Audrey fell down to her knees, her heart racing as her chest heaving up and down, she couldn't believe I was only the two of them that remained. How could this happen? No! Who sent them? Who would want me dead in Ximpton? she had a lot of questions with no specific answers floading her mind.
"Annie it's over" she shouted loud enough for her to hear, the poor girl was still standing like a statue, she opened her eyes slowly, letting out a heavy breath "Good Lord!" her hear was on a race, she looked down at the dead beast beside her, No! actually the beast that she just killed! What a joke! she huffed and ran to Audrey who was few meters away from her.
"My Queen! are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere? Oh what do I do!?" she blurted inspecting her body to see if there was any visible damage or injury with teary eyes, she was panicking. Audrey held her hands "Calm down Annie... I'm fine, I'm just .... tired" she closes her eyes exhaling. "Oh I am sorry..... I was very scared" she said sniffling, Audrey hugged her and patted her back "Shh.... we should get going before more beasts arrives, I'm too tired that leaves you to fight them" she said teasingly to have Annie gasp and pull away "We should leave! come on!" she stood up faster and helped Audrey on her feet, she was whimpering, they walked back to the carriage, "Now who will ride us?" questioned Annie with a concerned look, all she ever want right now is for them to leave the woods as soon as possible, even if that would mean she would have to be a coachman today.
Audrey was just looking around and where the he'll is the coachman? Is he amongst the deads? she wondered "He must be gone too, poor Black" she uttered sadly, all of her people died protecting her, she could only imagine how their families respond to this devastating news. Annie opened the carriage door and staggered back, her eyes widening in disbelief "B..b ..Black!?" she shouted making Audrey turn to her "What is it?" she couldn't get her reaction, the poor man curled up into a ball hiding in tbe carriage.
All the sadness that she felt for him vanished and was replaced by fury, she gritted her teeth and pulled the man out by his collar "Get your feet out ! you coward! .... so you were hiding here while all of us were fighting to save our neck! what a shame!" she spotted in disgust.
Black went ot his knees feeling embarrassed and guilty.
Audrey couldn't help but huff "So you weren't dead but hiding?" she asked bitterly, back at Dillonia.... thus kind of behavior could never be tolerated, a coward in the battlefield would only add up to a defeat, people like him were killed beforehand.
"This man! you should've seen how I killed q beast so at least you could've gone to narrate to people!" said Anni and smacked the back of his head, she was about to beat him again when Audrey interrupted them "Stop it Annie, he is still frightened" she said and sighed, the poor man must've been so scared to death but still that didn't excuse him from what he did, Annie glared at him "What are you waiting for? Your prophecy? hurry and help the Queen inside the carriage and gets out of here!" she yelled helping Audrey walk .
The coachman moved quickly and gave a hand to settle her inside, he then trotted in hurry to his spot, he looked at the blood bath and the scattered limbs, the beasts! he shook his head and exhaled , this has to be the worst day of his life. "Black!" he heard Annie yelling probably cause of his delays again, "Aye, Aye Madam!" he quickly rode away heading to Ximpton.
Meanwhile, at Ximpton Kingdom.... people were waiting in lines to welcome their Queen, a special parade would be performed to escort the Queen from the main gate of Ximpton until to the Royal Palace. The people of Ximpton were fully prepared fully prepared by the roadsides with flowers and beaming with happiness, the knew the king had a woman already... in fact ... even a four years old knows about it, the woman that everyone is against. To finally have a Queen today was the most happiest thing to ever happen to them, instead of a concubine who is a stranger and nobody knows her whereabouts.
People have tried to search for her background but there was nothing to be found, it's like she is a non existing which made them even more suspicious of her and detest her.
The carriage crossed the border of Ximpton, received a proper greetings form the stationed soldiers, so now they were few meters apart from the main gate . "Halt!" said Audrey surprising the two of them, the coachman stopped. "What's wrong my Queen? Why stop?" Annie was curious.
"I cannot give the satisfaction that my enemies wants" she said with a grin. Annie was still confused "What?" she creased her eyes, "Bring me the most beautiful dress, we can't go there reeking of blood Annie " she explained warmly at her, Annie nodded that "Aaah!" ringing inside her head, she got out of the carriage and walked behind it where there trunks were, she came back with a refined dress and necessary ornaments for the Queen. The two of them changed inside the carriage and got rid of the old ones.
Audrey looked at her reflection on the mirror that Annie was holding up for her , a corner of her lips lifted up
'To whoever it is that wanted me dead, I am still alive... and coming for you ' she said within her mind with new determination .
"Awe! you look so beautiful my Queen as always!" complemented Annie with a genuine smile, Audrey smiled back at her "Thank you Annie, shall we...?" she nodded. Audrey was a natural beauty, a little effort or no effort at all is needed to dress her up, even if she wears a potato sack then she would still outshine. They carried on to the main gate, they were welcomed with a number if Royal guards and slowly escorted to the Palace. "The Queen of Ximpton! Her highness Audrey Maguires is passing!" yelled Annie foreman of the parade, the people cheered, some whistled, some sang and threw petals where the royal carriage was passing by.
"My Queen, the people of Ximpton seems to like you already" said Annie looking outside the window with a smile, Audrey moved to look out too and all she could see was love, happiness from the people, her people, she felt a swell on her heart. How could these people be so happy about my arrival? she questioned herself and depending she was relieved that the people had accepted her already .
"Look at how happy they are, and no wonder Ximpton is as beautiful as you told me my Queen" said Annie. "I'm glad" mumbled Audrey with a wide smile, if she couldn't have her husband's love then it was at least joyful that she would have that if her people. She would be so happy to serve them with her knowledge, she would do her best to keep them loving her if she can't conquer the King's heart. She said to herself.
Levyndrion was painful back and forth in the Royal Hall, he received the news of the Queen being attacked, but then it is too late to go and help, he could've gone but then was told the Queen had already crossed the border is currently on her way here already, safe and sound.
He couldn't help but worry and become restless until he witness with his won eyes that she was safe because if not, he wonder what he could tell his uncle, he would never forgive himself If anything happened to her, because they are not just united through politics but they a family, she is his little sister.
"The Queen has arrived!" he heard the announcer and his head snapped at the door to see with his own eyes.
All of the officials and ministers bowed their heads to give the Queen her respect, Audrey let out a deep breath before entering the grand Hall, her head held up high and straight back, walking gracefully and confidently like a peacock, the door behind her was closed 'bang!' A moment of silence ticked the whole hall.
"Greetings to the Queen of Ximpton! Long live our Queen!" The officials and ministers sang in unison three times sending shivers to her skin due to the echoing.
Levyndrion closed his eye and let out a sigh of relief, she was perfectly fine, just like how he was told. However Audrey's gaze fell on the woman that was sitting beside her husband, her calm exposure and beautiful composure, her delicate smile, she is beautiful indeed, no wonder Levy fell head over heels for her.She felt a tinge of pain in her heart. 'No! I can do this! I got this! so what if she is beautiful? Yes ! you got this!' she screamed to her other half that was trying to make her give up.
Upon reaching where Levyndrion was standing .... she bowed respectfully "Greetings my King" she said with a smile plastered on her fuller lips, but her inside felt like running out here so she could never see the woman, what was this? Jealousy? . Levyndrion nodded with his blank but still handsome face "Greetings my Queen, welcome to your Kingdom lady Audrey " her name sounded so good coming out from his mouth, Levy took her hand and kissed the back of her palm, she gasped within her "I am looking forward to rule in prosperity and peace with you " he let go of her hand and she felt a sudden cold around it. "Of course my King, I am honoured to" she muttered not sparing another glance at the quite woman beside the King who sat confidently as if she belongs there.