Chapter 5. Accepted

Well that had been an eye opener. When things had almost gone sideways and ended up shooting. Her fathers soldiers had been easily, laughingly handled by just two of the visitors. The one called Topher had moved so fast he was a blur and the little one had called…things…out, that attacked. It had been an amazing display. As nervous as she was she was hoping she was what they were looking for.

The king, his general and the two doctors had been talking with the visitors and it seemed all was well now. In fact her father was looking at her, rather piercingly, apparently he had been trying to get her attention for a few moments now. “Sorry father, I was just….”, she said. He laughed a bit “It’s fine my dear, we are all ‘just’ right now. But please join us.”.

As she turned her attention to the group, the large man pulled another chair out of nowhere and set it down for her. “Your highness,”, he bowed, “Please join us.”.

Sitting with the group she noticed an item on the table in front of her chair. An ornate box about the size of a loaf of bread. Gems set into it were glowing softly, gold filigree and tiny pictures were engraved on its white surface. An opening on one side, otherwise it was sealed up.

Dr Grawffe spoke up “Your highness, that’s the testing device, to see if you are able to be their queen. Apparently you slip your hand into that slot.”. Evangeline frowned “Will it hurt, I’m not being cowardly, I just wish to prepare myself.”. Duke Engle answered “There might be some discomfort but nothing physical will happen.”.

The king spoke up “You still have the opportunity to say no, you don’t have to do this.”. As he spoke a look of anger flashed over the Dukes face and was as quickly gone. “Your father is correct. We are not forcing anyone to do anything, just offering a very lucrative reward if you do. Out kingdom always finds a queen, sometimes it takes longer.”.

Evangeline had a thought “If I may ask, what happened to your previous queen?”.“A fair question”, answered the Duke.“Topher, Minerva…would you like to answer the princess?”.Topher saluted, “She died your highness, an accident that shouldn’t have happened.”. Minerva added “Yeah an accident but no one’s fault, that’s why it’s called an accident, a oopsie, a unplanned thingie.She was training, got too far ahead of herself and died.”.

Aladon rumbled “A headstrong one she was, always had to be first, always having her way. Tried to temper her, but I failed. Next queen will be trained slowly, very slowly. Don’t know if it’s you yet…”, he eyed her intently. “Might be.”.

The Duke touched the device on the table, “No time like the present to find out, your highness, if you please.”, he gestured at the open slot. “Please slide your hand in.”. Evangeline looked at her father, General Farquhar and the doctors, and slid her hand into the box.

Cold!Hot!Pressure like her bones were breaking!Eyes rolling back she slumped in her chair, no sign of the battle going on in her mind.

Standing on a snow covered field, sparse trees,no sign of civilization or people.Just a windswept nowhere.

So, you wish to be queen.

The voice was everywhere, “Yes I do”

Why?

Hmmm, why indeed. “I would have been queen on this world, barring accidents or war. These people came to find me, to ask me if I would become their queen. I have thought and thought if I should.

And?

“I might be young but I have been told I am sensible, I have many ideas of..

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No

Why not, she thought. That’s the kind of person I am, to bring new ideas, to change things for the better.

You are that person, but your old world runs on politics. Your new world, if you make it, runs on war.

So all I will be doing is fighting?

All you will be doing is fighting to prevent annihilation. This will be your function. To preside over smaller conflicts, to represent your faction, to win. Not all the time but often.

I don’t know if that’s what I want for my life. It was all planned. Eventually a husband and children, being queen of Albion. There might have been troubles and strife, but not this.

This could be your life…

scenes started to flicker into her mind.Masses of troops marching in unison across a green field, ships with billowing smokestacks surging across a wild ocean, an armoury with glittering swords and spears, wild jungles with caftan wearing warriors riding elephants, deserts with camel armies, rough shores with the same caftan clad people on wild horses charging through the surf, starry nights over castles, singing while climbing mountains, swimming deep underwater, more and more shifting scenes until she fell to her knees and screamed “No more no more.”.

Your mind is open to change…passed. You must say the words “change accepted”. Then you will become who your spirit shows you can be.

There was no reason for her to do this, these people could find another candidate. The technology they were trading would help Albion win but they probably would anyway, but with horrendous loss of life. That was the sticking point, that was what was holding her back from an absolute refusal…lives. Her people dying and she could have stopped it. Every father that went to war, every mother who went to fight…those that didn’t return would be on her soul.

“Change accepted”

Thank you Queen Evangeline. Your honour has shown above all your other traits. Upon going through the ring gate you will be connected to the System.

And she was sitting in her chair, at that table, beside her father and company.

Topher, Minerva, and Aladon stepped forward and bowed deeply “Welcome your majesty, let us have the honour or being your First Guard.”. Evangeline found that she knew exactly what that meant somehow. “Yes, I welcome you as my guard, First among many. Stand straight and take your place.”. They saluted by striking their chest with their left arms, right hands near weapons…”my liege.”.

The change was startling to all.Evangeline found her hand was still inside the ruined box, she pulled it out and was satisfied to see her new tattoo.A stylized sword, spear and war hammer resting on a shield, with the motto For the Peace of All.Patting the box gently she slide it back to Duke Engle.“Thank you for your courtesy.”. she said.

“My pleasure your majesty, I’m glad it went in all of our favour”., he replied, Private Minerva, if you please.”.The small private saluted and began pulling books, rolls of plans, notebooks, box after box marked with the same mark as the queens tattoo.

“This should do for a start,” she said “The rest will be sent through after we pass back to our world. Weapons, power sources, whatever we can fit. Advisors will be available soon.”. The doctors were staring because the items that were soon stacked high were coming from nowhere. Just appearing in Minerva’s small hands.

Dr Grawffe had opened a notebook, so had Sir Anthony.They were soon deep in a mathematical discussion that made Evangeline’s eyes droop just overhearing it.Turning to her father “Sorry father, I made my choice, the only choice I could.”.The king rested a hand on her shoulder, pretending not to notice Topher and Aladons twitch at the contact.“My dear, knowing you, it was for our people’s safety, not your own.

Duke Engle put the rune box back…to wherever he took it from, stood up and his chair disappeared.“Your majesty, time has become a bit short, now that you have accepted.”.The table and glasses disappeared.“You need to go through the ring gate and become one of us, a denizen of our worlds.”.

As Evangeline stood, Minerva took position in front of her, Topher and Aladon behind. “This is where I will always be your majesty, in front as your first shield .”, said Minerva. Several drones appeared and circled them. These small orbs had no wings or propellers but still flitted around as if gravity had no meaning. Dr Grawffe seemed fascinated by them, and suddenly spoke, “Can I go too?”.

Duke Engle turned to face him “Hmm, in what capacity lad, you don’t have the look of a warrior.”. Dr Grawffe looked the Duke in the eye “ As an advisor, a familiar face, as cannon fodder. I just have this feeling I need to go along too.”. Topher spoke up “Your pardon but I agree with Dr Grawffe, it would be a good idea, I will personally vouch for him.”. The Duke asked “Your majesty, it’s up to you…the young majesty that is.”.

Evangeline was a bit stumped, it would be nice to have someone from this world to talk to, but she didn’t know him that well. Then she remembered his bravery in stepping forward when the ring activated. There was more to this young man than appeared. “I would be very happy if he could come with me, I value his counsel.”.

Her father looked at Dr Grawffe intently “Do your best young man, do your best, we will miss your skills here.”. Sir Arthur, in a very un-Albion like show of emotion, reached out for and hugged the younger man. “You do us proud Lucius, us and your family, I will tell your mother and sisters of this.”.

Aladon rumbled “Time is wasting sirs, we need to get through so the connections can be made.”. Duke Engle nodded “So it is, let’s move out.”. He took position beside the gate and waited for the others. Evangeline was saying goodbye to her father.

“I never thought anything like this could happen father, I expected a regular life.” The king grasped her hands, “There has never been anything regular about you my dear, we always expected great things, and this….is amazing. I’m sorry your mother and sister aren’t here to say goodbye, things have happened very fast.”. She agreed with that. “I don’t know if I can come back, can I ?”, she asked Minerva. Who nodded “You can, once or twice a year. There are several factors that determine when and for how long, depending on you and your mental state, training….but yes you could return. Not for long, a couple of days at most.”.

“Tell mother I love her, same to Theodora….oh my…I just realized she is heir now. She’ll be so happy.”. The king snorted “She will be insufferable at any rate, it will be a difficult time for us all.”.

The Duke interrupted “I’m sorry but we must go, the connection must be made.”.

Her guard formed around her and they walked to the ring, one more hug from her father, she steeled herself and said “Ready.”. As one they walked through.

There was a moment of no time, void, nothingness and then…

Connection.