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5. The Knight Rose
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"Everyone left you or died. You BEGGED me and I came up with a plan that worked," Hatty explained putting on some green pants and a vest getting in Alicent's face.
"So, you had to be me. And have sex with this man in my room?" questioned a dumbfounded Alicent staring over at me as I stood there awkwardly.
"You were the perfect bait! I knew you'd never actually be caught dead outside of these castle walls since the last time, but that jabberwock didn't know that. So, I used a little lookalike potion and was you for a day. You'll should be happy to know your tinkering with the swords paid off. The vorpal blades worked."
"I knew it. I knew they were key. It just took so long to figure out," Alicent said unable to hide her smile, before remembering the situation she walked in on and pointed at me, "And this… nobody?"
"Oh, him? That's your new white knight. The people already know," Hatty said, matter-of-factly, as she finished adjusting the final strap of her outfit.
Alicent whipped around with a furious stare, "WHAT?! I never would have appointed a new white knight. I don't even have an army anymore!"
"Exactly." Hatty took a step closer with a shit eating grin, "You now have a big bad knight, and the people think you and him killed the Jabberwock. You didn't even have to lift a finger. You're welcome."
Alicent opened her mouth, but no words came. Just a weak flutter of breath, her eyes darting from me to Hattlieith a muffled scream as I just stood there.
"Um, so… I was not with the queen this whole time?" I asked, slow and unsure.
"Hell no," Alicent shot back with sharp clarity, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Sorry, sugar," Hatty said, patting my shoulder wearing that same grin only with a spark in her eyes, "But hey, now you're a big damn hero and I get my prize."
She turned back to Alicent, suddenly stern. There was something between them. It was easy to tell something else was going on here besides, well, all this.
"So be it," Alicent finally said. She walked to the wall behind her and opened a cupboard with a dusty flourish, like someone opening a tomb. From it, she pulled an aged wooden box, brass hinges squeaking as it opened.
Inside laid an old tea set, delicate and porcelain, painted with swirling red vines and blooming hearts. Hatty's eyes lit up. She snatched it gently but with finality.
"Nice doing business with you," she said, and turning to leave.
"Wait!" Alicent called after her, "You're not leaving this man I don't know with me! Named White Knight or not!"
Hatty didn't slow, "Well, he's your new problem solver. I've got business in DumDee, and a personal errand that's none of your business."
"Then take him with you!" Alicent hissed.
Hatty stopped at the door and turned, "Both your eggs in one basket? If you say so."
She tilted her head looking at me standing there stupidly, disheveled, and hell... tired.
"Let's get some rest before heading out, then," she sighed, grabbing my arm pulling me out the door and down the hallway like I was luggage she'd forgotten to pack.
"The armor…" Alicent's voice came behind us, quieter this time.
Hatty paused, "What?"
"If he's going to be my knight," Alicent said, staring out with arms crossed, "He needs to wear the white rose armor, as you refused."
Hatty rolled her eyes, "Fine."
She yanked me around the next corner and then down a tight wooden stairwell that creaked and groaned under our steps unitl we reached the bottom. As we passed cold stone and rusted sconces, she came to a stop when we reached a wide wooden door with iron bands.
She pulled it out and inside appeared to be a storage room. It was cobwebbed, musty, and silent. But against the far wall, sitting on a stand like a forgotten relic, stood a suit of armor.
It shimmered faintly even in the gloom, light seeming to fold and ripple acrossits's pearl white surface. Engraved roses curled around the breastplate and gauntlets, thorns trailing delicately between the joints and plates. The helmet had a silver trim like frost around the visor, and the pauldrons were shaped like blooming petals.
Hatty walked up and blew the dust off with one breath. The glimmer beneath it all was unreal, otherworldly.
What am I getting into here now? Pulled along by this crazy girl and I have to keep following her?! This is some bullshit. Also, I still don't know which one I had sex with… even if Hatty was Alicent, that means it was Alicent's body right? I don't know… This place is too fucking weird.
"Put it on," she said.
I sighed, but didn't argue and stepped closer, brushing my fingers over the cool metal. It didn't seem too out of the ordinary, for otherworldly armor that is, but it did feel like it was something once important. Maybe still important.
I slipped it on over my clothes, and it was surprisingly light, perfectly fitted actually. As I fastened the last clasp, Hatty handed me a sword in a worn scabbard. I didn't have time to really look at before she pushed me back out the door.
"Now we'll be ready!" Hatty said brightly.
"Uh, okay," I squeaked.
Around a few more corners, we ended up at another dusty room. She knocked on small cot and it cleared up a bit. She then opened a wooden hatch along the wall which opened to a window and let some air in.
"Grab some sleep," Hatty said, alreadyhout the door, "I'll get Alicent to arrange some transportation for us now that you're coming with."
I stayed behind a moment, staring at myself in a cracked, dust-streaked mirror on the far wall. Me in armor? What a joke. The pearl white, thorn-trimmed, symbol of power? Not anymore. Not on me…
I didn't know if I could rebuild the kingdom, or truly help the queen. But I did get lucky in a fight, right? Even if Hatty neglected to mention so. And that, apparently, was enough to start with.
I sat on the cot and laid back against the wall. The armor didn't pinch or make it hard to get comfortable. My eyes grew heavy and after the day I had, I finally passed out.
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End Part 5
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⋆༺𓆩The.Fellow𓆪༻⋆