Chapter 15 - Mother Knows Best (Posted 20 April 2011)

A/N: I'm sooooo sooooo sooooooo sorry it took me this long to update. I've been ignoring my other stories for this one and I wanted to give them some attention but then I kind of lost track of time. I just can't seem to find a good balance lol. But I gave a speech yesterday in front of the whole school and I came in second place so I wrote this chapter to celebrate. It doesn't matter that there were only two contestants in my section, right? lol. It switches POV a few times. I don't think it turned out as good as I hoped, but please enjoy :D

:James's POV:

I woke to the sensation of a warm, naked body in my arms. It took me a few seconds to really wake up and realize who this person was. Kendall. It wasn't just a dream. Kendall had returned and we spent the night together.

I watched Kendall sleep. Breathing quietly, with a content smile on his lips. It felt so natural to have him there. Like I'd been incomplete all this time. I love him. He's the most beautiful person I've ever met, inside and out.

I silently thank my parents every day for sticking us together all those years ago. Though it hurt to have him gone, I wouldn't change it. I was never quite sure if he would return or not. Sometimes I'd think he definitely would because he was my friend and we loved each other at least that much. Other times I'd decide he was absolutely never coming back because he would have already.

But no matter what I was thinking, I always thought about him. And I probably would have kept thinking about him until the day I died even if he never returned. But none of that matters now. Because he's here, in my bed. In my arms. And I feel happier than any other man, be he King or peasant.

:Kendall's POV:

The first thing I see when I woke up that morning was James's magnificent eyes staring back at me. And the brightest smile I've ever seen was shining on his face.

It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. More beautiful than any sword or castle or landscape.

It's so hard to believe I'm actually here. I wavered back and forth so many times, trying to decide if I should ever come back. But somewhere along the line I just knew in my heart that I wouldn't be able to stay away forever.

Loving your King isn't something you hear about too often. It's usually young girls and old women saying they'd like to get a piece of the Prince or something. But it's not like that for me. I love James. I knew it as soon as I began training to be a swordsmith. I always kept tabs on what he was doing, anything that could somehow be linked to him, I clung to. And that was when I started formulating my plan to return.

I wasn't sure if he felt the same way, but I had a feeling he would. All the things he said to me before I ran away stuck in my head. And in my dreams I still see his crying face when he begged me not to leave. It might not have been love then, but that's where it was headed, I'm sure of it.

Especially now. He must love me. A King would never sleep with someone like me unless they were in love. Even James, however unselfish he had become, wouldn't allow a peasant into his bed.

I was happy to know that he returned my feelings. But at the same time, I was very sad. He was the King. And I'm sure that if I was a woman, he'd be able to find some loophole that would allow us to get married. But as a man, there is no way I can marry him. His aunts and uncles have produced no other children so it is up to him to bring about his own heir. And I cannot be the person to help him with that task.

:3rd Person POV:

"Good morning." James said after a moment of basking in the heat radiating off of Kendall.

"Good morning." Kendall replied, both happily and sadly.

"Kendall... I don't know what to do..."

"Neither do I. I wish I could help you.

"I wish we could get married."

"So do I." Kendall agreed with a smile. "Could you image it? You and me, married." He snuggled closer to James. "It wouldn't seem fair though, would it? I'd be married to the King, and you'd just be married to a peasant."

"You're not just a peasant, Kendall."

"That's right, I'm Pienn Régis. That name has a good reputation."

"I'm not in love with Pienn Régis, though. I'm in love with Kendall Knight, and I'd be marrying him. You make beautiful swords, but I fell in love with you're heart, your smile, and your words. I want you, not an alias. You, the escaped servant with no father. And I would hope that you love me and not the King."

"Oh James, you know that's not what I meant."

"I do, that's why I said it. Suggesting that status has any affect on how I feel about you is ridiculous."

"I know. I'm sorry. I just feel so bad about all of this. I want to marry you, James. More than anything. I love you, James."

"I know. I never thought I'd hate being the King."

"You don't really, though, do you?"

"Aside from not being able to be with you, no, I love it. I get to make decisions and take care of people. It's wonderful. But I wanted to share that with you."

Kendall looked at him confusedly. "Share? You mean... you'd have me rule beside you?"

"Of course. I told you, you'd be my consort. I'd look to you for advice even before my advisor."

"Wow."

"Yeah."

"Do you... would you rather have me be a woman, if you could?"

"No. I love you as a man. Even if there was some magical way to turn you into a woman, I'd want to keep you as a man. That's who you are."

"But then I could give you children."

"Kendall, I would never want anything about you to change. We'll find a way to be together should you decide to stay."

"I thought I wasn't allowed to leave." Kendall chuckled.

"You weren't. But I thought about it and I just wouldn't feel right keeping you here if you'd rather leave. The guards have been instructed to let you come and go as you please. I love you too much to force you to stay."

"James..." Kendall moved a hand up to James's face. "Thanks. But I won't leave."

James's face lit up. "You won't?"

"No. I can't leave you again. I have to stay. I want to be here with you no matter what."

"That is very good news. Do you mean it?"

"I do. I promise, James, I'm staying."

"I'm so glad." James pushed himself forward just enough to kiss Kendall lightly on the lips. "I'm going to do everything in my power to keep you by my side."

"Good."

"Now... what about your family? I'd like to keep you right here, but you should go see them. They miss you."

"I miss them too."

"Then we shouldn't wait any longer. I know how it feels to miss you."

X

After getting dressed, James accompanied Kendall to the renovated servant quarters. They stopped in front of the door and James turned to face him.

"You should wait here and come in when I tell you. They'll be so happy to see you."

"Ok." Kendall agreed with a wide smile.

James knocked on the door as Kendall hid around the corner. The door was opened and James was greeted by Katie.

"Hey." Katie yelled and leapt into James's arms. "You haven't visited in a long time. I was beginning to think you'd forgotten about us."

Kendall almost cried at the sound of his sister's voice. She was a young woman now, and he'd missed her growing up.

"How could I forget about you guys?" James said as he returned the hug. "Is your mother here?"

"Oh, yes, she's knitting in her bedroom. I told her she doesn't need to, but she insists on making things for the baby."

"And how is the little one doing? Will he be coming any time soon?"

"I still think it's a girl, no matter what my brother says. But I've still got about a month left. It's very exciting."

"I'm sure it is." James said.

"You ought to get married soon so you can have your own children. I'm already working on my second one, you need to get moving!"

James chuckled awkwardly. "Well, marriage is... a difficult subject... for me right now."

"Too many women to choose from?" Katie winked.

"Um... not quite..."

"Oh... someone got away?"

"Something to that effect." James nodded thoughtfully. "So, may I come in? Unless Jett is home..."

"Pssh." she waved her hand in the air. "Don't worry about him. He's just worried you'll come in here and try to steal me away from him. But he knows he's my husband and I would never leave him, not even for the king." she laughed.

"He's very lucky to have you."

"Yes, well, he's not here anyway, so come right in."

Katie walked James inside.

"Hello, James." she greeted him sweetly.

"Good morning, Mrs. Knight." James bowed.

"What brings you here so early?"

"Well... um... you have a visitor."

Mrs. Knight set her knitting aside and stood. "A visitor? Who would be visiting me?"

"Should I bring him in?"

"Is it him?"

James just turned his head and shouted, "Ok, you can come in now."

Kendall came in and heard his mother gasp. He smiled sheepishly at her. He didn't know what came next. Was she happy? Angry? Sad? He wasn't sure he was ready to find out.

"Is that really you, Kendall?" she asked softly.

Suddenly Katie's eyes went wide as she looked at the man standing before her mother. Kendall? She knew the name. That name was the only memory she had of her long-lost brother. What was he doing here?

Kendall didn't know what to say. He saw happiness flash across his mother's face, but anger in the face of the woman who stood aside of her. He just nodded and within seconds his mother's arms were around him.

"You came back." she said happily.

"I did."

"Katie," Mrs. Knight said quickly, "go get your brothers. Right now. Hurry!"

Katie walked out slowly despite her mother's insistence.

"Oh, come in and sit down, darling. Tell me everything." Kendall's mother sat him in front of their wood stove and sat herself in a seat across from him.

"Everything?" Kendall was surprised to see his mother so excited.

"Yes, of course! I want to know about all of your adventures."

"Ok, I... where did James go?" Kendall looked around.

"Hmm, I don't know. Maybe he's waiting outside for Carlos and Logan."

"How are they?"

"They're wonderful. Logan is a healer, of course. He's very good. And Carlos works in the kitchens. He has a short attention span but when it comes to food, he's very focused." She laughed.

"And... Katie?"

"Katie has grown into a fine woman. She's married, you know."

"I heard. And she's... pregnant?"

"Yes, with her second child. She's a good mother. I think she grew up a little fast, but I'm proud of her."

"I'm sorry I missed it." Kendall said sadly. He often wondered how Katie was growing up.

"Kendall!" a voice came from behind them.

Kendall turned to see a dark-skinned man barreling toward him. He stood and immediately had the wind knocked out of him as he was embraced tightly. "Carlos."

"Wow! It's really you! You're so tall!"

"Yeah..." Kendall mumbled. What are you supposed to say to your brother after not seeing him for fifteen years?

"Logan's working with a patient right now, but he's going to be so excited to see you! How long are you staying?"

"Um... pretty long. I don't plan on ever leaving again."

"That's great." Carlos finally released him. "We'll be able to catch up and be brothers again."

"Definitely." Kendall agreed happily. He was relieved that Carlos and their mother seemed to be more than happy to accept him back into their lives.

"He's probably lying." Katie said as she walked by them. "He left once. Who can say he won't leave again?"

"But... he just said..." Carlos looked confused.

"Oh, Katie, knock it off." their mother scolded her. "None of us are mad at Kendall for leaving. I don't understand why you're so upset about him being here."

"Because he just left us! I was just a baby! I had to grow up hearing about everyone else's memories of him. How sweet and adorable he was, what a good brother he was. But I was the only one who didn't know him! Even my father knows more about him than I do. It's not fair." Katie ran out of the room.

"Maybe I should go..." Kendall said.

"No, Kendall, please stay a little longer." Carlos begged. "Katie will get over it. We missed you."

"I missed all of you too. I'm sorry I just left but..."

"It's ok, dear." their mother said sweetly. "We all understand and we love you and we're just glad to have you back."

"But... all the rooms are full." Carlos said. "Where are you going to live?"

Mrs. Knight shook her head and said "He's staying with James, of course."

Both boys looked at her.

"Oh, right." Carlos said with knowing eyes.

"Am I missing something?" Kendall asked, confused.

"Why do you have that cuff on your wrist, Kendall?" their mother asked simply.

"I'm a swordsman. They're part of my armor."

"Uh huh. So why are you only wearing one?"

Kendall looked down at his wrists and mentally slapped himself when he saw he'd forgotten to put the other one on that morning. He was so focused on not letting anyone see his Mark, he'd completely overlooked making it look inconspicuous. "Um... because... it's the latest fashion?" he tried weakly.

"Is it, now?" she replied gently.

"No." Kendall said.

"Did you make the cuff yourself?" Carlos said, trying to dispell the awkwardness.

"Yeah." Kendall answered.

"It's nice." Carlos observed.

"Thanks."

"Can I see it?" their mother asked.

Kendall held his arm out, even though he knew she wasn't really talking about the cuff. "It's got some silver running through it. Makes it look expensive, but it didn't cost very much to make."

"I mean the Mark, Kendall."

"I know." Kendall grabbed his wrist with his other hand and unscrewed the cuff. Then he extended his arm again, bare this time, revealing his Mark. "How did you know?"

"You silly boy, who do you think cleans the basement? I wake up one morning, you're gone, James won't talk to anyone, and his branding rod is laying aside of the fire pit? It wasn't that hard to figure out."

"Wow." Carlos gaped at the Mark. "I never believed Mom when she said James Marked you. Did it hurt?"

"Yes, it hurt a lot."

"Then why'd you do it?" Carlos wondered.

Kendall chuckled. "He wouldn't let me leave if I didn't. I..."

They were interrupted when someone crept up behind Kendall and squished him him in a big bear hug. "Kendall! I almost didn't believe Katie when she told me! What are you doing here?" Logan asked with a huge smile.

"I'm back." was al Kendall could think to say.

"For good?"

"Yes."

"That's great!" Logan said. "How have you been? I heard you make swords, I hope you're careful, those things are sharp and you..." he looked down at Kendall's wrist. "Woah. It's true. I thought that was just a rumor... James really Marked you."

Kendall rolled his eyes. "Is there anyone who doesn't know about it?" It was supposed to be a secret.

"Nope." Carlos giggled. "You know how gossip goes around here. Pretty much all the servants know about it. Of course we never really knew if it was true or not, but I guess now we do."

"I don't see what the big deal is about it." Kendall said absently. It meant a lot to him, but why did it mean so much to everyone else.

"It's the King's Mark." James said as he walked into the already crammed room. "Everyone here knows what it means, Kendall."

"Oh."

"So," Logan said casually, "now that you're back, when is the wedding?"

"What?" Kendall asked. Didn't anyone understand that James couldn't marry him?

"He Marked you." Carlos said. "That means you two are engaged, doesn't it?"

Kendall stuttered, "Well, yeah, but..."

"And you love him, right?" Logan asked bluntly. "I mean... it's obvious... with the way you two are looking at each other."

Kendall didn't know what to say. Of course he loved James. But they hadn't worked anything out yet. Was he supposed to tell them? "Yes, I love him." He felt an arm around his waist and saw James smiling brightly at him. "I love him very much."

"And I love Kendall as well..." James confirmed. "But, we aren't getting married."

"You're not?" Logan, Carlos, and Mrs. Knight asked.

"We can't." Kendall said sadly. "James needs to marry a woman so he can have a child who will inherit the throne."

Mrs. Knight coughed. "Well, technically... he wouldn't have to marry her. He would only have to..."

James started to blush. "Ican'tdothat!" he sputtered, thoroughly embarrassed. "And even if I could... I couldn't take the child away from its mother."

"You could marry her and carry out an affair." Logan said as if it wasn't scandalous.

"That wouldn't be fair to her or Kendall." James said with a scowl.

Kendall turned to him. "It isn't a bad idea though, James. If we find someone who would do it just for the status and wouldn't mind keeping up appearances... I wouldn't have a problem with it if it means being with you..."

"What about adopting a child?" Carlos suggested. "There are lots of kids in the kingdom that don't have parents. You could adopt one of them. Heck, you could adopt a whole bunch of them and..."

"We can't." James said. "My heir needs to be a blood relative. Those are the rules."

"James," Mrs. Knight had an idea, "who are you?"

"What do you mean?" James asked. "I'm James..."

"I mean your role, in the kingdom. Who are you?"

"The King..." James said, confused.

"Right." Mrs. Knight nodded. "And, who makes the rules?"

"The King..." James repeated.

"Right. So, the King makes all the rules, and you're the King."

"Yes..."

"Oh, James, for how bright you are I'm surprised you haven't figured it out yet." Mrs. Knight sighed.

"Figured what out?"

"James, you're the King. Nobody can tell you what you can or cannot do. You can make it so any child you adopt would be allowed to inherit the throne. No one would be able to stop you. And who would want to? You're a great King, there isn't a person in this kingdom who would object to it."

"Can you really do that?" Kendall asked with new hope.

"I... I don't know... Can I?" James asked. It never really dawned on him. Those rules had been in place since the founding of their kingdom. But he was the King now. Why couldn't he change things?

"Of course you can." Mrs. Knight said. "Let's face it, you two belong together. I could see it within the first few days of being together, there was just something special between you. Nothing can stop a love like that."

"Mom." Kendall whined. He was just a little embarrassed about hearing his mother say it out loud like that.

"But really, Kendall." Logan interjected. "Don't you want that? Don't you want to marry him?"

"Yes."

"To raise kids with him?"

"I assume that would go along with marriage, so yes."

"Well, what do you say, Kendall?" James asked excitedly. "If this works... will you marry me?"

"I don't know..." Kendall was flustered. He'd given up on the possibility of marrying James a long time ago.

"Come on." James flashed his brightest smile. "We both want this. I love you. You know I'd do anything to be with you, including risking pissing off my advisor. Please? All you have to do to officially accept my proposal is kiss the identical Mark I wear on my arm."

"James, what if something goes wrong and..."

"Kendall, stop worrying for one second." James hugged him. "We've been stressing out about this since you got back, and now we've found a solution. Can't you see it? A big wedding? A few kids? Ruling together? Doesn't that sound perfect?"

"It does. It sounds so perfect, James..." Kendall said. Last night still felt like a dream to him, so this was like a super-dream. It couldn't really be happening. But it was. And Kendall just wanted it so bad. So he got down on one knee and grabbed James's wrist, delicately brushing his lips against it. "I love you too, James. So yes, of course I'll marry you."

"Wow." James said as Kendall stood and hugged him. He looked into his eyes, memorizing them for the hundredth time since last night. "We're engaged."

"Yeah." Kendall said breathily. "I can't believe this is really happening."

A polite cough startled them and brought them out of the intense moment.

They blushed and parted slightly, but kept hold of each other's hand.

"Yay!" Mrs. Knight shouted happily. "I'm so happy! Now all my babies will be married."

"All of them?" Kendall asked. "Carlos? Logan? I didn't know you were married."

"Well, we are." They said together.

"To who?"

The two boys looked at each other and shrugged. Logan put his arm around Carlos's shoulder and Carlos put his on Logan's waist. Then they looked back at Kendall and told him, "Each other."