CHAPTER 3: Central Kingdom

Location: Central Kingdom Palace.

The Prince returned to Central Kingdom safely, followed by his guards, friends and loyal army. They were all very weary from the war but grateful to finally see their beautiful hometown. The sky was light blue and the sun shined warmly up in the zenith of the azure vault contrasting with the green colors of the mountains and the white shining royal palace in the middle of the landscape. Barry was excited to see Joe, Iris and Eddie again, it had been two months since he left to the battlefront and he really missed his family. He felt a bit ashamed and downcast knowing that he couldn't stop Zoom, nor match him in speed, but he had faith in their new plan, and that everything will go smoothly… 'How hard could it be to be married if is just a contract with no love involved?'

'May I have a moment your Majesty?' – said Sir Harrison Wells guiding his black horse to approach carefully to the white stallion that the Prince was riding.

'Sure …' – said the prince slowing down his steed to a trot and offering his mentor a shy smile.

'It's about the feast and the marriage' – said Sir Harrison slowly. 'I think you ought to know that you shouldn't feel pressured in to accepting this arrangement for the Kingdom. I agree that this may seem like a good solution to our situation, but I've been thinking…I have a daughter, and as a father-'

'Jessie, yes I know' - interrupted Barry watching his mentor carefully.

'Yes, Jesse.' – added Harry with a sad smile. 'What I am trying to say is that I have been thinking on our way here that it's not fair to sacrifice your love life for an army Barry, a live without love is a sad decision, you are so young like Jessie and you deserve to enjoy that bliss of happiness of finding your soul mate. I want that for my daughter and I want that for you as well, you are almost like a son to me, and I think Joe will agree with me on this. And also you should know that King Leonard Snart already enjoyed that happiness, he found his love and married him, it was a shame that King Rory passed away so young, but at least he got to enjoy that kind of passion, but you on the other hand, being so young haven't lived that yet...'

Barry shook his head. 'Don't worry Harry, I may be young but I think I know what I am getting in to, an arranged marriage is just a strong alliance, I don't think King Leonard Snart would be interested in me, and I don't have any hopes on finding love there. But you have to understand that what I am doing is for love, I am happy protecting my friends and my family, my life is full of love from you, Eddie, Joe, Iris, Cait and Cisco, and my life is completely worth living to the point that I am prepared to do this with any regrets. Don't worry, everything is going to work out well.'

Harrison felt an inevitable wave of warmth, pride and care for his young and bright apprentice and hoped that the King of the Winter Realm realizes soon enough how lucky he would be by marrying Barry.

The prince was drained when they finally arrived to the castle, so he went directly to his quarters and ordered his attendants to prepare him a hot bath, he was dying to see Joe, Iris and Eddie, but decided that first he needed to get his body clean and relaxed from the long journey and the two months of battle, mud and blood. When his young attendant announced the bath was ready, he walked quickly to his extraordinary bathing chambers. 'I missed this so badly…' – he murmured seeing the calm water of deep cerulean blue in the marble pools. Barry quickly took off his robe and tossed it to the side as he descended into the warm water. He felt himself finally relaxing; the bath was certainly heavenly and helped to settle down his nerves. He was really anxious about telling his family about the new plan of the arranged marriage with the King of Winter, he didn't want them to worry, but he knew that was inevitable since they loved him and they wanted the best for him. 'This is going to be problematic,' he though closing his eyes to rest for a bit.

Once the bath was over and he changed in to more comfortable clothes, Barry went looking for Iris, Joe and Eddie, who were having dinner in a small private room near the great hall.

'¡Barry!' - said Iris with tears of joy running to embrace his brother. 'I missed you so much!'

Barry smiled feeling the warm hug that almost strangled him.

'Iris careful, please don't run' – Eddie said with concern walking towards them. 'Welcome home Barry'

'I'm pregnant Eddie, not sick!' –Iris alleged smiling and then she whispered in a teasing tone to Barry. 'He has being acting overprotective, please save me.'

Barry smiled warmly and Joe gave Barry a hug.

'Welcome home, son.'

'Glad to be back'

After the greetings, they all sat down and resumed their dinner. The attendants served Barry wine and he almost gulped the entire contents of the golden goblet in a shot. Damn his fast metabolism, he could use right about now some alcohol in his bloodstream to drop the bomb of Caitlin's idea about the marriage, he wasn't even hungry he was just so scared of how his family was going to react.

'Are you okay Bar?' – asked Iris with concern. 'First time I see you drinking like that.'

'Yeah, I guess. It's just that well you know war is hard and losing soldiers is painful and I saw the power Zoom has and it was frustrating.' – he said dejected and feeling a little powerless. He hated to admit that he needed help.

Eddie was intrigued about Zoom; if Barry couldn't win against him it meant that the demon was indeed powerful.

'Barry do you think he will come to Central Kingdom?'

Barry observed Eddie who wore a worried look on his face.

'I think so yes, it's just a matter of time.'

'But what does he want?' – asked Iris taking Eddie's right hand. She was visibly worried.

'My speed' Barry thought. 'Besides destroying everything in his path, I really don't know Iris, but I think that we have a plan that could work.'

'Is this plan you are talking about the reason why I saw Harrison, Caitlin and Cisco acting so weird when they arrived to the castle?'- Joe asked raising suspiciously his eyebrows.

'Maybe' – Barry said wondering what the hell they were doing to raise Joe's qualms.

'So what's the plan? You know I will follow you to the depths of the earth to finish off this Zoom if needed, and probably support every idea you have.' – Eddie said confident in Barry's decisions and the prince felt glad to count with Eddie's support and loyalty, even though he knew that Eddie was going to regret saying that in a few seconds.

'I am going to the north to marry King Leonard Snart.'

Joe almost choked on the wine he was drinking and Eddie burst out laughing thinking that it was a really weird attempt of the prince of making a joke, Iris on the other hand, knowing Barry much better just watched him in shock.

'Why?' – said Iris looking at Barry who ran his fingers through his spiky brown hair, clearly anxious and mortified with the announcement…

'When we were on the battlefield we realized we needed more allies, I know Oliver will come to fight with us, as well as Sir John Diggle, Sir Ray Palmer and maybe King Jay Garrick, but the north remains a mystery… and we need them as well, so we thought that the only viable solution to create an strong alliance it's marriage.'

Iris noted how Barry's beautiful green hazel eyes were full of doubt and fear.

'You are kidding me right Bar?' – said Joe uneasy after coughing several times.

'Not really' – said Barry turning brightly red trying to defend the plan.

'Leonard Snart? The Winter King? The cold hearted King? Are you insane Barry? The man killed his own father and some say that he also killed his husband.' – stated Joe confused and angry. 'What on earth are you thinking?'

'I am thinking of defeating Zoom and creating a strong a alliance!' – said the prince annoyed at Joe's reaction.

'At what cost Barry, your life? You know Snart is dangerous man!'

'Is not only my life Joe, everybody's life is in danger…I am doing what I can for my people, and this terrible, bad idea, is the best solution we all agreed when we were losing on the battlefield, is an opportunity to become stronger against a our common foe.'

'I can't agree to this Barry.'

Iris observed his father with worry in her beautiful brown eyes and Eddie was just mute trying to process everything that was happening.

'Well I'm not asking permission.' – said the Prince standing up and ending the discussion. 'Three days from now I will leave to the north with Cisco, Caitlin, Ronnie and Harrison. Eddie I want you to stay here with Iris and Joe, I know your are my army's commander but right know I need you to stay here and protect them and the castle from Zoom's army if he were to attack. I will take General Singh with us.'

Eddie nodded frustrated because he wanted to go to the north and help Barry but he knew he was needed in the palace and stay with Iris and Joe. 'I will your Highness.'

The Prince nodded and left the room feeling guilty and trying to not look back, because he knew that he was leaving a very upset Eddie a worried Iris and a very hurt Joe.

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