see as much, between his duty to his men and his duty to me, though I had an overwhelming feeling his commitment to my safety went beyond duty.
Something in his head seemed to win out, and he spoke to me ever so gently and quietly. "Mer, I can't just leave the future queen unprotected,"
Some of my fire I seemed to have been missing since Maxon's death returned in that moment. "Aspen Leger, you know I am perfectly capable of attending to my own safety, but some of the people here, my subjects, hey aren't. I need you to help them. In fact, Captain Leger by my power as the princess of Illea I command you to go protect my people,"
His eyes lit up at this, and before I could give it a second thought, his lips came crashing down to mine.
It had been months since had kissed Aspen because my torch for him had been extinguished. My love for Maxon was strong then, and there was no doubt in my heart that I would always love him, but with that kiss I felt a spark in my heart. It caught fire throughout my whole body washing over and consuming me. It found what I believed to be a buried torch.
It ignited.
As quickly as it started, the kiss ended, and like with Maxon I tucked my newfound knowledge away and looked up into Aspen's eyes.
"Be safe," we said at the same time. He kissed my forehead once and then turned toward the battle, drawing his gun.
I turned to the staircase and raced downward into uncertainty.