Crystal Hearts • Book 2 Of The Crystal Trilogy • ⏸

-| 24 / your unfriendly neighborhood soldier |-

On her way out of the dungeons, Caroline stumbled upon the cell Gwen, the soldier that had tried to help them get Andy and Margaret out of the palace, was being held.

The moment she saw the soldier ripped of her armor and left to rot in terrible conditions, the princess got ridden with guilt. She hadn't visited her at all since she got arrested, but it was for many reasons. She'd been unconscious for three days, she was busy planning a rebellion and she had to deal with her excuse of a father on a daily basis.

"Gwen?", she approached the bars.

"You remembered I exist, I see.", Gwen scoffed.

"It's not like that... It's been weird lately. I'm really sorry I didn't come to see you or even help you! Margaret and Andy are dead, and my dad just straight up murdered Duke Crowsen."

"I'm not surprised. What brings you down here? I take it you weren't here to see me. You sounded surprised when you noticed me.", Gwen approached the bars.

"My dad caught on on the rebellion we were starting... A lot of things went down and now Phoebe and the dead Duke's son are locked up down here."

"You sure know how to have fun, Cornel!"

"Look, I'll do my best to get you out of here, I promise. This is all my fault and I know it. I should have visited sooner."

"I don't want your help. I'm going to take care of it myself."

"That's not going to happen. I'm coming up with a plan, when I'm done, I'm going to fill you in. There's going to be a war, and I know I've let you down, but I need to know whose side you'll be on."

"I'll think about it."

"Thank you. I'll be back soon.", Caroline sighed.

"Whatever.", Gwen rolled her eyes.

"I'm really sorry, Gwen... I swear!", the princess frowned.

"I'm done trusting people. You've got a cause, I get it. I agree with you. And you may have that cause, but I doubt you've got the guts to go through with it. When the war starts... I don't think you're going to fight. You'll probably cower in some corner, or get your friends to do the dirty work for you. I'm not saying it's a bad thing, I'm just saying that you may have the brains to set it all up, but you're no warrior to get in the middle of it all."

"You're right. I'm no warrior. I can't get in on any physical fight. I'm like 5'1'' and have been treated like I'm fragile my whole life, but you know what I am? Someone who is done seeing the supposed king rule unjustly and I'm going to bring him down and not give a damn about who he is. I don't care that he's my father, I care that he's wrong and unlike him I know it when I've made a mistake. I acknowledge it and apologise, even if sometimes my apology is not enough. I'm going to prove to you, that it's going to be worth it for you to join me."

"From what I've seen so far, I doubt it.", Gwen glared at her. Caroline could tell that the soldier was feeling betrayed and really wanted to make up for it, but Gwen wasn't giving her a choice.

Proving herself was going to be hard.

Esmeralda was on the verge of tears when Caroline returned to their room.

Yeah, it was no longer just Caroline's. Esme and a Phoebe were permanently her roommates ever since Andy and Margaret died. Well, Phoebe not so much anymore...

"How are you holding up?", Caroline bit her lip.

"I'm not. I swear to god, if your father dares to even think about hurting Phoebe or Edgar, I'm going to assassinate him myself. He's taken enough people from me. I'm not going to tolerate his homicidal tendencies any further."