By the time Yao had returned from the Kingdom of Clubs, Arthur and Matthew were fast friends. This fact seemed to be an endless source of frustration for Alfred, who couldn't understand that Arthur had found a kindred spirit in his half-brother. Both outsiders to the world of royalty, but both inextricably tied to it by choices not their own, there was an unspoken bond in suffering between them that their young minds couldn't properly comprehend nor communicate even if they had tried. Alfred showed his dislike for this new intimacy in his usual, childish way, whining and threatening whenever Arthur spent too much time or gave too much of his attention to Matthew. Arthur would just roll his eyes, convinced now more than ever that he wasn't going to get along with Alfred once they were elevated to their future stations. Every little instance of immaturity added up in Arthur's brain to the long list of reasons why Matthew was a much better friend, and his attitude toward Alfred turned cold and distant. He was a nice child, but that's exactly all he was to Arthur: a child.
And Arthur had grown tired of babysitting. Yao was quite confused to find Arthur striking off on his own, or returning to his quarters as soon as lessons were done instead of playing with Alfred. More than once he asked Arthur if anything was wrong, but the only response he would receive was a casual shrug of the shoulders as Arthur would leave the room. Apparently Yao was so concerned that he had even come to talk with Anne about the changes in Arthur's behaviour, but Anne had given him nothing but a glowing report of how well the boys had gotten along in his absence as Arthur sat in his bedroom embroidering, and very resolutely ignoring the entire conversation.
Even Alfred's pleas did no good. Arthur faked tiredness or sickness to get out of spending time with him, several times just telling the young royal to stop being such a pest and go away. Arthur found some gratifying sense of power in watching Alfred's face fall each time; it was nice to know that he could refuse him and have it affect him so.
Still, Arthur couldn't manage to always get out of the daily walks, now with the Jack accompanying them once again. He found his own way to disengage, though, bringing a book along, skimming the pages as he walked and silently sending the message that he was no longer interested in chasing or roughhousing with Alfred. Alfred found his own outlet for aggression at this refusal, taking it out on bushes and tree trunks with sticks he would find on the ground.
Now he was prodding violently at the bark of an apple tree as Yao took them on an eerily silent stroll through the orchards. Arthur, taking a break from his book, was picking up some of the fallen blossoms, determinedly neglecting his companions.
He had been unable to visit Matthew for several weeks, and he found himself going through a withdrawal of sorts. Unused to the company of boys his own age, Arthur craved that camaraderie once again, and was beginning to resent the Jack not only for inhibiting his access to his new friend, but for the hand he had dealt in sealing both of their fates. It was with a heavy sigh and roll of the eyes that he responded when Yao cleared his throat and tried to strike up a conversation to relieve the tense atmosphere.
"Ah, Arthur? Your birthday is coming up at the end of this month, is it not?"
"Yes." Arthur grunted.
Yao pursed his lips and tried a different tactic. "Is there anything you should want to do to celebrate? Anything you wish for?"
Arthur sent him a hard look. "There are many things I wish for, Jack, but that doesn't mean I'll get them."
"My birthday is in the summer, Arthur. If you care to know." Alfred glanced at him hopefully, then broke the stick in his hands in two, tossing it aside when Arthur just shrugged as if to say it meant very little to him.
"Perhaps we could arrange for your parents to visit? I'm sure you must miss them, after all, and surely they would like to see how you've settled."
"I doubt they'll come. Mother has had the new baby now, I know. And I've written to them. They haven't responded." Arthur shredded the blossoms in his hand and let them fall to the damp earth.
Yao patted him on the shoulder in an attempt to be soothing, but Arthur just stiffened further under his touch. "Well, it might be worth a try, don't you think? Your new sibling will be several months old now. And travel from your home to the palace is not so far that they couldn't make it."
Arthur shrugged and resumed walking. "Invite them if you like, then."
The walk continued on, even more quiet and tense than before. They made it is far as the small lake on the far end of the orchards before Yao suggested they turn back. Alfred gathered up several rocks and flung them into the water angrily, then turned without a word and began the hike back. Arthur stared down at the choppy ripples, water lapping at the toes of his boots. He could see his own reflection in the glass-like water, so he swished it away with his foot.
As the water settled once more, Arthur glanced out over the water. He was just about to turn away and rejoin Yao and Alfred when a flash of white caught his eye. Squinting to try to make out the source, Arthur felt a familiar tingle take over his body. There, sipping gently from the water of the lake was beautiful unicorn. Arthur's heart raced and his face broke out into an unstoppable smile; he had never seen a unicorn before, only read about them and seen pictures in books. He began to run along the edge of the water, determined to make it around to the other side and see the unicorn up close. He'd done it! He'd found a creature with his Gift and now he could prove Alfred wrong!
Lifting it's head gently, white silk mane cascading, the unicorn caught sight of Arthur as he frantically ran. It bolted with a start, vanishing into the woods beyond the lake before Arthur could even get within 100 feet of it.
"No! Wait! Come back!" he cried the last glimpse of radiant white vanished into the dark trees.
Arthur sunk to his knees in a mixture of exhaustion and heartbreak.
"Come back. You're real, I saw you!"
"Arthur, what are you doing?" Alfred hollered.
"Did something happen, Arthur?" Yao was rushing back toward the lake, concern apparent on his face. Woefully, Arthur stood and met him half way.
"Arthur, what happened? Your face is so pale! What did you see?"
Arthur looked from Yao's concerned face to Alfred's questioning one, unable to put the idea of being labelled a "freak" to rest. Yao knew of his Gift, and had even implied that it was one of the reasons Arthur had been chosen to be the future Queen, but as Arthur watched Alfred's expression turn from one of curiosity to fear, he swallowed back the emotions threatening to bubble up.
"Nothing. I saw nothing."
Yao ended up arranging for a grand birthday party to officially welcome Arthur to palace life. There was to be music and food and entertainment to be provided by the infamous Joker. Arthur knew little about him other than that he was a something of a court jester during times of peace and a ruthless mercenary for hire when conflict arose. He didn't know the specifics, but he had heard whispers of his odd behaviour and lust for battle. Arthur didn't understand how someone so absorbed in war could be content to play the fool now that the lands had been united by the Deck Council, and he was quite looking forward to seeing the Joker for himself.
Arthur was bathed and dressed in an new outfit Anne had arranged to be made for him. The cloth was unlike any of even that of the best of his old clothes; it was soft and supple, the intricate brocade of his waistcoat gleaming. Even the stockings he was made to wear with his knickerbockers were made entirely of silk, as was the large white ribbon tied around his collar. His coat was a rich and heavy velvet, with small gold buttons upon the front fashioned in the shape of tiny spades. He thanked Anne profusely for choosing such beautiful garments, even if they were a symbol of his servitude to the House.
As the preparations for the arrival of the guests continued, Arthur found a moment to sneak out to the stables for the first time in nearly a month. Careful to walk delicately to avoid dirtying himself or his newly polished shoes, he made his way to the main storage barn where he knew Matthew would be at that time of day.
"Arthur! I haven't seen you in so long!" Matthew was hanging up the bridles he had just been cleaning, sleeves rolled up and collar unbuttoned. Arthur laughed as he came forward and pulled a straw of hay out of his hair, which he had pulled back messily to the nape of his neck.
"Well, you know how Yao is," he replied sheepishly. "I have missed you, though."
"And I've missed you. Oh. But where's Alfred?" Matthew craned his neck to look through the door Arthur had left ajar.
"Probably still fighting his maids over getting dressed."
"Oh that's right! Your birthday party is today! I'm sorry I don't have a gift to give you..." Matthew adjusted his suspenders awkwardly and bit his lip.
"Never mind that! I came to see you. That's a good enough gift for me."
Matthew smiled and shook his head as if there couldn't possibly be any truth in that, then took to walking around Arthur admiringly.
"And look at your clothes! How pretty they are! You'll have to tell me everything that happens at the party tonight!"
Arthur dusted off the shoulders of his coat vainly. "Of course I will!"
"Is it true the Joker is coming?" Matthew's voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper, eyes growing wide.
"Yes! Oh, Matthew I wish you could come and see. It isn't fair that you can't attend!"
"Well, I have to help the other stablehands with all the guests' carriages. I'd be too busy anyway." Matthew shrugged. "But I'll get to see all the fine ladies and gentleman as they arrive! Maybe I'll see the Joker after all."
Arthur found Matthew's eternal optimism contagious; how a boy so put upon by fate could see the good in every situation Arthur didn't know, but he loved the warm, weightless feeling that came with each of Matthew's shy smiles and giggles.
They chatted for a little while longer, updating one another on the million tiny, insignificant happenings that they had missed while not in each other's presence. Matthew told Arthur he should find a way to come see the new foals that had been born that year, and Arthur promised to bring Matthew some new books.
"Do you have to go?" Matthew questioned as the warm beams of sunlight started to disappear from the barn windows.
"Soon, I'm afraid."
"Well, come here, I have something I want to show you!"
Arthur followed as Matthew warily led him down to the entrance of the servants' quarters. It seemed everyone was on the next floor up or in the kitchen preparing, since they couldn't even hear anyone talking in the corridors between rooms. Matthew led him deeper into the maze of hallways until he came to a blunt end and fished in his trouser pockets for the key to a small wooden door. Peeking his head in slowly to be sure no one else was around, Matthew invited Arthur in.
There was a low, round table in the center of the room over a shabby rug. Three beds were pushed against the walls not taken up by the door and there was a narrow chest of drawers in one corner with a lamp on top of it. A spindly coat rack held a few items of clothing and there was a little pile of shoes beneath it. There was only one window in the room, right above the bed that Matthew was now searching under. All in all, it looked like a miserable little room to be sharing with at least two other people, and it hurt Arthur's heart to know that this was where Matthew spent his time while he was waited upon hand and foot in spacious quarters.
Matthew found what he was looking for a set it on the bed, motioning for Arthur to sit beside him. It was a worn box, shaped to look like a treasure chest, but only about a foot wide and tall. Matthew undid the latch and opened it, pulling out a somewhat dingy white stuffed bear.
"This is some stuff that the other servants saved for me from my mom. It's not much, but I thought I would show you."
Pushing inside the box, the bottom flipped up, revealing a narrow hidden compartment underneath. Matthew drew out each of the items inside almost reverently and laid them on the coarse blanket between he and Arthur. He held up a metal bracelet adorned with a few red glass beads.
"This was hers. The other servants told me she used to wear it all the time. They didn't know if it meant anything. And they think this pin was from her mother." He held up a blue cameo pin, the profile of the woman upon it dull and worn.
Next was a small book with thick, rough paper. Matthew flipped it opened and showed Arthur the herbs and flowers meticulously pressed and pasted inside, labeled with tiny, neat handwriting.
"She did this herself, so that's her writing. She was very good with medicines and that type of thing. Everyone would go to her if one of their children was sick... well, until everyone found out about her and the King."
The last item was delicate pink silk ribbon, kept so safe that not even the edges had frayed.
"This still smells like her perfume, here." Arthur sniffed at the ribbon, but could detect no scent. Matthew however, held it up to his own nose and smiled. Touched by the genuinely happy look on Matthew's face, Arthur let his delusion alone and nodded.
"It smells nice."
Matthew blushed and started putting the items back in the box. "Well, anyway, that's what I wanted to show you."
"Thank you, Matthew. I know how... private all that must be."
"Mhmm." Matthew closed the box and held the bear under his chin, giving in a familiar squeeze.
"And what about the bear? Was that hers, too."
"This? Oh no, she made it for me. I remember taking it everywhere with me and sleeping with it. I can't remember what I named him, but I figure this is the only gift I'm ever going to have from her, so I should keep it." Matthew brushed his fingers along the button eyes of the bear, and petted its ears. "You probably think that's silly."
"No, I don't. I think it's nice you can have some memories of her." Arthur placed a hand on Matthew's knee and both boys looked down at it. Matthew patted the hand awkwardly, then stood to put his treasures away, letting Arthur's had slide down to thump on the lumpy mattress.
"I should let you get on to your party. There are some very important people waiting for you.
Unfortunately, Matthew had been right. Yao had taken great pains to invite all of the prominent families of the Kingdom, and it seemed that the vast majority of them were in attendance. Arthur couldn't help but feeling like he was on display; even if no one was saying it out loud, the way they stared and him and appraised him made it clear that they knew exactly who he would be one day.
Yao had also managed to reach Arthur's parents. Arthur had been rather taken aback when he was whisked away to one of the private parlours to be reunited with them. Stern as always, his father had clapped him strongly on the back and asked about his health, while is mother drew Arthur to her, teary-eyed. She kissed his face all over despite Arthur's numerous protests, then took to daubing the stains of her lip rouge off his blushing skin. One of the family maids had travelled with them and she came forward at his mother's bidding to present him the small sleeping bundle of the new baby.
"Arthur, this is your brother, Peter," his mother cooed, moving the blankets away from the baby's face as Arthur peered down.
There was something fascinating about babies to Arthur. They looked so strange and fragile, even if Peter happened to be nearly eight months old. He sat on one of the sofas in the parlour with his mother for a long while, holding and talking to the baby, totally absorbed in each little flutter of his eyelashes or wiggle of his chubby fingers.
"He looks much like you did as a baby. You were smaller, though. A tiny thing." Arthur's mother smiled at Arthur and stroked his hair, placing a kiss on his forehead.
"Was I really as small as all that?" Arthur asked, happy as Peter latched on to one of his fingers and squeezed.
Arthur's father interrupted from the other side of the room. "Yes, you've always been a runt. But that's changing now, isn't it? You'll be an important man here, Arthur. You've been behaving yourself, have you not?"
Passing the baby to the maid, Arthur stood and nodded. "Yes, sir. I do my studies and work hard at whatever the Jack asks of me."
"And what of his Highness? Do you get along with him?" his mother asked, fussing with Arthur's clothing until he looked just right.
"Well enough, I suppose. He's nice... for a child."
"And do you think there's any chance you might..." Arthur's mother paused and made a face. "Well, never mind that. I'm just glad you get along."
Yao knocked on the door and peaked his head inside. "Ah, Lord and Lady Kirkland? The festivities are about to begin. If I could borrow Arthur for a few moments, and I will have you shown to the ballroom, please?"
"Yes, of course. Thank you, Jack." Arthur's father looked him up and down one last time. "I'll see you later, son. I'm sure we have much catching up to do."
And then they were gone and Arthur was left feeling small and unworthy in his father's eyes once again.
"Arthur?"
"Yes, Yao, I'm coming."
Yao shook his head and lowered his voice, approaching Arthur with great desperation in his eyes. "No it is not that. It is his Highness."
"What's wrong with Alfred?"
"He is having an... episode. He refuses to come out of his room until he be allowed to speak with you in private." Yao wrung his hands and tried to herd Arthur out into the hallway.
Arthur didn't budge. "So what you're saying is: Alfred is having a temper tantrum and you want me to go make it better." He crossed his arms defiantly, enjoying the irritated twitch in Yao's eye as the Jack struggled to maintain composure.
"It it makes you feel more important to think of it that way, then yes, Arthur, he's throwing a royal fit and we have no idea why, but he keeps asking for you. Can you please, just once, not fight me tooth and nail and understand that if he does not make an appearance, it is going to reflect badly on all of us? As future Queen I think you would be a bit more invested in keeping the peace. I don't know what's gone on with you and Alfred in my absence, but for now you need to think of what's good for this House and this Kingdom. Are we clear?"
Swallowing thickly, Arthur looked at the carpet, hands clenched into fists as a tiny coal of shame burned red hot in his belly. Yao was right. Arthur was being intentionally difficult as of late, and it wasn't fair to take it out on a child who didn't even understand why Arthur was there in the first place. "Yes. Take me to him."
Yao smoothed an unruly strand of his sleek black hair, and nodded, once again the picture of courtly perfection.
"Thank you." Heading rapidly down the hallways, Arthur followed behind sheepishly, wishing he had not been so cross with Yao and Alfred in the past weeks.
"Yao", he said as they reached the door to Alfred's chambers. "I am sorry... for being so... contrary sometimes."
Sighing and running a hand over his face, Yao knelt down to Arthur's level and looked him in the eye. "Arthur, I know that all of this has been quite unfair to you, and I know we still haven't figured out quite how to talk to one another. I need to apologize as well. I think I made a mistake in bringing you here."
Arthur's face fell; now it was out in the open that he wasn't good enough for anyone, and he dreaded his parents' reaction if Yao decided to break the agreement and send him home. Yao noticed the change in his demeanour and rapidly tried to correct himself.
"No, no! Don't mistake my meaning. I still believe you are going to be the best Queen for this Kingdom and for Alfred. I believe that for reasons you can't possibly imagine. But I think it was a mistake to thrust this upon you so early. If I had waited- if you had been older- perhaps this would not have been so traumatizing for you. I completely admit that, and I ask for your forgiveness. However, now that fate has struck in this way, I assure you that I am working, and will continue to work my hardest to make this easier and to make you as happy as you can be here. You just have to let me, Arthur. You have to let me help you."
Yao gripped his shoulders tightly and looked into his eyes, his own filled with a tenuous mix of emotions. Arthur could feel he truly meant what he said, and that only made him feel worse for thinking poorly of the Jack. He didn't know if he could ever be happy as Queen, but there was no sense fighting a force he couldn't control.
Arthur nodded, unable to think of anything to say in response to Yao's heartfelt admission.
"Good. Now, let's see what can be done with his Highness, shall we?"
Sarah answered the door in a panic when Yao knocked, her hair in disarray, and her face red as if she had been in some deadly struggle.
"Jack! I don't know what to do! I've tried everything, but now he's locked himself in his room and won't open the door!"
"I think Arthur might be able to reason with him." Yao gave Arthur a little push toward the bedroom door and Arthur looked over his shoulder, unsure of what good he could possibly do if Alfred really was throwing a temper tantrum. He knocked on the door gingerly, jumping back when he was answered with a heavy thunk against the door.
"Go away, Sarah! I said I don't want to go!" Alfred's voice sounded strained and sad even through his anger and the wood of the door.
Arthur licked his lips and cleared his throat. "It's not Sarah, Alfred. It's me, Arthur. Do you want to tell me what's wrong?"
There was silence from within the room for a few moments before the lock clicked and a hand shot out from behind the door and dragged him inside. Alfred slammed the door shut and locked it once again, panting and staring Arthur down with a look fit to kill.
Arthur put his hands up defensively and backed away slowly across the bedroom. "Alfred... I don't know what's got you so upset, but I think we should talk about it and go to the party before the guests start to wonder where..."
"I saw you!" Alfred interrupted, grabbing pillow off the bed and flinging it at Arthur.
"Ooof! You saw me what?" Arthur caught the pillow and tossed it aside, half wishing he'd kept it as a shield a moment later when Alfred came rushing towards him.
"You snuck out to see Matthew! I saw you earlier! You won't play with me or talk to me, but you snuck out to see him!" Fat, angry tears were threatening to spill over onto Alfred's fiery cheeks at any moment.
Arthur stood in shock, then opened his mouth to say something, but Alfred cut him off again with a shove to his stomach.
"Why do you hate me, Arthur? I thought we were friends!" Alfred shoved him again and again, but Arthur didn't fight back, just letting him get it out of his system until he finally broke down crying.
"Why do you hate me?" Alfred was sobbing grotesquely, leaning into Arthur and trying to bury his face in his stomach. Arthur let him do it until the weight became to much and they both collapsed to the floor.
"Shush, Alfred. I don't... I don't hate you. I'm sorry I haven't been so... kind to you lately, but I don't hate you." He ran his fingers tentatively through Alfred's hair, unsure what else to do to soothe him.
Alfred took a few shuddering breaths, refusing to unwrap his arms from around Arthur's middle. "But you don't like me as much as Matthew!"
A bolt of guilt drove through Arthur and he winced at the truth of what Alfred had said. It wasn't that he didn't like Alfred; it was just different, easier even, with Matthew, but it was clear now that Alfred had picked up on that and translated it to Arthur replacing him.
Swallowing awkwardly, Arthur kept stroking Alfred's hair. "Don't be silly. Matthew is my friend, just as you are, but that doesn't mean I like you any less."
There was no response other than a tightening of Alfred's arms has he buried his face in Arthur's waistcoat once again and sobbed harder.
"Come now, Alfred! What can I do to make you feel better? We have to get to the party sometime, and you can't be in hysterics."
Alfred hiccuped unintelligibly a few times before blurting out, "Can you just hug me?"
Arthur felt so guilty and sad at the request that he obliged as strongly as he could. Alfred continued to shake and cry for a while, occasionally bawling "I thought you hated me" and "Don't leave" as Arthur held him. Arthur was scared and upset almost to the point of tears himself, but he ignored the knocks on the door and Jack's questioning calls for the boys.
Yao and Sarah could wait. The party could wait.
He was needed right where he was.
A/N: I was quite surprised by the strong reaction to the hints at Arthur/Matthew in the last chapter. Some of you were excited for a twist, while others were quite disappointed in it. I just want to assure you that this story is and will end up being USUK, as per Belsiret/Leatherclad Lovely's original request. Thanks for just rolling with it if you can, and if not, I'll have no hard feelings!