Chapter Ten.

"You might have to." Aiden said amidst all of Fiora's refusal.

"What? Aiden, you-"

"Listen to me." He gripped her shoulders and drew her closer. "This is it. This is the solution to our problem."

"What are you talking about? I have to cower under her like a slave?" She asked, knowing in her mind she'd have to die first than to become one of Helen's puppets. "Never."

"No. Not a puppet," he said, his hands still held on tight on her shoulder. His eyes widened with excitement. This was it. He would finally be another step closer to his goal. "You are going to visit Helen, hear her out. Listen," he said, calling her already divided attention. "Hey, hey, Lord Tobin is powerful and we can't do anything to stop him. But who else is more powerful than even Lord Tobin himself?" He asked and didn't even needed to hear her say out her reply. "Exactly. You can do this, I just know that." He straightened his posture and added a little seriousness in his glare, then he brought his hand to his stomach as he lowered his neck to a bow. "Your majesty."

Fiora's eyes widened. "What? Majesty? Who is majesty? I don't know what you're talking about."

"You, my Queen."

Her breathing increased as she thought carefully of the next thing to say.

"How did you find out?" She asked, her mind now racing with series of questions.

"Because it is obvious. Now, your people need you. Do the right thing."

Somehow, she relaxed a bit. How did he find out about her? But he was right. Her people needed her. "Yes. You're right."

"I am." He confirmed with a satisfying grin. "By the way, how come you never mentioned to me that you were a great actress?"

It was like someone was with a big plank of wood and they just used it to smack her right on her head. Acting?  He was acting all along.

"You know, the way you didn't even act surprised when I referred to you as 'your majesty'." He said, laughing at his statement. "I have to hand it to you though, you are a great performer."

He didn't think she was the Queen. She'd mistaken his harmless comedy for reality. She tried for words to say but they only crumbled into a silly laugh that resembled a choking woman. "Yes. Yes, of course."

"Yes. Oh you're fun to hang out with."

****

Walking down over to the river bank, Aiden and Fiora enjoyed a peaceful moment together. The chittering and chattering of the people fainted as they advanced forward. It was almost midnight and they were to meet Sif. Aiden did not quite like the idea but couldn't leave Fiora all by herself. She also noted it to him that she would be nothing if it wasn't for that family of hers. Especially because of Sif.

"You're one exceptional strong woman, you know." Aiden broke the silence as they strode along. She smiled in reply. "I mean it. Very stubborn also."

Fiora found herself laughed out louder than she planned. "That is not true actually. You are the stubborn one."

"Me?" He asked and saw her giggled a; "yes." "No. That's not true."

"It is. Really." She smiled again, happy he was by her side. "Hey, thank you for everything." She patted his shoulders.

"Thank you for helping me become good." He said, smiling like a young lad who finally said one word to his lover.

"Hmm, so you weren't a better man before?"

"Yes." He added firmly.

With a puzzled look on her face, she asked why he didn't deny. "Well, we all have our dark sides, Fiora." He said, trying to remember why he started the conversation in the first place. Dark side?  Maybe his dark side would be when he once told a trader that he would get back to her and he never did. Or when he told his friend he didn't steal from his food, when he actually did.

Not that he was a pure saint. He'd caused his father pain all his life and he even just ran away from home days ago. From responsibilities that seemed bigger than him.

"Aiden, I don't mean to pry but, who are you exactly?" She asked him what she'd been meaning to for sometime now. They slowed their pacing. "What are you doing here, and why have you been helping me?"

Just before Aiden could begin talking, Sif called from in front.

"Sif, hi!" Fiora quickly rushed forward to meet him, not meaning to had ignored Aiden.

Aiden frowned upon the arrival of Sif. He didn't hate him, rather, he envied him. Fiora was always so free with him, confident and more of herself. Whereas, with him, she saw him as nothing but a strange man who she was starting to admire as a friend and a partner.

The river bank wasn't too far from the church so he wasn't surprised to find out they'd arrived so soon. Raising his gaze at them, he saw how Fiora hugged him and began spilling. Sif was backing him, his face turned to Fiora's, whilst she looked forward facing his direction so she didn't notice the figure that approached her from behind.

A tall muscled man frowned behind Fiora. She sensed his presence from the moment he was already few steps behind, but watched the look on Sif's and saw him to shiver a little. Not in the frightened way, but in a disappointed one. There was only one person who could bring out such a stare like that on Sif.

Clement.

"Why did you bring him with you?" She pushed Sif away from her and waited for the man to reveal himself. Clement strode with pride, then showed himself to Fiora, standing in front of her, just before Sif.

"Because you are going to tell me all about your stupid plan."

****

Baron Daegal was patient. Of all the things he could be, patience was his greatest virtue. The disappearance of his son was not something he took very lightly. But he would not rush himself in dealing with Aiden. He would take his time to think of just the right punishment that would be befitting for the crime committed.

But at the moment, he had other matters to attend to.

It surprised him to had found such a very important guest waiting in his territory. Not unless something important was happening, she was never one to bring herself so low to visit him. When he arrived down the hall room, he met her standing in a common attire. No crown, no jewelry, no fancy lavish gown, just her ordinary self in his home.

"Your majesty," He bowed with respect and she turned to him.

Her lips curled into a familiar smile. The ominous type that wrecked him years ago. "Daegal,"

"What brings you here at this hour?" He asked, deep down almost know exactly what she'd say. Helen's presence had always brought him nothing but bad luck.

"A cup of tea, my friend." She replied, her face dissolving into the same eerie type of smile that scared Daegal.

"Tea?"

"Tea." She confirmed.

"Please come with me then." He replied, gesturing his hands forward to the dinning hall.

"Very well then. After you." She indicated and he turned and began to lead her.

The room was large with enough space for a long dining table, with fancy chair neatly arranged under. She remembered just how well arranged Daegal used to be.

"You haven't changed a bit." She observed. He gave no reply. Not like he didn't know what to say, he decided to keep to himself. Helen was a cunning woman.

They sat down, two seats differentiating their distance. Helen could see how Daegal starred at her. If it were possible, she knew it wouldn't take her up to a second before he drew out his sword and stabbed her guts out. Alas, there was nothing much he could do than watch her with anger.

"I asked you before, your majesty and I ask again," he locked contact with her. "What brings you here at this hour?"

"Where's my tea? How would you want me talk on an empty stomach?" She asked with a medium pout on her lips. "Show your Queen a little respect."

Daegal grunted in displeasure. He clapped once, then again and two women appeared by his side. "Fetch us some hot tea."

"Yes sir," they both chorused with a bow.

"Steaming hot tea." Helen added, smiling for reasons Daegal thought was best known to her. They curtseyed once more, then took their leave.

Moments later, only one of the woman returned, holding in her hands a tray with two cups of steaming hot tea along with some baked biscuit. They served it on the table neatly in front of them and left.

"I'll take that if you don't mind." Helen stretched and reached for Daegal's own served tea. Satisfyingly, she placed both cups in front of her. "You can eat the baked goody. Here," she took her own portion and flung it towards his side. "You can have mine as well."

"Thank you." Daegal said between paused lips and a stern frown. He didn't like her presence because he feared terror was soon to occur.

She sniffed in the steam then took one sip from it, before putting it back gently on the table. "Now, to answer your question, my friend," she took a moment to observe the look on his face and realized it had slightly turned from disgust to a perplexed one. She smiled. "I don't know why I have come if I'm to be honest." She replied, still smiling.

When Daegal watched, he saw just how heavy it must had been for her to force a smile like that.  The way her eyes beamed with terror and fear of the unknown, it was obvious. She was in trouble. And she needed his help. Was he willing to just hand it over to her? No. But he knew he wouldn't have much of a choice.

"It's been tiring, I didn't even know where to run to." She confessed, maintaining contact with the top of the table like it would somehow gave her the support she needed. "I don't know, Daegal." She blinked, and was surprised when a tear rolled down her cheek. Sniffing in the pain that coated the air on that cold night, she smiled again. "I, I don't know what to do."

Helen was never a woman like this—greedy, selfish, power demanding. She was more of a soft woman who loved tea. She used to be cheerful and hopeful. The crown had changed her. "What do you want me to do for you?" He took long before he finally asked.

She heaved up a laugh that resembled a scoff. "Support me." She said, with daunting eyes. She saw how his expression suddenly changed to a more serious look. "You're too far away from me, Daegal."

"I am always at your support, as you know we share a common hatred for that bastard Tobin."

"Are you assuring me with your words?" She asked, hoping he would deny any moment. People were not always to be trusted, especially when they were powerful ones in politics, and you were the queen who just drank tea from their fortress. She might had just drank poison. "Because-"

"Yes, you have my word." Daegal added immediately.

"Because if not," she ignored his reply.

"How would you want progress if you cannot trust a certain people around you? Why are you here then?"

"Very well then." She heaved up a sigh.

"I assure you of my support, my queen."

"How is your son faring?" She asked abruptly, almost knocking Daegal off his feet.

"My son's business is mine and mine alone. Not yours." He warned, his tone manly and authoritative.

"Because it would hurt me to know that some tragedy had struck him-"

"You have over stayed your welcome, please." He rose up quickly. "Please take your leave. Your majesty-"

"Sit down." She said, not raising her head to. She took her tea, saw that it was the one made for her, then replaced it with his. "I won't hurt him, so please, sit down." She said calmly. Reluctantly, he took his sit. "Help me, and I might help you too."

"Don't hurt him. He's my only son." He said but it was more of a plea. "I'll do whatever it is you want, just don't hurt him. Please."

"I won't." Helen assured. She was only just asking about him, not even realizing that her act of mere care would soon turn into a threat. She didn't mean for him to feel like that. "I promise, I won't."

"Good." He replied, slightly unassured. But he would have to take her words for it. "Then, come visit often. I'll always be yours to command."

She nodded at his loyalty comment and forced a smile. "Thank you. Thank you, Daegal."