Duty and Destiny

Adalia watched as the older men quietly moved out of the room and their mother’s called to both Novia and her towards the baby. She moved towards the crib, but her eyes were still on the six men vacating the room. She wanted to be there with them, strategizing, not here staring at the drooling but adorable baby. She was more interested in matters of the sword and not that of a rattle.

“I’m just going to take a walk,” she lied and walked towards the large window. When she was sure none was watching she sneaked into the strategy room.

“We need to attack before they do,” she heard Conan bellow. He was always interested in the offence more than he was the defense.

“No, we cannot risk escalating the situation more than it already is,” that was her father the voice of reason.

“I agree,” she heard Lionell say.

“Why don’t we think of a diplomatic way,” that was Archer’s voice. “Meet with them, find out what they want, and then act accordingly.”

Beauty and brains, Adalia was impressed.

***

Archer saw the door crack open. He saw Adalia’s dark hair hanging over her dress. He wanted to laugh but stopped he didn’t want anything to draw attention to Adalia. But it seemed someone else had spotted her.

“Don’t be a sneak, come in. You are already halfway in anyway,” Gabrielle said his head lowered his eyes still on the plans.

Lionell and Doran looked up, but the others already knew who it was, so they didn’t move.

“We need to guard this place,” Gabrielle drew everyone’s attention back to the map as her drew around the thick forest dividing both kingdoms. “They will not be able to attack both sides.”

“I will take charge of that,” Conan said.

“I’ll help,” Adalia who was already at her father’s side and hovering over the map said. She pulled her hair back into a knot when it kept on falling in front of her, blocking her eye view to the map.

“No!” Gabrielle said firmly.

“But faith-,” she started then stopped. “Your highness, I am prepared, and I am a better warrior than any of your men and as good as each man in here.”

“I know that that is why you will take command of the palace guards,” Gabrielle continued. “Randi will take the second platoon just outside the castle. Conan and I will be at the forefront.”

“Archer and Doran will lead, and I will take the second platoon,” Lionell looked up at Adalia an amused smile on his face. “Unlike you Gabrielle, my daughter isn’t that eager to strap on an armor.”

“How I wish my daughter was the same,” Gabrielle chuckled and pulled Adalia’s hair out of the knot.

As they laughed, a royal guard walked in a worried look engraved on his face. He whispered something into Doran’s ear that had him reaching for his sword. Doran hushed something back to him and he rushed out of the room.

“Your highnesses the palace is under attack,” he began and shot a look at Lionell as an army of soldiers with armor walked in and began dressing them. “Both queens and the children have been taken down to the banker.”

Just then the South Kingdom guard rushed in and dressed both Randi and Gabrielle.

“I want two of you with my wife and children,” Gabrielle ordered.

“She has taken two guards with her and a sword,” the guard said. He looked over at Adalia an extra armor in his hand. “Your highness shall we dress the princess?”

Gabrielle looked over at his daughter and saw the eagerness in her eyes, but he also saw caution. He looked over at Randi and made his decision. “Yes,” he turned to Adalia. “You stick with your brother, but do not distract anyone. If it gets bloody, you come back here and protect the palace.”

***

“Your highness, I don’t mean to challenge your decision but, are you sure the Princess should be out there?” Archer asked. “I’m not quite sure I want my future queen exposing herself to so much danger.”

“I am not your wife yet,” Adalia walked in when the query was weighing heavy in the air.

Archer’s jaw dropped. Adalia looked mighty and beautiful in her suit of armor. Her hair was tied up in a ponytail and her hand was firmly around the hilt of her sword. She was a vision. And this time when their eyes locked, he felt a tinge of pride, adoration and want towards her. Now she was a woman he would be proud to call his Queen.

“I have something for you,” he mumbled.

Archer’s helper walked in with the sword he had formed for her wrapped in a black velvet cloth. “I had this made for you.”

“What?” Adalia pulled away the cloth. Her jaw dropped as her fingers smoothed over the crystals on the black hilt. It was magnificent. “I love it.”

Leora burst into the room a stern looks on her face. “You are letting her fight,” it was an accusation more than it was a question.

A guard rushed in with armor, Leora tore off her skirt and lifted her arms as they eased the armor on.

“What do you think you are doing?” Gabrielle rushed to her side a distraught look on his face.

“You are putting my children at risk, so I will come with them,” she said sternly.

Gabrielle immediately came up with a new plan. “Adalia, you stay at the palace doors with your mother just in case some of them manage to sneak past us.”

Adalia agreed she didn’t want to be the reason her parents fought. She saw the look of relief in Archer’s face, and she was confused.

Leora and Adalia waited at the palace doors. Adalia could hear the grunts, moans and bellows of the men fighting beyond the palace gates, and she wished she could be there with them. But when she saw the charcoal black blades of her mother’s wings spring out, she knew there was trouble. She watched as Leora snarled and crouched in position ready to attack. She heard the clang of blades, and she knew she had to get ready.

Free of her corset her wings materialize themselves. They were just as bold and glorious as her mother’s. She couldn’t sense any danger coming from her side, so she knew they were all coming from her mother’s side. She saw one of the rebels as they tried to climb over the palace walls, and she reacted.

Moving the air around her moved as her wings flapped as hard as they could as she flew to the palace walls. She stood her feet astride on the great wall as she fought the men clambering up the beating of her wings keeping her steady on her feet.

***

“That was good. You were good,” Archer had caught a glimpse of her on the palace walls, as she fought off the intruders with a prowess, he had never seen any of his men possess. His senses came alive, when he thought of how her black hair blended with her black wings and the strong contrast to the silver armor and blade. He wished he was her sword, just the hilt; the gentle firmness in which she wielded her blade was arousing. He wondered how his white wings would blend in with hers, and if they had children what colors theirs would be, grey? But he wanted everything about them to be exactly like her. She was more of a warrior than a princess.