Cost of the Crown (UNREVISED VERSION)

Marguerite

"Hans! Wake up! I prepared a little something for ya." Eric called from the first floor of their home.

Hans slowly opened his eyes as he stretched throughout their bed. They shared a bed since they didn't have enough to buy separate ones.

"Sleepy head! Come down here!" Eric yelled.

Hans slowly rose from his bed and he looked high with his nest for hair. He went downstairs as he yawned, it was his day off of training with the other knights and Eric was there with Marionwei.

"Good morning Hans, I hope I did not wake you up." Marionwei smiled at the sleepy knight.

Hans heard the young maiden's voice then it finally synced into his mind that the love of his life visited him in the morning, just after the sun rose.

"Uhm... Please hold that thought." He ran to their room then took everything he needed to the bathroom. He took a shower and did some personal stuff before going out of the bathing room, all dressed and looking presentable. He went back to Marionwei and Eric while trying to hide his blush.

"That was the quickest you got dressed." Eric chuckled. "Happy birthday."

Eric left the house after saluting to Hans, leaving the couple. Marionwei has feelings for the young knight but she was taught that men were to profess tlheir love first before women so all she had to do was wait...

"You never told me that January 18th was your birthday." Marionwei smiled. "If I knew, I should've brought a gift."

"Sorry, it's okay. You being here is the best gift I got." Hans smiled as he sat down across Marionwei.

"You know, Eric just went to my balcony in the castle before the sun rose then told me to visit you. I didn't know it was because of your birthday." She explained.

"I thought you'd be training." Hans raised a brow.

"Eh, training can wait. It's not like the king would need me every single minute." Marionwei giggled.

"Do you mind if I asked you to be my lady?" Hans asked as he fidgeted with his fingers.

Marionwei's smile faded a bit then she put her hand on Hans', "Being your lady is better than being the wife of my dumb suitor."

"Is that a yes?" Hans asked in confusion.

"Of course it's a yes!" Marionwei had Hans' face between her palms and it made Hans fell for her deeper than he did before.

Marionwei left Hans amorous and he felt like he was in heaven. It was a happy day for him.

He continued courting her with the help of his dearest friend and housemate, Eric. Hans wooed Marionwei for three years and he felt like his efforts were paying off.

"Hey Eric, what could I get for her birthday?" Hans asked as he washed the dishes.

"You're 20, you should know what to get your lover." Eric teased.

"Ha! This is why you're here, to help me court the lovely lady. Besides, I don't want her to be a dirty man's light-o'-love." Hans continued.

"Three years have passed and you should know what she loves. She loves you with all her heart and I bet anything you give her is enough..." Eric replied.

"I guess... Thanks Eric, you're the best!" Hans finished his chores then went up to their room.

"You love her with all your heart, the same way I loved you before..." Eric whispered.

Not long after, chaos was happening outside. There was screaming and blood splattered everywhere. Eric took his sword then went upstairs to see their room vacant and the window open.

He thought about Hans and he saw his friend outside, fighting the raiders from the south just so the others could retreat to the castle, furthest north.

"Livonia is falling!" A man shouted at Eric from the bottom of his house before running away.

Eric sled down off his roof to the concrete pavement. He fought alongside Hans who was going for multiple kills. After the vicinity was vacated, they ran towards the east where Marionwei was. As Hans was running towards the sword fighting maiden, she was shot by an arrow from the back that pierced her heart.

"Marionwei!" Hans cried. He couldn't believe what he saw. As the young maiden fell on her knees while coughing blood, Hans dropped his sword and ran full speed just to catch Marionwei. His tears dropped down his face and unto Marionwei's arm.

With the last of her energy, Marionwei smiled as she had Hans' face on her palm. These were her last words, "That ring you gave me, place it on the finger of the next lucky woman whom you'll love. That way, she'd feel the same specialty you showed me. Being your lover was better than being someone else's paramour."

The maiden fell lifeless in Hans' arms as he cried her name. Eric wiped the blood off his face as he approached his desrest friend. "We have to go to the castle, the king must be in distress."

"But Mar-"

"Hans, your love has asked you to continue on with your life. She always told you that. From morning to night, she reminded you to never give up, even if it meant letting her go." Eric explained.

"I must do something for her before we leave." Hans insisted.

Eric sighed before he nodded. Hans carried the corpse to the fountain then they made a hole that could fit the fallen maiden. When he gently lowered her down, he took the golden ring he gave her before letting her hand go. Much to his dismay, he had to let go.

After they buried the body and wrote a sign over the dirt, they ran to the castle where everyone was safe. As they got further, a Felicia Amelloides*, landed over the dirt.

When the two men arrived in the castle, Eric was right, the king was in distress. They both approached the king and as soon as the king noticed them, the king gave out a heavy sigh.

"Finally, I thought I lost you... I already lost a hundred..." The king told them in disarray.

"And you lost ten more in our vicinity." Eric reported.

"Where's Marionwei?" The king asked as it synced into his mind what just happened.

"We are deeply sorry your highness, your niece is..." Eric continued.

"She passed..." Hans tried containing his grief.

"Why did you not save her, boy?!" The king angrily yelled at the two men.

"She was shot with an arrow when we found her. I couldn't save her... As much as I wanted to..." Hans closed his eyes as he reported this to the king.

"Station yourselves on the southeast of the kingdom, where the Orient is closest to us. Guard everyone there for they are your lives." The king commanded.