Death of Roland
A flash of light covered his eyes while he was sleeping peacefully in his bed. He opened them to find on old butler with white hair and wearing fancy clothes opening the curtains.
"Jasper," the young man complained, "come on. Five more minutes."
"I'm afraid not Master Roland," Jasper replied, "it is time for you to awaken." The young man, Roland, covered his head with the blankets.
"No," he stated, "I don't want to get up." Jasper walked over to the bed and sighed.
"It is a sorry sight that you should want to waste away in this bed," he stated, "now then, I believe it's time to wake your sleeping companion." He grabbed the blanket and tossed it over to reveal a sleeping dog with white and black fur. He was starting to wake up.
"Hey there," Roland said as he rolled over and started to pet his friend, "how are you?" The dog happily barked at him.
"It lifts one's spirits to see such a heart warming sight," Jasper said with a smile.
"I bet," Roland said as he sat up, "come on boy, if I have to get up, so do you." The dog jumped off of the bed and Roland stood up. He walked over to Jasper who had set up clothes for Roland to wear. It was a fancy blue jacket with golden trimmings, a white undershirt, white pants, gloves, and shoes. There he stood, a young man with brown hair combed nicely and blue eyes. Standing there like the prince that he was.
"Very good sir," Jasper said with a smile, "I'm sure Lady Elise will approve."
"What about Elise?" Roland asked curiously.
"Oh that's right," Jasper said with a slight face palm, "she is waiting for you out in the gardens. She wanted to see you as soon as you woke up."
"Then I better get down there," Roland said in a panic, "come on boy." Roland rushed for the door with his faithful friend right behind him.
"Make sure you avoid your brother today!" Jasper called out. Roland waved his hand to let him know that he heard him. He ran into the garden and finally found Elise. A young woman with green eyes, long blonde curly hair, and wearing nice clothes. The dog ran up to her and she happily started petting him.
"Oh brave strong knight," she said sarcastically, "have you come here to protect me?"
"He's not the only one," Roland said bravely as he walked over to her, "we brave knights will protect you to the death." Elise stopped petting the dog and stood up.
"Really?" she asked, "can I really believe you? I'll need a demonstration of your skill to see if you are truly worthy of protecting me." Roland smiled and leaned in to share a passionate kiss with her. After a few seconds they parted and he continued to smile.
"Are my skills worthy of protecting you?" he asked with a giggle. She smiled and blushed.
"Y-Yes," she stuttered, "very satisfactory." Roland and Elise laughed for a few seconds and then stopped.
"Anyway," he said seriously, "I heard from Jasper that you wanted to see me. What's the matter?"
"Well," she said seriously, "it's about your brother. Everyone is more upset with him than usual."
"Do you know the reason why?" he asked.
"Yes," she replied, "there is a rumor that he had a factory worker executed earlier today." Roland's eyes widened.
"Are you sure?" he asked.
"It's just a rumor," she replied, "but you can imagine how the people are talking. The staff are more on edge than normal. Which is why I wanted you to talk to them."
"If you believe that it will help," he said with a smile.
"I do," she stated, "they may fear the king, but they still care for the prince. Now then, let's go." Roland gently took her hand and they headed for the kitchen. They were silent for the trip, and as soon as they entered, the entire staff gave them their attention.
"Your highness," the chief said with a bow, "it's good to see you. The staff are ready to listen to you." Roland let go of Elise's hand and stood up straight.
"You've all been through some difficult times," he began, "and the king is too preoccupied to treat you like he should." The staff were smiling during his speech. Also, an older man with gray hair, beard, and mustache wearing old red soldier clothes walked into the room.
Walter? Elise thought.
"But I promise to talk to him about improving conditions for you here, and your families outside the castle. So please, be patient and ignore any wild rumors that you hear." The staff smiled at Roland's speech and bowed their heads.
"You call that a royal speech?" Walter asked. Roland looked over at him.
"Walter," he said with a surprised look on his face, "when did you get here?"
"You didn't shout," Walter continued, "you didn't threaten and you were far to reasonable. Hehehehe. It was bloody marvelous."
"Thanks Walter," Roland said with a smile.
[sssss]
The ship from a distant land came sailing into the harbor and docked without any trouble. The passengers boarded off safely and the workers got to work.
"Alright!" shouted a worker, "let's get this stuff unloaded!" They began to unload box after box.
"Alright!" shouted another worker, "here comes a big one!" A large box was strapped to the crane. The crane lifted the box into the air and moved it over the port. Suddenly, the box shook a little.
"Did you see that?" asked a dock worker.
"What are you talking about?" asked the another dock worker.
"The box moved," the dock worker said as he stared at the box. The box was put on the ground and it shook again. All the workers jumped in fright.
"WHAT THE HELL IS IN THERE?" a dock worker shouted. The box top was forced off from the inside and a man stood up. He had a large hammer on his back, wore a brown trench coat, and a white shirt. He got out of the box and he had black pants and brown shoes. He had a pistol in it's holster at his side. He was about six feet tall, had red hair and blue eyes.
"Finally!" he shouted with a stretch, "I've arrived." All the dock workers were stunned at this man.
"What were you doing in that box?" a dock worker asked cautiously. The man looked at him.
"Hitching a ride," he replied, "I have little money and I didn't want to waste it on the boat fair."
"You stowed away on the ship?" the dock worker asked in shock.
"Why the hell not?" the man asked, "now then, where is this?" No one answered him at all. "I would like an answer!"
"B-Bowerstone," a dock worker replied nervously, "in Albion." The man stared at him in shock.
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?" the man shouted.
"N-No," the dock worker replied, "this is Bowerstone." The man sighed.
"Dammit it all," he cursed, "I wanted to go to Camelot. Not this shitty place."
"Hey," a dock worker said angrily, "watch what you say. This is our town. The king may be cruel, but we still live here. I bet you were talking about your home." The man had a dark look in his eyes. He drew his pistol and shot the worker point blank in the face. Blood soar through the air. The body fell to the floor and blood gushed out of the bullet hole in the worker's head. The others stared at the man with fear.
"Much better," he said with a evil smile. He put his pistol back in it's holster and looked at the nearest worker. "Where is the tavern?" He pointed in a direction, shaken with fear. "Good. Thank you." The man left and walked in the direction that the worker pointed. In no time at all, he arrived at the tavern.
"Welcome," he was greeted by a young woman, "how can we serve you?"
"I'd like a drink," the man replied, "and a room for the night."
"Okay," the woman said with a smile, "under what name?"
"Dante," the man replied, "Dante Charlson."
[sssss]
Walter and Roland were practicing with swords in the combat room. They were taking a break.
"Do you remember the stories I would tell you about your father?" Walter asked.
"Yes," Roland replied with a smile, "I do."
"And after every single one," Walter continued with a smile of his own, "do you remember what you would say to me?"
"Yes," Roland replied, "teach me how to be a hero."
"Right," Walter said as he stood in a battle position, "I wish that on old fool like me could teach you to be that." Roland stood ready as well.
"You're not an old fool Walter," he replied.
"Maybe," Walter said as he stood ready to block, "but now we have to go back to training. Now, strike me as hard as you can." Roland concentrated and swung his sword in a 360 degree circle and made contact with Walter's practice sword, and sliced right through it. Both of them were amazed.
"Ah ha," Walter said happily, "you only went and broke it." Roland looked shocked. "Am I a great teacher or what?" Suddenly, Elise came bursting into the room with a worried look on her face.
"Both of you," she said frantically, "you have to come with me. Right now."
"What's happened?" Walter asked.
"It's outside," Elise explained, "there are a lot of people gathered out there. It looks like an demonstration." Walter sighed.
"This isn't good," he said seriously. All three of them rushed into the entrance hall and looked out the window. They saw people shouted and holding up signs that put down King Logan in some way.
"I've never seen so many people outside the castle," Elise said seriously.
"This isn't going to end well," Walter stated, "I don't think they know what your brother is capable of." They continued to look at the people.
"What should we do?" Roland asked curiously.
"It's been a long time since Logan listened to me," Walter replied, "but I'm going to talk to him." He turned to Roland and had a seriously look on his face. "Stay here. There is something that we still need to talk about." He ran off and up the stairs to disappear from their sight.
"We have to do something," Elise said seriously, "I can't just stand here."
"What do you suppose we do?" Roland asked curiously.
"Maybe you should talk to him," she suggested, "you're his brother. Maybe he'll listen to you."
"You do have a point," Roland agreed, "I'll try." The looked over by the stairs and the guards had cleared away from it.
"Here's our chance," she stated, "let's take it." Roland and Elise run up the stairs and looked around.
"The war room is most likely where they are," he suggested. She nodded her head in agreement and they ran to the war room door. They peeked into the key holes to see what was happening. There were some guards in there, Walter, and Logan. He had on purple clothing with a steel chest plate and a black mantle. He had short, combed back brown hair.
"You need to think about what you are doing," Walter pleaded.
"I'm protecting the good people of this kingdom," Logan said seriously. He then turned to a guard that was holding a rifle. "You will shoot to kill. Start with the ring leaders and if necessary, move on to the townsfolk."
"You can't do this," Walter protested. A soldier slammed the butt of a rifle into his knee and Walter fell to the floor.
"Never tell me what I can't do," Logan said smugly to Walter. Roland couldn't take it anymore. He opened the door and walked in.
"No," Walter said seriously, "what are you doing here?"
"Indeed," Logan agreed, "the war room is no place for children."
"I'm here to stop you brother," Roland said seriously, "you can't kill all those people."
"You protect them?" Logan asked curiously, "the traitors of this country."
"They're not traitors," Roland stated, "they are just villagers whose lives are horrible. They are expressing themselves against the ridiculous laws that you have made."
"So," Logan said with rubbing his chin, "you think that you are the one who should make these decisions. Very well, you will have your chance." A guard went behind Roland and grabbed his shoulder. One grabbed Elise as well. Roland gave his guard a swift elbow in the gut. He then went over and punched the other guard that was holding Elise the gut as well and walked over to his brother."
"I'll have it right now," Roland said bravely, "you are going to spare them. They haven't done anything wrong. Also, you will leave Elise alone. She hasn't done anything thing either. And another thing you are g-" A gun shot was heard and blood splattered on Logan's face. Walter's face lit up with shock and so did Elise's and Logan's. Roland's body fell to the floor with blood gushing out of the two holes in his head. Walter looked to the back wall to find a rifle bullet in the back wall. Everyone turned towards the direction of the shot and saw the guard that Roland shot.
"Don't defy King Logan," he said proudly. Everyone stared at him blankly except for Elise who was in shock staring at Roland's body. His dog walked over to his body and whined sadly. Logan drew his sword and stabbed the guard that shot his brother in the heart.
"Logan," Walter said in shock. Logan took his sword out of the guard and blood gushed out of the wound. The guard looked at him with shock in his eyes and fell to the floor.
"Please," he pleaded as he coughed up blood, "help. . .me."
"You shot my brother," Logan replied with a dark tone, "you deserve to die slowly and painfully." Logan kicked the guard's wound and he screamed in pain. He repeated this process even after he was dead. Tears flowed down from his face. Elise was cradling Roland's body in her arms crying. Walter was down on all fours staring at the ground. The prince had been killed and now there was no heir to the throne.