Chapter 25

The journey to Mavis's kingdom was long. Especially for the small merchant boat. We circled the sea, making our way back home. We finished the journey on foot. It ended with Charles and I crashing at the castle gate. We dropped to our knees. Our bodies were exhausted. There were moments in the journey where I didn't think we would make it. The land and sea were both brutal to us.

Guards drew their swords at us. We displayed our empty hands.

"State your business. Or face the wrath of my sword."

"Please. We're friends of the princess." I stated.

"You two? Friends of the princess? HA! You look like nothing but two common peasants!"

"EXCUSE YOU! I'll have you know that my FATHER is-" Charles began, his feathers ruffled.

"Stop! Let them through!" A familiar voice said.

It was my best friend. Her hair was long and recovered from her previous aggressive botched haircut. Her dress was pink like her rosy cheeks. She was clean and full of gems from head to foot.

"Your majesty, who are these two?" The guard lowered his sword.

"It's Sir Charles, and my husband. Open the gates. Now." She demanded.

The guard did as she commanded, despite their hesitation.

We watched the medal bars rise, granting us access to the palace grounds. Mavis rushed over to me and greeted me with a tight hug.

"Zander. I can't believe it's really you! Your arms! You've gotten so strong!" She said, studying me.

"Where's my hug, Mavie?"

She released me and gave Charles a light hug.

"It's good to see both of you alive. I didn't know if I'd ever see you again..."

"Well, were here. The journey was long, but we made it home. Finally."Charles said.

"Are your parents alright with me being here?" I asked Mavis.

"You don't have to hide here, Zander. Vendov made an offer to my parents, but they denied it! They're going to join the efforts to fight them with us! Isn't that great?"

"That's amazing. The support of Belmonte will definitely give us some ground to stand on." I told her.

"We're going to plan that out after dinner. But first, you both need a bath. I can smell you from a foot away." She scrunched her nose.

We followed her inside to the grounds. The castle was made of a creamy marble. Soft pink flowers grew all around the castle grounds. The mountains watched over us in the distance. Belmonte was truly beautiful. Even the clouds seemed softer in Belmonte.

Mavis led us to the throne room. Her parents sat tall on their chairs. The throne room was decorated with pastel pink and gold accents. Her mother's hair flowed down the side of head, twisting into a braid. Her hair was darker than her father's. Her father had a face full of a blonde beard. It was well groomed. The light colored crown almost blended into his golden hair. Their lines on their faces showed ages of ruling.

They rose for our presence. The palace was heavily armed with buff guards patrolling the castle. Their defenses were strong, and I was already imagining a strong victory with the help of Belmonte.

"King Zander Bray." Mavis's mother greeted. It felt like it had been ages since I had been called king.

I kneeled to her.

"Your majesty's. Thank you for letting us into your castle and being an ally for Lafayette."

"Mavis thought it was best. We couldn't agree more." Her father spoke.

Daniel entered the throne room, carrying his daughter in his hands. Daniel was dressed much fancier than I had ever seen him. His face was clean and had no stubble. His clothes appeared tight.

"Zander! It's a pleasure to see you again." Daniel approached me. His daughter was quiet in his arms.

"What about me? No one misses me?" Charles said.

"I'm sure your father would love for you to return home." Mavis's father told Charles.

Mavis and I beamed at their daughter. Daniel passed her to Mavis. She had grown so much since I had seen her. Her golden hair was growing fast. She truly looked like a little princess.

"She's grown so much." I said.

"She has been so fussy the past few days. I'm surprised she's sleeping now." Daniel passed their child to Mavis.

I noticed Daniel adjust his collar and itch under it. Almost as if he hadn't adjusted from being a rugged guard to a royal family member.

"Perhaps you should put Opal to bed. She must be due for a nap." Mavis's mother said.

"That's alright, I haven't seen her much today. She's hard to get to sleep, but when she does she's out like a blown out candle." Said Mavis, softly bouncing her child in her arms.

"Mavis, dear. I don't think it's time for her to be out. Dina! Please take princess Opal to bed." The queen snapped her fingers and summoned a servant.

"Yes, your majesty." She obeyed, and scooped Opal  out of Mavis's arms.

"Mother, why? She wasn't harming anyone being out here." Mavis said, crossing her arms.

"I just didn't want her woken up." The queen insisted.

I watched the servant disappear with Opal up the stairs, and far away from the throne room. The room felt like it was closing in.

"Guards. Now!" Yelled the king

The entire mood of the room changed from peaceful to aggressive. Suddenly, the Belmonte guards grabbed me, Charles, Mavis, and Daniel.

"Hey! What's going on!" Charles shrieked.

I began to kick and swing my body. We were all struggling to get away like fish out of water.

"Mother! Father! What is the meaning of this!" Mavis yelled at them.

"We're sorry, dear." Her mother said, lowering her head.

Daniel reached for his sword, but the Belmonte guards held him down and took it away from him.

"What are you doing?" Mavis shouted. Her mother didn't look at her in the eyes. They ignored their daughter's pleading questions.

The guards gripped my arms so hard that it felt like they were digging into my skin. They pulled my arms behind my back and twisted them tightly together. I felt something pop.

"I'm sorry, Mavis. It was the only way to keep you safe." Said the queen.

"What are you doing! STOP! I COMMAND YOU!" Mavis screamed in the faces of the guards.

"Mavis, please. Don't make this harder than it has to be." Her father said.

"LET ME GO!"

The front palace doors to the throne room flew open. The room flooded with Vendov guards dressed in red and black uniforms.

"WHAT DID YOU DO?" Mavis screamed at her parents.

"We made a deal with Vendov... They would forgive you and your family for committing treason against them if we joined them and gave them Zander."

"WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU! LET HIM GO! LET ZANDER GO!"

"Guards, take my daughter away. Get her somewhere safe. She shouldn't see this." The king said. The guards dragged her away. She threw her whole body to the ground.

"Let her go! Let Zander go!" Daniel said, attempting to elbow off the guards.

"Take him away too. And get rid of Charles. The king will be here any moment."

The guards dragged them off one by one. Each of them fought tooth and nail to release from the kingdom's grasp. Mavis's screams could be heard far down the hall.

The guards pushed me down to my knees.

"You betrayed your daughter. You lied to her!" I said to them as they tossed me to the hard floor.

"It's for the best. I couldn't have her get hurt because of her foolish husband. She'll realize that this was best. We're sorry, Zander. We did like you, but we love our daughter, and our granddaughter." Mavis's father said. Her mother couldn't look me in the eyes either.

The doors flew open once again. More guards marched into the throne room like they were invading new territory.

"Hello, Princey."