Reagan

We walked the pathways. Dozens of eyes on us as we walk. Some of the stares screamed, who are these outsiders? Some looked like we were prisoners or outcasts to be hung. 

Scary, but it's understandable. I am not a prisoner but an outsider, but that won't stop me from doing what I have to do. I may not have been raised here, but I am of Amberfalls' blood, and it's my responsibility to restore the honor of my broken nation.

We walk into the high tower. It isn't what I thought. I thought it would look more royal—my mistake. 

But how it looked was the least of my worries. I'm mainly concerned about us being in a room with a traitor—someone who might have a reason to kill every one of us if he saw it fit. But I do wonder if he is, as Waykeyme says.

Diane standing in front of me; I gently tap her shoulder. She jumps slightly as if I startled her. 

"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you," I say to her. 

"Oh, it's alright. I was just caught up in my thoughts."

"You and me both. I was curious just how you plan to go about all this."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, we are about to enter the room with the very person that allegedly sent troops to kill us."

"Alleged, you say."

"Yes, well, I've been watching and listening, and I don't think you or Gwen believe that he could have done that either."

"Well, forgive me, but It's not about what you or I think. It's about what we can prove. This is war. And in war, you kill or be killed. He was a dear friend of mine, but that isn't more important than my duty to this country."

"I understand that, but there are two sides to every story. We've only heard one, and I'll make it my duty to hear his."

With that, the guards escort us into a room. A man stands there tall and bold he looks out the window, his back to us. 

The guard gets his attention, and he turns around, and a smile glides across his face.

"Diane!" he says, embracing her in a hug.

He then looks at me and glances over at Simon and Will.

"I take it your mission wasn't a success. Seeing you haven't brought back the future queen."

"I would disagree." She says, turning to face me.

His face changes. He now seems irritated. 

"What game are you playing at Diane?"

"No game General, this is Reagan, daughter of King D'Alan and Queen Lilith." 

He looks at me, his face showing no emotion, but then a rather comforting smile grazes his face.

He steps forward and stands in front of me. 

"I stand before you, my queen swearing my allegiance to you, this cause, and our people."

I couldn't help but feel nervous. It was nerve-racking to me that someone would yield to me without knowing not a wink about me. 

"General, you are speaking to a Prince, not a Princess," Diane says, correcting him.

He raises his right arm and clanks it against his chest, and says, "For Amberfalls."

"For Amberfalls." the guards in the back mimic.

"To the future King."

They all fall to one knee, bowing their heads with their arms crossed against their chest. Gwen, Diane, and Madeline do the same. Simon follows after tugging Will to do the same. 

The nervousness I had before is now gone. I still believed I could be dreaming for a while, but now I realize this isn't. All these people swearing their allegiance to me now, I must do the same. 

"Aris... when I began this journey, I thought it impossible for me to be destined to lead a people. But I am here now, not only to lead but to serve. For far too long, my people, OUR people, have been slain and harmed by the hands of evil. Years of my life were taken away by the evil that haunts us today. Well, today marks a new dawn, a new day, and a new age of greatness. The beginning of the fightback to glory."

General Alik rises first, cheering and chanting.

"Hoorahhhh"

I look to Simon and Will, who are chanting and cheering as well. Simon stops and gives me a nod. I smile. 

I meant every word I said. Today marks the beginning of the greatest fight of my life.

One of the guards walks me to my room. William and Simon were giving rooms as well. We get the door, the guard bows and says,

"If you need anything, my lord."

"Thank you."

He gives me another bow of his head and steps to the side of my door, standing guard. I enter the room, and like everything else, it isn't a royal look, but this was a beautiful room. The bed sat in the middle of the room, and two wide windows paved the walls. The wall was made of wood, but the trims were of stone.

I walked to a door and opened it. It leads to a stunning bathroom. It had been days since I last showered. Someone had already prepared the tubs. I stripe from my old clothing and slide into the water. The warm water felt amazing against my skin.

I sat in there and soaked for a while until the water got cold. 

I grab one of the towels on the shelf and exit the bathroom. Clothing had already been set out for me. 

Black leather pants, a white cloth-like shirt, and a maroon padded leather jacket. 

I put it on and catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror. My masculine shape and these masculine clothes hide any peek of femininity. 

I'm looking like a real Prince.

Before I can admire myself any longer, there's a knock at my door.

"Enter"

The door opens its Simon. He's dress almost like I am. but his jacket is an indigo

"Hey," he says with a smile.

"Hey. Something wrong?"

"No, no uhh, Diane wants to have a meeting with everyone, but I just wanted to talk to you before.."

"Oh sure, what's going on?"

"Ray, I've made my amends with the fact that this is going to be our lives now, and that speech you gave in there made me realize that I'm thankful I get to be a part of this with you. I want you to know that you can always come to us and whatever it is, we'll get through it together."

"Together," I say and smile.

"We should get to that meeting."

He gets up and gestures to go forward, " After you, your highness."

I smile and let out a soft chuckle, and we walk out together.

We walk down into the basement of the Hightower. Into a library, everyone is gathered around a table, books stacked.

Diane is speaking, so I walk in and join them, signaling her to keep talking.

"As we all know, the prince happens to be much more special than we've realized. Godkind."

Silence as she looks around at every face and then continues. 

"The gods gave her one clue to solve the mystery a book Excalibers Tale."

"A folks tale?" says the general.

"Yes, it seems like it may be more than that now. The common tale speaks of a king with a special weapon which he wields to save his kingdom from dreadful magic."

"Forgive me, Councillor, but what does that have to do with the Prince and our kingdom?" says Captain Sol

"That sword was crafted for me the gods Ekron and Arthur showed me themselves, but I must find it, and the only way to do that is through that book."

"Correct, the king found his sword in Oris Maris."

"The mouth of the sea," said Madeline 

"Yes, we leave at Dawn. It should only be a day and a half ride from here and back."

"The plan is to scout the area and, if possible, retrieve the sword," Gwen added.

"Get some rest, everyone. "

Everyone is making their way to leave beside Gwen.

"Hey, I thought maybe you Will and I could check out this place?" Simon asked.

"Uhh, yeah, sure ill meet you there. Just give me a second." I said to him.

I walk up to Gwen, who's cleaning up the table.

"I can I help?"

She smiles. "Sure, thanks."

I begin helping her clean the table stacking the books and putting them on shelves.

"So I'm curious about the General."

She stops packing and looks at me more seriously than I'd seen before.

"I don't think he is what Waykeyme panned him out to be."

"Careful what you say. You never know who's listening."

I walk closer to her and speak in a whisper.

"I don't know for sure, but something about Waykeyme doesn't settle with me."

"General Alik is like a father to me everything I know I owe it to him he taught me how to fight how to read a room and people. And if I'd learned anything is that he is true to this cause with his life."

As she says those last words, tears fall from her eyes.

"I just hate the way he had slandered his good name."

"Look, I believe you, and I'm on your side."

I come closer to her and slowly wipe the tears from her cheeks. She looks up at me, her eyes meeting mine. We become closer and closer, our lips about to touch, then she pushes back.

"No, I have to go."

"Gwen, wait," I say, trying to get a hold of her.

"I know you feel it too," I say. 

She turns around to face me from a distance.

"You are a prince, and I am a warrior. I'm not here to fall in love with you; I'm here to fight." She says that, and she turns away and leaves. 

One thing I know, whether she wanted it or not, she felt for me what I felt for her. And one thing I don't do is give up.