The half wolf creature ran through the woods with Zora screaming in his arms. "Theodor, I am ordering you for the last time, take me back to my castle?"
"And let those screaming badgers insult your person? Never! You will stay here, where you are safe, while I go and smash their teeth in!" he uttered, running with the speed of light.
"What? How? You are just one werewolf and if they let Nathaniel out-"
"Forgive me your majesty, but I am afraid that in your delicate state you are not able to rationally think on such complex situations. From now on, I will care of your well-being," the werewolf declared, growing annoyed of her constant complaints.
The disdain was mutual.
The familiar castle could be seen in the distance. Theodor growled, thinking to himself, "This will do for now."
Zora wanted to cry but felt there was no use. Everything was happening so quickly. At least her parents would be some sort of support.
Queen Anabelle was playing with her child when something caught her eye in the window. "Filip... Filip, come over here, please," she said terrified.
"What is it?" he asked.
"There's a monster running towards our castle," she whispered. "And it looks like he is carrying something!"
The baffled king, hurried towards the window. "Is that Zora with him?" he stuttered.
"Father!" the young queen yelled from below.
"It is here," her mother gasped. "Dear, what is happening? What is that thing?" she said startled.
"Let us in, please. I'll explain everything," Theodor replied.
Some time later, the pregnant queen was in her old room with her mother. Queen Anabelle listened with wide eyes to everything that had happened recently. "Does evil, evil people. Wasn't it enough that they wanted to sacrifice you? Now they want to kill your baby as well?"
Zora sighed. "I know. If only Aidan didn't disappear."
"My dear, your safety cannot solely rely on the presence of your man. You need to do something!"
"I know. I was. I made an effort to not let my emotions get the better of me. But Theodor got in the way. He must have taken my transformation hair. Oh mother, I think it has scrabbled with his mind," she said quieter.
Anabelle sighed. "You know Theodor was always passionate about things. Let's just hope things don't get any worse."
Meanwhile, in the armory, king Filip was chastising the werewolf. "I knew you shouldn't have interfered. Now look what happened. What will we do if they send an army to bring Zora back?"
"They will send an army. That much is certain. But not to take her back." the werewolf said providing his soldiers with heavy weapons.
The king gulped, "You mean, they want to kill her?"
"Her and all of us with her. But do not worry, your Majesty," the giant half-wolf smiled, showing his fangs. "They may have the numbers, but we have a werewolf," he stated with a confident grin.
The king gawked at him baffled, "What good will that do?" he yelled in a panic.
He was right about the first part. Not half a day later, a large group of armed men emerged on the boarder, lead by king Nathaniel.
The ruler of the High Kingdom stood on the front wall. "Why have you brought your army here, Nathaniel? Aren't in-laws supposed to respect the other's sovereign claims?" he declared bold.
The king approached on his horse. "We used to be in-laws, until your daughter caused a mayhem in my kingdom. I would call that highly disrespectful."
"Mayhem? What mayhem?" king Filip replied. "And why are you searching for her here?"
"Do not play dumb, dear friend. We know she is here with her wolf lover. Our scouts followed them here."
"What?" Zora gasped, disgusted.
"What!" her father repeated, angrier.
"That is correct! Isn't it kind of strange that he appeared the moment my dear brother, may his soul rest in peace..."
"He's not dead!" Zora shouted.
"Oh, and where is he then? Kidnapped by your friend, the fairy creature? What has happened to them both, dear sister-in-law? How come they disappeared so suddenly?" the former king stated, acting distressed.
Theodor was fuming with rage. "Do not slender this gentle queen with your serpent tongue!"
"And there speaks the lover!" Nathaniel sneered.
"That is it! You may bring your army! You may trample on our friendship! But do not say one more bad word about my daughter!" Filip howled, turning red.
"Or what, dear king Filip?" the former king said in a low, menacing tone. "I am here to bring that pathetic girl to justice and no one will stop me."
Zora cried into her mother's shoulder while the king shouted to the archers, "Attack!"
Arrows flew, which was exactly what Nathaniel was hoping for. Riding back, he let the first row of soldiers through, followed by the archers and a his prized trebuchets. The soldiers of the High Castle gulped, but Theodor held up his sword.
"Your Majesty, please go inside, so you will be protected. I shall devour all these barbarians and present sweet Zora with her rightful throne," he said proudly. She pressed her lips, with wide terrified eyes. The werewolf caressed her face, making her flinch away.
"Come dear," her mother urged her. "This is not good for you."
As she was pushed by her mother inside, Zora felt a sharp pain.
"What's wrong?" the queen gasped.
"I don't know," the pregnant woman strained in pain. "I think I need to lie down."
A while later, as the battle raged outside, Zora paced in her room, finding it difficult to lie down. Men screamed and rocks hit the walls while generals barked orders. Theodor was remorseless in his efforts, but after a while the heavy siege weapons have done their thing.
The mother queen sat near her, clenching her body with her every gasp. "How did this happen? Can't you talk to them?" she uttered with a quivering voice.
"I tried, but my efforts were for nothing," Zora muttered.
Anabelle scoffed. "Do not put all the blame on him. You are the one who called him," the queen said, lifting her upper lip.
Her daughter held in her tongue.
"And besides. He said he had a plan, didn't he?" queen Annabelle continued.
The tired girl could not argue any longer. Her body was hurting more and more. After a while, she could not take it any longer. "Mother! Mother, I think I'm going into labor," she said. Queen Anabelle gasped, calling the servants.
In the meantime, Theodor was observing the area carefully. His wolf transformation also gifting him with superb vision.
"My commander, we will not be able to hold on for much longer!" a soldier said.
"Do not panic. My plan is just about to be set in motion," the werewolf smiled menacingly.
King Nathaniel was very pleased with his attack, keeping his eye especially on the line of catapults. He was so absorbed with then that he did not notice a small group of enemies hiding in the forest behind them. They were the guards from Zora's castle. They were ordered by Theodor to hide and attack the king from behind.
Little did he know that king Nathaniel had a similar idea. Walking from one catapult to another, he was hoping that the beast would stand in the open. Since ordinary arrows did not seem to work on him, he hoped that a large boulder would.
The hidden soldiers of the High Kingdom were readying their arrows. Theodor could clearly see their sharp ends, glistening in the sun.
"Yes, yes!" the werewolf raised his arms. "Soon that brute of a man will be gone. Once that happens, I shall take Zora back to her kingdom. Oh, fair being of loveliness! Together, we will take the crown. You will be so grateful that you will make me your personal guard. No! Your king! Oh, how glorious it will be!" He howled excited.
Nathaniel gasped, seeing his opportunity. With the creature clearly visible, he ran towards the first catapult operator. His sudden movement made the enemy archers miss their chance, hitting those he pushed aside. Moving the aim into position, he personally pulled the mechanism.
A large stone came towards the castle with exponential speed. It hit the massive body of his target, destroying the front wall in the process. Theodor was killed instantly.
The soldiers of the High Kingdom gawked at their dead commander. The hidden archers, stayed in their hiding, confused. "Is Theodor dead?" one dared to ask.
Nathaniel of the Seven Hill Kingdom smirked, watching the destroyed partition. Bits of rock crumbled over the gaping whole his weapon left. He picked up his sword. "Charge!" he commanded with a powerful yell.