Birds chirping outside her window woke Morgianna from her slumber. Looking down at her attire she saw that she had been bathed and changed into soft sleepwear. She glanced around the spacious room, seeing ornate furniture that made stuff in her own home look plain.
The bed she was on was massive, easily able to fit 8 grown people comfortably if needed and she was just a grain of sand in its sea of blankets. She was alone with nothing but her thoughts, but she did not feel worried about her current state. She had much larger worries plaguing her mind. They had won against Sora, but things she had said would not leave her mind.
Sora spoke of a man who wished to see her dead. Someone willing to help others extinguish her existence. As she racked her brain, Morgianna could not think of anyone she had made angry enough to want to kill her in this lifetime, well other than those she had already dealt with doing her guild work. However even if those people were not already dead, none of them had the kind of power needed to just give it to someone else.
Deep in her thoughts, Morgianna did not hear the door open, nor the heavy footfall's that headed in her direction. "I'm so glad you are awake." Morgianna recognized Fafnir's voice right before he pulled her into a bone-crushing hug. As uncomfortable as it was, she knew she had worried the man and let him hold her a little longer. She sensed that he needed it more than he was letting on.
When he finally pulled away from her, Morgianna looked into his eyes and saw that even with her awake worry clouded his face. "Talk to me, I've known you a long time and I know that you are stressing about something. Let me help you."
Fafnir sighed in an exaggerated manner. "I can't hide anything from you. Even now you wake up and instead of asking about yourself and your condition you just head straight into asking how things are with me. To think I would have such a nosy sister." Though his words were severe he gave a slight smile that wasn't as cheerful as the ones he usually gave her.
His smile slipped slightly and he crawled farther up into the huge bed pairing the spot beside him. It was second nature to be beside him, no awkward feelings even as she snuggled in. For years they shared tents and during the winter, even sleeping bags to stay warm. There was no blood relation, but the familial love they felt for one another was deep.
"It's about Faust..." He started off slowly as if trying to gauge her relation as he found the words. "He is alive and in the dungeon." Morgianna's eyes grew wide at the new development. When Sora spoke about Faust she was sure the man was long dead and turned into one of her puppets.
Taking a moment to organize her words Morgianna leaned her head on Fafnir's shoulder. "What is going to happen to him?" She felt Fafnir tense beside her and knew it wasn't good.
"The people are calling for his execution... He committed horrible crimes against the Kingdom causing many to lose those they love. I am to go to a meeting of those left from the previous council and my family to come to a conclusion once I leave your room." Morgianna could tell from the sad look on his face that he did not wish his brother's demise.
She got up on to move in front of him, not allowing him to look anywhere than her face. "Tell me what you want to happen and I will help you achieve it. We are not finished here and I told you I would help you see it out to the end. Tell me everything I need to know and then lead the say to this meeting."
Fafnirs saw determination shining in her eyes and for the first time since he had heard they wanted to execute Faust, he had hope that he could save him. He told her everything Faust had told him, and what the council had said over the past 2 days she had been asleep. Morgianna listened carefully already formulating plans in her mind. One way or another she would not let Fafnir lose someone else important to him.
...
The room was warm, but not inviting when Morgianna and Fafnir arrived for the meeting. She saw Queen Eingana, Finian, and Fergus but she did not know who the other 4 people in attendance were. From their looks they still looked young, but she knew from the magical power radiating off of them that they were much much older.
"Fafnir, why have you brought this girl with you?" A woman with shifty eyes and a pointed chin sneered in their direction causing all eyes to fall on them.
Eingana and Fafnir's brothers gave small smiles in her direction but every other person frowned, clearly displeased with her attendance. Beside her Fafnir was about to respond when Queen Eingana's clear voice sounded throughout the room. "Councilwoman Salzar I would think that as the savior of our Kingdom you would show a little more respect to our guest." Her words were short but everyone present heard the double meaning. Morgianna was important and had a right to be there.
Councilwoman Salzar looked embarrassed but kept throwing dirty looks Morgianna's way when she thought nobody was looking. "Regardless of her attendance we need to come to an agreement today. Your son committed various crimes and by our laws he should be executed... Publicly. It is what the people deserve." The other council members all quickly agreed with her, not showing any independence. They were like sheep and she was the herder leading them exactly where she wanted them.
"The vote has been tied for days, you surely wouldn't abuse your royal power to save your son." The threat was clear as day in her words and Morgianna saw Eingana and the guys barely holding in their rage.
Coughing, Morgianna pulled the attention of every person in the room. "How can the vote be tied when I have not cast my vote yet?"
Queen Eingana's eyes lit up with renewed vigor. "Ah my daughter, how careless of us to exclude you on such an important matter while you were asleep. I had not wanted to stress you out, but it seems we have neglected your feelings on the matter. After all you saved us."
The council members all looked warily towards Morgianna. Their thoughts easily read on their faces. "Preposterous, how could she even have a vote?"
Morgianna put on an aggrieved face and looked back at the council members already changing her plan with the new developments. "I was told I would hold the crown princess position after the battle, are you calling your queen a liar? Or maybe you are opposed to me? I almost died fighting Sora but I guess it was not enough to earn your respect..." She let one lone tear roll down her cheek.
Everyone present was surprised by her action, even Fafnir. He knew she would not cry so easily, even if she was not accepted. Still he did not give her away and watched to see how she would move forward. The council members all looked to councilwoman Salzar their obvious ringleader to see how she would handle this new obstacle that stood in their way.
"Of course we would never call our Queen a liar. She said you would become the crown princess but we have not yet been able to set a date to announce it to the kingdom. You were very brave to fight Sora and we are thankful." Councilwoman Salzar's jaw ticked as she forced the words to have her mouth. She had been speaking to Morgianna as if she were placating a child. Her words made it clear she did not recognize Morgianna as the Crown Princess on this day.
Morgianna smirked internally ready to go in for the killing blow. "The way you are speaking makes it seem as if you do not recognize me as your Princess. I suffered many grievances for this kingdom because of what Sora and Faust did."
A light flashed in the councilwoman's eyes at Morgiannas words. Clearly the woman was eating up the bait that Morgianna was laying down. "Of course I recognize you, after all as you said you almost died saving our kingdom from them. This matter affected you too." The woman put a sickeningly sweet smile on her face, clearly pleased with the uncomfortable look the Royals had on their face.
Queen Eingana kept throwing a questioning look in Morgianna's way. She was sure that Morgianna was about to vote for the release of Faust yet her words made Eingana fear she had been wrong.
"Well I surely cannot say anything unless all of you recognize me..." Morgianna bowed her head, hiding the smile that had formed on her face.
With a look from Councilwoman Salzar the other three members tripped over themselves telling Morgianna that they accepted her position with open arms. Everything was going exactly how she thought it would.
Lifting her head she did not bother hiding her smile anymore. "If you all accept me as the Crown Princess, that means I also get to vote. I vote against his execution."
The moment the words left her mouth there was an uproar. Queen Eingana and her sons all breathed a sigh of relief while the council members a frilly shouted that he was a danger to their kingdom. Raising one hand, Morgianna waited for the room to quiet down before continuing. "I know that leaving Faust free fo roam around the Kingdom will make the citizens uncomfortable, but may I make a suggestion? I do not wish for his execution, so why don't you release him into my custody and he can work for me while I keep an eye on him?"