It was a shame for this unknown king, supposedly the brother of Henry who we thought was the true king. Even then, before the wife killings, which may not even have been him at all but a son of two brothers. One is Edward, the other is unknown as well, supposedly a murderous and more killing than Edward. But records showed that Edward ruled with a soft hand, kind, certainly not his nature to be the black prince. But continuing on, it is shown that this king forced the inspiration of Arthur to go to war due to political reasons not shown in any known journals except his.
-Excerpt from historian Istor Graios.
John leaned his head against the glass, his inky black hair sprawled onto it, blocking beams of sunlight as the carriage rattled. John’s coal eyes floated across to Henry, sitting on the opposite seat.
“Brother,” John said. My voice is more deeper, more angry now.
Henry bobbed his head up, his crystal blue eyes bright yet his eyes shaded as if he never had sleep before in life, his beard short and clean yet with signs of being pulled.
“Yes?” Henry asked, his voice low and more a whisper, sounding like he just woke up.
“I saw that…” John said, his voice trailed off before he continued, leaning down. “You’re not that jovial anymore.”
“Yeah,yeah,” Henry said, his voice more low, “I’m just more stressed, y’know?”
“You’re afraid, aren’t you?” John said, leaning down to meet his crystal blue eyes, more melancholic than bright.
“John…we’ve been at war since we were borned together.”
John nodded softly.
“We saw dad die,” Henry said, his voice a tremble.
“I know,” John said, putting a hand on Henry’s shoulder, “I know.”
“I just don’t want Edward to die,” Henry said, tears swelled in his eyes as it streaked down, “I don’t want to.”
“Henry, I know, I’m afraid too,” John said, pointing to himself, “I know.”
“Then why aren’t you afraid of Arthur or Wether dying?”
“I am.”
Henry raised his head, swiping the tears off his face.
“But what can we do?” John asked, “If you don’t bring him, either the nobility assassinate him or your army lost if you’re dead yourself.”
“I know…” Henry agreed, dropping his head low again.
“Death’s been part of us a long time,” John said, “Our own men die, remember mother?”
“She died too.”
“Yeah, just…” John voice went soft but trailed off. I don’t know.
“Just what?” Henry asked, “What?”
John stayed silent, merely staring at John as their eyes locked.
“Tell me!” Henry barked.
John’s lip didn’t move. I don’t know what to tell.
“You don’t even know do you?” Henry shouted, tears rained down. “What do you want to tell John?!”
John clenched his teeth. “I don’t know! Alright! What can you even do Henry! What? Just put your son into a miserable state or bring him out? Risk him or just let him stay comfortable? I don’t know! I’m in the same position as you!”
Henry just froze, his mind empty as the last remaining tears drooped down, sinking into his fine clothing.
“I-I’m sorry,” Henry answered, low and quiet. “We’re all stressed aren’t we?”
Smiling, John answered, “Yes. We all are, war takes a toil on our souls.”
The carriage rattled more, jumping up and then continuing along.
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
Henry just leaned down, “John.”
“Hm?” John hummed.
“I…wanna take the kids on a feast before they go.”
“That’s…fine,” John answered, his voice awkward.
Why so sudden?
“I’ll host it myself for a private one,” John said, “ All of them.”
Henry’s head swung up, his face a big smile, “You will?”
“I will,” John smiled. “I always will.”
The carriage came to a sudden stop, the horse neighing loudly.
“We’re here,” Henry said, looking out the window.
The door creaked open, John coughed, Henry coming out, his nose not red nor his eyes, no signs of tears.
Both the tall men got out, walking off the steps, seeing the great fortress that stood in front of them, the huge front that looked like it a mountain of man-made stone and marvelous architecture.
Men build such things. John thought. That’s what makes us different from animals, eh?
The great wooden gate’s iron bars pulled up, the wooden part falling down as the carriage went in first, “Marcus.”
The coach turned, “Yes J—” Marcus coughed, “M’lord?”
“Come with us after they escort the carriage.”
“Understood,” Marcus’s voice cold and deep.
Marcus, a general of mine, from peasant to noble. An aspiration for them. John thought. Now, how many years have I met Arthur? 7? That would make him 15 now.
John walked down with Henry, their chins up and their eyes relaxed yet a firm confidence. Appearance is important nowadays.
“M’lord,” A soldier bowed.
“Yes?” John asked.
“We assume you are here for them?”
John paused, before answering, “All of them are to be taken, I…had some issues at war.”
“Aye, shall we prepare accommodations?”
John took a deep breath before he answered, “No need, but thank you.”
The soldier walked away from them.
The carriage rattled behind the brothers as they walked down, following their guide.
John’s eyes subtly turned to Henry, he looked strong, tall and broad. He’s holding back a burst of tears and a wish to run off.
Walking down, they passed the hallway as their guide stopped at a door, “M’lords, this is the place.”
“Thank you,” Henry said, tossing a coin to the man.
The guide instantly swiped it from the air, he looked at it, his face something between shock and joy.
Henry shoved the door opened, swinging his legs wildly as he walked in the room before John.
Following behind, John’s lips curled to a smile. Seeing Wether, the tall boy stood near his own height, with his hair as black as his with a thin mustache. Wether should be seventeen, two years more than Arthur. Brothers.
Wether leaned on a wall, Arthur sitting on a bench, talking with a girl, as tall as him with oak brown hair and the all too normal black eyes. Lilith. The daughter of Earl Wystan, he’s dead.
Lilith moved her hair, the long hair flowed like a smooth stream, chattering with Arthur about something.
Arthur turned, seeing the two men. Which one is my father?
Arthur saw the two, they basically looked the same but with some minor details warped around to not make them twins. Arthur turned back to Lilith, “Sorry, its just they both look same.”
“Yeah,” Lilith muttered, “But why isn’t mine here?”
Paused, Arthur’s eyes froze into a trance. He’s dead, I think.
Lilith sighed when she saw Arthur freeze. He’s dead, Arthur knows.
“I…think he’s still at war? I mean you are a girl so probably that.”
Lilith gritted her teeth, “Yeah but I am his child!”
Arthur raised his hands. “I apologize but you’ve seen it before, the women are treated as the bad here.”
“Yeah but what about the rest who were taken?”
The rest, the ones that came before and the friends that were with us before. Arthur thought. They were all taken, the boys to war and the girls to the noble house, not sure where else they go.
Arthur sighed. “Listen, I understand that you wish to fight but…I don’t think it is even possible.”
Not possible? Lilith thought. My mother was one.
“I-I mean look at the situation, even if they come, they’ll put you at a mansion or something like that,” Arthur explained. “I’m not taunting you.”
You never taunted anyone, Arthur. Lilith thought.
Suddenly, a strong voice called out: “Everyone!”
All of the kids turned, seeing John walk in. The talking went still and silent as John shouted.
John took a sharp breath. “I…we are all going to war. Everyone…” John lost his tongue, everyone will go, to war and to battle. Most to die or to live. John continued, firming his voice. “We shall either—” John’s voice cracked for a second. Stay strong John! “—die or live.”
His voice is cracking, he sounds like he’s on the verge of tears! Arthur thought.
“I bet most of you will be reluctant,” John said, his voice firmer. “But what else can we do? I tried to keep most of you away, but war caught us and we must go, not knowing whether we shall live or shall die.”
“I want that before we go, since you are most precious to us…” John said. Precious. “I wish for us to bring you to a feast.”
“A feast?” Wether blurted out. “What houses come?”
John paused for a second before he answered, “Us, it shall be private, Wether.”
Why? Arthur thought. Wouldn’t it waste time?
“Alright!” Edward triumphed. “A feast?”
“Yes, Edward,” Henry walked, smiling. “Been a long time huh?”
“You grew old, old man.”
Henry gave a great laugh, “You grew taller but not enough.”
Suddenly, the door bursted open. Everyone except John and Henry turned, a huge man came in, at least two meters in height, covered in great metal armor, the armour shined, bland and a smooth metallic. The great knight had a large helm fit for him, an ancient great helm.
“Marcus,” John smirked. “You came just at the time we planned to leave.”
“Heh,” Marcus smiled under his helm. “Sorry John, just had some issues.”
“Well, its fine, I almost thought you were going to be too late for it to be honest.”
“I didn’t disappoint, did I?”
“No, you did not,” John answered, “Well now, lets go.”
All five of them got up, going out as they got ready.