False Crowns

Sophie had seen the disaster that had been the introduction speech. The knight, Flet, had put on a showstopper party crash. They reminded her of her first year at school when she embraced being evil. A force to be reckoned with. Dangerous with wicked schemes brewing. Except Sophie wasn't that girl anymore and was putting her scheming in ways that needed to be productive. That was figuring out how to help her friends escape.

A knock came to her door followed by a young man with curls of blond short hair entering. She had to admit that he looked cute, soft blushed cheeks in rose pink armor and swaths of light beach blond hair. His eyes were as green as fresh grass. He sighed with soft content "Queen Sophie, Am I correct?" He asked in a smooth rumble.

Sophie would have been shocked by another boy trying to squirm his way into her heart "Yes, and who are you?" She asked, keeping her voice calm.

The cute boy flushed red "I am Fletcher, I use to work for King Tedros before King Rhain and his brother came to power but I don't think they're Arthur's heirs," he explained.

Sophie breathed a sigh of relief then sucked in a breath "How can I trust that?" She said because who could she trust after everything from the day before.

Fletcher pulled something free of their armour. It was a small token with a name engraved in it.

The Green Guild

He quickly hide it again in a bag she hadn't noticed before with how well it blended "Not all of Arthur's knights disavowed themselves to the pendragons entirely. Sir Gwain formed the green guild shortly after he left.  We work with Flet as they are the child of the green knight who the guild was loyal fully too," he explained. The knight sunk to one knee before her like a prince in a fairytale and gently took Sophie's hand "And I will do anything to protect a girl as amazingly beautiful and powerful as you are."

A blush instantly covered her face and she pulled her hand away "I'm- it's not- you shouldn't be making grand love declarations in here. Who knows what might be heard?"

Fletcher stood up, his eyes full of love and humor "Oh, I thought you looked grand declarations of love?" He teased. Sophie covered her face as it turned even more red. A hand brushed a lock of her hair behind her ear "It'll be our secret," then the touch was gone "After all, even an ever from a family of nevers can find love with a never who wants to find her truest true love."

When Sophie looked up, Fletcher was no longer in the room. The only reminder was a small disc on the dresser with the Green insignia engraved in it.

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Sophie assumed she had had enough surprises that day until dinner arrived.

Tedros was seated at the table looking bothered and clearly lost in his own thoughts, Rhain was equally upset, and Japeth was disinterested. Standing by the door in pink armour with a helmet on was Fletcher. It felt shocking for her. The boy she had fallen for, the boy who tricked her, and the boy who wanted to give her his whole love, all in one place.

"How is there nothing in the family tree? Or the histories?" Rhain murmured.

Dinner was placed before them already but nobody seemed in the mood to eat. Japeth hadn't even uncovered his dish. Tedros had pushed his plate away without eating a bite. Sophie wasn't even sure she could eat without thinking about the situation she was in.

"We should focus on planning. The attack is in five hours and I need to make sure we ready," Japeth said, finally standing up.

Rhain nodded "Right, we should do that. Guards, put Tedros and Sophie away. Somewhere Flet won't find them." He waved a hand absently towards them. Two guards were already on them before either could protest. The pink on Sophie and a gray on Tedros.

Fletcher leaned in to whisper as they were lead away "Don't worry, Flet has already got a place for us to send you. The others are getting your friends."

Sophie didn't struggle nor did Tedros, who had very clearly been told the same. Finally they reached a deserted hallway when they were released. The other hurried off to pretend that their job had been completed. Fletcher took off his helmet which turned into a pink marvel they placed in their hidden satchel. Sophie felt her heart flutter as the knight smiled at them "Greetings King Tedros, I am Fletcher. A Knight of the Green Guild," he greeted, briefly shaking the Prince's hand.

Tedros blinked "The green guild? Wasn't that something with Gwain?" He asked.

Fletcher nodded once and began walking "We work for ourselves as knights protecting the woods at times but Flet asked us to help you and your friends," They explained.

As the trio rounded a corner, more people came into view. The coven, Hort, Merlin, Guinevere, and Dovey with a couple of other faceless knights. The party moved hurriedly and quietly until they reached a balcony. Fletcher stepped out and blew a sharp whistle "Come on, Rattle," he called.

A familiar boney crow landed on the edge of the balcony. Everybody stared at it. The crow croaked as Fletcher stroked it's head "I'm sorry but is this a joke?" Hester said.

Fletcher looked up, in the dim light they looked off "Dunno. What's that say about your demon half the time?" He countered coolly, Rattle hopping off the balcony edge and flapping in the air somehow. The bird croaked again.

"My demon is connected to my life, I try to not die like every villain before me has," the witch snipped.

Fletcher smiled back at her, his eyes looking brighter in the dark "Well my bird is a pretty wise cookie," he replied. The bones vegans growing and morphing but Sophie had zoned in on what had been said. My Bird. My Bird.

If that bird belonged to Fletcher, why had Flet had it earlier today? Or maybe Flet had let the Knights borrow it? Or it was a mascot to them? The answer could have been anything.

When she tore herself from those thoughts, Rattle had turned into a fully skeletal dragon that was big enough for everyone to ride on. Tedros and Hort worked on helping everybody aboard the dragon. There was shouts from the end of the hall. The knight cursed under his breath "Spell is wearing off already," he muttered.

That got everybody's attention "What are you talking about?" Somebody asked.

Fletcher kicked the two knights out. The bodies clattering and helmets rolling off to reveal them as empty armor. He pulled the balcony door shut "No time, let's move." He hoisted himself on the dragon's back and gave a sharp whistle. Rattle shoot into the air leaving gasps, cries, and screams to the wind.

Far below the balcony exploded open. Pirates, guards, and two false princes clambered on the space. Nobody noticed the ink black skims flying hurried to the dragon and through its bones until Fletcher cried out. Most had missed, thankfully due to the skeleton knocking them aside but one had managed to find a gap in the armor. Fletcher held his side and leaned forward with heavy breaths. He covered his mouth and pulled the thing free, a tiny curse slipping out.

Sophie tried looking over his should at the wound but he seemed intent on keeping it out of sight "Are you okay?" She asked. The knight didn't respond but the alarming why his breath grew and how he was tipping forward was pointing to all the wrong signs.

Then Fletcher slumped to the side and slid off. Sophie screamed. Everybody else started screaming when the dragon started falling towards it owner in the darkness, destroying the trees of a forest in the game of catch or splat.

The world shuddered with force that threw them off. Sophie groaned from where she had been knocked into a tree. Her vision growing weak and heavy at the throbbing in her head. In the last moments of consciousness, a beautiful girl dressed in a flowing green gown approached her. Sophie lost her final thoughts on the green gown girl.