Coup de Grace

"Why does he get to be the farmer?" Clara asked from beneath the large shawl Vasil had wrapped around her head.

"I told you. You have a much cuter face," Hacco answered from beneath the pile of hay in the back of the cart. If she wasn't so nervous, Clara would have blushed, but she was much more focused on the task at hand. Clara huffed from the seat next to Vasil, who was wearing tattered peasant clothes they had found, and his own green cloak. He had smeared dirt over his face to try and hide some of his fae features. He pulled up his hood as they got closer to the guards.

"You're also the only girl," Vasil leaned over to whisper. Clara wanted to protest that Vasil could pass with his head covered, but they were already approaching the first checkpoint. They had wrapped Clara in a toga of sorts, and she was holding the gauntlets and circlet wrapped in a blanket on her lap. Hacco was hiding in the back with their weapons, and they were all praying that no one would look closer. The guard held out his hand, indicating for Vasil to stop the cart, and he pulled up the horses.

"That doesn't mean I had to be the -" Clara started to argue as Vasil shushed him, the orc guards reaching the side of the cart.

"Good afternoon, sir," Vasil tilted his hat, and Clara scooched closer to Vasil as the second guard sniffed at her. The guard didn't respond, instead squinting his eyes at the pair, emitting a low growl. The horses pawed at the ground restlessly, and Clara shushed them gently.

"Easy there," she tried keeping his voice level, but it shook from nerves. "It's alright." Vasil took Clara's hand, looking her in the eyes.

"My wife and I are just taking care of our first child..." Vasil stumbled, and Clara saved him.

"Who is enjoying his nap, but is quite hungry," Vasil looked at one of the guards, trying to make a sad face, instead of a scared to death look.

"Yes," Vasil said, looking from one guard to the other. "And we're just looking to sell some of our late season hay so we can feed ourselves." The guards looked at them one last time then waved them through, and it took everything in Clara to not yell at Vasil to just gallop through the city gates and get them through as fast as possible.

When they determined they were far enough away that the guards wouldn't see them, they parked their cart, helping Hacco out of the back.

"You two are so cute, he said leaning down to pinch Clara's cheek. "What are you going to name the baby?" Clara placed a hand on the bundle she was rocking back and forth, faking a smile.

"Hogan if it's a boy," she quipped. "And Oh if it's a girl."

"Oh?" Vasil and Hacco said in unison.

"Oh," Clara repeated.

The wheels in their heads turned. "Oh," they both repeated. Successfully sidetracked, they all looked around for a moment, trying to remember what they were supposed to do.

"Oh," Hacco said, and Clara giggled. Hacco shot her a look that silenced the laughter. "We need to get into the castle now, but that shouldn't be as hard." Hacco handed Vasil his bow, and Clara her knife. Clara undid the bag from the bundle, shouldering it and then sweeping her cloak over top, then pulling her hood up over his head. Hacco pulled a piece of cloth over the lower half of his face, and just like that he looked human. He looked between Clara and Vasil then turned and they followed.

He led them down back alleys, at some points pausing, their backs against the wall as guards passed. Slowly they worked their way to the main castle, to a back entrance that was guarded by a friend of Hacco's. As they approached, he raised his spear, but when Hacco pushed his hood back and revealed his face, the Orc's face lit up.

"Hacco!" He called out, his voice rough, but full of excitement. He pulled Hacco into a hug that Hacco gladly reciprocated.

"Long time, no see Chief, how have you been?"

"Without you it's been chaos," Chief said. He smiled again. "It's good to see you." Hacco gripped his shoulder.

"I need your help," Hacco said, and Chief nodded.

"Anything."

"I need you to get us to the throne room." The Orc smiled.

"Gladly."

He grabbed them all by their collars, turning them all around and heading into the castle.

"Out of the way!" He yelled out, and guards quickly stepped out of their paths. "I've got three trespassers here, and we're heading to the dungeon!" Clara was almost pulled off her feet, and he could tell that Chief was enjoying himself. "Move you imbeciles! The King wants to see these traitors!" Hacco was almost laughing as well, and as they finally reached what Clara assumed was the throne room, Chief released them. Hacco gave him a salute, and Chief saluted back. "What else can I do, my King?" Chief said, his voice low. Hacco smiled.

"You've done enough, Chief, but you could watch the door for us." Chief nodded, closing the door as he left, the noise echoing through the room.

"Well, well, well," A voice called out and they all turned to look at the throne. A man that had definitely not been there before was sitting on the throne, his legs and arms crossed. He wore an unsettling smile on his face, and Clara noticed his pointed ears sticking out from beneath the crown. "I've been expecting you, but I was not expecting you to bring friends," he gestured to them to come forward. Hacco immediately lowered himself, drawing his own sword.

"Tennyson," he said, with surprise and a hint of sadness in his voice, and the elf smiled.

"Glad that you remember me," Tennyson smiled. "After all, you left me to rot with the rest of your advisors," his head rolled unnaturally to the side as he spit out the last word through gritted teeth. Clara finally placed what was unsetting about Tennyson. His eyes were a milky white, and black veins traced across his face, thicker around his neck and thinning out as they neared his eyes. He's possessed, something inside of her said. He was unnaturally still, and as he stood, his body moved as though he was a marionette. Vasil drew his own dagger as Tennyson took a step down the stairs. He flicked his wrists, and two curved blades appeared in his hands. "Now I have to finish the job they were too afraid to." WIth that he rushed at them, his own swords extended. Vasil and Hacco met him in the middle, and Clara scrambled back as their blades all clashed. Tennyson smiled, his face much scarier close up.

"Get to the throne Clara," Hacco ordered as Tennyson kicked Vasil backwards, parrying Hacco's blade. Clara pushed herself up, scooting along the wall, trying to make her way to the back of the room. Vasil pushed himself back up, and as Tennyson turned, Vasil jumped on his back. Clara ran to the throne, noticing its unusual lack of decoration. "Tenny please, what's wrong with you?" Hacco yelled.

"What do I do?" Clara yelled as Hacco pushed Tenny into a set of chairs.

"Take the Piece!" Hacco yelled back. Clara looked around desperately.

"What Piec-" She started before her eyes landed on one out of place smooth rock, placed on the top of the chair, right in the middle. Clara climbed into the chair, gripping the top tightly and pulling. It began to glow, and Tennyson turned to Clara, making a noise that sounded like a cross between a scream of anger and an outcry of pain.

"NO!" Tennyson yelled, and Clara looked to see Tennyson running towards the throne. Panicked, Clara pulled harder, and as the Piece came loose, she swung around to meet Tenny, and the blade in Clara's hand pierced Tenny's chest. Tenny's face was inches from Clara's, and Clara watched his eyes focus on Clara as they changed from white to a deep brown. The veins receded from his face, and his mouth hung open. Clara's mouth hung open as she finally realized what she had done, and tears began to fall down her face.

"Tenny!" Hacco yelled, his voice full of pain.

"No, no, no," Clara mumbled to herself, as she eased Tenny's body to the side, draped now across the stairs. She kept a grip on Tennyson, gripping tightly onto his clothes. Vasil and Hacco rushed up to Clara. Hacco kneeled next to Clara and Tennyson, reaching out, but almost afraid to touch Tenny's already cooling body.

"Are you hurt?" Vasil asked, and Clara shook her head no, his forehead touching Tennysons', her hand pressing into the wound on his chest, feeling the blood seep through.

"I didn't mean for that," Clara sniffled, her eyes still closed. She didn't even know Tennyson, but the thought of having killed someone made Clara's stomach churn. It wasn't Tennyson's fault he was acting like that, and Clara had killed him. They all stood for a moment in silence, except for Clara's muffled cries. Suddenly, she heard Hacco and Vasil shuffle backwards, Hacco exclaiming a quiet, "Woah."

Clara lifted her head to see the wound on Tenny's chest glowing a bright white, and Clara's own hand's emit the same light.

"Uhhh," Clara muttered, confused, and Tennyson sat up with a startled inhale. He looked between the three of them in confusion, and then relief as he recognized Hacco.

"Your majesty," He sighed. "I've been lost in your absence." Clara stood, and they all looked down at Tennyson as he sat on the stairs. He reached up, noticed he was wearing the crown, and pulled it off quickly. "Why was I wearing that?" He handed the crown to Hacco, who then held out his hand for Tennyson, who looked at it for a moment before taking it and standing back up.

"I was just going to ask you the same thing Tenny," Hacco answered. Tennyson looked at him with confusion. Then, as if a silent understanding passed between them, they embraced.

"You just tried to kill all of us," Vasil explained, and Tennyson broke away from Hacco, looking horrified.

"Why would I do that?" He asked, and Hacco shrugged.

"Something had control of you," Clara said, and Tenny turned to her.

"Do I know you?" Tennsony asked, and Clara shook his head. "You seem oddly familiar," Tenny whispered, reaching out to touch Clara's face. "Like I've seen you in a dream." Clara recoiled slightly as Tenny's hand gently touched her face. "Interesting. You are not of this world, but I can sense you have a deep connection to it." Tenny pulled his hand back, and looked back at Hacco.

"How will we tell everyone you're back?" Vasil asked. "You know, since you're a wanted criminal." Tenny and Hacco looked at Vasil, then back at each other.

"Maybe for now, you can stay in control," Hacco said, handing the crown back to Tenny. "And we can deal with it when I return." Tenny nodded, a content smile on his face.

"Whatever you wish, your majesty."