Where It Went Wrong, A Red Queen Fanfiction: Completed

Chapter 11

I don't like their hesitant expressions. Surely they know that I have the same level of experience fighting as they do - if not, more? The Calore brothers grew up in the security of the palace, whereas I had to grow up as an average Red. Not that I'm ashamed of my old life, but it sure was harder than what they had to go through. Surely they know that I had to become a thief to support my family?

Even though I don't want to, I'm almost at the verge of pleading them to let me join them. It's strange how I feel so many different ways when I'm around them. Sometimes I'm confident with what I'm doing, other times I feel like screaming from frustration. The next moment, I feel like giving them a hug, and others kicking them in the shin. And when I found my newfound Lightning powers, I had another weapon to choose from.

I suppose it's always been that way with other people.

"I don't even have to be in the front lines," I say, not minding that this may not be true when everything unfolds. I'm not just going to be a bystander with Norta's situation anymore, I had enough of that during my childhood. Seeing how others suffer, I need to act. I doubt that the Lakelanders are any better, by the sounds of things.

Maven begins to look slightly guilty, eyes softening. Though his ice cold eyes can look harsh and authoritative, they can also be easily lost in with the depths of emotion they hold. Like when we were engaged. I suppose that's what made me fall in love with him in the first place. A month ago, I would never had guessed that the King was capable of such emotion again. "Well... I suppose we could—"

"No." Cal says, his lips twisted into a grim line. I can see how his fists clench together, and I begin to feel a familiar tingling sensation in my hands. I'm not just a weak princess anymore. I'm a part of the Scarlet Guard, an active member.

In my mind, I'm chastising the prince. But I remember what Queen Elara made me learn the hard way through my lessons. Never show too much emotion. Letting the sparks dance across my hands, I smirk at how even Cal is beginning to look uncomfortable. "Why not?"

"I don't want history to repeat itself," he replies, and his eyes flit over quickly to his brother before settling back onto me. "The Lakelanders have a reasonably strong army, and I hear that the King is quite brutal with.... those he keeps hostage."

Reminds me of someone that I believed I knew. Maven's eyes are trained to the ground as Cal speaks, but then he raises his eyes to look him in the face. "I think that Mare should do as she pleases. We can't control her. She won't let us."

Smirking, I turn my confident gaze on Cal. "Two against one, Cal. Accept your defeat." He furrows his brows, and I tone my anger down. "I know the risks that there are attempting to fight with you. I've measured everything up, and I reckon that I can fight just as well as most of your soldiers. You forget how much I trained with the Scarlet Guard and in the palace. And my childhood."

Cal has the audacity to snort. "I can just picture you overpowering your poor brothers with that willpower of yours. And that Warren boy too."

"If you're not careful, Tiberias Calore, I'll be overpowering you too."

His face pales, and I feel a spark of confidence. King Maven covers his mouth discreetly with his sleeve when he thinks that I'm not looking, but I still catch it. "Same goes for you, Mr. King of Norta."

I begin to laugh at the astonished glances that both of the Calore brothers are giving me. Cal reminds me of a furious puppy, and Maven just looks like he's about to plan a serious revenge plot. The two exchange a quick glance, and suddenly, they're laughing too.

We're causing such a ruckus in the the middle of the hallway that one of the guards comes over to inspect us. I'm sure he's not used to royalty behaving like this all the time. I gasp, diaphragm begging for more air.

As soon as the guard appears, I casually lean against the wall in hopes that he won't be too judgemental. "Is everything alright over here?" He questions, and the King immediately straightens. Cal wipes the grin off his face, and we are once again the emotionless Silvers and newblood that we are supposed to be.

Judging from the orange and red house colours that he dons on his uniform, I assume he is a part of the House Lerolan. They have the ability to destroy anything around them in an explosion. Oblivions. One of the higher houses of Norta.

"Yes, thank you," the King of Norta responds, and politely dismisses him with a wave of the hand. The guard gives a quick salute, and is off before I can say another word.

Even though the guard has departed, the brothers still look slightly put off. There's always ears around in the palace, and it must be hard to have lived that way for their whole lives. Everything they do and say, watched by the other Silvers and the rest of Norta.

I guess that though I've always assumed that my life was the hardest, other people may have had it harder. There's two extremes. One, not being heard enough - and the other, not being heard at all.

"So," Cal begins, breaking the silence that we've been dwelling in. "When is this battle going to be? Is there going to be much gore and fight, or is it mostly you and the King of the Lakelanders trying to sort everything out? I just need to notify my crew what we're going to be up against so that we're prepared."

As Maven opens his mouth to reply, I quickly break in. "I'm coming with you lot, then?"

"Yes," they reply in unison, and I inwardly heave a sigh of relief. I won't let them regret it. Even though I know that I probably would have snuck in anyways if they hadn't let me, it's a good thing to know that they respect me enough to fight.

"I'm really sorry to bother you again, Your Majesty and Highness," the Lerolan guard says from behind us, and my shoulders immediately tense. I'm really beginning to dislike this guard. "But the Silver Nobility require your presence to discuss the confrontation with the Lakelanders."

I almost roll my eyes at his vagueness. "Thank you for notifying us, Sir Marcus," the King replies. Around the guards, Maven's the definition of authority. Around me, he's another person. He gives me a final reassuring smile before following the guard, and Cal winks at me before he departs.

The triumph of persuading Cal is still lingering, but I begin to wonder why he was refraining from letting me join them. He would always let me fight for the Scarlet Guard. It is only then that I begin to realize the seriousness of the mess that I have gotten myself into.

Author's note:

Thank you for reading! I thought that I would post an extra chapter this week. Just wondering, are my readers wanting some more scenes with Mare and Maven, or Mare and Cal? 

- Inkpen_Scroll