“First of all, I’d like to express how happy I am that both Ashley and Brett have returned safely to us and that Mary-Kate has mostly recovered from her illness. I’d also like to give thanks to Marc-Andre for helping me prepare the kingdom and it’s people for the coming battle. Which brings us down to business.” He said with a more serious tone. “The time is approaching us very quickly. I’ve decided to move up the time to the end of the week.” King Sebastian said, surprising everyone in the throne room. “We can’t wait any longer. Thanks to Brett and Ashley, we know their strength and if we wait too long, it can drastically change.”

“You can’t be serious!” Ashley yelled.

“That’s only two days away!” Marc-Andre yelled.

“I don’t know if I can go through this again.” Mary-Kate said. Annick got up and walked over to Mary-Kate.

“I know how you feel.” Annick said.

“My decision is final.” King Sebastian said. “I will announce it to the rest of the kingdom at the end of the day.”

“But, Father…” Annick said.

“But nothing!” King Sebastian said as he got up and left the room.

“I guess we have a lot of work to do.” Marc-Andre said to Brett. The two men went and kissed their girlfriends and left to organize the troops.

Annick, Mary-Kate and Ashley sat with the Queen in the throne room. All they need is to get through this last fight, and everything would be peaceful from then on. All they could do was pray.

***

After Marc-Andre and Brett told their “generals” the plans and where to direct their troops, they had free time until they moved out the day after tomorrow. Marc-Andre spent the remainder of that day with his sisters while Brett got some rest.

Marc-Andre, Ashley and Mary-Kate walked around the castle talking about everything. No matter how hard they tried, they kept coming back to the subject about the attack.

“We’re just so afraid for you.” Ashley said.

“I know you both are.” Marc-Andre said. “But, look at it this way; we could soon be walking around Arcadia like this once again.”

“But it wouldn’t be worth it without you.” Mary-Kate said. “You are too important to go fight! You are the king of Arcadia now.”

Marc-Andre shook his head. “You don’t understand. I need to be out there. I have to fight for my kingdom and I will die for my kingdom if need be.”

“Don’t talk like that!” Ashley said with tears starting to roll down her cheeks. “Don’t you dare talk like that. You are coming back.”

Mary-Kate and Ashley both hugged Marc-Andre tightly. They didn’t want to lose him or face being Queens alone.

The four Arcadians spent that night together quietly in the castle spending periods of talking and periods of just sitting there.

The day before the army moved out, Marc-Andre spent it with Annick and Brett spent it with Mary-Kate. They all cherished every moment of the day as if the next moment wouldn’t exist. Everything was beautiful and everything was bright. For that special day, those four people were free.

Chapter 29
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