Chapter 9: Staggering

Author's Note: Hey guys! So yeah, I haven't been updating lately, but that's because of the damn projects that have been popping up here and there. Don't worry! I'll still update as much as I can. It's kind of stressful though, but it's okay! As my bestfriend quotes, "You're *insert my real name*. If you're *insert my real name*, then you can do it!"

This chapter is going to be about Rilliane and Arthur's point of view after Kathleen left. There's going to be some slight drama(?), so please bear with it.

Again, I would like to thank you guys so much for still keeping up with my weird story.

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Kathleen looked at Rilliane with sad eyes. Rilliane wanted to plead with her, to tell her not to leave, and just stay. But she couldn't move. 'A spell of hers?' She thought. Kathleen took one last look at Rilliane and turned away. Arthur was shouting something. She couldn't understand. All she could focus on was that Kathleen was leaving.

Why was she leaving?

Once Kathleen disappeared from her sight, she felt herself able to move. She wanted to run. She really did. But a part of her didn't. She looked at Arthur. She expected him to be desperate. But he wasn't.

He looked rather indifferent about it, actually.

She wasn't exactly sad about it, nor happy about it. She felt a little angry. 'Why wasn't Arthur chasing after Kathleen? Does he not care at what could happen to Kathleen?' Questions rang through her head.

After being so caught up in her own thoughts she did not expect Arthur to grab her arm roughly and drag her away. She swivelled her head to his face; and protested, "Let me go!" And "Why aren't you saving her?!" Or "Why aren't you even trying?!" She was sure she was screaming by now.

Arthur stopped. "Because she doesn't deserve it." Rilliane gasped, "How can you say that? She's your wife, and your Queen, you idiot! Without her, you are useless as a King! It would have been better if you had not been King if you had just thrown your Queen - and your wife, away!" Rilliane gasped for air. She had said quite a lot.

She knew that she wasn't sad. Or happy. She was mad and frustrated at Arthur.

A broad wind blows; and the leaves of the trees sway gently as a flock of birds fly away.

"What choice do you think I had?! She chose to leave on her own! If she wants it so much that she'd betray everything and everyone - then I can't stop her!" Arthur's eyes blazed. He was really angry.

Rilliane chose not to argue. She knew if she should say more, she might end up saying more than she would intend; and besides, Arthur wasn't very pleasant whenever he got angry. Her judgment served her wisely as Arthur let go of her arm and stormed off to some place.

Rilliane felt her legs give out. For the first time in a long time, she felt the pain of the silence. She wasn't crying, though. She had learnt long ago the lesson of crying - no need to cry right now. Frustrated and worried, she clenched her hands into fists. 'I have to pull myself together - I can't find Kathleen like this!'

Luckily, nobody saw the scene caused by Arthur and Rilliane. She sighed in relief - for a moment, she was afraid that bad rumours would spring up if anyone had seen them.

"I have to do this. With or without Arthur." She muttered quietly.

An intruding presence shivered up her spine before it sounds in her ears. A soft, familiar sound rustling of cloth; a faint shift in the wind. A knot in Rilliane's gut tightens as her hands slowly reach for something - anything, that she could use as defense. Her hands grasped a sharp stone, large and thick as her wrist.

She stood up.

"You're so pure-hearted, Rilliane."

She turned.

A little boy with messy hair with the colour of wheat fields; and eyes the colour of the sky - only slightly darker. He wore a small bluish, black cloak; and underneath was a blue sailor uniform complete with shorts. On his head was a fat, yellow bird, who seemed to be staring at Rilliane. What a strange little bird.

She felt a little bit calm now; she let a little of her guard down.

Rilliane was about to smile at the boy and ask him if he was lost, but then she remembered how he commented how pure-hearted she was. She didn't like it. If the boy was a villager or anyone from the kingdom at all, she wouldn't feel suspicious. Usually the Jack would be the first to sense a person is from Spades or not. Rillaine had a slight sinking feeling that this boy was not.

She frowned. "You're not from here, are you?" She asked. The little boy laughed. "Not so much, hm?" Rilliane narrowed her eyes.

"Don't take me so lightly." She said in calm fury. The little boy giggled. "Of course not! I've seen you before..." The boy paused, "Before you were even transferred to the castle for your royal training! I know your attitude...so I won't take you lightly!" Rilliane tsked. How annoying.

"Pray tell me, what is so advantageous about knowing my attitude before?" She asked again.

The little boy only giggled in return. Rilliane raised a brow at this and asked once more, "What is your purpose of coming here, stranger?" The little boy pouted. "Don't call me 'stranger'!" Rilliane rolled her eyes. Wasn't there supposed to be a dark mood setting over a 'Stranger-who-possibly-is-an-assasinator-out-to-kill-her-and-Arthur' and herself?

"It's only polite that I know your name, so that you also must know my own!" He giggled in girlish-like fashion. Rilliane rolled her eyes again.

"Just call me Peter~!"

"Okay, then," She paused, for an effect, "Peter, why are you here?" The little boy stopped smiling. His kind, warm and childish demeanor dissipated like waves washing over the seashore. It was replaced by a cold, sort of kill-crazed traumatized child. Rilliane felt a cold wind sweep over her back like ice.

A little nervous? Yes. Giving up? No.

She knew she was strong enough. But she wasn't so sure about this child.

"I"m here on a mission!" He snickered, a sickly sweet smile on his face. It was different from the smile Peter had shown her earlier - it was malicious. "What kind of mission?" She asked, a little cautious now. She gripped the stone in her palm harder.

"Why would I tell you? You have no business or relation to it!" He paused, "Oh wait, you do! But it's a secret for now!" He giggled maliciously. Rilliane grit her teeth. "Why won't you just tell me?!" She was shouting now.

"Don't ask things that are private, Rilliane. It's rude." A familiar voice. She turned and saw a familiar face. Arthur.

Rilliane's eyes widened, and she watched with disbelieving eyes as Arthur walked towards her. Did he change his mind, after all? Arthur simply smiled gently at her, his eyes holding a certain glint of determination. For a moment, she realized that Arthur wasn't going to let Kathleen go so easily like that.Rilliane smiled back.

"So you really came, huh?" A voice interrupted. Rilliane broke out of her thoughts and turned to Peter. "What do you mean by that?" Rilliane asked. Peter laughed a little, "You haven't figured it out yet?" Rilliane and Arthur eyed Peter, knowing he knew something they didn't know was a big deal.

"I'm surprised that Kathleen hasn't realized it yet. I mean - she is technically the cause of this!" Peter cried out, laughing. Rilliane debated on whether she should threaten this child to tell them or not - knowing that Kathleen was somehow involved with this, she got a little offensive.

"What do you mean 'cause of all of this'? What is 'all of this'?" This time Arthur was the one asking questions. Rilliane felt a little bit relieved at this and proceeded to listen to Peter's answer. She too, was curious as to what exactly was going on. Finally, it was going to be told.

Peter smirked a little bit; and all of a sudden the air seemed darker and heavier. The wind slowed down to a gentle, eerie breeze that rustled the grass and the trees. It was nearing sunset. But there was something more than just the nearing of the sunset.

"If I tell you, this might change things and master will be pleased!" Peter squealed in delight. He muttered something incoherent - Rilliane had the feeling it was something about being noticed and what-not. She ignored it. "So will you tell us?" She asked.

Peter looked a little lost in thought for a few moments before looking at them and said, "But that would be too easy!" Peter giggled even more. It was getting annoying.

"Just tell us!" Arthur shouted. He was getting irritated too - not that she could blame him. It was really annoying to be kept waiting. Patience was essential, that, Rilliane knew all too well - but once abused, it will snap.

Peter thought about it for a few moments before finally saying, "Fight me first. If you can beat me, I will tell you." Why was it so hard?

Arthur and Rilliane groaned simultaneously.

"Deal."

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Author's Note: Yeah. It's short. I'm so sorry. My exams are next week and I've barely studied. Please bear with this.

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