CHAPTER 9: Blazing Fire
It was nearly midnight and Barry was already exhausted after hours of dancing and laughing with Lisa, Cisco, Ronnie and Caitlin. He needed to rest and he decided to seat near a huge window of the ballroom. He glanced towards Felicity and Oliver who were currently kissing and sighed a little bit annoyed. He was tired of being alone. He glimpsed to the window viewing the snowy mountains glimmer under the light of the moon and he couldn't stop wondering if Len was all right. The King looked genuinely concerned with the mysterious letter General Mardon delivered. "What could be so urgent to skip Lisa's celebration?" Barry thought gulping a drink of wine from his goblet. General Mardon had returned some time ago to the party and now was flirting with Lady Shawna, but Leonard was nowhere to be found. He started feeling anxious. Maybe Len didn't want to see him… " Was he avoiding him again? Maybe it was all too soon? or maybe Leonard didn't like him because he was bad at kissing?" - he honestly didn't have a lot of experience in love… in fact his only experience was a kiss with Lady Spivot and another with Lady Parker and that had happened a long time ago… Barry sighed feeling extremely stupid. Truthfully he just wanted a good excuse to go to talk to Leonard again… Barry dragged a hand trough his messy brown hair looking utterly defeated with his line of thought.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" – asked Lisa from Barry's behind scaring to death the young prince who almost dropped his goblet of wine.
"Lisa! Are you trying to kill me?"
Lisa laughed wholeheartedly with the prince's reaction.
"Not at all…you just looked so deep in thought…"- she said with a huff of laughter. "Prince Bartholomew Henry Allen…Are you thinking about my brother?"
Barry tried to hide his surprise of Lisa's drunk-dead-on guess.
"Oh for the gods' sake! You are!" – slurred Lisa and started laughing happily.
"Please tell me that he kissed you?"
Barry turned involuntarily brightly red with the memory. "Not telling." – he murmured shyly.
"Oh! You guys totally kissed! I knew it, he was drooling for you Barry, but he is an idiot so please bear with him, he is a pain in the ass sometimes, but it seems that he is finally figuring it out… I'm so happy!" – she said almost jumping from excitement but suddenly she frowned. "By the way… where the hell is he?"
Barry shrugged his shoulders innocently, while Lisa inspected with her eyes the whole ballroom.
"That coldhearted ass… he is missing my party." – she added sad. "He is the only family I have left and he is not celebrating here with me… what a jerk!"
"If you wish I can go look for him." – said Barry unsure of his idea.
"That sounds great! Tell him that if he doesn't come right away I'm going to murder him."– She stated smiling sweetly.
Barry laughed. "I will"
"Thank you Barry…" – she said leaning to kiss softly Barry on the cheek. The prince smiled and then he snorted watching how Lisa went quickly to Cisco's side demanding more wine and Cisco obviously beamed and delivered. He glanced to the arched door of the Great Hall still waiting for Len to appear… He waited and waited impatiently without any results. The Princess was right, Len should be here enjoying with everyone. He should be celebrating his sister's birthday. Confident with his decision he stood up and went looking for the handsome stubborn King to drag him, if he must, to the celebration.
Barry silently left the Great Hall and started walking through the passage of the second floor. The long dark corridor was chilly and he suddenly remembered the warmth of Len's embrace and the passion behind their kiss and he felt his cheeks flush scarlet. He smiled, he couldn't lie he wanted to repeat that again, but probably next time he was going to want more than a kiss from Leonard… he wanted the lust and passion that their kiss seemed to promise.
When he reached the end of the hall he heard noises from the king's studio… 'Maybe Len is still working on that important matter of the letter sealed with the mysterious crest? Two snakes and a sword?'Barry thought approaching slowly to the door and he was surprised when he heard a lively laugh, not Len's… but from a younger man… Carefully the prince decided to open the door silently and just slightly to see who was inside with the King. He knew that he shouldn't be spying on the King but he couldn't deny that he was really feeling rather curious. He saw a candlelight flicker in a room full of books, maps, and statues… and then he saw Hartley move quickly from the shadows and playfully grab Len into a full kiss. Barry silently gasped. Len wasn't rejecting him or moving or backing off at all. He felt his heart stop. The scene that unfolded before his eyes made his heart froze, crumble and shatter in a thousand pieces. He couldn't breath at all… he forgot how. Barry felt stunned and a little betrayed and his eyes started to sting. "Why?" Fresh and silent tears began to roll down his cheeks. "What the hell? Why is Hartley kissing the King?" Barry carefully took a step back and silently left using his speed…. he ran… ran as fast as he could out of the hallway… away from Len. "This wasn't supposed to happen." He thought the King was beginning to care about him…that he wanted him as his fiancé. Was he wrong? Did the kiss didn't mean anything to the King? Was the King playing with his feelings? Was he using him to his advantage just to save his Kingdom? He knew he wasn't supposed to have feelings for the King of Winter. The plan was supposedly to be an alliance without love. Joe and Wells warned him. No feelings involved. Why was he feeling so miserable? He knew Len was still mourning King Mick Rory… but what about Sir Hartley Rathaway? Hartley kissing Len… "Was Leonard in love with Hartley and that's why he said that this was going to be loveless marriage?" He sighed trying to breath. He stopped running and looked around. He was alone in the balcony of his room. He unconsciously ran there. It was dark and cold and he collapsed onto his knees on the cold hard floor… "What was he doing?" everything suddenly felt so wrong. His heart was aching. He opened up to Leonard, he told him his past just to be discarded how Thawne told him it would happen. This wasn't what it was supposed to be like. His body was trembling. He was so angry but he needed to calm down. "Deep breath… Was he already completely in love with Leonard?" He exhaled watching the cold moon shinning up in the sky. Love indeed was a dangerous disadvantage, both of them were just playing a game for a greater good for their own Kingdoms and he just lost the game. He felt his tears fall down freely; he was an idiot to trust the coldhearted Winter King.
Hartley was looking intently at the King. Leonard was writing a letter with exceptional concentration and carefulness. He sighed bored. He wanted Len to choose him as his fiancé and he decided that nothing in this world would stop him from achieving that, not even the handsome Prince of Central Kingdom.
Hartley had escaped early from the party and followed Len and General Mark Mardon to the studio and when Mardon left the King he seized the chance to enter the room and ask Leonard how things went talking with Prince Bartholomew. To his painful astonishment they shared a kiss and the King seemed more than happy with his achievement. He needed to do something before it was too late. He really wanted Len and he had heard that he was the King's first option before Prince Bartholomew arrived to the Winter Realm to ruin his plans…"damn his luck". But he wasn't going to be defeated so easily.
Leonard stood up from his desk and reached an old book from a shelf, he carefully placed it next to the letter he was working on and glanced at Hartley annoyed.
"Are you going to stay there all night watching me work? It's terribly annoying."
Hartley shook his head with a sneer. "Not all night"
Len lifted his eyebrow wondering what the hell that meant.
Hartley finally perceived with his enhanced hearing capabilities light steps approaching the studio. There was no mistake that the soft and continuous sound was from the young prince's steps walking towards them. Prince Bartholomew was carefully and silently approaching their location and Len haven't noticed at all. Hartley smiled and laughed lively thinking on how easy he was going to achieve his goal. When he heard that the prince stop in front of the door he quickly grabbed Len in to a deep kiss. The King was startled with Hartley's action but he didn't move or reject him. He just froze in place. Hartley smiled in to the kiss and then he leaned back breaking the kiss hearing a gust of wind.
"What the fuck was that Hartley?" – asked Len annoyed distracted by the weird sound.
"If you're going to punch me, I'd prefer—"
"I'm not." – said Len dryly.
"Well I thought I deserved the kiss like a reward…."- said the young man grinning and Leonard rolled his eyes ignoring the kid's remark.
"Hartley…did you heard something just now?" – asked Leonard looking quickly towards the door. "It was like wind."
"No…" – Hartley said dryly and shrugged uninterested.
Len let out an aggravated sigh gazing at the oak door worried and puzzled. He could swear that he heard something like a rustle of air outside but if Hartley didn't hear anything maybe he was imagining things because he was sure that the kid has the best hearing ability in the entire realm. Hartley smiled watching Leonard's confused blue eyes and he smirked knowing that the young speedster probably saw something he shouldn't have. Hopefully his actions would make Barry withdraw again his proposal.
"Thank you for that last kiss Len" – said Hartley playfully. "I think I deserved it specially since I advised you on how to get the beautiful prince back in to your strong arms."
Leonard pushed Hartley gently out of his way. "Hartley don't ever try to steal a kiss again or I promise next time I will send you to the dungeons to rot…" –said the King glaring annoyed.
Hartley pouted irritated. "I didn't try… I stole it…it's a shame, you used to like it"
"Things change and you even said it yourself I never fell in love with you… and let's face it you aren't in love with me either… it was a two –time thing, so let it go."
Hartley sighed defeated…King Leonard Snart really lived up to the title of being Cold.
"But consider us even Piper, I won't lie…." – Leonard added glancing at Hartley's green eyes. "I must agree that your idea of asking Prince Bartholomew in front of his friends to talk with me was brilliant and for that I thank you Hartley. He didn't reject my invitation and now I think we could have a chance."
"Whatever…" – said the Pied Piper upset watching as Len turned his back on him and he seized the opportunity to put back on the desk the item he stole earlier, next to the crazy amount of letters, books and maps Len had neatly on his wooden bureau.
"So when are you going to tell the Kingdom that you are going to marry the charming Prince of Central Kingdom?"
"In four days. I'm still feeling that getting married again is a betrayal to Mick but Lisa is right I need to move on and the Prince make me feel things I thought I would never feel again."
Hartley exhaled annoyed. "I'm guessing Lisa is going to be very happy." – said Rathaway gloomy knowing that the King would never return his feelings the way he wanted.
"Yeah probably, she is quite fond of Barry…." – answered Len calmly until he remembered his sister celebration and suddenly he started panicking noticing that it was really late and he wasn't on his sister party. "Shit! Lisa!"
Hartley laughed wholeheartedly at the King's reaction.
"You are a dead man, you know that Leonard?"
"Shut up Piper!"
Len took his coat and left the studio almost running. He left Hartley behind. He had completely lost track of time dealing with the stupid letter that he forgot completely of the party. He exhaled. He suddenly felt anxious knowing that the Prince was still probably waiting for him in the ballroom. He closed his eyes for a second and saw Barry's hazel eyes full with sweet lust after their kiss and he shivered with expectation. He wanted to kiss the kid again and leave him breathless and wanting more. He smiled feeling that maybe his life could get better with the young speedster at his side. He needed to explain to Barry what happened with the letter and tell him about the threats his Kingdom has been dealing with… maybe the young prince and his friends will be able to join him and fight side by side with him to protect his beloved Winter Realm.
Barry was motionless in the balcony feeling the cold breeze. He was numb and his mind was reeling with many thoughts. He was feeling so confused and sad. He wanted to talk to Iris and cry and scream and punch something… punch Leonard. He breathed again trembling. He really needed to calm down. There was a part of him telling him that the right thing to do was to try to talk with Leonard calmly and as soon as he could but another irrational part was telling him to flee from the Winter Realm. If the King was in love with Hartley he wouldn't interfere, but he deserved to know the truth. Maybe what he saw was just a misunderstanding. He wanted to believe that the kiss he shared with Leonard meant something. Maybe he could talk to Caitlin, Wells and Cisco, maybe they could give him a good advice… or maybe he could ask Cisco to vibe the King. "No that was a bad idea…terrible idea." He finally decided to better wait until tomorrow to ask the King properly about what he saw. He walked away from the balcony and entered his room when he heard a loud knock on his door.
"Come in…" – he said expectantly. Something deep down his heart wanted to see Leonard enter through that old door but to his disappointment two young servants entered bowing courtly to the room. The man was holding some dry logs and started to light the fireplace and Barry was grateful for that because the night could get really cold in the north. He walked to a small wooden table where he had wine and ale and poured some wine in to a silver goblet thinking that it was probably a good idea to return to the party but he was feeling so downhearted that sleeping sounded like much tempting option. The other servant girl approached him shyly.
"Your Highness…" – she said kindly. "His Majesty, King Leonard, sent me to deliver this to you."
Barry saw in her hands a letter with a royal blue seal with the imperial snowflake crest.
"Thank you." – he said smiling taking the letter in his trembling hands.
"You are welcome" – said the girl smiling sadly, probably because he looked like shit. "If you need something. Your Highness, please don't doubt to call us with the bell next to your bed."
Barry glanced towards the nightstand where a small bell rested. He nodded softly.
"Thanks, I'll will."
"Could you maybe inform Sir Cisco and Lady Snow that I will remain in my room… that I'm quite tired and need to rest?"
She nodded and gave him a small bow and left the room followed by the other servant who already had finished his duties. Barry was swiftly left alone and honestly quite confused in his private rooms. "Why the hell would Leonard decide to write him a letter?" Barry wondered breaking quickly the blue seal and he anxiously started reading the contents, he unwillingly grinned when he saw that Leonard started the letter with his new nickname "Scarlet"… he was honestly starting to like the sound of it and he blushed. He finished reading the letter with his super speed and sighed. "Maybe not everything is lost." – he thought finally collapsing on his comfy four-posted bed. He was tired, probably emotional tired and he wanted to sleep…so he closed his eyes wishing for tomorrow to come soon.
It was dawn in the Winter Realm when Barry woke up. It was dark…really dark. He lighted a chandelier and called for some servants with his bell, a couple of minutes later two women arrived and he ordered them to prepare his bath. When they informed him that it was ready he quickly bathed and then changed in to a deep blue tunic with silver brocades and a black overcoat, his trousers were also black as well as his boots. He wore also a double wrap black leather belt around his waist and he hanged his sword to it. He looked elegant, blue wasn't his color but he wanted to wear it because it reminded him of the King's eyes. He took the letter from his nightstand and he reread it. He smiled nervously and he tenderly left the letter over his nightstand. He exited his room and sped away with lightning to the palace garden gloriette, where the King wanted to meet with him and Lisa to discuss away from the prying eyes the arranged marriage.
There was a mist over the garden and the sun was still hidden in the horizon but the landscape still was beautiful. Barry sped away with his lightning force and arrived quickly to the gloriette and there he saw Lisa sitting on the entrance's marble stairway waiting for him and Len so he halted in front of her with a gust of wind that disheveled Lisa's perfect brown hair.
"Lisa!" – he said smiling mischievously.
"Barry! You idiot!" - The princess said smiling and trying to fix her hair. "You scared me!"
"Now we are even!" – he answered playfully. "You almost scared me to death at your party."
Lisa nodded remembering and then she glared at Barry. "You owe me an explanation Prince Bartholomew! Yesterday you disappeared and Len was looking for you like an idiot."
"I'm sorry…" – he answered feeling guilty wondering why would Leonard was looking for him if he had Hartley to entertain him.
"Sorry...I was really tired and I entered my room and saw my bed and I just went to sleep."
"You should have told us you idiot!"
"I did I told a servant to tell Caitlin and Cisco where I was… beside I didn't think that you will notice my absence." – he said that really thinking of Leonard.
"You are truly and idiot like my brother… but it's okay I forgive you Barry…I'm still too drunk to stay angry."
He smiled warmly thinking that Lisa reminded him a lot of Iris. They would probably get along pretty well. He should definitely introduce them and then deal with the dangerous consequences…
Lisa sighed sleepily and yawned. "So Barry what did you wanted to talk about? I must confess that I hate you a little… it is too early for a reunion...but you said it was really important so here I am…"
"W-What?"- He asked a little taken aback with the conversation.
She laughed. "Barry I'm the drunk one…so please focus and stop joking… the letter you sent me it said it was an urgent matter about Len and the arranged marriage…"
"What are you talking about? I never sent you a letter…" – he added honestly confused. "Len was the one who wrote me a letter saying that he wanted to talk with you and me about the arranged marriage conditions... He said that he wanted to see us at dawn at the gloriette, far away from-…." "Oh shit!"
"BARRY!" – Lisa cried out but it was too late.
Everything happened in seconds. His body jerked forward as she witnessed an arrowhead suddenly burst through his front. A loud grunt of pain escaped his lips as he quickly looked down to see what was causing his discomfort. To his surprise he saw a sharp head of an arrow protruding through his middle, at his far right side…luckily it seemed to have missed any vital organs. Barry groaned closing his eyes feeling the white hot pain on his side. He inhaled trying to focus. He needed to quickly take Lisa away from their attackers…he grabbed her and tried to use his speed to flee from the trap… but he felt his heart stop and his breath caught…he couldn't use his power and he was starting to feel weak and he suddenly collapsed to his knees.
"Barry!" – Lisa said worried watching him fall.
"Surprised Prince Bartholomew?"
He heard an unknown voice talk and then he noticed that the arrowhead seemed to be coated with some strong weird green poison or speed dampener. "Shit"
"Lisa… run! I can't use my speed."
"I can't leave you here Barry." – said Lisa crouching in front of the Prince and she saw Barry's hazel eyes reflect pain. He was losing a lot of blood. "You are badly hurt!"
Lisa lifted her glance and was greeted by more than twenty soldiers blocking their way to the palace.
"Anyways I can't go anywhere…we are trapped" – she murmured trembling feeling really scared…she wanted to have her brother right here right now.
Barry got to his feet with difficulty and whirled around to see what made Lisa went pale. There were at least twenty soldiers ready to attack them. Barry unsheathed his sword quickly and he instantly charged against his adversaries, he was going to protect Lisa even if it cost him his life. She was the only family Len had and he didn't want Len to lose anyone else, especially not now knowing how much pain the King suffered with Mick's death.
He may not be able to use his speed force, but he was pretty good at sword fighting, he had years of training and he was one of the best in Central Kingdom… but maybe not against twenty soldiers, while hurt… but he needed to try. It was worth the shot.
"Capture them!" – ordered the ominous voice and the soldiers who wore mysterious black leather armors without crests charged against the young Prince. Barry sliced two soldiers in a single swing of his sword and then he turned to his right feeling a jolt of pain from his wound, to meet the third soldier and hit him with the blunt side of his hilt and left him unconscious. A fourth soldier tried to attack him but the speedster turned just in time to block the sword swiftly with his own sword and Barry easily disarmed the soldier who backed away.
"Barry behind you!" – Lisa cried worried.
The prince turned immediately and ducked with his sword an oncoming projectile that soared directly towards him. Lisa gasped amazed at the prince's skill. She was feeling nervous and wanted to help but she didn't have a weapon so she just stared at the fight hoping that Barry could defeat them. He was fighting two soldiers more when he heard again Lisa's call. Just when he was about to whisk around he felt a second arrow met his shoulder, causing him to stumble and fall to his knees. He froze for a second, simply trying to concentrate on his breathing. He didn't want to look down and see the damage the arrow caused. He was trembling. He tried to rise to his feet but he couldn't he was too weak and he started panting and breathing heavily.
"Quickly put the rune collar on his neck!" – the man ordered approaching threatening towards the two soldiers who were near the prince grabbed him by his arms roughly and Barry groaned losing his grip on his sword, while a third one placed on his neck a dreadful cold rune collar almost choking him. Barry felt for the first time in his life all his energy and strength sucked by the magic of the runes. He felt like he was going to fade. His vision was turning black.
"Don't touch him!" – yelled Lisa angry struggling against two soldiers who started tying her hands behind her back. "Get away from him!"
Barry opened his eyes; he didn't realize that he had them closed until he heard Lisa's yells. He was in so much pain that he could barely think. A man crouched in front of him and grabbed his chin to raise his face. The man examined the Prince carefully and closely and Barry quickly noticed a ring with the crest of the two snakes and a sword.
"It seems that the old King has improved his taste… I think I now understand why Thawne and Zoom are obsessed with you Prince Bartholomew…it's a shame for them that I'm the one who is going to have the pleasure to break you"
Barry glared at the man's eyes…eyes as deep as a bottomless black pit.
"Who are you?" – murmured Barry with a hoarse voice trying to hide the pain he was feeling.
"Right… you probably don't know me… but Lisa on the other hand..." – said the man rising and walking towards the Princess. He grabbed Lisa's face and smiled. "Did you miss me Princess?"
Lisa gasped when she finally recognized the man in front of her. Barry noticed how the Princess flinched and tried to get away from the men that were holding her in place.
"Don't touch her!"- Barry yelled angry trying to get away from the soldiers.
The man laughed and the action gave Barry cold shivers.
"It must be my fucking lucky day." – the man added grinning and the soldiers laughed. "I have in my hands the young Crown Prince of Central Kingdom and the beautiful Princess of the Winter Realm…coincidentally the most important persons to the Winter King…I say checkmate"
"He is going to kill you…" – stated Lisa threatening.
"He is going to try Princess… but first I will show him how I slowly and painfully kill his young fiancé, probably the same way I killed Mick Rory… or worse… I guess it depends if the kid here has a nice voice…I want to hear him scream."
Lisa's eyes widened with shock. "You killed Mick…" – she murmured feeling tears start falling freely. "YOU FUCKING SICK BASTARD! I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!"
The man laughed whole heartily. "I thought you already knew… now this is going to be fun…so Leonard still thinks it was a sickness and not poison…interesting."
The man ordered his soldiers to lift the Prince. "I'm going to enjoy torturing you kid. Your death will finally break the King for good."
"You are wrong…" – Barry murmured and then he started laughing quietly. Lisa watched silently thinking that the Prince probably lost it. "You are so wrong…."
The man clearly was annoyed with Barry's reaction and he broke one of the arrows end and the prince screamed feeling hot pain in his shoulder. He cursed.
"Care to explain why am I wrong Prince Bartholomew?"
"Because Leonard is not interested in me…so go ahead do whatever you want to me, but your plan won't work. He won't break with my death…"
"So naïve…"- whispered the man entertained. "Let's get this clear now Bartholomew…the King was going to choose you as his fiancé in three days. I have a really good informant inside the castle kid and it seems that the old King has strong feelings for you…so yes Scarlet he is going to break with your death and I promise you that you will die in Leonard's arms."
Barry was startled and Lisa as well, they still didn't know that Len had decided to marry Barry and also there was a traitor inside the castle, Len and their friends were in danger. Barry and Lisa shared a worried glance.
"You sick bastard!" –Barry yelled angry between labored breaths. "You are going to pay for killing Mick…I'm going to find the way to get free of this restraints and I'm going to kill you…you don't scare me, I have more powerful and sadistic enemies than you."
"Gag him!" – the man ordered annoyed and a soldier grabbed Barry's face coarsely and gagged him with a black material. Lisa was silently crying watching as Barry struggled but his movements caused him more pain and he grunted causing the soldiers to laugh.
"I only want to hear your screams not your nonsense rambling and my dear Prince" – added the leader of the attack, who Lisa apparently knew from before. "I may not have powers but believe me when I finish with you… you will wish I was Thawne or Zoom."
Barry cast him a death glare. He was going to kill the man.
"We are leaving!" – ordered the man noticing that the sun was starting to rise in the horizon and the mist was starting to fade away. "Secure the prince's hands behind his back and knock them out, we will carry them until we are out of the castle woods and then we will put them in the carriage."
Barry saw how the soldiers quickly knocked down Lisa with a blunt hit on the back of her head and he tried to move or yell against his gag but before he could even turn, a figure, probably a soldier, swung hard the blunt side of a sword's hilt against Barry's head and the prince fell down in a heap out cold.
"Now that they finally shut up and we have our loot secured… we are leaving… but first let's leave a gift to our beloved King…" – said the man grinning raising his hand to order five archers to shoot their fire arrows on his command. "I want to burn everything…burn the gloriette and the palace's garden. I want him to suffer as much as he made me suffer. I want to give him hell…" He lowered his hand and the arrows landed starting a blazing fire.
Please don't kill me! I hope you enjoyed this short chapter!
So let me know what you think! Did you anticipate what was going to happen in this chapter? Do you have guesses of who is the new villain?
Feel free to comment and leave a review or feedback! :D Follow & fave this story for more updates! Thanks to everyone who has commented, read and favorited and follow this story. You're the best! :D Thank you!
Ps. still working on how to improve the action scenes. :P