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Dangerous Games	By : MarianTheBlackadder Category: G through L > Hollow Crown, The Views: 1882 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or I recieve no money for writting this story. All charaters and story lines belong to William Shakespeare and PBS who aired "The Hollow Crown Series"

Chapter List
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Questionable Work Ethics
            The British crown was not the only one that employed Macrae’s services. She had worked for someone in most counties at one point or another. However, recently the jobs she accepted were strictly assignments that didn’t interfere with England in any way. She’d never shown such favoritism before. Macrae had been pretending it wasn’t happening until she was offered a job that she turned down immediately without question.
            She was offered a contract to kill Prince John, Hal’s younger brother who was second in line to the throne and had long since taken Hal’s place on the council. She wasn’t given any more details when she was so quick to decline, but it was clear to Macrae that this was only a single step in a much larger plan. If someone wanted one of the Princes dead, it wouldn’t bode well for the others.
            Now it seemed Macrae had no choice but to be in business for herself, she had to find out what was going on, what the plan was and who was behind it. She knew that if she turned them down, they would simply find another to take the contact.
            Spain was not Macrae’s favorite place to be, but she had worked here many times in the past and other countries all over the world. When summoned she went to whoever sent for her immediately. She was always paid extremely well having a reputation of never failing her agreements. The sum for taking out a member of the British royal family would have been enough to buy a country of her own. Whereas she would have taken such an assignment before, things were different now. Hal meant something to her, and she knew he would be devastated if anything happened to his brothers, or his father. Macrae didn’t want that and most of all she didn’t want anything to happen to Hal.
            There was conspiracy here, a plot that was already underway. The King and his family were in grave peril. If Macrae chose not to intervene and simply walk away then it could spell the end of Henry IV’s reign and perhaps England all together.
Secret Meetings
            “You will take this to Prince Henry and place it in his hands alone. It is for his knowledge only. Do you understand?” Macrae said making certain that her instructions were made crystal clear. The young servant nodded and Macrae placed 2 pieces of gold in his hand. “Make haste.” He hurried away to Mistress Quickly’s where Prince Hal would no doubt be this time of the evening. Macrae go back onto her black horse and rode out of the city to wait.
            When the young man arrived he found Prince Hal playing a drinking game with several others. Immediately he went to the Prince and gave him the sealed letter then bowed and left without a word before the Prince could inquire of him about what it was or where it came from.
            Hal wasn’t certain what this was about, but broke the seal on the letter and opened it. His smiled faded as he read the instructions which were very simple but urgent. It wasn’t signed but he recognized Macrae’s hand.
            “Summons from the castle, my lord?” Poins asked when Hal’s face changed.
            “Never mind.” Hal said sternly putting the letter away before excusing himself and leaving the tavern. Returning to the castle, he retrieved his horse and rode out of London to the meeting place as the letter had instructed him to do.
            When he passed the city limits, he stopped his horse more than once, thinking he heard the sound of hoof beats that were not his own. Something was off, he could feel it. He rode faster until finally coming to the familiar clearing. He dismounted and walked about looking for her. His hand was wrapped around the hilt of his dagger.
            Hal thought the entire scenario odd as Macrae never called for him; she always seemed to just materialize out of the air, never knowing how she always managed to get passed the palace guard undetected. “Macrae?” He said thinking it strange that she wasn’t here when it was obvious in her note that it was urgent. He stopped suddenly realizing that someone was indeed there, he turned seeing Macrae. He sighed in relief as a smile swept his face, “I was beginning to wonder.” Suddenly she took out a dagger and flung it at him and it flew by his face. It startled him and he fell back slightly when he heard someone give a pain filled holler from behind him. He turned seeing a man with his sword drawn. Macrae’s dagger stuck deep within his throat, and within moments he fell to the ground dead.
            Macrae walked passed Hal and leaned down jerking out the knife from the dead man’s flesh, “I thought I told you to stop going out of the castle without an escort.” She said standing looking at him, “Much less leaving the city.”
            “What is going on? Who is that?” He demanded.
            “Just one of several, I’m certain.” She said, “Your brother, Prince John. Has he been keeping company with a woman?”
            “What are you talking about!?” Hal looked at the dead man, “Did you call me out here to use me as bait?”
            “You use yourself as bait every day.” She snapped, “Now think.” She demanded, “Has John been showing interest in any particular woman?”
            Hal sighed, “I can’t think of any. Why?”
            Macrae was thankful for this news, she hadn’t been replaced as of yet, “You and your entire family are in grave danger.”
            The Prince knew that if Macrae was concerned the situation was dire, “Tell me everything.”
Complicated
            “Spain is behind this,” He shook his head having believed that France was England’s worst threat at the moment. “We must go to my father with this at once.”
            “You can’t, we do not know how many agents have already been placed in the court. If it’s known that this plot has been uncovered by anyone, it could trigger an instant retaliation and at least some of your family will die before it can be stopped. This is a plan that that has been devised and set in motion over some time and several prominent families of Spain are behind it.” Macrae explained.
            “I don’t understand; what was to be your part in this?” He questioned.
            “I was meant to take Prince John. I do not know why you were not made a priority other than your behavior these past few years perhaps making it seem as though you were not a threat to them politically. For now.” Macrae said.
            “Well thank God for small miracles.” He sighed sitting down next to her, “What is to be done?”
            “It must begin with the guards. It must be known who is loyal to the crown and who is not. They watch over all and are physically closest to you at all times. Next, we will need to know who in the court is part of this deception. It must be done quickly, and it must be done in absolute secret. It is the only way to insure your safety.” She explained.
            Prince shook his head, “How do we go about it, if we do not know who we can trust?”
            “I will do it.” She said, “It will take me a minimum of five days to find out who are the liars. In the meantime, you must keep a watchful eye. You mustn’t be foolish leaving the castle by yourself without escort and unarmed. They will be watching.” She looked at the dead man, “That much is quite clear. Your leaving the city in the dark presented an opportunity that was not going to be let go to waste.”
            “So you were using me as bait.” Hal said rather annoyed.
            “I considered the danger, but the risk was acceptable. They count John as more of a problem then you.” Macrae shook her head, “This is all beyond contemptible.”
            “This would cause all out war if my family were to be suddenly eliminated. There would be retaliation by England and its allies, a mad grab for power with no heir to be crowned and take the throne.” Hal said. Then he looked at her, “Why would you turn them down? I imagine you would have been paid handsomely for your services.”
            Macrae was caught off guard by his question, thinking it a rather moot point as she did not take the bounty and turned from the offer. “John knows me.” She said, “You confided in him about me long before the King was made aware of our affair. There would be no point in trying to seduce him as there is no practical way to do it.” It was an excuse and Hal wasn’t fooled. A small smile swept his face as he looked to her.
            “You don’t have to lie to me.” Hal said. “Honestly.”
            She gave him a displeased look, “This is hardly the time to be thinking of such foolishness. One of your father’s conditions was that I not be in London unless he himself sends for me. Do you understand that he could have me executed for this indiscretion?”
            “He said you were not permitted in the castle without his having sent for you.” Hal corrected.
            “Semantics are not going to save my neck if I cross your father!” She said raising her voice as she stood. “My merely being here and revealing this to you goes against what I was taught and what I believe in, the very code I live by. Do you not understand that?” She said quite upset.
            He stood and walked over to her, “Your loyalties to England are admirable . . .”
            “It has nothing to do with England, it’s you!” She snapped. “It is all you. The only reason I am here now, the only reason I turned down a fortune and a chance to further my reputation, is you.”
            Hal didn’t understand why she was so upset, “This angers you?”
            “Of course it does!” She stepped to him, “You . . . you are going to be the cause of my death. Because of you I have become personally involved, emotionally tied to something and that compromises me. It affects my judgment and is dictating my actions instead of my good sense.” Macrae looked away, “Your father was right. We’ve let ourselves succumb to youthful passion and become weak.”
            The Prince reached out and took her hand pulling her closer then reached up touching her chin turning her face up so she would look at him. “You’re telling yourself it’s foolish but you don’t truly believe that.” He stated. “Otherwise you wouldn’t be here willing to put yourself at risk for my sake.” Macrae was silent as she looked into his eyes finding that standing here with him she could feel her desire to keep him safe was even stronger then before. Hal kissed her tenderly after a few moments and she instantly returned his affection. She had been gone for several months since they incurred the King’s wrath and they had been missing one another painfully.
            The tender kiss grew into a passionate one and they wrapped their arms around each other pulling closer together. A few moments passed and the affection became a little more desperate. Prince Hal reached beneath her cloak wrapping his arms around her waist before letting his hands slide down and rest on her hips. Another moment passed before his hands began to move again. But Macrae had a moment of sanity and pulled back shaking her head. “We’ve just been speaking of foolishness!” She exclaimed, “Maybe that is the attraction we share.” She said pushing him back. She motioned towards the dead body on the ground, “Should we have sex on the corpse?”
            Needless to say he was caught off guard and shocked by her words, “That’s a little depraved, don’t you think?” The Prince said finding the suggestion a bit vulgar.
            “Exactly.” She said making her point. “You need to return to London, quickly. Go about your business but go about it cautiously. Know that they are watching you, all of you.” Hal gave a nod understanding her instructions as she walked him back to his horse. “I will contact you in a few days when I have a list of who is part of this betrayal.”
            Hal knew quite well that when she was working she was all business. Yet it seemed like the perfect opportunity considering they were alone and away from the castle to be together physically. He was disappointed but understood why she was so strict about such matters. The Prince started to mount, but stopped and turned back catching Macrae’s face in his hands and kissing her deeply. Macrae closed her eyes and returned the kiss, unable to resist. It wasn’t long before her own body began to stir and she quickly pushed him back towards his horse. Hal smiled taking her hand and kissing her knuckles, “Maybe when all this is taken care of, we can spend some proper time together?” He suggested.
            “I suppose so. If you survive.” She said bluntly. He smiled kissing her hand and then her lips one more time before mounting his horse and riding swiftly back into London.
Games in the Shadows
            Macrae went to work immediately. She stole her way into the castle’s servants chambers then making her way through the castle dressed as a chamber maid. The caps and veils they wore made it easy for her to conceal her face and she was allowed to move about freely. The Kings guards would be her first and main concern before she moved to the castle guard and so on. It wouldn’t take her long. Whereas gossip in the castle was annoying or inconvenient, the rumors and whispers guided Macrae in the correct direction and made her job much easier. If you knew how to listen to gossip, if your ear was trained to sift through the chatter and pick out the fact from the fiction it was the best way to gather intelligence quickly.
            Hal knew she was in the castle, she told him outright that she was going to be and he couldn’t help but keep an eye out for her. He was feeling slightly paranoid but he had been told that his life and the lives of his brothers and perhaps even father were in danger.
            The Prince’s main concern right now was John. Someone was going to try and get close to him and it was possible if he was enchanted he could fall prey to the wrong person. Hal found his brother and quickly took him to his bedchambers where they would have the most privacy and be able to talk.
            John sat listening to everything his brother said, he was speechless with disbelief that they would be so incredibly ignorant to such a conspiracy. “We would have heard about this by now, Macrae is not the only spy we employ.”
            “And she wasn’t working for us when they attempted to purchase her services to take you.” Hal replied.
            “Has it occurred to you that knowing her as I do, knowing her through you, she couldn’t take the offer presented because I know her to well?” John pointed out. “This could be a ploy to come at us in a different way.”
            “I trust her, John. You have to put your faith in me that I know what I am doing when I say trust her.” Hal said. “She puts herself at risk to bring this information to us and further to put herself between us and the danger and try to put an end to it with no causalities among our family.”
            John still looked a bit wary of the whole satiation but gave a nod. “We should take this to father. He must know that there is such a threat.”
            “We can’t. She swore me to not tell another soul until she’s found out who is loyal and who is not.” Hal added. “We need only keep this secret a few days and then all will be revealed. I tell you now because it seems they have set their eyes on you first.”
            “If this is as large a scale an attack as she seems to think it is, than we need a chance to mobilize our forces and be ready for them when they come.” John countered.
            “They are already here, John.” The Prince warned, “We cannot let anyone know because it could set off a chain reaction. Bring them out of the shadows in full force and who knows who we can trust to defend ourselves.”
            “She is one woman, brother. How can she be expected to do this on her own while staying hidden herself?” John demanded.
            “Because she knows what she is doing, and she does her work well. We must go on about as usual but exercise caution in all things.” Hal repeated what Macrae had told him. “She will contact us when it’s time for us to move.”
            “I hope you know what you are doing here, Henry.” John warned. “Because if this goes wrong, or if she is caught in the castle without father’s permission . . . it will be her end.”
            “I know.” Henry said solemnly knowing that there was a vast number of very real dangers lurking in every corner.
Best Laid Plans
            As promised, Hal was awoken in his bed chambers by the young woman whose shape he had come to know very well. “Macrae.” He said quickly reaching over and lighting a candle before getting out of bed and walking to her. “I was starting to become concerned. It’s been a week.”
            “There are hundreds of guards in the castle. It takes some time, my lord.” She handed him a piece of parchment. He opened it seeing the list of names that she had written. He sighed seeing a few names that he had known well and would have never suspected of treachery.
            “You are certain of these?” He questioned looking at her. “There can be no mistake?”
            “If there is a mistake, they still have a lot to answer for, my lord.” She said, “Nearly all of them are carrying a matching charm or mark on their person that resembles the seal of one of the families that have devised his plan to destroy the line of succession before taking your fathers throne. So they can identify themselves to each other. Who know the plan and they can trust.” She held up one of the charms she had liberated from its owner.
            Hal sighed and shook his head, how could all this be happening right under their own watch? “What’s to be done?”
            “There are only two that have been Spain’s contacts here in London in the court to move their scheme forward. I would suggest that you take this to your father now, but you will have to see that it is done swiftly and they are all dealt with at the same moment. What I have seen is extremely fanatical devotion to those who employ them. If they are to die for their transgressions, they will want to take you and your brothers with them.”
            “Macrae,” Hal said after a moment looking into her eyes, “Father’s health has begun to decline. Is the reason for it anything to do with this treason?”
            She cocked her head, “Your father is very old, my lord.”
            Hal was silent a moment, “The crown and it’s burden have aged him, yes.” He agreed “But if I and my brothers were to be killed, would they not want to hasten his death or weaken him to make their take over easier?” He questioned.
            She took a breath shaking her head; she knew Hal cared for his father very much even though they were always at odds since Hal was young. “When did his health start to decline?”
            “The battle with Percy, when I was abducted from the battlefield. His strength started to fail him then.” He recalled. She looked into his eyes before giving a nod that she would investigate further on this for him.
            “I will need another day before I can tell you for certain if it is simply his advanced age or if he is being interfered with. In the meantime, take what precautions you need. It is up to you and John to put down this treachery. Protect your own, Prince Henry.” She warned.
            Reaching back she started to put her hood up to leave his chambers, but Hal caught her hands pulling her to him. He knew she was about to disappear again, but he didn’t want her to go yet. “Thank you.” He said sincerely looking into her eyes. “For all of this, for protecting us even though you were not employed to do so.”
            “Just one in a very long list of mistakes I’ve made since the day I met you, my lord.” He arched a brow realizing that she was never going to call him by his given name no matter how many times he tried to get her to.
            “It’s not something to be ashamed of, Macrae. Honestly it truly is not. We care for each other and there is no sin in that.” She sighed realizing that he was never going to understand her reasons for why she did the things the way she did them. Their upbringings were far too different. “Have you missed me at all since you’ve been gone?”
            She was silent as she gazed into his eyes and gave a slight nod, “yes.” She admitted in a soft voice.
            A smile swept the Prince’s face, seeing in her eyes that it was true. Without another word they ferociously devoured one another’s lips, picking up where they had left off in the forest. They continued to kiss as the Prince anxiously walked her backwards and pressed her against the wall. His fingers quickly unclasped her cloak and it slid back off her shoulders to the floor. Macrae’s hands anxiously unbuttoned his jacket which soon slid down his arms joining her cloak.
            Instantly their arms returned to each other’s bodies and the Prince reached down clasping her backside, then lifting her from the floor his hands slid to her thighs wrapping her legs around him as he kept her pinned against the wall. Macrae’s hand slipped into his shirt and rested on his bare chest as they continued to kiss feverishly.
            Their bodies rubbed together in anxious anticipation but due to the fact she was not wearing a skirt, their efforts couldn’t continue as they would have if she’d been wearing her dress instead of the leather trousers she wore when she was working. Still holding her body tight in his arms he lifted her from the wall and carried her over to his bed, they fell onto the plush mattress continuing to ravage each other’s lips, devouring the taste.
            Macrae pulled his tunic off over his head tossing it aside, while he went to work pulling off her trousers and undergarments. Her hands rested to his shoulders, as he found her lips again. She was well armed as usual but there wasn’t time to disarm her right now. Perhaps later.
            His arms wrapped around her as his body settled between her thighs kissing her desperately. He started to brush against her wet womanhood. With one deep anxious thrust he filled her completely. Macrae’s eyes closed as her back arched taking him all the way inside of her depths writhing against his body at the feel. He grinned against her lips as he began to thrust hard within her over and over again, her hips meeting his every movement with anxious abandon.
            His hands moved down her shoulders grasping her wrists and pushing them into the mattress at either side of her head as she arched her back pressing the length of her body against him. Her breasts strained against her bodice with each labored breath. They kissed again, hardly able to contain themselves as their bodies moved as one. It wasn’t long before they were both pushed to the brink and a powerful climax shook both of their bodies, their forms quivering uncontrollably at the feel of each other.
            Hal cupped her face in his hands and looked into her eyes, wanting to see the glow of pleasure he’d given her within them, loving the way her blue eyes shined in the after they made love. “We must do something about these long periods of time between our visits.”
            She laughed a little and reached up resting her hand to his face, “You know I cannot stay in London all the time. Then I will lose my anonymity and my usefulness to the crown will have come to an end.”
            “Then perhaps you could fulfill another position here in the castle.” He said kissing her lips looking into her eyes again. “You could be my mistress.”
            Macrae couldn’t help but laugh at such a ludicrous suggestion, “How can you have a mistress when you aren’t even married yet?” She questioned. He grinned and kissed her again, then once more as his hand moved down resting over her breasts, stroking them eagerly as they pressed against her bodice with each labored breath.
            “Your body is so beyond soft, yet firm. I’ve missed your warmth wrapped around me like this. I dream of you, crave you, need you in the darkness.” He breathed against her lips before kissing her again, their bodies still writhing against one another yearning to touch and feel their warmth.
            Her bodice was obstructing his explorations and it wanted it gone, he kissed her once again before he moved off of her just enough to turn her over onto her stomach, then he straddled her thighs and quickly unbuckled the leather garment that finally released her beautiful form from its grasp and he pulled it from her tossing it to the floor with the rest of their clothing.
            Resting his hands on her shoulders he leaned down and kissed her neck then moved down her back letting his hands run over her. He grinned a little feeling the leather harness she wore that held her weapons. Once again, he knew she was working and would be armed appropriately. There was something alluring about having her bound in such a way. It didn’t hinder her movements or hold her captive, but it aroused him to see the straps holding her so tightly in its grasp. “Does this help you?” He asked tracing the strap that went across her lower back. “When you fight I mean? Does it aid you?”
            “It deflects some blows as there is nothing worse than taking a hit in the lower back. It’s disabling and stuns no matter how much you try to shake it off. This, blocks such assaults. I still feel it but not as deeply.” She explained.
            “Hmm.” He said moving her undergarment up baring her back and kissing along the strap they’d been discussing ever so gently tasting her delicious skin. His hand moved down to the straps that held the harness to her thighs. “And these? Do these protect you as well?” Hal questioned.
            “Yes.” She said simply. “Everything I wear and carry with me, all of it serves a purpose.” He unbuckled the strap across her shoulders and the other at her lower back before turning her over once again. He took off her remaining undergarment and tossed it to the floor with the rest of their clothing. She smiled as he started to massage her breasts with anxious enthusiasm.
            “You must teach me how to fight as you do. How to move and how to be so incredibly insightful to everything around you.” Hal said.
            “A prince has more important things to worry about. It is why there are people like me, to take care of such matters so you needn’t lower yourself to do it.” His hand moved her under blouse up and he leaned down kissing her belly anxiously, moving her garment up further finding her luscious breasts and tasting each one, massaging them anxiously loving the feel of them in his hands. Macrae closed her eyes enjoying his attention every touch, every sensation he caused deep within her body. Hal moved her blouse up further taking it over her head and throwing it to the floor with the rest.
            Hal unclasped the buckles at each of her shoulders then reached down unbuckling the device from her thighs as it finally fell loose and he could toss it away with everything else. He grinned moving back to her lips. “There you are.” He said with a grin. “No more obstructions, nothing keeping you from me.” He kissed her slowly at first just loving the feel of her breasts to own chest with each breath. Everything about her was intoxicating. Then his kiss grew deeper and more passionate as he wrapped her legs around him and he began to brush her womanhood with his hard member once more. Then before another breath could be taken he thrust inside her as deep and hard as he could hearing her cry out in pure ecstasy. Her cries were like music to his ears and spurred him onward, wanting to give her more pleasure, make her feel the world move beneath her, make heaven a reality and make her body shiver uncontrollably with absolute bliss. He moved inside her hard, deep and fast wanting to her scream his name in the dark. Wanting her to plead with him for more.
            The night was only just beginning and Hal intended to make full use of every single second of it locked in a passionate embrace.
Rebellions Destroyed
            The following morning, Hal went to his brother John and immediately went to work setting the trap for the traitors at hand. Gathering their trustworthy soldiers that were not on Macrae’s list, instructions were given and their plans were made. There was an assembly of the court in the main hall today and was the opportune moment to swiftly squash this rebellion.
            Hal and John arranged to pair each of the guards who were traitors with those who were loyal to the crown. Four more agents were dressed in court clothing to conceal their identity as they took positions behind the two Spanish informants. Six traitors who were not in the castle today were taken care of quickly and quietly, their bodies immediately removed to be disposed of.
            Once the assembly began and all had arrived who were involved the trap was sprung as John and Hal gave the signal. Immediately the guards took out their assigned targets dropping them lifeless to the floor. The two contacts who were of much higher rank and of noble birth, would cause political issues were they to be killed outright, so were simply taken prisoner and brought before the king to find out what should be done with them.
            The King was made aware of the entire affair only moments before the assembly itself began. When it was put into action, and there lie bodies of traitorous guards in what seemed like every direction, he dismissed the rest of the court. The room was cleared of everyone who wasn’t a guard, family, or on the council.
            Standing from his throne he stepped down looking at the two traitors. “You backstabbing manipulative wretches. You have been guests in this castle and in this country for many years and now we find all your vows of loyalty were empty and hollow echoes of themselves.” He roared. “How dare you threaten our reign and lineage! Did you think we would not know? That your ill conceived plans would go unnoticed?” He was extremely cross and looked between the two of them, “Everything you have been given every privilege we have afforded you we now revoke, and the two of you will be made examples of so that your countrymen know how foolish it is to challenge me.” He waved to the guards who instantly took them away dragging them to the dudgeons below.
            Once they were gone, Henry dismissed the remaining guards and council members leaving him alone with his sons. “How did you discover this grievous treachery?” He asked.
            John looked at Hal as it was his place to answer. “The Lady Macrae brought it to our attention.” Henry said. The King cocked his head looking at him. “When they sent for her and attempted to hire her services, she turned them down and immediately came here to warn us.”
            “She’s in London?”
            “Not when she first sent word to me, my lord. She was beyond the city limits. But since then she has been working to uncover those who were traitors and any who were involved. All at great personal risk and peril to herself.” Hal said in her defense. “I gave her permission to make her way into the castle and find the conspirators.” He added to take the blame for her breaking his father’s condition.
            “And is she still here now?” The King demanded.
            Hal hesitated for a moment, “Yes. She’s still working to insure our safety.”
            “Are there more traitors than these?” He motioned towards the bodies that were being removed from the hall as they spoke.
            “She’s making certain that there aren’t.” Hal reassured him.
            The King was silent for several moments as he looked between Hal and John. They had done well to take care of this threat, and he couldn’t damn Macrae for her loyalty to their family. “I should have been informed of this immediately.”
            “Not knowing who was involved we were concerned that if anyone found that we knew, they might have retaliated before we were ready.” John explained.
            “I am KING!” Henry roared. “You do not keep such things from your King much less your father.” He shook his head, “I realize quite plainly why she went to you instead of coming to me.” He said motioning towards Hal, “But that doesn’t change the fact that all of this was done behind my back and without my sanction.”
            “But we ended the threat.” Hal said in confusion not understanding his father’s anger. “And we took no casualties.”
            “And we are grateful. It is because of this and this alone that the Lady Macrae is forgiven for her trespass, but I’m not so certain you are yet forgiven of yours!” The King roared. “There is a chance that if you weren’t out gallivanting, gambling, whoring, and spending your time with the scum of the street you might have uncovered this plot for yourself.”
            “No one knew of this, no one could have known. It was too well orchestrated. As I stated before, she only found out because they attempted to acquire her services, your grace.” Hal argued.
            “Enough! I’ll hear no more of this matter. Reward her however you see fit.” He pointed at Hal, “Thank your stars boy, for some reason the fates tend to favor you in all things. Your luck may not hold out forever.”
Messengers
            Hal paced in his room impatiently. His window and curtains were wide open as he watched and waited. Macrae had promised him she would return tonight with the news. The waiting was the worst of it, but he knew she would keep her word.
            “If I entered your room the same way every time, don’t you think someone would decide to watch for me?” He turned seeing Macrae standing at the opposite corner in the shadows. He looked back towards the window which was open, but his door was shut and bolted. It was strange indeed, but rather then question her methods he was simply glad to see her.
            “We seized everyone. The traitors who were captured are all being dealt with as we speak.” Hal walked closer to her. “The threat has been defeated.”
            “I was there. I saw.” Macrae said stepping from the shadows pushing her hood back letting it fall to her shoulders.
            “Really? Where?” He had been looking for her but had never managed to spot her when she was moving about the castle. She smiled at bit letting him know that she wasn’t going to tell him her secrets. Hal half laughed knowing it was silly to try and pry such things from her lips and rested his hands on her shoulders kissing her before embracing her tightly. “Thank you.” He whispered into her ear, “You saved us from a horrible fate.” After a moment his smile faded finding that she wasn’t returning the affection. He pulled back seeing a solemn look on Macrae’s face. “What is it?” He asked.
            There was a long quiet pause that just seemed to open like a deep cavern as the moments ticked by. “I was not able to save all of you.” She said her eyes turning downcast.
            “What do you mean?” Hal asked half laughing knowing that his siblings were all safe. “Of course you did, we are all unharmed.” Her look didn’t change and her eyes remained lowered. “Who couldn’t you save?”
            Macrae took a breath, “Your father.” She said simply.
            A look of confusion crossed his face. “My father lives, Macrae.”
            “He’s dying, my lord. He has been poisoned” she stated plainly. Hal shook his head looking as though he didn’t accept it, he couldn’t. “There are three royal food testers at this particular time.” She began, “And none of them eat at every meal with your father. The poison is introduced in three parts in food or drink. Any one of which or even two are not lethal. But the three of them together cause irreversible damage to a person’s heart.” Her eyes turned away, “Had this been known several months ago, it could have been stopped. But it’s too late now to save him.”
            Hal’s eyes were glazed over as he starred at her not wanting to believe it. The King’s fits and attacks were becoming more frequent and he weakened with each one. “Now that we know, now that we have stopped it . . . .”
            “He will live longer then he would have otherwise, the fits and attacks he suffers will become less frequent for now.” She answered. “But his life has been shortened significantly, your grace. His decline will slow, but it cannot be stopped.”
            Hal closed his eyes just trying to draw breath with this news. It was vile that someone would be so low as to cause his father such a slow and painful death. He covered his eyes with his hand a moment. “His assassins?” He questioned.
            “They’ve been dealt with.” She said simply. “They will not be able to harm him further.”
            The Prince gave a nod before making a choice, “We will say nothing of this, to anyone. If he cannot be helped . . . . then it’s better that it is not known why his health has declined other then the ravages of old age.”
            She looked at him for a moment before daring to speak, “As of this moment, you and I are the only persons who know of this treachery.” She began, “If your father ever knows of it, he will be very angry.”
            “Yes.” Hal agreed, “And that is why we must keep this between us and no other living soul. He’s a fighter, and a soldier, a strong leader of men, and of England’s people. To be poisoned is no way for such a great man to die.” Macrae smiled a little seeing his devotion to his father, willing to bare this burden in silence for his sake. She bowed her head letting him know she would obey and keep this secret.
            Hal reached out taking her hands in his holding them tightly as he nodded knowing she would never betray his trust. He leaned forward and kissed her tenderly before looking into her eyes, “Thank you.” He said sincerely grateful for all that she had done.

To Be Continued . . . . . .
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Dangerous Games