Don't care if it's wrong or inaccurate or not canon and whatever logical reason you throw at me. Because I'm sorry, you don't understand how much I desperately need a happy story of Hilmes. So I finally stopped laying in my puddle of tears, angst, and salt to write one.
I realized the vagueness in my first summary, thanks to a review. So it is a happy AU story that does not follow the main story plot of Arslan Senki. Instead, these will be random short plots in each chapter and drabbles.
I haven't read the novels (the ones translated), but it's on my to do list. I have read spoilers of certain things and I heavily debate whether to use them. However, I don't believe the novel is viewed as much, compared to the anime and the manga. My main issue is I don't want to spoil anyone, so I'll stick with the materials from the anime and manga.
Thank you for reading and feel free to ask any questions!
Metal sparks flew from his sword as he clashes against another sword. The ringing of iron echoes throughout the courtyard with each hit. The screeching was only unpleasant to those unfamiliar to the dancing of swords.
For the prince of Pars, he was accustomed to this melody. Ever since he could hold a sword in his hand, he was trained in this art.
Left, right, up, down, he parries each move perfectly. He takes a step forward lunging for his opponent, again, again, again. A good defense is a good offensive in his opinion.
However, experience always outweighs youth in these moments.
The force of the strike from his opponent causes him to lose his grip on hilt and his sword flies out his hands.
The prince lost this spar… again.
He stumbles, but doesn't fall. He's learned to not fall on his bottom anymore, which is probably the only win he has in these spars. He's figured out how to take the impact and know where to balance himself after. At least, he can retain some pride.
His instructor really was a skilled warrior. He hopes one day to win a match against him and fight side by side with his father on the battlefield. Ultimately, his dream was to become a worthy king Pars. He wants to make them proud.
"Very good, my prince." The old man man praises while stroking the sides of his beard.
The handmaidens waiting off to the side diligently, they brought over a towel to wipe the prince's long day of training.
The prince smiles at the praises and the feeling of losing eases with each praise.
The prince has duties and expectations and lessons! He must learn everything and everyone. He was the heir, next in line to be king. Then, he too would do the same as his father did before and continue the royal bloodline.
Ah, but such is the fate of royalty.
The prince is expected to have allies, followers, subordinates, but not friends.
The children of nobility were wary and careful of the prince. One false move and off with their heads! But children of nobility and royalty do not play.
Prince or not. He was still only ten, a child and children thirst for attention. His father, the king, had duties for the greater good of the kingdom. The king hardly spent any time with his son. After all, the needs of many outweigh the need of one. His mother, the queen, died from childbirth. The prince's status isolates him from other children of low and high birth. From an early age, he is surrounded by adults and burdened by adult expectations. Adults who have forgotten the ways and joys of childhood.
A messenger runs to them, panting. "A message for you, my prince! You are to return to your chamber to prepare to meet our honored guest later this evening!"
The prince obeys. A prince always obeys… until he ascends the throne, then he is to command, rarely (close to never) obey. A king would hear counsel.
The handmaidens prepare a bath for him and later dress him in the finest. By the time they are done, they were to meet their honored guest.
He meets his father and he greets him with the utmost respect and warmth. The prince was blessed to have a loving father, even if the King did not spend much time with him.
The king was blessed to have a son who understood their duties and to still adorn him with affection. Truly, the king was a proud father.
The prince could see the carriage coming around and he wonders, who is their special guest today? This is the first time today, he's heard they were to have a guest. He hadn't even been informed by a servant or anyone for that manner. As busy as his father was, his father would have said something. It must be someone extremely important. Is his father planning to remarry?
The carriage finally halts at the entrance and a soldier opens the door. An elegant woman emerges with long, light blonde and blue eyes.
He hears. "Tahamine."
No doubt, her beauty was striking and no one could deny it, not even a boy inexperienced in the ways of love. He had to admit, she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. He may be a boy, but he has seen his fair share of girls and woman. He was the prince who needed a fiance and his father was king who did not have a queen. However, his attention on her was fleeting as a child appears behind her.
The prince is enchanted.
The prince's emerald eyes widen in surprise at the petite and slender child. What catches his attention weren't only the striking features of the child's snowy locks or his lapis eyes. Though, he wouldn't lie and say that those features didn't accentuate the child's grace and purity. No, rather it was the smile. He found it difficult to tell, whether the golden rays of the sun blinded him or because it was the child.
His father,King Osroes walks up to the child. He signals for the child to rise and motions for the prince to come over. King Osroes takes one of the prince's hand and takes one of the child's hand. His father brings their hands together.
The prince's hand entwines with the child's. The prince found that hand to be soft and fragile, a hand that should be protected. Compared to his, which were rough and larger, one that should protect. He almost didn't want to let the warmth conveyed in his palm go.
"My son, Hilmes meet your new younger brother, Arslan."