TFL ch. 10

Opening the door, Eric cringes as the door moans open, reluctantly turning on its hinges. His eyes flick down to my dagger. "Someone came prepared." He whispers.

I press my finger to my lips and walk into the house. A third of the way down the hall, no voices still can be heard. The stillness is complete and the shadows-

CREEEAAAKKK!!!

I jump as the floorboard creaks under my weight. A snicker behind me makes me glare at Eric, who in return walks confidently forward, his boots noiselessly making contact with the floor and a grin plastered on his face.

"Come on. I don't think they are on this floor." he says then gestures toward the stairs with his own dagger.

I respond, "Looks like you are prepared, too."

His face grows serious. "I don't ever wish to be in a situation where I cannot protect those around me. Let's keep going."

His comment causes me to think as we climb the stairs. His mother, Queen Katherine, had been assassinated over a year before I had come to the castle. In fact, her assassination was the very reason Gwen and I were both trained in self-defense. King Eric insisted. He had never remarried and his eyes still teared whenever anyone mentioned her name. Likewise, Eric would grow reticent and train for hours with his sword Eximius.

Eric could fight using any sword with the skill of a master, but he had a special bond with Eximius, another one of the legendary swords, just like I had a bond with Castra.

All too often, I would mock him for training so much to try to pull him out of his dark mood.

"Are you training to be an assassin?"

Pausing, he would say, "Just ensuring that I can protect you."

"Ha. I don't need anyone to protect me. I can handle myself."

"Even so, I still need to be able to protect everyone in the castle- and that includes you."

"I hear voices." I say as we reach the top of the stairs.

Eric responds with a nigh motionless nod. We move steadily down the hallway which reeks of must and grime. At the end of the hallway, shadows flicker on the wall across from the last door.

"Is that satisfactory?" Sir William says in a hushed voice. His aggravation is evident in his condescending tone.

A gruff voice replies, "It is enough."

"Might I comment that the next time you need to contact us, you should not be so foolish as to come to the castle. You could have very easily raised suspicion."

"But I didn't."

"Next time you might though. Don't come again. Send-"

A loud thud, which I assumed was Sir William being shoved against a wall, causes me to back into Eric, who put his hand on my shoulder. The gruff continues, dangerously low and threatening, "Don't tell me what to do. I don't care that you're going to be the bloody king of Aspenvale. Heck, the only reason you're going to be king is your father. If it were up to me, I wouldn't dream of picking a sniveling brat like you. Fact is, I'd kill you right now. Save humanity from being polluted by your existence."

Eric squeezes my shoulder. "We should go before they come out."

I brush him away. "Wait."

Sir William clears his throat. "Um,- ahem- I can assume that everything is going as planned, then?"

"Just awaiting your father's signal to go on."

"Very good. Well then, I suppose we had better go."

Footsteps sound against the floor and the light on the wall flickers unsteadily as they approach the hallway. Not knowing where to go, I gasp as Eric wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me into a closet, its darkness cloaking us.

"Did you hear that?" The stranger questions.

"No. I didn't hear anything." Sir William replies.

Eric tenses, automatically pulling me closer to him. Neither of us dare to breath as the moment wears on. Even as the footsteps resume and grow fainter as the two men travel down the hallway, we remain still. After the sound of footsteps had ceased for a few moments, Eric whispers, "I don't like the sound of what we heard. Sounds like the beginning of a conspiracy. We need to return to the castle now."

"What if Sir William spots us?"

"We'll go in at the servant's entrance."

Silently we make our way out of the house. The sun is now well past the horizon and darkness pervades the streets of Sicota. Eric grasps my hand once again and leads the way back to the castle. As we reach the servant's entrance, I stop him. "What are we supposed to do about what we heard?"

"Nothing."

"What?! How can-"

He cuts me off. "We are going to wait. We don't know exactly what they are planning nor do we have sufficient evidence to charge them of any wrong doing. To do anything now would only alert them that we know."

"But-"

"Not a word more. Please don't do anything. I will take care off the situation."

"Eric."

"Please 'Melia. I'm just trying to keep you safe." Even through the darkness, I can see the seriousness in his eyes and the stubborn set of his jaw.

"I can take care of myself." I softly reply.

"I know you can. But I'd much rather keep you from having to do so. Please, let me protect you. You're just as important to me as Gwen is to me. I'd hate myself forever if you were hurt because of this escapade. Promise me, 'Melia, you won't act on what we've heard tonight."

Looking at the pain in his eyes, I give in."All right. I promise."

His shoulders immediately lower as he releases a sigh. "Good. You should go in first so we don't raise any eyebrows. See you at dinner, Amelia."

"Good bye Eric." I pass through the courtyard, the flickering of the torches causing shadows to leap onto my dress.

The kitchen bustles in preparation for supper as I walk through it. Several of the servants him as they work, to the chagrin of the main chef. "If I vanted beez to be my helpers, I vould have hired beez! Stop vit zat ridiculous buzzing!" He exclaims in his thick accent. I chuckle the entire way to my room, picturing the look of exasperation on his round face.

Gwen pounce on me as soon as I enter our room. "Where have you been? Why have you been avoiding me? You have basically been missing in action for the past three days!"

"I-"

She cuts in. "Oh, I know. You are trying to escape going to the ball. Ha! You won't escape that easily! After supper, we are coming back here and picking out a dress for you!"

I groan. The next few days are going to be long ones.

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