Betrothed

Chapter Forty-Two: The Final Showdown

As soon as the princess brought the key up to Henry's wrists to unlock his shackles, three loud knocks were heard, coming from the chamber door.

"Uh-oh!" Audrianna exclaimed.

"Quickly," Henry commanded her, "unlock Lord Rupp's shackles first."

"Lord Rupp?" she asked. Three more knocks resounded from the other side of the door.

"Hurry," Henry directed. Rupp raised his foot from the floor to the wall, also creating a step from his knee. Audrianna stepped from Henry, over to Rupp. The sound of banging, rattling, and arguing could be heard from the other side of the iron door. Audrianna quickly unlocked the shackle from around Rupp's right wrist, then swung over to his left wrist and unlocked that shackle. She then jumped down and removed the restraints from around his ankles.

"We need weapons," Jaako declared. "We have no swords to defend ourselves." Immediately, the large iron door of the dungeon unlocked with a CLANK, and the door swung open. Rupp shook the blood back into his wrists from being elevated for so long.

"You want a sword?" he asked, walking towards the open door, "I'll get you three swords." The four Andjety guards looked around the room and spotted the Witch, dead on the floor.

"What be happened?" one of the guards asked. "Done you kills our queen?"

"Nope," Rupp answered. "We had our ten-year-old kill her. That's how insignificant we find your kingdom."

One of the guards pulled his sword from its sheath. Rupp opened his arms wide and presented the fact that he was unarmed. Undaunted, the angry Andjety thrust his sword at the Nadeau captain, who dodged the sword, caught the man by the forearm, then quickly disarmed him. shoving him out of the way, Rupp used the newly acquired sword to deflect the sword from the second Andjety. After clanging their blades a couple times, Rupp slashed him in the heart, and took his sword. Having two swords, the third Andjety thrust his sword in Rupp's direction, to which Rupp double-teamed him, and slashed him as well. Having floored the third assailant, Rupp kicked the soldier's sword in the air and caught it in his right hand, having a sword in his left hand, and two in his right. The fourth soldier rushed Rupp from behind, and swung his blade at Rupp's head. Rupp ducked and thrust his left sword into the man's chest. As the final soldier fell dead to the floor, Rupp grabbed the sword from the Andjety's hand. Rupp stood up straight, each hand bearing two swords.

"Your Majesty," Rupp declared, tossing a sword in Henry's direction. He then tossed a sword at Jaako, who examined the blade and hilt of the Andjety weapon.

"He's the Captain of Your Majesty's guard?" Jaako asked the prince.

"Indeed, he is," Henry confirmed.

"Excellent choice," Jaako conceded. Audrianna finished unlocking Rozelle's shackles, then stood before the four Nadeau leaders, her hands behind her back. Her face was dirty, and blood from the Witch covered the front of her clothes. She wielded the dagger in her hand like a warrior, rather than a little girl.

Jaako stepped in front of the princess, then fell to one knee. He bowed his head low to the ground and held out his hand in a gesture to ask for Audrianna's. She held out her hand, to which Jaako took it in his, kissed it, then touched it to his forehead. He then lowered himself to a kneeling position, and looked into the princess's face.

"I will be loyal to you, Your Highness," he said, "till the day I die."

Henry and Rupp peered out the door of the dungeon, looking both ways down the corridor. Jaako and Rozelle came bounding out behind them, with Audrianna in the rear. As the princess pushed her way past Jaako and Rozelle, her Lady in Waiting grabbed her by her stubby braid.