The Stolen Throne

Chapter Twenty-One - The Fates Decide

Only the shouts of Miriana could force Edward and Lucy to break apart. They stood there, grinning at each other before turning towards where Miriana's footsteps echoed up the steps. 

Stepping down to meet her friend, Lucy was almost overbalanced when Edward continued to grip her hand as if he couldn't bear to let it go.

She turned, raising an eyebrow at him, ready to make a snappy comment when Miriana shouted, "Lucy! You're there! And Edward too. Come quickly, something awful has happened."

The elation that had coursed through her stopped immediately, "What is it?" Lucy asked desperately, releasing Edward's hand and rushing towards Miriana.

Grief and pain shadowed Miriana's face as she whispered, "It's Charles. He's been mortally wounded."

Lucy pushed past her friend, sprinting down the steps, not waiting for Miriana to answer her question of "Where?"

"Near the portcullis." Miriana said, her voice near breaking but Lucy barely paid attention to that nor the sprinting of Edward and Miriana behind her.

Guilt and regret pushed themselves to the forefront of her mind. How could she have been so happy just moments before as Charles lay on his deathbed?

The mist was clearing, from her position in the middle of the courtyard, she could just about see the crowd of people surrounding someone on the floor.

Lucy maneuvered around bodies and medics as she rushed across the courtyard to where Elise crouched next to her brother.

When she was barely three feet away, she found her feet were leaden. She couldn't bring herself to move as she beheld her dearest friend crouching next to the pale face of her elder brother.

Miriana slowed her pace to a walk as she went past her. She turned back to Lucy with questions in her eyes but Lucy was frozen, unable to move, let alone talk.

She felt a hand on the small of her back and breathed in Edward's scent of pine and parchment. Even that comfort did little to make her feel better as she observed the gaping wound in Charles' gut.

"This is all my fault." She whispered, not giving Edward the chance to reply before she finally made her way to Charles. She crouched next to him, taking his hand, facing his sister. Elise appeared to be relatively unharmed but looked worse as she was covered in what Lucy could only guess to be Charles' blood.

"I'm so sorry, Charlie." Lucy whispered, gazing down at the man that was like her brother. His brown eyes flickered to her as if he'd only just noticed her.

"You are m...my queen...Lucy," Charles breathed, "I would give... my life... a thousand... times...over...for you." Silent tears streaked down Elise's face as she met Lucy's gaze.

"We all would Lucy. Don't blame yourself." Elise said, her throat hoarse and croaking. She reached over her brother and grasped Lucy's hand before casting her gaze back to her brother's gaunt face.

"I never wanted anyone to die for me." Lucy mumbled, barely able to get her words out before a sob wrenched at her throat.

Only the sounds of clanking armour drew her gaze from Charles' face as she watched Rupert hurry towards them. At the sight of Charles, his face paled, his blue eyes wide as he paused next to his brother who was stood behind Lucy, looking for all the world like he wanted to take Lucy away and never let her see anything like this again. Never let her feel pain like this ever again.

"That...bad...huh?" Charles tried to smile but the effort caused him to wince as he watched Rupert's reaction.

Rupert stared at his friend before shouting, "Medic! We need a medic!"