Daughter of Death -Chapter 27 (Patreon)

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CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN

It took all seven dwarves to place Reina into her casket and bring the casket onto the back of their cart. Ulrich and Hulbard worked hard with Gus’ help to create a platform on the cart so as Reina’s casket was raised up to be seen over the walls of the cart.

“She’s so beautiful,” Oskar wept as he beheld her face through the small ‘window’ they had left in the side of the casket so that she could be viewed. The other men consoled him though they were crying too.

The dwarves set off on their journey to go into town and lead a procession to the castle. The trip was silent and sombre. None dared speak; only tears and sobs dare betray their grief to the world around them.

Each of them took turns driving the cart while the others sat like pallbearers beside the woven casket. Once they entered the village it was hard to keep their composure as they saw the curious faces of the citizens of Bayern try and get a better look at their charge in attempts to understand why the dwarves sat crying alongside their raised cargo.

Word soon spread about Princess Reina and before long people lined the streets trying to see for themselves the lost-now-found Princess who lay motionless in her funeral bed in procession for her castle.

Some believed the story told about Reina having been lost in the forest hiding these many months while others dismissed this all as some sort of tasteless hoax. Believers and non-believers did have one thing in common however: they agreed that the maiden lying in the casket was indeed very beautiful and t’was a tragedy that someone so lovely should be lying there dead.

The dwarves were surprised indeed when a royal procession rode out to meet them. It appeared word had reached The Queen Dowager, Edeline. The guards and a few councillors had ridden out from the castle to behold this mysterious maiden for themselves and if truth had been given to then escort Her Royal Highness Princess Reina’s body back to be given the proper rites and a funeral arranged.

The men were shocked when all of them were able to confirm that it was indeed young Princess Reina who lay so peacefully there inside the casket. So she had not then been dead since her disappearance but alive (and judging by her retained beauty) living well. It was all for naught now for she lay here truly dead; a renewed tragedy on their hearts and minds.

Thus a tearful procession was led back to the castle with royal horns blaring out and an official announcement called periodically out that Her Royal Highness was being brought home to be laid at last to rest. By the time her body reached the castle, lamentations were being given out near and far.

The dwarves felt pits in their stomachs as they beheld the people of Bayern look upon Reina and instantly show signs of grief and mourning. But worse still was when Queen Edeline herself was awaiting them outside the castle.

Initially they felt terrified for was it not her who had arranged an assassin on Reina’s life thus forcing the poor young girl to flee and end up at Brickwall Cottage? What would she say now? What would she do?

Edeline’s reaction was not what any of them expected. The woman burst into tears at the confirmation that her step-daughter lay in the casket and she fell to her knees –needing assistance from her attendants.

Wendall felt himself shaking in anxiousness as The Dowager was brought forward to look upon Reina’s face which only renewed her displays of grief.

After she had recovered some enough to speak she thanked Reina’s companions profusely for bringing her and for taking such care.

Then Reina was carried by royal attendants to the church and the seven dwarf companions invited inside to conference with The Dowager and The Royal Council. They were to tell the story of what had happened to Reina and how she had come to meet her present death.

As Queen Edeline walked to the Council Chamber, she hid her true emotions behind her handkerchief. In truth she was concerned and confused not overwhelmed with grief and despondency. How had Reina appeared so unmarred and still so beautiful in her casket? Her research had told her the vampir had an aversion to the sunlight. Having the dwarves bring Reina through the streets in an uncovered construction should have given ample opportunity for the vampir to meet the light and thus be destroyed. In the forest surely she had been protected by the shade of the trees but here she should have been ruined. Edeline did not know that Reina’s transformation had not been fully completed yet and thus sunlight was no enemy to her. Edeline merely surmised that as she had drained this evil creature’s blood it was already in a death-like state and its body did not react as it would were Reina still ‘living’.

Edeline knew however that to truly destroy Reina she needed to remove the girl’s heart. This she would have to do later under cover of nightfall or during a private moment of ‘homage’ and ‘grief’.

In the Council Chamber the dwarves nervously tried to respond to questions regarding Reina and the sequence of events that had led to the anointed Queen-to-be now being brought back recently deceased when she had previously been assumed killed and devoured by wild beasts in the forest.

“Speak candidly and truthfully for I know you all carry a heavy accusation,” Edeline spoke up suddenly in an unwavering and firm tone, “As I understand it you would accuse me of making an attempt upon The Princess’ life by means of an assassin. I can assure you all that the truth has been miscued. I too have been a victim in all this. For here I have proof of a lone assassin outside of Bayern had been hired to take our beloved Reina’s life and cause strife in our kingdom by means of suggesting that t’was I who hired him!” Edeline held up a document which she then read out and confirmed to be sent by allies who had uncovered the plot after bandits loyal to The Crown of Bayern had executed in a tavern this assassin for his crimes. Word had spread to them of the brawl which they then had revealed to Edeline herself.

“Why did you not bring this information forward?” a councilman asked directly.

“How could I bring up such a thing which would only cast suspicion upon me where there had been none before? I thought our beloved Reina had been taken innocently from us by means of an accident. There had been no word from anyone regarding a failed or successful plot to ruin Bayern. I did not see it prudent to inform anyone of what I had learned until it would be of benefit to Bayern’s crown should some new plot be underway in regards to The Crown’s succession or if anyone should attempt to falsely accuse or frame me in any such despicable acts.

“When I heard that Princess Reina’s body was being brought to the castle newly dead I suspected something may be of this wicked nature and thus retrieved my letter to hold as proof. I saw in these men’s eyes the hesitation and concern in having to accuse me The Dowager Queen of treason. Therefore I speak now to condemn it and prove my innocence. I want nothing but the best for my adopted home of Bayern for tis and was the home and now resting place of my beloved husband the late King Arnaud –God rest his soul. I have nothing but love, loyalty and fealty towards my husband, his crown and his kingdom which has now become my home until such a time that the succession is passed and my station is adjusted accordingly. I serve Bayern and its Crown now and always.”

Though the dwarves were surprised by this revelation, much of what Edeline had said resonated with them.

The Royal Council briefly discussed this development and decided that Her Majesty spoke the truth to the situation.

Feeling more confident, the dwarf men of Brickwall Cottage revealed the story of Princess Reina and how she had fled her attacker to end up staying in safety at their home until such a time that she could make her return to reclaim her throne.

A throne which would now still sit empty until the period of mourning would pass and the succession of The Crown of Bayern could be undertaken.

It was decided by The Council that for the time being, funeral arrangements were to be first priority. Following laying their late anointed Queen-to-be to rest, discussions could be taken as to deciding whether to extend the mourning period under the new circumstances and to decide whether after this period the succession of The Crown would be affected by this new news and knowledge.

First however, Her Royal Highness had to be officially laid to rest as per royal customs.

It was Wendall who spoke up and requested, against royal custom, whether he and his companions might watch over the body of The Princess as she lay in wait for her funeral. “We have seen Her Royal Highness through so much already. It would be a relief upon all of our hearts I believe that we be granted this great and generous boon to watch over her until such a time that she is officially laid to rest. We shall be her sentinels and guardians here on earth whilst her soul awaits her last rites to be given into heaven’s embrace.”

Taken aback by such a request, The Council asked for time to consider.

The dwarves were dismissed from the Chamber and escorted to another room somewhere in the castle where they nervously awaited the response. Though Wendall’s bold request had surprised them they all whole-heartedly agreed that they did wish for such an honor as he had asked. 

It was not long before they were brought back to The Council Chamber. “We have gone over your appeal and have decided that you shall be given the honour to remain with Her Royal Highness’ body in addition to the traditional guards and men of holy ordinance which must remain with the body of a monarch or royal in wait of the funeral rites,” a lead councilman informed them.

“You shall be led now to the chapel in two hours’ time in which your watch may begin over her. For now, Princess Reina is undergoing the traditional practices: her body being washed and clothed into her funeral garments.”

With repeated thanks, Rutger, Ulrich, Wendall, Oskar, Wilhelm, Gus and Hulbard bowed and excused themselves from the room. Then as planned, they were stationed as faithful sentinels around Reina’s body lying in state.

Unbeknownst to them, Queen Edeline was cursing their presence. For now how could she have a moment alone to complete her mission of removing Reina’s heart? The task would have to wait until after the funeral.

Instead, she gazed upon the serene face of her step-daughter lying so pale and fair surrounded by the girl’s faithful servants loyal to her even in death. Edeline wished they all knew the truth of the horror of what this beautiful demon really was. For then she was sure they would all shudder with the same nightmares Edeline herself would have that night knowing such an evil lay undestroyed so close by.

All she could do was lay bundles of hawthorn down on the funeral pyre and pray to God that soon Reina would be destroyed once and for all.

But does God always answer our prayers?