The King's Woman

Chapter Eight

Andrea's POV

I woke up a little late, given I returned late the previous night, and I saw Emily and Jack weren't there. I went to join them at breakfast after a quick shower, my mind still full of the previous day's adrenaline.

  - 'Morning, Em!
  - Good morning! Where were you yesterday?!
  - Training in the morning, enjoying myself in the evening..
  - You had a second date with Lucas, didn't you?
  - Might have..
  - I knew it! Tell me all about it. Every. Single. Detail.
  - It was great.. he's so cute.
  - Cute? He's hella hot sister, that's what he is.
  - That too. But he's smart and cute and kinda shy sometimes and ugh I don't know.
  - You like him a looot.
  - Don't shout! I don't want everyone to know about him.
  - Maybe they already do. I mean, they know everything about us. Control freaks.
  - Harry would've said something..
  - Maybe he just doesn't care. But when did this turn into a conversation about Arthur?? Tell me.. did you kiss him?
  - Yes..
  - I knew it! Oh, I bet he's a good kisser.
  - I don't have any terms of comparison..
  - You mean..?
  - I mean what I said. Can we change the subject please? Like..what will we have on our platter today, I wonder.
  - I just know I miss old fashioned paper tests instead of the life threatening ones.
  - I thought you enjoyed this.
  - I do! I just can't wait for this whole selection process to end, it gets on my nerves.
  - Stay focused! I'm not competing against a stressed mess!
  - Whoa! Okay, okay, I'll try. I still don't want to compete against you..
  - One thing at a time, today we focus on competing against Jack, ok?
  - Deal! Here comes the king, she said with a smirk.
  - Morning, Andrea, Emily!
  - Hey Harry!
  - Good morning Arthur!
  - Andrea..a word?
  - Yeah, sure!
  ***
  - What's up?
  - I realised.. I haven't properly thanked you for yesterday. For saving me..
  - Oh, it was nothing. You'd have done the same for me.
  - Definitely. But it wasn't nothing. It was.. worthy of an agent.
  - If you mean the tests still laying ahead, don't worry. It's a fair process, I won't have it any other way. Just rest assured that I'll do anything in my power to succeed and become an agent. Become Lancelot.
  - I'm sure you will. Good luck today!
  - Thanks. Oh, and Harry..
  - Yes?
  - You gave me a hell of a scare yesterday. Don't do that again.
  - I .. it's our job.
  - You're all I have. Well, sort of ..
  - Sort of?
  - This guy I'm dating..well, I don't know. He's nice thought. His name's Lucas.
  - If you like him, he must be a good person. Because you are.
  - I killed a man, I don't know if that qualifies..
  - You did what you had to do, Andrea.
  - Thank you. Well.. I'll better be going.
  - Yeah, sure.

Harry's POV

I returned to my office, determined to search for this Lucas boy, to try and run facial recognition on the footage from the other night. Because yes, last night I watched them, until I couldn't take it anymore. I froze the footage when his face was in the light and visible. Facial recognition worked, the results pinged, and there it was.. he was an employee at Richard Vale's ghost business, which could only mean..

  - Merlin?! Are you there?
  - Yes, Harry.
  - Come to my office. It's an emergency!
***
  - What's the matter?
  - Look..
  - That's a Dark Knight? One of Vale's men?
  - Appears to be.
  - Wait, is that..?
  - This is the 'nice guy' Andrea is dating.
  - Of course you ran a background check on him. And watched them?! Harry..
  - My issues apart, Merlin, if I didn't.. she's in danger, she's unaware of who this boy is. Surely Vale sent him to seduce her so she leads him here..
  - Slow down! Nothing happened, she's not stupid. She wouldn't let him on something she's supposed to keep secret.
  - I have to tell her.
  - Not now, she's in the middle of a test.
  - Doing what?
  - Hunting a 'target', attempting to bring the target here, alive.
  - She should be hunting for this.. this.. dickhead!
  - Harry.. won't it be easier for everyone if you just told her how you feel?
  - I can't.. what if.. No, don't be ridiculous, she can't possibly feel the same way. Anyway, send her in right after the test, she needs to know..
  - Will do.

Andrea's POV

I had the target within eyesight, entering a coffee shop. I kept a low profile, hiding in the shadow of the buildings across the street, binoculars in hand, watching the man sipping his coffee, blissfully unaware - old school surveillance. I waited until he finished that damn cappuccino, and came back outside. Only now he took a back street. The chance presenting itself, I followed the man, and catched up once sure no one from the main street could see anything. He turned briskly, and I dodged a blow, throwing myself towards his feet, both of us falling down in the process.
A struggle followed, in which he tried desperately to choke me, while I punched him several times.. until he eventually lost consciousness. Then I called for backup - and dragged him along the back alley, until the other end of it, where Eggsy was waiting in a car.

  - Is he..?
  - Just unconscious. I followed orders, Eggsy. Didn't kill this one. Can we just go? Before he wakes up..
  - Yeah, sure.

Back to the HQ, Merlin was waiting, and the man coming to his senses.

  - Well done! Eggsy, be kind enough to take this..ahem, 'parcel' away.
  - How did the others do?
  - You're the first, we're still waiting for Emily and Jack, but Emily seems to be doing very well.
  - That's my girl!
  - You know you're in a competition, right?
  - I know, I know. But I don't see a rule banning friendship.
  - Fair enough. Andrea.. you should come with me. Harry wants to see you.
  - About the test?
  - No.. about something else. Please, you'll see when we get there.
***
  - Harry? You wanted to see me?
  - Yes, please take a seat. Merlin, thank you, please go attend the others.
  - Yes, Arthur.
  - Harry, you worry me. Did Vale reach out again? Is the Queen in danger? What..tell me what..
  - No, the Queen is safe and sound, and I haven't heard from Vale but.. well, this is linked to him.
  - You found something about him? About his plans?
  - We found more about The Dark Knights, for that matter. Vale registered it as a counseling firm. He's the CEO. And today..I discovered one of his 'employees'..
  - You want to hunt Vale's man down for information?
  - That is an idea. But it's not why I asked you to come here. The point is, Vale's man is.. well, see for yourself, he said turning the monitor round towards me.
  - It can't be.. Harry, this must be some mistake. Lucas told me he's a sociology grad student, maybe..
  - Andrea, this firm doesn't really exist. It's paperwork is flawless, but false. It's a ghost firm, and this Lucas, or whatever his name is, is Vale's agent.
  - That means.. he fooled me.
  - Andrea, you couldn't possibly have known..
  - I shouldn't have trusted him so blindly. I should've been more careful. He only wanted to get to you!
  - I believe so, surely Vale ordered him to.
  - To seduce me! What a fool I was!
  - Don't be too hard on yourself.
  - But it's true. What if he made me tell him about this place? What then. No, this is all my fault. Screw love! I'm never going to fall for someone that easy ever again!

Harry's POV

She was devastated, blaming herself, and all I could do was sit down idly at my desk, instead of getting up and hugging her, telling her what I wanted to say for days.. Telling her not to give up love for a bastard who took advantage, who lied looking her in the eyes. Telling her that I loved her so..that I would never hurt her. But I was a coward. Now more than ever. And let her blame herself for something that was out of her control..

  - Harry? You heard me?
  - Sorry.. I was just thinking..
  - I said I will make things right.
  - How?
  - I'm going to make him trust me, and lead me right to his boss. I'll make him and Vale believe I want to join them.
  - That's risky..
  - But possible! I have the upper hand now. I can tell them I'll give them all the information they want about you and Kingsman if Vale takes me on his side. But for the plan to work.. you need to make Emily win.
  - I'm not going to change the way we recruit. If you pass the final test, the place is yours. That's non-negotiable.
  - Okay, okay. In reality, if I'm worthy, the position will be mine. But on paper..
  - Go on..
  - If Lucas and Vale believe that I failed the test, that I hold a grudge against all of you for not making me an agent..
  - Then he'll believe you help him to get back at us. And that him making you an agent means more than it actually does.
  - Exactly!
  - I admit it's a good plan, but..
  - Yeah, I know. It's dangerous.. But it's our best chance to figure out Vale's plan. The real plan..