AN: Hey guys, just a heads up. No updates for the next two weekends due to the holidays. Also gives me a chance to finish the story's remaining chapters. Happy Holidays.

Disclaimer: I do not own Armello

If it wasn't for the fact that he needed to be sober for the critical task of leading his men, Thane would have gotten drunk faster than when he learned his mother died of illness while he was adventuring. Plus, it would do no good to see the king guzzling down bottles of liquor so late at night in public. He was only doing so with one bottle, far away from the camp, watching the moon above. A flurry of emotions, like that of a snowstorm, was warping inside of him. He didn't honestly know what to feel. There were too many feelings tearing him apart in all directions.

He had a son named Rory.

Not just any son but an older son he never knew existed until two hours ago. A son with a woman who was not his wife and out of wedlock which made him a bastard. Rory was older than Snow, his current heir with Amber, and had lived his entire life as a bandit's son. All while ignorant of his father or his heritage.

The first emotion Thane felt was anger.

Anger at Scarlett for keeping this from him. What would have happened if he had never met her again? Would he never know he had a son? Was Scarlett planning on keeping Rory from him forever?

She had no right to that. No right to deny Thane this. Whatever her reason was, Thane wasn't hearing it. He had a right to know he had another son. A son he wanted to protect and know, consequences be damned.

The second emotion was joy.

Thane loved all his children. The moment they were born, he held each of them and hugged them close to his heart while promising to take care of them forever. His father was demanding and often demeaned both sons for not being what he wanted them to be. And his brother ended up going mad and killing his father out of rage. Save for his mother, Thane's family life was a disaster.

This is why Thane swore to be better than his father when he and Amber found out they were going to be parents. He loved all of his children. Snow was always trying his best to be the best heir possible. Riverfoot wanted to play with him all the time and laughed with such joy. And Ned was shy, but he had the kindest heart out of all of them. Even his upcoming pup was someone Thane was looking forward to greeting when they came to the world.

Rory was another of his children; he wanted to know what he was like deep down.

The third emotion was fear.

Thane might not have been the world's greatest politically-minded wolf, but he wasn't stupid. Having a son out of wedlock, one born of royal blood (Wolf Clan or otherwise), meant that Rory was technically a viable heir for the throne before Snow. It didn't matter if he was a bastard. He still had noble blood inside of him. The throne was a prize many wanted. Hell, the whole nation had numerous conflicts over the damn chair during King Tau's descent into madness.

Dozens of nobles would want to use Rory to get to the throne. Or worse, what if Rory felt it was his right to have the throne? Rory could be used or become a means to threaten the safety of his children. Amber might have loved Thane and been friends with Scarlett, but she would never let anyone take her oldest son's rightful place as heir to the kingdom of Armello. Not to mention that the Rabbit Clans might even go after Rory, whether he wanted the throne or not, to ensure the risk to their hold on the throne was eliminated. There was also the worry about how Amber would just take the whole thing. Not to mention how their children would react if they learned they had an older brother who didn't come from their mother.

If Rory's true origins were exposed, it would be a political nightmare that could tear the nation and his family apart.

Thane drank harder as he tried to think about what to do when he sensed someone behind him. Turning around, he saw a sympathetic Sir Horace walking towards him and sitting down on the grass. There was a long silence between them until the badger asked, "I take it you saw him? Rory, I mean?"

"...Did you know?" Thane asked.

"Not until today," Sir Horace said with a shake of his head. "But the moment I saw him? I knew he was yours and Scarlett's. I demanded Twiss tell me when we were alone after meeting him, and she said Rory is your son. Only a few know about it, though. Most think he's from someone Scarlett had a one-night stand with."

"Trust me, Scarlett and I had more than once," Thane muttered as he rubbed his paw against his head. "What am I going to do?"

"...Has Scarlett explained yet why she kept it from you?"

"No, but she said she would explain tomorrow," Thane replied.

"Then I would get some sleep and spend some time with your son," Sir Horace suggested. "You should at least get to know him, even if this might be the only time you see him."

Thane sighed and nodded. He was curious to know more about Rory regardless of the circumstances of his birth and sheltered upbringing. It would give him something to distract him from his upcoming talk with Scarlett.

The moment morning came, Thane set out to look for his son. He had left any essential issues to deal with to Sir Horace. Thane also tried looking for Scarlett, but she was nowhere to be seen, and Thane wasn't sure if she was avoiding him or was busy. It didn't take long to find Rory, as he was the only red-furred wolf in the campsite where he was greeting some of the other members of the Bandit Clan with good morrows before heading to the mess tent for grub.

Rory first grabbed an apron and assisted the chefs in preparing and serving the meals to the clan members, who all thanked him for his hard work. Occasionally, Rory would eat a bit of his own meal, but his focus was mainly on serving the others. Thane watched curiously as Rory did so with utter humbleness and generosity while many praised him for his work ethic or treated him with the utmost respect. Part of it seemed to be that he was their leader's son, but the way the kids looked at him with awe or how the adults smiled warmly at him as if they were kin, it was clear that Rory had a positive influence on his clan mates.

Thane couldn't help but smile. He was glad Rory didn't take his position as the leader's son for granted and seemed to actively work hard to help the Bandit Clan. Deciding to talk to him personally, Thane grabbed a plate before making for Rory, who spotted him with wide eyes before bowling. "G-Good Morning, K-K-King Thane!"

Others started getting up and prepared to bow as well until Thane raised his paw for them to stop. "No need. Please. Just treat me like everyone else for today. I'm pretty sure that if everyone starts bowing to me whenever I pass by, you'll all end up with back pains."

A few chuckled but respected his wishes and returned to their meals and discussions. Turning back to Rory, Thane looked at the young nervous wolf and could definitely see his and Scarlett's features more closely. While the fur was of the type of red you'd see on a fox, his body was that of a wolf, reminding Thane of his twelve-year-old younger self. He had the same nose and cheekbones as Thane and his father once had. The eyes were more like Scarlett's, save for Thane's yellow coloring as a trait of his mother. His ears were also more back-drawn like Fang's were, a trait that his old brother shared with his father. The chin and neck were more of Scarlett's bloodline since there was unfamiliarity with that. In other words, he's a perfect blend of us both.

"Um, sir?" Rory asked, getting Thane's attention. "Would you like anything specific?"

"Oh, um," Thane looked at the food options before picking. "Eggs, fruit, sausages, and oatmeal."

Rory served him up at once, but once he was finished, Thane asked, "Do you want to join me?"

"Are you sure that's okay?" Rory asked curiously as he poked his fingers. "I don't want to break some royal protocol."

He's so nervous. Quite unlike either of us, Thane realized with surprise. At Rory's age, Thane was already quite a scamp and getting into trouble with his attitude and adventurous behavior. As for Scarlett, considering her childhood, it was good that Rory wasn't like her at all at her age.

Smiling warmly, Thane said, "It's okay. Just treat me as if I'm…family…."

"Okay," Rory replied with a small smile as he took his breakfast plate and joined Thane near a table under the tent just for the two of them.

The two sat and ate silently for a while, occasionally looking at each other while Thane tried to figure out what to do next. He didn't know what to honestly say to the boy without making it look like he was judging him. The pup seemed already half-prepared to jump out of his own fur, and his tail twitched every time the two glanced at each other. Thane opened his mouth to try and say something, but instead, Rory spoke first. "Is it true that you had to face the Wolf Clan's Champion of Winter to get them to ally with you against the King?"

Thane paused for a bit before chuckling at the memory. "Yes, it was quite a…hassle to get the Alphas to finally accept me as their King."

"Why? Weren't you a prince?" Rory asked.

"I was, but I wasn't exactly the kind of Prince they wanted," Thane replied with a sigh as he played around with his porridge. "My father and the Alpha's didn't think my brother or I were worthy as his heirs growing up. I was so focused on my martial abilities and being the best swordsman out there that I neglected the idea of political power or educational stuff needed, like economics, trade, diplomacy, and such. I thought they were boring, and naively, I thought being strong was all that was needed to be a prince."

"Mom said it was because the elders of your clan were also a bunch of stuck-up jerks," Rory pointed out, which made Thane laugh.

"Yes, the Wolf Clan tended to be very different from the other clans. We were isolationists and looked down on non-wolves as inferior to us or not worth our time. We were prideful and believed we could do things on our own. I was different because I got to know the lesser classes and outsiders when I started training. I preferred hanging out with the common people rather than my fellow nobles. I was seen as a bit of a radical," Thane admitted with a chuckle. "I mean, they were right about me not focusing on the other important aspects of what makes a great ruler, but I believe that what I did in my spare time was not wrong. In fact, it helped me build the alliance I needed."

"But you still had to prove it, right?" Rory asked.

"Yes, sadly I did..." Thane answered with a memory of that time flashing in his head.

***Twelve Years Ago***

Thane knew getting the Wolf Clan to agree to the alliance would be challenging. At least when it came to convincing the Alphas. He didn't exactly have the best reputation when it came to them since he was often unorthodox in his methods in the face of tradition. The ordinary wolves loved and admired him, as did the lower and middle ranks of the nobility, but he knew their support could only go so far. The Alphas had always had a tight grip on the Clan's power, and it would take a lot to convince them that he was the right wolf to lead them. His father was a popular king among the Alphas, and in the eyes of both him and higher-ups, Thane was not worthy of being a leader of the Wolf Clan. Even after Fang killed their father, the Alphas still did not believe him worthy.

Thane had set out on his adventures years ago with his mother's blessing to find the source of the Rot and answer their questions about it. It was a means to see him prove himself as a leader to the Wolf Clan, but once his mother had passed away from illness, the Alphas declared him not fit anyway. That had upset Thane, but he continued to prove to them that he was worthy. And now I lead an entire alliance to overthrow the King to replace him for Armello's sake.

Thane sat in his old bed chambers in the castle he grew up in, all while staring outside the window where the frozen mountains of his homeland could be seen in the distance. He used to always want to go sledding down them with River and his brother when he was a pup, but he never got a chance to do so. Something always came up, and yet that dream never faded away. A knock on the door alerted Thane that he had a visitor and told them to come in.

A concerned River opened the door and shut it behind her before walking over to her old friend. The two looked at each other, one with worry and the other stoic in expression. Finally, River huffed and shook her head. "You really are an idiot."

"Gee, thanks," Thane chuckled as he looked back at the mountains. "But you know there is no other way."

"You and your alliance just saved us from Fang and his army," River said, sitting next to him by the window. "Even if most of the Alphas are pissed off about the fact that outsiders had to save us, honor demands that they repay you for what you did."

"The Alphas are too blinded by prejudice and their pride to fully commit to the alliance, River," Thane said, staring at her eye to eye. "You know this. Besides, I'm a threat to them because of the support I have. They all want to be the King of the Wolf Clan and thought I was gone because Mother passed away when I was off doing my quest. Probably hoping I would die out there. But not only did I return stronger and wiser, but I brought every possible Clan I could under my banner with my intentions to cause a revolt and overthrow the King. The King who helped aid Fang in attacking our homeland to eliminate the Wolf Clan. This hasn't just made me a hero. This has made me a symbol to the entire people of Armello, including our commoners. The Alphas fear me because I proved them wrong."

"I know," River said with a nod and soft smile. "You really have changed, Thane. I'm glad you finally grew up and became the wolf I always knew you were meant to be."

"I had help," Thane said as he looked down at the campsite outside the city where his army was stationed. "And I'm glad you've opened up to my friends."

"They aren't so bad," River whispered, crossing her arms and blushing. "I'm just glad they decided to help us."

Thane smiled upon hearing River say that. River had been the one to let Thane know what was happening back home and begged him to send aid. Even though she, like many other wolves, didn't trust outsiders. She had swallowed her pride and asked her childhood friend to save their homeland, one that had rejected him. Thane answered the call in less than a heartbeat and brought all the aid he could. Of course, he didn't expect to do this just out of kindness and honor. He needed the Wolf Clan to join his alliance, and what better way to do that than by becoming their King.

There was just one problem…

"Do you really think you can defeat Magna tomorrow?" River whispered with fear in her tone. Thane couldn't blame her since there was also terror in his heart.

Magna was not just the leader of the Alpha Guard but theChampion of Winter. A title that was only given to the strongest of the wolves. Magna had rarely lost to anyone in her life, and despite the numerous times that Thane, River, and Fang tried growing up, they could never defeat her. Only Thane's father did so once, and Magna respected him greatly. To the point that she would be very vocal about her distaste for his sons. Fang obviously because he killed the wolf she admired so much, but Thane she saw as weak, immature, and foolish. Not to mention it was a well-known fact that Magna hated non-wolves.

"I have no choice," Thane said, closing his eyes. "Magna challenged me to a duel to the death for the throne of our people. If I don't win, she'll lead the Wolf Clan and do nothing to help the alliance against King Tau."

"But if you die, then the alliance falls apart!" River shouted in frustration.

"No, I made sure it could continue in the event of my death," Thane said, thanking Mercutio for the idea. It was based on the Rat clan's process of succession, save for all the backstabbing that caused it to be needed in the first place. "I'm not the only hero in our army, River."

"But you are the most important," River said as she put her hand on his shoulder and forced him to look at him. "Thane, despite all the issues we've had in the past few years, I've never stopped seeing you as my friend. I don't want to see you die. Especially from Magna, who is as ruthless in combat as they come."

"I've grown stronger, River," Thane said as he stood up and stared at her. "You would not believe the shit I've dealt with in my adventures. The enemies I've had to face. The abominations that would make you piss yourself. Magna might be a terrifying foe, and I will admit that I am scared to face her in a duel to the death, but I am more terrified of what will happen to our Clan if I don't try to win."

"What do you mean?" River asked.

"The Wolf Clan is stuck too much into tradition and isolation that we've let ourselves advance less than the other clans," Thane said with a heavy sigh. "I've seen so much from the other clans. Things that have improved the lives of their people so much. We might still be considered the best fighters in the realm, but we lack other things. Advanced education, strong trade, a navy, architecture, art and literacy, proper roads never breaking, banking systems, and even gunpowder."

"That black stuff that firearms use, right?" River asked.

"One day, that will replace every weapon known to us, and warfare will change forever," Thane said, remembering the first time he saw Mercutio use his pistol and how easily it killed a Royal Guard. "That bow of yours is going to be outdated one day."

River looked miffed about that but soon shook her head. "But there is more to this. Isn't it? Something personal?"

Thane growled and nodded. He turned to River and said, "She threatened Scarlett. She said she would take her tail and add it to her collection."

Of all the races that Magna hated the most, it was foxes. She called them cowers, criminals, vermin, and worth nothing but rugs to rub your feet under. She even dared to wear her collection of fox tails on her armor right in front of Scarlett. The fact that Magna threatened the love of his life was too much for Thane. He accepted her challenge to fight to the death for the right to lead the Wolf Clan.

A disappointing look appeared on River's face as she seemed to have deflated. "So you do love her…."

Thane nodded. "I do. She's…unlike any other woman I've met, River. She might not have been there for me since the start, like Amber, Mercutio, and Sana, but she's been there with me in many important events. Events when I needed comfort. She cares about the common people. She's risen from the worst of conditions. She may be a thief, but she has a noble heart brighter than any knight in the world."

"So this duel is also to prove your love for her," River muttered, crossing her arms. "The Alphas won't accept a fox as a queen for their king."

"If I win, it won't matter who I take as a queen," Thane pointed out. "Of all the traditions we hold, winning a duel to settle a dispute has always been the oldest we honor. Because the winner is seen as right by the Moon and our ancestors. Even they won't fight against that."

"Risk it all in one duel," River said with a slight smirk. "That's so you."

"Would you rather have me in any other way?" Thane asked with a grin.

"No," River admitted as Thane turned to make his way toward the door. "It's why I fell in love with you when we were younger."

Thane froze and slowly turned around with his mouth open. River snorted and shook her head in amusement at the sight. Shaking his head out of the stupor, Thane studdered, "W-What?"

"I loved you when we were kids. I used to dream about marrying you and becoming your queen," River whispered as she walked over and put a paw on her shoulder. "Don't worry. I've long since moved on from those feelings, but Thane? You're still important to me. I vow that win or lose, I will see your vision of Armello uniting against the Rotting King come to pass. I swear on my honor."

She then just wrapped her arms and held him tight. "Just promise me you'll win."

"...I will," Thane whispered as he wrapped his arms around his oldest friend. "I promise."

"Good," River said, ending the hug before letting out a small smile. "Besides, someone has to teach you and Scarlett's kids how to shoot a bow."

"I can shoot a bow," Thane muttered.

"No, you can't shoot for shit," River teased as she left the room with Thane following her in protest.

***Present***

"You won, though, right?" Rory asked as Thane snapped out of his thoughts. "Against the Champion of Winter."

"Yes, Magna was her name. A wolf that nobody but my father, the previous King, could defeat," Thane answered with a heavy sigh. Much as Magna was a rival to him, he still respected her as a warrior. "I barely managed to win and kill her. She was the second hardest fight I've ever had, with King Tau being the first. But with that victory, I proved myself, and the Wolf Clan swore their alliance to me and proclaimed me their King."

"But if you're the King of Armello, who is ruling the Wolf Clan in your stead?" Rory asked curiously.

"That would be my childhood friend's twin sister, Sky," Thane answered with a smile. "Sky managed to prove herself in the war so well that I gave her the position of Queen of the Clan in honor of her deeds and in memory of her sister…one of my best friends who died in the final days of the rebellion."

"...I'm sorry," Rory whispered, whimpering as he lowered his head. "I didn't mean to make you feel sad."

"It's alright," Thane said as he comfortably patted him on the head. "You need not apologize for something."

"...Um, can I ask you something?" Rory asked, poking his fingers again. Gulping, he asked, "C-C-Can you teach me a few things with a sword?"

"Oh?" Thane asked, smirking.

"Y-Yeah! I want to be a great swordsman like you! Mom used to tell me that nobody could wield a blade better than you, and I train hard every day! If you could teach me a few things, I might be just as great as you!" Rory said with excitement as his tail wagged back and forth.

He and Snow would get along great. Thane wondered how his now second-oldest son would take it, knowing he had a brother with a passion for swordplay like him. Perhaps with joy since that would mean a new sparring partner.

"Very well, let's finish our breakfast and see what you got," Thane said as Rory started to eat with gusto. It was clear he couldn't wait to train under his hero.

And deep down, Thane couldn't wait to do so either.