Condor flew by everyone and everything, the world a blur as they rushed towards the Main Square. Flora knew it was a bad idea, but her system was running on adrenaline and impulse at this point. She didn't care if this was how she would remember her father, it was still a better memory than him slicing her open with a sword.
People rushed out of the way as Flora continued to push Condor, the young gelding using his full stride as he ran through the cobbled streets of Enhorne. Soon more and more people appeared, and Flora knew she was getting close. When the crowd became too thick, Flora leapt off her horse and pushed her way through. People complained and elbows jabbed but eventually she made her way to the head of the crow, and just in time.
King Erick stood on the wooden platform, dressed in a perfectly tailored suit of black with knee high boots. He had rolled up the sleeves, exposing his muscled forearms and highlighting the night-black of the gloves he wore. In his hands was a wicked blade of pure silver, with a wood so black it could only be made of a rare and elusive Sharntz Tree, held high above his head. And kneeling before him was her father.
The man looked haggard, his eyes dark and bruised, his face sunken, and his hair a mess. He wore the same clothes she had seen him in on the day of the attack, a day that felt like a lifetime ago. His hands were bound behind him and his mouth was gagged, and Flora nearly broke at the sight of him. A part of her still disconnected from the reality of the situation, as if maybe this were all just a ruse. But the headless bodies lying in the ground reminded her that this was very real.
There was a flash of recognition in her father's eyes, a fleeting understanding in their depths just before the King brought down his great axe. There was a sickening crunch and thud as the axe cut through flesh and bone, lodging in the wooden block below. It was quickly accompanied by the hollow thud as her father's head fell from his body into the basket below.
Flora felt the world go quiet after that, the press of people around her both suffocating and nonexistent. Her mind and body were distant as guards pulled her father's now headless body aside, and she was faintly aware of the shouts of the crowd around her. She said nothing, and made no movements, and yet his eyes still found her.
Erick's head snapped in her direction, as if suddenly realizing she was here. There was a brief rush of emotions over his face before he quickly schooled his expression into one of calm indifference. He abandoned his axe, still stuck in the wooden block, and jumped down from the platform before striding towards her. Guards quickly cleared the way for the King as his stride ate up the distance between them. And yet, Flora couldn't bring herself to look at him. She couldn't tear her eyes from the body of her father being taken away. That was until his hands gripped her shoulders.
Flora's eyes locked on his then, and the rush of emotions there took her breath away.
"What are you doing here?" His voice was rough, his face hardening into something she had never seen from him before. At least, she had never seen it directed towards herself. She was faintly aware of the crowd being pushed back, forced to leave as the guards went about their work.
You killed him. Flora wasn't sure if she thought it or said it, only that the sentence had become an all consuming thought that ran on repeat in her mind as she looked at her King. The man who claimed to love her, to have gone through hoops and hurdles to protect her. You killed him. The words came again as tears fell down her face, a choked sob breaching the surface.
The King's face softened for just a moment, his hands still gripping her shoulders. But that moment came and went as he returned to his usual stony exterior. He remained close as he spoke softly to her so as not to be overheard.
"You knew better." He stated simply. It was not a question, but a known fact. She had known better, and had been warned more than once that this would happen. And yet she still did it. "You knew better and you still came." He admonished, his voice sharp now, sharp enough to cut through her haze of shock and disbelief. "How did you even know?" The question was likely rhetorical, given how little it mattered now that it was done. Or perhaps it wasn't. Flora did not have the energy to answer either way.
"How did she get here?" Flora heard a familiar voice ask. She turned her head to look over King Erick's shoulder to see that Dante was now there, his expression lacking its usual joviality. Erick on,y shook his head as an answer.
King Erick sighed before speaking, a sound riddled with guilt and regret. Flora hardly processed it before he spoke. "Take her home," he started, turning to face Dante while letting his hands slip from her. The absence of their weight felt like a greater loss than it should have, as if he had taken something from her. "See if Leon will take over the acquisition." His voice betrayed nothing, but Flora could see the pained expression hidden in the depths of his eyes.
At the mention of her father's farm, Flora expected to feel something, anything. Anger, betrayal, pain, sadness, and yet none of it came. Even as Erick gave her one last pitying look before turning to leave, she felt empty, waiting for something to happen. Even when Dante gently took her by the elbow and led her out of the square, Flora felt nothing.
The ride back to the castle was much slower than the ride out. Dane had found Condor where she left him, but only because someone had tied him to a nearby hitching post. She found him tugging on his reins, pulling against the small metallic ring they were tied to. Sweat gleamed on his fur, and his eyes were frantic until he saw her.
Flora's reaction had been out of pure instinct, acting on memory alone. She calmed down her horse, untied him, and walked him in a few circles before mounting. Now she followed Dante on his dapple grey stallion, the two horses set to an easy walk as they headed back towards the castle.
Despite it having been at least half an hour now, taking their time as they practically strolled through town, Flora's mind was stuck on repeat. You killed him. The thought would not leave her, and neither would the image of Erick just before he brought the axe down on her father's neck. His perfectly tailored outfit, pitch black. It likely hid the speckle of blood now, the bright red absorbed into the deep color of the fabric.
Flora's thoughts continued like this, caught on the minute details of that moment. Her stomach had dropped into a constant state of unsettled, not quite nauseous but not comfortable either. It was as if a rock had settled there, one that wouldn't go away.
She was faintly aware of Dante's attention on her, his eyes darting over to her every few moments, lingering on her face before returning to the road ahead of them. Lines creased his face around his mouth and eyes, a clear sign of his distress. And yet, he said nothing to her, and she was grateful for it. The part of her that was aware of him did not want to speak to him, or anyone. The rest of her remained numb and oblivious to the world. Her actions and reactions were mechanical and instinctual, guiding Condor through the crowd on muscle memory alone. As if sensing her mood - or was exhausted from the run - Condor had lost all of his excitement and any of his previous flighty attitude was now gone.
The pair continued on in silence like this, their horses cutting through the mid to late day crowd of people as they took the main street through town. While people easily moved out of the way for the horses, they kept a polite pace through the traffic. Even though the cobbled streets were reserved for the various buggies and carriages, the dense crowd still found ways to slow down traffic.
Eventually the gates of the castle walls loomed over them, Flora only now noticing its shadow looming over her. Guards quickly moved to open the gates, allowing the two to swiftly pass by with no trouble. As they passed, Flora only barely noticed the expression on the guards' faces. They looked at her with a pity that turned the rock in her stomach into an angry acid. Somehow they already knew, and a sense of hurt and betrayal washed through her anew.
Flora's grip on the reins tightened as she followed Dante through the fields towards the Royal Stables. Rather than taking the long way around on the path, they cut through the open fields of grass to quickly arrive at their destination. Being late Spring, the grass was still a lush green but seemed a bit more rough around the edges. It was no longer the soft plush grass of new growth but an aged grass. Has it really been so long since I came into my new role? Flora reflected, her mind taking a brief reprieve from the events of earlier.
It was not the first time this thought occurred, and Flora had a feeling it would not be the last either. Given the frantic events of just today, Flora no longer knew what to plan for or even what to expect in her upcoming future.
When they arrived at the stables, Flora noted that the farm hands and wagons had left, meaning they had already set out to her father's farm. The realization felt like a crack in the glass, and she was slowly breaking.
Now caught in the thoughts of never seeing her family home or her father again, Flora nearly fell while coming down from Condor. Her knees buckled, and she desperately grabbed onto the saddle to keep herself steady. Condor, spooked by her fall, tried pulling away. He nearly took her with him, but a firm tug on the reins kept him still.
"Need some help?" Dante's voice was quiet, as if talking to a frightened animal.
"I'm fine." Flora snapped, her voice cracking as she held back tears. Without waiting for a response she pulled on the reins and took Condor into the barn. Dante stood there for a moment, watching her leave before turning to take his own horse into the barn.
Flora forced herself through the motions of untacking her horse. If she was a little harder than usual, Condor made no complaint. She could feel Dante's penetrating gaze on her backside, almost making her skin itch. Flora gritted her teeth and pushed through, forcing the swell in her chest back down where it belonged.
Why do I feel like this? I left home for a reason. Flora tried to reason with herself, to force back the emotions delayed by shock. She almost craved that empty feeling - the numbness - anything other than this rush of hurt and anger.
"I think your horse would appreciate keeping his tail." Dante teased, a light laugh in his voice. Flora blinked before looking down at Condor's tail and the brush in her hand. She realized that she had continued to brush so hard that long clumps of hair had been pulled out and stuck in the brush. She made a grumble of annoyance before throwing the brush back in the box and taking Condor to his stall.
She was grateful for the gelding's quiet attitude, but was nervous about how long it would last. He was likely to return to his usually spunky self as soon as he had a good rest. Now that she wasn't going back to her family farm, he would have to return to regular training to burn off his extra energy.
With a sigh, Flora left Condor in his stall with a new bucket of food and water only to find Dante waiting in the aisle. Flora crossed her arms over her chest and leveled him a stare.
"Why are you still here?" She knew she shouldn't be so short with people, but her patience had all but evaporated in the wake of her more troubling struggle.
"Just thought you might want me to." Dante shrugged. He looked aside and rubbed his nose, giving Flora the sense he wasn't entirely telling the truth. Her irritation - with herself or the world, she couldn't decide - only grew with Dante's behaviour.
"I don't." She replied flatly. "I just want to be alone." Flora whisked by him and left the barn. His hurt expression did not go unnoticed, but she found herself too angry to care. That fact only added to her self-hatred as she pushed on towards the castle, wanting only the solace of her room.
Erick hastily pulled off his gloves and boots, grimacing at the blood that had dried and crusted in the lines of the leather. He was tired of the crushing feeling the tight clothes gave him, and yet found no relief even after removing nearly everything. He stared at the pile of clothes on the floor, the tailored suit that would likely never be worn again. At least, it was something he hoped to never wear again.
Erick quickly shook the thoughts from his mind as he put on something more comfortable. That is, as comfortable as formal attire could be. You'd think I would have gotten used to it by now. Erick thought to himself wryly. Before long he had changed into his usual midnight blue jacket with a matching light undershirt and pants, tying his silver sash around his waist. It wasn't much different, but there was a certain weight that had been lifted off his shoulders. Despite this, Erick couldn't shake the dark feeling that hung over him.
Maybe Father was right. Erick reflected. Maybe Night Magic really does change a person. He thought with some disappointment. He took a moment to look around his room, something so familiar yet now so different.
Everything was still in its usual place, from his books to his various sentimental items on the shelves. The size was the same, and nothing new had been added, and yet he couldn't shake this suffocating feeling that pulled on his throat. He looked over at his bed, where Flora had so recently been. He knew he should regret throwing her life into such disarray, and yet the selfish part of him just couldn't agree. It only added to the weight on his chest. I have to get out of here. He grumbled, quickly striding out of his bedroom and down the corridor to his receiving room.
Usually the receiving room was empty, and anyone who had any reason to see him would have waited outside. It did not usually hold a gaggle of sisters and a dog getting hair all over his carpet.
All three of his sisters had invited themselves in, and even brought Flora's dog with them. Currently, Spot was lying on the floor basking in the attention the three girls were giving him. Alice sat on the floor beside the dog, her dress billowing out around her as she gave Spot a hearty rub on the belly. Grace sat on the couch just beside them, gently rubbing the dog's head between both hands. Spot's smile was wide and his tongue lolled out the side, causing Grace to hold his head lopsided to avoid getting the dog's drool on her hands or dress. Esther, the only one in work clothes more fitting of a man, was crouched down and giving the dog gentle pats on the side when Erick walked in. She was the first one to notice his presence, standing up and walking over to greet him.
"How did it go?" She asked only when she had gotten close enough to talk somewhat privately. Erick huffed a dark laugh.
"About as well as it could have gone, until she showed up." He practically gritted the words out between his teeth, his growing frustration trying to push through his magic. It would have been so easy to let go, to release his hold on himself and lash out. Maybe it would even release the tightness he couldn't shake.
"What?" Esther was unable to keep her shock a secret, the other two sisters looking up from where they sat. Even Spot rolled over to look at him. "What do you mean she showed up? How did she even know?" Esther's concern coated her voice, something Erick wasn't used to hearing from her. Suddenly, Erick found himself surrounded by all three siblings and a very nervous dog.
"I don't know!" Erick raised his hands, exasperation and frustration coming through the expression on his face. Alice flinched at his reaction, causing him to drop his hands over his face and rub it hard.
"I don't know." He repeated, a frustrated sigh escaping his mouth as he stepped back from his younger siblings. "I just…" Erick struggled to find the right words. He was the oldest sibling, he was supposed to lead by example. This was certainly not the example he wanted to lead by.
"I just need to be alone." He mumbled as he navigated past his sisters. He felt their eyes on his back as he pushed his way out of the room, barely restraining himself from running out the door. Spot did not take the hint, and followed Erick outside. Erick did nothing to dissuade the dog, simply pushing through the castle as he headed out. He didn't have anywhere in mind really, just that he needed to be outside.
Erick ignored the looks of courtesans and political figures who he passed through the halls. Any who attempted to approach him were swiftly ignored. He didn't even bother to glare at them, though he knew his shadow had become something more, his Night Magic turning it into a living force that trailed behind him.
His father's warnings rang through his head. Control your magic, there is a reason people fear it. Use it sparingly in public, but never let it build up beyond control. Erick knew the dangers of saving face while also preventing an overload of magic. It was a dangerous line his father had trained him to follow, but he'd be damned if he let go of that now.
Then his arm was being grabbed by someone, and Erick whirled to face them, a snarl ready to be let loose. He turned to find Dante, hands raised in surrender as Erick faced him. Erick backed off, but couldn't erase the tension in his body. It was as if the weight on his chest would only grow until he did something about it.
"I was just coming to see you." Dante said before Erick could ask him anything. The Captain quickly eyed Spot before returning to Erick. "Are you alright?" He asked quietly.
"I'm fine." Erick bit out. Why is everybody suddenly interested in my well being? Erick didn't ask it aloud, but suspected that Dante heard it anyway.
"You know," Dante started in a more casual tone, albeit lined with worry. "Flower said the same thing. I didn't really believe it that time either." It was clear Dante was making an attempt to tease, but Erick was in no mood for it, however well intended it may be. Instead he scowled at his Captain.
"I'm heading out, make sure this dog goes back to Flora." He emphasized her name, knowing full well that Dante only called her Flower to get a rise out of her. The Captain's brief smile faded as he nodded in confirmation, taking Spot by the collar as Erick turned around to leave.
Instead of going out the large main doors of the castle, Erick navigated through the long decorated hallways to one of the side doors. He didn't care if he was spotted using the servants hallways, and he didn't have to worry about his Aunt catching him and dragging him into conversation, he only cared about getting out.
Eventually, he found the door he was looking for. He forced himself through, his tall frame and wide antlers making the door look much too small as he left the castle. He found himself near the kitchens, and unfortunately this was where the compost pile was. Thankfully, that meant very few people came by here. Striding past the compost and out the small gate that fenced in the little area, Erick stalked through the fields behind the castle before pausing on the crest of a hill. The castle estate was large, it's walls long and tall. Even still, he found himself still feeling the need to go, to get out. So he did just that.
Quickly shifting into his dragon form, he pushed himself off the ground with powerful muscles before pumping his wings to lift off into the air. He circled the fields of the castle a few times before heading out over the city to the forests beyond. It wasn't exactly subtle, but sometimes it was good to remind people exactly what ruled them, not just who ruled them.
It wasn't until he had flown well enough away from Enhorne that the weight on his body loosened, though it never truly went away.
Flora threw herself onto her bed, kicking off her boots and practically tearing off her jacket. It was all too tight, and her chest felt constricted as it was. It was almost unnatural, or at least that's what the worrying thought nagging at the back of her mind told her. She reasoned that it was just her pent up emotions, but fear pulled down on her, turning minor symptoms into something monstrous.
Flora rolled off the bed to pull her curtain windows open, letting the natural light into her dark room. While her room had gained a few of her own items, it still felt foreign to her. After spending so much time out on the road, and then in Erick's bedroom, there was still a sense of otherness left in her room. Like this wasn't her permanent place, but rather some sort of in between like an inn. She almost missed the housing for the farm hands, remembering the bed and chest she called her own.
As she looked out the large paneled window, she saw a large shadow filter over the late-day sun. Putting her hand over her eyes, she was able to make out the form of a large dark dragon with gilded horns like the antlers of a deer. That must be King Erick. She realized she had never actually seen him as a dragon, despite living in the castle for three years now. You were never important enough. A little voice whispered.
She shook those dark feelings away. From what Esther had told her, Erick had known since the day she joined the castle workforce who she was. He had known for three years and said nothing to her. He knew how important she was - if that was the right word for 'magically bound together' - and not only said nothing but also killed her father. Reason and emotion warred together in her mind as she fought to make sense of it all.
She watched his fading form with clenched fists, unable to stop as the first tear that ran down her face as it turned into several more. A choked sob broke free, and before she could stop it she started sobbing. It's just too much. She realized. I have magic. He loves me. My father's a traitor to the crown. The Bear Mother favors me. Her mind wouldn't stop running through these statements, these facts, as she sat down at the desk by the window. Flora hung her head in her hands as cried, her tears leaving a burning kind of cold streak down her face.
Without realizing his entrance, Spot was there, licking the salty tears off her face. She couldn't help but laugh as the dog's droopy face was suddenly all over hers, his tail wagging with joy. She picked up the dog's face and gave him soft kisses to his forehead before he returned to licking up her tears.
"Knock knock." Dante's voice came from her door. She quickly turned, surprised to see him there. "I figured even if you didn't want my companionship, you'd still want some canine comfort." He said with a smirk. Flora rolled her eyes as she held on to Spot.
"You're such an ass." She grumbled, though without any of the harshness from earlier.
"What you mean to say is that I have an ass," Dante started with his usual wolf-like grin. "And a very nice one at that." Flora nearly choked at his response, definitely not hiding a laugh. She would never hear the end of it if she laughed at one of his jokes.
"So you came here to bring back my dog and flirt with me?" She asked, eyeing the Captain with as much sarcasm as she could muster.
Dante held up his hands in mock hurt. "And do wrong by my friend and king? I wouldn't dream of it." Despite his statement, Flora had a feeling he would still do something along the lines of flirting if only to mess with her and Erick both. Thoughts of Erick brought her back to a more somber mood.
"Where did he go?" She asked quietly, her voice scratchy now that the joy had left it. She let go of Spot, who sat down on the floor directly next to her and leaned on her leg. She gave him an affectionate rub between the ears.
"Don't know." Dante replied casually with a shrug of his shoulders. "He'll be back though." He quickly added, as if sensing Flora's disappointment. There was a softness to Dante's features that weren't usually there, not quite pity but something different.
"Thank you." Flora said, turning her attention away from the Captain. She couldn't bear to look at him anymore, not when he looked at her like that. She found her chatelaine there, using it as a distraction as she fiddled with it.
"I don't know if Erick ever told you," Dante started, his voice more gentle now. "But he carved the deer ivory in that for you." He stated. Flora looked up at him in surprise.
"Really?" She asked. "He actually found the time to do that?"
"Well, if you count staying up well past midnight as 'finding time' then yes." Dante laughed, and Flora couldn't stop the little smile that pulled on her mouth as she looked over the chatelaine anew.
"I'll see myself out." Dante said before turning to leave, giving Flora a small friendly wave before disappearing through the door.
"I suppose it's only appropriate since he saw himself in, huh?" Flora said to Spot, who only tilted his head as he looked up at her. Flora laughed, giving her dog a good rub. She knew that what she had to deal with was going to be hard, it was a lot, but she also knew that she had friends she could rely on. The thought brought her some comfort as she prepared herself for a quiet evening.
It wasn't until an hour after dinner that Erick finally came back. By then it had rained heavily, and unfortunately for him he got caught in the storm. This time he used only the back halls to get back to his rooms, avoiding most anybody and everybody. He had a few more things to get done today, but those things could wait for a set of dry clothes.
He slipped into his rooms, only noticed by the guards who stood there, and quickly made his way down to his bedroom. He hastily peeled out of his soaking wet attire and put on something new. He noticed with some appreciation that his clothes from earlier had been taken away to be cleaned. Good riddance. He thought, leaving his apartment and heading back out into the halls of the castle.
Ever since his return, he noted that the heaviness on his chest had returned. He briefly worried that there was something more to it, but pushed it aside as he focused on the task at hand.
Quickly turning down the halls and down stairs, he went directly towards Flora's apartment in the castle. He steeled himself for whatever potential emotion she might be feeling, knowing she may not want to see him so soon. Gritting his teeth, Erick knocked on her door. He distantly heard her from calling within, waiting for a few minutes before she came to the door. He had expected any array of emotions - anger, sadness, frustration - but not relief. Her shoulders sagged and faced fell in a clear sign of relief, and the selfish part of him was glad for it.
"I just came by to ask you something." Erick said quickly, anticipating her asking him to leave at any moment.
"Is it a long question?" Flora asked, eyeing him suspiciously.
"No," He started, trying hard to hide his laugh at Flora's face. She really can't look mean, can she? He thought. "I just wanted to see if you would like to move over to the farm house for a bit?" He asked her. She looked confused for a moment before realization hit.
"The one on the far end of the castle estate? But I still have work to do." She stated. This time Erick couldn't stop his chuckle.
"You'd still be able to get everything done, you'll just have a space to be alone. I'd only stop by once in a while." He informed her. "Leon spent most of his career there." Erick reminded her.
"Let me get this straight," Flora started. "You're asking me to leave the castle and live by myself on a farm?" He suspected the look she gave him was meant to be one of the utmost suspicion, but it looked very silly coming from her.
"What I'm asking," Erick said, stepping closer to her. "Is for you to take some time away from the court." He gently took her small hand in his, gently squeezing it in support. She looked up at him for a long moment before responding, tears threatening to fall.
"I don't know if I necessarily want to be alone," Flora started slowly. "But I think anybody could use a break from your dreadful relatives." She finished with a coy smile. Erick barked in laughter, not expecting that answer.
"Balder isn't that bad." Erick said when he could breathe again. Flora laughed in return. "We'll head out tomorrow then?" He asked, a small glimmer of hope sparking in his chest.
"Yes, I think that would be fine." Flora nodded. And so it was set, and Erick prayed to all the gods that this one thing would go well.