Long May They Reign

Hostage: Pt 2

Natalia and Queen Sarah had managed to get the plan spread throughout the palace. Steve was to take his little brothers and Peggy to the hallway where Sharon waited as the lookout. Sharon would then wait for all the children, women and servants to get through the passage before closing it and waiting for the the Queen and the girls.

It waa a solid plan. Really. And then it went to hell.

When Nat led the others to the door, Sharon stood by and listened as they knocked the agreed upon knock and waited.

"Sharon!"
"Where is she?!"

I'm not letting you all in. Why would I save you at the risk of my own life? My reputation has been destroyed and my family has disowned me. Sharon couldn't believe she'd been shamed into doing this. She instead stood by and listened and then left. If they wanted to escape, they could do it themselves.

"She's not coming is she?"

"Damn it!" Just then an Italian guards came round the corner and spotted them.

"The count sent me to escort you to the dining hall for supper."

"We were just heading back." Nat said quickly.
They all shared looks of terror and fear as they followed the guard to the hall.

When Sarah saw the girls she blinked in shock and quickly stood up?
"Surely this is enough for you?! How could it not be?"
"You know the king will go to war, for his heirs?"

"And what of it? Most would. If I were afraid of the king do you really think I would have done this? Can he give me back my life? No. So lets get to it." He stood up and his company stood as well.

"Wait! Wait!" She knew she'd regret these next few sentences if everything didn't turn out right, "do you want women?!"

"Take them. Take their virtue. They won't dare say a word. They'd be ruined."

"Why don't you carve out your heart and hand it me so that we might understand one another?" The count replied.

"That is diplomacy." He was talking to them all now.

"To understand one's loss and to carry the weight of your dead heart with your every night and day." He turned to the Queen, "Give me my son and I will let your children live."

He pushed past Sarah and walked towards Nat, "Forgive me Natalia, for I am not a gentle man." He grabbed for her and pushed her against the wall. Screams erupted throughout the hall as the men took the other ladies too.

"Count Vincent. Count Vincent!" Sarah took the hourglass and smashed it against the floor.

"Do you know why you son is dead? Because you weren't willing to pay the necessary price. They asked for the ransom and you refused and instead you went and left your only child to suffer at the hands of brutes! Henry had to rescue him. And then he stole from us! Neither you nor your son had any ounce of dignity or respect and that's what led him to his grave that's what will lead you to yours. So here's you new offer. From ME. Take your hands off the girls and I'll let you leave with your life."

Suddenly the men started coughing and choking. "My Lord!"
Blood was running down the faces of some and from the ears of others.

"No. We ate the same food. And drank the same wine."
"Poison is an art and the essence of art is surprise."

"The gold..." Nat whispered staring at the piles on the floor.

"I never touched your gold." He unleashed his sword and Nat got up and jammed a knife into his neck. He wasn't dead yet and seemed insistent on bringing someone with him to the grave. As he raised his sword to swing at the redhead, Steve appeared and cut off his hand. The sword clanged to the ground while everyone stood in shock.

"Natalia are you alright."
Sarah walked to Laura to check on her cut.

"Sarah saved us. Why didn't you tell us?"

"Well I learned long ago that only a secret known by one person remains a secret. And you girls can't lie to save your lives. Which would have been needed had you known. And of course- I wasn't sure it would work." She let out a breathe she'd been holding since the night started.

They left, having to step over the bodies of the dead men...

The next morning....

She crept into his room.

"I couldn't sleep Steve." She walked to him and wrapped her arms around him.

"What were you thinking?! What if they had killed you, you know they wanted you dead. They could have killed you!" She beat on his chest as she cried.

"Nat! Nat. I had to. You know I did."

"No. If you had-. Just no. You didn't have to. Never do that again." She started at him, daring him to challenge her.

"I can't promise that. But I can promise that I would never leave you." He leaned down and kissed her.

"Yeah?" She kissed him back and let him pick her up and toss her on the bed.
"Yeah..."

.....
"You said there were circumstances to which the Vatican would agree to my taking the throne."
"Yes."
"I noticed the count and his men were remarkably gentle with me when you think about it. Even before you paid them. What did you do?"

"I did what any mother would. You were meant to be away with the king but you stayed."