Two of the Same

Chapter Seven *Gwyn*

Gwyn stood alone in the chart room, the curtains drawn so the light was dim. She starred at the table she had seen her father stand at just yesterday. Now it felt as though a life time had passed between then and now. Her she was twirling the ring around her finger absent mindedly pacing. Gwyn wasn't ready for this, she had never been. What was she going to do, how could she lead an entire country when she could barely govern her own emotions? Again she felt the tears try to press forward, trying to push themselves out of the grasp of her tightly shut eyes. She fought back against the despair, beating back the helpless feeling that was clawing at her insides, tearing her apart. She could not let herself succumb, not now, not when there was so much that had to be done. She had a job to do and everything would have to wait until that job was completed. There was a sharp knock at the door and its shocked Gwyn, scaring away her brimming tears.

"Enter," she said loudly her voice wavering slightly. The large doors opened and Captain Arul walked in, his helmet in his hands and his head bowed, eye adverted in respect.

"Your majesty." He said reverently and kneeled before Gwyn, a gesture she had seen him do many times before, but it was her father not her that had always stood before the captain. She felt as though she didn't belong, intruding in a ritual in which she had no right to partake in.

"Rise Arul, please." She said nervously wanting so much for everything to go back to normal, for her to wake up and realize that all that had happened was nothing more then a terrible nightmare her fevered mind had spun up in her sleep. The captain obliged and strode fully into the room, stopping at Gwyn side and starring down at the map of Fane that was laid out on the table before them.

"We have received word from out soldiers stationed in the Aunlusia Mountain ranges that Tyrain has been spotted." Captain Arul reported pointing along the tiny mountain ranges that bordered the edge of the kingdom. The hand on Gwyn's heart tightened at the mention of her brothers name. Where was he heading, what was his plan. These questions were swimming around in her thoughts fighting each other for dominance. She shook her head slightly trying to chase away her scattered thoughts. The captain turned his head slightly, not missing a beat, but said nothing and continued on with his report. "We've been told that he's not traveling alone but instead with a small band of outlaws, we have reason to believe that he is headed into Lucian territory but for what we do not know." This shocked Gwyn, she knew her brother hated the Lucian race more than anything in this world. Why would he willing go onto their land, into their kingdom.

"What could he possibly want with the Lucians?" she mused quietly starring at the map almost as though it would relinquish her brothers secrets if she glared at it long enough.

"He might be trying to attack them, start a war in the name of Fane and while we're fighting off the attacks he'll come in and take the throne from under us." Captain Arul suggested his hand on his chin rubbing at the thing beard as he thought. "Or he could be making an alliance with them, send the Lucian's to attack us and then challenge your for the crown." He looked at her and she knew what it was that he was thinking without him having to say it. If it were to come to it could she defend her claim to the throne, could she fight in duel against her brother, could she win. She turned away from him, not wanting to see the questions in her eyes because she wasn't sure herself the answer.

"Whatever it is he's planning we have to stop him, we must find him and bring him back so he can stand trial." She said, her resolve in her decision firm.

"Your highness-"

"Please Arul, do not call me that, I am not your queen yet, nor shall I be until we have stopped Tyrain, there is no place for a kingdom within a war. Call me Gwyn, beg of you please, just call me Gwyn." She said her back still to Arul. She heard his footsteps bring him closer and she turned to him as he sank to his knees once more.

"Dear lady, you will always be my queen, nothing less, but I shall do as you bid me, I am your knight." He whispered taking her hand gently within his own and kissing it softly. He looked up at her with eyes that held an emotion Gwyn could not place and something strange happened. The touch of another consciousness feathered upon her mind, she could feel Arul's thoughts begin to dance within her own mind just as Tyrain's had. Reeling in shock she pulled her hand from within his and staggered backwards. What was this, how could she sense Arul, read his thoughts? Had her powers grown, or was it the absence of her brothers oppressive presence that allowed her own powers to flourish? Alarmed Arul stood.

"My lady, is everything alright?" he asked concerned. Gwyn took a deep breath trying to calm her own racing thoughts, she could still feel Arul's consciousness but she had managed to stem the flow of his thoughts into her own.

"Yes, yes I am fine, just a little tired is all, please continue with what it was you were saying." She said again joining him at the table. Arul still looked at her with a concerned gaze but continued on.

"As I was saying, there is no one in Fane that knows of the out lands, we would be sitting ducks, unable to navigate with certainty in the Lucian territory. It's to dangerous to send our armies out." Gwyn thought for a moment; troubled by this unseen problem. Arul was right, how would they find Tyrain in a land they knew nothing of. Gwyn knew that Tyrain's knowledge of the outlands was expansive, he knew his previous enemies lands just as well as he knew the kingdom, he obviously had the upper hand now along with his head start. Gwyn felt the despair again rise to her throat like bile, it seemed almost hopeless now. It was at that moment that the face of the prisoner she had met yesterday appeared vividly in her minds eyes. The Lucian that was now locked away in the dungeons bellow their feet. She looked at Arul the light of the plan forming in her mind was bright within her eyes; this Arul noticed.

"The prisoner that you brought in yesterday, he can help us." She said confidently. It was Arul's turn to be shocked.

"Princess, you can't honestly think that a common criminal will help the palace guard, he's from the dregs of our society, he can't be trusted." Arul argued vehemently but Gwyn was deaf to the captain's objections, the more she thought about it, the more prefect her plan seemed to be.

"Captain, take me to the dungeons, I must talk to this prisoner, persuade him to help." Gwyn said and started to walk towards the open door and leave the room. The captain was quicker, he grabbed hold of the edge of the door as she opened it. stopping it firmly and preventing the princess from leaving.

"My lady please, there is no talking to this creature, he wont negotiate with you or help our cause, we are better off on our own. My lady you will find no help from the scoundrel." The Captain's vice was desperately trying to convince the princess but she would not budge her expression unwavering as she stood resolute and stubborn at the door way.

"Oh my dear Captain, you underestimate me, I can be very persuasive when the moment calls for it, now step aside...please." She spoke firmly with a small smile on her lips and Arul dropped his arm knowing now that there was no stopping her from reaching her goal. She gave him a bright smiled and headed down the hall.

"To the dungeons it is then, gods help us all." Arul whispered his eyes straying upward in a moment of silent prayer before he rushed off down the hall and after the Princess.

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For some reason my indentions dont trasfer on here well, sorr about that guys. Thank you to those who have been reading along so far. Please keep it up, give any and all feed back you can and spread the word. It's you readers that can help make this great. I aprreciate it and if there is anyone that wants me to read their stuff i would love to just leave the name in the comments :)

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