Red To Black

Chapter Eight

Blake stared sadly at Robin, once again bound in his carriage. Now, however, there was a guard squashed in the small space with them. Idiot, idiot, idiot, idiot. Even a child would've been able to see through her façade before you did. He dug his nails into the flesh of his palm. What a king you make.

He sat up with a jolt. King. My coronation... Mother. He shivered at the thought of her. She's going to be pissed. I just hope I can make her see reason, at least until I assume the throne. He took his head in his hands, massaging his temple. Today will be a long day.

Blake looked out the window, grimacing as he recognized the thinning trees. I might have to face her a lot sooner than I thought. He watched as the forest slowly changed into civilization, into the bustling people and thrumming music. The beautiful chaos always calmed him, offered a feeling of familiarity for him.

When people spotted his coach, they stopped what they were doing to wave at him. Some even cheered. Blake couldn't help but smile and wave back. This. This is what makes me keep going. I needed this more than anything. You'll never understand this, Matthew, but this is my motivation. Inspired, he stuck his head out the window to wave some more. "Thank you all!" He cried out to them.

After many minutes of smiling, waving, and thanking, they reached the center of the city. Just like the Vantian Fortress matched the urbanized but cold streets around it, Blake's castle blended into the nature that grew alongside it. It sat serenely on a small island, Pearl Lake surrounding it on all sides. The golden glow of the sun edging lower in the side made it look like a scene from a fairy tale., but to Blake it was anything but.

It was home.

Thomas was waiting behind the gate, scowling, and when Blake stepped down out of the coach he approached him. "You owe me, big time. The past few days have been hell, thanks to that mother of yours. Please tell me you got something done in that god-awful country next door."

Blake scratched the back of his head. "About that-"

"Excuse me, sire! What do you want me to do with the girl?" The guard stationed inside his coach had emerged with Robin in his arms.

Thomas's head whipped from the guard to Blake in an instant. "Blake Alexander Thornewood." He stepped closer to him, his voice deadly serious. "What exactly happened in Vantis?"

"Well, um... You see... There was a- And then- I... Who am I kidding, I have no excuse." He locked eyes with Thomas and winced at the intensity there. "I backed out of an alliance with Matthew, smuggled one of his servant boys and the boy's sister out of the country, and kidnapped his enemy after being seen negotiating with her."

Thomas stared at him. "Blake..."

"Yes, Thomas?" He asked tentatively.

"You're either an idiot or a genius."

Blake looked up in surprise. "Wait what?"

"The soon-to-be-King returns home from the nearby kingdom, a woman on his arm, having rescued two young servant children. It's a story right out of a book! The people will love it." Thomas smiled at him.

"Woah, woah, woah. Who said I was interested in marrying Robin? She... I mean she's visually pleasing but... I mean..." Blake blushed and stammered while Thomas smirked at him.

"Robin, huh? Damn, you've fallen hard. You definitely made a 180° turn while in Vantis." He jostled his shoulder, then suddenly froze. "Wait, Robin? Matthew's enemy? Don't tell me you mean Robin Swift. As in the red-haired terror of Vantian streets."

Blake looked at him, shocked. "Wait, you know her?"

Thomas shook his head. "Only through rumors." He stepped a little closer to him. "Her and her gang of thieves have robbed pretty much every Vantian noble and business in the country. They just popped up 8 years ago, and have been causing mayhem for Matthew since then. How did you not recognize her?"

Blake massaged his forehead. "Sometimes I doubt that my brain even worked right once in that damned country."

He suddenly realized the guard had been holding Robin and waiting while they had been talking. "Oh, sorry, I'll take her. Please settle the children in the suite beside mine, and send a medic for the girl immediately." He took Robin from the guard, and watched him bustle away to complete his orders.

She's light, he thought. Well I guess she did steal things for a living. You can't really be thick and heavy while doing a job like that. He shook his head. Stop. Bring her to a room. Don't just stand here looking at her like a creep.

He headed inside his castle and up the step, Thomas following right behind him. "So what happened to the little girl? You called a medic for her."

"Matthew happened. He... he whipped the poor thing."

Thomas missed a step, catching himself before he fell. "He what!?"

"I know. She didn't even do anything wrong. Her brother just fell while hanging up my coat."

Thomas smoldered behind him. "So he whipped her for such a small mistake, that wasn't even her own? How did we not know this side of Matthew? This can't be the first time his done something awful like this."

Blake unconsciously gripped Robin tighter, stopping in his tracks. "He would've left her to die down there. All alone. I wonder if she even knows why he hurt her."

Thomas placed his hand on his arm, and he relaxed a little. "Let's get Robin to her room. We can talk about this later," Thomas said gently.

Blake nodded and started walking again. Passing his room, he stopped at the end of the dark wooden-floored hallway. Pushing open the door, he stopped suddenly. "Amie?"

The blond maid turned around with a smile. "Your Highness!" She blushed, "I know, I know. I shouldn't be in here. I was just doing some dusting." She gasped as she saw Robin his arms. "And I guess it paid off today!"

"Amie, calm down. I'm just putting her in here so I can keep an eye on her."

She cocked her head at him. "Wait, so you're not going to marry her?"

"No!" Blake shook his head. "Can't I just put a girl in my Queen's bedroom without people thinking I want to marry her?"

Thomas squeezed past him into the room. "Ha, no. Just wait until your Mother hears about this. She'll blow it up bigger than the sun."

Blake frowned. That's right. I'll have to see her sometime today. "Hey, Amie? Do you mind taking care of Robin for me? I still have some things to attend to."

Amie smiled at him, before answering joyfully, "It would be an honor! I'll make sure she's comfortable, just count on me, Bl-Sorry, Your Highness."

He set Robin down gently on the bed. Please don't hate me for what I've done. Amie will take care of you, I promise. Turning around, he left the room at a brisk pace. He stopped a few steps from the door. Without turning his head, he called out, "Thank you, Amie. I appreciate it."

"No worry, sire." The reply came so soft, it was almost nonexistent. If it had come from anyone else, Blake would've thought he had imagined it. Amie... He fled quickly.

Lost in thought, he didn't notice Thomas for a short while. "Oh, sorry. Were you behind me this whole time?"

Thomas replied, slightly out of breath. "Yeah. Slow down, will you? You're almost running."

Blake slowed down a little, still keeping up a brisk pace. "Hey, can you go check on the little girl? You know, make sure she's being treated."

Thomas smiled at him, saying, "Okay, you big softie. Good luck in there."

As Thomas peeled away, Blake approached the big wooden door in front of him. It's time to face her. With a big push, he threw open the throne room doors and walked in.