His head was pounding, that was the very first thing going through Zen Wistaria's mind.
The second Prince of Clarines then began to register that he was moving, only his legs weren't the ones upon the ground.
Blue eyes drowsily fluttered as Zen fights to regain awareness, the Prince found himself being carried over someones shoulder through what looked like a forest.
The crunching of leaves and twigs echoed as whoever had taken him continued their trek, even seeming to pick up in speed as they realized Zen had awoke.
The fair Prince shook his head slowly as memories began to flood back, he'd been running from Mitsuhide, the man had become insufferable after inhaling whatever the head herbalist had been working on.
Running, then a carriage pulled up that he was swiftly ushered into, the closing of the door, a loud bang and ... Nothing, that's all Zen remembered.
Had they crashed? Been ambushed? Obviously, he himself had been taken captive "Who are you?"
At the sound of the Prince's voice, the kidnapper tightens his hold on his hips and is even now grasping Zen's legs, making extra sure he couldn't reach his sword or kick.
Zen glares in response, struggling would be useless and only tire him out, unfortunately, that only left one option, biding time "Where are you taking me?"
"Some place safe" Declares the man holding him prisoner, Zen reels back in shock upon hearing the familiar voice.
"Mitsu ... Mitsuhide, what are you doing? Put me down!" Orders the Prince to his most trusted friend and guard.
Mitsuhide sighs, he'd known Zen wasn't going to like this plan, but the Prince had to be kept safe and stop running away "I'm sorry your Highness, but I have orders to protect you."
Zen growls as he now starts to struggle "This isn't protection, it's kidnapping! I understand that you're not entirely yourself at the moment, but this is going too far."
"I'm sorry that you feel that way, Highness" answers Mitsuhide sadly, he honestly hadn't wanted to do this to Zen, but the Prince had left him no choice.
"Don't call me that! You know how I feel about friends using my title." Exclaimed Zen, the Prince now trying to grab hold of a loose tree branch in any attempt at halting his friend.
Mitsuhide immediately stops walking, head down cast, body shaking as no doubt tears start to fall "I'm sorry Prince Zen, I didn't mean to upset you."
Zen couldn't help but roll his eyes at the fact Mitsuhide just gave him another nick name, one he'd been stuck with all day "It's just Zen, no Highness or Prince"
Something flashed quickly through his friend, Mitsuhide's body going tense causing a feeling of guilt to form from his own earlier actions "Look, I haven't exactly been dealing with your situation to the best of my ability and for that, I'm sorry."
Mitsuhide's racking body and sobs suddenly cease "No, Zen, you mustn't apologize, if I had been a better protector for you I wouldn't have to go so far."
The statement didn't sit well with the Prince, but instead of getting angry he had to stick to the plan "You're a great protector, Mitsuhide, one of the best. You don't have to do whatever it is we're out here for, let's just go back to the castle."
Mitsuhide wanted to agree, but the dangers were there "I've found a place to keep you safe and secure my Prince."
"What do you mean secure?" Zen's anger was beginning to boil "The castle, my home is the safest place for me, not in the middle of some unknown woods, besides I have my duties to complete and I can't very well accomplish anything over your shoulder or out here."
It was a long shot, but if using his signing of papers got Mitsuhide to release him, then Zen had to give it a try "Put me down and we'll return together, I won't run from you any longer."
"I have to keep you safe, you kept running from me ... I can't protect you if you run."
"I'll stop running, it'll just be you and me in my office signing papers, where there's no danger to myself besides a small paper cut."
Mitsuhide appeared to be in deep thought upon Zen's proposal, prompting the Prince to continue "I won't tell anyone about this, I understand that you're doing what you feel is best, but locking me away isn't going to keep me safe."
Mitsuhide wanted to listen, to turn back as the man had just now realized his legs seemed to have been moving of their own accord, he'd reached a desolate spot, somehow knowing it to be perfect to keep Zen.
They were still in Clarines, just deeper into the ranging forests, honestly, it was surprising Zen hadn't already ventured out this far before.
Mitsuhide himself wasn't sure how he'd come to know of its existence, the original plan had been keeping the Prince hauled up on a ship, but now he found his hands scrabbling through the earth in search.
"What are you doing?" Zen strained his neck to try and see what was happening, from his peripheral the Prince saw his friend pushing away dirt and rocks, eyes widening at the sight of a rusted cellar door handle "Mitsuhide!"
Mitsuhide ignored the squirming Prince as the door is squeakily opened and he's descending the steps.
Spiderwebs lined the walls, running across the room, an old seemingly broken stove, pots, pans, rotted wooden table, unusable chairs and what was left of a white mattress greeted the pair.
Zen's heart began to race, the Prince covering his mouth and nose due to the retched smell and dust "Mitsuhide, we can't stay here."
But just as before his friend paid no mind as he makes his way through the small bunker, swiping away webs in his descent "Mitsuhide, listen to me righ-"
Zen's declaration is interrupted as the young man is thrust upon the bed, momentarily shocking him long enough for Mitsuhide to force his wrists behind his back. "What are you doing?"
Zen fights as the feeling of cold, smooth steel encircled both his hands, but he was at such a disadvantage there was nothing that could be done to stop Mitsuhide from locking the manacles firmly in place. "Stop!"
"I'm sorry it's had to come to this, Zen." Spoke Mitsuhide, the man looping the attached chains to the bedpost "But you won't stay here otherwise."
Growling, Zen pulled and tugged on the chains, finding no weakness in the metal whatsoever, head turning to study his shackles "You can't keep me here"
The Prince was so focused on studying his wrists that by the time he'd felt the ropes winding his ankles and knees together, the knots were just being finished. "Hey!"
"This isn't permanent, Zen." Speaks Mitsuhide as the man moves to begin cleaning the small prison "Think of it as a vacation, I'll take you back once I deem the castle safe enough for you."
"A vacation doesn't include being kidnapped and chained in some shack by your best friend." Retaliates the Prince
"I'll admit this wasn't my original destination, but this works so much better than a boat! It's underground so you'll be safe from most natural disasters."
"You readied a boat?" Zen couldn't help but feel betrayed "Exactly how long have you been planning my kidnapping?"
Mitsuhide rubbed the back of his neck nervously "It's not kidnapping, Zen. This is for your own good and protection, my job is to keep you safe and-"
"That may be, but dragging me deep into the woods, tying me up, holding me against my will? That's the definition of kidnapping. You're forcing me to stay here, Mitsuhide. None of this" Exclaimed the Prince as he purposely rattled his chains "Is with my say so."
Mitsuhide's eyes and head downcast once again, the man seemingly blacking out, prompting worry from Zen "Mitsuhide? Hey! Don't ignore me!" His friend remained stationary and seemingly oblivious "Mitsuhide!"
Whatever that concoction had done to his friend, it wasn't good. The Mitsuhide he'd grown up with would never do this, but this person who'd taken him wasn't that same valiant protector. The man standing before him would go to any lengths he deemed necessary in order to keep him safe.
"Mitsuhide, you have to fight it! What ever it's doing to you, you can't let it control you! Is doing this to me really what you want? What you feel is the best option?"
Zen was seconds away from ripping the bed apart when his friend took in a huge breath full of air and quickly regained all his focus "Mitsuhide, are you alright?"
Mitsuhide rubbed at his forehead "Yeah, just a bit of a headache, nothing to worry about."
Zen stared, he'd experienced many headaches and they'd never caused a reaction such as what he'd just witnessed. "That wasn't any headache I've ever seen, your eyes changed."
"I didn't mean to frighten or worry you, Zen."
Zen sighs in a mixture of relief his friend was alright and annoyance at said friends need to put him first. "Would you stop putting my well being above your own? Something is clearly wrong."
Mitsuhide stares blankly, Zen leans his head backwards in response, accidentally hitting the metal bed frame harshly "Oww!"
"Prince Zen!" Screams Mitsuhide, the man rushing forwards, taking the young adult into his arms and examining his head "You didn't break skin, but there's a bit of a bump."
Zen wrenches himself free from Mitsuhide's grip "I'm fine, didn't realize there wasn't a pillow there is all, don't worry about it."
As if taking in the sights of the cellar for the first time, Mitsuhide shuddered. This was no place for Zen, the Prince had already gotten hurt.
Unfortunately he'd already secured Zen, ropes entwined the princes struggling knees and ankles, wrists shackled and chained to the sturdy beds metal frame.
He'd been lucky to have even bound Zen, he couldn't take the risk of untying the prince with him now knowing he'd just be re-tied, that and it would be getting dark soon, walking in the woods at night would be even worse for his Prince.
With a sigh Mitsuhide looked towards the cellar doors, he'd have to go back to the castle to get certain provisions "I'm sorry you got hurt, Zen. I will fetch you the softest pillow and best available medical treatment for your head."
"We're going back?" Zen's blue eyes immediately turned to his friend, the same friend who was now making his exit "Wait! You can't leave me here like this!"
Mitsuhide ignored the plea, the man now walking up the steps "You'll be safer here, Zen. I'll return as soon as I can with the items."
"No!" Zen writhed in the ropes and chains, the outside light now dimming as the cellar door was being closed "MITSUHIDE!"
There's the first chapter of Severance for you all, this is from the anime Snow White with the Red Hair. I'm a huge fan of the show. This is based on an episode from season 2.
