Chapter 153 - Plump Little Rascal

"Ahem ..."

"Your garrulous little thing, look what you got us..." the Prince once again commented close to Alexa's ear.

"A duel was settled, and the rules were followed. If the result was fair, the consequences will be too, right? Or does Eowick Brentford disagree?" she asked aloud.

The Baron bowed his head for a moment, but then he nodded, also speaking aloud for everyone to hear,

"It was a fair duel, and I submit to the results of its outcome."

That at least appeased Magnus, who was restless at Alexa's side, despite trying to look as impassive as a statue. But Rowan came to her, and retrieved Romeo to Alexa,

"So if I give you back the bird you gave me, can you help my mother?"

Alexa choked on the flow of emotions that took her heart. How can she not be moved when she saw the true love of a boy who, although mad at his mother, begged for her life? 

What to do? She wished to slap that hubristic bitch for everything she did. But that wouldn't be enough to quench her thirst for REVENGE! For plotting to get Alexa and her friends killed, for having Mildred blinded, and for expelling Christian peasants... and for making Magnus rip the Baron's fingers off, and for trying to ... uh, well, she didn't even want to think about the Red Lady's l.u.s.tful plans.

Alexa however, remembered the rumors that the boy had been taken from Lady Gwen by the Baron. And that now Rowan had returned home. Did Lady Gwen have a heart on that cleavage?

Taking two steps forward, Alexa spoke, staring sternly at Lady Gwen,

"Your children need to know that you don't need a god or goddess to make you the mother they need, Gwendolyn. Do you want to be remembered for being the beautiful Queen of Spring for so many years? Or do you want to 'be reborn' as a selfless mother and raise your children with good examples?"

"Wow, beautiful words, Alexa. But I still want to kill this woman," Magnus murmured, not satisfied with the diplomatic course the princess was taking.

Lady Gwendolyn seized the moment, and motioned for her children to come to her. They immediately clung to her skirt, with huge looks that begged for her mother. 

'Oh! she really is capable of everything to get away with her crimes! '

Alexa narrowed her eyes and took a deep breath, but said,

"Lady Gwen shall be judged by her children in the future. They were merciful and had hope. There must be a reason for things to be this way."

As soon as she spoke her last sentence, she pinched Magnus's hand, feeling a strange ache in her insides that gave her a shiver and a chill.

Magnus then spoke solemnly,

"So be it."

After the great anticipation, the crowd began to murmur, as forgiveness seemed less amusing than a dramatic and bloody ending.

The Prince hauled Alexa away, and they were followed by the plump Romeo back into the forest.

"Excellent speech. Time for a dramatic exit," he said, quickening his pace.

His belly made a strange, loud noise, and Magnus stopped.

"Well, I'm going over there. See you later," said the prince.

"Great, I'm going this way. Don't follow me, Alexander," Alexa said, feeling the call of nature urging her veemently.

~ Where are you going? ~ Alexander really looked innocent, and Alexa shouted,

"Don't follow me, I'm warning you!"

°°°

The sudden stomachache that had affected them could only be the result of the concentrated elixir that Cymric prepared. But, intestines and destinies in order again, Alexa felt a height off her shoulders on the way to Giles' camp.

"Where were you after all, Alexander? And why are you so round?" she kneaded the sides of the nightingale with open hands, measuring it. "I needed you!"

~ Uhn, do you think that only you were in danger? It's an honest mistake! I had a hard time too! ~

"What happened?" Alexa asked.

~ Well, I went to the bas.e.m.e.nt vents to get in, but the smoke made me dizzy and I saw everything red, and ... and ... I passed out! ~

Alexa repeated the explanation to Magnus, who was walking a little ahead, watching for signs of unwanted encounters. And the First Prince grunted,

"Ah, of course. I even believe in that part. But when you woke up, were you in that bubble shape?"

~ No! I woke up while Rowan and other children were taking care of me. They were trying to revive me with food! ~

"And couldn't you just refuse it?"

~ Maybe I was really hungry, ~ explained Alexander. ~And after eating, I… slept. And when I woke up, they had taken me to a children's party in another part of the forest. Children had to hunt for eggs. At that moment, I discovered that they were treating me with some pomp, due to my fame. They put me on a pillow and they went around hunting for eggs that were hidden ... Apparently it was part of the spring celebrations. And there were songs and those kids really adored me! ~

"In short, while we were in trouble, you were playing with the kids!" Magnus snorted, but Alexander insisted,

~ It's not easy to fly when your stomach is so full! I have no practice in being a bird! Don't make fun out of me! ~

Alexa asked,

"Yes, many of us aren't comfortable with anything that's happening. Don't disturb Alexander please, Prince Magnus. We should be grateful to be alive ..."

Deep down, maybe if Alexander were with her, Alexa wouldn't have had the courage to put the antidote in her mouth and do what needed to be done. She was sure that Alexander was not being sincere in his explanations, however.

For some reason he was hiding things from them.

~ Yes, I am grateful that you are well. ~

Magnus said nothing, just continued walking.

Emotions subsided as they walked. There were many practical things to think about now, and Alexa wasn't even sure that they had finished this stage.

The First Prince blurted out, out of nowhere,

"What gave you... back there? To say those things? To play a goddess and forgive that woman? They killed our friends! It's a crime to let her get away with it! I cannot leave without giving due revenge to my companions!"

~ NO! WE CANNOT LET HER GET AWAY WITH THAT! ~ Alexander spoke in agreement with a surprisingly rancorous tone.

"AAGHHHH! Stop it! I can't take it anymore! Do you want revenge ?! So go after your revenge, Princes! You will never really see things like I do! Because you are men! And men think of honor and how offensive it is to be deceived by a woman! I'm also mad at her. She sucks! But I don't want to leave those children orphaned! I don't want to destroy anything I don't understand! I am not a von Wuttenfal, who has to decide which witches live and which die according to their interests! I know it won't be long before I will be on the other end of a von Wuttenfal's sword. As your mothers have been! When I stop being useful, will I be locked in a room to die, or will I go straight to the fire? So, if you are so dissatisfied, just leave me here and go work things out with your pride and all the convenient beliefs you cling on!" Alexa had stopped in the middle of the woods, and was screaming without realizing she was doing it. Then she threw herself on the floor, dramatically, "You both annoy the hell out of me!"

~ ...! ~

"...!"

"What?! What are you looking at?! GRRRR! Are you still there?! Were you not raiding an English castle?! Spawning other orphans, who will wander the world with no destination nor identity?! You no longer have a stomachache as an excuse, dear Prince Magnus! Nor is you too round to fly, Alexander!"

Magnus was frowning, but with the torrent of nonsense and Alexa's hurt look, he held out his hands to help her up,

"Come on, stop bullshit. I bet the little ogress is starving. Should I hunt?"

Alexa just glared at him. The three of them felt frustrated and on edge, and were silent for a while. 

Magnus pulled away, rubbing his face in an exasperated gesture, and Alexander flew into a bush; a low, awkward flight. 

It almost made her laugh, but she had to deal with the frustration in her own chest. Her instincts also wanted Lady Gwen to pay immediately, as did everyone who took part in it.

But she couldn't sleep thinking about Jennifer and Rowan.

~ You are right, Alexa. I don't think I could stop thinking about those children who helped us. And that they had no idea of ​​the harm their mother did to us. And about that ... We don't always have the best parents, but it makes us who we are. ~ Alexander spoke thoughtfully, hidden in the bush.

The princess stood up, "And we have to do the best with what we have. Come on, we better get there soon. I hope your brother didn't really hurt our friends."

"Stop talking like I'm not here," Magnus said, still sulking.

Alexa wondered what was on First Prince's mind at this moment, and if he even remembered everything that happened in the forest.

She wished she could forget everything that had happened, but she knew she couldn't.

"Milady!" She recognized Reed's voice calling out to her from across the road, at the edge of the forest. Alexa waved back, with renewed spirits.

Anyway, a little rest!