First story for me :)
Tick, tick, tick.
Roxas tapped his fingers on the wooden table impatiently, glancing warily at his unnaturally quiet brother. Their father had been with the council for over two hours, and frankly, Roxas was starting to become annoyed. How long could it possibly take twelve old men to discuss a war? Either they went or they did not. Simple as that.
"Calm down Roxas." Sora sighed, "You know how they can be."
"This is ridiculous, Brother." The blond stood, screeching his chair across the floor. Several servants jumped to attention, ready for orders, but Roxas merely waved them off with a flick of his hand and paced the long hall anxiously. There was a cough from the corner and it echoed loudly in the silent corridor, giving Roxas the chills.
"Brother." Sora suddenly stood. Roxas turned to him, confused, before he too noticed a servant scrambling in to the room. The man was young, probably no more then sixteen, and licked his lips excitedly as he entered, "Princes." He bowed low, waiting for permission to speak. "Go on." Sora gestured to the boy impatiently. The kid stood back to his full height, a smile on his face, "The council has dispersed and the king is waiting to see you."
"Finally." Roxas sighed. He placed a coin in the servant's hand before grabbing his brother's arm and leading him out of the hall. Sora was walking unsteadily at his side, curiousity bubbling inside him, "What do you think they decided on? Do you think we will go to war?" His brunet hair bobbed playfully as his anxiety grew.
Roxas wasn't sure of the council's decision. He had no guesses, "We will see in a minute, I suppose."
They were momentarily stopped at the doors to the grand hall, but after a quick chat with one of their father's favored generals, Roxas and Sora managed to finally slip inside. "Father." They both bowed their heads simultaneously before the king granted them with a smile, "Ah, sons. Sorry for the delay. The council was nearly split in two." He rubbed his beard in thought, "It seems they grow farther apart in their agreements every meeting."
"The conclusion, Father?" Sora suddenly spoke up. Roxas glanced at his brother with a glare for speaking out of turn.
"Yes, yes, of course." The man laughed, "It seems we are going after all. Well, at least to deliver the terms. Whether or not there will be a war is completely up to them. I have already sent Wakka to gather Tidus and the others. They ride out in two days." Sora's mouth thinned to a tight line and he nodded his head the slightest bit, backing away to hurriedly take his leave.
"Two days?" Roxas questioned once his brother was out of sight, "Why wait so long? Why not leave this evening?" The king sighed and began playing with his beard again. He didn't answer for a long moment, "I'm not sure. It was Riku's request and I simply concurred. There's no harm in waiting a day or two, right?"
The young prince worried his bottom lip in thought. They did not have a whole lot of time to spare if they were planning to make peace with their enemy. Did his father not see this?
"Or perhaps that is a bit too long..." The king stood from his grand chair, striding across the room to his youngest son, "Maybe I should send word to Riku that we can not afford to delay any longer..." Roxas watched his father contemplate the dilemma, trying to settle the growing cold in the pit of his stomach. He realized he knew why Riku asked for the later date.
"I have decided you are right, Roxas. I shall send word to the stables immediately. You shall ride out tonight." Roxas's father seemed satisfied with his final conclusion and began rounding up the servants, sending word to a few carefully chosen soldiers. The young prince took a deep breath, settled in a deep bow, and then nearly sprinted from the room to head in the direction of Riku's quarters.
His door was shut tight, but Roxas could hear the hushed voices speaking within. He glanced down the hall before knocking strongly on the wooden door. There was some slight shuffling and whispers, but Riku quickly stepped out.
"Roxas." He seemed surprised, but relieved, to see the blond in front of him, "What brings you here?"
"Father has decided instead to push out troops tonight. He sends servants now at this very moment to tell you, and I know you have Sora inside." Roxas was younger than Sora by two years, but he had always known his brother's little secret. Somewhere around his twelfth birthday, Roxas had accidentally walked in on his fourteen year old brother and his best companion. He never told Sora this, but somewhere along the way, it became known that Roxas was smarter than he looked when it came to the situation.
"You're sure?" Riku's face visibly paled. Without waiting for a reply, the young man turned back in to his rooms and called for the middle Strife brother. Sora appeared a second later. "What is it, Brother?"
"Father is on his way." The blond heard foot steps echoing along the stones. His brother's eyes widened, opening his mouth to speak before closing it again and shuffling to straighten and smooth out his attire. Riku handed him his expensive boots, and between the three of them, they managed to lace them back up to perfection.
"Very well." Sora nodded sternly, glancing at his companion, "We better be on our way. Come back in one piece, Ri." He leveled his voice, eliminating all suspicions of anything funny going on. Together, the two princes left the flat respectfully, looking innocent enough when they opened the door to several messengers.
"Princes." They all bowed, brushing past to speak with Riku. The brothers smiled and carried on. "Thanks." Sora coughed, glancing around them once they had left Riku's hall, "That could have ended up bad. I figured I should have waited until tonight to go over there."
Roxas shrugged, "No matter. Why is it you spend so much time with him right before he leaves? You act like he's never coming back." A silence drifted between them and Sora let out a long sigh, "Because what if he doesn't come back one of these times?"
"He will." Roxas nodded confidently, "He will."
"Prince Strife." One of the ladies of the court approached them nervously. Roxas looked from the young girl then to his brother with a frown. She seemed to realize her mistake before shaking her head in embarrassment, "I'm sorry... I meant Prince Roxas. Lady Strife seeks your company on the front lawn."
"Right." He bit the inside of his cheek, "I'll go to her now. Please send for my horse to be readied, along with my provisions. Tell the servants of my house that I ride out in no less than an hour or two." The lady curtsied and hurried off, most likely panicking to remember all she'd been instructed. Sora grew restless at his side, "Must you go as well?" The truth was, Roxas enjoyed battles. He loved the fighting and riding. Sora on the other-hand, didn't feel quite as sure about them. They made him extremely nervous. "Sora... we do not even know if there is going to be a battle yet."
"Either way...I can assure you... when I am King there will be no more wars." The brunet cross his arms defiantly, a confident smile rising across his lips. Roxas chuckled, "Yeah... and that's why you're probably going to end up as the king of your own house and nothing else. Every kingdom for miles around will be ready to destroy you."
"And I'm sure you and Riku will be right there along side of me." His grin grew impossibly wider, and Roxas smiled in return. They embraced as brothers before the blond moved away and started towards the front lawn. He didn't want to keep Namine waiting any longer.
The castle was alive with motion, every able hand roaming about to get the soldiers ready for departure. A war with the kingdom of Drusus would not be easily won. They had numerous skilled warriors fighting for them, Roxas recalled, and they would most likely be equally challenged with the Strife's own generals, should they decide not to sign the treaty.
"Roxas." A soft voice called out. The blond hadn't even known he'd already made it to the doors. "Come." She called, waving him over. He did as she asked and quickly strode across the dirt road, nodding to several farmers pulling in the days crop down the hill. "Nam." He smiled as he grew closer, taking her hand and kissing it softly on the wrist. She was his wife and therefore he respected her greatly, but Roxas couldn't actually bring himself to say or think that he actually loved her. Their marriage was strictly business. She was the only daughter of the Thane of Fahim, he was the third son of the King of Luce, and they were perfectly matched. Their marriage meant many alliances.
"You are leaving tonight I hear?" She played with a strand of hair hanging in her face, attempting to fix it behind her ear. She was very fair looking, but Roxas just could not find himself attracted.
"I am." He replied after a long moment. Several maidens were littered across the grounds, giggling ferociously. A few of them winked at him. All eyes were on them.
When was the last time he had gone to Namine's chambers after hours?
"You will be careful, won't you?" She asked timidly, interrupting his thoughts.
Roxas really couldn't think of the last time they had slept in the same bed. Two weeks maybe? Three? Crap, he was probably the gossip of the entire court.
"Of course." He finally said, growing annoyed. The giggling suddenly erupted louder, and Roxas used every ounce of self control he had to stop from chasing them back inside. His wife seemed to sense his tension and turned crossly to her ladies, using her native language to command them to step back in side. "I really should be going." He reached his arms to her in a hug, knowing full well that the ladies were still watching. Maybe this would subside some gossip until he returned. "You're nose is turning pink. Perhaps you should go inside as well." Her cheeks flushed red and Roxas held her a bit tighter, leaning down to kiss her.
"Farewell, Princess." He smiled and released her, moving to return back to his own quarters.
.
"Are you ready, Brother?" Cloud, the eldest Strife son, asked carefully as he straddled his horse's saddle, "You seem pale." Roxas shook his head and mounted his own steed, looking to his brother with a small smile, "Never better." Still a bit unsure, Cloud watched him a moment longer before holding his arm up in signal. Everyone readied themselves behind the two princes.
"Let's ride!" He called out, kicking his horse to life. Roxas did the same, and together, the two rode at the head of the army. The younger Strife let himself glance back at the castle one last time before they pivoted at the top of the hill and disappeared out of view. The stone walls in the distance were strangely comforting, and Roxas held his breath, already wishing he could return. His father stood at the gates, Sora and Namine at his side, waving and praising for his sons' return.
"Good-bye, Father." Roxas saluted him. Under his breath he added quickly, "and please do not do anything stupid while we are away."