The King of Stars and Storms

Chapter Four

Christopher was fixing his saddle as more experienced soldiers gathered in the courtyard. He gazed around at the people surrounding him, he knew the majority of the people as he had grown up with them. Alfie too was also looking at all the faces and was surprised at how many people there were. But he knew that the Masters never left their people behind. He was snapped out of his thoughts when the captain spoke up. "Alright everyone mounts up and let's get going." The group erupted with chatter as everyone got on their horses and marched out the gate. Christopher and Alfie rode side by side. Alfie turned to Christopher. "I hope this ends well." Christopher just kept his head straight. "So do I." He sighed.

Blood splattered on the ground as Elizabeth took another blow to the face. She had been here for a day and she had taken punch after punch as they tried to interrogate her. She spat out the blood-forming her mouth. "I've already told you no one sent me. I wanted to get revenge after you murdered my parents." She spat angrily. One of the guards walked around her and paused once he got behind her. He spotted a mark on her shoulder. He didn't say anything, instead, he pulled his friend aside and whispered in his ear. Elizabeth was confused when the second guy rushed out of the room. "What's going on?" She questioned. He said nothing as he stomped up to her and slapped her in the face.

Not even ten minutes after the second guard had left he came rushing back in but this time he was followed by the queen. The queen looked at Elizabeth and then at the guard who stayed behind. "What is so important that you had to drag me down here?" She asked. The guard marched over to the same spot and held her shoulder tight pushing her forward slightly. "This ma'am. It is very important." The queen walked over to him and noticed what he had and gasped. "Oh my, it is important." She chuckled and started to head out. "Wait. What is going on?" Elizabeth asked before they left. The queen turned back around and bowed down to her level. "You are who we have been looking for all this time." There was a pause, for just a couple of seconds. "You are the lost princess." Elizabeth couldn't believe what she was hearing. She couldn't be. She was just an ordinary girl who wanted to avenge her parents. Her breathing was heavy. "No... You're lying." She said between breaths. "I'm just a girl who grew up in a village that you burnt down." The queen straightened up. "That mark on your shoulder says otherwise. All the royals have a lightning bolt birthmark on their shoulder." And with that, she was alone again. Alone with her thoughts.

The queen strutted back into the throne room taking a seat on her throne and called in her messenger. He bowed as he halted in front of her. "Your majesty. What might I do for you?" He asked. "I need you to get a message to King Gabriel." The messenger nodded. "And what is this message you want me to give him." "Tell him we found her." He bowed as he exited the room. He had disappeared as Max entered the room. "What was that about?" "We've found the girl." She paused. "Actually she found us." Max was shocked. "Really?"

Luca, Gabriel, Mary and Emily were all sat round the rather long table eating supper when a member of the royal household came bolting through the side door. The king snapped his head towards him. "What on earth are you doing?" The man hunched over trying to catch his breath before straightening up. "There is a messenger sent from the faerie. He says the message is very important. One that must be heard right away." The king set his cutlery down and rushed out of the room. The others glanced at each other and followed him. The king rushed down the hall with his family in tow. But before they could catch up to him, he managed to slip into his office and shut the door.

Luca, Mary and Emily stood outside his office, Luca had his ear pressed against the door trying to see if he could hear what was occurring on the other side. It was after a while that he heard footsteps headed towards the door. Luca rushed over to the window and the three of them acted unsuspiciously, trying to act like they hadn't been eavesdropping. The faerie messenger marched out as the king walked to the door and spotted his family trying to act like they were not spying on the meeting but they were failing. He sighed. "You can come in now." They piled in as the king sat down behind his desk. Mary took a seat in front of him with Emily standing next to her and Luca leant against the wall. The king cleared his throat. "What was that all about?" Mary asked. The king looked around the room. "They found her." Luca looked confused. "What?" "They found our daughter." They were shocked. "I'm riding out tonight to meet her."

Elizabeth slumped against the wall clutching her torso. She heard mumbling outside of her cell and twisted her head as she heard the door open and a couple of guards walk in. Two of them walked over to her, picking her up off the floor and dragging her out and towards the throne room. Once they got to the centre of the room she spotted a middle-aged man, dressed in fine clothing. He didn't look like a fairy so she assumed that he was human and because of his clothes also assumed that he worked for the King. The guards holding her let go and she collapsed to the floor. The king looked at the queen. "Who is this? You said that you have my daughter." He started to get angry. "This is your daughter. If you don't believe me check her shoulder." She stated, calmly. The king moved over to Elizabeth and glanced at her shoulder. He straightened up and nodded to his guards. The next thing she knew was that she was being lifted and placed her into a carriage. She sat upright and looked at the king not saying a word. He looked back at her not breaking eye contact and said, "It's okay now. You're going home." She tilted her head and looked out of the window.

The members of the Masters strode through the halls of the court of faerie as they approached the throne room. As soon as they had all gotten inside everyone had drawn their weapons and the queen gracefully raised from her throne. "What the hell is going on?" Christopher brought his hand down to face her. "Where is she?" The queen was slightly confused. "Where is who?" He brought his weapon up again this time pointing it at the queen, multiple of her guards noticed this and turned their weapons on him. "Elizabeth." There was a moment of recognition in her eyes. "Oh you mean the girl that barged in here the other day." Christopher nodded his head. "Well she is long gone now." Christopher looked between Alfie and the queen. "What do you mean she's gone?" "You don't know who she really is?" They didn't reply and the queen took that as an answer. "She is the long lost princess." The boys were shocked and Christopher felt hurt, why didn't she tell him? But as soon as that thought popped into his head he started to rationalised it like maybe she didn't know herself or she couldn't tell anyone for some odd reason or another. 

ⒸSashabarrow1999