"So the queen is among our ranks now. How interesting." I mumble to myself while twirling my wine glass in my hands.

"What was that sir?" The king's advisor said.

I rolled my eyes and didn't dignify him with a response. No doubt that if he found out the queen was here he would send a letter out to the king. Not that it would get to him in time for him to stop her from coming with but it will be a headache when he does find out. It's already hard enough running an army full of armed toddlers; I don't need to add the bratty king into the mix. He was no different from my soldiers. The only difference was that my soldiers at least know, somewhat, how to fight.

The queen being here sure will shake things up. Everyone told me she was crazy but honestly I don't see it. I never saw her as crazy. When the rumors started, I was just moving up in the army and agreed with my fellow comrades because I didn't want to ruin my chances of becoming a general. One day after training I heard someone still in the court yard where we practiced. I wasn't particularly tired that day so I decided to go ask if whoever was there would want to spare. To my surprise I saw the queen there practicing. She had more skill than half of the men in the army. Her swings were flawless as well as her footwork.

I had watched her for over an hour, until she was done practicing. Then I ran like hell out of there because I was almost certain that what I witnessed was forbidden. The queen wasn't supposed to be training like that. She was supposed to be a trophy to the king. Just sitting pretty by his side. It was clear to me that day that she wasn't as crazy as everyone tried to say.

Everyone around here is quick to label a woman crazy if they have a sharp tongue or any sense to speak their mind. Personally I love a woman who puts up a fight. If she can punch me in the face and take my head off then she automatically becomes attractive to me.

Too bad that the queen was, well, the queen. She was intriguing. There was no way that the pathetic king could match her. Maybe I could pry information out of her. See if her relationship was real or if it was one of convenience.

What was I thinking? Get it together Lex. I'm pretty sure going after a queen gets me killed and no woman is worth that. Even if that woman was as beautiful as she was cunning. I ran my hands through my hair hoping it would work out the inner turmoil that woman caused me. It, in fact, did not help at all.

If I'm being honest, part of the reason that I told her she would be in a tent with me is because I wanted her close. She couldn't deny some of the attraction she felt towards me; I saw it written all over her face. But, she was married and I wasn't known for having the best reputation. She even saw me in a tent with several women when she got here. It wasn't what she was thinking it was. It was a status symbol to my men to show I wasn't weak. I never actually did anything with those women but they got paid handsomely regardless.

My only question was, why was she here? She could be sitting in the castle and controlling the army from right inside. She wouldn't have to risk her life to control an army. There had to be some reason inside of this camp that I wasn't seeing. Yeah she can fight but that wouldn't be the only reason she is here. People who show off in this line of work get killed and she must know that.

I want to keep her close. To find out her reasons for being here of course. I had no ill intent behind it. Well, maybe a little but no one needed to know that.

She was going to head out with us as soon as the sun peaked its head over the horizon. Based on that it would be another hour before I had to listen to the grumbling and fighting of my men. Packing up and moving always brought at least one fight. It didn't bother me though. It meant they were warmed up in case we ran into any trouble as soon as we started moving. Although, it was a pain in the ass when I got punched in the process. My men were scared of me, so seeing how they cowered into themselves was enough punishment for me; most of the time.

What wasn't going to be pleasant for me was calming down my men when they realized the queen was amongst our ranks now. Not just as the queen but as their superior officer. It was already bad enough that she was called the crazy queen but than to also introduce her as their higher up. My men are going to go crazy. No matter though; I would put a stop to it very quickly.

These men were going to learn a very hard lesson today; that rumors were just that. And that in the line of battle, it did not matter who was among our ranks. As long as they could fight and as long as we won this war. They were all going to have to accept that or face punishment. It was already bad enough that she had to deal with people calling her crazy on the outside. I would not tolerate it in my presence.

I looked back over at the kings advisor who was busy fidgeting with his hands like a moron. It was truly one of his most annoying habits and trust me, he had plenty.

"What is it now?" I asked him.

"Sir, I have to report that she is here to the king. You forget I am not your adviser but his. He would have me fired if I don't report this to him." His hands went crazy as he kept talking.

So he did hear me after all. This was a problem. "What are you more worried about?" I asked in a lethal tone, "The king firing you, or me killing you? Because I promise that is what is going to happen if you send that letter out."

He let out an audible gulp and a single bead of sweat trickled down his forehead. He didn't say anymore so I assumed he picked his own life today; smart man.

I peeked outside of my tent and the sunrise was overhead and the morning dew had finally come into view. Despite how brutally I run my camp I do love the beauty of nature. You have to find balance somewhere in life. For me it was the smell of fresh grass, a nice warm summer air breeze, or even this simple dew on the grass. All of it grounded me and reminded me that I was still human. That my father was wrong.

I let myself enjoy a few more minutes of peace before I had one of my men sound the wake up alarm. Before I had left, I had told the queen to wash herself up and than head to my tent. Then I would make a full introduction of her to my men. She obviously had some doubts that I was being fully truthful but in the end she agreed to it. Not without throwing some vulgar words my way and possibly a shoe but the details don't matter.

The second I heard hundreds of grumbling men and women my mood immediately soured. How could they wake up and not at least find some enjoyment in it. No, all everyone had to do all the time was complain. Honestly it was a pain.

One by one they all started coming out of their tents and making their way towards the center of the camp where breakfast was being cooked by the wonderful Agatha. She was in her late sixties and never spoke but that woman sure knew how to cook a good meal. Even for hundreds of soldiers and with limited time and supplies, she still made every meal taste like home.

While they all waited in line I went behind Agatha and put my hand on her shoulder so she knew she could stop for a second. She knew what I was implying, nodded, and went back inside her tent for a moment.

"May I have your attention everyone!" I yelled to the long line of soldiers. They grumbled in response but none of them dared to protest.

"I know you must be hungry, and I promise our beautiful chef will be right back out with your food, but first I have an announcement." This peaked their curiosity and woke many of them fully up. I'm sure they thought it was about the war from the way most of their faces turned fearful.

"There is someone who joined the ranks last night. Someone very important and powerful. I hope you will all treat her with kindness." She knew that was her queue and slowly came out of my tent. The men were confused at first because I noticed that she was wearing that damn face covering again.

"Take it off now." I whispered into her ear once she got close enough.

She looked up at me innocently and said, "I don't want to."

"Fine but just know, you were the one that wanted me to do this the hard way."

She tilted her head but before she even had a chance to speak,I ripped the face mask off of her. She gasped in horror and the look on her face was enough to satisfy me for the day.

Once her face was in full view my men were shocked at first. No one even dared to move a muscle. Then after a few tiring, and honestly quite boring, minutes the onslaught of questions came.

"Why is the queen here with us?"

"Is she really the mad queen?"

"Didn't she die?"

The questions kept going on and on and they wouldn't shut up. Her face was plastered with mortification and a little hint of anger. No need to guess who that anger is directed at.

"This is why I didn't want to show my face, you fool." She was practically nose to nose with me while she was yelling but honestly she was quite adorable when she was angry.

"They were going to find out at some point and let's face it, they will fight better with you here."

"How on Earth did you come up with that one." She smelled just like the morning air and it was intoxicating.

"Think about it. They have been kind of lazy lately. Not taking this war seriously and thinking they will be home within the next few nights. None of them have been training hard despite my many attempts to forcefully make them. With their queen here not only will they see the gravity of the situation but it will also make them actually start to train."

She must have seen my point because her face relaxed and she let out a sigh.

"Can you at least get them to quiet down so that I can properly introduce myself." She gestured towards the men that were still screaming their ridiculous questions.

I nodded, "If you do not shut your mouths right this second I will personally make sure each and every one of you dies by my hand today."

The comments and questions stopped immediately and with them being quiet I nodded towards the queen.

"Hello everyone. It's nice to meet you."