Chapter I
Psychoanalysis
"Somebody's in trouble!!!" sings out a little girl as her skips echo down the hallways of the castle behind her older brother. "Shut up Nicole!" scowls the boy, annoyed by his sister's childish actions. "Oh, lighten up Henry! Just because mom and dad want a private meeting with you ASAP, doesn't mean your doom or anything." she says cheerfully. Henry sighs. She just didn't understand. "You have awhile before you need to find a suitor. I'm the first-born son! Therefore, mine's more important because I'll be running this place after father dies!" Nicole stopped skipping and folds her arms. "Just because you're going to be king someday you think you're sooo... important!! I'm important too you know!! It's not all about you!!" and with that she stomped down the hallway, leaving Henry in front of the extravagant doors that will lead him to his doom, as his sister put it.
"But father, I can choose someone on my own!!" argues a distraught Henry in a fight he knows he cannot win. "We've given you that chance and you haven't yet. Most men your age have already beautiful families and look at you. You're almost 23 and you haven't found a queen for this country! What's going to happen after I die!?" The king paced back and forth in front of the prince who looked down shamefully He stood in the middle of the throne room, playing with his hands behind his back. "We shall have to find someone for you instead since you have proven to be irresponsible and incompetent in all this. If you don't find someone soon this family will be a disgrace to the nation!!!" Henry's eyes got wide as he lost his composure. "WHAT!? But father!—" "But nothing Henry! I gave you a chance and you failed! It is now up to me and your mother to find you someone suitable."
Henry stuttered. He had nothing to argue back with. He looked over at his mother, sitting in the thrown quietly, with pleading eyes but she shook her head and looked down, unable to do anything for him. His father went and sat on his thrown next to the queen. "I'm sorry son but that's the way it has to be done." he said in a stern tone. Henry sighed and looked down. There was no more he could do. "You are dismissed now." His father said in his kingly tone. Henry hated when he spoke to him like that. He was his own son! They share the same royal blood! He should treat him like his son not like a lowly servant!! He bows and leaves the room silently, yet in a dignified manner, well, the best he could put on at the moment.
"I'm sorry son but that's the way it has to be done..." Henry mumbled, mocking his father, as he wandered around the castle not paying any particular attention to where he was going. After much more mocking and ranting, he looks up and finds himself in a dark and dismal place. "Hmm...apparently, I somehow managed to wander into the prison. Oh well," he said shrugging, "At least I get some quiet time to myself." With that, he wandered over to a side wall and slid down it until he was in a sitting position on the floor. He sighed and looked down at the damp floor beneath him. "I can do things on my own. I'm capable of doing that. I am my own person. He doesn't need to treat me like a child! I can think for myself and make my own decisions." He sighs and becomes less passionate and returns to depressing. "I just want to make him proud." He whispers to the shadows.
After a moment of silence a voice from the darkness speaks up "Nobody in this kingdom thinks for themselves. The monarchy took that right from them." Henry's head snaps up as he tries to see into the shadowy dungeon. "Who is that?!" he demands trying to disguise the shaking in his voice. An evil snicker seemed to echo through the walls and surround him. "Who's there!" he asks again standing up, fists clenching at his sides. "Relax little prince. I won't hurt you. Even if I wanted to I can't. I seemed to be chained to this wall here." Henry slowly turns his head to the mysterious voice coming from inside the cell next to him. "I thought this level was empty." He thought out loud. "Apparently not" answered the voice. Henry grabbed a torch off the wall and moved it closer to the cell to get a better look at his eavesdropper. He could not make out much, but enough to know that the voice belonged to a female with dark clothes and long black hair. As she said, she was bound to the wall by chains locked on her wrists.
She glared and turned her head. "Do you mind?" she asked. Henry quickly apologized and moved the torch away from the cell. 'Wait a minute Henry. You just obeyed a prisoner. A rebel against your father's law!' Henry thought to himself until the inmate broke his train of thought. "So, having father problems?" she asked. Henry nodded "Uh huh...not like you care though right?" he said defensively. The jingling of chains was heard as she shrugged her shoulders. "True, but it sounds like you need someone to talk to, and I have nothing better to do." Henry thought for a moment. He hated to admit it but she was right. He sighed and slid down the wall once more, back into his sitting position. "Alright..." Suddenly, he found himself pouring his heart and soul out to this criminal. This lawbreaker, whom he just met minutes ago, and in a matter of moments, knew his whole life story. Something about her made him calm and trusting. He could open up without fear of his true self being judged.
Finally, he finished, and after she gave him exceptionally good, unbiased advice, he realized how late it really is. "Oh! Well thank you for this wonderful talk! I'm sorry but I must take my leave of your company." He could see the silhouette of the inmate nod. "I understand. Thanks for the company as well and helping me pass the time." He bows and begins to head out. "I'll stop by tomorrow!" he calls back over his shoulder to her as he exits the prison. The prisoner stares after him. "What?" she stated in shock. He actually wanted to come back and talk to her?! "Wow, he must have no life." She says to herself with a chuckle and leans back against the wall to get some rest.
Henry was now the one practically skipping down the hallway as he passed his sister. She stopped to stare at him in surprise. "Mom! I think Henry's sick!" she called down the long hallway. "Oh, you don't know anything!" he said as he passed her, patting her on the head. "Goodnight my darling little sister!" He continued down the hallway to his room. He quickly changed and sat by his window, gazing out into the night, thinking of, maybe the best conversation he's ever had. He let the experience sink in replaying the events in his head. Her advice made a lot of sense and helped him out more then he thought it would. He let out a small sigh and his eyes drifted to some lights in the distance. Before he retires for the night, he took a moment to gaze at the town and he dreams of the life he longs to know.
AN: This event of the French Revolution is true, but the people and other events in the story is fictional and completely made up by the voices in my head. I am a history geek and I am fully aware of the misplaced names and such. Its a fictional story with fictional characters in a real historic event. I am not claiming that this story is true nor are the people.
I wrote this a few years ago. I had a sudden urge and desire to write a story about a theif, better yet, an assassin who steals the heart of a young anxious prince after watching a particular movie, which shall remain nameless. I wrote a prologue, edited somewhat, and started the first chapter. Then I stopped and I don't know why I never started up again. But now I wish to finish it! Or at least see how far I get. I tend to write a few chapters then stop for like...a year unless someone encourages me to continue. If that doesn't happen my muse tends to hide for a year or two before its hibernation is complete and I am able to write a couple more chapters.
Now, I know I'm not some great author like Hemmingway or Poe or Shelley but bare with me. I would love to hear what people have to say. Good comments and structured criticisms alike! Don't worry, I shouldn't take offense. This is my first piece up and I haven't chosen a definite title yet. And I know this is more like a historical fiction rather than some anime/movie spoof or whatever, but it was inspired by a movie and influenced by anime which will come apparent in later chapters.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy ^^
~*Batgirl*~
P.S. So, if you haven't noticed, this is basically going to be the same for all my chapters so you don't really need to keep reading it, unless you want to for some OCD reason or something. If I need to add anything new or important I'll put it at the top under the title for you so you don't have to read through ALL of this again ^^.