His first breath brought him unmeasurable displeasure and send him in a coughing fit. The sudden moves almost send him to the floor. His lungs burn internally screaming for fresh air. It takes him a few fast breaths to calm.

Dust.

Cursed dust is everywhere. He can taste it, smell it and feel it in every inch of his aching body.

His nostrils covered with dust threaten to force him in a sneezing frenzy and in his mouth his tongue, caked with who knows what, is leaving him with a revolting taste and a horrible stench that he is sure can t come from dust alone. His mind tremble on the idea of what kind of discoveries he will make in his previously abandoned body. His stomach already revolt in the idea or …. is something else revolting in his stomach. He really don t want to know, or even better forget the last though entirely.

His body feels sore and lagging, like he forgot how to move it and now he has to reevaluate how every muscle works. His sweat covered skin itches, almost drive him crazy. For the first time in his life the weight of his armor drug him down instead of giving him the familiar secure and reassuring feeling he had connect with it.

He can feel everything. His heart beating and pumping blood with a drive like trying to compensate for the inactivity of the previous years. His lungs cleaning up with every breath. His parch up throat. Never in his life had clothes graze him like those he currently have on him.

Regaining his human senses after so long is overwhelming.

His view changed... Narrowed.

His hearing.... Weakened.

While his smell, taste and touch had return seemingly enchanted. His mind loosing ground in front all the information that push through. How he did it before? How he sepa.......

No

Do NOT loose focus.

He can 't afford to make her wait. With remorse he shallow while thanking the gods the helmet hide his expression, a mixture of disgust and despair probably covered in generous amounts of dust and sweat equally. Taking a deep breath he stilled himself, not in the least ready for what is to come he moved his body knowing he has already spend too much time in reconnecting with his body.

One unstable step next and his unruly body stepped down the pedestal. It seems that even though he is 'back', his mind and body need some time to adjust. Something to do later. If he will have time and if he is still able but more importantly if he is still alive

Raising his hand he takes one more breath in an attempt to stabilize his fragile mentallity. His hands are of mark but he manages to take of his helmet and turns to her.

There is a woman standing a few steps away from him. Dark brown eyes, same hair, not tall but not short too, healthy weight and a pear shaped physic. If not for her habit to wear pants instead of a skirt you could easily confuse her for a simple woman. He too will believe that, and if someone told him even a fraction of what he now knows of her he would have write it of as a loons word.

He minds freezes as she gives him a sweet smile that send shivers down his spine. The deal he had offer him flash in his thoughts and he can not but stop and wonder what will happen if he act like it could still be done.... No. This should be the second time the meet for the deal to be in effect, and it 's not. If he try to fool her in any way he will not be the only one to pay.

“No ...groveling or bootlicking?” Her question snap him back and cold sweat run in the back of his neck. Did he make a wrong choice. Should he had gone on his hands and knees and beg? Can he still make it?

No, her amused eyes say it all. It 's just part of her game, to see him despair again after his raise hope. Even maybe add in his punishment for being a disgrace as a king. No need to continue this, she already got what she want. No doubt she is allowing him the choise or his head will had already smacked the floor. Still everything he says to her is a gamble. A gamble that will add more or less problems in his plate.

“We both know this is not the first time we met after …. the gate incident” He managed to respond with a steady voice.

“Hhm, you are no fun” she pouted “But you are right, now what should we do with you?” she voiced her thoughts. He stands there looking at the woman in front him pacing in a circle. Unlike before he can not answer. It is not his place to do so, will anyone really trust a convicts proposition for his own sentence?

He had offend this woman. He may not knew at the time but his is held responsible for those actions. What if his son manage to gain some of her favor, he is sure he is not going to share any of it.

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First and foremost is that if he, or anybody else, was in her place with her strength there will be anything sort of gods intervention that could stop him from founding, killing and dragging back the responsible. Add to that her approach to those that annoy her, thank the gods there hadn't been one fool enough to insult her after the truth spread.

She had a short stay in the city but he had tried to keep her on track continuously, something not possible without her consent. Not that he knew then, he believed he stalked her stealthy. Must have been hilarious from her point of view or on purpose since most of his successful viewings involved 'dealing' with the idiots who manage to irk her.

In the end the least of his expectations is on the level flayed skin and broken bones and if he is lucky a fast death will follow.

“Got it” she happily announce “Now let s find a more appropriate place” she said heading to the secret entry at the wall. He followed after her, noticing that she had a simple leather bound book in her hands. Where it came from, not the room it has no dust. Soon the thoughts for the book replaced with how she has knowledge for the palace secrets corridors, her guide was unmistakable. Soon that too left his mind, no point in delving with anything that has to do with this woman. He will not learn without her knowing, better leave it before it create him more problems.

The walk in those old corridors was quiet. Their steady gait echo on the empty stones. As he follows behind this woman he tries to imagine what will happen to him. It is obvious that she will close the tamp with him before she meet his son that way she will not have broken her promise. A series of action that will benefit her the most he doubt his son did not think of this possibility when he agreed. Else he is as naive as a four year old. If it was that easy the family will have reunite the moment of his return.

His daughter face came to mind followed by the faces of his sons and wife. A memory of them being in the gardens dominated his mind. Every detail returning to him vibrantly. The color of the grass, the sweetness of the treats, the voices of his children playing, his wife smile....

The absence of steps awake him from the beautiful memory in time to stop and see her pressing something on the wall. She enters a small opening that appeared, motion for hm to follow. His armor stack in places make it annoyingly difficult for him to cross the narrow passage. Finally getting out of there he saw a familiar place.

He looks around to verify what he knew already. They where in one of the guest rooms in the north wing. A terrible cold place, also the main reason that it was used only if the others wings was full or for the unwelcomed guests. Surely the reason his wife picked this place as the entrance that could reach him. In his previous form the only way in protecting him was to hide, and how best than to use a place that everyone scorns. Even with all that, there where a few too close times.

He return his focus on her. She had sat in one of the chairs near the fireplace. With a motion of her hand the wood light up. Her gaze momentary left her book and land on him

“While I make preparations for our little 'problem' why don t you act your part as a host” she asked him with a monotonous voice.

''Certainly'' came his answer immediately “Would you like some …......... wine or fire breath” he propose while glancing at the room trying to find something that will please her in the room. He doubt he will be allowed to leave her presence anytime soon. Finally, he spot the main object that can end his current ordeal satisfactory.

“Maybe a cup of tea?” thankful for his wife obsession to prepare all rooms of the castle for use, an annoying habit other times.

“Yes! That sounds perfect” she gave him another shuddering smile and return to her book effectively ignoring him.

He nodded for acknowledging the task, no point speaking only to add annoyance on top of all else. Having a teapot and other utensils for making tea in every room is a new addition to the whole 'be prepared room'. It actually start when his wife learned that this woman enjoy tea almost as others alcohol and 'dream' dust. And thankfully he had at least learned at some point in his life to make some concoctions mainly those that could cover the taste of other 'additions', should be enough.

After letting his helmet and gloves on the sofa he move to the cupboard to see what were include in there. Good he know this herbs he can make something from them. He set the water to boil and make a mix his is quite familiar with. With cramped moves he complete the menial task and put a cup of tea and a plate with few sweets he had found stack deep in the back, thankful on more for his wife over the top preparation.

Stepping back he stand waiting for his judge to give her verdict.

All his thoughts and actions until now was nothing more than a distraction for his mind to venture away of the truth.

The fact that these thoughts, these actions will be his last.

The fact that his will have a messy slow slow death and probably he will plead and beg for his end.

The fact that this woman, his judge and executioner, is capable of eliminating his kingdom with a spell or two.

He is trapped.

Either not dying here or dying too soon will unsure absolute destruction for his kingdom and doom anyone that has ties with.

In the previous years when he eventually manage to comprehend a portion of this woman strength he had accepted the truth. He had accepted his own weakness. He had accepted that it was his own foolishness that guide him in the place he stands today. And at some point he had accepted the finality of his death and the certainty of it nature. He believed himself ready.

But now that he has nothing to do, nothing to think.

Now he stands here horrified. Second-guessing his ability to remain here. Instincts scream him to run away. His mind trying to calculate how long it will take for him to break under her treatment.

Sweat runs freely down his back while his mind torture him with images that he witness while his was stalking her. Again and again and again. A repetitive play of the multiple maimed and amputated bodies she had left in different states behind her.

The risk he took at the time he really could not predict the danger he put his kingdom but most importantly his family. He may avoid to tell them their real value they had for him but that was only for their own good.

An hour later he is rooted in the same place. Eyes glazed. Weighted by guilt and thoughts of redemption for his family. Giving silent prayers to all the gods for all this end with him.

Her voice reverberating in the room take him out the depths of his mind. “This is it! It should be fun enough and equally educational”. Clear glee is written on all her face. Her hand momentarily disappearing reappearing after a few seconds holding a few too white papers and some weird small cylindrical object. She murmured something inaudible, glancing at him she order him “Strip”

Glad that his long wait has come to an end. He node and gave a low “Yes” fearing any more will reveal his relief.

Calm and methodically he take off his armor piece by piece. Taking him only few minutes to part with everything but his underwear. With little hesitation he remove the last piece of clothing he had on him and place it along the others -metal, leather, linen- protection of his body. No jewelry on him, he to lead the attack at the time.

Turning to look her he found her stand and move towards him. He freeze in place. One of the papers along with what he can only guess is a pen hover in the air near her. She calmly stroll around him while the pen? take notes with not even a hint of embarasment. Her hand move on some of his scars murmuring that it was annoying and why can t she find someone with clean skin not even once, or why you have so many scars aren' t you a king. He avoid replying and just make sure to move according to her voiceless direction.

After a good few minutes she grab the paper and look at it. “Good! Good” She mumble nodding with a big smile in her face.

Her face snap back up and lock eyes with him “Kneel” she commanded.

He let his knees free fall till they met the carpet with a loud thud. The pain not even registering in his mind, the relief numbing anything else. At last they will start.