This fic is set in the Reflections universe (see my fics "Reflections - So Life Goes On" and "Reflections Tapestry of Echoes").
Princely Duty
by Kazza
...Furthermore, you shall, forthwith, come home for the mid-Summer break as instructed. You shall not tarry along the way. Nor shall you indulge in merrymaking. You are expected to report to my presence by the first week of July.
The officer entrusted with this letter shall escort you home and see to your protection
HRH King Francis.
Prince Henry sighed and looked at Father Xavier. "I wish, for once, that Father would dictate a letter to me himself. His aide writes everything so - so - haughtily." The Prince passed the letter onto the Priest, blushing slightly when his overly short sleeve exposed his forearm.
Father Xavier smothered the urge to smile at the boy's assessment of the letter. He feared that Henry would believe Xavier was laughing at the young Prince's gangly arms and ill-fitting clothes. The Priest settled for nodding sagely to the gawky fourteen-year-old boy.
Henry smiled, "Where is the officer?"
"In the next room, Your Highness."
"May I be excused, Father Xavier?"
"Certainly, Your Highness." The Priest watched Henry half walk and half stumble to the door. The young Prince's latest growth spurt had changed the lad's centre of balance. Even after several weeks of gentle prodding Xavier hadn't been able to get the young Prince to return to the games the lad enjoyed so much. Royal Pride and self-conscious clumsiness were not a good mix, especially in a boy who liked to do his best at games.
"So what's been happening back home, Arnaud?" Henry said as he opened the door. "How is Moth..."
Henry stopped in his tracks and looked at the unfamiliar young man who had stood smartly to attention when the Prince entered the room.
"Who are you?"
"Acting-Lieutenant Marc Laurent, Your Highness." The guardsman added, nervously, "Captain Arnaud is preparing the troop for the return trip, Your Highness."
"Oh." Henry was embarrassed and lost for words.
Laurent saw the Prince's confusion and assumed that he was annoyed with Captain Arnaud. "Uh, if I may speak, Your Highness?"
Henry nodded.
"There was a problem with some of the horses, Your Highness. The Captain did not want it to happen again so he wanted to oversee the preparation for the return trip in person. Your Highness." Laurent said in one long breath.
Henry grinned, "Yelling a lot, was he?" The young Prince knew the full force of Captain Arnaud's steely manner well.
Laurent smiled back, "Yes, Your Highness." The young guardsman blushed slightly. He wiped the smile off his face and faced forward in proper parade fashion. "Sorry, Your Highness."
"How old are you, Acting-Lieutenant Laurent?"
"Nineteen, Your Highness."
Henry nodded again and began to pace back and forth across the room, his mind full of tumbling thoughts and questions. He paced for two or three minutes while the guardsman patiently waited.
Laurent was beginning to worry that Captain Arnaud would soon be hunting for them. He was considering speaking to the Prince when Henry stopped pacing.
"Acting-Lieutenant Laurent, do you," Henry blushed slightly, "Do you remember what it was like to be fourteen?"
"Yes, Your Highness. It was only five years ago." Laurent smiled then hurriedly added, "Your Highness."
Henry grinned. "Acting-Lieutenant, I would like to make a deal with you."
"A deal, Your Highness?"
"Yes, a deal, Laurent." Henry smiled mischievously, "A bargain."
Laurent wasn't sure he liked the sound of that. He remembered very well what he'd been like at fourteen and didn't want to begin to imagine what horrors the young Prince could come up with.
"Ummm, it won't involve doing anything improper to Captain Arnaud, will it, Your Highness?"
"No, but we could if you want to." Henry said with a perfectly straight face and a twinkle in his eye.
"No, thank you, Your Highness." Laurent smiled back. "I'd prefer not to have my backside kicked into next week, Your Highness."
The young Prince giggled. "No, Acting-Lieutenant, this is my deal. If you can remember what it was like to be fourteen all the way to Hautefort, I promise to behave myself."
Laurent looked at the Prince and saw the familiar look of youth trapped in a world of adults. The Acting-Lieutenant nodded, "It's a deal, Your Highness, provided that you don't tell the Captain."
"I won't do that," Henry giggled, "I want my Royal Backside intact."
End