Chapter 49
Guinevere
I thought it would feel good to walk into the Great Hall of Blackthorn victorious, head held high. All I feel is slightly numb as Alaric yanks the strings of my corset tight. I dismissed the maid, used to dressing myself and unwilling to let her see me like this. So changed.
When I glance up at reflection all I notice are the subtle ways I no longer look like me. The dark circles beneath my eyes that were never there before, the greenish gray tint to my skin.
I turn away. “Come, let us get this over with.”
“Are you certain you do not want your maid to do your hair?” Alaric asks.
“No need.” I head for the door and he follows.
He looks good dressed in fine blue silk with flowing sleeves and a belt of gold, with his hair pulled back and tied into a knot at the base of his neck.
Like the prince he once was. Just as if my entire world has not changed, I stand at the door and wait for the herald to announce me before I stride through the room, ignoring the whispers and the stares, making my way between the rectangle of chairs, straight for the dais where my father’s throne sits empty.
I do not sit, though. Rather, I stand looking down at my stepmother who waits before the throne, bound hand and foot.
Her hair is loose and flows down her back.
There is barely any color left. Her feet are bare.
Her face is sunken, wrinkled, and patchy; she looks as if she has aged thirty years in one day.
She glares at me as I lift my hands to quiet the waiting lords and ladies.
Alaric takes his place at my right-hand side, a foot back from where I stand, waiting silently.
“My lords, I’ve asked you to join me today to cast judgement on one who until recently sat on the throne but failed to serve the people of Erenvold.”
Melantha scoffs, but the guard stationed with her folds his arms menacingly, and she holds her tongue.
“Let me begin by outlining the case against her, and then I will leave it to you to decide her fate.”
Old Lord Gruyer seated at the front left clears his throat. “Highness, may I ask why you do not simply pass judgement yourself as is the usual custom?”
“It is the custom for the king or queen, but I have not been crowned.”
I wait in case they have more questions, but when the silence stretches on, I continue. “The first charge is that Melantha conspired to have me killed in order to usurp the throne. Sir Alaric?”
He steps forward.
“Please recount the orders given to you by the false queen as my father lay dying.”
“She ordered me to take you into the woods and ensure you did not return.”
I pause to give the lords a chance to take this in. “And what did you interpret that to mean?”
“That she wanted you dead.”
I dismiss him and look around at the nobles gathered before me. “I can offer no proof, but it’s my belief that she also poisoned my father the king in order to gain power.”
Melantha tugs against the wooden stocks fastened around her wrists. “Why are you spreading lies? The king was my husband. I loved him.”
I turn to her, fixing her with a stare. “And did you visit him on his deathbed, stepmother?”
She knows I can call the servants to testify that she did not. Yet she sneers. “I wonder how you think I poisoned him if I was not in the room.”
The lords whisper among themselves.
I straighten. “It would have been simple to have a servant do the deed, or perhaps you simply had him poisoned until he grew weak. As I said, I have no proof. However, of other crimes, I have proof.” Fishing the charm from the pocket of my dress, I hold it up.
“This was a magic charm which was designed to lure monsters. To draw them to us.”
“Preposterous. It is merely a trinket.”
“Perhaps. Shall we discuss the magic you used to make yourself appear young and beautiful? The other spells you might have cast over innocent folk?”
“Lies,” she spits, but the lords and ladies are already whispering.
“There are more serious charges as well. Burning innocent townsfolk for sedition. The people starving while your table was full.”
The murmurs grow louder.
“I watched a starving girl die in her mother’s arms. I saw the fear in people’s eyes when they spoke of you.” The memories come flooding back, and only Alaric’s cool touch on my hand stops my mind from sinking into that state again where things grow out of my control.
I take a steadying breath. “You are not fit to rule. You never were. My lords, I have said enough. You must make your decision.” Shaking with anger, I retire to the throne. My task is almost over. Soon I can take Alaric and the gargoyles and return to the ruins in the woods.
Lord Gruyer stands. “Your Highness, we have faith in your judgment. You do not need to convince us. What we wish to know is when we can have your coronation.”
I stare at him coldly. “I cannot rule.”
“Whyever not? Are you not your father’s only heir?”
“Does the death of the heir not negate the inheritance?”
He frowns, white brows creasing to produce deeper lines in his forehead. “Such circumstances as ours have never been tested against the law.”
I huff in frustration. This should not be difficult. “I died, my lord. I am not what I was before. You saw me burned at the stake and yet, look at me.”
Lady Leina lifts a handkerchief to cover her mouth, and Sir Harmer looks a little green as if he might be sick.
Lord Gruyer presses on. “And yet here you are striving for justice, proving yourself a wise and considerate ruler.”
I stare at him in disbelief. “I’m a monster! A walking corpse. Do you want a queen who cannot die, who will never bear offspring? Who raises the dead to walk the streets because she cannot control her unnatural power?”
Lord Gruyer blanches. Lady Leisa lowers her handkerchief. “Better that than her.” She casts an evil look at Melantha.
I throw my hands up. “Listen to yourselves. You do not know what you are asking for.”
“On the contrary,” Lord Gruyer has recovered himself. “You have enlightened us. And now we make an informed choice.” He looks around at the others and turns back to me, seemingly decided. “We support your claim, my lady.”
“You cannot be serious.” I look around the circle of faces, but they look back, undaunted. “I cannot listen to more of this.” I turn and stalk from the hall, knowing without checking that Alaric follows me.
I burst through the corridors and out into the rose garden. He is two steps behind me but only waits for me to turn. “Don’t they see what I am?”
“I think they do see,” he says.
I groan. “What do you think they see?”
“A just queen. A brave queen. One who will defend them and love them.”
I hesitate, my throat tight. “How can they want me like this?”
He steps closer until he’s close enough to hold me, but he only waits. “Who could not? Your father was a good man, and you are his daughter. They see the princess who would deny her claim out of care for her people.”
“I belong in the woods.”
“And I will follow you wherever you go, but stay at least a while. Consider what they ask.”
My lip trembles and the bite of sadness stings my eyes. “I’m scared,” I tell him.
“What are you afraid of?”
“Of becoming like her. Or worse.”
He pulls me into his arms then and tears fall onto his solid chest.
“You could never be like her. Never.”
“Promise?”
“Would I have given you my heart otherwise?”
I’m silent after that. He just holds me until I pull away. “Could you bear to stay?”
“Princess, I would do anything you asked of me. You know that.”
“Do you think the others would stay?” I’m suddenly very anxious, thinking about their reaction.
Alaric only laughs. “Princess, if you have any doubts they would follow you to the ends of the earth, you don’t know them as well as I think.”
I let out the breath that’s crept up to form a tight knot in my chest. “Come on. There is one more problem to deal with.”
After I return to the hall I order Melantha removed while I confer with the nobles. When we’ve reached a decision, I have her brought back to stand before me.
The nerves I felt before evaporate when I sit on my father’s throne and look down at Melantha.
My frown hardens. “I have considered how to kill you for so long I think I must have imagined all the ways. Leaving you for the monsters in the forest, burning you like you did to me, but in the end, I think that would be too kind. So I have decided to let you live.”
I see the look of realization spread over her expression, but she lifts her chin. “What is the price?”
I smile. “There is always a price, is there not? But do not worry. The cost is not too steep. You will live here in the palace under guard. You will even be fed. You will eat what the townsfolk had to eat under your rule. Of course, there might be some days where you go hungry. But you will be too busy to notice because you will be put to work in the kitchens making food for others. Every night you will prepare food and mend clothing for the poor. We will dress the people in the clothes you had made for yourself. And perhaps you will learn some compassion.”
“You cannot be serious?” She yanks at her chains. “Kill me now. It would be more merciful. I will die soon anyway and you know it.”
I turn away. “A quick death is too good for you.”
The guard leads her away still protesting, but she is ignored by the nobles, all of whom watch as I cast my gaze over each in turn. “Do you still want me as queen?”
Lord Gruyer looks around at the others and then back to me with a nod. “We do, Your Highness.”
A sick feeling in my belly overtakes me and I press my hand there, focused on keeping my back straight. “Even though you know what I am?”
The lords say nothing. My restless feet, unable to keep still, stride forward until I’m pacing. “I will not be like any queen or king we’ve ever had before. I will not take a husband.” I glance at Alaric. “I will not make a political match anyway. I have lovers. I will not give them up.”
If I thought this would shock them, the reaction I get is surprisingly little.
Lady Leina shifts in her seat. “A queen’s private business is her own.”
The others look around at her with raised brows.
“What? Can any of us say we don’t have our own… dalliances?”
The silence stretches on until I start pacing again. “I can never have children.”
Lord Gruyer coughs. “But you also cannot die.”
“I—” I sigh. “You are decided then?”
They all nod.
“Then I will stay. For now. But let the council reconvene in three months to reconsider.”
Lord Gruyer inclines his head. “Thank you, Your Majesty. May we begin arranging your coronation?”
A coronation? I still have to face the people and break the news to my gargoyles.
But I will have to face it eventually. I wave my hand in agreement.
“Yes, my lord. When things are more settled. For now there are other arrangements to be made as well. Repairs to the wall, recruitment and training of new guards. Those will keep me busy for a while as you might imagine, but if you wish for a coronation, then we will have one. I only ask that you keep expenses low. I think Erenvold has had quite enough of needless spending recently.”