When Angels Fall

Chapter 17 - The King's Decision

Mikal

Mikal's hands shook as he sat next to Vilfred outside, waiting for King William's council to make a decision. It had taken him a great deal of effort to keep his calm while his whole being rolled with nervousness. One little mistake, one little hint of uncertainty and he could have ruined everything. But he knew he had performed well, far better than he had expected, and all he had to do now was wait...

"How is mother?" Mikal asked finding nothing better to say. Jared who stood guarding them, stepped in close at once so he could hear their conversation. Mikal sighed and shook his head.

"Mother is fine." Vilfred gave him an assuring smile. "She was overwhelmed when she found out that you are still alive. You have no idea how much she misses you. She even wanted to come with me here." Vilfred laughed.

Mikal smiled at the thought of his mother, dreaming of the moment when he would run back into her arms. There was a lot Mikal wanted to talk to Vilfred about, a lot of things he wanted to ask him, but it was hardly possible with Jared towering over them, his huge arms folded and his eyebrows furrowed as he carefully listened to every word they said. Of course, he had to keep a close watch on them so they wouldn't try to exchange any secrets. Not that Mikal had anything to hide.

Mikal opened his mouth, almost asking about Alina, before he decided against it. Why should he care? The bitch had rejected him and coldly admitted she wished he went to war and never came back. Well, so far her wish had come true. And he knew she must be regretting it now, crying her heart out for him. She could suffer for all he cared. And once he returned home, he would make sure that he would never even look her way again.

"Why is Bernard... still alive?" Mikal's voice was hesitant this time as he asked the question that had tormented him for the past couple of months.

Vilfred looked up towards Jared in concern.

"It's alright, it's no secret. Everybody here knows you are going to kill him anyway," Mikal assured him.

"The coward was hiding behind an army of guards," Vilfred sighed. "It was impossible to... carry out the plan."

"Well you should have done something about that." Mikal clenched his fists as he turned to Vilfred with deep reproach. "You failed to do the only thing I ever asked of you."

Vilfred didn't get the chance to respond, as the council chamber doors opened and they were summoned inside. Mikal held his breath and closed his fists to keep himself from shaking again. William was going to give them his decision. The decision that would determine Mikal's life... or death.

Mikal held his head high as he sat next to Vilfred, wearing a confident face as he looked at William with unfaltering calmness. King William smiled at him, and Mikal's heart thumped with both anticipation and dread.

"I welcome your offer of alliance and your proposal to marry my daughter, Sir Mikal," William announced and Mikal did all he could not to cry out in triumph. "However, you will remain a prisoner here until you fulfil your part of the agreement. Once we ensure that the Kassarathi forces are completely withdrawn from Grytia, and only after our forces secure the city, you will be given my daughter in marriage, and then you will be allowed to go home."

Mikal could no longer hold himself. He let out the long breath he held and his lips spread wide with overwhelming happiness.

"Thank you, Your Grace!" he said, somewhat breathless, before he turned to Vilfred and threw his arms around him.

***

It felt weird, sharing a dining table with humans. Tension filled the air, and the strained faces of the winged and wingless alike bore reluctant smiles. William's council members were all present for dinner to celebrate the new alliance, although seated in a slightly different order than how they were seated at the council chamber. All because Prince Stefan decided to abandon his seat by his father's side and chose to sit next to Mikal, earning him a reproachful look from William.