Disclaimer:
I don't own RA. Disclaimer for whole story.
|| Illustrious ||
xxx
Author's Note:
So another story...?
It was bound to happen (this story) because I've been writing a lot of Duncan lately.
I also have an interest in minority characters, (as in they aren't explored as much). And I know a lot of RA fans don't read my work because it's not the basic Will/Halt, BUT, Will is a terribly restricting character to write about. His mind, personality and thoughts are completely mapped out. This limits my creativity. You can argue Horace is the same, but his character has constantly been surprising me up to Book 9, so it's easier to write him.
Anyway, I thought this would be interesting to write.
My length for chapters hasn't been determined, it may range from 300-2000, depending how I feel. I've done a few moments in my stories that I don't want to repeat, so you could expect them to be the short ones.
It's in oneshot form because there is no plot; I just flash to various points of his life and write significant moments.
I hope you all like it :)
01 - The Realm of Giants
To him, Castle Araluen was the home of giants.
Everyone around him was huge, seemingly ten feet tall, while the ceilings stretched up into the sky, so far he could barely make out the beautiful architecture.
Everything about it awed him; it made him feel smaller and less significant.
From the moment he was born, he had been treated differently, and rightly so; because he was the heir to the Araluen throne, the only child of the King and Queen.
Young Prince Duncan was boisterous, energetic and a huge handful for his caretakers.
His mother would let him run free, so long as he didn't act inappropriately, while his father scolded him for his childish behaviour.
A Prince had a certain way to act, even if he was only six.
But regardless, his mother would overrule the King and let him play, since he wouldn't get a normal childhood.
Duncan loved his parents, both of them.
While his father could seem harsh and controlling, he was a wonderful storyteller, while his mother often took him to visit places and get a feel for the world around him.
Despite what most people thought, the young Prince was very humble. He was content to sit by himself, and took his punishments if he broke a rule. He didn't press his status, and even liked it when his maid scolded him when he did something wrong.
All in all, he was the epitome of innocence.
By the time he was seven, he had many friends throughout the castle.
When the King found him playing with the servant's children, he sent them away and took Duncan onto his lap and explained the normal functions of a Prince.
From that day forth, his father was restricting and the playing began to stop.
Children and friends were replaced by snooty nobles and teenagers much older than him.
His toys and wooden swords were switched with books and scrolls of the geography.
And then reality hit home that Duncan was a Prince and had to act like one.
For a child of now eight, he was no longer awed by the flying buttresses and huge-ness of Castle Araluen.
He felt the walls closing in on him and the mannerisms suffocating him.
He learnt that to be too humble was unwise, but being too arrogant was even worse. He had to learn justice and law and decide things for himself, even if his opinion wouldn't be taken.
But one day his mother took him from his logic class and whisked him away to the garden for some quality time.
As he got to explore and play with the blooming flowers, admiring the butterflies and bees as they flitted about, his mother watching with affectionate eyes.
"Duncan." He heard her say and glanced up.
"I know it's not easy, it wasn't for me." She told him. "But if you learn now, it'll be much easier later in life. Not all of what you are being taught is true."
"My classes aren't real?" He protested, his young voice high pitched and angry.
His mother smiled and reached down to envelop him in a hug.
His mother was anything but beautiful, she was average at best. But when she smiled, it made her seem a bit kinder, and she was infinitely warm and loving.
"Your father has his advisors and those he keeps close to help run the castle. If you choose friends and people you trust, life won't be as restricting." She instructed carefully.
"I choose the people to help me?" He squeaked in surprise.
Nodding, she brushed his golden hair with a hand. "Yes, your father rules not by his merit, but by his power, remember that."
Duncan gazed at her, his head tilted.
The Queen wasn't even sure if he understood her, but she hoped that one day he would take her advice to heart.
"Come now, Professor Justine won't want to wait too long for you." She ordered and reached down to offer a hand.
Taking it with a childish smile, she led the Crown Prince back inside.
A/N:
I am really unsatisfied with this one, but I had to post it. If I didn't, I'd procrastinate for a lot longer, this way I can actually do another chapter afterwards that's much better in terms of plot. I wanted to start from his childhood, hence being a child.
Also, I got the reference to Cassie's grandmother from Book 4 at the end when she gets back to the Castle. So taking she was alive for a part of Cassie's life, she can be a huge influence here.
- Love Mae.
