Deep beneath Mirfield, a behemoth sleeps. Grendel, the troll, the former human and reincarnated hero, is evolving in his Colossus form. A girl of average build with hair like wheat fields and a face like an angel is sitting next to his slowly moving chest. The energy and heat his body radiates because of the evolution are almost tangible.

She sighs, thinking of the army currently marching to attack them. After finally returning to her hometown and getting her family back, Heorot won't give her respite. A chance to just be herself. 'That's a silly thought, Helen', her thoughts expressing the need to move forward. To abandon her old self, to grow up. That is difficult, maybe even impossible. The siege would be over in hours at most if he was there with them.

The thought of always being the damsel in distress annoyed her. She wanted to be strong, to be capable of standing side-by-side with him. She felt the moisture in her eyes and wipes some tears. Standing up, she kisses the rough dark skin of her beloved and whispers words she knows he won't listen.

"Rest well, my dear. We will make sure your world is still here when you wake up."

Helen was about to leave when she hears a familiar buzz. It seems the monster-human couple wasn't alone after all.

"It is okay to cry, you know? I won't, like, tell anyone!" Petal the fairy guide comes from the other side and hovers in front of the girl.

Startled, Helen asks, "Did you hear what I said to him?"

"I did, Silly Helen. Like, this chamber echoes, didn't you notice that? Wow," The fairy exclaims as she goes from cocky to worried. "Don't make that face! Was it a bad thing to hear that?"

"No, not at all. And if you want to cry too, I can hide you in my robes and I won't, like, tell anyone!" Helen tries to lighten the mood by imitating the fairy's speech.

It made her go back to being cocky. "Silly Helen! It is MY job to cheer you up!" She complains with a fake pout, arms crossed and the cheeks overinflated.

She grabbed the fairy and cuddled her on her chest. Petal mocked a protest but nuzzled comfortably against the girl as she climbed up the stairs. She reminisced of what happened so far. The dangers they suffered in the woods. The awkward moments with that insufferable and unknown meddlesome hero. The dungeon. How he was desperate to save the little Seraph from the dark curse. Fighting Julius. That left a bitter taste in her mouth that no amount of washing would take away. How ironic one of the most humane creatures she ever met was a monster. A human from another world reborn in a monster's skin disguised as a human. She chuckled and immediately regretted it.

"You are smiling! Hehe! Woohoo! Helen is healed!"

The two females giggled as they gained the last steps of the stone stairs. Helen took a good look at the fairy. She was created by Grendel's skill, she knew that. But her hips were wider and her breasts, fuller than hers. Her bosom would be only one or two steps behind Marcy in that area if she were the size of a person. What does it say about her husband's preferences? She felt a pang of jealousy.

"But I won't lose. I'll have the first child!" Her thoughts escaped before she could realize.

The fairy was unfazed or oblivious of the provocation. "I'm rooting for you, silly! Go for it! Usher into the world these monster babies!" She said with a jovial and innocent giggle.

They arrived at the basement of the mansion and Helen realized one thing. "Hey, Petal. You can use any spell Grendel can, right?"

"Yes! What do you need?"

"Couldn't you just teleport us to the manor?"

"Oh, I thought you were exercising, silly Helen! Why didn't you ask before? I also have an anchor down there if you want to return to see him. I bet he would be, like, mega happy in his sleep to have you near him! Even though he won't be aware of it."

"You placed an anchor down there? won't it erase any of Grendel's anchors? He is very meticulous in managing his teleport spots."

"No way! I have my own set of anchors, you know? And I can use his as well. But don't tell him that! It is our little secret, right? If he knew that, he would be working me like an old horse in a dying farm. I don't have as much range as he does either!"

Helen chuckled as she imagined the giant troll forcing the tiny fairy to work. "Good to know. I will make use of your services then. Can you please take me to the manor, Petal?"

It was only two more flights of stairs, but she was tired. The fairy saluted.

"With Pleasure!"

They arrived in their private chambers. Private for whom, she asked. Grendel keeps moving people in and out all the time. She opened the corridor to see the butler, Sebastian waiting on them. She had no idea how he knew there was someone there but he always did.

"My Lady Helen, I thought it was the Lord."

"Lord Beowulf is after some rare monsters and won't return for at least twenty days." She didn't lie. The rare monster he was after was his new evolution and twenty days should be around the least his evolution would take. Or so she thought.

"I see," If the butler believed her or not, he didn't let it show. "It is that... a fast rider arrived from the King, and he demands to meet the Lord."

"He will have to make do with me. I'm going."

Helen: I think you already heard that a messenger from the King has arrived. I'm going to meet him. Is anyone at the estate now?

She looked at the party information. The current party composition was Grendel, Marcy, Zahariel, Mercy, Alvus, Azelinus, Cloude, and Herself. A throng of monsters from Willow Hill were listening in courtesy of their tamer links and others. Even Petal was.

Zahariel: I am, but I don't think it is a smart move to expose me to outsiders.

Marcy: I am with Sepal screening the newcomers. We've already found a spy. He is bewitched now.

Azelinus: We are at the town hall, daughter.

Helen: I'm going to meet him by myself then.

Helen made her way to the next room in the Lord's private rooms, thinking that with both Petal and Sepal, she could at least have some of Grendel's magical expertise available. She went to the dressing room and two maids helped her don the noblewoman's dress and put some light makeup on her face. To the former peasant girl, the makeup felt strange. Stiff.

Helen tried to endure it. She walked on the high heels to the sitting room destined for visitors. Before the closed door, she steeled herself by lightly slapping her cheeks.

"The Viscountess of Mirfield!" Sebastian's voice came from the other side. The door opened and Helen entered the room. Petal was invisible next to her, the soft hum of her wings the only thing that betrayed the fairy's presence.

"Where is the messenger?" Helen asked.

Sebastian pointed at a rude man, scowling at her. "This young men is the one that claims to be the messenger."

She raised her head and straightened her back. "State your business. I am very pressed for time."

"I brought a message from King Hrothgar." He opened his bag and took a scroll case, producing a sealed vellum scroll. He stood up to give the scroll to Helen as Sebastian deftly intercepted his way and took the scroll from his hand.

Helen: Petal, is that seal the real deal?

Petal: No idea. But it is surely fancy. How would I have any way of knowing, silly! There's no magic or poison in it, so I think it is safe. What is it? Read it, already!

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Helen: It is fine. Try to read the messenger's thoughts.

She had another source of heraldry. "Sebastian, is it as he claims?"

"Indeed this is the king's seal, Milady." The butler nodded with a bow.

"Please read it for me."

She shot with a disdainful and snobbish tone. She suppressed a wince as it sounded forced even to her own ears. Sebastian broke the seal and read it aloud.

"By order of King Heorot, Beowulf the Usurper and Fake Hero is to stop using the title of Viscount, turn himself in, and allow justice to be delivered."

Helen: The message was to ask Beowulf to turn himself in. What should I do?

Mercy: Tell them the official truth. Beowulf is unavailable.

Helen glanced at the messenger through narrowed eyes. She wanted very much to run away. "We will transmit the content of the King's request to the Viscount once Beowulf returns. He is in an expedition hunting for a rare monster."

"His Majesty desires immediate compliance." The messenger said with murderous intent. Was it supposed to be a veiled threat?

"Someone that is nor present cannot turn himself in, can he?" She shot back.

"You should turn yourself in his stead then. I know you betrayed your former husband. Whore."

The guards took a step forward but Helen stopped them with a raised hand. She felt reassured that at least the household staff was on her side. Sebastian was also disgusted.

"I am afraid His Majesty will be left without an answer. This insult will not be forgiven. Draw your weapon."

Sensing her intent, Sebastian tries to intercede. "Milady Helen, let the guards..." He was cut off with a raised hand from the Viscountess.

"Sebastian, please give the maids my apology for staining the carpet with blood." She glared at the messenger, "Come. Draw your weapon. I won't strike at an unarmed man."

He looks around and his otherwise confident demeanor fades, "You are just trying to find a pretext to order the guards to attack me!"

"Guards, it is my order to allow this man to leave the town untouched if he defeats me here."

"As you wish, Milady!" Both answer in unison. One of them rises a smirk.

Helen: Petal, Heroism, please.

Petal: Aye, aye, Milady!

Marcy: Are things heating up in the manor?

Helen: Yes, I'm going to do something very stupid. How is it on your side?

Marcy: Sepal finished brainwashing the spies, I am going to interrogate them. There were three.

Helen feels the rush of power as Petal's buffs wash over her. Enraged, she takes the scroll and rips it to shreds. Stepping on the King's seal, she makes a motion to call the messenger to strike.

He draws his sword, "Fucking whore, you are paying for this insolence with your life!"

His strike felt slow. She didn't flinch and only used one spell.

"Shield!"

The blow is blocked.

Helen: Petal, what is his job and level?

Petal: Knight, twenty-three.

Helen summons a second shield and controls one on each hand. He was about to strike again when a gash opens on his side and blood flows. An invisible strike? Helen looks at the guards but they are as confused as she was.

"Curses!" He exhales.

He swings again and she blocks. Another gash. A third blow and a cut ripped his leg open, squirting blood on Helen's dress and making the messenger fall on a knee. Helen tries to understand what was happening when it dawned on her. The City Core! He is a non-citizen, while Helen had charged it for quite some time. He wasn't even really cursing, just stating what happened to him.

He swung from the ground and now his arm gets a cut. The sword drops and Helen kicks it away. He clutches his wounded arm, afraid of invisible enemies. Helen summoned vines from the ground and entangled him. She thought about killing the messenger but she was sure he was in a party and the others would receive notice of his demise.

"Guards, seize this man and send him to the stockades."

Helen: Cloude, you are receiving a guest. The king's messenger. I had to knock him out.

Cloude: Yes, Milady.

Helen: Petal, follow the 'guest'.

Petal: Yes, Milady!

A few moments later, the party chat exploded.

Alvus: Daughter, are you hurt? Are you are already throwing the messenger in prison? What happened?

Helen: I'm fine, dad. He only spilled blood on my dress. The City Core did a number on him. He used some really bad language in front of me. If Grendel were here this messenger would not trouble Cloude but the maids. Well, he did bleed on the carpet. 😡

Azelinus: What did he say to get you this angry?

Helen: It is the prerogative of fools to say what they want, father. Don't worry, he will be properly punished for his acts. But I'm afraid I have just started a war.

Marcy: They were sending thousands of men our way before you even knew. The war is already upon us, the only thing we can do is to either fight back or submit.

Cloude: I'm going out to get the guy myself.

Helen: Don't worry, Petal is following him. But I have an announcement. By order of the Viscountess, Mirfield is now closed to all outsiders. Any outsiders seeking entry to the town will be thoroughly screened at the gates. I am going to the fields to force-grow the crops and harvest them.

Helen: Tancred?

Tancred: What is up, Helen?

Helen: Can we open the first floor of the dungeon for hunting tomorrow?

Tancred: If by first you meant the second, yes. I'll need more MP though.

Helen: We are going there to charge the core. Wolves and Boars?

Tancred: Yeah, I can do that.

Helen: Thank you so much, Tancred. Now our meat supply is secured.

Mercy: I will issue dungeon gathering materials missions tomorrow morning.

Helen: Mercy, I will need more people on bunny duty. I will force the growth of the crops, and they will come out of the woods in masses because it is Spring. Those wretched destroyers.

Mercy: I'll send everyone and also the elven twins and the beast-folk. They look bored from working the desks.

Helen: You can make it a emergency request from the Lord. We shall pay triple for the bunnies. That shold be enough.

Marcy: Heck, I'm going to hunt bunnies too! Gotta kill some time.

Mercy: You have your own duties. See to them!

Helen: Everyone, we are going to get ready for a siege. And one I intend to lift before Grendel awakes. 😠

Cloude: That is bold. It is not like you, Helen. Did something happen?

Marcy: None of your business, Shining Blade.

Cloude: Geez. Fine, then.

Helen: Cloude, sorry for what Marcy said. I just dislike having to rely on Grendel every single time. We can do it without him!

Cloude: Heh. Our little wheat girl has grown so much! Make us proud, Milady!

Helen: Not you too! Stop with this milady thing! 😟

Helen left the manor without changing clothes and went to the northern fields. The army should be coming from Whiteridge and they would strike there first.

"Who is responsible for these fields?"

One of the farmers was already coming to meet her. "My lady Viscountess, that should be me. To what we owe your graceful presence on our farmland?"

"I'm using magic to grow and mature the crops. Please ready all hands for harvest and get the granaries cleaned and fixed."

Helen: Alvus, we will need more hands to help with the harvest. Starting tomorrow morning, I want every able person to harvest.

Alvus: I will send an announcement.

Helen weaved her unique magic over the fields. It would take several castings over the rest of the day, but she would leave nothing behind to feed the army laying siege to her hometown. She touched her belly, anxious and a little sad that she had no life growing in there yet.

She had the fairies, she had a few loyal but capable people. She had a Seraph and even a shelter in the minotaur dungeon. If push came to shove, Helen could even get the bees and the monsters from Willow Hill, but her desire was to make this a human victory.

She steeled her will and vowed to win this siege without Grendel. For the sake of her people, even those that only existed in her deepest wishes.