A Game of Crowns

“Never have I been a blue calm sea

I have always been a storm”

-Fleetwood Mac

I walked into my room with a smile on my face. I said goodbye to Tobias at the entrance of the east wing or I’d be too tempted to invite him in. It would have been the perfect night since Georgiana was off with Killian somewhere but I didn’t want to push it. We were going to take things slow and Tobias agreed.

Never could I have imagined that I’d end up with Tobias trying to win the crown to Iron Forge. If anyone had told me this a year ago I would have laughed in their face. Blessed Mother, if anyone had told me this at the beginning of the game I would have laughed. So, it was a surprise that I was in such a happy mood with the way everything was turning out.

“You’re smiling,” a voice called out from the darkness in my room.

I squealed and rushed to turn on the lights. Rowan stood near my window watching me. I needed to get a better lock on my door.

“How did you know I was smiling?” I asked, trying to calm my racing heart.

“Moonlight,” he said simply, pointing towards the window.

Well, yeah. Okay.

“What are you doing in my room, Rowan? How did you even get in?”

“A Guardian let me in. For now, the council and I are the law. It was easy.”

“That’s abusing your power,” I said annoyed.

He shrugged his shoulders, obviously not ashamed. I rolled my eyes. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing, I just wanted to talk.”

Oh...

“Like I said before, all you have to do is say hi. You could always start there. Breaking into my room is the opposite of what I meant.”

He grinned, “Hi.”

I groaned. The man was infuriating.

“I’m going to bed, Rowan.”

“Was that an invitation?”

I didn’t give him a response.

“You were smiling when you got in.”

What was he getting at? “I was.”

“You look different. I can see it in your eyes,” he said quietly.

He had moved from the window to stand near my vanity. Which was where I now sat in front of. I was taking down the crown of braids Georgiana had styled my hair in.

I didn’t know what he wanted me to say. I knew what he was getting at but I had no reason to talk about my relationship with Tobias with him.

“You’re with him, huh?”

He had to ask. I didn’t want to hurt him. I hardly knew him and he hardly knew me but I did know he harbored some sort of feelings towards me.

I looked up into his starry eyes and watched as the specks of grey in his eyes dimmed.

He sighed and stuffed his hands into his pockets. He paced my room for a quiet minute while I removed my makeup. Just as I was about to ask him to leave he decided to speak again.

“Would you like to know the story of the pendant you wear?”

My hand automatically went to the pendant that laid between my breasts. I nodded. Rowan took a seat and leaned forward with his elbows on his knees. He ran a hand over the back of his head.

“The Trinity’s successors are always trained by the current Trinity. They pick a trio of siblings that are chosen by the Priestess of the territory. My sisters and I should already be training the next trio but Xandra hasn’t chosen anyone. Now it’s not going to happen because of, well, you know. I honestly don’t know what’s going to happen to the fate of the Trinity but that’s beside the point. I’m trying to give you a little background. So, as I was saying. The trio are chosen at the age of ten to serve for eleven years. They go through a year of training before the mantle is passed.”

I untucked my blouse and took a seat next to Rowan. He was in storytelling mode. His eyes were trained on the wall across from him. I leaned back into the soft cushions and waited for him to continue.

“My sisters and I were living on the streets when we were found. Before we came to the palace we had a hard life. It’s one of the reasons I pushed to have Guardians with you guys today. I wanted you to go. I wanted you to see what was accomplished. It was a worthy cause. I may dislike Tobias but he did a good thing.”

I wanted to interrupt him and ask him about the Guardians but I held my tongue. He was giving me his story and I wasn’t going to stop him from telling it. He was trusting me with it and it meant a lot that he was willing to do so.

He continued, “That pendant belonged to our mother.”

I pulled the pendant out from behind my blouse and took a good look at it. The moonstone’s creamy surface had a gorgeous opaqueness to it. I held the stone in the palm of my hand and rolled it between my thumb and index finger. This had belonged to his mother. Why would he give it to me?

“My mother gave that to me on her deathbed. She said I’d know who it would belong to. I can’t think of anyone else I’d want to have it.”

“Rowan, I can’t accept this,” I said as I began to pull off the silver chain from around my neck.

“Penelope, keep it. It’s protecting you and besides, I want you to have it. My mother would approve of the next queen having it in her possession. She loved the royal family,” he said fondly.

“You say it’s protecting me. How?”

“Yesterday in the infirmary. Right before you woke up, do you remember anything? Were you dreaming?”

I remembered a field of grain and a woman with a face I couldn’t remember. “I believe so,” I said unsure.

“I know I told you if you keep it on Xandra won’t be able to see us but it isn’t the only thing it can do. It’s keeping her from taking control of your body. I’m sure she knows that something is up by now and she’s probably furious. I’m not sure what to expect from her. There’s bound to be some form of retaliation. Please, keep it and don’t ever take it off.”

It was hard to accept such a meaningful gift from him but I didn’t want to be Xandra’s puppet. “Thank you,” I said, placing the necklace back beneath my blouse.

His shoulders untensed and relief washed over his facial features. His eyes became slightly less burdened.

“How did your mother pass?” I whispered.

He turned to face me, leaning his face onto his fist. “She died from Poppy Dust Fever. Someone drugged her at work and she had a bad reaction to it. She was a waitress at a local tavern and was always around a rough crowd. She did what she had to do to provide for us. My father had died years before so it was just my sisters, my mom, and I. We had no money to get medical care for her so she suffered at home with something that could have been treated. After she passed, we spent about a year on our own on the streets in Fair Haven. Then the Trinity found us and our lives changed forever.”

The quiet between us hung like a heavy curtain. I didn’t know what to say and he didn’t add anything more to his story. He just sat there starring at the far wall again. His creamy skin was slightly flushed and his dark spotted eyes were lost in a memory.

“Rowan,” I said softly.

He didn’t respond.

“Rowan,” I called again.

I pulled a hand away from his face and squeezed it. He finally turned to look at me.

“If Willow or Ivy ask for that pendant, don’t give it to them. It was mine to give,” he said standing up.

I nodded.

He pulled open the door. “Penelope.”

“Hmm?”

“I’m glad you’re happy,” he said with a warm smile.

“Thank you, Rowan.”

He turned and left my room. I didn’t know what to think of the conversation with Rowan tonight. He continued to surprise me.

That night I sat down and finally wrote to my family and Thomas. I poured everything I had into the letter to my parents. I told them about the orphanage, I told them about my decision to fight for the crown, and I told them about Tobias. Well, I told them some things about Tobias. Did I tell them that I was crazy about him? No. I did tell them what an amazing man he was and how highly I thought of him. I’m sure they could read between the lines. I asked about the farm and the financial troubles. I asked them not to be mad at Thomas for telling me. Hopefully, they wouldn’t hold it against him.

As for my letter to Thomas...It was short. I told him about my decision to stay and fight for our territory. I told him I missed him and our friendship. That I missed sunny days by the pond with him and long conversations into the night. I asked him to visit next month with my family if he could. I hoped he would.

***

The next week was a blur. Trixie had me running drills and different strategies with a team of guardians from dusk till dawn. My team for the next trial was assembled and the closer the trial got the more nervous I became. I didn’t know what it was about this trial that had me on edge but It was driving me crazy. It might have been the fact that we were working with Guardians. I had to trust my team and I honestly didn’t trust them.

I was glad Trixie kept me occupied for so much of the week. It kept me from thinking too deeply about Ruby’s death and Rowan’s sadness.

I missed Tobias though. I’d only seen him once since our outing to the orphanage. We were both working hard to win the next trial and make it to the end together.

It was the night before our second trial and I’d decided to take it off and relax. Others were still training but I knew I needed a night of calm before the storm.

Which was why I stood outside right now. I looked up at the dark sky searching for the stars but they were covered by black thunderous clouds. A rainstorm was coming in. The rolling thunder and earthy smell acted as an early warning system. It wasn’t long before lighting flashed across the dark expanse of the night but even then, I did not go inside. I reveled in the dangerous beauty of the storm. It echoed my heart and mind. They were aching for a release and this trial would do just that.

I filled my lungs with the earthy smell and exhaled my stress. I closed my eyes and moaned as the breeze caressed my sweat covered skin. It wasn’t a humid night like one would expect but cool and breezy.

I felt the first drop of rain hit my lips. My tongue darted out and licked off the droplet. Another hit the side of my face and then another on my bare shoulder. All too quickly the pattering became an onslaught of rain.

By the time I entered the palace I was soaked through. The meek attendant from my first night here stood at the door with a towel.

“For you, my lady,” she said kindly, curtsying as she handed me the fluffy delight.

“Thank you,” I said hesitating. “Your name is Lillian, am I correct?”

Her eyes lit up. “Yes, my lady.”

“Thank you for this,” I said gesturing towards the towel.

“Of course, my lady. We are taught to always anticipate the needs of our guests. I saw you standing out there before it rained and I brought one just in case,” she said smiling. Her little button nose crinkled when she smiled.

“May I assist you with anything else?”

“No, Lillian. Thank you.”

She curtsied once more before leaving.

I took off my shoes and shocks so I wouldn’t drag in any excess water. I dried my face and began to dry off my arms when a voice interrupted me.

“You’ve been playing the game well,” said a voice I knew all too well.

Thelonious.

He skulked out of the shadows nearby. His conniving grin was just as merciless as I remembered. It had been a while since I’d last seen him.

He scratched his graying beard as he circled me. I would not let him unnerve me. I continued to dry off. “Can I help you?” I said in a no-nonsense tone.

“Someone is snippy today,” he chuckled.

“I’m tired.”

“You’ve been doing well this last month. You’ve made friends with the Trinity and have managed to snag some positive press.”

Press? What was he talking about?

He continued, “You’ve even made a good impression on the staff. There’s been positive murmuring about you among them. Good strategy. Their opinion will matter going into the coupled trials.”

As if being a decent human being was a strategy. I reluctantly refrained from rolling my eyes.

“Thank you,” I said instead of what I truly wanted to say.

His heavyset eyebrows were cast downwards as he watched me from the wall he leaned against. He pushed off the wall and walked towards me with a predatory gleam in his eye. I continued to dry my hair and acted as if he wasn’t alarming me.

He ran a finger over my bare shoulder, sending a cold chill down my spine. I side stepped out of his reach. A loud boom echoed through the hall. The storm still raged on outside.

His hand fell as he chuckled. “Are you afraid of me, Miss Tate?”

“No,” I lied. “Why would I be afraid of you, Mr. Cavaughn?”

“You tell me? Have you overheard any private conversations lately?”

I gulped roughly.

“I don’t know what you mean,” I lied again.

His eyes narrowed as he stepped closer. I took another step back and ran into an end table. His dark chuckle rumbled deeply from within his chest. His dark eyes held a cold curiosity.

Another step towards me and he blocked off my path. I was against the wall with nowhere to go. He grabbed a hold of my arm where my bandage was. I whimpered, unable to hold in the sound, as pain ran up and down my arm from my wound.

“I ask again, have you overheard any private conversations lately?”

His hot breath seeped into the pores of my face as he held me close. I turned my face away from him. My breathing was erratic and my heart rate fluttered like the wings of a hummingbird.

Thelonious let out a howl of pain. The hand that had been holding onto my arm was being pulled back by an unseen force.

His eyes widened as he searched from side to side looking for the source. I did the same. Rowan stood at the entryway that led to the courtyard. He stood in front of the doorway drenched in water. Lightning lit up the sky behind him as if a bolt of electricity shot through it.

“Rowan,” I whispered.

His eyes flashed angrily. His nostrils flared as he took in Thelonious.

Thelonious let out another howl of pain as his arm flipped behind his back.

“Don’t you ever put your hands on her again,” he growled.

A wave of raw power cascaded over me. Was this Rowan?

Thelonious didn’t answer.

“Do you understand?”

Another wave of hot anger pushed against me. I pressed myself against the wall, trying to brace myself against the surges of power.

Thelonious was now kneeling on the ground.

Thelonious grunted a reply and Rowan released him.

He stood up and straightened his clothes. He gave one last look at me and walked away. Rowan didn’t move until Thelonious was out of sight. Neither had I.

I crumpled to the ground once we were alone. Rowan rushed over to me and pulled me into his arms.

“Are you okay?”

I nodded. I stood up once my breathing was back to normal and my heart rate was beating at a normal speed.

“What happened?” Rowan asked.

I told him what happened from the moment I ran into Thelonious to the moment he showed up.

“I don’t know why he’s bringing it up now. The last time I saw him he didn’t mention it. It makes no sense,” I said.

“Something must have happened. I’ll dig around,” Rowan assured me. “Come on, I’ll walk you back to your room.”

So much for a relaxing night before the trial.

***

It was hard to get out of bed the next morning but I didn’t have much of a choice.

“Get your little butt out of bed,” yelled Trixie.

“Go away,” I complained from beneath my comforter.

Georgiana hissed at Trixie for me but Trixie refused to listen. After a few more commands it became quiet. Sweet peacefulness. Trixie was gone.

Or so I thought. My covers were suddenly ripped off my body and ice-cold water was thrown over me. I jumped up in bed, mentally cursing my trainer. She was a tough woman. If I thought I could take her I would have. Instead, I growled angrily and muttered darkly as I walked. I made sure to throw her a dirty look before I disappeared into the bathing room.

Thirty minutes later I sat refreshed and munching on a bagel on my couch.

“Ready, Tate?”

“Eh,” I said shrugging my shoulders.

“What’s wrong with you? You were ready last night?”

I sighed. “Yeah, I’m ready, Trix.”

“Good. Because it’s going to be a hell of a day.”

We walked towards the orchard, where the trial would be held.

Trixie pulled me in for a hug before we had to separate. “It would be an honor to have you as my queen,” she said gruffly. She hit her chest twice with her right arm, hand in a fist.

She walked away without allowing me to respond. She hated anything to do with emotions. I laughed. Her words put me at ease. It was exactly what I needed to hear. I put what happened last night out of my mind and forced myself to focus on the just the trial.

I sat on the ground and started my pre-workout stretches. Tobias joined me.

“Hi,” he grinned.

“Hello there, yourself,” I laughed.

“Ready for today?”

“Ready as I’ll ever be,” I said truthfully.

We continued to move from limb to limb trying to loosen up our muscles.

“I missed you this week,” I said.

He grinned. “Did you now?”

I hit his arm playfully.

“I missed you too, Penelope. So much it hurt to breathe.”

I smiled gleefully.

“I wish I could take you in my arms right now and show you just how much I missed you.” He said darkly. He was no longer stretching. He leaned back onto his hands and watched me with hungry eyes.

Madame Lorelle’s voice brought us back to the day’s events. “Everyone gather around.”

All the participants walked towards the makeshift stage. Rowan, Willow, and Ivy were already waiting. They held a cold mask of indifference over their faces. If I hadn’t known any better I would have been put off by their demeanor. I bet everyone else was.

“We need a volunteer to be the mouthpiece?” Madame Lorrelle asked.

She scanned our group and no one wanted to raise their hands to volunteer. I doubt anyone wanted to go through what I had last month. Everyone avoided their eyes. Everyone but Tobias and myself.

I rolled my eyes and raised my hand. “I’ll do it.”

All eyes fell on me. Rowan’s eyes widened and the twins smirked. I looked at Tobias and whispered. “Trust me.”

“Always,” he replied with a grin.