Chapter Twelve:

Arthur was ready to start anew—ready to fight against Clubs with all he had. In the two days since he had woken up, Arthur had gone through a spectrum of emotions. Now, he was at a quiet rage for the people invading his home for such an awful cause. It was wrong. There was no other way to think of it. He was so ready to fight. He could do it. He would help out Spades in the fight for justice!

No. Never mind. He would be staying in the palace.

"What! No, I'm supposed to be going out to help! I want to help! You can't honestly expect me to stay shut up in here! Are you—"

The Mage of Light interrupted him. "Arthur, we need someone to stay in the Palace to guard the Royal Family. We need someone whose magic acts fast, and Antonio's fire is too dangerous to be used indoors. You have an important task. What if people try to storm the Palace?"

He, of course, made sense, but Arthur felt like he was the one being protected. He hated that—everyone else got to leave. Even the Jack of Hearts would be out there, doing what he could to aid Spades. Arthur felt useless not for the first time since he arrived. He consented to the Mage's orders with a groan—it was useless to go against them.

He tried to help out with the plans of attack, but he was only helpful with Naval things. His father had taught him about marine warfare before he knew what magic was—the ocean was an essential and important thing to understand for a Kirkland. Not because they lived on a coast. It was more symbolic.

When the Mages had come up with their plans, Arthur reported to the throne room in the Palace. It was a great ballroom, which could hold maybe more than a thousand people. However, there were only three people there when Arthur entered the hall. The King sat with his Queen, and the Jack, Wang Yao, stood speaking to them. When they noticed Arthur, they stopped their hushed conversation.

"Arthur, I'm glad you have come to visit us." The King was all smiles that morning.

"We had been warned that you might not be so willing to work with us here." The Queen looked cautious, like she was expecting to be snapped at.

"I'm sorry Your Majesties, I just—I wanted to put myself out there. I wanted revenge. But I was given an order. So here is shall stay. I'm happy to protect you all."

The King spoke. "It's not because they think you're not okay. I asked for you to stay. They were going to let Jack Feliciano remain with us, but I insisted on a Spadesman. So I'm sorry. Truly. But I trusted you the most. You have stayed here the longest. You are familiar with things here."

Arthur nodded in understanding and began to leave the room.

"Oh, and Arthur?"

"Yes?"

"I promise you, you will have your revenge."

…

When they weren't preparing for their respective duties, Arthur and Alfred spent every moment they could with each other. Most of the time, they didn't even speak, just sat there in each other's company and thought about what to say. It was hard. In just two days, Alfred would be going out into the country to fight the Clubs military and prevent the havoc wreaked on the masses from going on any longer. Arthur didn't know how he would say goodbye then, knowing that there was a chance that he might never come back.

If Arthur could have, he would have slowed time down so that every second they had together lasted a day. Every minute a month.

But time cannot be fought against. The morning came where Alfred had to leave to help lead the Spades' Military. All the nobles in the castle and most of the servants came outside on the steps to see him off. He was to ride into the capital and the surrounding towns and villages. There, the military would fight off the Clubs. That was the plan, anyway.

He was huddled outside in the chill of a new autumn morning with the crowd. He was closer than most, practically next to the Royal Family as they bid Alfred farewell. The King was speaking to his son in hushed tones, but Arthur could still hear some of it.

"…sorry…intent…mean…you. I am… proud of you… always will be… my son and… prince."

Alfred looked like he could smile, cry and shout all at the same time. Arthur could practically see the weight of the world being lifted from the Prince's shoulders. The King had finally done what Alfred had wished for his entire life. He was proud of him. He was sorry for what he did in the past. He wanted to make it right.

Alfred shook his father's hand, but in the end, he was pulled into a hug. He kissed his mother on the cheek, and told her not to worry about him. He said farewell to many people, some cheering his name and some weeping at his departure. In the end, he finally stopped at Arthur. Again, they would have to shake hands, maybe a pat on the back. It wasn't fair.

They were standing a short distance away from the crowd. Alfred looked at him and spoke softly. "I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you."

"I'll be fine, I promise."

"You better be. Help those people, please."

"Of course. Protect my mother, okay?"

"Of course." They shook hands. It wasn't enough. Not nearly enough.

"Arthur, do you believe in being impulsive?"

"Why?" The moment he asked, he knew exactly why.

Alfred pulled him into an intense kiss, more passionate than he had ever experienced before. Arthur reacted immediately, giving in, knowing full well that half a hundred gossipy nobles were watching. His father. His mother. The Queen. The King.

Both of their hands grasped at each other, holding on for dear life. This was what they needed. This said everything they didn't have time to say. This was the 'I love you,' the 'I might never see you again,' and the 'Please, don't die' wrapped all into one. They kissed until there was no more air left, and then they kissed some more. Alfred was supporting him entirely, and he dipped him down to complete their kiss.

When it was finally over, Alfred glared at some of the shocked and excited nobles, who, ashamed, turned away.

"I love you. So much."

"I love you. Always will."

"Arthur, I need to leave."

"Of course." This was really it. "Alfred. Just do me a favor? Don't be a hero. Just—Just come back when this is all over. Please, come back."

Alfred looked worried. He looked…scared. "I'll try." He kissed Arthur again; shorter than before and started down the marble steps of the Palace. At the bottom, he mounted his horse and began to ride away.

The nobles, talking already, began to retreat into the warmth of the castle. His parents, the King and Queen. But Arthur just stood there and watched him go. When he was gone, the only other person standing there was Antonio.

"Lo siento, mi amigo. Lo siento."

He let himself be brought into the palace.

Arthur spent the next couple of weeks in a silent misery. He barely slept. Barely ate. He trailed behind the Queen most of the time, because he couldn't really look the King in the eyes. He spent his free time practicing his magic, remembering defensive tricks and attacking things blindly with great force. He tried to avoid any news about the war—he was too afraid to hear anything new. But he couldn't stay out of the loop forever.

In the winter, it began to snow. That's when Spades officially began to lose the war.

END of CHAPTER TWELVE

A/n:

So uhm… yeah.

Jeez, the war's barely started and it's depressing already! So hidden love is hidden no more, I wonder how some people are going to react to that. Arthur has to stay put, but that may or may not change. So next chappy, Arthur finally learns what's happening and why Spade's is losing the war. He also has to deal with that kiss…

Manda out :p