10 No matter what
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| At The Kingdom of Glacier |
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°No, it was not of my doing° Tears rolled down the eyes of the royal advisor, his hand in a fist, scrunching up a piece of note.
"Please reconsider." He said barely in a whisper.
Adjusting his lantern, he unfolded the piece of note, rereading it aloud, desperately wishing it was a dream.
~You failed in your one task Curt. You failed to provide valuable information about the princess, didn't you say she was an innocent, defenseless princess?
This mistake would cost you. Because of this mistake, the King's life was in danger, though I wished him dead, your princess ruined it all by saving him.
What would your King say if he found out you betrayed his trust?
My patience is being stretched to it's peak, holding back from revealing your treachery. We would not want to bring in the issue of family into all of this, would you?
If you want to be spared, bring me valuable information worth deliberating on.~
With trembling hands he placed the note on his desk, laying back on his chair. Walking up to his wardrobe, he pulled out a little safe, in it was a special possession he held very dear to his heart. Pulling out the object, he caressed the locket, even though it's chains were broken, the metal a little rusted and dusty, but the heart shaped pendant was still intact.
°How would I do so now with the King weary of my every move? He rarely summons my presence anymore° He closed his eyes, taking a trip down memory lane.
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° Flashback °
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"Curt! Curtis!" A woman yelled, rushing towards a cottage.
"Mother?" Curt rubbed off the sleep from his eyes. "What's going on?" Curtis asked from behind, hiding behind the curtain.
"Hurry," She pulled on both their arms, "there is no time to waste, we need to leave." She insisted, her eyes weary of her surroundings.
"W-where is father?" Curtis asked, tugging on his mother's sleeve.
Her movements went into a halt at the question, her firm grip on their arms loosened at the heart wrenching question. "Your father... Your father..." She dropped to her knees, bending over, not being able to hold back her sorrow, her floodgates of tears opened up.
"Mother what happened to fa-" Curtis had wanted to pry further once more, not understanding the reason why she would be crying.
"Shut it, Curtis." Curt hissed as he held onto his brother's mouth. Looking over their mother's crying figure, Curt was overwhelmed with bitterness at the silent but true revelation of what might have happened to their father.
°I will protect you all! No matter what° and he was determined to do it.
Their mother's head shot up at the sounds of neighing horses close by. "No, no, no, how did they find us so quickly?" She trembled in fear, looking back at her children who stood puzzled at the situation they had met themselves in once they awoke, she pulled them in a hug.
"Promise me one thing," she cleaned back stray tears. "You would look after each other." She shook their hands vigorously.
"What's going on, mother?" Curtis questioned, his eyes gleaming with tears, yet again Curt held onto his mouth, preventing him from wailing, thereby attracting more attention from whoever they were meant to avoid.
"We promise." Curt nodded, speaking on behalf of his brother too. "So tell us what do we need to d-" He yelped in pain as a sharp sting shot up from his palm.
Narrowing his eyes, he shot a glare at his brother. "Why did you do that?" He used his other hand to support the bruised one.
"Your hands were dirty and I could not let it stay on my lips forever." Curtis replied, blowing a raspberry.
His mother smiled at the one distraction she was grateful for, watching them have a banter fit.
"Now that's not true!" Curt defended, smelling his hands.
"How would you know? When your whole body reeks the same." Curtis countered.
*Knock* *Knock*
They were now faced with the actuality of the situation which surrounds them. "They are here!" She ran up to her door placing a thick wooden stick onto the handles of her door, preventing further entry for the main time.
"Open up!" The incessant banging on their wooden
door could be heard, shaking it's structure. Pieces of wood glided down from the roof down to the floor, it's structure weakening at the more force applied to it.
"Mother?" Curtis hid behind his mother and his older brother. "I'm scared."
"Then hide behind me!" Curt stepped forward, his arm and feet spread wide, ready for anything which would interfere.
"No, no, no! Go, hide, it's the only way." she shooed them away.
Curt had complied with her condition, taking a hold of Curtis wrist, he pulled him to the room. "You stay here, while I convince mother." He pushed Curtis into the wardrobe against his will. "And stay put." He pulled on Curtis cheeks before slamming the door.
*Bang* *Bang!*
"Please spare us!" His mother pleaded, trembling in fear once again. "Please spare us." She repeated.
Rushing towards the cause of the sudden alarm, his eyes set on his mother bowing, pleading.
°We are trapped!° Curt sweatdropped.
They both gasped in shock at the method being used to forcefully enter, the slight rearing of the tip of a bloody sword caused his mother to crawl out of the way, cradling Curt to her chest, preventing him from seeing any more damage the weapon had caused to their one source of protection against the enemy, making a run for it to the room. Her tears soaking his brown hair.
Looking in despair, Curt looked upwards at his mother, her eyes all red and puffed up, dry tears formed a trail down her face, her teeth biting down hard on her lower lip as she tried stifling her tears.
°Where was all the happiness we had before? What happened to father?° These thoughts ran through his head as he was placed on the floor beside the wardrobe.
"Where is your brother?" She stifled another wave of tears.
"Let me out!" Curtis yelled and banged at the wardrobe door.
"I think it's best he stays there." Curt shook his head in despair.
°Good thing I'm the eldest°
"Hide in there with him." She pushed him in.
"But mothe-" The door was shut behind her. Holding onto the door she pulled out her locket, using it's fragile chains to hold the door closed, even if it's for a while.
The sounds of footsteps got closer. "She's in there." One of them whispered.
"Remember our promise!" She spoke in a whisper, placing her head on the wardrobe door one last time.
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° End of Flashback °
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"I failed you mother, I failed my brother too." He cried in anguish.
"I will save you." He said wiping away his tears.
°No matter what°
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| >> t << |
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