Schwan (21 A New Life)

It looks like King Fredrik survived, by the skin of his teeth,as it were.

And Elise also.

But what of his sister, the Princess?

Well lets just finish up a few of the details.

"A New Life"

✣

21 A New Life

With Lord Rathard dead, his men had no will to continue the fight.  The shouts and clash of arms died away.  Peace settled over the glen, and all that could be heard was the roar of the Great Falls, far below.

The Morlanians laid down their arms and stood together in a dejected huddle, watched over by several of the Princess's men.

Fredrik rushed over to where his sister lay, Rolf clinging to her with bitter tears.  But before he could speak, Anna pushed though to her.

"Get off her, you big fool!" she said, pulling on Rolf's arm.  "Give her some air!"

It was true, Lillian was still breathing.

Anna pushed Rolf out of the way and tore open the Princess' tunic.  While Lillian's sword had not stopped Rathard's blow, it had deflected it.  The blow had struck her shoulder, instead of her neck as he had intended.

It had been a powerful blow, but her mail had borne the brunt of it.  Still, it was a serious wound, several links of mail having been severed.

"Get this off her!" Anna commanded, tugging at the armor.

When Rolf hesitated, she repeated her command.

"Don't you men know anything?  Elise! get over here!"

With Rolf's help, they pulled the mail away.

"We must stop the blood!"

Anna was in charge now.  With Elise's help, she pressed part of the torn tunic down over the bleeding wound.  And then they heard Lillian moan.

Fredrik was satisfied that Lillian was in capable hands.  And he was proud to see Elise working with Anna.  She would do well as his Queen.

As Rolf stood by helplessly, the King took charge once more.  He gathered the wounded, and had their wounds bound up.  There were a number of dead also.  He was thankful that Lily was not one of them.

Fredrik looked down at the body of Rathard, now lying in a puddle of blood.  It had all seemed so pointless.   

✠

Lady Juliet sat at her small table, fingering the cross she wore around her neck.  She looked up as she heard her cell door being unlocked.  She hoped it might be the Abbot of St Peter's, who she had requested.  As the Jailer stepped out of the way, she was surprised to see Damson enter.  She did not rise.

"My Lady," he began, "I regret  to see you in this situation."

Juliet gave him a cold look but did not reply.

"I assure you, this was not my idea."

When she remained silent, he began to walk slowly back and forth.

"I've served your father, the Duke, loyally these twenty-seven years.  I've not always agreed with him, but I've done my duty as best I could."  Here he hesitated for a moment.  "And I will serve Lord Rathard as well."

Now he stopped, and lowered his voice.

"Milady, may I speak freely?"

Juliet motioned with her hand to continue.  He had her interest.

"Your Brother is not the man your father was."

"Was?"

"I'm afraid the Duke has lost his mind.  He speaks not a word, but stares off at something no one else can see.  He neither eats, nor drinks.  It is as if his body is here, but his soul is gone.  I know he is not long for this world.

"Milady, are you familiar with the Cell of the Forgotten?"

Lady Juliet shook her head.

"It is well."  He said no more on the subject, and turned to leave.  But then he hesitated.

"I would have rather served you," he said quietly.  

Then he was gone, and the door closed once more.  Juliet was left to wonder what he had meant by it.

✠

They brought the surviving commander of the Morlanians before King Fredrik.  He was wounded, himself, but not seriously.    He dropped to his knees, head down.

"And what news of the Duke?"  the King asked.

"The Duke?" asked the man in surprise.  "They say he is gone mad.  Now we follow Lord Rathard... or did…"

"And Lady Juliet?"

"Lady Juliet?  Lord Rathard had her thrown into the dungeon, for treason.  She had helped Fred..." he paused, "Your Majesty, escape."

Now, Fredrik would have to decide what to do with his prisoners.  He had no desire to take them to Waterton where he would only have to feed them.  He looked around for Rolf, his usual councilor.

He found him, in a daze, hovering over Anna and Elise as they tended to Lillian.  Anna looked annoyed.  She had been dropping hints to him, but he seemed deaf to her.

Fredrik took in the situation immediately.

"Rolf!"

Rolf turned to him with a bewildered look.

"Rolf! I need you!  We need to decide what to do with these prisoners."

By now Fredrik had already decided to send them home with the body of Lord Rathard.  But he needed to occupy his friend.

"Thank God," Anna mumbled, as they walked away together.  It was obvious to her that Rolf had more than a casual interest in the Princess.

"He's in love with your sister," she told Elise. "But he's afraid to tell her.  It's because she's a Princess."  Here she looked at Elise, "You'd think he knew better by now."

But Elise's mind was on a different track.  As she looked down at Lillian, she realized that the Princess, was now her sister, her family, now.  Her whole world had changed.

She had gone from chopping onions, and scrubbing pots in a smelly kitchen, to a battlefield on the side of a mountain.  And this was only the beginning.  It was frightening.  Would she even be accepted in his world?

Anna had stopped the bleeding by now.  She called out to Garth.

"Bring that wine over here, while there's still some left!"

He had been careful to salvage the wine before the cart had gone over the cliff.  And she had noticed.  And she had also noticed the few celebratory "toasts" on his part.

He reluctantly handed it over.

Anna now carefully removed the bloodstained cloth and began to wash the wound with the wine.  Lillian flinched.  Then she sighed and opened her eyes and saw Anna for the first time.

"Thank you, good woman."

Then her eyes moved to Elise, who she studied for a long time.  Finally she spoke.

"Elise?"

Elise reddened, embarrassed.  The Princess reached out with her good hand and touched Elise's cheek.

"Yes, I can see it too.  Welcome, my sister, Queen of Midmont."

   

And yes there is just a bit more to this tale!

To be continued...