The Lycan's Queen : A tale of fate

Elara stood silently, processing the weight of Given's words. His warning hung in the air like a storm cloud, thick and ominous. Lord Varosh's schemes, his thirst for power, his relentless push for the return of slavery—it was all too much. Elara had always fought for peace, and yet here she was, surrounded by men with ambitions that threatened to tear the kingdom apart.

"Lord Varosh is relentless," Given said, his tone calm yet edged with concern. "If this meeting is about something else, he will still bring the matter. But whether he knows your memory has been wiped, or if he's simply testing to see if it has—one thing is clear: you can never trust him. And I hope the King doesn't either."

Elara's gaze lingered on Given, who, though ever the professional, had a glimmer of concern in his eyes. He had been a part of her closest counsel for so long now, and his words carried weight. The high-ranking men of the kingdom—Lord Varosh, Lord Henry, Lord Edward, Lord Cade , Lord Daniel , Lord Sol , Lord Barret , Lord Elliot , Lord Philly - each had their own ambitions, their own secrets. Some had stood by her, but none could be fully trusted. Not even those she thought were her allies.

"Lord Henry has only been on my side because I fought for peace," Elara recalled aloud, her mind racing through the names and faces. "But he is intimidated by me."

"Yes," Given replied simply, his gaze never leaving hers. "He fears what you're capable of. But his loyalty is fragile, Your Majesty."

Elara nodded, her thoughts moving swiftly to the next name on the list. The next Lord she had to weigh and consider.

"Lord Edward," she continued, her voice steady. "A vampire, who has never fully agreed with my rule. Yet he plays along, agreeing to my terms, only for the sake of peace."

Given's response was curt, but the undercurrent of caution was clear. "Yes, and should peace no longer serve his interests—if his family is no longer in the picture—he will turn against you. You can be sure of that."

Elara paused, taking in the gravity of what Given was saying. The cost of peace was becoming clear: alliances forged under threat, loyalty only as strong as the sword that bound it.

"Lord Cade," she said next, her mind drifting to the elderly Lord. "Your father , who's never fully agreed with me. He wishes to divide us all, but I won't let that happen. Division brings only war, not peace."

A flicker of emotion passed over Given's face, but it was gone as quickly as it came. Elara noticed, but she kept her thoughts to herself. There was a time for that conversation—but not today.

"Seven more to go, Your Majesty," Given said, his voice calm, but there was an urgency now. Time was slipping away.

Elara nodded, mentally preparing herself to continue the grim list of Lords who played their part in the fragile web of alliances. "Lord Daniel. He is scheming, but bound to me by the Lunareth Kingdom. He's loyal without choice. His heart only beats for power, and I can't trust him."

Given didn't respond, but his silence spoke volumes. Loyalty bought with no consent was a dangerous thing.

"Lord Sol," Elara continued. "A great friend to your father, but they disagreed on many things. However, he is loyal to me—deeply loyal."

"Yes," Given agreed. "His loyalty is one of the few you can count on but never hold onto it."

Elara nodded, a small measure of reassurance in her heart. But it was fleeting.

"Lord Barret," she went on, her voice tinged with frustration. "He carries out the war strategies, but he disappears far too often. I can't trust him."

Given's expression didn't change, but Elara caught the subtle tension in his posture. "Lord Elliot," she added, her voice quiet. "He is loyal to me, but there are... wounds between us."

Given gave her a quick, almost imperceptible glance, but didn't comment. Instead, he focused on the next name.

"Lord Philly," Elara said, her voice barely above a whisper. "He's Elliot's great uncle, and they are not on good terms. You think he tried to bring me down before Theron could rise to power."

Given's eyes widened in surprise—so much so that Elara could feel the weight of the moment. She had caught him off guards, but it was only a flicker before he regained his composure.

"If I place my focus in the right place , I can hear your thoughts, Given," she said softly, her gaze never leaving his.

Before they could go any further with their conversation , the door opened with a sharp creak, and the sound of armored boots echoed in the room. The King's guards entered, their presence demanding attention.

"Your Majesty," one of the guards announced, bowing respectfully. "Everyone has arrived. The King orders you to be in the courtroom with immediate effect."

Elara met Given's eyes one last time, and there was an unspoken understanding between them—an understanding of the precarious situation they were both in.

She stood slowly, her body heavy with the weight of the decisions she had yet to make. As she moved toward the door, she expected Given to follow, but the commanding voice of another guard stopped him in his tracks.

Elara turned, her gaze sharp as another guard stepped forward, blocking her view of Given. "If you would, Your Majesty," the guard said, his tone polite but firm. "The meeting is seconds away from starting."

With a final glance at Given, Elara stepped into the hallway, her mind still running over the conversation. The game was shifting, and with each passing moment, it became more dangerous. But Elara was no stranger to danger. She had fought for peace once, and now she would fight to protect it. Whatever it took.

As the doors closed behind her, Elara steeled herself for the battle ahead. The courtroom awaited, and with it, the kingdom's future.