The Beginning of The True Heir | Ongoing

Chapter 44: Young Love

"Be safe my friend." I hugged Conri tightly.
He returned the hug. "We'll return in a fortnight to finish the school year."
I nodded. "Just be safe for now."
Robin stepped forward and hugged me tightly. "Be safe my Queen."
"The same with you my friend." I squeezed him tightly, which must've felt like nothing to him.
They continued down the line to the rest of the council members. Once they were done they went through the mirror and out of the Queen's Council Chambers and we were left to ourself to prepare for the impending attack. Conri and Robin were gone, along with the wolves in the dark cover of the night. None of the professors of Headmaster Walter knew of their departure. Only the remaining of us here in the vicinity of the common room.
"Amara and Burnhan, follow them to make sure they get to their packs safe." I nodded to them.
They returned the nod and followed them discreetly. Ceslav and Hope, were the remaining guards and kept their eyes on me as usual. All four of them had been rather quiet lately, none of them spoke as often and I was growing curious as to why. It was strange for them since they normally interjected in my life and my choices or my safety. But not recently.
"What was William doing here the other week?" Ambrogio asked, he smirked at me.
I flinched. "No reason."
He cocked a brow as he flopped onto the couch. "Oh really my Queen?"
I nodded. "Yes. He came to check on his younger sister."
"Ah, that is a reason!" He jabbed his finger in my direction.
I spun around. "We need to prepare for this attack. I spoke to Headmaster Walter, he'll be sending all the students to the South for the week of the Blood Moon. Whilst the Queen's Guard have organised for the Queen's Army to come and prepare for the Blood Moon. It'll be a long week but we'll get through it. I wish Conri and Robin were here, they would know how to strategise."
"You have me!" Ambrogio cheered loudly and I groaned. "I've have years of experience, you don't need anyone else."
I narrowed my eyes at him. "Of course you do."
"We also have Generals and Captains in the Queen's Army. They'll be here within the week. We'll be fine without the vampire's input." Tristan snapped.
"The Vampire is a part of the council, he may speak if he wishes to." I argued.
"Lovers quarrel." Ambrogio snickered under his breath.
I snapped my head and turned the other way to face Ambrogio. He cocked his brow at me and he knew something had happened between us. But the only person who did know was Chamania who was standing back, she kept her mouth shut which I would be eternally grateful for. The situation that happened between Tristan and I didn't need to be known by anyone else. Just the three of us.
The following week leading up to everyone's departure was gruelling. Everyone was so excited about going to the South for the week. It was thought to be a well earned vacation by everyone for the efforts this year. But in reality, it was to get them all to safety. They whispered and cheered and excitedly giggled about laying on the beach and swimming and partying for the week. While the Council and I would be battling the first wave of the Revolution.
It was frightening, I was nervous as anything to be gearing up for this battle. I shook away my fears and walked to my class. Today had fencing, which was with Abigail whom I hadn't spoken to since Sultan placed that necklace around my neck. I didn't know if I could face her now. Not since William returned and wanted to bring back our engagement. Did she know? He would be here within the week and staying at the Academy with us.
"How is your brother doing Abi?" A friend of hers asked.
"He's doing well." She answered quietly.
"Good morning!" The professor called out.
I stood in the back with my Queen's Guard. They huddled around me, in such an open space and with the Revolution's first wave coming, they were on high alert. "This will be the death of me for sure."
"It will not be the death of you." Hope chuckled under her breath.
"Pair up!" She ordered us all to do so.
No one came near me, especially with my Queen's Guard. It was daunting to even walk up to me and I was even frightened of them.
"Your Grace." Someone smirked from behind me. I turned around and came face to face with Prince Sultan. He was grinning from ear to ear. "Now, I must warn you that I have never once trained in the art of fencing, on my new legs."
I took my stance and the Queen's Guard stepped back. "Now I must warn you that I have been doing so for three years. This will be such an unfair fight."
He grinned and took his stance.
"Melee!" The Professor shouted.
I lunged towards him as he did to me. He was a good swordsman that I could tell and he had been lying to me since we were so evenly matched. I spun around and aimed for his leg only to be blocked. He went high and I blocked him this time. It was an even match and I was heavily breathing halfway through it.
"You fight well princess." He gritted his teeth as we were almost nose to nose.
"I am not a princess. I am a Queen." I pushed him back and took my stance again.
He cracked his neck and shook off any last remaining nerves. "Very well my Queen."
He lunged towards me and I blocked it off. Our swords clashed and I was getting more furious with every attack I had to fend off. I was on the last remaining hair before I knew he would defeat me. My endurance was nothing compared to his. He looked like he had only begun whilst I was almost ready to give in.
"Enough." The Professor ordered us but I had not finished.
"You made William break off my engagement." I snapped at him.
"Tis because you are my soulmate." He argued back to me. "We were meant to be Gwendolyn."
"To you it is Queen Gwendolyn. Only family and friends have the privilege of calling me without my title." I attacked him but he easily blocked it.
He laughed. "Already entitled."
"I have worked hard for my position and it was my birthright." I shouted as I blocked off his attacks. But it was weak and he knew he was getting to me. He knew I was weakening and his attacks had started to become tricks to weaken me.
"He is not your soulmate. Look within yourself." Our swords clashed and we were once again, nose to nose. His face right in front of mine. "He is not the one you love and neither am I. So who is this mysterious man?"
I shoved him and he fell to the ground. He took off his helmet and stared at me. "If you know I love another than why continue with this soulmate facade?"
He stood up and faced me, his face completely drenched in sweat. "My true soulmate died when I was fifteen. Mermaids don't get another soulmate. So tell me why the necklace glowed when I placed it around your neck? Why am I linked to you?"
I dropped the sword and took off my helmet. "You are to be a part of my Council. Everyone who is on my council are linked to me. That's why Conri and Robin thought I was their mate. Why Ambrogio wanted to drain me of my blood. That's why the necklace glowed."
He furrowed his brows, he was confused and that's what happened when one was opened up to my life. "Then why have you not named me a part of your Council?"
"Easy." I dropped the helmet. "I don't trust you."
Immediately I walked away from him and form my class. It didn't matter that the Professor was calling my name. Or that anyone who was on the fields watched the Queen of Pangaea walk away from a duel. Or that I was in tears for the second time for the man I loved. That I didn't say yes to him because maybe, just maybe everyone was right. Maybe he wasn't the one for me, but it didn't matter because my heart still yearned for him.
"Queen Gwendolyn?" Headmaster Walter asked.
I looked up and knew that I was a complete mess. Still in my fencing uniform and completely covered in sweat and stink. "Headmaster."
"What is the matter my Queen?" He asked.
My eyes searched his. On the first day he thought I had fallen in love with Tristan. He thought it to be Tristan, how and why would he think so? I had never given any indication to loving Tristan but he thought it was him. Headmaster was old, he had allot of wisdom to him.
"Headmaster, why would you think I was in love with Tristan? Of all those around me, why would it be Tristan?" I asked.
He gave me a small smile. "Ah, young love. I am surprised you even fell for another when what was for you was right in front of you."
I furrowed my brows. "What do you mean?"
Headmaster Walter looked to me. "Gwendolyn, love is arguing with one another, its showing your other hand what they cannot see. Love is standing by each other's side and making each other whole. It's not about the butterflies in the tummy, or how amazing the other looks, or the grand gestures. Those fade. But showing each other what the other cannot see, that will always be forever. For those, are the things we will always need, constantly."