Dalliance

Chapter Sixty Three

The two women stood directly across from one another, both determined in their positions. For Vera, she was vengeful of the woman who killed her father. For Holly, she was the scorned Queen who had her life and love ripped away. Both women were strong and wise, but only one was pure of heart.

"I do not want to end you, I want you to be in those dungeons, rotting like the wicked soul you have become. Everything could have been entirely different...but you reached too far for what was unattainable."

"Unattainable?' Vera scoffed, moving towards her vanity and picking up several of the items that once belonged to Holly. "I own everything you used to. Including your lover. This mirror...the one that used to hold our reflection is now mine. The bed you used to sleep beside Dawson is, I now lay beside him-and the title Queen you used to hold so proudly is now over MY name."

"And yet you forget. Everything you claim ownership of was under my possession first. Meaning, each time they see you wearing a dress that I had worn previously, they will recall me. The bed that you claim to lay in beside Dawson was the same bed we made love in-as he never did and never will with you! And that title, is one that although given to you is not deserved, and each villager from a million leagues away can see it!"

"You believe yourself to be a loyal and honest queen when there is blood on your hands."

"Your father was a wicked man, Vera. I believe you would know that greater than I. He placed me in a position that has haunted me from the second I had done it."

"You were in control of taking his life, and you had done it. Unaware, I had seen from the garden below."

"Why is it that you were not called his daughter when I was married to him?"

"He was ashamed of his bastard children. Me, along with four others. He made us all servants, but I knew the crown would be mine. But as I saw Dawson...I knew what I truly wanted was him-and to ruin your existence for taking what was mine!"

Vera lunged to Holly, knocking her against the armoire before wrapping her hands around her throat.

"You don't have to do this." Holly spoke, trying to pry Vera's fingers from her neck. "Be a better legacy then your father was."

The words struck Vera hard as she relieved her pressure from Holly.

"My father was known as a kind and just ruler who was killed in his bed by an unknown assassin. The entire world knows that you were the one wielding the blade. And that you are unfit for Queen as you are mad. I have done the kingdom a great pleasure by get rid of the famine and sickness-avoiding war, and-"

"At what cost? Do they know all those children you had killed to get rid of the sickness and starvation? Do they know that you signed deals you will never make good on-placing THEM in danger?!"

She glared. "I have had enough patience with you." Vera pulled out a dagger from her side of the bed. Trying to go after Holly, she failed at sticking her-just as Nicholas entered through the hall. Finding the women fighting, he tried to charge at Vera, but was struck in the chest. His fingers began to tremble as he tried to pull the blade from his chest. Realizing she was without a weapon, Vera ran from the castle as Holly knelt beside Nicholas. Placing his head on her lap, she tried to ease him as his blood soaked hand took a hold of hers.

"I hope you can forgive me for all I have done. Please remember me in good reputation."

"You will never be forgotten Nicholas, I will make sure of it." She spoke as he gave a smirk as his breaths became more and more shallow. "Long live Queen Holly." As he spoke her name, his final breath was released and he fell unconscious in her arms. His blood soaked onto her dress as the dagger was prominent in his chest.

With tears in her eyes, she looked up to see Dawson in the doorway, his gaze wide. Helping her place Nicholas on the nearby bed, he closed his eyes as Holly disappeared down the corridor.

"Where are you going?"

"She has killed her last person tonight!"

"I want her dead even more than you, but you cannot have another life on your conscience."

"Sometimes it is better to rid the world of a virus before it spreads, Dawson."

He slowly nodded. "Just remember what kind of legacy you want everyone to know."

Searching the castle grounds, Holly eventually found Vera in the armory. Wielding a sword in her hand, she charged at Holly, scraping her side. Gripping her wound, Holly lunged at a nearby table, snatching a weapon of her own before hiding while Vera pulled her sword from the wooden wall.

"Cowardly Queen Holly!"

Hitting her sword on a mess of shields, they crashed to the floor, nearly startling Holly. Keeping her noise inside by clutching her mouth, she crawled to the other side of the room, hearing Vera's steps increase with speed.

"Dawson taught me to fight when I was still your handmaiden. One of the greatest swordsman taught me, and yet you dare raise a sword to me. If you give up now, I will end you quickly, perhaps clean off the shoulders or directly in the heart-just long enough for you to remember who really deserves this crown."

Finding Holly in the corner, Holly then rose to her feet as Vera smirked. Bringing her sword above her in a fighting stance, she went to swing at Holly before being blocked. Vera groaned before repeating the process, coming in at different angles and changing from a little force to hopes of decapitation. Eventually, they both scarred the other, leaving small nicks to prove of their small victories.

Being thrown from the armory, Holly landed on her back as they were now among the courtyard. Dirty became embedded in both of them from their hair to their dresses, staining them. The silver blades crashed against one another until Vera eventually knocked Holly's from her hand. Just before claiming Holly's life, Vera was knocked to the ground by Dawson. He tackled her enough so her blade was then released from her grasp. Holly gained control of her weapon as Dawson brought Vera to her feet.

"As acting Queen of Seralake, I demand you be sentenced to life imprisonment and will work off your debts in the form of labor-day and night. You shall not converse with others, and will be forced a life of solitude." Holly withdrew her blade. "I did kill your father, but I do not regret it. He was a wicked man with no hope, but you...you could be someone with pride one day. Someone who fights for good."

"You aren't going to kill me?"

"No. But you will work off Nicholas's death. First, by erecting a monument after him."

"After everything he did?"

Holly nodded. "Even though he was wicked to begin with, he was a product of an evil lineage. He saw his errors and wanted nothing more than forgiveness in the end. He sacrificed his life to save mine. So you will stay up every second it takes until it is done, and then you will maintain it, if so much as a scratch happens on that stone, you will whipped senseless."

"Yes..."

"You will also denounce your own crown. And announce your truth to all."

She glared. "You would allow that?"

"Consider it the only kindness I WILL show you."

The servants were watching from afar, listening to each word. "I have made my own mistakes, Vera. But my instincts have always been right. And I want you to know that I feel nothing but pity for you. Pity that you will never be seen as good in the eyes of them. For me, that it justice for everything you have done."

"Take her." Holly said as guards came up behind her, pulling her away from Dawson and her.

A tear slid down her cheek as she let out a deep breath. "It's done..."

He nodded. "Finally." Dawson pulled Holly against his chest, embracing her fully.