➷ ࿐ྂ

──────── 🏹ׅ۬∙ ────────

xviii. Blood, Sweat, and Tears

tie her up so she wouldn't be a problem once she wakes up. Then, she and Tewkesbury headed downstairs to see everyone. Lord Theron had knocked the man he was fighting to the floor as they all continued swinging their swords, slashing flesh after flesh, blade after blade.

After the coast was clear, they all gathered. Lord Leucrion helped Guineviere up as they finally professed their feelings for each other and sealed their words with a kiss which is no surprise to anyone any longer — excluding the young man Enola had by her side..

They were way too obvious. Lord Theron and Lord Allistair woke Lord Barron who asked a thousand piles of queries. Enola and her escort were injured, evident with their cherry red blood seeping through their clothes.

They all gasped for their breaths as they sighed happily, pulling each other in an embrace. "We've done it!" Y/N cheered.

"We did." Enola said as she panted.

Everyone else nodded with beads of sweat staining their foreheads. "Who is this, Enola?" Guineviere asked, referring to the boy in a scruffy outfit.

"Casius Carter," he said and held his hand out for her to take. Viere shook his hand and winked at Enola.

Holmes rolled her eyes. "This is why you shouldn't be here in the first place." She said to Casius.

"Is this romance brewing?" Lord Theron taunted.

"I am stuck between killing for it or refusing," Casius replied and turned to Enola who scoffed with a bright pink tint on her ears.

They all laughed until it was all cut short.

They heard a few claps right there in front of them. "Amazing performance." Sir Whimbrel said, striking his palms together, creating a sound that echoed throughout the edifice.

Lord Cosko stood behind him, staying silent. Ashamed to finally face his daughter and their supposed companions whom he betrayed, he looked down in shame before fixing his gaze to create perhaps just a faux perspective that he was not afraid.

But how horrible would falseness do against the guilty truth?

His daughter's eyes bore into his as she looked at him furiously without any more trust. This hurt him, but whatever he did, he knew he pledged to be loyal to the King. He had no other choice.

"You found out about our plans and managed to stop our allies, but not us. Impressive, but not quite. What are equal rights going to do to the country? You're fighting for a pathetic change that does so little."

Everyone dispersed from the small formation and prepared their weapons. Tewkesbury took a sword that caught his eye. Y/N prepared the dagger in her pocket. They all stared at them, determined and vexed.

"Was that supposed to scare us?"

"From the looks of it, you are scared. You're just extremely good at being a liar and a traitor. You're not as brave as you think you are. Ordering your men to fight for you before you, yourselves grow some balls. How cowardly."

"You were always a stubborn, insolent child. Go ahead and try to kill us! Let's see who wins — "

"Can you please just stop talking?" Lord Barron asked. "Let's get this over with. You're going to pay for what you made my son to be."

"Man to man, Lord Barron."

"Do your worst."

With that, they both charged at each other as Leucrion went for Lord Cosko, joined by Guineviere. Lord Theron and Lord Allistair split up. Enola and Casius looked at each other as Tewkesbury and Y/N did as well, looking as confused as ever.

"So we're just going to stand around like pillocks on the sidelines?" Casius asked.

"You could join them if you wish." Tewkesbury answered.

The four of them turned around to see Lisette and Elliot with swords, same as them.

"Funny how they chose swords this time." Y/N sarcastically commented.

"Close your mouth, ratbag." Lisette said.

"You know, I'm — "

"Not this conversation again." Enola groaned. "Let's just get this over with," Casius said.

Enola and Y/N fixed each other's gazes on the both of them and nodded.

Their enemies seem to have caught this signal and there they go. That's how it started. . .again.

⋆·˚ ༘ * 🕯️

Tewkesbury and Casius both fought Elliot together, clashing their swords, exchanging grunts and words that the enemy started.

"How'd you meet that girl?" Casius asked.

"Fell off a bag when I was — " he started and focused on the man they're fighting with. " — running away."

"Are you two seriously going to start talking?!" Elliot asked.

"You started it-" With that, Casius' sword was knocked right off his hand.

⋆·˚ ༘ * 🕯️

"You're really getting on my nerves!" Enola exclaimed as Y/N's dagger came flying across the room leaving her weaponless. Holmes then released her sword as well and did her fighting stance.

"Now it's a fair game. Two to one, but you have a sword."

"Easy."

Then, they all screamed, charging at their opponents. Y/N did a clean sweep kick that unexpectedly worked as Enola punched Lisette square on the face, taking her fall as an advantage. But before she did, she caused a deep cut on Enola's arm making her yelp.

With that, she's knocked out cold again.

The girls looked at the boys who shook each other's hands with a sleeping Elliot a few feet away. 'I hope they don't wake up for the next five minutes," Y/N mumbled.

"Hopefully."

They turned their heads to the couple who seemed to have defeated Lord Cosko. The man was kneeling right in front of them as Lord Theron threateningly pointed his sword at him.

Moving on to Lord Barron, Lord Allistair and Sir Whimbrel. Well, things are not so good. The young lord's uncle layed there on the floor with his own pool of blood, his cold dead eyes open with his lips slightly parted.

Lord Barron was injured as well as he fell to the ground, clutching his side.

Lord Allistair rushed to his aid along with everybody else. "No, no, no, no. Does anyone have an emergency bandage or — something that's — okay wait, let's try er, the curtains!" Lord Theron exclaimed.

Y/N ran to her dagger and took it as she went to the red curtains, stabbing and cutting it in a huge square that she quickly took to her companions. Guineviere groaned in pain as her injury on her back started to ache even more. She took the bandage and folded it in her desired fold and wrapped it on Lord Barron's side.

They were all extremely busy with the lord that they didn't even notice the minister coming up to them desperately but still holding his ever so vigorous power over the infiltrated house

"We will get him the help that everyone needs. I must extend my gratitude to all of you for saving me and the people. I am in favour of your reform, and having shown the evidences of your debate's defence, I will be more than happy to support your — "

He was about to finish when Guineviere frantically left her place with gaping eyes as she sprinted right before the minister, earning a new stain of blood on her dress. It all happened so fast, but her beating heart never knew pain more than she ever learned it now. As everyone watched in horror, they found an arrow pierced on her flesh. Though, this thoughtful act cost herself to get in more serious trouble that she never knew would come.

The girl fell, her chest hitting the floor. "Guineviere!" Lord Leucrion shouted and turned his head to the attacker along with everyone else.

The King.

And so, another incredible person has fallen because of the wrath of greedy people. The Lady of Castalene laid there on her stomach as she tried to stay awake. It was getting harder to breathe as if her airways were tightening and her throat was ringing dry.

She had to fight. This shouldn't be her end.