Whispers of a Throne

by Victoria Pinder

  He told Merlin, "Have Sir Wain gather the troops. Let's search for the holes and unplug them before any damage is done."

  Nel came to the door and waved for Frank to go with her. Frank waited for me to nod at him before leaving.

  Thor walked to the door. I clenched my hands at my side. "What can I do?"

  He turned to me and took my hands. "Gwen, I need you to get as many people to the center of the castle as possible."

  He rubbed my palm. "It's the safest place until we know we have all the mines. We have to save the people of Avalon."

  Once this was over, our talk was on the top of the list. I swallowed back my argument to go with him. "Be careful. Rex wouldn't move his army too far away."

  He kissed my forehead. "You're sweet. Don't worry."

  Sweet was not a word normally used to describe me, but I didn't mind. The warmth he brought out in me grew. I sighed. Then I shook my head to clear the fog. I went to the door and saw Nel and Frank. I also saw Chaus and asked, "Would you please get my crossbow?"

  Chaus nodded. "I have it here, my lady."

  He must have been thinking ahead. I reached out and grabbed the foregrip and stock of Light Redeemer and adjusted it.

  With the arrows on my back, I felt stronger already, like I didn't need anyone to save me. I tilted my head and said, "Nel, we have to get everyone to the middle of the castle."

  Frank and Nel followed me like I might protect them. Chaus waited near the stairs for Thor.

  Thor, Chaus and Merlin stormed past us, clearly on a mission to go find the mines. I didn't have to ask. Their speed said plenty. We let them pass us.

  Then we descended the stairs toward the main dining hall when a voice called out from shadows, "What about me?"

  "Morgana." I had forgotten for a moment she was still here.

  She stepped into the light adjacent to the stairwell. I stared into her two different colored eyes.

  With her head lowered, she said, "Merlin came back to warn Thor. Right now, I want to help. I have to."

  It was me she hated, not Thor or his people. "Get to the bunker with everyone else then or help me get people there."

  She brushed past my arm, knocking the crossbow. "If my brother marries you then we'll be forever linked, Gwen."

  My skin prickled as she went by. I clutched the bow harder. "I don't want to fight with you right now."

  She turned around and her face was white. "I don't either. I want to apologize. I would hate me if our situations were reversed."

  Every cell in my body wanted to scream that I never wanted to see her again, but that was the old me. I studied every inch of her face. I had to think about other people and not myself. Morgana had half the castle believing in her already, and she could help me get people to safety.

  Her head was bowed, as if she expected a reprimand. I held the bow harder than I should've so I tried to relax my arms. "Fair enough. I'll need your help. Now let's get people inside."

  Morgana then grabbed my arm and shoved me to the side. "Watch out."

  Footsteps stormed into the dining hall. The lights from the candles blew out in the commotion. Thor and his men were outside, and anyone in the throne room wouldn't be able to see if they came out of their room above us. In the dark, I tried to see as I grabbed an arrow from my back and loaded the crossbow. "Who's there?"

  Morgana screamed, "Rex. I can smell him."

  In the dim light I watched as she threw herself on the ground. Nel and Frank huddled in the back of the room. Then Rex came out of the shadows. His white teeth glowed as he circled around me and went right for Morgana, who was pale. "My wife and my sister, together."

  My father always had perfect aim, even in the middle of a moonless night. I silently prayed he was with me now. I aimed my crossbow as he grabbed Morgana by her hair. Everything slowed as I stared down the barrel of Light Redeemer with my arrow loaded and said, "Let go of her."

  He held Morgana, though she clawed at his hand that gripped her hair. Rex's chest was clear for a shot. "Gwen, the people of Avalon don't trust you. You are Thor's pawn. He intends to use you to get to me, but we're both too smart for this. You're my blood. Come with me and this nightmare of yours ends."

  He took a step closer to me, and I unlocked the chamber. "Get back."

  He tugged Morgana in front of him, but his shoulder was still free. "Do you think you scare me with your crossbow? I have spies. I know you cannot shoot."

  I had no choice. My father had to be with me now. Morgana’s face was contorted in pain. "Let her go."

  Rex yanked harder. "No. She's my wife. You all belong with me."

  Knocks on the door grew loud and I realized one of Rex's men had locked the throne room. Someone banged on the door. My heart hoped it was Thor. Right now I was all that stood to stop Rex. My body shook. I lost my aim, but held onto the arrow to find it again.

  Thor called through the thick wood door and into the dark dining hall. "What's happening? Why is this locked?"

  I chewed my bottom lip as I centered my aim. "There is no way out Rex. You should have stayed gone. Coming here was your mistake."

  He backed away like he had an escape, dragging Morgana with him. "You won't shoot me."

  It was up to me to save Thor's people. This was my home now. My voice rose. "You killed my family."

  "I am your family."

  Rex then twisted Morgana's arm and she screamed. Rex opened a back door. I couldn't let them disappear. I stared at his shoulder and then let go of the trigger. The arrow flew and I silently prayed help me, father.

  All I could do was watch unmoving as the arrow seemed to slow down. Then in a whoosh of sound, I saw his blood spatter on her head.

  His lips fell open and his face went white. A moment later, Rex released her and held his hand on the arrow that punctured his shoulder. "I can't believe you did that."

  Morgana ran behind him. I reloaded Light Redeemer, but her body was in my shot too. I called out, "Morgana stay back."

  She held something above his head.

  "Wait!" I cried.

  Instead of listening, she blocked him. I couldn't get another shot but then Rex fell to the ground. I held Light Redeemer back and approached. "Did you knock him out?"

  Morgana's face turned red. "In a manner of speaking."

  Rex was sprawled backwards with his tongue out. I took the arrow from my case and restocked one in the serving. "What did you do?"

  She held a vial in her palm. "I put him to sleep, the same way I did to you."

  I swayed, relieved, not worried about Rex, but Morgana shouldn't drug anyone else, though for her it might be better than getting a taste of blood. I'd been knocked out all night. "Ahh."

  With her hand on her hip, she said, "He deserved it."

  And more. We were out of danger, so that was all that mattered.

  Thor banged what I'd guess was his entire body on the front door to open it, tumbling inside. Nel relit a match so we could see how she had Frank huddled in a corner. Chaus rushed past us to unlock the throne room.

  My heart sped faster and I smiled. Thor straightened himself and walked toward me with Merlin at his side, as Thor asked, "What's going on?"

  We all pointed to the same spot as I said, "Rex is here."

  Thor stepped in front of me like he'd protect me. I reached out and squeezed his arm before he removed his sword and possibly Rex's head. "He's unconscious," I said.

  He turned around and hugged me. Held tight against his massive muscular chest, it felt like no one could ever hurt me. He smoothed my hair. "Gwen, you are one of a kind."

  Yes, I was. Now he needed to understand we shared everything or we shared nothing. Once the crisis was over, we'd talk. "I shot him and Morgana then drugged him. How many holes have you found?"

  "Most of them. There are a few more places to check. Don't worry. It will be over soon. Merlin is searching the walls himself." Then he turned away from me and called to the door, "Guards, take Rex into the dungeon."
<
br />   My eyes widened. "He's shot. Injured."

  "He's alive. That makes him dangerous. We need to ensure the walls are safe. Rex might be your brother but he's a killer."

  "He's far worse than a killer." Thor intended to leave. I grabbed his hand and followed him as I said, "Wait. I'm coming with you."

  His big blue eyes shown with concern. He cared about me and he cared about everyone here. He didn't say anything for a second until he took his arm out of my grip. "Gwen-"

  "No. I just shot Rex." I refused to let go of his hand. "I'm done sitting around and waiting."

  He shrugged like he had done the math and I was probably fine. "Fair enough."

  At the door, I turned around. Morgana walked with the guards down the hall as Nel held Frank's hand. Chaus helped Nel and Frank grabbed his hand. I coughed and everyone turned to me. "Nel, ensure everyone who works here is in the center of the castle. Morgana will take care of the nobles, but we have to get everyone. If anyone makes a fuss, let me know who and we'll deal with them later."

  She curtsied. "Yes, my lady."

  I squeezed his arm. "Now let's go."

  We went outside and the sun was so hot it burned my skin. I tried to ignore it. One of the pages came toward us as we marched onto the battlements and toward the gate. As the boy approached, he stood stiffly and saluted. "Your Highness, we've taken out four places with dynamite already. As you said there were six, we're still scouring the ground for soft patches of dirt."

  I glanced at the gate and saw how soldiers and farmers worked together. Everyone had black dirt on their faces from digging. I clutched Light Redeemer at my side as Thor stopped and gave the messenger his full attention. "Rex is in our dungeon. Once we finish this, we will have a lot to celebrate tonight."

  The page grinned. "Yes, Sire."

  Thor and I walked arm in arm toward the gate and I saw his white horse saddled. At first I let him lead, but then my arms grew goose bumps. "What's going on?"

  Thor held his head high and alert as we neared his steed. He must have intended for us to ride, but he didn't explain. He rubbed my arm and said, "Something is wrong. I'll have to search fast."

  My hands reached out for his hips and I hugged him. "We'll find the last two."

  A loud boom echoed in my ears and buzzed through me. The air filled with dust and I covered my eyes, coughing on the dirt particles in the air. Thor threw me on his horse in the chaos of people's cries. My eyes watered as he came in front of me and we galloped through the open gate towards the blast.

  I blinked away the debris in my eyes and prayed no one was hurt in the explosion. Thor called out into the dust that blinded me, "Sir Wain, let's assess the wall."

  The general. I whipped my head back to stare at the dark-haired man with brown eyes. He wasn't much older than any of us. His chest swelled as he nodded, "It held, Sire."

  If it didn't hold, Rex's troops would be inside to rescue him.

  Thor kept his white horse from a gallop. "How can you tell?"

  Sir Wain shrugged. "Rocks aren't flying everywhere."

  Thor groaned. "Good point. There is one more, we must find."

  As we turned the corner, I saw that the wall still glistened white, but that no one stood on the top. Soldiers and knights lay in the dirt and grass, stunned.

  "Let's walk without shoes on. In the forest, we used our senses to understand where animals went and where to lay traps. Our boots dull the senses. Don't just check the walls. We'll notice the difference in the soil faster."

  He swung down and then walked beside the horse and the wall as his men scoured the dirt for any signs of the last bomb. He stood beside me, barefoot as well, and whispered, "Gwen, you are full of good ideas."

  Farmers and soldiers all saw us and removed their shoes too, though they probably didn't know why.

  A few minutes later, Thor stopped and moved his foot back and forth. "I think this is it."

  My shoulders tightened as I grabbed the reins of the horse. How are mines detonated? They might be controlled from afar and neither of us had any shoes or any defenses. We shouldn't be here. It would leave Avalon without a ruler.

  "Thor, call for a soldier to do this."

  "I can do it."

  Thor dug into the dirt with his bare hands. I was frantic and not leaving Thor here by himself. It was like being cut in half with a sword. Everyone else in my life had died. He couldn't. I swallowed back my fear as Sir Wain approached.

  "Stay a safe distance from me, my lady." He pointed to the gate. His grim face wasn't one to be reckoned with. He had the beady eyes of a bat that was about to attack its prey in the dark as he snapped, "Stay in my sight, but we need you to be safe."

  Thor was so busy in the dirt that he didn't hear. I held my head high. "Thor is needed far more than me, sir. Help him?"

  He dropped down to the dirt beside the king. The best general and the king were risking their necks. I mounted the horse. If I had to rescue Thor, then we'd need to run fast. As I settled in the seat, my ears buzzed, like I missed something.

  Sir Wain placed his hands on the dirt but didn't dig. He grabbed Thor's arm.

  "Be careful lifting the bomb." I called out and Wain dropped his hand. Then I called out, "I have to check on the women in the castle."

  Thor didn't seem to hear me.

  Wain coughed. "Sire, we have a report. Rex and Delott have escaped from the dungeon."

  I raced his horse to get back inside. Thor had to stay at the wall to get the last possible explosion. This was up to me. My friends were inside. I dismounted on the steps of the castle and grabbed Light Redeemer.

  As I entered the castle, I wondered where Merlin was. Perhaps he was with Morgana. Then Nel rushed toward me with Frank right at her side. The boy's chin trembled as he stared with those big empty eyes of his. "We don't know what happened to Morgana, my lady."

  I took a deep breath. "Where are Chaus and Merlin?"

  "They went to search for the last mine, my lady, but there are still people in this castle." Sir Wain and Thor were busy with the mine too. If Morgana had been taken by Rex, then no side won. "I will find her."

  In the archway, Nel clutched the boy like he was her brother as she shook. "Alone?"

  I gulped and clutched Light Redeemer higher in the air. If any threat was still in the castle, then it was my responsibility. I took an arrow from my back and stood taller. "If I'm to be the queen, I cannot be afraid."

  As I walked into the dark castle with no candles lit, my skin prickled. They were here. I knew it in my soul. This was my fight.

  Chapter 28

  I held my crossbow and crossed the dining room as I left the throne room. Nothing stirred. My hands became clammy as I made my way past the empty tables. I didn't know this castle fully.

  I returned to the entrance and went toward the stairs that led to my room. As I climbed the steps and glanced in the dark spaces along the way, I knew that this was it, me against Rex, and I’d get my shot at redeeming my family etc. My heart echoed in my chest as adrenaline rushed through me. A sound of something rolling to my left caused me to point.

  Then a hand raced down my back and I turned around. Delott's fingers squeezed my arm so I'd drop my bow. I clutched it tighter as he whispered in my ear, "My lady."

  His lavender and vanilla smell gave him away as the traitor he was. I tried to step away from him and get a shot. "Give up, Delott."

  As I twirled around the top of the stairs, he did the same and his hands landed on my hip. "It seems we're at an impasse. I've already put Rex on a horse and sent him away."

  I was shaking as I tried to get his hands off me. It didn't work. My mind whispered to keep him talking. I'd not go with him anywhere. My body grew cold and clammy, and it was harder to speak. I turned my head to stare into his brown eyes. "Why?"

  He shrugged. "I don't like being in the dungeon."

  His hands on my hips meant we were way too close. Every cell in my body was alert as I tried to reason with him. "You swore
allegiance to me."

  With one hand he traced my spine. "If it was in my power to be of service to you, I'd stay."

  I had to break free. His lips were inches from mine, but I didn't move. I was frozen in place as my voice grew weak, "Why are you helping Rex?"

  His eyes widened. "He'll give me my freedom. Thor won't."

  "Why are you still here then? Why didn't you escape with him?"

  He squeezed my hip and smiled. "I wanted to see you one more time. Gwen, I meant what I said. You are the best possible ruler for all of England."

  No. No more touching. No more kissing. No more. I used my elbows and swung them to break free of his embrace and flipped around on my heels. The entire time I clutched the trigger to the crossbow. As I stopped, I aimed at his heart. "That was your mistake."

  Not the brightest man, he inched closer to me. I swerved to get away. "Perhaps. I hoped for one more kiss from your sweet lips."

  My back hit the wall. I’d once cringed in this spot to run away. My spine straightened. There was nowhere else to go now. The door was down the stairs and across the hall. I shouted and held the crossbow higher. "Get back or I'll shoot you."

  He stopped. "You're settling for a life that is not your own."

  Ice raced down my spine. He'd not scare me. I checked my shot and aimed right at his heart. "You have no idea what you're talking about."

  Delott stepped to the side, but held out his hand. "Come away with me Gwen."

  Something clicked to our right. If Rex was here, there was nothing I could do. I screamed at the top of my lungs, "Get out. Now."

  Delott knocked my crossbow out of my arms. The wood echoed on the floor. My heart beat wildly as he pressed himself against me. "You kissed me back once."

  "The price of returning to Thor." I turned my head and struggled. He stole one kiss, once. It would not happen again. My fingers clenched.

  Then Thor's voice boomed through the stairwell. "Get off her."

  I was free. Delott was thrown off me and I fell to the floor. I stood as Thor used his elbows to ensure Delott was given to his guards, and then his hand reached for mine to help steady me. My heart raced. I flung myself into his arms and closed my eyes. The smell of testosterone and metal and the forest were his scent. "Thor."