With huge tears trickling down my eyes, I helped my father stand up and freed him from the thick ropes that were surrounding him. They pushed him, making him roll to the ground when I dropped my sword and they ran away. As much as I am filled with fury, I cannot also deny that the fleeting pain I am feeling right now over the death of my most favourite monarch have scarred me. I cannot fully comprehend what was happening around me the moment I saw my uncle, my mother's greatest confidante, on the ground, vomiting blood, holding on to his life, gasping his last breath.
When Edward and the Baroness ran away, I wanted nothing but to chase them and kill them too. An eye for an eye, a life in exchange for the life taken away. Unfortunately, they have scared me using my father. A sword was placed above his head and I have no choice but to surrender. Giving them time to escape.
When their troops and generals saw that they were running away, all of them raised a white flag and retreated. They may have surrendered and raised the white flag, they may have ran away and retreated, we may have won the battle, we also lost our greatest wall. Our pillar of strength. Our motherland's greatest protector. We may have successfully defended our country, but our kingdom has fallen.
That is why when Fergus spotted me and was able to come near me because of the retreating enemies, he quickly went to me. He saw how much I clung on to my father, crying endlessly with never-ending wails of misery.
He went nearer and saw the lifeless body of the king on the ground. He was astounded by what he saw. Fergus walked slowly, closer to the corpse and held the king's neck, feeling the pulse. He sorrowfully looked at me with helpless eyes and slowly shook his head. With that confirmation, more tears flooded my eyes..
"Who killed him?" He coldly asked. I know he is also as hurt as I am. Afterall, even with only a short meeting, both the king and Fergus grew close with each other. And now with this unfortunate event, this must have reminded him of the time where he also lost his parents.
With gasps in between, I answered. "The king tried to protect me. Edward was about to hit me with his sword but King Malcolm blocked the attack for me. I couldn't do anything but watch him fall to the ground."
My sobs grew louder by each passing second that Fergus was in complete silence. Slowly, I pushed myself up and went near him. "Where is he?" He asked me coldly. He was staring into nothingness. As if falling in a deep abyss.
I swallowed my sobs and inhaled deeply. "He escaped. When he killed the king, I was also able to scathe him on the side of his waist. I failed in an attempt to kill him too because his mother placed a sword on my father's head. I just can't take the risk of sacrificing my father's life."
He nodded to me and looked at my father who was still sitting on the ground, watching us. Fergus looked at me again and embraced me. "You take care of your father and yourself. Also, look after the queen and be on her side when you deliver the unfortunate news about the king's demise."
I broke off the hug and looked at him confusedly. "What do you mean? Fergus, I do not understand you." I intently looked at him. He shrugged off his shoulders and looked at me too. Intensely staring in my eyes as if looking for something there.
"I'll go after edward. I'll chase him and hunt him down. It would not matter if I go beyond the seven seas. I'll go over great heights just to conquer him and his mom. They will pay for what they have done to the king. Now, I want you to promise me that you will take care of the queen and keep her out of danger while I am still chasing after those sassenachs. Okay?"
He sounded so convicted and serious. His tone implies that his words are absolute and that he will take nothing for an answer. Having left with no choice, I nodded my head as a sign that I am willing to do all his biddings. "I promise."
He smiled a little at me and ran after the direction I pointed earlier when I told him that Edward and his mother had run off. He was merely running on foot but then called some people —probably highlanders from his clan— and all of them went towards him and ran with him. All of them ran barefooted, never minding the stones and dirt on their feet.
Without any second thoughts, I quickly helped my father up and assisted him as we went to the makeshift infirmary where the queen is currently staying. I found her sitting anxiously in one of the chairs there, and when she spotted me, she quickly got up to her feet and looked around me as if looking for someone. And I exactly know what or who she is looking for.
When she thought that there was no one beside or behind me, her smile slowly faded and asked. "Where is your uncle? Aren't you with him when you dashed towards the sea of enemies? Does he need help? Is he injured? Let's go see him."
Hearing her words, extreme guilt crept inside me as I felt useless as I was not able to save the king. I failed to save him because he tried to save me first. I burst out into another set of fresh tears and kneeled before the queen. I bowed my head to the ground, just a few inches away from her toes. I wailed loudly and clenched my fists.
Watching my reaction as I slumped on the ground, the queen quickly got the message and weakly sat on the chair. Her hand flew on her forehead as tears were brimming in her eyes. "How did it happen? Tell me, please, I am begging you."
Having left with no choice, I told her everything. How we were fighting side by side to how the Baroness used my father to lure me and how the king protected me that he chose to sacrifice his own life just to save me.
The queen did not put any hatred toward me as she knelt on the ground and hugged me when she heard my story. "Hush now, I do not blame you. He did what was right. We treated you as our own daughter and he did what a father would do to protect his child."
I nodded several times. Also trying to comfort myself with the queen's words. "Where are they? They cannot just run away from here committing that heinous act." For a moment, I got scared. There was a vicious glint in her eyes. Like she was ready to avenge her beloved's death.
This was the first time I saw her like this because she was usually soft spoken. Out of concern for her in case she would do something extreme, I hurriedly stopped her. "My Queen, Fergus is already after them. Tracking them down. Please don't do something outrageous. The kingdom now depends on your shoulders. Please let my husband do the chase and be strong for the kingdom."