Somehow I feel this chapter was long overdue... I'm sorry.
Now that the intro/prologue is over with, we can get on with the actual story! Yay...
Enjoy!
Chapter 9
The rest of the journey felt horribly awkward for Allen. Kanda hadn't actually said anything mean about his deformity, he wasn't saying anything actually, and his face was, as usual, unreadable. The prince was still too sick to leave the bed and for every mealtime Kanda would come in and throw an orange at him. Though, Allen didn't mind that, the orange was the one thing his stomach allowed him to keep. He'd have to remember that for the next trip...
Wait a minute... Allen got a thoughtful look. Up until now he had to suffer the sea because of Cross' stupid idea of him marrying that prick... he glanced at the orange in his hand, well perhaps not a complete prick. But now the sole reason for him to travel was gone. His tired eyes lit up, now he doesn't have to anymore. This will be the last time on a ship! Ever!
The ship cringed awfully hard suddenly. He could hear the waves crashing into the sides, and when he sneaked a peek through the round cabin window he could swear he saw a hint of a wave right under his nose. His face turned green as nausea once again came over him and he bend over the bucket to heave again. He heard the door open, but he just figured it was Kanda either checking on him again or getting something.
"You still not done? We're almost at the port", a grumpy voice said that Allen knew all too well. He put the bucket away and took the glass of water his Uncle offered. He sat down on the bed taking some deep breaths and then drinking the water, all the while eyeing the man standing in the doorway.
"What do you want?" Allen asked; Cross smirked evilly at him.
"There's one last request."
"I hate him! I truly and without a doubt hate that red-headed devil!" Allen uttered through clenched teeth, only the equally unhappy Kanda, who was sitting next to him in the open carriage, heard him. They had been once again caught by Cross' goons and had been put on their wedding attires. "It's for our people, since they didn't see the ceremony" Cross had told them, "Now wave and look happy". Allen was good at faking and did as the evil man had told him to, Kanda on the other hand stoically observed the city that was to be his new home. When Allen nudged him he did an occasional wave to the people watching them.
The people had gathered by the main road in the city Aed Sorh to look at the procession of the royal family. The news of their Crown Prince's marriage had spread like wild fire and everyone wanted to see the 'happy couple'. The people knew how eccentric Cross could be and therefore weren't that surprised that Allen was wearing a dress. Funnily enough the whole country had known that they'd had a prince and not a princess, they'd helped with the deception because their king had asked them to. Or they're devils in disguise – Allen thought, while imagining horns coming up from each and everyone's heads.
Fanfares greeted them as they went through the main gate to the castle; numerous servants were waiting for the carriage to stop so they could take the luggage. Soldiers stood in line, saluting them as they passed and at the end stood general Sokaro with the king who'd come a few minutes before the princes. The carriage stopped and pages helped Allen from it before taking the carriage and horses to the stables. Allen felt incredibly lucky that he was allowed normal shoes this time. Cross motioned for them and the servants carrying the luggage to follow him.
To Kanda the castle had changed a lot. It felt... colder somewhat, the usual feeling of peace and tranquility had been replaced by a heavy atmosphere, more hectic and tougher. The corridors had been stripped off of valuables and was now empty except from potted plants and a few curtains. Through the windows he could see soldiers patrolling the courtyard and on the wall surrounding the castle, groups of three or sometimes four would greet them as they passed – patrolling the hallways. Kanda also noticed the strange weapons they carried, he remembered what he'd learned back in Ligoun about the "firearm" Cross had acquired from Komui in Zenwia. He didn't know how those "firearm" looked like but he guessed those weapons many of the soldiers were carrying were a mixture if that and a sword.
"Where do you think you're going, idiot nephew", Kanda came back to reality and saw Beansprout heading down another set of corridors.
"To my room, of course, where else?" Allen responded almost venomously and continued walking.
"Your room is over here", Cross said, Allen stopped and turned around, his expression stiff.
"What?" He asked incredulously, stomping back to Cross, "What do you mean by that?"
"I had a new room arranged the two of you."
"You're having us share a bedroom again?" Kanda did not like that idea at all. His anger deepened when Cross shrugged.
"It's more efficient this way, and I'd promise to give a separate room to my favorite girlfriend..."
"You gave away my room?"
"Yes, now come this way", Cross ordered him.
"To whom?"
"Anita, who else?"
They had been given a separate wing of the castle, it stretched out on two floors consisting of a living room, one bedroom, bathroom, their own garden on the bottom floor and a balcony adjoining their bedroom on the second floor. They entered the living room on the bottom floor; it was spacious and was somewhat sparse with furniture, like the hallways the living room was stripped of many decorations, not at all as grand as what Kanda remembered the castle to be. A marine blue couch and two matching armchairs were placed in front of an exquisite fireplace; in the corner behind one of the armchairs were three empty bookshelves next to them a door Cross explained led to a study. There were boxes by the entrance to the suite, containing Allen's clothes, books and other belongings that's been moved from his old room. after the royal trio came multiple servants carrying Kanda's bags and a few boxes. Quick and efficient they started to pack up everything, and as they did Cross told them that dinner will be served shortly, and if they liked he could have them send it here so Kanda and Allen could eat alone, he winked at them, clearly enjoying this. Kanda said no, quickly followed by Allen. Cross faked a sigh and left them without another word.
"Damn it, should have left when I had the chance", Kanda muttered, and sat down on the couch, "Give me Mugen", he ordered a passing servant.
"Mugen, Your highness?" He asked hesitantly.
"My sword", Kanda uttered through clenched teeth.
"Yes, sir, right away sir!" The servant ran out of the room to go get Kanda's Mugen. Allen sat down on an armchair, he now wore his normal clothes, with a long sleeved, white shirt and gloves and dark pants and boots.
"You named your sword?" He asked, silently laughing at the idea. Kanda frowned at him.
"So?" Raising his hands in mock defense Allen answered:
"Nothing, nothing. Can't really see why, though."
"Tch."
"My prince..." Allen looked over Kanda's shoulder, acknowledging the servant, who with a doubtful expression held up an old, beat up top hat which had some burns here and there, "This was in one of your boxes but I'm sure your highness wants me to throw it away?" Allen stood up and run over to the young man, taking the hat in a rush of desperation.
"You may not throw this hat away, understood?" The man blinked and nodded nervously.
"What's the deal with that ugly hat, Beansprout?" Kanda asked patronizingly and snorted, Allen disregarded Kanda's tone and sat down on the armchair again.
"It was my father's hat. He always wore it", a distant smile came up on Allen face as he remembered times long lost. Kanda didn't say anything more.
An hour later they were escorted to the dining hall where they ate and since it was late when they were finally done, they all retired to their rooms, tired of the long trip. Back in their shared suite Allen went directly for the bedroom. When by the doorway he saw Kanda sitting down again on the couch.
"You're not coming?" Allen asked.
"You may have accepted your damn uncle's decree but I certainly won't", Kanda said defiantly, lying down on the couch as he said so. Allen rolled his eyes and then he asked:
"Want a blanket?"
"I'll manage."
"Suit yourself", if Kanda wasn't going to accept a friendly gesture then Allen wouldn't push it. He lied down on the incredibly comfy, king's size bed and soon drifted off to sleep.
"What do you call these weapons, Cross?" Kanda asked, being somewhat interested in the firearms Cross was showing him. After breakfast, Cross and Allen had asked Kanda to join them on the weekly inspection of the troops, Allen said it would be good for Kanda to get to know how everything worked here, routines and such.
"These long ones are called 'rifles'", Allen explained picking up one from the neatly piled rifles. He loaded it with some ammunition he got from a nearby soldier and then he aimed at one of the red bulls eye targets. Without a moment's hesitation he took the shot and Kanda was surprised at how loud it was.
"Bulls eye, Your Highness!" The soldier confirmed, Allen, feeling pleased with himself, handed the rifle to Kanda.
"Would you like to try?" He asked, Kanda took the rifle and then inspected it. Allen came closer and helped the other putting it in position.
"If you don't lean it against your shoulder then the kick-back will hurt real bad", he placed the rear of the rifle against Kanda's shoulder, "and when you aim, make sure that those things sticking up at the front... you see them?"
"Yeah."
"Make sure the top is slightly above your target, because of the distance the bullet will begin to lose height..."
"Bullet?"
"The thing you shoot", Allen explained patiently. "Now, put your finger over the trigger", he took Kanda's hand and lead it to the trigger, "squeeze the trigger and..."
Boom. The kick-back still shocked him, even though Allen, who was standing close next to him, had placed it perfectly against his shoulder. The ringing sound in his ear blurted out almost all noises next to him.
"You didn't hit the target, but good first try anyhow", Allen clapped his shoulder and took the rifle and then put it back on the pile.
"What's your opinion then?" Cross asked, though he'd already guessed the answer.
"Loud, messy and impractical, to slow", Kanda answered curtly, "I prefer my sword."
"Of course you do."
"Your Majesty! Urgent news from the north!" An errand boy came running from the main gate. Cross turned around along with the two princes.
"What is it?"
"Scouts are reporting movement north of Stoko's mountains", the boy said. Cross glanced at the two princes.
"Since I've got a country to run, why don't you two go check our northern defenses?"
"Is it the Earl?" Allen asked his eyes determined and angry.
"It would seem that fatty has decided to end the vacation", Cross confirmed, he noticed Allen getting a somewhat crazed expression for a second there, but ignored it.
"When do we leave?" Kanda asked; a promise of battle had him excited as well.
"In a few hours."
They traveled together with a hundred soldiers through the forest of Enar, which lay north of Aed Sorh. The two princes had questioned why only one hundred but Cross said that more would probably be superfluous. Their destination was a fortress situated on a field directly south of the only pass through the Stoko's mountain range. The king told them that a count lives their along with his personal soldiers and servants, and that when they exit the forest it is important to send a dove to the fortress to notify the inhabitants of their arrival. Neither understood why but they didn't ask anymore about it. It would take the force one and a half days to get there at the pace they were going now, and they were able to keep a good pace because of the great weather. There hadn't rained for a few weeks therefore the road in the forest was firm and easy to march on. The princes had each a personal guard consisting of ten soldiers each, three of which specialized in the firearms and the rest on sword and bow.
Both Allen and Kanda wore light, leather armor for different reasons, Kanda because he preferred quickness against an enemy he attacked with Mugen, Allen because light armor made it easier to use his own personalized gun, he also had a short sword in case of close-combat. His gun wasn't as stylized as Cross' Judgement because he wanted it more toned down.
They stopped when the sun went down and set up camp, and to the princes' horror they'd been given one tent to share. A few hours later everyone was given supper; rabbit stew. Kanda went to the tent to eat it but Allen sat down with some soldier's playing with dices by one of the many campfires. They were betting with each other what sum it was going to be and Allen, who loves betting, joined whole-heartily.
"Are ya happeh ya allawed tuh be man now an' not a woman?" A black haired man asked with a crooked smile.
"You bet", Allen answered, "ten", he then said in regard to the dices.
"Ah came wiv ya tuh Ligoun an' couldn't buhlieve that ya had tuh dress like a woman the whole time. Twelve"
"Sometimes I wonder what goes in our King's head", another soldier chimed in, "fifteen."
"You know what? I don't have clue either", Allen shook his head in exasperation. "Ten", said the man throwing the dices.
"Damn, your win again, your Highness", Allen smiled mischievously and took the coins on makeshift table.
"What I find the most hilarious is that you were actually forced to marry that guy... what's his name?"
"Yuu Kanda", Allen answered, "and I'm not exactly happy about it, mind you", he added.
"Hah, but I'm sure that you dream of cuddling close..."
"Absolutely not!" Allen denied vehemently.
"Hmm... I bet that you two will become close and cuddly before your coronation."
"What's your name, soldier?" Allen asked.
"Aron Dexter, your Highness."
"Well Aron Dexter, I will prove you wrong!"
Later on Allen returned to the tent, he changed to his night clothes silently and was just about to carefully ease his way into the makeshift bed readied for him when Kanda suddenly said:
"Spending so much time with lowly soldiers having me question your status as prince."
"I'm just getting to know the people protecting us", Allen answered calmly.
"Who will die doing so. Waste of time", Allen didn't deem that worthy of an answer and closed his eyes. The rest of the night was quiet.
It wasn't until a few hours until sunset the next day when they reached the vast field north of the forest. Though, it was unlike any field they ever seen. Stretching far and wide was just dirt, no grass and no river, nothing except dirt, and in the middle of it was a fortress sending a far shadow to the east as the sun was going down in the west. The mountain range were a magnificent sight in the distance, not thinking too much of the strange field Kanda ordered them to march forward.
That had been a mistake.
I have to seriously man up when it comes to writing this story .
Seya soon...
hopefully.
