Chapter 10: The Missing King

For a moment, Niamh didn't think she heard correctly. She shook her head, tilting her pointed ears towards the exhausted general.

"What do you mean, you don't know?" she asked. A tingling of fear began to rise in her heart.

She followed General Konny into the hall.

"His horse went down in the heat of battle and I did not see him rise," General Konnyr wiped dark, thick mud off his scar. "We've been looking for his body for three days."

Niamh's mouth dropped open. They lost King Lorcan. Her husband was gone.

"How do you lose a body? How do you lose a King?" She could barely breathe. "I strongly recommend you look harder."

"My Lady, he's gone. Lost." The general stopped and looked at her sharply. "As I said, we have looked for three days."

He turned his back and continued to walk away.

Niamh clenched her fists, "You will go back and look again. A body doesn't just disappear. If you can't find him, he may still be alive."

The general looked skeptical, "My Lady.... I have been in more battles than you ever have. I know when an Elf goes down the way he did, he won't rise."

Niamh ran a hand over her braided, red hair and clearing her throat said, "General Konnyr, I have been a wife longer than you have and I must believe he is still alive. If King Lorcan is wounded, I want him found. If he is dead, I want proof that he is dead. If you are so sure, I know you will find something. If he is wounded, he needs to be brought back here for care. If he is… dead… his body must come back for a proper burial."

Hearing movement on her right, Niamh looked over her shoulder and saw Captain Aengus standing quietly, but protectively, hand on his carved, elven sword.

"Watch yourself, Captain," General Konnyr mumbled miserably, made a tight bow to Niamh, and disappeared into the dim hallway. "I will continue to look for the King, my Lady."

"I don't think he likes me very much," Niamh said to Aengus.

The elven captain laughed, "No, I don't think he does."

He watched the general disappear from a door and into the storm, then whispered in a more serious tone, "I would keep my eye on him."

Niamh turned, trying to stop her hands from shaking, "Can I leave that up to you? You seem to be my only friend here."

"You already have more loyal friends than you know."

The captain of the guard then nodded and went on his way, leaving Niamh to wonder who were the friends of which the elflord spoke.

With a slight smile, Niamh walked to a nearby window to watch the fading rain.

An idea came to her head.

The smile faded from her face.

She looked around, as if to see if anyone else had seen her plan. Niamh, for once, was alone. She turned on her heel and headed back to her chambers.

Maeval and Moidrin were busy making the bed when Niamh entered, but paused and watched as Niamh snatched a thick cloak and dashed out of the room. She didn't see her handmaidens follow her. Maeval whispered into Moidrin's ear and the younger handmaiden dashed off through the many arched halls.

Niamh had reached the stairs and began descending as fast as her feet would allow.

"Why must they make palaces so big?" Niamh gasped.

She reached the next floor and stood for a moment on the landing. Voices could be heard coming from the council chambers down the hall. Seizing her chance, Niamh pulled up her hood and continued to the next set of stairs.

"Where are you going?"

Niamh turned to see Captain Aengus standing behind her, head tilted and helmet under his arm.

"I am going to the battlefield and aid in the search for the King."

The captain stepped forward uncertainly, "I don't think that would be a good idea, my Lady."

"Why ever not?" she asked sharply. Niamh glared at the captain. "We have to find him."

General Konnyr and several of the elves of the council came out of a nearby room.

"We just married!" Niamh looked down at her hands, "No one should be left out in the mud, especially the King."

"Of course not, my Queen," Captain Aengus agreed. "We have elves searching and clearing the battlefield now. You need to stay here."

"My Lady, I told you we can't find him," General Konnyr said gruffly. "You must accept the fact he is dead."

"Someone has to find him," Niamh turned away from the general, ignoring him and addressing her Captain of the Guards. "I am the king's wife. I have the authority to go where I want to go."

"You are not Queen yet," scoffed a frowning elflord in council robes.

"You have no authority," said another.

"Ah, actually she does," Boru stepped out from among and removed a soft, mahogany-colored, leather satchel from his shoulder.

The group watched and Boru opened the satchel and pulled out a small scroll.

"King Lorcan came to see me the night before he rode away. He had me write this… 'On this night of limitless stars, joy should have been mine. In the morning I ride to battle once more, and if events do not go well, I do not want my kingdoms to fall into despair. As High King of the Elven Realms, with all authority my birth and title allow, I declare my bride, the Lady Niamh Aidhne, as my Queen, and I demand my subjects give her the respect her position deserves. Rule well, Queen Niamh. If fate is on our side, I will see you again, High King Lorcan Broinar.' His seal is clear."

Boru held out the scroll to let everyone see the seal quite clearly by the king's name.

There was a tense silence as the Council of Elves took turns reading the official scroll.

"What?" General Konnyr sneered. "What does that mean?"

"We should be calling her Queen," Boru said simply.

The silver-haired elflord from the council nearly exploded in frustration, "Why did you not feel the need to mention this before, Roedrian Boru?"

The smaller elflord shrugged and pulled a loose string from his robe, "I do apologize for the surprise, Airdan Trajyr, I was under orders from King Lorcan to hold the scroll, and only show it if King Lorcan met his end in battle. From the account of General Konnyr, now would be that time."

General Konnyr glared, "So she is Queen now?"

Airdan Trajyr raised his eyebrows, "Yes."

"Then she will definitely not be traveling to the battlefield. Her place is here," General Konnyr said firmly. "She is needed here for the time she is Queen."

Niamh looked at Boru, "For the time I am Queen? Explain."

Boru looked back at the scroll, and lifted his eyes once again, "Alas, the scroll that gives you the authority and title of Queen, is also the one that will have it taken away."

Niamh frowned, "What do you mean?"

Captain Aengus took a breath, exhaled, then spoke, "My Queen, your King lost the battle. The victor is on his way here as we speak."