Katherine of Carpenchia: Episode 8

In a rustle of movement, a figure burst through the path in front of them. "Caihanna?" Celine gasped. "Elsie? What are you doing here?"

"We were captured by the Lady Marella," replied Caihanna. It took every ounce of self-control she had to not sink to her knees in relief. Her whole body felt like jello. "But we escaped."

"Oh!" cried Celine, and enveloped Caihanna in a hug. The maid stiffened, then let her mistress hug her. "I am so glad you're all right!"

Celine pulled away. "I should never have sent you into such danger, Elsie, Caihanna. I ow-"

Elsie could not stand it one second longer. "Lady Marella is a murderer!" she shouted. "She tried to kill the Queen Katherine, and she did kill the late Queen Illiandra!"

Caihanna nodded. "All that is true." She went on to explain more in detail what Lady Marella had revealed.

Celine let out a low, long breath. Her blue eyes, which were the color of ice, turned the temperature of ice, too. "We must get news to Katherine immediately," she said. "I came because I could not let her off alone. Heaven knows what trouble she would get into. And now here we are. It's a miracle we intercepted each other!" She turned back to her horse. "We must make for Katherine's camp immediately!"

___

Katherine i'Fartha Del'Tavinrone II walked pensively among the trees on the outskirts of camp. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts about the battle ahead.

Suddenly, she heard a shout behind her. Probably some idiot young soldiers, she thought. Really, I must talk to General Xavius about - then she turned around.

"KATHERINE!" cried Elsie, running towards her. Right behind came Celine leading her gelding and Caihanna fussing about her skirts.

Katherine's eyes went wide as saucers. "What?" she gasped. "Elsie? Celine? Caihanna? How did you get here?"

"My Queen Katherine!" exclaimed Elsie.

They embraced.

"Celine!" cried Katherine. For of all these friends she now saw, Celine was the one she had yearned to see most.

"Katherine!"

They embraced as well.

"But tell me," said Katherine, "what are you doing here?"

"Lady Marella is a traitor!" shouted Elsie. "A dirty, rotten traitor!"

"Calm down, you'll alert the whole camp," scolded Caihanna.

"It is true," said Celine. She then proceeded to explain everything Elsie and Caihanna had told her.

"I knew it," hissed Katherine under her breath. Hatred boiled up in her. "We will ambush their ambush, then. That will take them doubly by surprise. Now, all of you should go to the tents. I'll talk with General Xavius about arrangement-"

"No," cut in Celine firmly. "I did not ride all the way out here to sit in a tent and sip tea while my best friend went out and risked her life."

"Nor me!" squeaked Elsie.

"Nor me," agreed Caihanna.

"If you're going to war," Celine said soberly, "we're coming with you."

Katherine closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She could not send her friends into danger. She simply couldn't! What kind of friend would she be then? What would her mother think? But....if she did not bring them and keep an eye on them, they might rush into battle during the heat of things and get themselves killed. She exhaled and opened her eyes. "Yes."

___

Ahh what did you think of this episode? The next episode is the finale :) See ya next time, and remember that you are all very beautiful pickles!

Namarië,
Ellie
{on the other side of reality}