Where the wild wolves have gone

A sharp howl filled the evening air as you finished preparing the tent for the night, built against a heavy oak tree for safety, and a small fire for cooking and warmth. Even in the summer months, it was noticeably colder up here. The Queen had taken the journey surprisingly well up until now. Her head wandered all over, frantically trying to find the source. "Michael, what happens if we can't find the wolf?"

"We won't, Your Highness." you reply simply, trying to calm her mood "They weren't trying to talk to us, they were sending a message to see if anyone else was out there".

"Oh" her response was soft and uneasy, but she at least stopped her panicked search "No need to go after it than?".

"As if we'd ever find it" you replied with a gentle humor "there's so few wild wolves left out here, it would be a mistake to remove another one from the world just for a momentary sense of safety".

"I didn't realize they were so rare" She added as she began to fetch dinner out of the cast iron oven, hoisted over the fire. "You're pretty knowledgeable for a noble. I wouldn't have thought someone like you to be so well versed as an outdoorsman, or in the history outside the Empire."

"There's a reason for everything I guess, Your Majesty" you say as you sit next to her, and begin to fetch your own supper "When it seems like your noble title is always at risk, you prepare yourself for the possibility that it gets stripped away".

"Is that your only reason? are you so purely utilitarian?" Her question had an amused undertone.

"No, I guess not. I supposed I've always enjoyed the outdoors. I guess, if I'm out on a ride, away from my family's land, I don't have to be reminded of our history. I could pretend that I wasn't knowingly in hawk to my conquerors," You take a slight pause, adding "Of course, you can only run so far from reality, even on a horse."

"Is that what this all is?" Vercion asked "a delayed sense of ****? Am I just a means to an end?" Although her words implied anger or resentment, her tone did not match.

"No, Your Majesty! Absolutely not" your hands raised reflexively "It's not like that at all. If anything, this gives me some much needed clarity and purpose, now that I know you're real"

"I don't follow" her face curled up as she rested her head against an open hand "What do you mean, knowing I'm real?"

"Well, don't you think it's strange that we found you, and than had to get proof that you really are a queen?"

"Well, ya." the surprise straightened her back out as Vercion looked out into the dark distance briefly "now that you mention it. I had just assumed you guys knew"

"Having met you in person, Your Majesty, I do now. We were actually told of you from a prophecy of a holy man, that hails from the same Church as Gabrielle"

The Forgotten Queen's eyes went wide as she stared intto the fire "Wait, so you're saying all of this is just based on the dreams of some old windbag?"

"I'd call it an act of faith, but yes" Realizing you're not helping your case well, you gently add in "We were able to find you, after all."

She moved her head slightly in recognition, but was still unconvinced "I don't suppose this holy prophecy told you that we would succeed or not, did it?"

"Well no. Not that the Bishop said anything about. I guess that means everything moving forward is in our hands."

"You're certainly an optimist, Michael Mastbreaker. I don't know if I share your outlook, but I'll be here to put the best foot forward." She places her small bowl near the edge of the fire before rising. She heads to the tent, turning to you just before entering "You know, I never did properly thank you for saving my life. I'm sorry that you had to kill your friend."

"You're quite welcome Your Majesty" you shake your head gently "If I knew he was a monster like that, he never would have been counted among my friends."

Vercion nodded gently "The monsters are always closer than we'd like to admit. Would be heroes run off to fight dragons and search for buried treasure, but ignore the terrors in their own walls." She looked towards the ground, hovering there.

"You've had a difficult, traumatic life, Your Majesty, and unfortunately, one that is not that uncommon, from the sound of it. I wish that I could say I did more to help the situation, but that would be a lie."

She nods slowly, adding in "That's why nobles always build such high walls around their property, I think. They don't have to see the horrors of the world around them. You're not like the others, so thank you. Just keep being yourself Michael I'm going to retire for the night."

"Sleep well, Your Majesty. I'll keep watch out here, to ensure you're safe" The Queen enters the tent without another word, leaving you alone with your thoughts and the crackling of the fire. you let out a short sigh, reflecting on recent events. You've already had more successes than you would have thought possible when you left the tournament. That had only been a few weeks ago, and yet that already feels like a different life. You wonder if Gabrielle is having the success that you have. If not, what comes forward may be for nothing. Your journey, for the moment, seems to be on a straight path. You can't see the destination, but you realize there's no deviating from it. Your ponderance is broken by a rustle in the woods nearby. Pivoting your eyes quickly to the source, you see a wolf between a few trees, heading slowly in your direction. You make no hostile motion as you lock your gaze on it. It stops its advancement just at the edge of the woods, giving you a decent view of it's size and demeanor. Aided by the light of the fire, you see it's a lovely dark shade of gray, and quite large for it's species. Nowhere near the fabled stories of the Dire Wolves, but enough to be a threat to anyone who didn't know what they were doing.

"Well met, friend" you speak quietly "We're just passing through" As if it understood your words, it took a turn to the left, along the woods, hopefully to leave you alone for some time. When you finally lose sight of it, you hear a voice behind you.

"Michael, Queen Vercion spoke, her head poking through the tent "I don't know if it's fear or stress or whatever, but I don't know that I'm going to be able to sleep out here alone. Please, come inside with me,".

A lump in your throat appears suddenly, and you do your best to swallow it down hard "Yes Your Majesty". You feel strangely nervous as you rise to enter the tent. You've lain with women before, including moments of passion. You've also seen the Queen naked before, though not necessarily with her permission. Still, you remind yourself, she's not asking for anything of that sort, and yet the nature of the request puts you on uneasy footing. The tent hangs low, preventing you from standing completely upright. It's a little difficult to remove armor from a crouch, but you manage to get enough of it off to be able to able to sleep, resting besides the Queen. She doesn't cuddle you, surprisingly, but moves close enough that with a large blanket, the two of you are able to share body heat.

"Michael" She says, looking deep into your eyes "I'm scared"

"Don't worry, Vercion" you reply with a slight smile "you have absolutely nothing to be afraid of tonight."

"I know. I'm not worried about that. I'm scared for tomorrow. Of all of the tomorrows. How can we possibly measure up to the task?"

"I don't know, Your Majesty. Maybe we don't. We're going to do our absolute best, no matter what. We will march and fight with honor, and our ancestors will look down on us with pride. That will be our legacy, no matter what the outcome is. Now, rest your head, and your mind."

She smiled faintly as she closed her golden eyes, moving slowly off to sleep.