Henry

Everyone was suited up and standing in front of me. I had told Adam and Cooper to let every guard know what was going on. Thirty guards would stay back to guard the castle.

I had told the guard at the gate to close it when we all left. I got on my horse and led the army to the forest.

That's where Fortis was, at the edge of the forest. Once we got closer I could see that he had a smirk on his face. Which was typical.

I hoped we wouldn't have to fight a war today. But if it came down to that, we would.

Katerina

I knocked on the door to my father's office, but there was no response. I put my head to the door and heard nothing. Then I opened the door. "He's not in here." I closed it.

"Then he already knows that Fortis wants to start a war. They could already be fighting. We need to get over there now."

"How would we stop it?" I asked, but then the answer hit me in a fraction of a second. "I know exactly how to stop the war. Follow me."

I led Alexander to the weapon room. I grabbed a sword and a knife and stuck them in their scabbards. After we were both armed, we headed to the stables. We go on our horses and headed over to the field.

James

After grabbing a sword and a horse, I left the castle and headed over to the field. I'm going to make that son of a bitch pay. The fact that he had to hire someone else to do his dirty work makes him a coward. He disgusts me.

My father's army marched towards another army. I stayed back to stay unseen. If my father knew I was here, he would have some guards escort me back to the castle.

I cannot have him do that. I need to kill Fortis.

The army stopped advancing, I watched at My father and four other guards approached Fortis. Fortis brought four men with him to approach my Father.

I let my horse run back to the castle so I could blend in with the other men. I'll regret that later when I have to walk back. I stood at the back of the line.

Henry

Fortis walked up to me with four guards. I had four guards to match his.

I had Dave, Ben, Matthew, and Jayden with me.

Fortis looked over at Jayden, then at me, then back at Jayden again and smiled. "You're a little traitor, aren't you?"

Jayden didn't say anything.

That's right, he was forced to work for Fortis.

"I knew after the job was done you were going to leave me. But I didn't think you would go back to him." He said shocked.

"Fuck off, Fortis." Jayden said, dismissively.

Before Fortis could respond I spoke. "Fortis, we don't have to fight. But if you do, I will stand my ground. But it would be easier if we both turned around and went back to our respective castle's." I tried to bargain.

Fortis started laughing, as if he were amused. "Nothing you say will make me stop. I won't stop until you and your trashy family are eliminated. I WILL ANNIHILATE YOU!"

I crossed my arms and made a grim face. "Alright, you made your choice." I said flatly, I turned around and walked back to my men. I shook my head. This dude is crazy.

I prepared my men. "Everyone, listen up!" I stood in front of my men. I talked loud enough so that everyone could hear me. "You see that man?" I pointed to Fortis who was ten yards away. "That's our enemy including all those bastards lined up ready to fight us. We need to kill over half his men to win and for them to retreat. SO LET'S KILL THE BASTARDS! NO MERCY!" I yelled. I felt myself more energized just by that speech. I think it did a good job.

"NO MERCY!" My men chanted, over and over.

I got on my horse and
went behind the attack line.

Fortis

I turned to my men and gave them a prep talk. "Those bastards are weak. They know it, you know, we all know it. And still, they have the nerve to show up here and defend their kingdom. If they don't give up now, they'll give up eventually. They stand no chance against us. We already won this war." I spoke.

Then stopped when I heard Henry's men chanted something. "NO MERCY! NO MERCY!"

I chuckled and shook my head. I turned to Brody and Luis. "If it's no mercy that they want, then it's no mercy they'll get." I growled as I got on my horse and went behind the attack line.

I was about to command my men to advance when I saw two people run into the middle of the field.

"WHAT NOW! I'M TIRED THIS SHIT! I'M TIRED OF DELAYS!" I said, enraged.

Katerina

I stood in the middle of the field with Alexander.

"STOP!" I yelled hoping everyone could hear and see me. I realized they haven't started yet, THANK GOD! "LAW 305!"

Fortis did the same ran to the front of his attack line. I noticed someone following Fortis. It was Stephen, and he's coming straight over here.

I felt butterflies in my stomach, it's been so long since I've seen. His familiar blue eyes and brown hair. His blue eyes met my green ones. I looked away.

"What the hell is a law 305!" Fortis asked in pure ignorance.

"That's three months with peace, no wars." Henry said he smiled at me, a proud smile. He was right next to me, one his horse. I was still on my horse as well.

"Bullshit!" Fortis said dismissively. He turned to Stephen. "You hearing this shit?"

Stephen smiled. "It sounds pretty legitimate to me." Fortis glared at him causing him to stop smiling.

I couldn't hide my own smile, so I looked down.

"Laws are Laws." Alexander said.

I doubt Fortis is even going to follow the laws.

Fortis scoffed. He glared at between, my father, Alexander and I. "Fine, bluff all you want. In three fucking months I will come back to attack. And if you're not ready, god so help you, you are going to parish. You and your little fucking castle. So while your cowering and hiding I will be strengthening my army, continuing to plan tactics to TAKE YOU DOWN!" Fortis turned and faced his army. "LET'S MOVE!" He commanded.

Stephen shot me a sympathetic look before turning to follow his father.

Just then we heard yelling. James was charging straight at Fortis.

"Oh, shit!" I said.

Luckily Adam and Cooper had the sense to pull him back.

"Fuck you, Fortis!" James yelled. He's angry about the plan Fortis orchestrated to poison our mother.

Fortis and Stephen turned around.

"James, shut the fuck up." I growled at him.

"Is this your other son?" Fortis asked amused. "What's his name, James?"

"Yes. He's mad, just like the rest of the family is because you poisoned Melanie. I don't know why you thought that it would throw us off our game? You tried it." Henry scoffed.

"Even if my plan failed a part of if is still in action. Your main focus for the next month will be to nurse your sick wife back to health. So the distraction will serve it's purpose. It will delay your plans and give me more time to get my plans perfected. So I still have an advantage. The only advantage you have is that you didn't have to fight a war today and possibly loose. Think about that. Until next time wolf king." He turned around and walked away.

I realized that he was right. Why is this fucker so smart and persistent?

Fortis' army followed him all the way back to the forest and eventually his castle.

Once Fortis and his army were a good distance away my father spoke. "What the heck were you two thinking, running into a field between a war?!" Henry asked. Then he turned to James. "And what the fuck were you doing, trying to kill Fortis?! That is not something you want to do!"

"I want to kill him and make you proud, father!" James said.

"No James, that solves nothing." He said sternly.

"See we look like a cake walk compared to what he did." Alexander said.

"No, you two are in just as much trouble as James is in! What were you thinking!"

"I bought us time, now we have three months to figure out how to take him down." I told Henry.

"And he has three months to figure out how to take us down." Henry mentioned.

I shrugged. "So, now the playing field is leveled."

"No, the playing field is not leveled. It was never leveled. Their vampires and were wolfs. By default they are stronger!" He explained.

"Don't give me that shit! Things could've been way worse. You almost fought a war!" I defended.

Henry looked at me.

"What?"

He shook his head. "Sorry, it's just that you remind me of your mother, that's all." He muttered.

"Speaking of Lady Melanie." Jayden interjects. And Henry glared at Jayden for it. Nonetheless Jayden continued. "I found a potential solution to cure her. There are the flowers called Sugar Bellflowers. If we get some, we could save the Queen. The only issue is that they only grow in Northumbria. But that's hardly an issue."

"It shouldn't be." Henry said.

"Hey!" James said. "You're that bitch's brother!" He called out.

Jayden turned towards him enraged. "What the fuck did you just say?" He got up in James face. Adam held Jayden back.

"You heard me you piece of shit. You and your sister are the reason why we are in this situation in the first fucking place!" He yelled.

"Fucking apologize right now!" Jayden yelled back.

"HEY! BOTH OF YOU SHUT THE FUCK UP RIGHT NOW!" Henry yelled so loud, I jumped. He turned to me. "Sorry Katerina."

James and Jayden looked at Henry.

"James apologize to Jayden now." He demanded. And Jayden smiled.

"Wha-? Why?" He asked in dismay.

"Because Jayden could've left with his sister. Instead they stayed and faced the consequences. That deserves respect." Henry said. Jayden nodded and smiled at Henry, and Henry nodded back.

"He would still have my respect if he didn't do it in the goddamn first place!" James yelled at Henry.

"I don't like your attitude young man, apologize now!" Henry growled.

James crossed his arms and turned to Jayden who kept a straight face. "Jayden, I'm sorry for calling your sister a bitch and yelling at you."

"Try that shit again and see what happens." He threatened.

James threw his hands in the air and looked at his father. "You're gonna let him say that to me?!"

"You deserve it, maybe you should watch your mouth." Henry said. Then he turned to Alexander. "I need you both to go the Northumbria and retrieve the flowers. I will send a group of twenty men with you. Among those people will be Dave, Ben, and Matthew. I'm also allowing Jayden and Hazel to go." Jayden perked up when he heard his sister's name. Henry turned to Jayden. "I'm going to free her from the cells and have a little talk with her and then release her. You can be present for that if you want?"

Jayden nodded. "I would like that."

Henry nodded. "I was suppose to do it earlier, but Fortis decided to match his army over here. It will be the first thing I do when I get back." He turned back to Alexander and I. "You both think you can handle that? Lead these twenty men to Northumbria and back to Mercia?"

Alexander. And I looked at each other, than back at Henry and were nodded.

"We can handle it, we won't let you down, father." Alexander said.

"Thank you for trusting us to lead this mission. It means a lot to us, thanks." I told him.

He nodded. "It's about time that I started trusting you more."

"What about me? Can I go?" James asked excitedly.

"No, I need you here, James." Henry said.

"But they're doing the important stuff and I want to help with that." James said.

Henry didn't say anything, he just shot him a 'what did I just say?', look and James looked down at the ground.

"Let's head back to the castle." Henry said.

We all walked east, towards the castle with the army of men, following us.

~Dominique