King Randor found Queen Marlena out on the balcony that was connected to their bedroom. She was staring out over the landscape. The sun was setting between the peaks of two mountains. She was standing straight and rigid with her hands on her hips. She clearly looked angry.
"Marlena." He almost whispered her voice. She said nothing so he walked to her and stood beside her. "Marlena, Please look at me." She did but her stare was hard and cold. He stood straight and tall beside her and folded his hands together behind his back. "I'm sorry that you disagree with my methods of dealing with our son but it must be done. Adam is 20 years old and yet he still acts like a boy at times. He needs to grow up and start facing responsibilities."
"Yelling at him and telling him he is a disgrace is not the way to inform him that he should face responsibilities."
Prince Adam had made his way back to the palace and as he passed his parents room he could hear them talking. He didn't mean to eavesdrop but if they were fighting he wanted to know. He leaned his back against the wall and turned his face so that his ear was just near the door.
"I lost my temper. The boy makes me furious at times." Randor let out. "He agreed to meet with me and the diplomats from neighboring kingdoms this morning. Did he show up on time? Did he show up at all? No."
"Did he tell you why he didn't show?"
"No."
"Maybe I should rephrase that. Did you give him a chance to fend for himself." When the king said nothing the queen continued. "Hmm I didn't think so. Randor you are a fine King, one of the finest on this planet"
"I sense a but."
"But in your caring and consideration for your people you neglect your son. When was the last time you went fishing with him?"
"Marlena, please! I have no time for fishing!"
"No time because you are too busy polishing your crown."
"That was low."
"But yet it's the truth isn't it? If you could give your son nearly the same amount of attention you give your people and your meetings, you would know your son better."
"Perhaps. I would learn that he is lazier then I ever imagined. Adam is an adult. It's time he started acting like one." The king's tone changed and as it did the queens eyes squinted with annoyance. "I won't be around forever Marlena and Adam needs to take charge of his life and eventually the Kingdom. I will find someone more suitable for the position if Adam won't make the effort."
The queen shot him a look of surprise and anger. "You wouldn't?"
She watched the king's brows lower over his eyes. "I will, if I must. The ancients know that I don't want to do it, but I will find a replacement if Adam does not get his act together."
"There are times when I wonder why I ever married you." Marlena spit out and she quickly left the room.
The King's jaw dropped as he watched her leave. Marlena had never said anything like that to him before. He always believed that she loved him with all her heart and that things were wonderful with their marriage. Apparently he didn't know his wife very well as he did not know his son.
When the Queen stepped out into the hallway, a movement caught her eyes. The pink tunic and blond hair of her son as he fled around a corner. She closed her eyes. What had happened to the perfect royal family?
"Marlena." He almost whispered her voice. She said nothing so he walked to her and stood beside her. "Marlena, Please look at me." She did but her stare was hard and cold. He stood straight and tall beside her and folded his hands together behind his back. "I'm sorry that you disagree with my methods of dealing with our son but it must be done. Adam is 20 years old and yet he still acts like a boy at times. He needs to grow up and start facing responsibilities."
"Yelling at him and telling him he is a disgrace is not the way to inform him that he should face responsibilities."
Prince Adam had made his way back to the palace and as he passed his parents room he could hear them talking. He didn't mean to eavesdrop but if they were fighting he wanted to know. He leaned his back against the wall and turned his face so that his ear was just near the door.
"I lost my temper. The boy makes me furious at times." Randor let out. "He agreed to meet with me and the diplomats from neighboring kingdoms this morning. Did he show up on time? Did he show up at all? No."
"Did he tell you why he didn't show?"
"No."
"Maybe I should rephrase that. Did you give him a chance to fend for himself." When the king said nothing the queen continued. "Hmm I didn't think so. Randor you are a fine King, one of the finest on this planet"
"I sense a but."
"But in your caring and consideration for your people you neglect your son. When was the last time you went fishing with him?"
"Marlena, please! I have no time for fishing!"
"No time because you are too busy polishing your crown."
"That was low."
"But yet it's the truth isn't it? If you could give your son nearly the same amount of attention you give your people and your meetings, you would know your son better."
"Perhaps. I would learn that he is lazier then I ever imagined. Adam is an adult. It's time he started acting like one." The king's tone changed and as it did the queens eyes squinted with annoyance. "I won't be around forever Marlena and Adam needs to take charge of his life and eventually the Kingdom. I will find someone more suitable for the position if Adam won't make the effort."
The queen shot him a look of surprise and anger. "You wouldn't?"
She watched the king's brows lower over his eyes. "I will, if I must. The ancients know that I don't want to do it, but I will find a replacement if Adam does not get his act together."
"There are times when I wonder why I ever married you." Marlena spit out and she quickly left the room.
The King's jaw dropped as he watched her leave. Marlena had never said anything like that to him before. He always believed that she loved him with all her heart and that things were wonderful with their marriage. Apparently he didn't know his wife very well as he did not know his son.
When the Queen stepped out into the hallway, a movement caught her eyes. The pink tunic and blond hair of her son as he fled around a corner. She closed her eyes. What had happened to the perfect royal family?