Freelands

VII. BE-SIEGED

3. Elder Queen

After the city capture, Frederick treated Freyria's wounds and sat on the Palace dining room, talking about her tragic adventure and how she ended up in this palace.

Next morning, like nothing has changed in the world and like the battle of Saltharbour never took place, on the other side of the sea, at the rocky island of Cliffside, Wildwind ,after being informed of the great battle his son has fought, as also the horrible death of his supposed son, Niccon, prepared a big rich royal dinner to celebrate and grieve at the same time with his wife, Smerna.

So Smerna meets her morning suprise ,while walking down the stairs of the tower to the throne room.

"Oh dear..." Smerna says in a sour way, but she surely can't hide her suprise and slight excitement to see her husband prepare breakfast.

"True men always take care of their royal wives." Wildwind says happily and sits on his throne and Smerna on the opposite side on a throne-like armchair.

"You have to make me breakfast since Goldengate still had... It's golden gate." Smerna says and starts eating her dinner.

"So what are we celebrating?" Smerna asks.

"Good and bad news mixed with good news. Victory and a death but brave and man-like. Frederick sent me a message and it arrived just at dawn." Wildwind says happily.

"What? Why are you happy? Who died?" Smerna asks shocked.

"First things first, wife. It looks like not only our great son Frederick crushed Fortuna's navy, they also did the brave invasion and attacked and after a fierce battle, captured Saltharbour." Wildwind narrated with pride.

"Is Frederick okay?!" Smerna now says strictly, heavily worried on the death her husband announced.

"He is fine!" Wildwind answers.

"Then who died?" Smerna says starting to get furious.

"Pff. Impatient woman... When Frederick shoved the stupid Volcas back into their forests, he entered the palace to officially claim the throne of Saltharbour. This is where he meet... Freyria Hail..."

"Wait what? Wasn't she supposed to be with... Niccon?" Smerna interrupts Wildwind once again and at this moment it's him who gets angry. Her fork falls from her hand from her agony.

"LET ME... finish the story already." He tries to shout but his excitement keeps him away from doing so.

"Freyria and Frederick sat and dinnered together, and the widow Hail told her sad story... The ship was ambushed by Frick Volca, someone has sold them out. Niccon escaped the ship with Freyria, but Frick found them, after a hard fight, our son fell under the Volca's sword, protecting miss Freyria, that was the hero I always read in fairytales and warrior's songs. Now Niccon rests in peace like those warriors" Wildwind says filled with pride for his son's death on the other hand Smerna is not at all happy.

"Your son is dead and you boast about it?" Smerna raises from her seat and shouts angrily with tears forming from her eyes.

"He died as a hero! Freyria Hail, by her words, owns her life because of his bravery. He made Frick believe she was someone important enough to keep alive." Wildwind tries to defend his stance.

"What I know is that this PARODY OF A WAR has taken away one more of my children! Four! We had four and now Eva and Niccon are dead by the blades of the enemy YOU made! How much of our own blood has to be splattered before you realize the stupidity of all this madness?" Smerna says while crying, she swipes her hand through the table, throwing Wildwind's food on the ground.