Jonathan gripped the bars of his prison with his hands. They were cold and hard against the palms of his hands. He sighed heavily and turned his back on the barred door, facing the cement blocks of the back wall.

He did not move, even when he heard footsteps in the stone corridor outside of his cell.

"Hello, Jonathan," said Sawyer, his sneering voice instantly recognizable. "I've come to let you out."

Jonathan didn't turn, but gave a short, harsh laugh. "You and I both know that's not why you're here, Sawyer."

"You know me too well," said Sawyer, chuckling darkly. "I just got word from one of the spies in Jurmala that Antony and the majority of the King's Army are bearing down on our little hideout."

Jonathan flinched slightly as Sawyer slammed his hand against the bars.

"This is your fault!" he yelled. "If you hadn't let Isabella get away, Antony would have no idea where we were!"

"You'd only buy yourself a little time, Sawyer," said Jonathan, calmly. "Antony would have found us anyways."

"Be that as it may," said Sawyer, dismissively. "After I'm finished teaching the King's Army a lesson, you're going to hang, for betraying us. As to your precious brother...He will also die."

Jonathan froze, but said nothing.

"Good bye, Jonathan," said Sawyer, turning and striding back the way he had come.

Jonathan allowed his shoulders to slump as he returned to the bars that kept him inside.

Why did I let myself become this? He asked himself. And how can I ever redeem myself?

His mind raced, trying to think of a way out of this prison cell he had found himself in. He could warn Antony that Sawyer intended to kill him. He closed his eyes. He couldn't; he was stuck here indefinitely.

I can't redeem myself.

He returned to the opposite wall of the prison and slumped against it, trying to resign himself to his coming death.

***

"We will arrive shortly, Sire."

Antony nodded to the captain. "Thank you," he said, acknowledging him. The captain nodded once more and then departed, leaving Antony alone again.

As Antony waited for the ships to reach the island of the rebels, he found himself fingering the yellow ribbon now tied about his arm.

He sighed heavily and allowed his hand to fall to his side as he exited the captain's cabin and came out on deck.

Kade acknowledged him as he passed on his way to the fore-deck. He rested his hand on the ship's railing and eyed the fast-approaching island.

He could tell that they were approaching at an angle, towards the side of the island inhabited by woods. It wouldn't be much, but this way would hopefully give them a small element of surprise.

"Slow!" he heard the captain shout from his spot next to the wheel.

The ship began to slow, the others behind it doing the same. Antony held himself straight as the ship approached the land and the men prepared to disembark.

Kade was shouting orders to the men on board the lead ship. "Disembark as quickly as possible and make a loose marching formation. Swords at ready! Be as quiet as possible!"

Antony felt the anchor catch and the boat was soon stopped as close to shore as was prudent. The boats were quickly lowered and the men boarded them quietly. As soon as a boat was filled, it departed for shore, making quick work of the short distance between the ships and land.

"Antony," called Kade. Antony took a deep breath, checked that his sword was in position and made his way across the deck and into the boat that waited for him. Kade also boarded and they were off.

He felt strange, as if he were standing on the edge of a precipice, about to leap off.

He shook his head, clearing it of those thoughts as they reached land.

***

"Hold!" yelled Sawyer, as his men reached the crest of the small hill. they remained hidden in the woods, watching the royal army's boats reach shore, the men disembarking.

He smirked, gesturing foward with his hand and taking a few steps towards the edge of the woods. The men behind him did the same. He could feel the men becoming restless.

"Hold!" he hissed, turning and facing them, glaring. They immediately stopped, but he could still feel how anxious they were to attack.

He scanned the shore, looking for an acceptable signal to attack. Back and forth, a few times.

Not yet.

He frowned as another boat arrived on shore. As the soldiers dismounted one by one, he grinned wickedly.

On shore, King Antony turned and spoke to a few of his soldiers.

"Now!" he shouted, raising his sword. As he ran forward, he checked that his bow was still secure against his back. He smirked and let out a battle cry as he emerged from the trees.

***

Kade immediately threw himself forward, his sword already in a downward arc to cut off the man who had just attempted to slash at him. His dispatched two more enemies, surveying his surroundings as he did so.

The rebels had been hiding in the trees. He had prepared for this eventuality, expected it even. It was what he would do if he were in their position: watch the approaching ships and mobilize near their landing point. He felt confident that they could win the battle. The king's army, he could already tell, was better trained then these rebels. Not only that, but the rebels were outnumbered.

However, one thing worried him. He had yet to see Jonathan.

Antony's brother was, when he had last been seen, the leader of the rebels. Antony was, of course, king of Astoria, and therefore the highest commander of the soldiers of Astoria.

Kade worried that a confrontation between the two of them was inevitable. He feared that Antony would not react well if faced by his brother. And Jonathan? The former king of Astoria remained a wild card. Kade didn't know enough about the man to accurately predict his response.

He pushed the issue to the back of his mind and continued fighting.

He had already briefed the men before they departed for the island. Their goal was to push the enemy back towards their camp, forcing them into a smaller and smaller space, and eventually surrounding them.

***

Jonathan sat at the back of his cell, beneath the barred window, clenching his fists. He knew that, by now, if they had made good time, the king's army would have arrived on the island.

Several times, he thought, he heard the sound of shouts, or the clash of swords, but he eventually wrote it off as his imagination.

The guard visited his cell a few times, presumably to ensure that he was still there. After all, if a princess had managed to escape, they had to keep an eye on the former leader of the rebels. The most recent time, he had brought food: a thick, murky stew that seemed hardly palatable.

Jonathan forced down a few spoonfuls, gathering his resolution as he did so.

He had to find a way to escape. He would, most likely, die. However, as long as he managed to keep Sawyer from killing Antony, or to at least warn Antony of Sawyer's intentions, his purpose would be accomplished.

He realized, the thought suddenly dawning on him, that it had been a long time since he felt the emotions of regret, or cared, really cared, for anyone. Although the feelings were uncomfortable, and he didn't always know how to deal with them, he was glad they were returning.

The hours passed, and he slammed a fist against the bars in the window of his cell, his temper running high.

Resign yourself, Jonathan, he thought. There is no way to escape. There is no way out.

Suddenly, he sat up straighter, straining to hear. This time, it was most certainly not his imagination. The voices and shouts of fighting men were moving closer and closer to camp. He stayed at the window, waiting for the fight to come within his line of sight.

At that moment, the sounds of a small scuffle broke out near the entryway to the prison. Soon, two rebel soldiers entered, leading a royal soldier between them. A few moments, later, two more entered, leading another.

"Scouts, sent ahead to check out our camp," explained one of the rebel soldiers, tersely, to the prison guard. "We were under orders to take them. Keep them locked up."

The rebels left.

Jonathan briefly began to wonder if they would somehow be able to assist one another in an escape. He shook his head. He had betrayed these men when he betrayed Astoria. They would not help him.

He remained in the dark corner of his cell as the outer doors to the prison opened. He sat up a bit straighter at the sound of voices.

Children? he thought, confused. The voices belonged to children! He remained quiet, holding his breath, straining to catch their words as they spoke to the guard.

"Father, you must let the scouts out now. Don't wait another minute. I think the general is looking for them."

"I will let them out momentarily, Mariah," he said. "Now you must go quietly, and say nothing of this. Sawyer must not know that we are on the king's side. Go, and I will wait a bit to let the scouts go, until you have had time to make yourself scarce.

"Yes, Father," said Mariah.

"Mariah," said the guard. "Have you found a safe place for Josiah and your mother?"

"They are in that cave I found on the opposite side of the island. The fight is far from it and, even if it should reach that far, the cave is hidden."

"Very well," said the girl's father. "Now go."

True to his word, the guard entered the cell area a few minutes later. He released the scouts and the three men, two scouts and the guard, exited the prison together.

A few moments passed and the guard returned.

"Guard!" called Jonathan, clearing his throat as he stood and crossed to the cell door, grasping the bars in his fisted grip.

The guard soon arrived, frowning. "What is it?" he asked.

"Please!" hissed Jonathan, leaning closer. "You have to let me out! I have to get out to the battlefield! My brother must be warned!"

The guard considered him for a few moments. "You seem to not be entirely on the side of Sawyer's cause but, at the same time, you seem to have distanced yourself from the cause of the king."

"My history with the Empire of Astoria has not been good, that much is true. And it is also true that I have been rethinking my stance on several important issues, making it impossible for me to support Sawyer's cause. I would not be locked up here if I were truly on Sawyer's side. The only cause I support is  one that I should have kept at the forefront of my mind for these past years, but allowed instead to be lost. I must protect my brother. I promised him, when we were younger. Now Sawyer plans to end his life, and you and I both know that Sawyer is, indeed, dangerous."

The man seemed thoughtful. Then he shook his head, his expression regretful. "I cannot trust that you will not leave here and immediately go to Sawyer with news of my siding with the king. I cannot risk my children that way."

Jonathan opened his mouth to renew his plees, desperation growing more and more within him.

"However," said the guard. "I will find a way to get the message to your brother. There are other men in this camp that fight for the same cause I do. One of them should be able to reach the king."

Jonathan relaxed somewhat, but still remained tense, worrying that the message would be waylaid, or that it would be too late.

The guard reached through the bars and gave Jonathan a reassuring clap on the shoulder, before turning and retreating through the door into the main prison area.

Jonathan returned to the window. Soon, a man ran past, headed toward the direction of battle sounds.

Jonathan sighed. He could only pray that the message would reach Antony before Sawyer did.

***

Sawyer yelled in frustration as another soldier pressed foward to delay him. He had been making his way closer and closer to the king when, for no apparent reason, Antony had fallen back somewhat, more into the midst of the soldiers of his army.

The only explanation that Sawyer could think of was that the plans for the king's death had been leaked somehow.

Jonathan.

He had revealed the plans to only two other people. Jonathan and Spad. Spad had been by his side the entire battle. Sawyer double-checked. Spad was still there, fighting vigorously with a red-cloaked royal soldier.

Sawyer growled furiously under his breath, before turning to Spad.

"Take charge!" he shouted to his right-hand man. At Spad's nod of understanding, Sawyer whirled and charged back through his dwindling men, back towards the camp, back towards the prison.

Jonathan, you will pay!

***

Antony didn't have time to argue with Kade. After the man had brought the message that Sawyer planned on killing the king, Kade had forced him immediately back into the midst of the soldiers, away from the worst of the fighting. Before Antony had time to protest, Kade was gone.

He swung his sword, frustration radiating off him in waves at how ineffective he felt, relegated to the back of the fight, rather than in front, fighting for vengeance against the men who had taken Isabella, against the men who threatened his kingdom, and against the one man who he now knew was planning a gruesome end for him.

One thing, however, pushed its way into his thoughts, confusing him.

The message had originated from Jonathan.

Why would Jonathan wish to warn him of his death?

Perhaps Jonathan knew that Kade would react by pushing Antony away from the frontlines, and perhaps he thought the men would be distracted by the duty of protecting their king, therefore leaving an opening for the rebels to better attack the royal army.

Or...Perhaps Jonathan had had a genuine change of heart and simply wished to send Antony a warning?

For that matter, where was Jonathan? Certainly not leading the army...And the messenger had told Kade that he had come from the prison.

And now Sawyer was missing.

This may all be a trick... Antony told himself, glancing around at the men surrounding him.

But on the slight chance that Jonathan truly was looking out for me, and may perhaps be trapped in the prison waiting for Sawyer to return and harm him for warning me of Sawyer's plans...He straightened. I have to know.

Antony waited for his opportunity to escape the watchful gaze of his own soldiers. It came with a renewed attack by the enemy. The attack itself was feeble; many rebels had scattered, several had diverted and begun to fight with the King's Army, and Sawyer had disappeared. However, it was enough of a distraction to enable Antony the few valuable seconds he needed to make his way into the thicker part of the woods and begin to hurry towards the direction from which the messenger had come in the first place.

***

Spad struck down the soldier who had attacked him. He smirked. He was extremely proud of the fact that Sawyer had left him in charge.

He looked up, intent on marking the king's position.

His smirk faded. The king was gone.

Sawyer will kill me!

"Hey! Lawrence!" he called to another of the rebels nearby, a stocky, muscular man with a full beard and an eyepatch. "You're in charge for a bit!"

Lawrence nodded, and Sawyer hurried off into the woods, hurrying back towards camp. He took a bit to find the correct path, but soon found the one that looked familiar and was on his way.

Maybe I'll even find Antony and kill him myself! I bet that would make Sawyer proud of me!

He hurried on with renewed vigor.

In his mind, this situation could have two outcomes: He could either find and kill Antony, and be praised by Sawyer. Or he could have completely lost the king, and likely lose his head to Sawyer.

He forced himself to run faster.

***

Kade frowned in confusion as he saw Spad run into the woods, leaving the rebel army behind. What...

He turned to find Antony, tensing when his friend was nowhere to be seen. He made his way back through his soldiers, until he reached the place where he had told Antony to stay.

The king was nowhere to be found.

It came to him then, all at once.

Spad went after Antony.

He immediately whirled around and, dodging a blow from one rebel soldier and quickly dispatching another, hurried in the direction Spad had taken.

***

Jonathan started slightly as the door to the prison slammed open and Sawyer entered, sweat on his face and blood on his hands.

"You fool!" He yelled, spittle flying from his mouth. "How dare you! You sent the messenger, did you not?"

Jonathan saw no use denying it and, as long as Sawyer was here, he could do no harm to Antony.

"I did," he said, calmly, gazing steadily back at Sawyer. "I'm surprised you put it together that quickly."

Sawyer's glare became even more hatred-filled. "I cannot believe that I once admired you and followed you," he spat.

He took the key from the guard and unlocked the cell, slamming the door open. "Stand up."

"I am already standing," he stated.

Sawyer became flustered, but shook his head angrily. "Turn," he barked, taking a lenth of rope from a nearby hook.

Jonathan turned, and Sawyer tied his hands behind his back, the rough rope chafing his wrists.

"Your time to die is now," hissed Sawyer, in Jonathan's ear. Jonathan felt a shudder run through his body and Sawyer laughed evilly, before jerking Jonathan around and shoving him through the door and up the stairs into the daylight.

The guard glanced worriedly at Jonathan as the two men passed. Jonathan ignored him, hoping that, for the guard's sake, Sawyer had missed the glance.

Sawyer led Jonathan down the small makeshift path through the rickety dwellings of the rebels and into the woods. They reached a small clearing that Jonathan knew was where Sawyer made the executions of the spies who had gotten too close to figuring out the secret of the rebels.

"Stand here," said Sawyer, and Jonathan took up his position. Sawyer crossed the clearing to the opposite side. He turned and faced Jonathan.

"Jonathan," he hissed. "How far you've fallen." He chuckled darkly. "To think that I once admired the leader you were. But you've betrayed us."

Jonathan stared evenly back.

"You claimed to hate Astoria, and yet you clearly still care about your little brother." He glared at Jonathan. "I hope you know that it's that love that will now bring you low. You see...Love for family is a dangerous thing. You cared too much for Antony and where is he now? He's hiding amidst his little soldiers, while you will die in a clearing, alone and afraid."

Sawyer paced a few steps to the right, turning once more to smirk, gloating, at Jonathan. "Everyone will know how far you've fallen, Jonathan of Westerholme. Once king, and now...you will die at my hand."

"I admit that I was wrong, Sawyer." Jonathan met the eyes of the half-crazed man before him. "I mislead you. We claim to only want justice, and revenge against Rupert...but Rupert is gone now! He is dead. But, in his place, we have become like him, willing to go to any lengths to get what we want. And we are wrong. A new age has dawned for Astoria. My brother, Antony, is a kind and just king. He will rule Astoria well. You will never win, Sawyer."

"You are no longer one of us, Jonathan," said Sawyer, shaking his head. "You never were. Now you will pay for it. With your life."

He brought his crossbow to his shoulder, taking aim. Jonathan did not flinch. He did not close his eyes. He did not look away. Instead, he looked directly at Sawyer and met his killer's eyes.

Sawyer drew back the bowstring and Jonathan waited for the arrow to sail through the air and straight into his heart.

It never came.

"Stop!" commanded a familiar voice.

Sawyer, startled, shot too far to the right, and the arrow embedded itself into a tree.

Jonathan turned in surprise, and Sawyer turned also, anger visibly consuming his entire being, to face Antony, who entered the clearing, sword raised as he faced Sawyer.

"Put down the crossbow," he ordered. Antony was too close; Sawyer had no choice but to comply, for any move to raise the weapon would only result in Antony slashing him with his outstretched sword.

Jonathan found himself starting to relax, relief at his brother's presence beginning to fill him.

It was short-lived.

"Sawyer!"

All three men in the clearing turned and looked, just in time to see Spad unleash an arrow from his crossbow. This arrow hit no trees, instead sailing, unimpeded in its flight, straight into Antony's chest.

"No!" Jonathan heard himself shout as his brother gasped, his hands going to his chest, before falling, first to his knees, then forward, onto his face. He lay there, unmoving.

Jonathan felt an all-consuming anger fill him, and he turned to face Sawyer and Spad.

***

The clearing in the woods came into Kade's sight just as Antony fell to the ground.

No...thought Kade, raising his sword even as he entered the clearing. Spad was now weaponless, his crossbow having been dropped on the ground after his successful shot. Sawyer looked up in surprise, then turned and fled, Spad on his heels.

"Watch over Antony!" yelled Kade to Jonathan, even as he entered the trees on the other side of the clearing, in hot pursuit of his friend's murderers.

Thoughts raced through his mind as he made his way over the uneven, leaf-strewn ground.

The rebels were mostly scattered and disbanded. The battle was all but won.

But at what cost?

***

Jonathan was already on his way to Antony's side, even as Kade spoke. He fell to his knees next to his brother.

"No! Antony, no. This was not meant to happen like this! Antony! Brother!"

He turned Antony over, supporting his head and shoulders with his arm. He examined the arrow, sticking out from his little brother's chest. It had not hit Antony's heart; it had entered too far up, just missing it.

That did, however, leave Jonathan worrying that the arrow could have punctured his brother's lung.

Antony coughed then, weakly, and managed a smile. "Jonathan," he said, slowly.

Jonathan looked at him helplessly. "Antony..." he said. "Please don't die. Stay alive! Your kingdom needs you. I need you...to live. Please, Antony."

Antony shook his head, and laughed weakly. "And here I thought you hated me, Jonathan! What a pleasant...surprise."

Jonathan shook his head. "I was wrong, Antony. Wrong about so many things."

"Glad to hear you admit it, even if it takes my dying to get it out of you."

"Antony..."

"It's fine, Jonathan," said Antony. "I forgive you for...everything. And...when I'm gone...you'll make a fine king."

"Antony! I won't be king, because you're going to live!" He made a move to stand, to try to get help, but Antony reached out, suddenly, and grasped his arm.

"Please, Jonathan," he whispered. "Stay here with me."

"Alright," faltered Jonathan. "I won't leave." He quickly scanned the surrounding trees, wishing that someone would make their way out and be able to help Antony.

"Help!" he shouted. "Someone! Anyone! I'm with a wounded man!"

No one responded, and Jonathan could feel Antony's grip on his arm beginning to weaken slightly.

Jonathan cradled Antony's head in his hand. "Please, Antony...Live," he whispered, as if commanding his brother to live would make him do it.

Antony smiled. "Last year," he said quietly. "A man...gave his life for me." Antony took a deep breath. "I didn't understand...at the time. What...would make a man willing to sacrifice his own life for another's? But...I understand now. You become willing...when you believe in someone. In who they are...and in who they will become." He smiled. "You've proven that you've changed, Jonathan. You'll be a good king...for Astoria."

Antony stopped speaking, his breathing becoming more heavy and increasingly labored. Jonathan began to open his mouth, ready to speak, but, at that moment, Kade crashed through the brush and came to a stop, pausing for a moment in dismay.

"Antony..." he said, his face drawn.

"Kade," said Antony, a small smile lighting his pale face. "Please...come here."

Kade nodded and made his way to the two brothers, kneeling on Antony's other side.

"Kade, those letters...They're tied with a red string. I left them in the cabin onboard ship. Please....get them to Meredith. Please....Please."

"Of course," said Kade. "Of course, Antony. Anything."

"Make sure, Kade," he whispered. "And tell her I'm sorry."

Jonathan watched as Antony moved his arm weakly and reached across his chest to his other arm, beginning to fumble with a yellow ribbon that Jonathan had only just noticed.

Kade immediately untied the ribbon and handed it to him. Antony closed his fist around the ribbon, and Jonathan took his other hand, feeling Antony grip it tightly in return.

"Don't forget, Kade..." whispered Antony, as his eyes closed. Jonathan felt his grip on his hand loosen.

Jonathan and Kade were both silent for a moment before they were both galvanized to action.

"Stay with him!" ordered Kade, standing. "Don't leave him!" He began to run from the clearing, shouting over his shoulder. "I'm getting help!"

***

{an-} *does evil laugh thing* MWA-HAHAHAHAHA!

And there you have it folks! The long awaited XXXI!!! Hope you enjoyed. >:)

In other news: Meredith and Isabella have new cast members. Meredith is Keira Knightly and Isabella is Rosamund Pike. I'm super sure about Isabella's, and not so sure about Meredith's, but oh well.

Also...Thank you Just_Kaela for a truly "brilly" idea. Parker (Antony's manservant) will be cast as Colin Morgan.

The cover has been changed because I purchased a royalty free stock image to use as a cover because...I plan on (perhaps, if everything goes well) publishing this as an ebook on Amazon. Don't get too excited; it won't be for a while, if ever. But...out of curiosity? How many of you would purchase it? :)

See you next chapter, where I shall pull you back from that cliff I just left you hanging onto the edge of. :)

And the chapter's side image is pretty easily understood: injured Antony.

<3, Abbi