Memory in the End

Chapter 40: Saving the Five

"Arrabella, you really should've walked away."

I shake my head, "Never."

I make the first move throwing all my strength at my uncle, managing to get the upper hand for a little but he wanted me to think I had the upper hand. With a flick of his wrist, a knife stabs me in the side. The pain blind sides me, making my lose my grip a little. He didn't kill me, it's a flesh wound but the pain is unbelieveable. He then swings his sword, cutting me in my shoulder, making me lose the sword. He tries again and I use all my strength that I can muster to kick it out his hand. Even though he doesn't have his weapon, he lands a couple punches but I don't let down easy. With my left arm, I manage to grab a arrow lying nearby and stab it in his hand. The pain stops him but before I can use my sword to pierce him through his heart, he digs his fingers into my shoulder making pain shoot down my body. He tries to grab my sword from my hand but I use it to stab him in the leg. He falls to the ground and I hold my sword above his heart.

He laughs, "Do it Arrabella. Kill me. Kill me and you kill the last piece you have of your father. Kill me and prove to everyone how ruthless you really are. Killing your uncle. Burning down homes, killing families, because of you all the bloodshed spilled today will stain the grass. Their blood," he points throughout the field where dead warriors and burned bodies lie, "is on your hands. You wanted to be queen, Arrabella, well welcome to the monarchy."

"You started this uncle."

"I may have, but all these people here today will remember you as the bad guy, as the person who destroyed their families. You will be the person who kills not only their leader, but your own flesh and blood, what does that make you? Worse than Victor? He won't ever betray Xenia like this," my uncle speaks and laughs, "So kill me Arrabella, because if you don't, my leg wound surely will. My blood will stain this field and your hands for the rest of your life. This will be all you will see every time you close your eyes for the rest of your life so I really hope they were worth it."

I close my eyes, "I don't want to kill you."

"Too bad," he says, when I open my eyes I see he had sat up and reached for a sword. Before he grabs it, without even thinking, I plunge the sword into him, feeling his blood stain my sword and my hands. He falls off my sword and onto the ground, his blood, like he said, staining the ground, and all I can do it stare.

The carnage all around me was my fault. Even though I would do it again to save them, the guilt still plagued me. I felt my hand beginning to shake and eventually the sword dropped. I felt someone's hand on my shoulder and I already knew who it was.

"Arrabella-"Michael starts and I shake my head.

My voice cracks a bit, "Don't, please. I just have to go wash my hands."

"Hey-"

"Please," I plead again, "I have to go wash my hands."

He nods, "Okay, can you guys take care of this?"

They nod and Michael leads me from the group to a nearby river. He stands back as I scrub and scrub but I can't get the blood off my hands. Tears stung my eyes but I hadn't cried until now.

"Damn it," I say, hitting the ground next to me.

Michael squats down next to me, grabbing my hands. He puts them in the water and slowly but surely, the blood begins washing off. I close my eyes, "I killed all of them."

"You didn't."

"I did, I caused all the bloodshed trying to save you guys because I didn't care about anything else. Is this the kind of Queen I'm going to be? Is this what I'm going to do? God I'm a monster, the one you scare kids with."

"Arrabella," Michael says again, grabbing my shoulders and looking me dead in the eyes, "You were backed in a corner. You did what everyone would have done. You made the decision not because of us but for your kingdom, we can help you get your kingdom back. You didn't do it just for us, you did it for your people too and because of that decision, you're one step closer to your kingdom and your people."

I nod slowly, "For my kingdom."

"For your kingdom, you made a decision your father would've made too. So stop feeling guilty, you did what you had to do. Understand."

I nod, my breathing slowing a bit, "I understand."

He smiles, "Good, now let's get your wounds checked out, you're probably going to have some battle scars but every good leader has some."

"At least there'll be an interesting story to tell," I smile.

Michael nods, "The story of how Queen Arrabella saved her people, her friends, and stopped the biggest group of pillagers ever. You're going to be remembered as a powerful queen, not a monster one, so never think of yourself that way again."

I nod, "Thanks Michael,"

"I should be thanking you, if it wasn't for you, we probably would've been at Xenia's feet right now."

"But I didn't save you."

"You did."

Apparently what had happened was when I had set the fire that started the commotion, my uncle Hugo had left one warrior with the keys to the cage where they were being held until tomorrow. The cage had been spelled so it rendered them powerless but when my uncle and I started fighting the warrior got distracted so Aru swiped the keys, got the cage unlocked and by the time they took care of some warriors, my uncle had already told me everything and died by my hand.

Families would be coming by soon so we left as soon as my wounds were checked out. Ivan smiled before we left, "I told you you had it in you."

"I guess I did, didn't I?"

"You did, now let's go and get your kingdom back."

I nod, "Time for me to have my home back."

I take one final look at the field, even though it was for my kingdom, my uncle was right. I would never get this out of my head, and even if I can commit this sort of thing for my kingdom, I have to make sure I don't. If it's a last resort then I will but I will try every other option before I sink down to this level again. I turn around and sigh.

What's done is done. All I can hope is to learn from all these experiences and be a better ruler than anyone has ever seen because I have it in me. No one will diminish me anymore because I am the Queen and I am the rightful queen.

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Awe poor Arrabella, finally got to see that ruling has some dark consequences as well. Well this is that last chapter we will update tonight so stay tuned for the next ten in about a week or so! Thanks so much for reading and voting! We appreciate it so much!

Until next time

H and S