What is Meant to Be
Chapter 3: Royal Envy
(Note: This will be told from Lavitz's point of View.)
I was surprised. Never before has the King requested to go training with others. Though, I had a bad feeling about every aspect with this. I wanted to object to his decision, but I had to hold my tongue. Questioning the king's decisions came with its price and sometimes, it would be best if I not test him. I watched the king exit the throne room. I looked over at Dart and began to think about the potential situation at hand. Could His Majesty be planning something in accordance to what occurred last night. Was he stricken with a slight amount of jealousy? If so, what should I do? I cannot take back what I had said to him…I wish not to lie, but even if it meant hurting him…then I am sorry.
Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Minister Noish approach me from the side. He took me by the arm and led me to the balcony. The minister had a stern expression upon his face. Knowing Noish, this wasn't good at all. "What did you do to His Majesty, Albert?!" Noish says in a demanding tone. I was shocked for a moment. I almost didn't know how to respond to a question that had such force to it. When I replied, I had a feeling that I asked a very idiotic question. "What did I do?"
"Don't give me that! He said that he talked to you last night. Obviously, the conversation didn't turn out too well…so tell me, Sir Lavitz, what did you say?"
"I simply told him that at one point I was interested in him, but now he was replaced with Dart."
I watched as Noish's expression began to transform. I had a great feeling that I had just shot myself in the foot or something of the sort. Noish was about to go on a rant or some kind of trip…He gave that look that just screamed I am going to give this fool a piece of my mind, but it seemed as if he changed his mind. Noish had taken a deep breath and exhaled, calming himself down. "Now, listen Lavitz. You have to fix this because I'm not liking what the king is plotting. I'm concerned for His Majesty's sake. Please right the wrongs." Noish began to plead a little. He then leaves me to return to his spot near the throne. As he left, I began to hear foot steps drawing near. "Are you ready, Lavitz?" That voice came from King Albert, but something was different. I couldn't place my finger on it exactly, but it was probably the air around him that was different. I couldn't feel that bright feeling that I used to have just standing near him or talking to him. I guess that I better tread carefully since he's traveling with both Dart and me.
"So Dart, what do you plan to do once you find what you are looking for?" Albert began to converse with Dart in a friendly manner as they exited the throne room. I couldn't help, but to follow closely behind the two. Dart had an unsure expression on his face as he said, "I am not sure yet…I guess I would have to find him first." I was racking my brain like never before trying to figure out how to "fix" this situation, but I still couldn't wrap my brain around this so I decided to give it a break and attend to the matter at hand, but when I came back to reality, I didn't know that I was being stared at by two different people.
"Lavitz, I have been trying to get your attention for the past minute." Albert states. I looked over at him and then respond with a quick "I'm sorry, Your Majesty. What is it that you need?" I watched Albert fold his arms and reply with, "Where are we headed, Lavitz?" I began to rub the back of my head. I never really thought about where we were going. I was just going to randomly choose a place. So, I had no other choice but to pick a random spot off of the top of my head. "The plains are where we shall train." Albert gave a smile as a response and continued down the stairs.
Once we hit Bale, Albert stops and begins to glance in random directions. "Is something wrong, Your Majesty?" I decided to ask. He didn't answer instead he just continues walking. Dart and I continue to follow him without any question to why he did that. In what seemed like five minutes, we were out of Bale and headed towards the plains. In order to get there, this meant traveling through the Limestone Cavern. The cavern was only a couple of miles away if not more. "I want to talk…" Albert randomly states. I was hoping that he wasn't going to talk about what I think he wants to talk about. "I know, Significant-"I had to come up with another subject before he could continue with what he was about to say. "How was your day, Your Majesty?" I asked. I know that it was plain, random, and wouldn't stand any chance of turning into a long conversation, but it was a shot. I just had to see how long this was going to last. Maybe I could drag it out until we get there.
"Um….I guess it was alright. There wasn't anything to it. I'm just really tired that's all. A pretty bad case of sleep deprivation and that's about it." He begins to respond. Great, now if he would just go on like this until we get there. I was able to see the Limestone Cavern in the distance. As we walked, Albert began to drift to the back of the group. "Lavitz, could you go up ahead and see if everything is clear. We'll wait at the entrance." Albert's command made me cringe. That meant that I had to leave him and Dart by themselves. I didn't want to go, but I had to. Why me?! Oh why me?! I had no choice so I decided to proceed farther ahead just to make sure that everything was clear. I really despised doing this. I had to do what I had to do. I made my way through the entrance of the cave and drew my weapon. I walked with caution as I proceeded across the slippery rocks and small streams that were made by the cracks in the rocks. I stood at a forked path and just looked both ways before turning around and heading back to the rest of the group.
As I exited the cave, I noticed that something was entirely wrong. One, was that Dart had a guilt ridden expression on his face that wasn't like any other. Never before have I seen something like this since I met him. Dart was always an optimistic, positive, determined person…but…now it was different. It was like looking at a child that had been punished. Next, you had His Majesty Albert. He had a devilish smile on his face. Even though this expression resembled something devious, his eyes said something much sadder. "Lavitz…" Dart began to speak up. "I didn't know that….you…" I began to direct my attention to the ground. Knowing the fact that he knew that I had feelings for him made me feel slightly embarrassed. I couldn't look him dead in the eye. It wasn't the right time for him to know, it just wasn't. Why would His Majesty do this? Was this all out of jealousy? That's the only explanation for it. "After all of this time," Dart continued. "You had feelings for me? I don't know how to feel. It's shocking, yet sad at the same time." I didn't understand what he meant by sad…How was it sad? It was about time that I added what I had to say into this conversation. "How is it sad?" A silence fell upon us. Obviously Dart wasn't willing to answer the question, so I decided to turn to His Majesty and begin questioning him. "What are you up to, Albert?" I know that I was speaking on informal terms, but I didn't care. This meant business and I was going to get down to the root of the problem and stomp it out.
Albert looks over at me with a sinister gaze. Within the blink of an eye, this expression was gone; it was as if he never looked at me with that chilling gaze. "What do you mean?" Albert asked. "You know good and well what I mean…You have jealousy written all over your face. You dislike that fact that I do not have any feelings for you. Don't worry, I know your game and you can't hide it from me." I watched Albert's expression change. He wasn't the happy king that both I and the rest of the knights knew. He was the complete opposite…something that I could never imagine happening in my entire life. Then, as I stood there, I noticed something happen to his majesty. The king was expressing himself in a way that I never thought to be imaginable. He began to form his hands into two quivering fists. I wanted to hurry over to him and calm him down, but I was afraid that he would punch me with those two fists. I didn't know what to do, when I saw his face become twisted with anger, I wanted to soothe him….Maybe what I said was a little harsh. "So that's how it is…" Albert began to speak. "Hm?"
Obviously he wasn't happy, well neither was I. "So, do you detest me? Do you wish for me to go? "Albert continues. I didn't know how to answer. I know that I didn't detest him, I didn't love him as a significant other…I only liked him as a friend, but how do I tell someone that, Especially when he looks as if he was about to go of like a bomb. "No…don't think that" and the gas was then added to the fire. Dart had to step in and add his point of view. "He couldn't detest you. Lavitz-"I had to stop him before he worsens the situation at hand. "Stop, Dart! I don't need you making this worse. I only like His Majesty as a friend and respect him as my lord. There's nothing else beyond that and I wish that we leave it at that." A flowing cloth catches my eye. I noticed that Albert headed in the other direction. More or less, he was headed back to Bale. I didn't have a problem with him returning home, but what began to really trouble me was the fact that he was going off by himself. I didn't think twice. I rushed after him. He didn't get far before I caught up to him and stopped him. The king pushed me aside and continued walking. "Your majesty, please, stop and listen." I called out. I watched King Albert stop and turn around. He had a really snotty expression upon his face as he said, " I have nothing to talk to you about. Now, go away before I decide to forbid you from stepping foot in my castle! "I let him pass me and continue towards home. I've angered him and probably let him down. I was supposed to be his loyal knight and instead of fulfilling my duties I've let him slip between my fingers and get away… I don't know what to do now. I had no intention on returning back to where I had left Dart, but this was for the sake of His Majesty and me…too much was at stake. I continued after the king, but I kept a safe distance from him. I followed him all the way back to Indels Castle where I stopped at the foot of the steps and watched my lord storm all the way to the top. Should I follow? I wanted to just so that I could patch everything up, but I didn't want to be thrown out of the castle. *sigh* I'm going to take that risk.
I rushed up the steps and quickly moved through the castle, avoiding every noble and castle worker there was. "LAVITZ SLAMBERT!!!!" I heard a familiar voice yell my name. I turned around to see an angry Minister breathing down my neck. " Yes, Minister Noish?"
"Don't give me that! Tell me, why was His Majesty by himself?! You are a knight of Basil; you are supposed to protect your lord at all times. How far-"
"Wait, wait, wait! Give me some time to tell my half of the story."
Minister Noish finally stops and folds his arms. Thus, I continue hoping that no one interrupts.
" Well, Minister…I've upset his majesty…He threatened me…He said that he was going forbid me from stepping foot in this castle. "
"Ah…He wasn't serious."
"Why would you assume that?"
"It's not an assumption…It's a known fact. This has happened before with Sir Lucien, but unlike you…This knight loved to test people. He tested his majesty Albert and ended up being scolded, but never kicked out of the castle."
"But this is definitely different from then."
" That may be so, but it wouldn't hurt you to fix this little issue."
I hurried off. I couldn't let another second pass, knowing that His Majesty was in great emotional distress because of me. I climbed the stairs with only one thing in my mind. I ran into a few knights but I took no time to apologize. My first stop was the throne room. I looked up at the crimson red chair that the king normally sat in, but of course he wasn't there. I should've known better than to look at that thing. When someone is this distressed, they wouldn't go sit on their throne. "Aha!" I chirped as an idea came into my head. Maybe His Majesty was on the balcony. Now that I think about it, he would normally go out onto the balcony to clear his mind when ever something upsets him. I rushed out onto the closest balcony, only to find Dart's friend Shana. She turned around and stared at me with a worried expression. I stared back wondering if I should be spending my time to ask questions as to why she was staring at me at such a way. I was going to tell her that I was busy, but she had spoke before I could even part my lips. "What's wrong with His Majesty?" She asks. I had a strong feeling that something like this was going to come up. I really didn't want her to know about our situation. I'm trying as hard as I could to keep anyone else from butting in unnecessarily. "Don't worry about it." I told her. "I'm on it. I will find out and fix whatever is wrong."
I really didn't have to find out…I was the cause. I bolted off before another word could be said. To make sure that I didn't miss him, I checked the other balcony, but alas…the young king wasn't there. I had no other choice but to check his room. I didn't care that I didn't have permission to go into his chambers, I was determined to find him before he did anything drastic, which I highly doubt that would actually happen. I moved up the next set of stairs and headed to the round oak door that led to the tower that contained the king's chambers. I turned the knob and opened the door. I proceeded through the door and made my way to the large tower that stood in front of me. I proceeded over the walkway connecting to two buildings to each other. I stood at the door to the king's chambers and rested my hand upon the knob. With the other hand I knocked on the door. "Sire, we need to talk…We have to set everything straight!" I called. I stood there and waited for a response…………………..Nothing, I received absolutely no response from the King. I knocked again and called out to him, but once again, I got absolutely nothing. "King Albert, I know you're mad, but at least you could say something to me! I shouldn't have upset you in any kind of way…but please…Please open this door!" Again, I got nothing. Now, I am worried. I had to get in there, for both of our sakes! He couldn't have done something drastic! He wouldn't, yet this awkward silence irked me and worried me all the same.
*crash* *thud* *shatter* I could tell something had hit the floor pretty hard. Could that have been His Majesty?! What did he do?! I couldn't stand here any longer just thinking about what he may've done, I had to find out!!!
What could I do?!
Who could I tell?!
What's going on?!
Why? Why? Why did it turn out this way?
But really…Was this all because of me? Was I truly the one at fault? Would I be held responsible for His Majesty's emotional pain…even though jealousy took over a part of his soul?
All of these questions rushed through my head and then my mind went blank…even though, I should be rushing to His Majesty's aid, I was standing there…Just standing there…thinking of what to do next. My hand slipped off of the doorknob and fell down by my side. I guess…I guess…I was truly afraid of what I was going to find behind that door and what consequences may spill out once it is opened…