Sanghurst Chronicle - Part 1 - Chapter 4 - Aftermath
{Beginning of Story Content}
{Section 1}
Shea: Shit...
Shea: Just a little further...I...
Shea: Vinheim can't be gone...
Shea: The castle can't be far now, maybe Errwarld got away too...
Shea: Out of all things...why does my damned blood not lessen the pain...just a little...
Shea: The sun too? That won't help...
Shea: There...just need to...
Shea: ...clean up...I'll be as good as...new.
Shea: (We never stood a chance)
Shea: (Why did I have to annoy her?)
Shea: (How do we fight against that?)
Shea: And I thought a clan war would be bad...
Shea: (Where can I even get the upper-hand with her? Three couldn't even take her down and now I don't even know if there's three anymore.)
Shea: (Why couldn't she be like clan Vinctumunus and have everything noted down in a book for us?)
Shea: That's it! Maybe I'll have to go to Lacroix's study. He has all sorts of shit others think pointless. He might have something on how they locked her up before.
Shea: Lacroix! You here?
Lacroix: There's no need to speak so loudly child.
Shea: Sorry, but it's urgent.
Lacroix: So urgent you need to interrupt the silence?
Shea: Absolutely, do you have anything on the First Queen?
Lacroix: I assume you mean Queen Anthea Takano?
Shea: The one and only, do you have some books on her, old scrolls maybe?
Lacroix: As if you'd be able to read the scrolls. I have some books but...well it's unusual for someone to take an interest in Anthea.
Shea: Unusual doesn't mean it won't happen.
Lacroix: It's funny that you and that Errwarld fellow are asking about it, both in a matter of days. He hasn't got you wound up into one of his silly theories has he?
Shea: (I wish it were only a theory) What makes you think it's silly?
Lacroix: Errwarld has always been a little too eccentric in his research. Please we'll continue in my personal study.
Servant: Master Lacroix, would you like for me to-
Lacroix: There's no need, duck, we'll be alright. But do be a dear and let me know if anyone requires audience with me or Madam Sanghurst.
Servant: Yes, sir.
Lacroix: So are you a part of Errwarld's studies? Or are you freelancing?
Shea: I just need those books Lacroix, anything on Anthea will do.
Lacroix: I've already given all I'm willing to Errwarld, you'll need to seek him.
Shea: All you're willing? So there's more?
Lacroix: There are always more...but some books I'll never hand over.
Shea: Well, I need them and-
Lacroix: And for what? This doesn't seem like ordinary research-
Servant: Sir! Someone is asking for Madam Sanghurst!
Shea: You wouldn't understand but I'll be back for them.
Shea: I thought you were dead.
Errwarld: Well, as they say, news of my death was greatly exaggerated, except there was no news to speak of.
Shea: I thought that was the end for a second. Every moment I've lived, that was the closest I felt to the void.
Errwarld: Well, I haven't fully passed the trial yet. Everything still hurts or stings. I'm sure that sunlight did wonders for my skin.
Shea: Well you've got an excuse to keep the mask on now.
Errwarld: I always did.
Errwarld: So, Lacroix has more books than he'd given me?
Shea: Were you spying on me?
Errwarld: I try to keep an ear to the floor.
Shea: He seems to but he won't be happy parting with them.
Errwarld: Even if he knew the cause?
Shea: Do you think he'd believe us? He thinks half of your studies are "silly."
Errwarld: Fair point.
Shea: So how much time do we have?
Errwarld: Not enough.
Shea: That's vague. How many days?
Shea: You alright Errwarld?
Errwarld: I'm fine, I was just thinking.
Shea: So how long?
Errwarld: It depends. Could be a day, a week at most. My best men should be here soon and-
Shea: Hold on! You thought during the arguments and fights that are surely happening here, that it'd be a good idea to bring in soldiers?
Errwarld: Would you rather we all just die?
Shea: No, but everyone is going to bring theirs now and we'll be even closer to a clan war, or a blood feud at the very least!
Shea: They are that close to tearing each other apart!
Shea: They're that close to being divided, permanently and-
Errwarld: What is it?
Shea: I just feel like-
Errwarld: You're being watched?
Errwarld: I feel it too.
Errwarld: But what's done is done. Shea, I know you worry for a war or feud but there are bigger things to worry about at the moment.
Shea: You know that doesn't help.
Errwarld: Of course not. But my guards will be here soon. I just ask you be vigilant. You see the First Queen, we'll need to talk, immediately.
Shea: We should meet at some point tomorrow. I'll see if I can get anyone to listen about what we've seen.
Errwarld: You can try to tell people but don't expect them to believe you. And don't bring up Vinheim, they'd be quick to incriminate us.
Shea: Well, they were quick getting here.
Solomia: And they're already arguing. What was Errwarld thinking?
Solomia: I admit it's rather a bold move but I hardly see it working out.
Shea: Likely not but-...doesn't matter.
Solomia: So should I bring some of our own?
Shea: You could. But then everybody would bring their own and then we'd be drowning in suits of armour.
Solomia: Well the next few days should be interesting considering no one agrees on who should lead.
Shea: Good to know I never missed anything then.
{Section 2}
The next day...
???: Come on Elea, I've never even seen that place, and I'm one hundred and four now!
Eleavoir: No, you still act like a child! You'd stand no chance here.
???: But-
Eleavoir: No buts. My choice is final, I don't care what mother says.
Shea: Eleavoir?
Eleavoir: Duty calls, we'll speak later.
???: Wait-
Eleavoir: Enter!
Shea: You can finish your talk if you'd like!
Eleavoir: Too late, come in.
Eleavoir: So what is it that brings you here?
Eleavoir: I sincerely doubt that you're here for just a chat.
Shea: There's some business and bit of small talk.
Eleavoir: Let us get the small talk out of the way then.
Shea: Who were you speaking with?
Eleavoir: My sister Ay'rel, ironic name really. Quite close to Auriel but of course forsaken by the same god. You remember her?
Shea: Vaguely? I think I might have seen her once.
Shea: But I'm afraid that's all the small talk.
Eleavoir: So what do you want?
Shea: I need you not to laugh at what I'm going to say.
Shea: The First Queen, she's back, alive and on the loose.
Eleavoir: Troubling perhaps, but I'm afraid there's little I can do about that.
Shea: Errwarld and I just need you to be prepared, we don't ask anything more.
Eleavoir: The answer is no.
Eleavoir: If I could help you I would. There's no proof and I'm just going off of your words alone. If I prepare for something, so will the others and then we'll be tense and ready to jump at anything.
Shea: But-...I understand. It sounds outlandish.
Eleavoir: If you brought proof I'd gladly help but there's nothing. I'm sorry.
Shea: I'll try but there isn't much time left now. Just don't say I didn't warn you when she comes again.
Eleavoir: And I'll gladly let you say that and Errwarld can say it too. But you know I can't believe the story you're telling.
Shea: I understand your position, you don't want to start something that will certainly end us.
Eleavoir: Exactly. It's going to be busy soon, so I'd quite like some time alone. If you don't mind.
Shea: Yeah, I get it.
Shea: (Errwarld was right, again. Of course they wouldn't believe me. Not until she's standing in front of them will they ever believe me).
Later that evening...
Shea: Errwarld always picks the best spots doesn't he.
Shea: First a glowing river of tears and then a cobweb infested laboratory.
Shea: (What would father do now?)
Shea: (He'd know exactly what to do and-)
Shea: (What am I thinking? Of course he wouldn't know. He knew politics but never his daughters. I suppose mother didn't either).
Shea: (What they did...maybe it was normal for them. What they'd lived through).
Shea: (Shea, pull yourself together, this is hardly the time to be thinking about the past. It's too far gone now).
Errwarld: Good to see you're here!
Shea: You couldn't have picked somewhere with fewer cobwebs and spiders?
Errwarld: The Black Tower is history, Shea, the place where the first plot to remove the First Queen began.
Shea: Of course, you couldn't pick somewhere more comfortable, or discrete.
Shea: And the first plot failed, all these books and poisons couldn't help them. How is it going to help us?
Errwarld: It's not meant to.
Errwarld: We have facts and speculation at the moment. We know she is here. We know conventional weapons don't work either.
Errwarld: That's all we know for certain.
Shea: That's not much.
Errwarld: Our best option would be getting everyone out of here. But she's in the woods and would easily kill those leaving.
Errwarld: We could instigate some conflict, that would send everyone home to a place with an army.
Shea: It'd also make sure the First Queen gets her throne back.
Errwarld: But we'd probably survive.
Shea: Not a risk I'm taking.
Errwarld: Yes, you have your sister here, you'd hardly want to put her in the middle of conflict but Anthea is here, and you won't be able to protect Solomia forever.
Shea: Not agreeing to that plan.
Errwarld: What about your blood? We don't know if that works against-
Shea: No. I'm not degrading myself.
Errwarld: But it's potent.
Shea: It's vile. No.
Errwarld: Well we haven't got many options then.
Shea: What about Volkihar?
Errwarld: What about them?
Shea: Lord Harkon was killed with something, maybe that'd work, he was a pure-blood.
Errwarld: Auriel's Bow I think.
Errwarld: I doubt they'd let us just wander in and ask if we can have it or not. I don't even think Volkihar has it, a Dragonborn does.
Shea: Any other similar weapons?
Errwarld: I'd have to investigate some rumours of Snow Elves emerging from a cave but there could be something.
Errwarld: But I can't guarantee that we'll find anything at all.
Errwarld: And the last thing we want to do is waste time.
Shea: You've mentioned Sir Gabriel in the past. He escaped her. How?
Errwarld: He did escape, though I don't know if he willingly fought her.
Shea: But they did fight?
Errwarld: Yes.
Shea: He lost then.
Errwarld: Yes but it's said that he had an awful effect on her.
Shea: So we have a lead?
Errwarld: We don't have time to chase Sir Gabriel. That would be foolish of us.
Errwarld: We should flee, live to fight another day. That's the best option.
Shea: Yeah, but I don't know who would listen to us just telling them to leave.
Errwarld: That's the nature of our problem.
Errwarld: We don't have much time but we should think on it at least.
Shea: I guess so.
Errwarld: But be ready, we don't know when she'll come back.
Solomia: Are you just going to sit by the fire all night?
Shea: I'm thinking.
Solomia: About what?
Shea: Important things.
Solomia: More important than me?
Shea: That question is a trap and you know it.
Solomia: Of course I know. But is it more important?
Shea: No...it's not.
Solomia: Then be with me, it's been days since I even went to sleep beside you and even longer since you awoke beside me.
Solomia: Just keep that mind of your in check for one night.
Shea: I-
Solomia: Can you just do that for me? You've changed and I want to know why. To feel why.
Shea: You wouldn't believe me-
Solomia: No more words, just us.
Solomia: Let's forget about everything just for tonight.
Shea: I-
Solomia: Hush now.
Solomia: Let us be lovers again.
Shea: "The Bloody Years" the reign of Queen Anthea Takano. Mainly principled as ruthless, dangerous and deadly.
Shea: Why am I not surprised? But Sir Gabriel kept her in check, didn't he? What must she have been like without his aid?
Shea: She must've been like how I met her.
Shea: This wouldn't be so hard if I knew when she'd be here.
Shea: She's too much...for anyone. I hope Errwarld finds something.
The Queen's Phantom: I doubt that he will. Too doubtful where he should be certain.
The Queen's Phantom: But you shouldn't be concerned with him. You should be concerned about your own beating heart. I can feel it getting faster, the hunt grows nearer. Will you be of the slaughtered, or will you be the hunter? The throne lies empty but for no longer.
Shea: Get out of my head!
Shea: Wait the throne room...
{End of Story Content}
Thanks for reading as usual. I hope you enjoyed the read, even if it was a little longer than usual. As always, I'll welcome your feedback and hope you'll stick around for the rest of the story.
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