The Crown's Entrapment

The crowd stood stock still at the sight before them. Never in their wildest dreams did they ever think that a werewolf would bow down to a human before, but here it was happening in broad daylight. Right in front of hundreds, perhaps even thousands of Cordonians, Lady Clara bowed her head to her supposed better.

And after a few seconds of shocked silence, cheers erupted with a wild fervor for the victor.

"The Princess did it... The Princess actually did it!"

"She beat all of them fair and square! She didn't even need any help to defend herself!"

Throughout the crowds, the consensus was heavily in favor of Princess Xenia. Her prior ordeal with the Element Forest did much to get her endeared to Cordon's local populace. And of course, her skill and prowess with both her movement and her blade showed itself more than capable of holding against their own against even the most powerful of werewolves.

However, there were still a few detractors in the crowds, some of which were disappointed at how the fight ended.

"Really? Lady Clara will just surrender like that?"

"Why? Sure, she looked out of it after taking that hit from Lady Pinra, but she should've at least tried and fight back."

"That Princess must look smug right now... To think that Lady Clara kneeled to her!?"

Still, despite it all, the general reception was still positive, and cheers rang throughout the arena as they celebrated the end of that day's competition.

"And there we have it! The last seat for the final five will be filled by none other than Princess Xenia! Again!"

The humor in the announcer's words made a few audience members chuckle. It was not only long ago that the Princess had a guaranteed seat at the final five, only for her to throw it away for the sake of the lives of the other contenders. It was an act that made most of them question the Princess's sanity, but seeing her come out on top only made her decision all the more powerful.

"And here we all thought that she was making a horrible choice in throwing away her guaranteed spot to win the Trial by Combat!" the announcer joked further, making sure to entertain the audience as the arena itself was cleaned out. "But as it stands, it would seem that the Princess has proven both her honor and principles on the battlefield! She had successfully defended her fellow contenders, while at the same time still making clinching a spot for herself for the final round!"

Again, the crowd cheered. The energy in the arena was contagious as the celebration and entertainment fueled their merry attitudes. Still, all good things must come to an end. At least, until the next round finally came to pass.

For now, the air would be abuzz with talk about how Princess Xenia held her own against a numerically advantageous foe; that she stand her ground against a group that was supposed to be stronger than her while also defending those that needed her protection.

And once the fighting began more time on that arena, they will finally have their new Queen to stand beside their beloved King Darius.

***

High above his own seat in the arena, Darius couldn't help but sigh in both pride and relief at the sight of Xenia winning back her spot. He didn't want to admit it, but he actually found himself anxiously thinking about a scenario where his wife didn't manage to get her spot back. He was more than ready to strong arm anyone that would try and point it out, and he didn't even care what anybody would say if he did.

[But she did,] Zeus reassured him. [You really should have a bit of faith in her, you know.]

[As if I don't have it in spades already?] Darius chuckled. [I wasn't that nervous about it. So long as she thought she could handle it, I'll trust her.]

Of course, trusting her didn't mean that he couldn't still worry for her. That was just a natural response whenever you saw someone that you love do something that might harm them in the long run.

[Still, for Clara to concede... That was surprising,] Darius wondered to his wolf.

[That might mean that she's finally given up on you,] Zeus pointed out. [Or perhaps she has simply seen reason. Either way, that would mean that you can reinstate her back in her old position... assuming you still want her back.]

Darius frowned at that thought, electing to file away that prospect at the back of his head in favor of focusing more on the apple in his eye. Xen strode with confidence as she held out her hand to Clara, helping his childhood friend up and pulling her back to her eye level.

'I'm so proud of you right now, Xen,' he inwardly thought in satisfaction. 'You truly are the right Queen to lead this Kingdom alongside me.'

Watching from above, Darius simply let off a small smile as he watched his wife confidently make her way back up to her seat. With the regal grace of a Queen in waiting, she sat back down, her eyes twinkling even from where she sat away from him. Their eyes met, and he instantly felt their connection open up again.

[See? I told you I can handle it,] Xen cheekily opened up to him, her smug smile visible even from where he sat. [I saved them, and I'm pretty sure I threw whatever it was that Nasser's planning right out the window.]

[That you did, Xen,] Darius replied, his smile audible in his tone. [You did well out there, my love. I'm so proud of you for standing up for what is right.]

Xen blushed, and he felt her wilting under his voice through their Bond. The familiarity of their feelings being laid for each other to feel and bear was a comforting feeling, but that didn't mean that they could rest easy.

[Xen, Pinra used something that she shouldn't have access to,] he relayed to her. [It might've been magic, but it doesn't feel natural somehow...]

[Really? I just thought that she used lightning magic,] Xen replied, her frown quickly coming up in his mind. [Still, it did feel... off somehow...]

[You should still be more careful,] Darius insisted. [You never know what else she has up her sleeve.]

It was for the best after all. The battle might've been won for now, but the war was just beginning.