Member
LovelyComplex
Lucid Dreaming
EchoWolff
TheDemonHound
Heckno12
FOUR DAYS AFTER ARREST | ONE DAY AFTER ESCAPE
The king grumbled still at the news that Fenros had escaped his cell. Who even knew he was there? There was clearly a traitor in his mist. But whom was it? In the meanwhile, he told the men to spread the rumors that Fenros was executed last night. Surely this news would spread quickly through the land and any attempt of him to even use his name will bring doubt of the legitimacy of that claim. He entered the dining hall to have a meal with his Son, and Daughter. Hopefully, the new head cook made something good, that last one fouled up the dinner so horribly he was butchered just like the food he prepared. He sat down and waited for his children to arrive.
Eleanor walked into the dining hall, she had heard the men talking earlier about Fenros’ execution last night. She had already broken down earlier in her room at the loss of the man she loved. Now she had to have dinner with the man responsible for his death. She was fuming on the inside but for now, she hid it behind a calm exterior, knowing she should wait to question her father on what he did. The princess looked at her father for a moment before taking her seat, “Good evening father.” She said, her voice void of all emotion.
The king nodded as he watched his daughter. Memories of her crying over a bloody Fenros five years ago. One of the few reasons he pulled them apart. He narrowed his eyes as he noted the lack of emotion. He was surprised, perhaps she didn’t hear of it… or did she finally grow out of caring for the boy? “Did you sleep well?”
“Perfect.” The princess snapped at her father. She was slowly losing the battle of keeping her anger at bay. But she wanted to enjoy a family dinner with her brother at least once more before she ruins what bond she had left with her family members. She closed her eyes and let out a shaky sigh.
The king frowned at his daughters snap at him. A spark of anger ignited within him. However, he decided to ignore it… for now.
Loud footsteps sounded outside the dining hall accompanied by the steady clink of golden spurs. Aaron Cordathian strode into the hall a puzzled, thoughtful expression on his face. The young man played with the hilt of his ornate sword as he walked, seeming calm and collected to the casual observer. However, anyone who took the time to eye the young prince more thoroughly would have seen the signs of agitation. The stiffness in his stride, a vein throbbing near his temple, whitened knuckles clenching and unclenching.
“Greetings Lord father,” Aaron gave a slight bow towards the head of the table, unmistakable venom in his tone. “Sister…” He claimed a seat, easing himself into. He had a sore buttocks from hard riding to return at speed to the castle. He’d been out hunting when the news of Fenros’ sudden and bloody fate reached him. At first furious, and without question curious he made good time in order to learn the full story, and the truth.
It helped that at this time, his son walked in. Distracting him for but a moment. “Aaron. Back from yet another hunt I see?” As the prince entered the food was brought in by the servants, plates already filled and the platters placed if they wished for more. Far more food than they would eat in this sitting, but nevertheless it was there. He took a bite of his food, and after a moment of deciding if it was worthy of another bite he waved his hand to the nervous chef. Who sighed in relief and bowed multiple times before leaving.
After a few minutes of him eating his food. He then went on, ignoring the elephant in the room. “I have been thinking this month, and have made some major decisions that may be sudden, but necessary for the kingdom to survive. After my meeting with the Superior Jennal, we have the Prince of Corrida coming for diplomatic purposes.” He looked directly to Eleanor. “You shall be on your best behavior, hopefully, he will take you as his wife, to solidify our relations with them. And open up relations with his neighboring kingdom.” Then turning to Aaron. “I’ve talked with High Lord Casterly and have arranged you to marry their daughter Elize. With this marriage, we will secure all of their business and money purely for the kingdom.” He said casually, as If both would just accept it, as they were taught to do.
The princess scoffed, “No.” Her eyes were ablaze as she turned towards her father glaring at him. “He is but a child compared to me. Younger than even Aaron. I will not marry someone so young. I told his father the same thing over two years ago.” Her hands were balled into fists as she kept herself from yelling.
Aaron gave a mental pause, his loaded spoon hovering just beyond his lips as he tried to digest this new revelation. For the moment all thoughts of Fenros and executions were cast aside, but they hovered in the background like so many angry bees mingled with his confused and righteous ire at being betrothed without so much as a fabricated request. He couldn’t even recall what Elize really looked like, very pale if he remembered right. The last time he’d met her was when they were much younger, he recalled her being pretty enough but not what he wanted. Not who he wanted; and so his resentment peaked.
“Are we mere political pawns in order for you to ensure your expensive tastes are met Lord Father?” He accused, only held back from joining Eleanor in louder verbal protest by the tiniest strain of self-control. His fist banged upon the tabletop rattling the plates with the force of the blow. “First you execute my friend without so much as a trial, than to betroth us to ladies in waiting and children for partisan gain? You must think us still in our infancy!”
The king froze mid bite as his daughter said no. He dropped his spoon when his own son joined in on the rebel against his order. Flabbergasted at the disrespect they showed him. Leaning back in his chair on his right elbow he pointed a finger with a Jab at Eleanor. “YOU are twenty-six now Eleanor Rose. Any prince or noble worthy of marrying you near your age is already married off or is looking for someone younger. You are almost considered a hag now, You should be grateful a handsome young man like Cornelius has even the eye for you when there are younger maids at his beck and call. Your grandfather married your grandmother ten years his senior and they had a happy marriage. Also, he’s hardly a child anymore, he’s already been leading his people for almost a year now, and has done a better job than his father in that year alone.”
He then turned to his son...his spoiled brat of a child who was aimed to rule this kingdom who seemed more interested in wearing fancy clothes and hunting whenever he had the chance. He growled with anger as he brought up Fenros. “MY EXPENSIVE TASTES? Coming from my Son? Who insists on wearing Gold spurs, and having a ridiculously expensive sword and that you SURELY do not know how to use. Despite me trying, again and AGAIN, to get the best swordmasters in the realm to teach you? Who also has his own collection of Horses, bloodhounds, and falcons? And finally insists on spending every waking moment in the woods with your friends.” He slammed his fist on the table, “Excuse me for thinking both of you are still children in my eye. You both don’t seem to want to move on in your life yourself. So Something must be done!”
He then narrowed his eyes. “As for Fenros, he was hardly your friend. He was a threat to the throne and dangerous with the men. Don’t you dare lecture me on how I rule MY Kingdom.”
Eleanor sat and listened to her father, more and more anger building up within her. Upon mention of Fenros though, she broke. Standing up so quickly her chair fell over behind her as she slammed her hands on the table also knocking her drink over. “Don’t you DARE speak of him like that!!” She shouted her face red in anger as she turned her burning eyes to her father. “Fenros was more of a man than you will ever be! And he cared for the Kingdom AND ITS PEOPLE more than you ever have and a thousand times over! So you don’t dare get to speak of him like that. He was no traitor, no threat to the throne. You are the only threat there is!” Eleanor finished yelling and was breathing hard in anger.
“I-no you…”
Cowering before his father’s lambasting of his entertainments and distractions Aaron fumbled for some retort, some way to maintain his stance against the king’s stinging words. The prince knew he stood no chance in a heated verbal discussion against King Willum, but foolish pride implored him to continue on some track. But every trick of word and tongue had been taught to him by his father, and surely the master kept a few wiles to himself.
Fuming Aaron conceded, bowing his head in an attempt to win back some standing, even with Eleanor’s charges still ringing. “P-p-please accept my-our apologies Lord Father, I-we spoke out of turn.” He glanced towards Eleanor, silently pleading with her to accept defeat where no victory could be found. A look that said we will talk later.
With a glance to her brother, she saw his look, pleading for her to accept defeat but this time she couldn’t back down. Not now, not knowing the one she loved was dead because of him. So she shook her head at her brother and looked back to her father. “He may apologize but I do not. You aren’t worthy of calling yourself king after killing off the man who truly cared for our kingdom!”
The king slammed his fist on the table once more, with such fury and power it would seem he would almost break the table with that blow. He stood up, glaring at his daughter. “That is ENOUGH ELEANOR ROSE. You’re acting like a spoiled brat! Fenros was threatening the foundations of the Vanguard itself. Highly Classified intelligence only he and a few others knew got into the hands of the enemy! It didn’t take much to put two and two together. HE WAS A TRAITOR AND THAT’S FACT. Stop crying over him like a little child because he was YOUR FRIEND. NO ONE IS OUR FRIEND FOR THIS VERY REASON!” He roared at the top of his lungs right back at her. Part of his reasoning was true, he feared that Fenros was indeed turning the men of the vanguard against him, their loyalty clearly to him rather than for him. It was clear half of the vanguard was changing their loyalties. He had to act quickly. The fact of intelligence being lost was true...but there was absolutely no proof it was him.
Eleanor had tears streaming down her face now, a mix of anger and sadness. “HE WOULD DO NO SUCH THING! FENROS WOULD NEVER BETRAY US! HE WOULD NEVER BETRAY ME!” Eleanor yelled back at him, even before Fenros told El he had feelings for her he would never have betrayed them but now knowing how he felt… how he had felt only set that more in stone. “YET YOU NEVER SPOKE TO HIM! NEVER GAVE HIM A CHANCE! YOU KILLED HIM WITHOUT WARNING! YOU DIDN’T EVEN LET ME SAY GOODBYE TO HIM! HE WAS MORE THAN JUST A FRIEND TO ME! BUT THAT’S NOT SOMETHING YOU’D EVER UNDERSTAND SINCE YOU LOCK THE PERSON YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO LOVE IN A ROOM!”
The king boiled in rage as she yelled at him. The fact she admitted she cared more about Fenros than a friend confirmed his suspicions years ago during that attack on their caravan. “ALL THE MORE REASON TO KILL HIM, A PRINCESS AND A BARON FROM THE SAME KINGDOM IN LOVE? JUST A DISTRACTION FROM YOUR DUTY. I’M GLAD HE’S DEAD. GET OVER YOUR STUPID FANTASIES AND GET WITH THE WORLD ELEANOR. GET OUT OF MY SIGHT!” He roared as he moved around the table and quickly moved upon her. He stopped himself, a foot away. He was tempted to slap her for mentioning what he did to her mother. But he restrained himself. Just sticking to ending the conversation with yelling in her face.
Glaring at him she stood still, refusing to move at first. So many thoughts running through her head, a part of her wanting to slap him, another wanting to grab the knife upon the table and kill him, but instead she turned on her heel and stomped out of the room.
The whole confrontation left a bitter taste in Aaron’s mouth. Watching from the sidelines Aaron had, again and again, wished to join in, spit his own venom at his father but better judgment held him silent in his seat. Following Eleanor’s passage out of the hall, Aaron turned once more to his father, at last finding his voice.
“He was our friend, and a loyal man. To Eleanor the most. He would never have put her at risk, nor dare defy you.” Aaron said, more out of spite than actual brotherhood to Fenros. “We’ve lost a powerful asset within the Vanguard by your spur of the moment decision. But do tell, was that before or after you decided to marry El away to Cornelius, that you put him to the axe?”
The king watched her storm off and after a moment his son spoke up again. Only looking at him from the corner of his eyes, he decided to answer the question in a roundabout way.“You would have a man who was more loyal to the princess than to you, the future King of Cordath? A man trusted to guard you. When one ‘slip’ could put her on the throne instead of you? Having a loyal and powerful ally is good...as long as they are fully loyal to YOU.” He said as turned and walked out of the dining hall himself. His hand twitching a great deal at his side.
