The two princes

Bow Pt. 1

Queen Cele is quickly walking down the corridors on the east side of the castle while looking for her son, Knight Bow. He, on the other hand, was blackout drunk last night for it's the last chance he'll get before he gets shipped off. He was a knight in not-so-shiny armor. But he got the job done, even though he was only there because he's the queen's son. Bow was warbling out the tavern squinting at the dark hooded horizon, it had taken over by part of the forest.

When he gets through the door and waiting there right as he walks in is his mother, the leader of Bows faction of knights, and his housemaid waiting to take him up to his chambers. As the maid takes him by the waist and under the shoulder for support. His mother is red with anger.
"You know how long I've been looking for you? You know that you're late for the meeting right? How are you supposed to rule the new kingdom if you can't even walk straight?"

Bow grins mimicking his mother. Then gets a gab in the side from the senior knight, Deric
"You must be on time, how are we supposed to win over the forest. Then take over Drogo?"
Bow then rolls his eyes. He doesn't want to be a leader. He doesn't want to fight. He only wants to walk through the fields of wildflowers and berries, to the cottage deep in The Lightning forest. And maybe even possible, just maybe, get married to that special someone. But he knows that will never happen. If he doesn't do it everyone will be picked off and eaten by the forest.
For as long as people can remember the forest has been looming over in the background. Eating at the land. Eating the people of the District of the Elians, taking over more and more of the land each day. All he's been told and trained to do was end the war the past king started 2,000 years ago. Everyone thinks it's Drogo that has used the power of the old lands to seek vengeance on what happened those years ago.

While Bow is trying to sober up, he walks in his knight's uniform down the corridors and to the war room.
"Why did have to be me to get picked for this? Fate is an evil lady," Bow said in his dark soft voice.
He finds himself at the doors ready to turn around and run away. But something stops him. A hand on his shoulder is gently reassuring him.
"It's okay. We're going to make it out fine. Now get in there!" It's a voice Bow knows a little too well. Bow turns around and sees the gentle smile on his "friend's" face.
If they weren't right in front of this door he'd take him back into his bedroom like the many nights and days before. He'd sneak away to that cottage with him.
"Hey so," Bows thoughts get interrupted, "I need to say something it might be ugly. But since.. well after tomorrow, there could be a possibility that we won't be able to see each other anymore-" Bow cuts him off.
Infuriated Bow says, "Don't talk like that, you know the plan. You're going to go through the tunnel and never look back. Got it, Dan?" Bow looks Dan in the eyes.
"I know the plan, but I still need to say this." Dan looks Bow in his eyes almost in tears. "I can't have us keep going on. You need to focus, and I can't keep distracting you."
Bow instantly sobers up. "Danny.." Bow whispers.
The doors to the war room open quickly.
"There you two are. Do you know the pain you've caused already?" Deric said pulling a teary-eyed Bow into the room. "Sorry sir," Dan says wiping his own eyes and straightening out his uniform.
Bow gets pushed into a seat near the head of the table and Dan sits right in front of him. Which seats about 20 people, sits a map of the Elian, The Forest, and Drogo. At the very end of the map is the highest knight someone could ever become, the knight that guards the forest, a Commendatore. Standing in all white armor is Sir Bookies. She stops talking and looks at the two of them for being late.
"You're late Princess Peach and I expected more from you, Danny. Especially with what's happening." Bookies said looking at them from far across the room.
"Listen, don't bring him into this, I was the one to hold him back it was my fault," Bow said has his voice cracked with tears filling his eyes.
Bookies roll her eyes then said, " I don't care who did what, nor do I need details. You two need to get yourself's together. We are going into that forest. And we are going to win!" Everyone around the table started to cheer and chant as they were all ready fighting.
"You don't even know if the rest of you will serve to go into there," Bow said in a hushed voice standing up ready to walk out. "The legend says 'two princes walk-in.' TWO PRINCES!"
Bookies shut Bow up with just one look. He sat back down in his chair, a started fire building inside of him.
"You know what needs to be done. Frankly, I don't care what you think. We are going to win at ALL costs." Bookies assert looking at every person in the room. "We have lived long enough in Drogo's shadow. We have lived long enough being killed off by their vengeful spirits! We are going to take this land even if we have to die for it." The room rally's up again, the knights and warriors can feel the electricity in the room.
"There won't be anyone to take it if you all die," Bow's words cut through the air. Static in the room dies quickly. Everyone stops. They all start looking at each other blankly.
"Listen here, the only reason you are in this room is you just so happen to be the Queen's son. You just so happen to be the only one that can end our country's suffering. So you need to shut up, and take it like the little b-," Deric gets cut off.
"You need to calm down." Bookies second in command says. "He has enough on his plate already."
"Oh who cares, he's just a spoiled little-," the senior knight gets cut off again.
"Deric, if you don't shut up right now-"
"ANNIE! You need to calm down too," Bookies cuts her second in command off.
Dan looks at Bow from across the table. He has a concerned look on his face. Bow looks at Dan with hurt in his eyes. are you okay? Dan mouths to Bow. Visible anger bubbles up out of Bow. You're going to ask me that?? After what you just did? After what you just said? Bow thinks to himself.
Bow quickly gets up out of his seat red-faced, eyes ready to burst with tears.
"Where are you going?" Dan says a little too quickly.

"Why do you care! Did you ever care? You know what- don't answer that!" Bow was practically screaming saying that. He looks around the room slightly embarrassed and quietly walks out.
Dan apologized to all of the knights in the war room and goes after Bow.

He found himself at Bow's door, afraid to open it. He's reminded everything that's happened at this door, everything that could have happened.
Just as he was about to put his hand on the doorknob, the door swung open violently. There standing in the frame was Bow crying with a bag over his shoulder.
"Why are you here? Just go." Bow said with a wave of anger in his tone.
"Bow. You know that's not why I did it. You know why." Dan says trying to calm Bow down some.
Bow turns around, he knows that he can't get past Dan. "Yea I know why. You want me to move on when you die. But you're not going to, you agreed to the plan" Bow takes a couple of steps to the back of the room before whipping around.
"You don't get it. I only agreed with you because knew it was going to make you happy. But.. I can't do that... There was no chance that it would work.." Dan says quietly.
"THAT PLAN IS 100% EFFECTIVE. You KNOW it is!" Bow's tears have slowed down at this point. "That's not it, Bowie. I've been promoted to a Sir. I can't-" Dan chokes a little, "I can't escape this even if I wanted to. Listen, Bookies know what she's doing. We aren't going to die." Dan tries to get closer to Bow but bow backs up to the window.
"No..No.." Bow looks horrified at this point. "She hasn't told anyone anything about the things that go on in there. You don't know what she's leading everyone to." Bow opens up the window and throws the bag out. "Tell them that I went without them. Don't go into that forest till I come back."
"Bowie. What the hell do you think you are doing?" Dan creeps carefully to the window.
"What I should have done earlier! I'm going into that forest and I'm never looking back. Danny. Just pretend this, what was happening between us, never happened. It will be easier that way." Bow said just before jumping out the window. A small piece of the shutter getting taken down with him.