The Split Horizons: The Love Of Two Dwarves

12

In the morning, they found that the general had obeyed Ava's orders before they awoke. Powerna's general was now making his way to the tent Graticia had erected in no man's land. Shadelia, Ava, and Dwalin had been led there as soon as they awoke.

Unfortunately, Shadelia recognized the general as the father of the man she was supposed to marry.

"They have the princess!" One of the soldiers exclaimed, clearing his sword from his scabbard.

The men surrounding Ava did the same, prepared to defend their princess.

"That won't  be necessary," Shadelia said, her voice quivering. "I am here of my own will."

"Go back, and get the king. And my son," Powerna's general demanded of the soldier. Once he departed, all eyes went back to Shadelia. "What is the meaning of this, my lady?"

"Peace," she replied simply. "The war is over. The king and queen of Graticia have agreed to withdraw their forces and the only condition is that they know what the royal family's powers are."

"We will have to see what your father says."

As if on queue, the towering king entered the tent at that moment.

"What is going on, daughter?" He demanded, and Dwalin saw Shadelia shrink under his glare. "You are not fit to be in this war."

His words angered the dwarf, but instead of retaliation, he simply placed a hand on the small of Shadelia's back. She tensed for a moment, but then seemed to find courage for words.

"Peace, father. Something you never seemed to be able to achieve. Yet I, who in your own words, am unfit for diplomacy, managed it on my first interaction with the Graticians." There was a venom in Shadelia's voice that surprised everyone, including the king.

"You ran away from your people!" He countered, unsure of what else to say.

"They have never been my people!" Now she was enraged to the point she did not need Dwalin to boost her confidence. "You saw to that! You locked me away to learn pointless talents that have nothing to do with my position or power! You did not let me learn any basic survival skills, and you kept all this a secret from the people! You never wanted a daughter, the only thing I was worth to you was a way to get your friend's son into your position when the time comes."

"Do not insult your king, wretch," he growled.

"Do not forget from where you came, peasant king," she spat back. "And remember you are powerless if I decide to let the darkness consume you, or the flames devour you."

Fear grew on the face of the Powernian king. He had hoped his daughter would never return, but he definitely did not expect her to come back with a back bone.

"I came only to stop the bloodshed. I knew it was within my power, and that you were too cowardly to try, for fear of looking weak. That, I owed to my people. Once the treaty is signed, I will renounce my claim to the crown, and I will no longer consider you father. Powerna is not my true home, but her people are still of my concern."

"Where will you go?" The king laughed, trying to hide how he really felt. "Graticia will not accept you. They fear your powers."

"Graticia has accepted Lady Shadelia with open arms," Avantika's general stated before anyone else had a chance.

"I also renounce any claims this man has made," Shadelia stated, ignoring her father as she turned to the general and his son. "Stating that I will marry into your family. You will not have my hand, as you do not have my heart."

"You will obey your king," the general stated, leveling his sword with her throat.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Ava said in a disorienting sing-song fashion.

"She is a traitor," the general said, not moving his blade.

Before he, his son, or the king knew what was happening, the general was disarmed and roughly pinned to the ground, the tip of his sword now at his own throat

"Don't hurt him Dwalin," Shadelia whispered. The dwarf let the man up but did not return his sword to him.

"Who is that?" The enraged king demanded, seeing Dwalin for the first time.

"He is the one who has protected me with Ava all this time. But none of this matters. We have a treaty to address."

"There is no we. You will not be involved in the politics."

"I have more right to be than you ever have. Royal blood courses through my body. Your kingship was pure luck, and my mother's stupidity."

The king raised his arm to backhand her, but he didn't get very far before he was kept in an iron grip.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," came Dwalin's quiet threat.

"And what if I do?" The king questioned.

"Not only will the Graticians have reason to be angry at the assault on their ally, but you will feel the might of Erebor and her king as you offend his betrothed and her companion."

"King?" Shadelia's  father wasn't sure what was going on.

"Thorin, son of Thrain, son of Thror is king under the mountain, has won more battles than you have lived through, and would be angry if you upset his Gratician bride. So I say you sign the treaty quickly. Otherwise, as soon as Shadelia permits it, there will be a blade in your gut."

Through out the interaction, Shadelia was surprised her father's soldiers did not move to defend him. She realized that she was not the only one who suffered from his thirst for power, her former betrothed had looked relieved when she released him from the engagement.

"I wish for the peace treaty, but I will not allow you back into Powerna after your betrayal."

"I'm sure mother will be thrilled." With that, Shadelia took her leave of the tent.