Chapter Five

The next few days passed by in the same exact way. Maids and nurses would come into Arthur's room to help him get used to life living in the palace to help his wounds heal. He was forced to stay in bed until they said he was strong enough to leave his room. He still couldn't believe that he was actually destined to become the Queen of his country. It all seemed like a dream.

Alfred was busy with his Kingly duties so he didn't come to see Arthur in the past few days. That left him with nothing to do but wander all around the castle. He learned a few things about what was going on around here. Apparently, Alfred was still training to be King and was going to have his coronation soon. Since Arthur came that was delayed so that they would both be coronated at the same time.

It wasn't surprising that he soon found the royal garden and all of it's glory. Every kind of flower imaginable grew there and he felt more at home than ever before. Some of the servants would bow to him as he walked by and he awkwardly nod his head back. Sometimes he would give them advice on how to tend the roses but they treated him very formally in a way he wasn't used to. Yao found him in the garden one day.

"Your Majesty, come with me for a moment." he said. Reluctantly Arthur followed him to a big open room. He was confused as to why he was in there but didn't say anything. "I'm going to put you through many tests today to see how much you know and need to learn about royal behavior in public and in the castle. I hope you do far better than our King who seems to want to procrastinate on many things." he said. The irritation was clear in his voice and it made Arthur was to smirk and sigh at the same time.

All these tests included poster, mannerism, how to speak, education, knowledge about the politics in the country, and problem solving. It took hours before Arthur could take a break from all that he'd done and there were still stuff he needed to finish. Some servants brought in a table and some tea on a tray with oven roasted chicken, mash potatoes with gravy, assorted fruits and vegetables, and some milk and sugar. He looked at all this in wonder.

"You can't possibly believe I'll finish all of this." he said to Yao who just shrugged. "We don't know what you like or how much you eat. We give you options from everything you need to be healthy in large amounts so you never run out. Then we dispose of what you don't eat." he said. That caused Alfred to frown. His sister was a big advocate on not wasting food and that was ingrained in him as well. "Don't make so much next time. If you make excess then don't waste it. Give them to people in need." he said before eating. Yao turned so that he couldn't see his smile. Thinking of other people was the Queens job and he was already doing it in a small way.

Immediately after eating it was right back to work an Arthur felt like his brain was fried after it all. "ENOUGH! You can't possibly think I'll learn all this in a day. It's bad enough I have to worry about what's out there torturing my sister! You can't honestly expect me to become Queen of this country!" he yelled. It was like Yao had no heart at all. Without waiting for a response he stormed out of the room and stomped down the hall grumbling as he went. He was so engrossed in his thoughts that he ran right into Alfred. If it hadn't have been for a wall to keep him steady then they both would have falling.

"Oh hey, sorry dude, I didn't-" he paused for Alfred realized who he was talking to. "Oh, hey. Wait, if you're here then that means..." another pair of footsteps could be heard farther down and Alfred started to freak. "Uh.. um.. okay... Gotta hide, gotta hide." he started mumbling before grabbing Arthur by the hand and pulling them both in a closet.

"What the devil-" Arthur was cut off when Alfred but his hand over his mouth. He didn't want to get caught neglecting his studies again. Long minutes went by and the proximity of their bodies was starting to become more noticeable. Arthur tried not to think about it while Alfred was doing almost the opposite. He couldn't see him, but he could feel their bodies pressed against each other in the small closet and he wasn't going to lie, he really really liked it.

It seems like eternity before the footsteps faded away and they both fell out of the closet, letting out a breath they hadn't realized they were holding. "What was that for?" Arthur complained. He felt a little edgy being that close to Alfred since last time they sort of left each other blushing at a particular thought that he was certainly not going to think about.

"You look like hell." Alfred said. Yes, not a very good opening statement to his future Queen, but he's anything if not blunt. "I was trying to avoid looking like you. Yao must have gotten to you. I've got another tutor day but I was able to escape easy. I just didn't want to get caught ditching." he said, with a huge grin on his face. Arthur shook his head and sighed. This person who seems more like a child is going to be the King. He hoped the world wasn't going to end.

"I will admit he is harsh. Is there any place he won't go? It seems like I can't find any peace in this place. Especially since I can't do what I want quite just yet." he said. Alfred had to think about where they could go. The only place he could think of was going deep in the garden but the sun was setting. He wasn't sure he could find his way out in the dark.

"We could always go on one of the roof tops. This castle has a lot of layers and I usually sit out on one of them.

"If it'll get me away from him for a while, lead the way." Arthur said.

He lead him through corridor after corridor like it was nothing. He's been there all his life and the only place Alfred didn't know was the garden. It was like the place was alive and the plants hated him. He would always get cut or scratch by almost invisible thorns and twigs, and he would always get lost. Opening the window to the roof, the slight breeze brushed against their skin and Arthur wasn't to sure it was a good idea.

"Come on Arthur. You're not going to fall. I've done this plenty of time. Arthur, hmm, doesn't sound too right. How about I call you Artie! Yeah, Artie it is!" Alfred said smiling.

"Do not call me that! Use my proper name!" Arthur exclaimed.

"Come on. Hurry before he tries to look up here. I need to talk to you about something."

Nervously, Arthur stepped outside, using Alfred's hand to help him steady himself. Once he was sure he wasn't going to fall he let go of his hand. "What is it?" he asked. It sounded slightly serious.

"Well, for starters, I asked Yao why these so called 'dark forces' are after you. He told me that he really didn't believe it's they themselves that are after you. Someone else is somehow controlling them and wants to use you to gain more power. He suspects the other countries but he doesn't want to start a war without more information." he said. He didn't know much about the other countries, but on the day they get coronated they get to meet the Kings, Queens, and Jacks of all the others.

"And we have some new information on your sister." At that, Arthur started listening even closer. "We don't think she left to a neighboring country. We think she's still in Spades, we just aren't sure wear. Their main goal was you, Yao think they can't have taken her far from where you guys lived. Look, I know you want to find her, like ASAP, but I don't like Yao's idea. He thinks if we use you as bait we can trick them into leading us to their hideout." he said. He looked worried and angry at the same time. He really ripped Yao's head off for that one but he couldn't deny that the idea was a possibility. He didn't didn't think they should do it despite that.

Arthur thought about this. Of course he wanted to jump at the idea but with the way he is now, it wouldn't do any good. "I'll think it over. Thanks for letting me know." Arthur said. Alfred looked at him with pleading eyes.

"I promise, we'll find her but don't go with this plan unless there is no other way. It was already bad enough with you in that condition and something worse could happen to you if we went through with this." he said. He didn't even want to say what could happen. There are so many bad things that could go wrong. He could die, or he could end up getting kidnapped, maybe even tortured. HIs sister could already be dead but he didn't want to even go there. That would destroy Arthur if they found her dead.

"Alright. I'll leave it to you." he said but his mind was racing with the idea still. He looked out to see the lights of the city. "It's beautiful up here. You get to see this everyday?" he asked. Alfred smiled and leaned back. "Yeah, one of the few perks of being cooped up in a palace. You get an awesome view." he said. They stayed there in silence, thinking over different thoughts and trying not to seem awkward. When the sun set completely Alfred got up and started heading back inside.

"We should go. We've got another big day ahead of us." he said. Arthur nodded and followed him back inside. He followed Alfred until he was able to recognize a way back to his room. They said their good nights before he headed back. He was tired, all he wanted to do was lay in bed for the next few days. His still healing wounds let themselves be known and caused Arthur to groan in pain as he laid in his bed with his eyes closed. It seemed like an eternity before his mind shut off and he was able to sleep.