Chapter 7: A Love Lost

We sat across from one another, my father and I. Murdog standing proudly behind my Father, a pompous sneer gracing his hooked nose features. I could hear the low rumble of Bruekelen as he stood with a taunting glare at my Father's counselor behind me.

"You have to see reason Father with the Vikings approaching from the West they will conquer Castle Wyvern in two days' time. And once they have looted and raided the Castle and the neighboring villages they will surely come for us next," I pleaded with my Father. Trying as I might to convince him to send aid to our fellow Scotsmen. All I received was a haughty dismissal.

"Castle Wyvern is not without its assets my child. There is no reason why I should endanger hundreds of my men when the Gargoyles legendary battle skills will be more than plenty to defend its territory," he crooned at me as if I was once again a small girl and he was explaining to me why butterflies always died in the fall.

"May I speak sir?" Bruekelen asked from behind me. I watched my Father's shocked reaction to being addressed by suck a foul creature. His astonishment however seemed to work in Bruekelen's favor as he waved his hand for him to speak.

"Thank you, as a representative of both the Gargoyle clan and of Castle Wyvern I want to thank you personally for allowing Princess Alexandra into our home for the short period of time that she was allowed. She has been a great pleasure to us all," he said with a deep bow that I had taught him many nights ago when our love was still budding into something beyond describable words. "However, with the threat of Vikings coming from the West Princess Alexandra is quite correct in her assumption. Castle Wyvern will be unable to handle and form of resistance if our common enemy was to attack us during the day."

"And why is that?" My Father asked as if he was both raptured by Bruekelen's apparent ability to speak and act like a civilized being but yet somehow bored with the conversation at hand.

"Gargoyles turn to stone during the day your majesty and thus unable to protect its human counterparts. It is why we must live amongst humans in a peaceful manner. The daylight sun is unfortunately not our best allies and even we need protection. Because of this Castle Wyvern has not had any war in twenty years. Many of the Castle's fine warriors have either found other trades or have come here to Castle Dalriada. We need your assistance. It is not the only way to kill a snake my lord? To chop of its head before it has a chance to bite you first? "He paused causing my Father to think carefully about what he had to say next. I looked from my Father to my Guardian so proud of his sophisticated manner in a time of great turmoil. I instantly could see why out of all the Gargoyles Goliath would pick him to be his second. He will make a fine leader one day. Even I a Queen in the making could see that.

"Murdog, tell the men to saddle their horses and to kiss their wives and children for tomorrow we leave at dusk to help defend our brethren," My Father commanded as he stood from his high backed chair. He looked my Guardian in the eye as he spoke.

"I can see why Princess Katherine sent you, you have a fine way with words son," My Father commented as he turned to ready himself for battle. A battle I prayed we would win.

"I'll need to fly back tonight to inform Princess Katherine and Goliath," Bruekelen confessed to me. I felt worry dig its way into my heart. Being away from him for even a moment felt like eternity.

"Promise me you'll be safe," I pleaded with him as I too stood from my own high backed chair to stand in front of him. He looked down his russet nose and with a twinkly of mischief in his eye I knew.

"For you my lady I would do anything," He made to lean down to kiss me but I knew the cost of it. I was still a Princess in waiting, the next in line for Kingdom and he was still my Guardian and most of all a Gargoyle.

"I am sorry," I apologized as I leaned away from him. "But I can't, not here. There are spies everywhere and I would be hanged for sure."

I looked back up into his eyes, I could see the hurt and shame there. But only understanding could be said.

"Of course my lady."

He left quickly that night taking flight when the moon was high and nearly everyone had retired for bed. I leaned out of my balcony window and followed him with my eyes until he was nothing more than a part of the night itself.

I never knew that would be the last moment we would share together. I never knew what morning would bring. If I had I wouldn't have hesitated kissing him that night. I wouldn't have even considered it. But fate has a way with dealing cards and this time I was dealt a bad hand.

It was the screaming that woke me up in the predawn hours of early morning. The sun had barely reached the horizon only a small streak of pink canvased the grey sky. I had bolted out of bed as I heard the shrill cries of my people from down below. Immediately I rushed from my bed and dashed towards the window peering down below. Outside the gates just sitting in our once lush fields were Vikings, hundreds upon hundreds of Viking men. The smell of their unwashed flesh and smoke from their fires slowly began to make its way through the Castle. The stench would forever leave a stain upon its once honorable stone features.

I pushed away from the window and screamed for my lady maid. It took her only moments to come rushing into my room. She must have been waiting outside my doors waiting for me to find our home on the brink of war.

"Matti help me get dressed! Quickly now we don't have much time!" I hollered at her as she pulled out a dark navy gown that once had belonged to my Mother. It was my favorite dress, hand sown by my Grandmother years ago as a present for my Mother's birthday. Beautiful even if it was years out of fashion.

Matti quickly helped tighten my corset and strapped me into my dress. Finding my shoes and stockings I put them on as she did something that half recognized as proper to my tangled mess of hair. With a quick look around us I grabbed knapsack out of my closet. Together we deposited coins and few odds and ends until we were both rushing out of my room into the terror of Castle Dalriada.

"What now my lady?" Matti asked me and for a moment I hadn't even planned it out that far.

"First I want you to go down to the kitchen and fill this with bread, cheese and water. I am going to see my Father and see what is really going on. Once I have finished talking to him I want you to meet me back here. Is that understood Matti?" I demanded of her and she shook her head furiously as she darted off towards the kitchen. I immediately went in search of my Father.

It wasn't hard to find him once you started to follow the flow of people. The people of Castle Dalriada flocked to my Father like sheep to the Shepard. He stood ready for battle amongst his finest warriors. I stood silently by the door way listening as he explained strategy amongst his men.

"Sir there are just to many of them and they will over power us in a days' time. We will have even a shorter time if they figure out how to block us from receiving food supply from outside resources. Any attempt at an assault will leave the rest of us open for attack. The best thing for us to do sir is to negotiate or to get as many people out of here as possible before they burn us down," A trusted man of my Father's explained to not only him but to everyone in the room. I sucked in a breath. No outcome looked good for me or for my people.

"We do not give up! We have fought many battles together and we have never given up! I refuse to do so now in my own home!" My Father barked back as he laid his hands across the wearing map that was spread across the table.

I pulled away from the door, pressing my back up against the far wall. I pressed a hand over my racing heart. It felt like it was about to jump out of my chest. I took a deep breath and descended down back towards my bedroom. I knew Matti would be waiting. I knew we had to get to Castle Wyvern and warn everyone the others. I had to warn Bruekelen.

It took me only moments before I found Matti waiting impatiently outside my room. Lose tangles of curls fell haphazardly around her face. An obviously pink flush fluttered across her neck and checks. I noticed it made her look years younger.

"We need to get to the horses. We need to warn Princess Katherine about the Vikings, we can't have anymore of Scotland's people enslaved by those barbarians."

"Yes my Lady."

And we were off in a swish of skirts and batted breath. I felt like Judith killing Holofernes with my lady maid close behind me as we skitter across enemy lines. Eventually we were able to ensure two horses. Slowly we, like so many other residence of Castle Dalriada, moved behind the west gate and evacuated our home.

After a quarter mile we eventually moved away from the rest of the Scots and like men we rode our horses East towards Castle Wyvern. With each extended stride our horses made I felt my own flush take my cheeks as the harsh winter winds whipped my hair all about me. We were only a league or two from the Castle when both of our horses stopped abruptly.

I looked about my stead in concern. It was then that I heard it, the silent sobs of children. I looked back at Matti. She was staring straight ahead. Her face narrowed in on the outskirts of the forest in which we rode through. I turned towards the direction that held her interest.

There in the middle of the forest three small children sat huddled.

"Matti continue east towards Castle Wyvern. I shall follow you shortly. If I am not there by night fall please inform Gargoyle Bruekelen of my whereabouts. He'll know how to find me."

She said nothing but nodded silently as she turned her horse back towards our original destination. I turned my horse that nickered hesitantly at me towards the crying children. About ten feet away I stopped my chocolate mare and slid off the uncomfortable saddle. Cautiously I approached the children.

"Hello," I called out, "is everything alright?"

The children immediately stopped crying and they stood to look at me. It was strange. Three beautiful girls no older than ten, each had the same face, each looked exactly the same. Except for their hair, one had hair the shade of winter white snow, the other of the golden sun and the last like the black raven's feathers. They were shocking with their cool crystal blue eyes. So stunning no matter how hard you tried you couldn't turn away. It was like being entranced merely by their presence.

"We have waited quite a long while for you"

The raven haired sister stated as she moved to stand in front of her twins. I looked at her in sheer confusion.

"I don't understand."

"You're life Princess Alexandria has always been one of luxury."

"A life given to you by birth and by every right one that should remain yours to carry out."

"However a change in events has caused for your life to be turned upside down and for your rightful path to be altered."

I looked between the three girls following the line of conversation with my eyes. However as each word was spilt from between their identical rose shade lips I was thrown even further in to confusion.

"I don't understand. What are you talking about?" I questioned as I took an unsure step away from the sisters.

"It was not your destiny to fall in love with the red Gargoyle. But even destiny is not set in stone."

"Thus it is our occupation to make sure your destiny is fulfilled. "

"Yes for a love as pure and as…uh…unusual…"

"Is a love that should be lived out."

I looked between the three of them confusion marking my regal features. I had a feeling that they were indeed discussing both mine and Bruekelen's life. A life that we had yet to live but I still didn't understand.

"Because of this development the children of Oberon have decided to involve ourselves."

"Yes, we've decided that a love such as yours should last throughout time. A never changing one that until once again you and he can be reunited."

"I don't understand," I confessed completely confused by their words.

"Forever you shall wait dear Princess like so many others before you."

"A thousand years from now, the hunter's moon will be high, the winds will change and together you shall be together as one."

A brilliant light shone and soon I felt swallowed whole by the light. When it dissipated the sun has disappeared behind the moon's brilliant rays. I sucked in a breath not realizing how much time had passed. I ran as fast as I could back towards where I had left my mare. Still she stood grazing quietly off to the side. Without even second guessing it I raced to her side grabbed the reins and swung myself over into the saddle. My skirts tangled and whipped behind me as I steered her back onto the path towards Castle Wyvern.

We galloped throughout the night. The winds picked up, lightening striking over head as we raced down the various thickets. It didn't take long before I could see Castle Wyvern in the distance. I could see the just the outline of the mortar stones just across the hillside. However as I approached a sea of dread washed over me. Smoke billowed out from many areas within the castle. Rubble lined the outskirts of the Castle's property. And the closer I got the more I realized that Castle Dalraida wasn't the only invaded this day. I pushed my horse faster as I reached the edge of the Castle Wyvern. Pushing my mare to an abrupt stop I all but toppled off of her as I raced inside the Castle.

Inside however I was surrounded by the chaos within. The silence echoed throughout. It left it feeling cold and uninhabited. All around you could see where the Castle had been ransacked by looters and or worse. They left nothing of value but the destruction of invaders. I turned quickly and ran up the side staircase that once lead to my room hoping that Bruekelen was there alive and well or at the very least would come find me there. I had to believe that Matti had delivered my message to him in time. I just had too.

I climbed the stone stairs two at a time. I hiked my long blue skirts up to almost well past my knees as I scurried up the steps. My breath came out in ragged pants as I did so. The fear of the unknown caused my heart to race in a furry it had never known before. And as I whipped around the last corner into my room my once racing heart came to an abrupt stop. Because my once shinning boudoir was nothing more than ripped hangings and an over turned bed. I sucked in a breath not realizing I was holding it as I took the necessary steps to my balcony. It was there that my heart soared as I saw perched as always my love.

"Bruekelen!" I screamed as I raced towards his figure. However as I approached I became fully aware of what had occurred. There he stood in all his grandeur forever encased in stone.