Erebus

Reina shrieked in shock. What was happening? Glancing at the wall behind them, she noticed an arrow lodged tightly into it. Had someone just attacked them? At this time of the night?

More arrows came flying, and Ares instinctively wrapped his arms around Reina, shielding her with one hand while the other firmly protected her head, pulling her into his embrace. The arrows kept increasing, coming from different directions, that making a seamless attempt to move, could result in one of them getting hurt. Arrows came flying, and then came the abrupt sound of gunshots echoing through the air. 

'What in the world is happening?!' Reina thought. The fence of the balcony was their only shield, it'' rumble each time it got hit.

Ares needed to get them out of there, as he was unarmed. Of course it had to be one of those times.

Reina squatted in Ares's arms, lost in deep thoughts. Was this Donald's way of getting rid of her for good?

Abruptly, the sounds ceased, replaced only by a pleading voice. They cautiously rose to check, but the darkness shrouded whatever was unfolding, leaving them in uncertainty.

"Your Highness, I think you should head back" Ares said, with his arm still around her shoulder. Reina looked at the weight on her shoulder. His hand. 

"Are you going to walk me there as well?" She asked coyly and Ares realized, immediately taking his hands off, clearing his throat.

"If you would like me to." He replied averting his gaze, why is she acting like she didn't just almost get killed?

An amused smile played on her lips. "I wouldn't want to end up with an arrow in me, would I?" she remarked with a smirk. She turned and picked up the lamp she had brought. Ares followed behind, watching his surroundings and Her. He wasn't armed, but his fist works perfectly well.

 After a few minutes of walking, they finally arrived at her room, where Ares gave a cultural bow "I'll assign guards outside the terrace and your door now" He stated. "We don't know who that was, but I'm certain they are not done yet.

"Okay, thank you. Goodnight"

"You too Princess."

Reina gave him a nod, with a small smile before she walked in with the lamp at hand. She froze at the sight of a man standing in the corner of her room, which was closest to her bed. He stepped out when he saw that she had noticed him with a grin plastered on his lips. He was in a black cloak. Was he trying to camouflage himself into the wall? That's dumb.

"Princess" He uttered, his voice deep.

 Reina's brows raise in surprise after he came to the middle of the room where the light could reach his face.

"Erebus?" She could recognize that voice anywhere, which sounded like he had a scraped throat but deeper than nay man she had ever come across. She stood rooted to the ground staring at him. How did he get in without being spotted. Teleportation. She internally face palmed herself, it was obvious. After all he is a witch, or rather Wizard as he'd preferred to be called.

"Princess, You remember me?" He chuckled "I thought I wiped your memory" He said. To himself mostly.

"Is that why you are here?" Reina asked unfazed by his idea of wiping her memory of him. He had done more than that for her to know it is very much possible. And she wouldn't be surprised if he had shown up when she was asleep to do it.

 "No, no, i have intention of doing such, after all, who is going to know I'm a 'witch' and yet look unfazed when i randomly show up in her room at night?"

 "So you are glad, i am not afraid of you?" She asked. She was. Not that much but she wouldn't want to get on his bad side.

Erebus laughed "Are you trying to convince yourself to believe that you are not scared i might rip off your head. Or be-witch you?" 

Reina ignored that and went to set the lamp down on a table "Why are you here? She finally asks.

"Do i need a reason to visit a Friend?" He asked with a sly expression.

Friends? Is he trying to play with her? Hell be damned if she actually considers him a friend. Sure as hell he doesn't consider her a friend either. She looked at him blankly.

He took a seat on a corner accent stool near one of the lamps, which was lit by Lydia. Getting a clearer look at him, he didn't look like the aged man she met in the forest the other time. He looked... Younger?

"I'm not Ares, stop staring" He uttered

Reina was taken aback, her cheeks flushed, how does he know about Ares? She averted her eyes trying to hide her flushed face "What is that supposed to mean?" She asked, avoiding his gaze.

"It was just a guess, but it seems I guessed right" H e said thoughtfully "You are in love with the man" He said tilting his head "Explains the looks you give him"

"Are you stalking me?!!" She questioned, her voice slightly raised.

Placing his hands on his chest with a fakes gasp "Such accusations!!" He exclaimed and laughed "But it is to your advantage, or else you'd be dead by now" He continued, getting up from his seat to strode around and touch things.

"What do you mean? What is it you want?!" She asked again, frustrated.

Sighing and rolling his eyes, he really wasn't the man she met a week ago, this one seemed to have more... energy. Erebus stood hovering over Lydia's sleeping body "you are a different kind of Royal " He said, intrigued by the fact that she let a maid sleep on her fancy Royal Princess sized bed.

"Anyway" He continued after costing and mumbling incoherent words on Lydia so she sleeps deeper, but Reina missed that part. "The King wants you dead"

Reina stared at him with no expression on her face, she already knew that Donald would want to get rid of her, either sell her to slavery or murder her. He chose murder as expected.

"You knew that" Erebus said slightly surprised

"Yes, but i don't plan to let him"

"So what will you do?"

"Fight fire with fire" Reina said, looking outside, the rain has long stopped but it was still cloudy with the sky being filled with lightening strikes and thunder claps. "I can't let him stay King"

"You plan to kill him? He has three sons, who will readily take his place"

"I don't commit murder"

Erebus nodded slowly as if understanding her "So let me guess you have no plan?"

"Yet" She added. She really has no idea what to do, if she does kill them. Which she won't. People would know it was her, and immediately come for her. Because who else is posing as a threat to the present Royal family of not the "Old Heir" herself. Reina had thought about getting a marriage alliance with Gael, but even with that she won't be ruling until Donald steps down. Knowing Donald, he wouldn't even let his own son rule, until death takes him.

 And she couldn't wait, because the more she waits, the more people of Narva suffer, especially the poor. The elite and well to do families actually benefit from Donald's evil ruling, so they will happily get rid of her, if he asks them to do his dirty work for him.

"I know you wouldn't like this but..." Erebus started and for some reason Reina wanted the aged man she met back, not this middle aged man sitting here. She saw what he was about to suggest and immediately shook her head, signaling her disagreement.

"No. Marriage isn't an option" She said.

"Oh but it is." He said sure of himself "You can seduce Gael and wrap him around your finger, make him fall head over heels in love with you, that he would betray his father... For You" He emphasized. He moved about the room, picking and dropping things, his eyes on Lydia making sure she was still in deep sleep and not eavesdropping. 

"That... That can't work" Reina doubted, telling herself more than she was telling him.

"It will, my dear. Look at you. Any man would die to be with you. If you know the art of seduction, getting into Gael's head wouldn't be that hard." He said convincingly. He stood in front of her, and held her shoulders, looking into her eyes "Make him love you, as much as you love Ares, or more!"

Reina looked up at him, her eyeballs moving back and forth, confused, scared and in doubt. But the possibilities are high. Maybe.