The Queen's Admiral

Chapter 58: Destined to Rule an Empire

I stared at Prince Heinrik cautiously. Was he really dead? Or was this just another one of his tricks? Seconds ticked by but he didn't move at all.

"Is he?" I asked Godmother who stood next to me.

"Yes, he's dead," she replied with a sigh of relief.

"Why didn't Heinrik save himself with his powers?" I asked her.

"He wouldn't have time to call on them," Godmother replied. "That blast that stopped him from killing Hans would have rendered him unconscious. I told you before love can be a force even the most powerful magic would have trouble going up against. I believe it was Belle's love that protected Hans the same way your mother's love for Elsa repelled Hans' sword all those years ago. I don't fully understand it. I just know it's something that we should just be thankful for Fredrik."

The crowds parted as Admiral Westergard came forward with Belle and Chip, supporting him on each side. I expected him to look relieved, maybe even triumphant. But his face was ashen as he knelt in front of his brother's broken body and uttered a soft prayer for him.

Godmother tentatively approached Belle, as if she was afraid of the old woman's reaction. "Belle, I can explain..."

"You're no longer Hans' godmother, are you?" Belle cut her off.

"No," Godmother shook her head. "Hans gave up my protection to save Fredrik's life. The only way to save Hans' life from the terror Heinrik inflicted on him was to turn him into a beast."

Belle's face brightened. "I understand. I knew you wouldn't have been so heartless as to endanger him deliberately. The moment I heard someone calling out in the village for men to help kill a beast in the castle that had taken Elsa, I sensed something was wrong. I ran as fast as I could here. And when I saw him on the tower of the castle being attacked, I knew it was Hans. His form—he looked just like Adam. It was like watching him being attacked by Gaston all over again."

"I'm sorry you had to go through all that again Belle. I never meant for Hans to be attacked like that," Godmother. "Forgive me?"

"Yes, yes, of course old friend," Belle replied and they hugged each other like sisters.

I didn't hear what else they said to each other for my attention was caught by Admiral Westergard who lifted his head. He drew his brother's coat aside and there lay the lamp that started all of this. He quickly took it and rubbed it before anyone can say another word.

The Genie appeared in a puff of smoke that startled the people around us. They all moved backwards but curiosity kept some of them from leaving completely. Only Godmother, Belle, Chip and myself remained by Admiral Westergard and Genie's side.

"Yes Master? What is your third—" Genie began but stopped when he saw Heinrik dead. "Oh... you're... I suppose it was only a matter of time." He turned to Admiral Westergard and worry lines creased his face. Something told me about the way Genie reacted that he was used to finding one master dead and then summoned by a new one. I suppose after centuries of being passed around, most of his masters didn't exactly hand his lamp willingly to the next master. "What is your will, new Master?"

"Genie, what is Brigitta's condition?" Admiral Westergard asked.

Genie's face brightened slightly at the question. "Let me go check." He disappeared for a second and reappeared wearing what appeared to be a white coat and an odd metal necklace with ends attached to his ear while the other end held some strange large round pendant. "She's still alive, but the diagnosis is bad. She's got a nasty infection and requires some top-of-the-line medical intervention really soon. Master, it would really be nice if you did something good for that girl as a first wish?" He gave Admiral Westergard a hopeful look.