Chapter 2! Ennjooyyy


The Kingdom of Drusus had a much smaller grand hall than the Strifes'. It ceiling hung so low it nearly made Roxas feel suffocated. Every chandelier was only inches from their Lord's head.

"Peace, huh?" The foreign leader smiled a grimy smile, his yellow teeth betraying his still-fair looks. Cloud nodded stiffly, his patience beginning to wane. Roxas could see every man in the room was tense as well, waiting for the proclamation.

"Drusus has not been at peace with your kingdom in a long time. Though, I hear my brother, Thane of Fahim, has married his daughter to one of your lords. That does give us some common ground." He rubbed his chin, "You are the married prince?" He pointed his question to Cloud, but the eldest brother merely shook his head and gestured to Roxas, "No, you mistake me for my youngest brother."

The man turned his gaze to the smaller man, assessing him, "Fine enough. We shall make peace." There was chatter from all around the room, and Roxas was actually a little thankful there would be no battles to fight with this kingdom. "Please feel at home in our tower!" He continued on, "And you must dine with me tonight. We must celebrate." He commanded the servants of his castle to prepare for a great feast.

"Crisis averted, it seems." Cloud chuckled once the two brothers were alone in the guest chambers. Roxas nodded his agreement, sitting back on one of the large beds with a tired sigh, "I have no energy to celebrate." Drinking and eating was not really high on the prince's priorities at the moment. Sleep sounded better.

"Me either, but alas, we have to go." Cloud yawned, fixing his tunic and slapping his brother's knee, "Let's go!"

Their grand hall was stuffed to the maximum with people. Ladies shuffled in and out of the rooms in large groups, sending tricky smiles in every direction. The Lord of Drusus, himself, was nearly drunk already, his wine sloshing its way of his chalice at his every word. "The princes!" He called loudly once they entered, "Please... come. Have a drink!"

They both expressed their thanks as they were poured a glass of red liquid. Roxas only sipped at his every once in a while, while Cloud took a more greedy dip in his.

"Tell me, where is your father?" Their host asked innocently, hiccuping a bit after each word. Roxas sat up, "He had business to attend to at home." In reality, their father was just too cowardly to settle matters on his own, therefore sending his sons to do his work. It was common but pathetic. What man didn't see to his kingdom's own issues? Roxas shuddered to think how Sora would rule Luce some day. He was exactly like their father.

"Ah, Roxas. Greetings." A familiar voice sat beside him at the table.

How could he forget one very important difference between his brother and the king? Sora had Riku to guide him.

"Riku. Enjoying yourself?" Roxas asked casually, spinning his cup around in boredom. The silver-haired young man smiled kindly, rolling his eyes, "The time of my life. Please tell me we leave early tomorrow."

"Definitely." The blond nodded. It was a two day's trip back to their kingdom and Roxas was more than ready to go back home again. Gods know how the king and Sora were handling everything on their own.

"Can we speak plainly, Roxas?"

"Of course, Ri. You are like a brother to me." Roxas tried to remain cheery, though he dreaded what his brother's adviser could possibly have to suddenly say. "It's about the princess, Sir." Riku's eyes settled down on his hands as he nervously tugged at a band there, "I was wondering if all was well, because I have been hearing some stuff-"

"What stuff?" Roxas growled. The ladies at court really did need to be kept quiet. Was there no control in his own kingdom?

"They say you no longer visit her bed chambers after dark and-"

Roxas stopped him with a raise of his hand, "Stop there, Riku. The princess and I are fine, and if the ladies have nothing better to do than stir feeble rumors, I will have to extend some control." Riku nodded in agreement, taking another sip of his wine, "No future kings yet?"

"Not yet." The blond also took a drink, splashing the red liquid around his mouth absentmindedly, "We have time." Curiosity rose as to why Riku would wonder about such a thing, seeing as Roxas was only third in line for the throne. The man answered his thoughts immediately after, "I just- I mean... Cloud does not want the crown. You know this. That makes Sora future king, and as you are well aware of... Sora is not planning to have any kids any time soon. That leaves you to take over for him, and your children after you." He shook his head, thinking, "The kingdom relies on you. You should really start making your future.

Slightly embarassed to be discussing this with his brother's... friend... Roxas felt his cheeks go hot, "I understand."

.

The trip seemed shorter on the way home, and Roxas rolled his neck a few times to relieve the kinks. Oh, how he would like a bath.

"Luce ahead, Sir." A man to his right called and the blond sat up in his saddle to get a better look. From where they rode, Roxas could see the welcoming party forming at the gates.

"My sons!" The kind cried, lifting his arms in the air. His face was pink with happiness, and Namine and Sora were at his side again. His brother instantly started scanning the crowd for his best mate, and did not smile until he found him.

"My sons," He said again as they drew nearer, "I see all has gone well, for you are in perfect shape."

Cloud nodded swiftly to him and dismounted his horse, leaving a servant to take care of his beloved beast, "They accepted the treaty easily enough, and declared peace." Roxas also dismounted, the soreness of his legs instantly disappearing once he was on his own two feet. The crowd around them cheered with excitement, knowing their sons and fathers were now safe from another war.

A looming and discomforting feeling settled on the back of the youngest prince's backside. He shivered and glanced over his shoulder, being met with... green.

"Who are you?" He demanded, turning fully around. His family stopped conversing, the question halting them in their tracks. "Who are you?" He asked again. A man stepped from the crowd, the green reflecting from his creepy emerald eyes. He flashed an annoying smirk, running a hand through his long red hair, "Me?"

Roxas didn't like the man's smile. Not one bit. "Yes, you." He growled impatiently. The redhead stroked his chin with his long fingers, holding the unsettling smirk with a cocky manner, "Name's Axel. Got it memorized?"

Before he could let the anger rise, Roxas was pushed back and several soldiers were in the man's face, threatening him. "How dare you speak with disrespect to Prince Roxas!" A big commotion started to erupt and Riku was suddenly at his side, protecting him if need be.

"Men, men, let us all stand back!" The king announced, holding an arm out to each party, "These are our guests, Riku. Show some decency."

Sora's advisor reluctantly took a step away, clenching his jaw in frustration. Roxas looked from Axel to the king, confusion written all over his face, "Our guest, Father?"

"Guests." He corrected with a big grin, "It seems young Axel here, and his party, asked for some temporary accommodations. I figured it would be ruthless to turn the poor men away."

"Can we please speak privately, Father?" Roxas begged, seeing his brothers nodding as well. The king frowned with distaste, "Must we really, Roxas?"

"Father-"

"Yes, yes, fine. Let's gather in the grand hall." He turned to the servants, "Prepare the banquet hall... we shall have a feast to celebrate this fine treaty!" Then to Axel, "If you would kindly wait in the inner chamber, I will send Roxas to show you your rooms in a moment."

The redhead winked at the youngest Strife and bowed with a smug look, "We will be waiting."

The entire Strife family gathered in the grand hall, tempers starting to flare. "Father, you can hardly be serious!" Roxas growled, glancing over his shoulder to make sure there was no one nearby.

The king narrowed his eyes before sitting on his grand chair, sighing loudly, "What could you possibly be complaining about, Son?"

The blond rolled his eyes, pointing at the wall, "How could you let them in our castle? They are trouble."

"They are wanderers looking for a place to rest for a bit, nothing else."

"They are thieves! That's all gypsies are!" Roxas fought to control his anger. Namine stood patiently and quietly in the corner, watching the argument with mild interest. "They have thousands of tricks up their sleeves. They will rob us of everything we own!"

"Now, son. Settle down. Your anger is growing too rapidly." The king rubbed his temples with a frown, "No one is going to steal anything. I have every servant I own watching their every move. I promised a large sum to anyone who notices something suspicious."

"Just the fact that you went through so many precautions says something." Cloud chimed in, "Come on, Father."

"I will hear no more of this. Until something actually happens, these wanderers will not be cast out of our castle like some kind of criminals. Now, Roxas, show them to the guest quarters of the west side."

"Why the west side? I like it when it is quiet around my chambers." The blond complained, a childish pout starting to surface. His father rose his hand to silence him, and then sent him on his way. Roxas hung his head unhappily, cursing every star in the sky as he left the grand hall and heard the king demand the servants to move faster and prepare the wine. Not more feasting.

"Well, well... lucky me." Axel tilted his head to the side, "It seems you are stuck with me after all."

"Name your friends." Roxas demanded, annoyed already.

The redhead chuckled, "Impatient are we? These are my traveling companions. Demyx, Zexion, and Xigbar." He gestured to each one in turn and Roxas scrunched his nose at all of them. They definitely looked like trouble.

"Right... well, follow me." The blond sighed and began moving through the halls, hoping against hope that maybe all four would get lost on the way back. They kept up easily enough though, probably a skill that came with being quick thieves.

"Here you are." He suddenly stopped, gesturing to a door, "This is the biggest of the three estates, so two of you will have to share this." There was a laugh from one of the other bandits, Demyx was his name?, and Roxas raised an eyebrow.

"Perfect." Demyx murmured, glancing to the two men at his side, "Looks like one of your are sharing with me. Lucky guys." The two men had a stare down before the shorter one stated that he would be the one sharing with the blond. The other guy shifted, not happy, but remained silent anyway.

"Right... moving on." Roxas figured it was best if he just ignored their strange qualities. "There is another place just down here. One of you can take that." He kept moving towards his own rooms, "And then the final estate is down here."

"I'll take it." Axel stepped up, brushing way too close to Roxas for his comfort, "Your rooms are the ones right across the hall, right?" The blond died a little inside, "Uh, yes... they are mine."

"Good."

Shivering, Roxas crossed his arms uncomfortably and selfconsciously. The tall redhead really freaked him out.

"Maybe we could have a sleepover tonight?" The tattooed nuisance offered playfully, the trademark smirk rising again. Roxas stood as tall as he could, shaking his head, "Sorry, but I'm a married man. I have a duty to my wife tonight." Perhaps it was just Roxas, but it seemed as though the cocky grin might have fell for a split second. It was gone before he could dwell too much on it though, and the suspicious traveler shrugged meekly, "Well then... maybe another night, Prince."

.

The feast commenced within hours, and Roxas once again found himself sitting at a fancy table with a cup of wine in his hand. The room was bathed in noise, the ladies of the court more than excited that four new strange men were now joining the party. Several girls spoke with the shortest man, but he just about ignored them, his eyes trained on his friend, Demyx. Demyx was a whole different story. He traversed around the room as if he owned the place, indulging in as much free alcohol as he could and flirting with just about everything in sight.

"Where is the tattooed one?" Namine asked quietly, coming to sit at her husband's side. Roxas gestured to his father, who was completely involved in a conversation with Axel, absorbing the gypsy's every word. "They could just be tired wanderers. Not necessarily thieves, you know." The princess suggested, glancing around the room. Was Roxas really the only one concerned?

After spotting Cloud in the corner talking animately with his personal advisor Leon, and after not spotting Sora or Riku at all, Roxas assumed yes, he was the only one concerned. "Perhaps you are right, Namine." He told her, if only to comfort her worrying, "I think I will retire now. I will meet you in an hour or so."

Her eyes widened, surprised, and she nodded before quickly gathering her chamber maids and heading out the opposite door. Roxas almost managed to make it out of the room before the king stood (a little drunk and unsteadily), "Go, Roxas! Bring me a grandson and future king!"

The room laughed politely at the joke, and Roxas willed his cheeks not to turn pink. It was a husband's duty to sleep with his wife. And it was a prince's job to bestow a son before the throne. Right?

"Sweet dreams." Axel called out, winking once again. Roxas ignored him, finally making an exit and heading back to his rooms to change in to his night robe.