My Romeo's Lullaby

"Oh no." Cora hid behind Andy and panicked. The horses stopped at a safe distance and the men got of. The middle one was king Franklin, the right one was Aiden and the left one was Cora's past servant; Monica.
The king stepped forward making the other king raise his sword more.
"I anounced my apperearance in a letter." He said sternly. Andy dropped his sword, but didn't take his eyes of him. Cora peeked over Andy's shoulders and maked eye contact with her father.
"Bring me my daughter." He ordered. Cora felt defeated and gave in. She walked forward, but Andy pulled her back and stood inbetween them again.
"Why? The batlle is in a month." He growled. Cora looked at the ground. "I wish to talk to my daughter now." His face was emotionless while Andy clenched his jaw. "Not here outside."

Andy pulled out a chair for Cora and she sat down. "I got this, don't worry." He whispered in her ear. It didn't make much of a difference.
The men sat down with emotionless faces. Aiden and Andy sat on the heads of the table.
"First we must discuss my daughter, she has to go back to Forendall." Franklin started.
"That can't be arranged, she is at age, she can decide herself." Andy objected.
Cora cleared her throath a little and looked up.
"I wish to stay here." Her soft words flew out of her mouth and she shut up again. "But why darling?!" Franklin almost shouted at her.
"To uhm-" She didn't know what to do.
She didn't know what to say.
She didn't even know how to sit still anymore. Suddenly she felt a hand on her knee.
Cora looked at Andy who still looked at aiden. Quickly she grabbed the hand and he squeezed back.
"To grow my knowledge that you have stolen from me all these years." She said with a little more confidence.
"What have I done to deserve this?!" Franklin threw his hands in the air and leaned backwards. Cora laughed sarcastically. Is he insane?!
"You lied, you lied, you killed my aunt, banished my niece and most of all; you lied about everything!"
She sat up a little more and Andy's thumb traced over the back of her hand. "I tried to protect you, so that you wouldn't walk away with a filthy wildling!"
"I am sure this isn't the time for a family meeting, your grace, please tell me why you wanted to have this meeting?" Andy finally spoke.
Aiden sat up and cleared his throat. "We are here to discuss what happens when one of our champions win, you have a champion, right?" He smirked.
"I have." Andy looked at Cora a split second and focued on Aiden again.

"Can you hear anything?" Asked Koda crouching, ear pressed against the door.
"No, not a thing." Ashley whispered standing in the most uncomfortable pose ever. "Maybe they aren't talking- wait- I hear something."
Koda looked at Ashley who was listening to some muttering and sometimes shouting.
"Wait, I hear here footsteps." His eyes went wide, he grabbed Koda's arm and pulled her with him. The door opened and the men walked out with Cora.
Andy still didn't let go of Cora's hand. She felt slightly safer that way, but she still couldn't believe that was her father. He has changed.
Maybe it was the thruth or maybe it was because he was with Andy, but she didn't like it.

Outside on the courtyard the men and squire got on their horses and left without another word. The gates closed behind them and they soon dissapreared into the city. Andy sighed and embraced Cora.
"Are you alright?" She nodded into his chest and looked up. He smiled down and gave her a peck on her lips. "Let's go inside, I'm hungry." He smiled.
Ashley and Koda ran towards them. "What happened? Did they say something about Cora?" Ashley said in panic. Koda looked at Cora. "Sorry." She whispered. Cora smiled. "Me too, niece." They walked in and discussed what they were talking about.

They were all stitting at the dining table.
"So, if Cora wins, she will be my queen and we will rule over both kingdoms, but if she loses we have to surrender to F.E.A.R, Cora will marry Aiden and they will have the whole south and west." Andy took a sip of his wine. Koda looked at her cup and thought.
"What if we win we'll go to war with F.E.A.R and ask help from the north?" Silence fell and everyone looked at Koda.
"The north? They hate us." Andy mumbled.
"Yes, but they hate F.E.A.R more, it could work, we just have to negogiate with someone who knows them." Koda looked at Cora who was in the middle of a big bite.
She looked up and felt on the spot, well, she was, the whole table was looking at her in silence... She quickly swallowed and wiped her mouth.
"I don't know the north, I only know that they're very fond of nature."
"Mora said that she was brought back as a reaper, you really think that someone from the east know how to do that?" Koda laughed.
"We'll talk to her." Andy said to Koda and Cora. The rest of the night was very quiet as the summer storm danced over the city.

Cora walked to her room with a slightly tipsy Andy.
"Hey, maybe, when this is all over, do you think we can get a cat?" Cora looked at her drunk king who fell on the bed. "A cat?"
He nodded. "I've always loved cats, especially black ones, and I will call him little john or crow." He snickered.
Cora fell beside him and laughed. "Little john?"
Andy looked at her. "Yeah or crow." Andy looked into her eyes and his eyes had a spark. "Go to sleep, your grace." She played with his hair.
"Oh hell no, you only call me 'your grace' when you're horny." He climbed on top of her and she laughed. "Maybe." She teased. She felt Andy's breath on her lips. He couldn't resist anymore. He crashed his lips on hers and she smiled into the kiss.

Notes