In This Life And The Next

“We will be right behind you.” Don assured.

“See that you are.” Alec replied and swung up into Raven’s saddle.

“Save us a few to kill.” Jody smirked.

“Hurry, in that case.” Liam smiled and nodded at her.

As they left the camp, the men shouted words of encouragement, cheered them, and Alec felt a chill, as though these men would be the last he would lead.

If only it were so.

Will led the way, with Sam close behind. Much to their surprise, Blake asked to join the company and knowing that the man was just as invested in their family and had a quick mind, Alec agreed. Victor stayed close to Alec and Ash brought up the rear. Liam and Caspian stayed near the center of their riding forces. Neil didn’t bother asking permission, merely joined their parade. There were other men, handpicked by Liam and Caspian, that rode with them as well. All in all, there were close to forty men in their party.

They rode without flags, under cloaks that kept them hidden. The first night that they camped, they were underneath trees and Alec thought of his time with Aurora, thought of how he wanted to spend nights with her under the stars, thought about their child. who they would look like most. Alec hoped they had Aurora’s spirit, the strength to overcome anything and everything, but mostly he hoped he got to see their child grow up.

The next morning they rode out after a brief breakfast. “Do you think we could get there any faster?” Alec asked Liam when they stopped for water for the horses.

Liam pulled a map from his bag. He looked over it and opened his mouth, shut it, and then considered the map once more. “I don’t think so.” He finally decided.

Alec scrubbed at his face and growled.

“We will need to get new horses at the next village.” Caspian said and patted his own horse’s neck.

“Which will be?” Neil asked.

“Tomorrow.” Blake replied.

“Let’s get on with it.” Alec murmured and pulled himself up to his horse. The others followed him and they were off at the same punishing pace they had been keeping at since they left their men. Once more they pushed their horses and rode through half the night to reach the next village. Liam managed to talk Alec into stopping for a moment, if just to eat a hot meal before they were off once again.

When they were fed and their horses were traded for fresh ones, or at least their own watered and brushed down, they were off once again.

They encountered their first group just half a day outside the village. Caspian was in front of Alec and Liam and ducked a sword that was swung at his head. Alec gave out a savage yell that was answered by his brothers and his men.

It was the fight that Alec was spoiling for. If a man came close enough to Alec, they did not walk away. Four of their own men fell, but Alec made sure that none of the ones that attacked survived.

“Three days, yet.” Liam said to Alec.

There was nothing else to say as they forged on.

***

“Something on your mind?” Luke asked when he found Aurora on the battlement, high above everyone else. It was quiet up there and the stars were clear above her head. From this vantage point, she could see Roman’s army and the lights of the Morningstar army. They were at least two days ride out that Aurora could figure.

“When I thought about dying, I always thought it would be Phil on the other end.” Aurora replied thoughtfully. “Not dying in a war between two countries. Let alone dying behind the stone walls of my own keep, guarded personally by the Crown Prince’s royal guard with his mother and sister at my side.”

“Phil was the dirty cunt that kept you all these years?” Luke asked and took a drink from the flask at his side.

“He was.” Aurora replied.

“Had I known-” Luke began.

Aurora gave him a grim smile and shook her head. “Had you known, it is entirely possible that I would have never met the prince and been without all that he has given me. There is no need to apologize.”

It looked like it was on the tip of his tongue anyway but Luke shook his head. “I just keep thinking about it.”

“Don’t. It doesn’t change anything.” Aurora whispered, perhaps a little harsher than she intended. But she couldn’t help but be a little jealous of this life that Luke had built here, while she had been locked away in that forsaken house under Phil’s rule.

“What do you intend to do?” Luke asked and stepped closer to Aurora.

“I have to defer to Laura and the guards. I know nothing of combat or war.” Aurora replied.

“Surely you have thoughts.” Ben questioned, entering behind her and Luke. “That quick mind of yours, those numbers, you have to have thought of something.”

“We need help.” Aurora murmured and shook her head. “That’s all I keep thinking.”

Ben nodded and stood on Aurora’s other side. Marc joined them a moment later.

“It’s a good thing I have no desire of privacy, up here, far away from everyone else.” Aurora chuckled.

“It’s a good thing you have a sense of humor. The prince appreciates that in a woman.” Marc said drily.

“There is no way to send word to the Prince?” Aurora wondered. “I think he would at least appreciate the effort we made to contact him about our current situation before we are slaughtered.”

“Is there something in particular you have in mind?” Luke asked.

“In an ideal world, I would hide behind Liam and Alec and let them kill everyone.” Aurora murmured. “But as it stands, I have a few things in mind, yes.” She paused. “There are a hundred soldiers inside the walls, but how many people do we have that are able to work?”

Everyone turned to Luke. “Close to four hundred, I imagine.” He replied.

Aurora turned to the clearing in front of the keep and asked, “How big is the keep? Where is Faye? How many men can shoot arrows?” She headed for the stairs and down to the hall. “Is there sand available? Oil? Tar?”

“Ninety feet tall by a hundred feet high.” Luke stated.

“Faye is with the princess.” Ben informed her.

“I have need of her. Can you gather her?” Aurora asked and Ben left her side.

“Our men are schooled in swords, not arrows. The Prince took most of the archers with him.” Marc replied.

“There is oil and sand available but no tar.” Luke informed and they all ran into the dining hall where Laura sat with Willow.

“Your Highness, a word?” Aurora asked, huffing and limping towards the queen.

“Of course.” Laura replied.

“A map.” Aurora asked, looking around. “And Faye. Where is Faye?”

Ben and Faye arrived just then, sweeping into the hall, Hazel and the other ladies just behind her.

“What is it, Aurora?” Laura asked.

“There is no way we can fight them.” Aurora stated and spun the map around so that she and Laura had a clear view. “But we can stall them.”

“For how long?” Marc asked.

“Until the princes can show up and kill everyone, as I said earlier.” She paused. “With enough rations, we can hold them off for long enough.” Aurora studied the map. “We start building trenches. Five, maybe seven parallel in the clearing. Fill them with oil, cover them with straw.”

“Let the army in close, set fire to the trenches.” Marc cut in, nodding.

“Should any get close enough, that’s where the sand comes in.” Luke said, catching on just as quickly.

“But, archers-” Willow started. “There are none here and I saw none arrive with you.”

Michael stepped in. “What about the Princess’ ladies? They seemed skilled enough in archery.”

Hazel stood up straighter. “All of my ladies are excellent archers.”

Ben opened his mouth but Hazel gave him a look and he closed it without saying anything.

“The walls, everything else, we can hold them off.” Aurora declared. “We do not need to be helpless.”

Laura put her hand over Aurora’s on the table and squeezed her fingers. “Nor will we be.” She said. She turned to the table at large. “Get ready.” She ordered.

“Ma’am?” Faye said as everyone else scattered.

“Faye.” Aurora smiled and tugged her away from the table. Laura drew close to them and they huddled in a corner. “Can you get word to the Prince?”

“Which one?” She asked.

“Alec.” Aurora replied. “Can you tell him of our plans?”

Faye nodded.

Aurora paused before she went on, “I need you to go alone. I need you to slip away without anyone noticing.”

Laura and Faye looked at each other. “Do you suspect there is a spy?” Faye asked.

“Other than the people we arrived with, I trust no one.” Aurora murmured. “And should we fail, if there is someone on the inside, I suspect that we might need more help that we have.”

Faye nodded. “I will leave tonight.”

“Do not take any undue risks. If you cannot make it through to them-” Aurora shook her head. “Do not tempt fate. Just come back to us.”

Faye looked down and nodded. “I will make it. I will come back with help, I swear to you.”

“Alive.” Laura said. “Alive and mostly unharmed. Do you hear me?” She demanded.

“Yes, Your Highness.” Faye replied.

“When you find them, they will not know you. Tell them-” She paused and looked down at her hand and pulled off her signet ring, gold and inlaid with wings. “Tell them, Have faith, my love.”

“In this life and the next.” Aurora added suddenly. “In this life and the next, have faith, my love.”

“In this life and the next, have faith, my love.” Faye repeated and took the ring from Laura.

“Good.” Aurora said and nodded. “Also tell him our baby is fine. Go rest in my room for tonight. No one will bother you there.”

Faye nodded and left them.

Aurora watched her leave and then the servants left them slowly, cleaning up the plates that were left behind.

“You are with child?” Laura asked, light gleaming behind her eyes.

“Yes, at least I hope so.”

“Have faith, my love.” She told Aurora, and pulled her into a hug. “Have faith.”