Sneaking him in had been difficult, but manageable. The hard part came later, when I had to introduce him to the entire court.
When we entered the room, only a few actually let out startled mutterings. Most I realized, had never seen someone of the other royal family to recognize him, but it didn't take long for the few who did to get the hall abuzz with voices. This was also not helped by the fact the moment after we entered, my mother fainted. I raised my hand, and instantly the voices ceased.
"Yes, this is Naruto Uzamaki before you." I began smoothly. The mutterings began again, and I had to raise my voice to be heard. "Also, it is Naruto who has decided to stand by my side, to help protect you." That shut them up. "As of now, the war is over. Any harm done is harm to your own people and will be treated as such."
I stopped talking, and it didn't take long for the temporary shock to give way to numerous conversations. I followed Naruto as he exited the room. It would take time for my people to come to a decision. They maintained to many emotionless facades to come to one quickly.
It did not however, take my mother long. Indeed, it took her less than 5 minutes.
We had been standing on the balcony watching the sunset in silence, both of us deep in thought, when the messenger came to announce that my mother wanted to speak with me. He hesitated before giving his message, shooting wary glances at Naruto as he spoke. I nodded as he finished.
"Send her up."
The messenger gave a quick bow and left. Naruto laughed darkly behind me.
"I think he was afraid of me." I did not respond, trying to prepare myself for my mother's words. Naruto did the same, leaning back against the rail of the balcony, every muscle taught. I wondered briefly if he realized just how dangerous he looked that way. I did not have time to ask though because my mother appeared.
Her face was still slightly pale (from fainting I assumed) and her voice rang with something akin to anger, and worry, an interesting combination. "Sasuke, I know I no longer have the authority to stop you, but I fell the need to tell you that I can not approve of this."
"I'm sorry you fell that way." And for once, I truly was. Approval was something I always searched for, but I knew she couldn't give it. "But my people come before even you mother."
"I wouldn't argue if I thought this would work! It's simply suicide. It can't work. You'll end up with a knife in your back, and then how will your kingdom fair?"
I opened my mouth to respond, but Naruto beat me to it. "It is true that this is dangerous, for both sides, but I'd like to believe that we are all human, and therefore, if we share that trait, what should prevent us from living together if we try?"
"True, we are all human, but we are not the same. Your kind is much freer than ours in contact, is it not? I do not wish for such things to take place that shouldn't."
"What would you like from me?" Naruto asked from a sigh.
"Your word, that you would never force him to…" She couldn't bring herself to finish the sentence, but we both knew what she meant.
Instantly, Naruto became angry, angrier than I'd ever seen him before. "Would my word mean anything to you?" He asked back harshly.
She did not answer. He harsh glare was answer enough. No, his word would mean nothing to her.
"Leave." He said the order so coldly and with it turned away from her to face the sunset.
My mother looked from him to me, and I nodded in agreement. I wasn't sure what she had said to anger him so, but I wouldn't be able to find that out until she was gone.
My mother looked at me before asking softly," Walk with me?"
It was a question, I could refuse, and honestly I felt like letting out a loud frustrated sigh and ignoring her, but I knew she needed the time. I gave another nod, glanced at Naruto and left.
As we walked down the numerous halls in silence, I wondered what had sparked such a reaction as the one he had given. He had gone from calm to angry in a split second, but as I thought about it, that was not uncommon for him. He would often change emotional disposition quickly, from seriousness to playfulness, and so forth. It was something unusual for me to see. Here, I had been trained for ages to hide your emotions behind a carefully constructed mask, he on the other hand, seemed to have been taught to always show whatever emotion he felt. I was interrupted from my musings as we neared my mother's chamber's doors.
"Please be careful. I-"
I cut her off coolly," Mother, your concern is appreciated, but nothing will happen." I wish I could believe that as confidently as I said it.
She studied my face, then let out a sigh. "You're too strong, just like the rest of them. Just don't be foolish. You're the only one left."
"I know. Now get some sleep." My mother nodded and walked through her doors. I turned back, to take the long walk up to our rooms. The rooms where I'd have to face him again, in whatever mood he was in.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
I wonder if banging my head against a wall will help me come up with some inspiration...
Also, note that this is really an alternate reality type fic. It is not meant to be Middle Ages our world or any other. The only world it is loosely based off of is the one in Amelia Atwater-Rhodes Hawksong, which is also the book on which some of the themes for this book are coming.
