Chapter 25-"Come, Avenge Your Father, Who Was Too Weak to Raise His Sword

Chapter 25

"Come, Avenge Your Father, Who Was Too Weak to Raise His Sword"

   Anton had transported the whole group to a forest, just outside the border of the Northland-Southland territories. Edward did as he promised, and stayed with Fae. Carlisle stayed with them, lest a team of soldiers come to attack. Giselle met a brigade of her men, and told them immediately who she was, lest they shoot the visitors. She told them she and Anton had met a union to end the war, and had a child of both Southland and Northland blood. She sent them back to the castle of the Northland to warn and protect her mother. They left, and spared a few horses for the travelers.

   They rode into the Southland territory, and it would take another 3 days to reach the Castle. Anton used a little more magic, with Giselle's help, to transport them just outside the castle. There were a few unmarked graves around the Castle perimeters, of both Southland and Northland soldiers. There were several fresh.

"Do you think my father is down there?" Giselle whispered to Anton, who was riding the same dapper horse as she, the baby in her arms.

"...Maybe. Giselle...it won't be too late if you...there is a way to bring him back."

"...Your talking of the magic of a Philosopher's stone."

"Yes. It does work. They're a few...in my step-mother's room. She is in there, I can feel her. I've used the Philosopher's stones before. They do help, Giselle. It could bring him back."

   Giselle rode in silence for the rest of the time.

Giselle touched the white marble katana that bounced at her hip, with blue jewels on the blade. Her father had given it to her the day before she was dumped on the Cullen's lawn, forced to be there forever. Until now.

Anton rode up, gave the guards his name, and they let the Prince in with sneer.

"What is that look, fool? Do you not know who you are speaking to?"

"I know," hissed the guard. "The Queen is expecting you."

All blood drained from Giselle's face.

The Cullen's came into the throne room, where Anton's step mother stood.

"I've been waiting for you to come," she said. The Cullen's stared wearily at the Queen. She had long blonde hair with round  blue eyes. Her eye lashes were long and dark, and she had wrinkles growing around her face. She looked beautiful and angry and tired.

"Mother," said Anton, kneeling before her,"The war is over. I have joined in a union with the Northland Princess and she has bourne a son of my blood. It is over and done."

The Queen laughed haughtily, and Giselle's legs became weak. She gave the baby over to Esme, who cradled it and laughed nervously.

"No, no, no...Anton, did I approve any of this?"

The Prince gave no reply to his mother.

"See...it's a shame. See, you came here, on that little horse of yours, and the guards saw you and as being dead drunk as the where, fired and killed you both, and that bundle over there right then. Such a shame. And, in a few short days, my men will storm the Northland Castle and kill the Snow-white Queen. Pity, pity...of course, here's what really going to happen-pertaining to this party. I am going to cut my step-son, but let him live, just enough to let him watch me kill his darling wife, slowly and painfully. But I am also going to let her live as I kill the infant. Isn't that lovely?"

   Anton charged at his step-mother, but she struck  him with her knife in the arm. He fell to the ground screaming.

"Poison..." Giselle whispered.

"And only I have the antidote. Philosophers stones," she opened a box below her throne, showing us the bottles of the red liquid.

    "I showed your father the bottle before I killed him. He wished he could have lived..."

"Which one of us are you speaking too, witch?!" Anton screamed.

The Queen smiled when she answered,"Both." She then looked at her daughter-in-law with a serious stare. "Come, avenge your father, who was to weak to raise his sword."

Giselle screamed as she ran at the Queen who fought her gaily with her sword. At one point, the Queen twisted the sword from Giselle's hands and held her down. Leaning over her, she whispered how she had slowly killed her father. Giselle's sobs were hard and slow. She reached down during this ran, and found what her hand sought.

   The Queen screamed when the dagger was thrust into her stomach, and slowly, she sunk to the ground. Giselle let the Queen watch as Giselle removed all the bottles of red liquid from the box, and let Anton take a sip. He pulled the dagger from his arm, and stood slowly. She kissed his cheek, and then ran to their son.

        Giselle told the guards their Queen was dead, and that she and Anton-and their newborn son where to usher in a new era of peace. One of the guards pushed is dagger toward her throat, while one got slowly to his knees, and kissed the feet of the new Queen.

     Giselle asked the guards to remove the bodies, and when one apologized for his disobedience, she promised to forgive him of his sins, and asked him to go pray to the Lord. He swiftly obeyed.

     Giselle looked out the window at her knew kingdom, and thought of the peace and news that was spreading.