Woman

We sit in a tight booth at the end of the restaurant. Usman speaks about The Royal Protocol and I take to staring at the other man. He glances up at me and I catch my own reflection in his dark eyes.

A woman. Wretchedly tired. A woman with a past so tightly wound in her heart that a small resemblance sets her thoughts on high alert. Arthur falls asleep on the bench beside me.

Usman looks at me intently as he explains how the royal records are kept. His bright eyes are full of information. So much information, but not what I want to know right now.

I run my fingers over the grooves of the old wood in the table. The candlelight and fireplace give the place an ominous glow, making it difficult to make out features. As the light flickers from quite a distance away I have am having a difficult time making out the man's features. I glance at the door as a family leaves the place and a bell rings as they scramble into the darkness.

"May we ask you some questions, Mia?" Usman says and looks directly at me.

"Doesn't John want to ask me anything?" I say with a fleeting glance at Usman who is taken back.

Usman smiles, like this is some kind of joke.

"You get right to the point." Usman breathes out and waves a hand through his curls.

John presses his lips together and glances at my hands on the table.

"After what happened to Mother and Father, you disappeared. Where did you even go?" I needed you.

John has a faraway look in his dark eyes and he smooths out his perfectly trimmed hair. The slight wave to it reminds me of my sleeping son. The slight wave is so similar to my own locks.

"Mia," he bites back a tremble- almost as good as I do. "Mia, I am so sorry that I never came back to check on you. I was a coward, I was scared."

I take his hand, unable to stand that he won't look at me. He stares at me through an ocean of pain.

"Why are you back now?" I control the tone, keep it light and avoid sarcasm. I need answers.

Silence.

"I brought him. You can think of me as both of your fairy godmother." Usman drills.

I stare at Usman, the darkened atmosphere of the restaurant after sunset gives him a dark and sharp look. An athlete by position and a solider of the kingdom. Some fairy godmother he would make. More like the undertaker.

"More like the undertaker.." John huffs.

John and I catch eyes and I can see the dimple of a smile. We burst out. We chuckle and snort and giggle and huff and puff and cry and hiccup and we laugh. The familiar deepened bells of his voice with mine warm my heart.

Usman leans into his chair and chuckles.

The hardened shell surrounding me cracks like a snail shell under a horse's hoof. The bond of family stretches out to link back to my brother and my heart feels linked once more.

"Mia, I'm here to set things right now." John says with a determined look in his deep dark eyes.

"John, everything in my life has gone wrong, what are you going to set? I love that you are back, but really I want to know if you will join my life. You're an officer, second in command-"

"Mia, listen to me, everything is going to change. You're rich now. You got money from our house and recompense from the King and Queen for them never releasing the house money upon your eighteenth birthday."

"I get the money from our parents' house," I say and John nods. "So, does that mean you can stay with Arthur and I?"

John's eyes jump to Arthur for a few minutes.

"John, do you know what happened while you were gone?" I feel my heart searing like hot fire.

The thought that my brother should think that I would stoop to such lows for money swirls in my mind.

"I know what happened. I know." John breathes.

Relief washes over me as he knows that this child is from wedlock.

"Mia, I would never think badly of you. You know that. You got to believe me. I wanted to check on you, but, you were gone. I asked around when my training was done and no one knew what happened. I figured...I figured- after all the house was abandoned...I.." He chokes and he stands.

I glance up at him.

"But, I'm fine. I've lived two different lives, but I'm here." I say and stand.

We embrace.

"God, I missed you." John mumbles into my hair.

The bell rings.

"Mia?! What's going on here?" Alexander rushes at John and pulls him from me.

I stumble back and catch my balance after two unsteady steps. My balance is always strong and steady, but today he knocked me right from my platform.

An accusation streams from Alexander's stance to me, to John, to Usman and when he finally looks at Arthur he emanates hatred.

The slow building guilt slips from under me as I catch that seething glance.

"Who are these men, Mia? I had a feeling about you, seeing other men. Wasn't I good enough for you? I could offer you a better life, for Arthur, for you. We could have been together. Now I see you're betraying me! So that's how you use you pretty face, eh?!"

Alexander snaps at my arm and I feel a bruise forming. My arms ache for that comforting wrap of cloth that kept me so safe. I pull my other arm to protect my face from a blow I feel coming. A Mike attitude has appeared on his face.

I scream scratches at my throat, waiting to let loose.

No sooner do I turn my face away in safety do Usman and John have Alexander with his hands behind his back and his face slammed against the kitchen door.

"Eh?! What the hell is going on? Get off me!" Alexander pushes against John's arms that hold him securely against the wall and Usman who calmly pulls out a rope and slips knots around his wrists.

By this time, no one but the server is in the restaurant. He backs away from the open kitchen door and disappears into the kitchen.

My heart pushes into my throat and my heart beats wildly.

"You," Alexander turns his head to glare at me. "I thought you'd be faithful to me, after everything I've done for you. Now I see you're sleeping around like-"

John slams Alexander's head into the wall.

"Don't you dare talk to my sister like that."

Alexander's eyes go wild.

"She's nobody's nothing! She can't be your sister! She's an orphan! All she's got is her parents' will, she can't even raise her son! I'm her fiance. She's my woman! Let me go! Let me go! Get off me you cowards!"

John glances at me and I shake my head to tell him no.

"By the royal authority given to us by the King and Queen, you are under arrest for public hooliganism and violence. The maximum sentence is ten years. You would have had your trial played out in court, but as two royal officers were witness, you will go straight to jail for at least a few months." John states.

"Royal officers, but where the hell... in their right mind... here, would they be?" Alexander whispers.

"The Territorial Commander of the Royal Army just tied you up." John states.

"The hell with both of you, I've got people of mine in high places. I'll get out and have you two court marshaled before the day is up."

"That's cute. You think King Adam will listen to you over his cousin." John breathes.

Alexander is leaning on the wall breathing heavy.

King Adam's cousin? I stare at Usman.

Usman takes Alexander out of the restaurant and John gives me a hug.

"Can I meet you at the inn tomorrow afternoon?"

I nod and watch him leave.

I sweep up Arthur and hold him against my heart and I feel the intense beating as I try to calm down.

I run to Elsa and Theo's.

They welcome me, unsure at my unsettled face. Theo takes Arthur from my arms and I tell Elsa everything in a rushing river of words.

"You have a brother? Ohhhhh and that rascal Alexander, I had no idea he would be so vile! I'm truly truly sorry. If I knew he was such a cruel hearted human after money I would never have let him close! I never would have let him step into this house!" Elsa shrieks.

"You didn't know. No one knew. I didn't even realize him trying to throw Arthur into a lion's pit! I'm so blind!"

"No, you're not blind. Look you were protected darling, the Creator protected you. Arthur is fine. You're fine. You even have your brother back."

"You're right." I say and finally let the exhaustion catch up.

I pass out in Mother's arms.

She sings to me and I swiftly float in the crest of her voice.