The Dark Queen of White 1.15

15.

Gareth stood there among the survivors, looking at the new column of King Thaddeus rode in to the village. He was riding with a man in a dark cloak over his blue gown with some scripture over it. The other had on the looks of a wizard.

"It looks like we arrived in time." Sir Gilard smiled at the young warrior. He looked to his companion and introduced the other. "He's the one who insisted on coming."

"Merlin, at your service. I was visiting the King when Sir Gilard arrived. I detected the vibrations in the land, and decided to come along." The other one introduced himself, and bowed to the Princess.

"Princess Clarity, I had heard of your name and fame. You are well whispered among the chosen." Merlin replied. "But my task was to secure you to see King Thaddeus. He had come to like your proposal. A King sometimes can be lonely."

Princess Clarity smiled but Gareth was baffled. He heard the conversation, but would not question it then. Princess Clarity invited the wizard inside the tavern but expressly said she would be him alone.

"Princess..." Gareth protested but the Princess ignored him. She glared to the other and led the wizard in. Gareth stood there with the knight which had sent his guards to attend to the survivors.

Inside the tavern, Princess Clarity offered the wizard the seat by the long table. She had arranged some food and drinks, and all the servants of the tavern were asked to leave them alone.

"Princess..." Merlin spoke first, but the other cut in.

"Merlin, if I may. Please call me Clare. I am more familiar with that name among ...friends." Princess Clarity told him. Merlin nodded.

"You mentioned earlier that my name had been whispered by the chosen, and may I ask who the chosen are?"

Merlin looked at her and smiled.

"The chosen are a group of the learned level among us who monitored and record down the past events to map the future events; predictable events. Most times, they are accurate, but at times, they had been misled by the trails set." Merlin told her. He saw her inquisitive looks were seeking deeper answers.

"Your ...existence since your emergence in the last war intrigued them." Merlin frowned on that thought. "They are tracking your events to see if you are ..."

"Making myself another version of Morgana." Princess Clarity interposed on the words to be said.

"Yes, Morgana had truly made a name for herself. Her other namesake is my blood sister, Morgane had also a ....detailed life that the Chosen had forewarned me could be my nemesis. But that is another tale. Back to yours."

"Your grandmother, Morgana had been a ....witch not by learning, but by inheritance. She inherited from her family line of worshipers, and followers. She had used her craft to move herself up the influence." Merlin frowned again on the last word. He was of the opinion that the selected few among them should use their crafts to assist the people, and not manipulate them.

"What did the Chosen speak of me?" Princess Clarity changed the focus on her.

"You? Oh, there been some ...events that intrigued them. They are still monitoring, but your latest action baffled them." Merlin looked at her. "Are you sure that would work?"

"What? My proposal to wed the King to save the lands, or my choice of a man?" Princess Clarity asked back. She had been sharp and moved to the subject which got Merlin there.

"Merlin, I have not been blind in my own ways. I was taught some of the crafts by the Clan, and your presence in King Thaddeus Court alerted them who told me. It can't be a coincidence, I was proposing to wed the King and you arrived there. And you were not invited yet, or would be."

"Yes, the Chosen alerted me on that. You are moving the same direction as Morgana....."

"Morgana wedded the Lord and not a King. He was not a King and more to it, may have been a threat to King Egan, but was not that strong as King Thaddeus." Princess Clarity drew her opinion. "More to it, she wedded him for power, but soon after Bannion was born, she moved to take over the King."

"I am however choosing to wed the King, to safeguard my lands." Princess Clarity continued on. "I had no intention to remove her power, but to protect mine."

"By wedding?" Merlin shrugged his shoulders. "Don't you ladies know of any other methods?"

"We, ladies were subdued by Man as women to be seen and not heard most times, although we do make our voices heard, and considered to be a nag. When we made too much a scene, we are made to mother the children we carried and bear for them, or sent to the kitchen to cook or scrub the floors." Princess Clarity recalled her lessons with Gareth while in the forest.

"Yes, there were the finer moments with Man, but it was mere passing feelings. The love, the body caresses and the surges of pleasures, but they do not last like ...." Princess Clarity paused in her words.

"The power of being a Queen. You were one before. They called you the Queen, but your modesty said no. You claimed to be influenced by your dead mother, but there were times you were your own." Merlin searched her eyes for the truth. "You made some of those decisions, without her influence. Those orders you gave to those who do not agree with you."

"I ...." Princess Clarity tried to justify her past actions.

"Don't apologies, Princess. You are who you were supposed to be." Merlin told her. "Your actions are part of events that were mapped in your journey. You cannot deny it that you would do more. It’s in the events but I am here to observe and not interfered. I have my own tasks to dictate my own events, lest I concerned myself with yours."

"So why are you here?" Princess Clarity asked.

"The child in you. You cannot carry it to the Courts of King Thaddeus." Merlin indicated to her abdomen. "I knew King Thaddeus. His daughter matters to him more than anything. If you hold the child before him, he would not accept it. He loved his daughter too much."

"I would wed him before the child can be seen in me." Princess Clarity told him. "I would seduce him and then draw him to the child."

"A silly notion, Princess." Merlin laughed. "King Thaddeus had his potency removed by myself soon after his Queen died. He did not want to see another child cry on the death of her mother. He loved Snow too much to see her cry again."

Princess Clarity held up her hands to the lips. She had not expected to be with Gareth' child, but when told of the new threat, she decided to trade the child to wed the King and used the child to hold him on his loyalty. But with the new events, she found herself tracing her past back and how she lost her mother.

"Merlin, I thought....." Princess Clarity.

"You would do anything to hold to on your King's land. Even to the point of sacrificing your love for Gareth." Merlin gave her his assessment of her personality. "It’s obvious your living among the forest creatures had ingrained in you, survival of the fittest and not of love."

"Yes, among the creatures, they survived by strength and power." Princess Clarity looked to Merlin. "I had learned of the ways of Man for us. We are subservient to them. We may be Queen, but we are still the one seated behind. Never the one to decide on the pack."

"I would not be that Queen. I would be the Queen of my pack." Princess Clarity admitted herself. "I would do anything to be the Queen to protect my pack.....or my lands."

"You are as bad as your grandmother." Merlin told her off.

"No, I am not my grandmother. I am myself. I would only protect my own land. Not grabbed another."

"Mere words now, Princess. When you are back as the Queen, your words may change." Merlin told her directly. "Sometimes in our life, we cannot change the events that are dictated for us, and even if we tried, we would still plod on."

"What is bad for me for to think for my lands? Because I am a lady. Is it the fallacy that only man who would be King and allowed to rule the lands. And we are the Queen’s; best are seen by their side and followed them in the side. Or behind, or hidden behind some walls."

Merlin looked at her.

"Was there not one named Boudica before? Or had your Chosen ones ignored certain history where Man does not achieved fame?"

Merlin wanted to reply, but she cut in again.

"Was it because you are a Man?"

It was then Merlin got up to leave but the Princess stopped him.

"Merlin, I apologies. I was not in my right mind." Princess Clarity looked at him.

"I am in need of your help. Not mine, but for my people." Princess Clarity pleaded with the wizard. "I am not a witch, but I am in need of one with the crafts."

Merlin looked at her. He shook his head.

"A life is still a life, whether it’s born to the world. What lives in you is a life, with the heart and soon to develop the mind. I cannot take a life without a ....reason."

"You said so yourself. The child would be neglected by the King. I cannot bore such child. In the forest, such a ...child would be killed or devoured by the elders. It’s the rule of survival." Princess Clarity looked to the wizard. "I cannot do it. You could."

"You are heartless, for a woman and a ....Queen." Merlin told her. "I cannot do it. How could you look at them ....child, the King, the ...."

"The people on the lands would suffer more if Morgana invade us again. With her alliance with King Thaddeus, she would be more formidable. I am doing it ...for the mass. I am sacrificing myself for the lands. Above all, I would be their Queen."

"By the Lords, are you mad?" Merlin looked at her. "You have just asked me of heinous acts to be performed on an unborn child. Have you asked the ...father?"

"Merlin, I am in ....mind to save the lands. Does it or I would do it after it’s born." Princess Clarity looked grim in her expression. "I would do it and it would be on your conscience the child's life."

Merlin walked to the door. Then he turned to look at her.

"The potion would be sent over soon." Merlin paused there. Then he continued. "At your service, Queen Clarity."

The Crusaders II The players fiddles 8.1

The players fiddles

1.          Makati City, Manila

The caretaker of the cemetery was used to seeing people coming to the area even at odd hours; some taking their rest there or just using it to get to the other side. They are not afraid of the dead, as the dead are dead but the living ones scares them. Those can approached you with daggers and guns to kill you if you are not fast in responding to their request but he had been getting visions lately of flying shadows over his head. That's something he had not seen in his lifetime. He attributed it to two things; his failing liver from the alcohol he had been consuming and new building next to the cemetery. Its a thirteenth levels of concrete and glass finishing, with the unique shape of a long lengthy hexagon shape. But some said, its the coffin and its unique name reflects it; Coff Inc, a private investment firm registered with 666 shareholders. The Registrar laughed at the Secretary who came to registered the shares. His remark was more offensive; "Is that their prick lengths?" Three days current later, he was found dead with his head decapitated.

There are hardly any activities in the building during the day but comes dark, its bustling with traffic. Unknown to the old man, the building had seventeen levels of which four was in the basement. On the lowest level at B4 that evening, a solitary sedan pulled up from the entrance at the west side of the building into the large carpark area; registration number DV 666. The sedan stopped before the northern wall, and a figure got out. The driver then took the sedan back to the upper levels.

The figure then reached down to reach for something and spoke out softly. His attention was diverted when the flooring at the wall starts vibrate and then opened up to a descending staircase. He took the stairs and went down two levels to come to a large chamber that spread across like to two times the football field. It extend from the upper level carpark area to beneath the cemetery. It actually resemble a warehouse with the three levels of metal scaffoldings lined up in columns and rows. Each level have a number of wooden coffins on it of which some have their covers opened.

"Asmodeus, welcome to the Coffin." Asmodeus looked at the one he had assigned to handle the task as liaison to the vampires. The who addressed him is younger and attired smartly in a business suit with fine polished shoes.

"Baal, your father would had been proud of you." Asmodeus praised the young demon. "I viewed your update; one thousand nine hundred and seventy two in your last count. Thats' a good number."

"I am in the growing economy." Baal started off with only eight hundred when he took over six months ago. Mammon is in the Alps managing the Europe Charter; about four thousand gathered of which two thousand were from Loki through the dimension portal. In return he had transferred over a cache of weapons as advised by Asmodeus..

Leviathan handling the African Charter; two thousand of the voodoo undead. Beelzebub in Middle East holding with his one thousand dead but of lately having some issues with the Egyptian influence. Belphegor holding the American continent of three thousand but of late the sudden influx of the spirits from the Hell have disrupted his control. These new spirits are tussling with the locals for influence in the Far East Charter at Seoul, South Korea. Satan was dispatched there to assist.

"Asmodeus, you did not come here to praise me. What's on your mind?" Baal asked as he looked at Asmodeus expression. "Should not you be watching your Pacific charter?"

"I am afraid your plan to recruit the deads from Hell came undone. Belphegor reports of our second gate was destroyed and the other surviving one would be close soon." Asmodeus told Baal. "But we got a strength of five thousand."

"I thought you wanted to know it first hand." Asmodeus laughed out loud. "Thanks to you, we have some formidable armies."

Baal joined in the laughter but he hid the knowledge from Asmodeus that he already knew. Unknown to Asmodeus, he had sent a second cache of weapon via the second gate would give those there a chance to fight. Or more likely the company of soldiers there. Suddenly, the alarm went off in the building. Baal ran to the nearby vid screen and it showed the building was raided by werewolves. They are twenty of them in the ground entrance.

"Damned! They are here." Baal ignored his guest and called up the guards. He looked back at the screen. "Thats' no Lycan. He's Clawler. He comes for the amulet. Seal the Treasure Room now."

The Dark Queen of White 1.14

14.

Gareth reined in his horse and turned to look back at the carriage calling the Princess, on her way to the Courts of King Thaddeus. The Princess traveled with caravan of five wagons; covered with tarpaulin on the rear section. King Bannion had requisition for the castle guards to escort her, but she had selected the Huntsmen; her personal selection of hunters and scouts to do the task. Since her ascension to the throne beside her brother, Princess Clarity had asked Alan to form a new division of guards named the Huntsmen from the experienced forest hunters and scouts. They are then to trained new recruits in the art of tracking and hunting, among the skills required. In the first season of recruitment, they had twenty five volunteers, and in the next season, the number swelled to a hundred with fifty new recruits. Since then, the Huntsmen have grown to three hundred strong, and had been assigned to patrol the borders of the lands. That day, fifty of the best was doing the escort of the Princess to the King Thaddeus' land.

"Don't be overly concerned, Gareth." Alan Bates riding besides the other consoled him. "I have huntsmen on both sides, and they would alert us of any traps."

"It’s not the traps of Man I am concerned with; it’s the trap of witches." Gareth replied while his eyes roved the tree line. "Have you called on Michael?"

"Yes, Michael is on the trail. His pack would sense any witches spell." Just as Alan completed the sentence, the howls of the wolves were heard.

"It’s a trap ahead1" Gareth called out to the huntsmen. They immediately formed a cordon around the carriage, while two of the rear wagons rode up to parked beside the carriage. More huntsmen with bow and arrows dismounted from it, but the unique one on the wagon, was the totem that resembled the carvings of wolves in a protected cordon.

Gareth rode hard to the carriage and looked into the small window by the side. He saw the smiling face of the Princess.

"We would be fine." It was the Princess who told him. He was to reply when he heard the call from the front. He rode towards it and saw the column of army carrying the banner of King Thaddeus. A knight from the new column rode up, and asked for the leader.

"I am Sir Gilard of Durn. I bear the message from King Thaddeus." The knight handed over the scroll to Gareth, who took and read it. He then rode to the Princess and passed it to her.

"I would speak to the knight. Bring him to me." Princess Clarity asked for the knight to see her. Sir Gilard rode up to her carriage and was invited to her carriage. They spoke for a while and then Sir Gilard mounted his horse to ride back. He left instruction that the entourage of Princess Clarity to camped at the nearby village.

It was a small village with a few houses and one single tavern. Sir Gilard left his column of one hundred guards at the boundary of the village, while the entourage of the Princess camped inside.

"We kept imprisoned by the King, and for how long depend on the message passed by the knight." Princess Clarity held onto the hands of Gareth while they are alone in the tavern' guest chamber. He leaned to hold her in his arms, but she declined.

"No, Gareth. We are not alone here." Princess Clarity pushed him away.

"The men outside this chamber or the spirits that roamed here?" Gareth questioned her. She had been avoiding him since they camped there for two nights. She saw the pain in his eyes, but held her distance.

"The spirit servants of Queen Morgana are battling the Master now. Yes, she is distracting the Master so that she could hit us with her other allies."

"Who? The army of hers on King Thaddeus' land? That would be an act of war." Gareth replied.

"No, not the army of Man, but an army of paid mercenaries." Princess Clarity told him. It was also then, the call for battle was heard. Alan barged in and told the Princess of the attack.

"The army of King Thaddeus is hit by some army. They are losing and the attackers are massing to hit us next."

Gareth rushed out with Alan, and rode to the edge of the village. There he saw the massed enemies; having defeated the other army was then lined up for the attack on the village. He counted the size of the army was about five hundred; an assortment of pike men and swordsmen, and were all mounted on horsebacks.

"Get the huntsmen in their position. We are to fight them here." Gareth gave the order and ran to assist in pulling the wagon that they overturned it to formed a barricade. More items were brought out and made into some forms of barricades, where the huntsmen took their position. They took their bow and placed the quiver of arrows near them.

"Fire at will. Aim well, and may the best survived." Alan told the huntsmen. They are experienced hunters and above all, guards too. They need no leaders to tell them how to fight; they are capable of doing so on their own terms. The opposing army started trotting the horses towards the village.

A hundred and fifty paces and then shortened to a hundred paces.

Some of the huntsmen rained their arrows from above. The opposing army raised their shields to protect themselves from the arrows.

Some of the arrows hit the army and the move, also exposed the enemies to the some of the huntsmen. The later then moved their aims to level at the horsemen horses.

Arrows began flying through the distance by those huntsmen.

The opposing armies rode on despite the few had fallen although protected with their shields.

The horses were exposed then.

More arrows began flying through the distance by the huntsmen.

The horses were collapsing when hit by the arrows, throwing their riders off. Some never got up, while some rose up to be trampled by the rear riders.

The collision of the riders and horses, were slowing the advances. 

Then the sound of retreat came.

The opposing army was pulling back to the tree line.

On the field between the village and the tree line, were a hundred over guards and horses, dead or wounded, staggering for safety to the forest or anywhere that would avoid the flying arrows.

The huntsmen cheered on their small victory.

That was short lived.

From the tree line, came a new army.

They appeared as a black mass that was moving towards the village.

Then the call of alarm was raised.

"Rodents!'

"Rats!'

The huntsmen could fight bears and even lions, but never a rodent. Those were elusive creatures that moved with stealth, and was too small to fight with arrows.

"Damned you, Morgana." Gareth shouted to the advancing dark mass.

"Burn the barricades. It would stop the rodents." Alan gave the command. He had dealt with the disease carriers before, in the many sieges and plagues. He seen the survivors used fire to chase these creatures. The defenders of the village rushed to the fire places to grab the woods that were lighted. But not all of them made it, for the rodents were swift on their legs and soon overrun the barricades before it was burned.

Gareth himself armed with two sticks of wood lighted at the end waved it at the rodents. He was rushing to the tavern to protect the Princess. Upon reaching there, he saw the tavern was barricaded with the windows and doors shut. There were some huntsmen there, armed with the sticks of fire, but they were cordoned by the rodents. He looked to the right and saw the wagon containing the totem was swamped by the rodents. He rushed to the wagon and set it alight. The flames flickered on the wagon planks and then spread to the totem. The flames burned at the wooden material that was carved to make the totem, while the rodents ran off from it.

The totem was totally lighted up and the flames flickered up high above the totem to the skies. It rose up high and then the rodents were seen withdrawing in a wider circle. The totem with its flaming trunk soon came alive as if it was a burning trunk with its own movement. It fell off the wagon side and rolled towards the rodent like a log, with its flame burning or chasing the rodents off. It appeared to rolled in random directions but later it was seen to be create a wide perimeter around the tavern.

Gareth reached the tavern door and knocked on it. He called out for the Princess. It was opened from inside and the Princess stepped out.

"Are the rodents defeated?"

"I think so. There appeared to be retreating." Gareth replied. "But I could be wrong. They are still here." \

Suddenly from then skies above them, the screams of the winged predators were heard. They were eagles, owls, and hawk all swooping down to snatch the rodents for their meals. That scared off the rodents which fled back to the sanctum of the forest.

"Did you call on it?" Gareth asked the Princess.

The Crusaders II Bets are placed 7.8

1.          The River Nile, Egypt

The lady dressed in the sunflower dress with her large brimmed hat adjust her dark shades on her nose bridge. She looked like someone who enjoys a good tan under the sun, but today she was looking for a boat to charter. She saw the one she wanted; a small row boat with a set of oars. She walked up to it, and was greeted by a man dressed in a shabby tunic that reached to his knees with his head bundled in a wraparound. He was sucking on the twig of a reef and showed bad teeth.

"You want boat? My name's Mahaf. I am the agent." The man stood there looking at the lady. A couple of nearby boatsmen whistled at her and made some crude remarks. "Please ignore them. On this boat, no crocodile would dare to come near. Those are special oars; you leave them on the water, and the crocodiles leave."

"How much?" The lady asked as she reached for her purse.

"For you, my Lady Nephthys; its free." The agent called out to the person sleeping at the jetty. "Aken, you got a customer."

The figure got up from his prone position and picked up the long rod that would be needed to guide the boat. He was dressed like Mahaf but he looked more like a skeleton covered with the skin. He did no speak but climbed into the boat. His left hand reaches out and Mahaf pays him. The boatman shook his head and Mahaf cursed at him who later added in more coins. Mahaf assisted the lady onto the boat and watched them sail away. He then walked to approach a boy sitting in the shade.

"A coin for you. Go to the place of worship. Tell them Seth would rise again." The boy ran while pocketing his coin.

The boatman guided the boat along the river Nile until they reached a secluded stretch. There Aken asked the lady to use the oars. He told her to row it while he guides. She did as he said, and the river surface parted to swallow the boat into the hidden underground canals towards Duat. The Duat; the kingdom of Osiris under the Earth, connected by Nun, the waters of the primordial abyss. In Duat, the landscape is the same as above ground; with its rivers, islands, fields, lakes, mounds and caverns but its served one purpose; its the passageway of the dead to the land of paradise Aaru. The souls traveled here must passed the many gateways guarded by their guardians before reaching the place named as the Weighing of the Heart. There stands Anubis who would weigh the heart of the deceased on a scale balanced by a feather on the side. If the scale must balance or Ammit, the Devourer of Souls would consume the soul. Those souls that passed the test would be allowed to travel toward the paradise of Aaru.

"Mother, what brings you to here?" Anubis asked of her. She told him she came to revive Seth from his sleep.

"Mother, Seth ...." Anubis wanted to reply to her but she intervened on his words.

"Your father and I am his wife. I command you to do so or fear my wrath."

Anubis bowed to his mother and hand over to her the key to unlocking Seth's soul. Just before she leaves, she told her son.

"Osiris need not be told."

Unseen and unknown to the both of them, Apep the Serpent was nearby and it slithered off to speak to another in another dimension. Serpents are all from the same breed where they exist in the multi dimension.

The Dark Queen of White 1.13

13.

Gareth heard the argument in the Main Hall of the castle, where King Bannion sat with Princess Clarity was debating the issues that were threatening their lands. The meeting was on the twentieth season’s years after the return of the Princess to the castle. She went missing for a season and had returned with her guard. They were not alone, but she came back with the wizard. He had lifted the spell that was troubling the castle inhabitants. Since her return and with King Bannion back to his real self, peace reigned for over that twenty seasons.

"Sister, Queen Morgana; as she had called herself now that Lord Falstof had died in his sleep. It was claimed by her alone, but with her power over her subject, no one dares to question her." King Bannion addressed his sister. He then looked to the assembled Lords and guards. They are less than the first assembling ones when the Princess first stepped into the Hall.

"We have to fight her. She had declared war on me..." Princess Clarity was pushing the matter to the Lords.

"A war which you declared if I could recall." King Bannion was still upset at the defeat, even though he was not himself then. He was under the influence of the same lady that was waging war on their lands.

"Yes, I did and won over for ....us." Princess Clarity felt the weight on her shoulders overbearing at times. Her brother, Bannion was not much of a help in their reign. She had to countermand his orders and made better ones. That had irked him and bears on their relationship as siblings.

"Queen Morgana is our equal in strength, and our scouts tell me of her Courting of one other..." King Bannion explained and paused at mentioning the name. The assembled Lords and guards were already murmuring among themselves, but he had to speak his name.

"King Thaddeus." King Bannion shuddered at the name. King Thaddeus from the West and was more powerful than them. The army of King Thaddeus was more than of his, and if combined with Queen Morgana, they would be crushed within one season.

"King Thaddeus," King Bannion repeated himself. "He must be courted too, to be on our side. Our existence may soon cease."

"Then send me, my King. I had met one of his Lords before." A Lord from among the assembled stood up.

"Thank you..." King Bannion replied but was interrupted by Princess Clarity.

"Thank you, Lord Cornelius." Princess Clarity told the assembled. "I would go and see the King myself."

"No!" King Bannion voiced out his opinion. "You are.....inexperienced."

"I would go and anyone who wants to choose me, I would destroy you." Princess Clarity told them off. With that, she walked out of the Hall. Once she had exited from the Hall, she was met by Gareth. He walked behind her and had his hand on the hilt of his sword. They were several attempts to assassinate her since her return. It was Lady Morgan action then, which hired those assailants, when her spells were repealed off.

They walked onto her chamber and went in. She dismissed Helene and had given the order not to be disturbed. Once the door was closed, she jumped into his arms. She kissed him hard on the lips while her hands groped at his body. He was doing the same, and soon they collapsed on the emotions. They had been with others due to the crisis with Queen Morgana for some days. Due to the nature of their relationship, they kept their distance from each other.

"Gareth, please make me feel ....loved." Princess Clarity moaned in her voice while she felt the hands pulling at her gown. She was getting impatience with the layers of clothing that she was required to wear as her role as the Princess. She reached up and pulled at the hem of her gowns to pull it over. He saw her need and helped her by pushing it off her. Where he was not able to raise it, he pulled or tore at it. Soon she was partially covered in her torn garments and looked at him.

"Gareth, you are ..." He smiled back and pulled at his own clothes. His belt with the sword dropped to the flooring, and soon he was naked. He reached down with his lips on her breasts, caressing it with his lips, and then his teeth nibbled at the areola. She pushed her back up on his bite and spread her legs to accommodate his entry into her.

"Ah!" She called out on his penetration. She rose up her legs and wrapped them around him, while pushing herself towards him. He moved to her needs and felt the built up of the days and nights were too long. He felt himself exploded inside her, and by instinct he pulled out. He pushed himself off her and lay on his back.

"I am sorry. I should have ...." He was apologetic, but she hushed him back.

"Its okay, Gareth. There is nothing to add in more. I already have yours." She told him. He looked over and was alarmed. He was to speak but she stopped him.

"I would tell the King and the Lords. We would get wedded after I returned from the visit to King Thaddeus."

"No! I meant to say." Gareth corrected himself. "I meant to say, they may not agree."

"If so then, I shall abdicate my position as the Princess. I am forever yours." She told him. Gareth looked at her, and smiled. For once, he was relieved on the decision. He had lived the last few seasons with concern for her well being.

"Gareth, I am ready for you......again." The Princess smiled.

Unknown to the loving couple, King Bannion was in discussion with a selected numbers of his Lords. They were at his chamber and he was seated on the only chair there while the others stood by him.

"Lords, we have to decide." King Bannion told them. " A decision to regain our influence and power, over her, and her allies."

King Bannion looked at the Lords. Then he continued.

"I would send Lord Cornelius, not to King Thaddeus but to Queen Morgana. I would seek a truce with her. " King Bannion told the Lords. "And have her banished alongside with her lover."

The assembled Lords saluted their King.

The Crusaders II Bets are placed 7.7

1.          Halls of Judgment, Asgard

The Gods of the Norse heed the call of their leader, Odin the High One to gather at the Hall of Judgment.

As one approached the Hall of Judgment, you would be awed by the two totem poles planted before its great doorway. On the totem are the engraving of the Norse symbols, including that of Odin's Horn Hugiun and Munin, Mjonir, and the Nine World. Behind the totems lies the great wooden gates guarded by Heimdall the Guard, who watches who come and go in to the Hall. Once you stepped in through the wooden doors, you would be awed by the size of the place. The Hall is a huge one with the high ceiling supported by the long wooden beams. Its roof was that of sturdy pine woods with vents for the cooking fire smoke to filtered out. There are sixteen main pillars on both side of the long hall with ten more on the entrance and the rear. Behind these pillars are an extension of two metres before the thick walls that framed the hall from the harsh weather outside. There are some long tables with a few seats in the Hall and at the end of the Hall where only one high back seat was placed. Other that that, there are no other settings in the Hall. He who sits on it would judge, jury and executioner of the judgment passes in this Hall. Today, the Mighty High One, Odin sits on it with his pet raven at perched on the back of the high back seat. Odin held in his hand the spear named Gungnir as he watched the ones attending to his call.

Then the final moment was sealed when Heimdall walked in and closed the door behind him.

"More than half and yet not all attends." Odin roared out his displeasure. "Asgardian side with my other son, Loki to displaced me from this seat. I could take the Frost Giant, or the even the Orcs from the mountains, but not my own kins."

"Father, let me round up those treacherous ones, and bring Loki to your feet here." It was the Mighty Thor who always speaks brash as he hold onto the hammer named Mjonir.

""NO!" The voice of Odin revets off the wooden walls and shook the foundation. "None may do anything before I command thee."

Odin looked to his left side and saw the lady who rescued him stand meekly there. Hval the Frost Giant wandered back into the far forest as he is not invited here. He has a task to perform as ordained by Odin to him for his own Lord.

"I been deceived by my own blood and imprisoned by him while all of you were drinking and rejoicing in my name. I was shamed by my other son and a Misgard mortal came to my rescue. She battled the ....captor and rescued me." Odin looked at his own warriors. "How many of you could do that?"

"High One Odin, we were not aware of Loki' deceit. If we did, we would had ...do what was needed." Balder bowed before his leader. Thor not intending to be left out, stepped forth too and bowed. The others choose to followed the son of Odin. That placate the anger of Odin.

"Loki' a smart one; brought in by myself and accepted into my family, yet he betrays me more than any enemies." Odin reflect on his 'step-son'. "He deceived me then and for a good reason. He allied himself with the other Gods of the other dimension. He trades the dead for the weapons to wield against me. But Loki forgets something."

The High One looked at his warriors.

"He may had invoked another to join in this battle; an old foe of mine. Seth, son of Anubis had awaken from his slumber. Their army of dog faced warriors would marched on us soon. Onto Asgard, they would come but we would fight them. Its been eons since we had a good fight. Till Ragnarok, the warriors of Asgard shall never be defeated."

That stirred up the hearts of the warrior born Asgardian. They cheered their leader and soon the the Hall was feasting on drinks and meat as the ladies brought in the food from the kitchen at the rear. Tables were setup and the feasting began.

Unaware by most, Geraldine had slipped out of the Hall to stand at the cold ard ground. She was soon joined by the All High Odin.

"I never had a chance to thank you. Named your favor and Odin shall fulfilled it."

Geraldine looked at him.

The Dark Queen of White 1.12

12.

Gareth shook his head when asked by Clare as he then called her. She had been insistence on knowing what happened to him but he could not recall much. It was like waking up from a dream and then has no recollection of it.

"There were glimpses of my village, and then....nothing." Gareth told her. "I could not remember much."

Clare looked at him. She knew he was confused and whatever happened in there had affected him. She had him brought to the house and left there to rest. Unknown to her, Michael had run off to fetch the old wolf in the forest. The old wolf arrived not in the form of the creature but of Man. The figure that appeared at the doorway of the house was a young man dressed in the leather of the forest creatures and had a head piece with the wolf emblem.

"Master of the Wolf." Clare addressed the master who had stepped in. He did not acknowledge her, but approached Gareth.

"You been bewitched. You were cursed by her, who is her kins." The master told Gareth.

"You meant Lady Morgana. My own grandmother. The witch." Clare could not hold herself back. "I would have her hunted and ....removed."

"No, my child." The master replied. "Your fate and hers are interlinked. Your existence is an extension of hers'."

Clare looked at the Master. He then continued on.

"When she dies, her evil passed to you." That was all the Master said and then he looked back at Gareth. He leaned over and whispered to his ears.

"So are yours." The Master told Gareth. "You are her anchor to the goodness in her. If you are removed, she would be her other self. Keep this to yourself."

With that the Master walked out of the house and disappeared into the forest. Clare approached Gareth and asked him.

"What did the Master told you?"

"He told me to protect you. At all times."

"That's it?" Clare asked back. "He must have spoken more."

"Nay, he did not." Gareth replied back. "I am asked to protect you. With my life if need be. I would taste and walked before you."

Clare to him and smiled.

"Walk with me, never in front or behind me." Clare leaned over and kissed him. "I think I love you."

Gareth smiled. He never told her of love, and wondered how she knew what love was but she was ecstatic in her moves. Soon he pulled himself from her arms and got up from the bedding. He felt every ache in his body; scratches from her nails, and the intense grips from her hands. He reached for his clothes and hastily put them on. He walked to the table to get a drink and passed by the window. He looked out and saw the wolf hunched outside on the porch. He opened the door and walked out. The wolf raised it head and then growled.

"Michael, for whatever it means to you, I do love her. Well, I think I do. And she does of me." Gareth told the wolf. The wolf growled back at Gareth.

It was then; Clare appeared at the doorway, naked and springing on her toes.

"Well, he isn’t going to tell Michael." Clare told him while holding her arms out. "I am also feeling cold. Come on back, Gareth of Steinheim."

Gareth looked back at the wolf. Damned, they all looked alike.

The sacrifice

The Crusaders II Bets are placed 7.6

1.          Canals of Vienna

In the Boathouse, Lucifer threw the wine glass into the canal. His scout just left with the grim news; there was an issue with the inter dimensions. It was Asmodeus' idea to get assistance from Loki and that resulted in awakening up Odin' wrath.

"My brother, we are not at a loss yet." Lucifer looked to his co-Prince, Satan. "Just as Odin is back in Asgard but it bought us time to recruit an army of dead. The ones we left behind would keep Odin busy to fight his own Ragnarok than to cross over to fight us."

"Just like the wine glass; it does not belong in the canals, but I placed it there. One day it would be discovered as a treasure." Lucifer looked to Satan. "Asmodeus did not leave a treasure. He just left an issue which may one day become a problem."

"Asmodeus thought that an alliance with Loki would add to his power. He assisted Loki in trapping Odin, for that he was given an army of dead warriors from Niflheim. Odin fear the prophecy of Fenrir swallowing him during Ragnarok. Asmodeus did not foresee the rescue of Odin by the Crusader." Satan explained his other brother's action.

"An action which he did not capitalize to the fullest. There may be a way to repair the damage." Lucifer smiled.

"The Lycan are wary of this war, more so when the undead blood drinkers are in alliance with Asmodeus. They took records of sensitive nature from the Pentagon and Moscow; its showed their fear that this war may affect their existence too." Lucifer continued.

"Lucifer, Fenrir of the Norse is not their leader. There is another namesake here on our dimension...." Satan correct the assumption.

"Fenrir here is none other than a creation of my son, Baal; an offspring of Cerberus and another she-wolf ascended to lead the Lycan. They do not know its true nature but it would lead to their extinction as planned by Baal. It seem my mis-led son is also plotting his comeback against me." Lucifer reflect on the previous attempt of his son who imprisoned him until he was rescued by the Crusaders then. "Truly a mere coincidence or a twist of fate planned by the almighty Father."

"Baal involved? I am no aware of it." Satan drew back from his brother side.

"Satan, my brother in name. You disappoint me; ignorance and false pretense are very distinct differences." Lucifer glared at his brother. "This is my suggested plan for you to elevate your position with Asmodeus. You might just make the Lycan come to negotiate for an alliance."

The Crusaders II Bets are placed 7.5

1.          The Second Gate

The gate was located at the canyon; a deep narrow canyon that was before a large field of grave markings. There were a group of those demons standing near the gate on the right side. On the left side was another group; they are not of man but a tall sinewy red figure that towers over most mean by half with a body frame that half of man and a head of an oblong design with large orb for eyes. One of the tall sinewy one looked over to the tree line and raised up his right upper limb. It then emit a high pitched sound from within itself. The vocal sound reached the forest tree line.

"Banshee!" Miles shouted as he got the men to dispersed. He met Banshee before; their vocals are their weapon, their shrill can deafen or kill the victim. But these ones looked different. 

Pedro crouched down and raised his rifle. He adjusted his scope in seconds and aimed at the target. He pulled the trigger on a three shots lock. The so named Banshee collapsed with the bullets all squared on the oblong head. Sargeant Rico raised up the Javelin on his shoulder and fired of the missile. The missile launched at impact scattered upwards and exploded. The scattered mini bombs gave a deadly net of explosives of over twenty metres. The explosions scattered the demons and killed some of them. The surviving ones started moving fast towards the soldiers. Mike lashed out his M60 with Paddy feeding him the new belt.

Major Chapman stood in between the Sargeant and Mike to fire at anyone who may come too near. He raised the shotgun and fired at the leaping banshee. The shot blew the leaping demon backwards with a dying cry. He fired another at the demon who evaded so many bullets. Rico let off another round at the demons' gate. It hit the right pillar and the mini bombs exploded all around it but nothing happened.

"Damned! Don't they make bombs that worked anymore?"

Kruger was not stopping at that; he rushed out swinging his sword at the charging demons. Each step he took gets him closer to the pillars. He stood in front of the right pillar and noticed the crack in the surface. He did not notice the demon sneaking at his back. The banshee stood in the rear and was to used its weapon when Miles shot the demon in the back. Kruger swing the sword at the pillar, and the sword cracked the surface more. He was about to swing another when Rico joined Kruger.

"Please allow me." The Sargeant placed the string of fragment grenades at the pillar surface. He then placed the remaining javelin missile at the base. "Time to go."

They ran and jumped down onto the ground when the explosion came. It tore a hole in the ground and the right pillar fell down. It destroyed the second gateway.

Half a day later back at Camp Frontier, Major Chapman was proud to lead his men back.