Bad For Him

I met Erik in the lobby and explained what was happening, he was rather shocked but once I explained the trial part he was all for it. We start to make our way down the halls and towards the basement, where the the entrance to the dungeons were located. As we start to walk down the halls I spot crowds of people gathered outside the gates, they all wore black with most of them holding flowers in their hands. "People have been arriving since the news broke, they've been laying flowers for the former Queen" Erik explains noticing I was looking, I just smile at the thought of all the love that Lizzy was receiving. Once I make to the basement my usual guards stood by the door, but a new one catches my eye and nearly make tears build up in my eyes. Stood there was the man that found me on the dock, the one that who was beside me saying I was going to be okay. "I haven't got the chance to thank you yet, you and the other man are the reason I am here standing in front of you" I smile shaking his hand, he bows his head with a smile. "No I need to thank me ma'am, my supervisor was so impressed that he promoted me to one of your personal guards, that is all the thanks I need" he smiles but I shake my head, he saved my life he should be given an award. "I was thinking the same thing my love, we will be present the two men with an award sometime before the trial, for their bravery and just for saving you my love, you can tell them if you wish" Gray mind-links me, I went to reply but remembered I couldn't. "The King and I are going to present you both with an award, for your bravery and for saving my life" I smile happy that I got to tell them, his face just holds shock and happiness once I tell him "be sure to tell the other guy" I smile as the door opens to the dungeon, a man walks out bowing his head while moving to the side. I send the man that saved me a final smile before following some of the guards into the dungeon, the small dark staircase was dark and cramped as I remember. Once we reach the bottom I'm led to one of the first dungeons, I always walk passed this one and yet, I've never looked in it. The guards open the door two of them walking in first, they stand either side of the door as I make my way in. As I enter I see a man sitting on the floor with his hands in chains, he looks rather shocked as I make my way in a stop right in the middle. He still had the same eyes but his face has sunken in a way and he looked as though he hadn't washed in quite a while. He went to speak but a voice from behind me stops him. "The Queen is the first to speak, you of all people should know that" Erik's voice says from behind me, he still likes his rules and regulations. "You are attending Elizabeth Bennett's funeral today, we will give you half an hour to get washed up and dressed into a suit, she deserves that don't you think?" I ask looking down at that man, he goes to stand but his legs buckle from underneath him. "Gr-Grayson is allowing me to attend" he asks still trying to stand, on the third try he manages to pull himself up but he was still wobbly. "It took a lot of persuading on my part, but Gray is allowing you to attend the funeral of your mate, I believe she would want you there" I say actually starting to feel bad for him, yes I know he's done such terrible things but look at him. "He deserves to live in that manner my love, you are too nice of a person to understand that, but that's one of the things I love about you"Gray mind-links me, aww that was really cute. "Why are you helping me?" Preston asks snapping me out the one way conversation with Gray, I still couldn't answer him. "I'm not doing this for but for Lizzy, even though you are such a terrible man, I know you loved her, you have the right to watch her being laid to rest and to say goodbye" I smile down at him, tears begin to build in his eyes as he sent me one back "now you will go with the guards to get cleaned up, I will be waiting out here" I smile before turning to walk out the door, I hear a little thank you as I fully leave the room, well that went differently to how I thought. Twenty minutes later I was still waiting, but one of the head guards were going over the plans for keeping Preston close but not so the public would take notice. Gray wanted him to be in handcuffs but I said it would be too obvious, Preston isn't as strong as he used to be I mean he's been in this little cell for over ten years! One of the guards said he still has powerful blood running through his veins, he won't be as strong as he used to be but if he wanted he can still have some force. The head guard was telling me all the possibilities, for some reason I had the final call. "We could have guards dressed as normal guests, that way they can stand within arms length of the prisoner without raising any alarms" he suggests which was the best strategy that we've been able to come up with, anyone that would see the guards would just think it's some grieving person. "That seems like the best option, I can trust you will handle it all" I say which makes the guard bow his head, he leaves to get it all sorted as Gray invades my head again. "The funeral is to start in less than 20 minutes, I have not heard a peep from you my love, I wish I could ask you and you would reply" he mind-links me, I know I could have used his opinion in the guard situation. "I know you made the right decision my love, do not worry I just know the doctors will find a way to bring your wolf back" he says after hearing my thoughts, if he wants to know what's happening he could mind-link Erik, he's constantly with me. He must have liked that idea cause seconds later Erik's face goes blank, I just shake my head with a smile as I spot Preston walking around the corner followed by guards. He was freshly washed now and had a clean suit on, he looked like a different person. Erik reminds me we have to leave now if we don't want to be late, so I start to walk out with Preston right behind me. As we make it to the top of the stairs I hear a gasp, I turn to see Preston just looking around at the basement, why would a basement be shocking? I guess if he's had to stay down in the dungeons for over ten years, everything you'd see would be new and weird. Once we leave the basement the head guard was stood waiting for me, around 20 men in suits stood beside him which I assume were the guards in disguise, I have to say I would never guess these men were nothing more than family members. In no time we were making our way out the castle and towards where Gray would be waiting, Preston was walking beside me with Erik on the other side. We walk in silence for a few minutes until Preston spoke up. "Are we going to be meeting Grayson before the funeral takes place?" He asks from beside me, I've heard all these stories about this guy but I just can't place it with how he's acting now. "That's correct my love, acting" Gray mind-links me, he's been more interested in what I'm thinking recently. "Yes, that's where we're going right now and we'll walk with him to the funeral" I explain as we walk down the huge stairs that led to the back garden bit. "I see Grayson has changed some of the garden, it is probably things you like....sorry what is your name?" Preston asks me was we continue on with our journey, from beside me I hear Erik say ma'am but I shake my head at him. "You're family so you can call me Clara" I tell Preston who looks at me for a second, it was like he was trying to place my name with my face. Before he could speak we arrive just outside from where the funeral was to take place, people lined the outside street some were even crying. It looked as though thousands upon thousand of people were attending. Out the corner of my eye I spot Kyle sending me a smile, in his eyes I knew he was relieved to see me. I would have to wait until we were in our seats to talk to him, I send him a smile before continuing with my journey to find Gray. At the gate of the place was where he stood with Josh, he immediately turns, his eyes not landing on me but on the person walking beside me. "Look at my boy" I hear Preston say as we inch closer and closer, Gray snaps out of his trance and walks over to me. "I am not your boy, it is only due to Clara you are even standing there" Gray spits back at his father, I take hold of his hands causing him to look down at me. "Not now Gray, people are looking" I whisper looking around at the public, who I don't think had noticed Preston yet. Gray takes a deep breath in before taking my hand, we stand in front of the gate for a second. He sends the guards a nod where the gates are opened and we begin to walk in, to say a final goodbye to Lizzy.