***Note: This story is about to take a very tragic turn. Not in this
chapter, but soon, very soon.
Just thought I'd let you know what is in store...and online. (Sorry, ignore that last part. I have a stupid radio ad in my head)
Here's the next chapter. R&R
Enjoy
&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&
Soft rapping sounded at the door of the royal bedroom.
"Come in."
Van's world spun as he laboriously propped himself up in bed to better greet his visitor.
The boy's heart sank upon seeing a tall, gray haired man enter his room. It was Rubies, one of his advisors. Van had been hoping it was Merle. He wanted to apologize for the way he had reacted earlier.
~~~Flashback~~~
Van groaned as a harsh light burned his eyes. His head was swimming and every inch of his being throbbed. He couldn't move a muscle without feeling explosive pain in his bandaged chest; he had two broken ribs. The young king's battle with Scherazade had left the boy in a very bad state. Van had only just woken up from being unconscious for hours.
"Lord Van!" Merle's high pitched chatter caused thunder to erupt in the raven haired boy's head.
Van shrieked terribly; his fists balled and his eyelids scrunched tightly as severe bolts of pain shot through his body from a sudden pressure on his chest. Merle was startled. She hadn't expected that her usual greeting would hurt Van.
"...get off me...pleeeease!"
The young king could barely speak. Another wave of extreme pain surged within him as Merle quickly pushed off his chest. Van clenched his teeth, trying desperately to keep from screaming again.
"Merle?" An almost inaudible whisper escaped the young king's lips as the intense stinging slightly subsided. He stared hazily at the cat girl seated beside him on his bed.
"Yes Lord Van?" Merle chirped, again sending a drum roll through Van's skull.
"Go away."
The cat girl was stunned. Her tail stopped swishing and she stared into Van's mocha eyes, unsure if she had heard him correctly.
"Go away Merle." Van repeated in a monotone.
Merle didn't budge.
"I said GO AWAY! JUST GET OUT OF HERE MERLE!"
~~~End of Flashback~~~
Van felt terrible about the way he had treated his sweet young friend. It had not been his intention to raise his voice to Merle, but somehow things had gotten out of hand. His pain had clouded his judgment.
The young king knew that Merle had simply acted out of the goodness of her heart. She was worried about Van and he had pushed her away as she tried to comfort him. He had made her cry. It seemed that every time he talked to Merle lately that happened and she did not deserve it.
"Sire, would you prefer if I return in a few moments?"
Van gazed at his advisor questioningly. "Why?"
Rubies blushed. "I just meant that if his majesty should like to look more presentable, I would be more than happy to wait outside while he put something on."
Apart from a bandage around his torso, Van was completely naked under the light sheet that covered his lower half. It seemed no one had bothered re- dressing the young ruler after the palace healers had finished their examination. Van had been so lost in thought when he admitted the tall man that he had completely forgotten.
"No that's alright Rubies. I just want to get this little meeting over with."
The tall man shifted uncomfortably.
"Is what you have to say very important?" Van inquired.
"I believe so your majesty."
Van smiled. "Then I suggest you over look my present state and say what you have come to tell me."
"Well," Rubies spoke to a painting on the wall above Van's head, "I have come to inform you that you should be ready to receive your guests in a short hour."
"Guests, what guests?" Van didn't know what the gray haired man was talking about.
"The ones that have been invited to your birthday ball, your highness."
The raven haired boy smiled inwardly, but not with satisfaction. 'Of course...of course, why wouldn't there be a ball. I've had every other surprise today so why not this? Why shouldn't there be one last event to ruin my already miserable excuse for a birthday?'
Van was certainly not happy about the idea of a ball but he had a solution to get out of it.
"Rubies?"
"Yes your highness?"
"Tell all who have been invited to the ball not to come. I am canceling it."
The tall man was shocked but quickly composed himself. "Oh but sire, I must strongly advise against that."
"Why? I was able to cancel the tournament today wasn't I?"
"Yes Lord Van, but that is precisely the reason why you should not stop the ball. The people have already been disappointed once today. It would be unwise to do so a second time."
Van scowled because he knew the man was right. As king, it was his duty to appease his people even if it meant his unhappiness.
"Very well." Van let out a sigh. "Let them have their little soiree."
&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&
Yup, much tragedy to ensue.
Keep those reviews a comin'
Just thought I'd let you know what is in store...and online. (Sorry, ignore that last part. I have a stupid radio ad in my head)
Here's the next chapter. R&R
Enjoy
&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&
Soft rapping sounded at the door of the royal bedroom.
"Come in."
Van's world spun as he laboriously propped himself up in bed to better greet his visitor.
The boy's heart sank upon seeing a tall, gray haired man enter his room. It was Rubies, one of his advisors. Van had been hoping it was Merle. He wanted to apologize for the way he had reacted earlier.
~~~Flashback~~~
Van groaned as a harsh light burned his eyes. His head was swimming and every inch of his being throbbed. He couldn't move a muscle without feeling explosive pain in his bandaged chest; he had two broken ribs. The young king's battle with Scherazade had left the boy in a very bad state. Van had only just woken up from being unconscious for hours.
"Lord Van!" Merle's high pitched chatter caused thunder to erupt in the raven haired boy's head.
Van shrieked terribly; his fists balled and his eyelids scrunched tightly as severe bolts of pain shot through his body from a sudden pressure on his chest. Merle was startled. She hadn't expected that her usual greeting would hurt Van.
"...get off me...pleeeease!"
The young king could barely speak. Another wave of extreme pain surged within him as Merle quickly pushed off his chest. Van clenched his teeth, trying desperately to keep from screaming again.
"Merle?" An almost inaudible whisper escaped the young king's lips as the intense stinging slightly subsided. He stared hazily at the cat girl seated beside him on his bed.
"Yes Lord Van?" Merle chirped, again sending a drum roll through Van's skull.
"Go away."
The cat girl was stunned. Her tail stopped swishing and she stared into Van's mocha eyes, unsure if she had heard him correctly.
"Go away Merle." Van repeated in a monotone.
Merle didn't budge.
"I said GO AWAY! JUST GET OUT OF HERE MERLE!"
~~~End of Flashback~~~
Van felt terrible about the way he had treated his sweet young friend. It had not been his intention to raise his voice to Merle, but somehow things had gotten out of hand. His pain had clouded his judgment.
The young king knew that Merle had simply acted out of the goodness of her heart. She was worried about Van and he had pushed her away as she tried to comfort him. He had made her cry. It seemed that every time he talked to Merle lately that happened and she did not deserve it.
"Sire, would you prefer if I return in a few moments?"
Van gazed at his advisor questioningly. "Why?"
Rubies blushed. "I just meant that if his majesty should like to look more presentable, I would be more than happy to wait outside while he put something on."
Apart from a bandage around his torso, Van was completely naked under the light sheet that covered his lower half. It seemed no one had bothered re- dressing the young ruler after the palace healers had finished their examination. Van had been so lost in thought when he admitted the tall man that he had completely forgotten.
"No that's alright Rubies. I just want to get this little meeting over with."
The tall man shifted uncomfortably.
"Is what you have to say very important?" Van inquired.
"I believe so your majesty."
Van smiled. "Then I suggest you over look my present state and say what you have come to tell me."
"Well," Rubies spoke to a painting on the wall above Van's head, "I have come to inform you that you should be ready to receive your guests in a short hour."
"Guests, what guests?" Van didn't know what the gray haired man was talking about.
"The ones that have been invited to your birthday ball, your highness."
The raven haired boy smiled inwardly, but not with satisfaction. 'Of course...of course, why wouldn't there be a ball. I've had every other surprise today so why not this? Why shouldn't there be one last event to ruin my already miserable excuse for a birthday?'
Van was certainly not happy about the idea of a ball but he had a solution to get out of it.
"Rubies?"
"Yes your highness?"
"Tell all who have been invited to the ball not to come. I am canceling it."
The tall man was shocked but quickly composed himself. "Oh but sire, I must strongly advise against that."
"Why? I was able to cancel the tournament today wasn't I?"
"Yes Lord Van, but that is precisely the reason why you should not stop the ball. The people have already been disappointed once today. It would be unwise to do so a second time."
Van scowled because he knew the man was right. As king, it was his duty to appease his people even if it meant his unhappiness.
"Very well." Van let out a sigh. "Let them have their little soiree."
&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&
Yup, much tragedy to ensue.
Keep those reviews a comin'