MINE TO HOLD

LUCAS IS ARRESTED

EPISODE 3

Lucas never left his post,he knelt down at the royal infirmary where the lifeless body of the king rested on a marble slab,the candles around reminded him that his hero was no longer with him, he bowed his head in respect to the dead king, to him hours had passed like moments but he remained silent guarding not a living king but the honor of a man he had sworn to protect. He was still thinking of the best moments they had when the door flang opened.

A squad of guards stormed in ,there armor clattering like thunder, they had to come prepared because they knew Lucas was not easy to deal,he was the best in both combat and sword than any of them, Vera went forward where Lucas was standing, her gaze on him and said

"Lucas Scotland,, ,,,you are under arrest for the murder of the king" Lucas rose slowly ,confusion darkening on his face

"For the murder of the king?What are you talking about??" His voice carrying a wounded disbelief.

The guards encircled him, he tried reaching for his sword but then he stilled, he stepped away from his fallen king and lifted his hands as he surrendered.

"If its the truth you are seeking ,then l will answer "He said quietly

"But l will not draw a steel in the presence of my king" The guards shackled his hands he did not resist he turned ,bowed to his king and they left.

Far across the palace ,in a private wing where shadows of grief hung heavily ,Princess Aurora sat in silent ,she had said no word since last night, still wearing the green gown that had been exchanged to be a dark one,,one could see the sorrows in her eyes though she was trying so had to hide them. Her mom was seating next to her brother soothing him gently,he was still fragile and trembling, at night non of them had slept because of fear and sadness.

A loud knock was heard on their door, before Aurora could give a go ahead the door opened, Aurora's maid Grace came in ,her face was pale and her breath unsteady.

"My princess..." She whispered closing the door behind her.

Aurora lifted her face and waited for Grace to speak.

"It's Lucas ...they have arrested him" she said still breathing loudly, the Queen stiffened horror in her eyes,the Prince become more afraid but Aurora's expression did not break.

"They say he ordered the wine for the king" Grace explained

Aurora stood up slowly, she moved around the room,she was only twenty years but non of her family members were as brave as she was,she looked at her mother who was tearing her eyes out .

Aurora turned to Grace and asked

"Where is he now?" She asked

"In West wings cell,they took him moments ago" Aurora's gaze drifted without a word she stepped towards the doorway.

"Princess are you going to him?" Her Majesty asked ,Aurora paused for a second

"No Maa am going to find the truth" And with that she left.

Aurora knew something was not right, her father had trusted Lucas so much,she knew for sure someone very close was setting Lucas up. she found a way to see him, Aurora sipped into the west wings cell,guards noticed her and bowed, they stepped aside allowing her to get in. Lucas was confined behind iron bars,his hands shackled, he stood when she approached, for a moment they looked at each other in silent,Aurora gripped the cell bars and asked

"Lucas talk to me" she said

"l gave no orders my Princess, the king was poisoned before l saw that bottle, l will die a hundred times before lifting my hand against him" Lucas said looking at him,she sighed she already knew Lucas could never harm her father.

"l believe you,,have always trusted you" Aurora said looking into his eyes, Lucas said nothing but he was a little relieved hearing that from the princess.

Footsteps echoed down the corridor, and Aurora moved back,looked at him and whispered.

" l cannot free you right now but when my father is laid to rest,l will come for you....l swear " she assured him

"I will be waiting my princess" Lucas said and bowed.

Days passed as the palace continued mourning, bells rang every morning just a reminder that a hero had fallen,thousands will bring flowers every morning and pray to the late Kings soul.The King's armor was polished and placed beside his casket,his sword laid across his chest.Aurora oversaw everything, she moved with grace never shedded tears she wanted to be strong for her family.

The Queen dressed in her black mourning dress ,her eyes and face were swollen because of the pain and stress of loosing her husband, she sat next to her son quietly.

At dawn the body was moved from the infirmary to the Great Hall,the funeral was to take place at sunset.

Aurora inspected the palace food, drinks,the candles just to make sure everything was in order. she was not merely mourning she was hunting, her father's killer was still moving around freely.

When the sun slipped low she wore her morning black gown,but beneath its flowing folds,strapped against her thighs laid a blade her father had given to her when she was twelve,Aurora seemed like a normal quite princess but no one knew she was so good in both combat and swords,,,her father had hired the best Chinese old man Luxiang who had taught her everything she had to know.

The mourning drums faded long,the King's body was lowered into the royal tomb.At night the palace was so lonely like something so precious was missing.

A few weeks on, As Aurora and her brother were seating at the garden,fireflies floated among the lilies and lanterns glowed along the stone path,Harlot sat leaning against the wall where Aurora had placed him earlier ,Aurora rested on his shoulder, her Maroon royal gown sweeping the floor down to her feet.The Prince spoke softly about their father's memories,,they remembered the sweetest things he used to do and laughed out loud,but then Aurora felt something before she heard it,,she could feel footsteps uproaching towards them.

Her spine tightened ,

"Brother"She murmured looking around for any threat,,her brother froze and held her tightly.

"Stay still" She whispered to him

Her gown swirled behind her as she leapt from the bench ,hand reaching beneath her skirt where a concealed blade waited,steel hissed on time before the attacker could reach her brother,sparks flicked where a sword met a sword, the attacker stepped back ,a princess in silk was not meant to move like that. Aurora pressed forward she was barefooted now,her Maroon gown twisting like a storm,her moves were nothing like royals,his brother kept telling her to protect him and that fueled Aurora's anger.

Their swords continued flashing on the air and the guy wanted so bad to retreat but she could not let him,the assassin lunged again ,Aurora spun,her gown flaring ,then she kicked him hard enough knocking him off balance,he staggered and fell on the ground,Aurora moved placed the blade on his throat and asked.

"Who sent you??She asked pressing the blade too hard on his skin.