20. Chapter Twenty Rhowyn
Chapter Twenty: Rhowyn
“Now,” Aurelia smiled at me, “Would you like to go for a tour of the Keep?” When I nodded, she grabbed my arm, looping hers through the crook of mine, leading me gently down the long hallway. Just this small section screamed out the differences between Titania’s castle and this one. Stone lined every surface, very reminiscent of the medieval castles I’d seen on Earth. Well, more like in pictures or movies. I’d never actually had the chance or desire to travel much, too concerned with just surviving and then getting my life together.
Tapestries hung from the walls here and there, depicting scenes of battles, hunts, and daily life in the villages, interrupting the hard, cold lines of the stone and softening the feel of the Keep drastically. I found myself wanting to stop and stare at some of the scenes, to understand the history and stories of these people, but Aurelia was pulling me along too quickly.
“This wing is for the members of the household, the servants’ quarters are on the ground floor, and for visitors, we have rooms on the other side.” She began, gesturing to the closed doors that were intermittently spaced. It didn’t take too long for us to reach the stairs, all stone as well, with banisters made of wood. Instead of intricate carvings, it was plain but worn smooth with age and care.
“Down here, we have the dining room, which is also the throne room for you, for now.” She opened one of the large doors on the opposite side of a large entry area. The front doors to the Keep stood wide open to allow light and airflow, guards standing sentry, to reveal an enormous room with long tables laid out on each side of a middle walkway.
A single step led up to a raised dais with a large wooden throne. The throne, a warm reddish oak color, was carved to reveal vines with leaves sprouting off, gleaming as if recently oiled. Red cushions sat between the arms and along the back. It was beautiful in its simplicity. Looking up, I saw stained glass windows with more images that allowed in rays of colored light, highlighting the throne and tables. It was gorgeous in totality, with its soaring ceiling and cavernous fireplaces on each side. I could easily imagine the room filled with people, the sounds of conversation and merriment ringing out around me.
After giving me a moment to take in this room, Aurelia pulled me along toward the back of the room and closer to the throne, where I saw more doors leading off to each side. She pointed to a door on the right. “This leads to the kitchens, which has an underground cellar stocked with supplies.” Pointing to the left door, she stated, “And this door leads to a private sitting area, a place for you to have more private conversations or meetings.”
Her smile grew as she led me to the door toward the back, directly behind the throne. “And through here, you’ll find the heart of our resistance.” She paused with her hand on the door before swinging it open and stepping back to allow me to enter first.
I halted on the threshold. Several fae surrounded the table, and a few desks were scattered around, but what drew my attention was the enormous table shaped in the outline of Avalon, villages and borders carved into the top to form a map. On the map table were wooden figures and items indicating what I assumed were troops and supporters as well as enemies, each side depicted as either white or black, like a living chess board.
Turning to Aurelia, I asked, “What is this?”
She smiled back, beaming with pride. “ This is our War Room.”
“Arryn is going to love this,” I whispered more to myself as I pictured him standing in front of the table, moving and directing our forces. This was his element, leading tactical maneuvers and protecting us all.
“Oh, he’s already seen it and was highly impressed. He just left to get cleaned up for dinner which will be served soon. During which, you can meet your loyal subjects.” She walked forward until she was standing next to me. At some point during my gawking, I had stepped closer to the table.
Turning to look at her, aghast at the idea of having people fawning over me, I finally noticed that the other fae who had been in here when I first entered, had left. “Please, promise me we won’t be interrupting anything or imposing on you.”
“Nonsense,” she replied easily. “If anything, you’re giving us back our hope. It's hard to run a resistance when there’s no end goal in sight, when there’s no one to stand behind. But now that you’re here, the people are brimming with excitement and hope, something I haven’t seen since Autumn last rose up against Titania.”
“But I haven’t done anything yet. How can they be so sure that I’ll be the one to fix everything?” I asked her, the responsibility that I owed to these people pressing down on me.
She laughed. “Well, you can’t do any worse than what they’ve lived with for the last twenty-plus years.”
Her laughter was infectious, and I found myself smiling in return. “I suppose you’re right.”
“Ready to see the rest?” she asked me.
Before I could answer her though, a younger fae male came running in, face red from exertion and his breathing ragged. “Your Majesty.” He bowed, still struggling to catch his breath. “Lady Aurelia.”
“What is it, Valen?” Aurelia asked the young man.
Panting, he stood back up. “A large group is approaching the shield.” His eyes were wide with fear as his chest heaved in and out.
Instantly we were both on high alert. “Who is it?” I asked him.
“We can’t identify them yet, but they’re coming in fast.”
I immediately began walking back through the dining room, making my way to the exit. “Take me to the gate,” I demanded from the young man.
“Yes, Your Majesty.” He turned and took the lead, Lady Aurelia walking beside me.
“Do you think your consorts were followed?” she asked me as we strode quickly to the gate.
“Surely not. Arryn’s too well trained to allow something like that to happen.”
“Then how did they find us? We’ve been hidden for over a decade, with very strict protocols on who we share the location with. Most of our resistance doesn’t even know of this place.”
“I don’t know,” I answered. Her explanation only put me further on edge.
As we descended the outer steps, I reached out to Brannoc through our mental link. “ Brannoc, I need you to get the others and meet me at the gate. ”
I could sense his concern immediately. “ What is it? ” he asked while starting to move.
“ A large group is approaching the Keep ,” I said simply, distracted by my arrival at the gate, other soldiers rushing up behind us.
“ We’ll be right there ,” he told me and then cut the connection.
I entered the small room with the narrow windows beside the gate without another word to anyone. Looking out, I could immediately see the dust kicked up by the horses, pinpointing the location of the arriving group, but it also meant the group was hidden from clear view. I could either sit here and wait for them to make the first move, or I could cut them off at the pass. Exiting the room, I nearly collided with my guys. Decided, I turned to the soldiers at the gate. “Open it.”
“Your Majesty?” they questioned, startled by the sudden demand.
“Do as your Queen orders. Open the gate,” Arryn snapped at them, spurring them into action. As soon as the gate opened, I strode out, shoulders pulled back and head high. I knew I presented a formidable image in my silver dress with my crown glinting in the fading sunlight, but I would much rather have been in something I could move in. If this came down to a fight, I wouldn’t be prepared and would have to rely solely on my magic without any weapons.
The group continued their approach, containing maybe twenty to thirty people that I could make out. Stepping outside of the shield, my men lined up behind me, all on edge and ready to take out the threat before us. I waited for the arrival of these strangers.
About twenty feet away from where I stood, the group halted, dust rushing to surround us. A gentle breeze from Baer kept it out of our faces and eyes, allowing us to keep our focus on the threat before us. As the dust settled, the group started to part to allow a figure through on a smaller horse and of smaller build than the rest. Four larger people flanked and surrounded the slender figure as they approached.
The lead rider dismounted and then removed the scarf covering her face as a bright smile lit her up from within. “We finally found you.”
I ran over to her, hugging her, my own happiness flowing through me at the sight before me. “It’s so good to see you, Charity. I was so worried about you.” I hadn’t allowed myself much time to think about her after we’d been separated after the second trial, too afraid to imagine what had happened to her because she’d been aligned with me.
She laughed, none of my fears or concerns weighing on her. “As soon as you broke out of the third trial, escaping Titania, we made our escape as well. With all the trials completed, we no longer had to stick around. Word reached us about a week ago where we’d been laying low that you were forming a resistance, and we knew we had to find you.”
“I’m glad you did, but who are all these people with you?” I asked her, still wary of the other members of the group.
She pulled back, her eyes widening in shock and amusement. “You never asked, but I assumed you knew. My father is a very wealthy merchant, high in standing with the Court. As such, he needs a large army to defend his shipments against raiders and thieves. These are his men.” She waved a hand at them.
When she did, they all dismounted and kneeled before me. “They’ve come to swear their services to you. My father was also thankful for you keeping me alive during the trials, as all of us are.” She paused to look at one of her consorts, who held a large chest. Opening it, she continued, “And this is from my father to help fund your rebellion.” Glinting in the light were hundreds, no, thousands of gold coins, more money than I had ever seen in my life.
Looking back at her, I was speechless. It seemed that even when making friends, Avalonia had been leading me. With this gift, we might actually stand a chance at defeating Titania.