Shattering
Alfred lay in a huge bathtub, letting the warm water relax his body after training. His eyes were the closed and his breathing even, his golden hair stuck damp to his forehead. Drops of water rolled down his well shaped face and his tanned body.
The Prince was in complete peace with the world at that moment. A single moment with nothing on his mind.
Sadly, that moment was destroyed.
"My Prince?"
Alfred jumped when he heard a maid's voice from outside the door.
"Uh... yes, what is it?" Alfred finally said, sitting up in the bathtub.
"The Jack is calling for you"
Alfred groaned silently "Can't that wait?"
"He... said it was urgent"
Urgent? What could be so urgent? There were no festivals he needed to attend any time soon, neither are guests coming over, but then again Yao wouldn't use words like 'urgent' for nothing.
He sighed "I will be there" and stood up.
He grabbed a towel and dried himself off, put on trousers, a shirt, and shoes. When he opened the door and stepped out of the bathing room, he saw the maid who waited for him blush and look away. Why did she do that?
"M-my Prince your shirt..."
Alfred looked down to see his shirt was still unbuttoned, muscles could be seen clearly on his tanned skin.
So that's why. " Oh, I'm sorry" said he as he buttoned his blueish white shirt.
"Uh it's nothing your majesty"
The girl was still blushing, as she led the way with hurried steps. She headed for the room with the Choosing Clocks, it was placed in the oldest part of the castle, in it were just the three clocks and an altar where the Chosen ones were crowned. Alfred couldn't think of a reason for Yao to be here.
The maid halted in front of the door, bowed to the Prince and walked away.
Two guards pushed the door open. The Prince could see how tense they were, and he decided that it was time to start worrying about whatever was in that room.
He entered and let his eyes wander. He was confused by what he saw. Arthur's group of soldiers and Yao sat by a table, faces pale and expressionless. Why were they here? Why was everyone so gloomy?
Alfred, now a little suspicious, stepped forward, proudly and steadily (he was a prince after all). He approached Yao who rose from his chair to meet the Prince's eyes.
"Well" Alfred said "What is so urgent?"
"Just look around", was the Jack's only answer. Alfred raised a brow, this was getting weirder with every second. He let his eyes wander around the room, everyone was avoiding his gaze, as if they plagued by guilt. He saw Arthur at last, sitting in his chair, face unreadable, but somehow stern, and he was... shaking.
The Prince stared at the mage before his eyes slowly traveled upwards to the Queen's Clock, automatically it seemed.
All the hands were pointing at the fragile looking man underneath. Alfred's eyes widened and a look of surprise emerged on his face, making everyone notice that he knew. He looked again at the magician, who actually returned his gaze. It was only brief, but Alfred saw everything in those eyes: panic, fear, shock and denial. The first true feelings he saw on Arthur. The mage lowered his head again.
The Prince felt a range of emotions brewing up inside him. Feelings swirling around his head, preventing him from thinking clear. Feelings he wasn't able to arrange. All but one.
Delight, maybe even happiness was one of the strongest feelings. After all if Arthur was Queen, he would be...
"Your Highness", Yao's voice sounded strained "Now that you know what the problem is, it would be good if you helped us find a solution." The heir looked at him with confusion.
"Problem? What do you mean problem? The Clock has chosen the Queen for generations, and they never failed the kingdom"
"Yes, but they were all from royal families" The Jack said calmly
"Arthur's father is a nobleman, if you recall" Alfred stated, little impressed.
"Arthur's father, but Arthur himself is a soldier!" The blond man could see, that Yao was getting impatient.
"Is that really what is bothering you?" He knew Arthur was a soldier, but usually Yao didn't judge on such things, he knew him as open-minded and friendly even though a little strict sometimes.
"Because..." The Asian began, but he didn't continue his sentence, like some kind of knot was inside his throat.
Instead Arthur finished. His voice was small, almost a whisper. But with the stillness in the room, it was carried to the ears of everyone in the room.
"Because I am a mage"
"I just don't understand!"Alfred exclaimed "You are a mage, too and no one complains!"
"Milord, I think you do understand but you don't want to believe it", Yao answered.
The two of them were currently sitting in the Jack's office. Arthur was sent to his room to rest, as were the other soldiers.
"I am accepted because the Jack is supposed to know magic, but do not think that the people like me" he explained as he leaned back into his chair "furthermore, there never was a Queen who could use magic, and the hatred for any magical being is enormous in our Kingdom"
"Yeah, but the Clock chose him, I mean the Clocks always choose someone who is fit to be in one of the highest positions", the Prince stated. He felt tired, everything happened far too fast and that 'problem' gave him a headache. He sunk into his chair, not caring about manners.
"But you must consider-" there went Yao with his contra-arguments again "- that the Clocks are also magical, so the people might, well... enrage when they hear that the magical Clock has chosen a magical Queen"
"What's with this hatred for magic anyways!?" Alfred said as he flung his hands over his head in frustration.
Wait! That was exactly the right question! He slowly sat up again and watched Yao with a questioning look.
"Tell me, what is with all this hatred for magic?"
Yao tensed slightly, pursing his thin lips together.
"Your highness, I don't think-"
"Answer me!" Alfred stared at the Jack intensely, his tone didn't allow the other to dismiss the topic.
The Asian stared back, but eventually gave in with a sigh, before he started telling the story.
Arthur threw a chair across the room and against the wall, pacing up and down.
He tried to lie down, to calm his nerves, but to no avail. The frustration was only building up more.
NO! He didn't want to be the bloody Queen of Spades! It would just end up with someone assassinating him.
He balled his hands to fists. No No No! Why him? Why did he had to be chosen? Wouldn't have some nobleman or a pretty princess been better to fill that position?
Noooo. It just had to be him! A bloody magician for Queen!
In his wrath, the man almost didn't hear the voices from outside.
"No you can't go in there, we have orders!"
"Well, sweetie, you better make room or I'll rip your head off, alright? Also I have permission to enter, I am his comrade!"
Arthur groaned. Will was there, talking deadly sweet to the guards. Fantastic.
There was a pause, but the doors opened at last and the guards looked worried, perhaps a little scared at Arthur. Well, even though he was in a room where he couldn't use his magic, nobody would want to conquer a raging mage. And he was sure, that he was heard throwing various objects through the chamber.
Will on the other hand, didn't look the tiniest bit intimidated, he even smiled. That wanker.
"Well well, Artie you look as enchanting as ever" he lilted joyfully.
"Spare me your bad puns, Will!" Arthur said angrily "I am not in the mood!"
Will cocked his head in amusement "So I figured"
"Just tell me what you want"
"How abouuuut we go for a walk?"
The mage raised his brow "A walk?"
Will just nodded with a cheeky smile on his face. Oh, Arthur knew where this was going.
"Alright, if you insist"
Everything was better than staying in this bloody room after all.
They walked out of the room. The guards looked at them but didn't stop them from going. After all, Arthur was now the Queen. Ugh how he hated that name.
They went down the spiral staircase wordlessly although Will still had his stupid grin on his face. They went through the corridors, past giant portraits of various important people, until they reached the garden.
Arthur looked around. It was still such a beautiful sight. As usual everything was different shades of blue and occasionally violet. Delicate roses, and strong trees were placed in a chaotic order.
The two soldiers followed a path into the more wild places of the garden. Everything was covered in grass, flowers of any kind, and Ivy.
The mage turned to his comrade "What are we doing here?"
Instead of answering, Will smiled brightly at him before pulling the pale man to him and pressing their lips together.
Arthur gasped in surprise, but didn't fight the other man off. He was used to this. Although, he didn't appreciate the timing.
When they broke apart, Arthur looked at him with a raised brow.
"What was that?"
"I took what you promised me~"
Before the other could protest, Will already went back to kissing him, Arthur leaned into the kiss, when suddenly something caught his eye. A movement behind a tree. Was he imagining things? It didn't matter. He didn't want to think at all now. So he closed his eyes, and let himself forget.
Alfred tried to calm his breathing. He had wanted to speak to Arthur, wanted to comfort him. He saw him walking in the garden with Will and followed them. He wanted to call out to them but the moment he was close enough to them, they already had been kissing.
Now he stood behind a big Oak and wished he wouldn't have had a heart, so he wouldn't have to deal with it shattering to pieces.
AN: Poor Alfred. You are now allowed to kill me ;.; I hope you don't hate me for this, but What is a story without a little drama? Also if you insist to make critique about my story, please don't be offensive with it.
So yeah, I hope you like this chapter, reviews are appreciated :D
