The War of Love

The roar of the battlefield still echoed in his ears even with his enemy on his knees before him. Wilhelm gripped his sword tighter. For many, this was a victory. A Dane Lord that had destroyed so many lives was finally on his knees. This should have been a victory.

The Dane Lord spat out blood sniggering up at him. "Say it," he said cruelly.

Wilhelm felt his anger rising. Even now, with his armies defeated and his Witch long since dead, he was still furiously arrogant. "Where is she?" Wilhelm demanded, his face hardening as the Dane Lord laughed.

"As long as she remains lost, I will have always won. Take my throne, my lands in her name. She will never claim it." He swore. "She will always be known as The Queen That Never Was." His laughter rang in the courtyard only stopping as Wilhelm's second Rvanna ran him through.

Wilhelm woke up abruptly the Dane Lord's laughter still ringing in his ear. He could hear shouting in the distance, so leaving behind his new wife in his still warm bed, he pushed the curtains of his tent and ventured out into the encampment where his army still searched relentlessly for their lost Queen.

"Sire!" One of the Knight's said, pointing skyward. Wilhelm paled as he saw the cursed clouds that swallowed the sunset roiling above The Dane's Lord Castle.

"Stay here, protect Sienna." Wilhelm barked. as he threw on his leather jacket. He reached for his sword and found his second holding it with a grim look on her face.

"Don't even think about making me stay." She said curtly.

Wilhelm grabbed his sword, and climbed his horse, racing towards the remains of the Castle that had only ever brought him heartache and pain.

"Are you okay?"

Ava started, surprised to see that Freya was beside her. "I should be asking you that." She said looking at Freya carefully. "How does it feel to be free?"

"Free? Is that what I am?" Freya said with a chuckle. "I feel like something is missing." Freya's eyes flicked to the doors where Victor and Xander stood in conversation.

The sunrise had shone grey light upon the castle making its occupants wake and gather in the royal antechamber. Freya avoided looking at the pedestal where her throne still sat. It was never really hers. And it would never be.

"There's something wrong," Aline said rushing down the stairs.

"And Good Morning to you," Xander said with a raised eyebrow.

Aline scowled at her brother as she walked up to Freya and Ava, Victor and Xander following in her wake. "I'm being serious," Aline said darkly. "The wards have been breached."

"How is that possible?" Charlotte asked as she walked into the chamber Rina was close at her heels. "You said no one could cross them," Charlotte said as she stood beside her brother.

Aline's gaze sharpened on the two of them. "Oh, Goddess. I used Charlotte's blood for the final casting." ALine said turning to face her brother.

Xander frowned. "But that means..."

The doors were suddenly thrown open, two horse riders galloping into the chamber, pausing just before Freya and Ava.

"Witch!" One of the riders barked as he jumped off the horse. "What foul magic have you cast now?"

Freya stepped between Victor and Xander who had stood in front of her as the doors had burst open. "Wilhelm?"

Charlotte and Victor glanced at each other before they both looked at the Knight. With his curly windswept hair and burning hazel eyes, he could've been Victor's twin.

"Impossible." He whispered reverently, looking at Freya. "Freya?"

Freya let out a shuddering gasp before she nodded. Both of them ran towards each other embracing. "I never stopped looking for you," Wilhelm said.

"I know," Freya said, as she looked past Wilhelm at Rvanna who straightened putting a fist on her chest.

"My Queen."

"I have never been a Queen, and I never will be." she looked at Wilhelm carving his face into her memory. "I have missed you, my friend. But I must stay lost." Freya said.

Wilhelm took a step back from her. "How can you say that?" he demanded.

"You are free." Freya said gently, putting a hand on his cheek. "I spent nearly a century hidden in a cave while castles burned and rose, Kingdoms rose and fell. Danes being replaced by Kings, Kings being replaced by councils. As grave, as it is to admit, this is no longer my home. Or time." Freya said dropping her hand. "You can let me go now."

"I know not what you speak of," Wilhelm said. "I searched for you, I finally found you, I cannot just let you go."

"Your descendants will search for me as well, and one day, one with your likeness will find me and show me how to wake. How to hope. Go back to your Kingdom among the trees, to your warrior wife. Have as many babies as you can and tell them the story of a Queen that Never was, and all the people who loved and fought under her banner long after she was gone."