Just so we're clear, Tommy and Chuckie are around 15/16 in this. And, this will not be slash. I've done slash for three years, I'm gonna see if I can have two boys be just friends.
But be warned, nothing is set in stone... Sharpie maybe, but not stone.
Charles Fennster had gone pale. His father's servants had just delivered a letter to him. He probably shouldn't have peeked, but he couldn't help it. As his father's assistant Allen walked by, Chuckie recognized the handwriting of the king.
Being the colonel of the army, Chuckie's father got letters all the time. They were hardly ever from the king, and the fact that the king stumbled upon Chuckie and Tommy's fight a few days ago made hiss belly squirm. He knew the letter would not be pleasant.
Chuckie's father was on the same nick of the totem pole as Tommy's mother, the same class if you will. Charles being the colonel and Didi the high priestess, their work often coincided. This never sat well with either Chuckie or Tommy, for whatever reason.
As Chuckie's mind flipped over the fight from yesterday, and the king's interference, he almost didn't notice that he was being called.
"Young Charles," Someone said, quietly. "Chuckie!" Allen yelled into his ear, and the young boy jumped.
"Yes?" He said, his voice breaking.
"Your father has called you to his office, mister Charles. Over ten minutes ago."
Chuckie yelped and sprinted to his father's office, knocking over a potted plant in the process. "Sorry, Allen!" He yelled to the man who was now looking for a sweeper to gather the fallen dirt.
Chuckie slowed down in his father's work corridor and tried to calm his huffing breaths before he got to the ominous brown door at the end. He stepped up cautiously and knocked twice, pausing for a second, then knocked one more time.
"Come in, Chuckie." His father's muted nasally voice said. Chuckie's heart sped up. As the door creaked, it revealed his father's stern face.
"Hello there, father. How are you this afternoon?" The young boy tried.
"Don't even try to act innocent, I know about the fighting with Tomas."
Chuckie hung his head. He'd really hoped that his father would never find out about the fights
"Did the king send you a letter?"
Charles nodded, not being able to make coherent speech, his anger bubbling in him.
"What did he say?" Chuckie asked, feeling the agitation coming off of his father in pulses.
Composing himself as best he could, Charles spoke in a low, nasally growl. "You'll be moving in with Tomas when the king sends his conditions."
Chuckie's mouth fell open. "What?" he bellowed.
"The king will send his conditions when they're written, and you will then move into the South wing of the castle with Tomas." His stern look dwindled, but remained.
Chuckie's mouth fell open and he failed to try and close it.
"Charles-" The elderly man began with amusment, but was cut off by a servant who entered silently and placed a thick envelope onto the desk. "Ahh, these will be the king's arrangements."
Chuckie's head was spinning. Not a minute ago, he'd learned he'd be living with the one kid he couldn't stand. Now, in his father's hands, the offending paper that contained his future.
"Charles, you will listen to these rules, and you will follow them, do you understand?"
"Yes, sir." Chuckie thought it'd be safer to be polite.
"You will move into the South wing of the castle in five days. You will live like that of the middle class. You will have jobs for buying food and material for clothing, other than that, you will have everything else you'll need. You will have no servants, you and Tomas must take care of each other. For example, if one of you make breakfast or clothes, you must make for both of you. All responsibilities must be shared, such as cleaning and cooking, and waking up on time.
"Your schooling teacher will visit you each week, and should you need help with your work, Tomas will help you, as you will him. Although I doubt you'll need assistance, you and Tomas have top marks."
Chuckie sighed, lifting his head. He thought his father had read all of the letter, he'd finished the first page.
"I will visit you every week to check on you. Your best friends Phillip and Lillian will be able to visit you, if after one moon, you make progress. If you fight with Tomas, your time will be extended. Starting out, the king has you set up for twelve moons."
Chuckie's eyes bugged. He couldn't hold his response. "Twelve moons? Is the king a lunatic? Tommy and I will kill each other!" Chuckie stood in anger.
Charles stood, his eyes flashing. He then calmed in pity for his son, and in knowing that the arrangement was best for him. "That's the point. The king wants it to be that you won't want to kill each other."
Still fuming, Chuckie crossed his arms over his chest with a huff. "I hate this,"
Charles put a strong arm around his boy and squeezed. "I know son, but the king is adamant about it. It worked with his brother when they were young. I recall it well, to this day. They fought all the time, just like you and Tomas.
"They spent close thirty moons in the South wing, before they overcame their differences. Just think Chuckie," Charles softened, using the boys' nicknames. "If you can get along with Tommy, you'll be out of there in only twelve moons. Which isn't that long, really."
"Colonel, a merchant brawl in the town square." An iron clad man stepped in the door, a tense look on his face.
"I'll see you later, Chuckie. You can look over the king's terms while I'm gone." With that, Charles left and heaved the door closed.
Chuckie sat down in his father's chair with a sigh. He leaned back his head, closing his eyes. He then remembered the presence of the letter. He snatched the first page.
Colonel Fennster and Charles,
Charles and Tomas will move into the South wing in five days.
These are the same rules Velkan and I had to abide by. I thought it appropriate that Charles and Tomas abide the same.
I. Charles and Tomas will have no servants. They have been given merchant jobs and will buy and make their own food and clothing. they will have everything else they will need.
II. What one does for himself, he must do for the other.
III. They must care for the other. Should one have tension in the market, the other must fight for him. Should one of them fall ill, they will care for the other.
IV. The South wing is expected to be clean.
V. Visitors will be limited, Colonel Fennster may visit his son once weekly. This visit will also be used to check progress.
VI. Your schooling teacher will visit every Sunday, to give your assignments for the week. Help each other, if it is required.
Chuckie flailed for the second page.
VII. Friends may visit after the first moon of smooth progression.
VIII. You will begin with twelve moons in the South wing.
IX. If the boys are caught fighting, one moon will be added for each time.
X. I, High King, will visit at my will.
"My father didn't mention that," Chuckie mumbled to himself.
-High King Daile, Virdgrien Castle
Chuckie sighed again. It seemed as if he was doing alot of that, these days.
"Tomas?" Didi poked her flaming head into Tommy's room. She entered fully, and in her hand was a thick envelope. "The king's letter is here,"
"Have you read it yet?" Didi said nothing, and just nodded her head. "Is it bad?"
"No, not really. I expected worse."
Tommy sighed, finally accepting his fate, no matter the requirements."Where's Father?"
"He will be here, soon. Would you like to see the letter now?" She asked kindly.
"No, we can wait for Father." Tommy said, a cold look on his face. He did not love the idea of living with Chuckie, he was positive they would eventually kill each other.
After ten long minutes, Stu stumbled into the room, soot on his face. "I'm here," He smiled at his wife who lovingly rolled her eyes at his state.
"The king's requirements are here. Shall I read them?" She asked her son and husband.
Tommy shrugged and Stu looked apprehensive.
"High Priestess, Mister Piquelz and Tomas,
Tomas and Charles will move into the South wing in five days.
These are the same rules Velkan and I had to abide by. I thought it appropriate that Charles and Tomas abide the same.
I. Charles and Tomas will have no servants. They have been given merchant jobs and will buy and make their own food and clothing. They will have everything else they will need.
II. What one does for himself, he must do for the other.
III. They must care for the other. Should one have tension in the market, the other must fight for him. Should one of them fall ill, they will care for the other."
Tommy snorted. "Yeah, right,"
"IV. The South wing is expected to be clean.
V. Visitors will be limited, High Priestess and Mister Piquelz may visit their son once weekly. This visit will also be used to check progress.
VI. Your schooling teacher will visit every Sunday, to give your assignments for the week. Help each other, if it is required.
VII. Friends may visit after the first moon of smooth progression.
VIII. You will begin with twelve moons in the South wing."
"Twelve moons?" Tommy screeched.
"Yes, Tomas, now hush!" His mother scolded.
"IX. If the boys are caught fighting, one moon will be added for each time.
X. I, High King, will visit at my will.
-High King Daile, Virdgrien Castle
Tommy let out a long groan and lay back on his bed. "I'll be there forever... there's no way we can get along, Mother!"
"Promise me you'll try your hardest, Tommy?"
The youngster looked up at his mother's pleading eyes.
"I'll try Mother, I really will. Just for you." Didi stood and kissed her son's head. Stu left and she handed him the letter.
"That's all I ask." She pointed to the letter. "You'll need to hold onto that, I imagine." She left the room silently.
"Thanks," With the letter in his hand, he curled up in his soft feather bed. Thoughts of fighting and living with Chuckie forced him into a restless sleep.
Update! -throws confetti!-
I'm not sure how I feel about this chapter, though.... Review, tell me how to improve?