Luna of the Beastly Lycan King

Chapter 14. A walk

☉DANIKA

The voice didn’t belong to Andras, and it certainly would not have been Fergal, so I reasoned that the guard did not know who I was.

“I am the lady Danika. I have a present for the king that I am certain he would prefer to receive in person.”

The guard stood, solid, hand on his extended spear that prevented me from any further movement. “The king has decreed that no one is to enter this chamber unless he personally gives the order.”

His expression was stoic, and I was sure that he must have thought to himself that he was doing this in service of the king, Finarfen—who I knew would still be awake at such an hour—but a small wedge of anger was slowly beginning to crawl its way up my throat.

I tried for a soothing tone. “I understand that you are just doing your job. But I am Danika and I have been a close companion to the King for many years now. It would be erroneous not to let me in.”

The guard only planted his feet solidly into the ground as he cast his vision far again.

I wondered what was going on. Finarfen hadn’t even been king for a week and I could get to him no longer. It was obvious that the guard was not going to budge, and I did not wish to cause a scene either, for there was much partying still going on and I did not wish to be seen.

I stabbed my finger at the indifferent guard’s chest and told him that I was going to leave, but should Finarfen ask, he should deliver the notification that I sought for him. The guard did not indicate that he had received my message or the subtle threat in it. He just stood there, solid.

I huffed in anger and turned with a flourish, stomping away as my red hair swept through the air. Once I was out of sight of the guard, I slowed down my pace and began to walk slowly, dejectedly.

Several maidens ran past me, giggling girlishly. A second later, a group of men rushed past me too, no doubt, chasing after the women. Their giggles and squeaks and roaring laughter faded as they ran down the hallway. But it gave me no joy. I thought about how fitting the crown had looked on Finarfen’s head and how iconic he looked in his armor and that cloak…

A maid walked by, laden heavy with food. I shook my head at her when she made an offer to me.

I shook my head at the next person I stormed past. I was still furious at the guard who wouldn’t let me see Finarfen. And I was even more infuriated because now I had to walk back with the cask of wine in my wine and the try that I had laden with some of the food I thought Finarfen would like.

As I rounded the corner, I almost bumped into someone with heavy black armor. His hand was kept constantly on the hilt of his sword and I thought for a moment that he must have seen my face, but when he continued walking, his stride unchanging, I changed my mind and continued walking in the opposite direction towards my room.

Fergal of House Gathmore.

I had not imagined that I would run into him in the corridor. We had not spoken—I doubt if he even realized that he had bumped into me, for he was built like a mountain—but I reasoned that perhaps I could ask him for his help. He was Finarfen’s Beta. Surely, he would be able to get the guard to allow me to step into Finarfen’s chambers.

But I shrugged the thought away. Fergal and I didn’t talk. Not before the Battle of Rites, and certainly not now. I was still fuming from my rejection when I arrived at my chambers and slammed the door behind me.

I gently set down the cask of wine and the tray of food, and then I groaned loud and long and clawed at my hair. I pulled off the dress I had worn—a beautiful emerald thing that a maiden had told me complimented my eyes and hair.

Then, true sadness set in me and I felt every ounce of strength leave my body. I stalked wearily and faceplanted into the bed. I groaned. Why was everything so different now? What had changed between Finarfen and me?

It was understandable that he was assuming more and more power, and he was becoming busier because of it, but I was hurt. He had pushed me away ever since he had returned from the Battle of Rites. That felt like it had happened so long ago now.

He was always frowning when he saw me, and he refused to be seen together with me as if I were a plague on his person. But most hurtful were the words he used on me in the presence of others. I groaned again and paddled with my legs, wondering just what had happened when a knock sounded on my door.

I considered ignoring it—I was sure that it couldn’t have been any of the other people who were still throwing down, eating, drinking, and celebrating. I just wanted to be left alone to properly mull over my misfortune. But the knock came again, insistent.

“Danika.” The voice said from behind the door. “Are you alright?”

I cracked open the door. My eyes widened when I saw who it was that stood before me. “Fergal?”

I closed the door again for I was not decent. I hastily pulled on clothes and a shawl to cover myself, then I opened the door again and stepped out to meet him.

He scratched his head. He looked more weathered than I had ever seen him and there were fresh bruises or the signs of rigour on his face. I could not tell well, for the light was low. Back then in the Battle of Rites, he had dominated the entire space, filling it like the behemoth he was. Even when I had glanced at him this evening in the corridor, he still seemed impossibly large. But now, especially in the light of Finarfen’s recent coronation, he seemed smaller, subdued… something about him made me feel deep pity for him.

“So…” he chuckled, trying to make light of his words, but I could hear the deep pain anyway. “Finarfen’s king now. I suppose we should be celebrating.”

I turned my face away. Fergal bowed. “We should be celebrating, yet here we are…”

I had no words for him. I contemplated biding him goodnight, but he had said the things that were going on in my heart, and against my better knowledge, I asked him if he wanted to come in.

Fergal stepped into my private chambers, and immediately, I felt self-conscious. But not because he was the first man to come in here. He looked around and sniffed once, then he turned to me and said, “Perhaps we should take a walk instead.”

I chuckled nervously and consented.

We quickly made our way out of the palace, moving quickly past bodies that lay in half-clad states and others that kept running with casks of wine in hand and slabs of meat in the other. Laughter echoed in the hallways and the corridors were full of talk. Past the halls, bawdy songs sung by doddering men rang clear and true.

We walked to the first tree that we saw as we stepped into the courtyard.

“I do not think Finarfen is wrong to treat you the way he does.” Fergal began. I felt my shields kick up instantly, but he was still talking.

“You are weak. It is only wise that he tries to keep you from danger. Even though his methods are rather strange, they are nonetheless effective, and I cannot fault the man his thinking.”

I folded my arms across my chest. “So you would have him publicly ridicule me before the entire court and threaten to kill me—you would like that, wouldn’t you?”

“I still think that he is wise to keep you from danger. You have a tendency to run headfirst into danger.”

I stewed, unsure of what to say. Fergal sighed and threw his head back. Stars lined the pitch-black sky, painting an unknown tapestry.

“For the longest time, I hated Finarfen. I hated his guts. I hated…” he exhaled. “But he wronged you most, with the way he changed after our fight. He was weak but at the Battle of Rites… I never knew he had that kind of power within him. I was angry. I wanted to rage. I wanted to kill him.”

“For a moment, I was scared that you actually had,” I whispered.

Fergal clenched his fists and looked at them for the longest time. Then he released them. “You should retire now, Danika.”

I turned to Fergal, mouth full of words, but unable to speak. I nodded my assent. Talking with Fergal had the unexpected effect of calming me down. I still did not agree with the way that Finarfen was treating me, even if Fergal claimed that he was doing it for my protection.

I could still feel an unspoken thing between Finarfen and Fergal. I was not sure exactly why Fergal loathed Finarfen so much that he had wanted to kill Finarfen during the Battle of Rites, and even now that he was serving directly under Finarfen, there was still that unspoken tension between them. There was history neither of them wanted to bring up. And I was content to not know the full thing. Not right now, at least.

Fergal was only complying with Finarfen’s commands because he was Alpha and was under command, which I knew, but beyond that…

I hoped that the day would never come when the two of them would be forced to go against each other again.

Fergal walked me back to the corridor of my chambers, bade me goodnight, and left. I fell back against my bed, exhausted, but full of thoughts.