The Captive

Father's Favorite

"Is that all you got!" The woman with the black hair yelled swinging her sword towards the angered man. "Father would be disgraced to find out he raised such a weak child!" She taunted the man as he charged towards her she dipped to the side causing him to stubble and fall into the dirt. The woman towered over him putting the blade of her sword in his face "I win again Lucus" She said the men around the dirt arena cheered for the woman putting their swords in the air. "The princess has done it again!" One man yelled out as she put her sword on the air gripping the black metal handle in victory. Lucus glared at her looking from beneath her with anger in his eyes. "You men should be honored to fight beside my daughter she and my son shall bring this realm to victory" A older man walked into the arena black hair turning grey on the sides silver armor shining with a large smile on his face. He stepped up to the woman and patted her shoulder bringing his hand to her cheek cupping it in his hand. "Well done Fauna" He said smiling "I've been training for you father" she said putting her forearm over her heart kneeling on one knee. "A good warrior doesn't need a reason to train" He said looking down at her proudly. "Yes Father" she said. The man looked down at Lucus as he watched his Father praise Fauna from below them both. "Take a lesson from your sister Lucus: A good warrior shows respect to his commander even if the warrior is the best" The smile disappeared from the old man's face as he looked down at his son. Fauna looked over at Lucus and walked over to him offering her hand to help him up. Lucus stared at her hand and looked in her eyes he frowned at quickly got up running into the men on the side of the arena pushing them out of his way running into the castle. The man walked over to Fauna putting a hand on her shoulder "I know its hard to understand my child but just know it's not your fault"

XXX

Her room was full of oddities and memories almost as if it was a antique shop. Potted plants hung from the ceiling and skulls of her opponents who tried to challenge her sat on the shelfs over her bed. Books were stacked in every corner of the room with knifes and a bloody rag she used to clean her sword with sat on top of them. The room once was a innocent room for a infant born into royalty. Innocent. The last word to describe Fauna. She leaned over the large balcony looking over the realm of Stvlehiem watching the villagers scurry around the land going to their destinations. Her eyes glistened as thought of ruling Stvlehiem sunk into her mind making her grin. The queen of Stvl- she thought until her chamber doors flung open and Lucus walked in abruptly ending her daydream. His eyes searched her room giving her items disgusting looks wondering how could she be father's favorite?
"Are you done with your tantrum brother?"
"Ha funny. I hope your not off in your silly daydreams again"
"What's it to you?"
"Just don't want you to get your hopes up"
Fauna felt her heart sink in her chest with the tought of Lucus ruling Stvlehiem they both dedicated their whole childhood to training to become King or Queen of Stvlehiem. Battling each other for ownership deminishing their pure sibling relationship since birth.
"What is that suppose to mean?"
"You and me both know I will rule Stvlehiem"
Fauna walked swiftly towards Lucus as her dress flew in the wind.
"What makes you think you'll be able to rule Stvlehiem you can't even beat me in practice!"
"A king doesn't need to know how to fight a maiden he needs to know how to save one!"
"A king needs to know how to defend and honor her realm in battle!"
Their bickering bounced off Fauna's chamber walls. Few people lived in the castle but the walls were thin enough to hear them both from two floors away.
"I will be king!"
"But I am able to queen. A woman can rule this land as much as a man can!"
Lucus walked closer to Fauna as Fauna walked closer to him until a figure of a short skinny man appeared in the door way. It was Ernest the king, Mungdal's jester and right hand man. He look scared and nervous to approach them both. "Excuse me your highnesses" he said trying to retrieve their attention but they continued to argue. He slowly walked in the room afraid of being in the middle as usual "excuse me you-" the jester said before he was interrupted by them "What!" They said in the same breath looking down at his short complex. "Um your uh father wants to talk to you both" he hesitated Lucus and Fauna stared at each other knowing their yelling had filled the castle so much their father had heard it.

XXX

Lucus and Fauna both rushed to Mungdal's throne watching him talk to their mother Fawn with concern on her face. When they arrived at the steps of the throne they both kneeled down on one knee looking at their parents. "So tell me why is it that bickering of my son and daughter is bouncing off my castle walls causing a ruckess?" Mungdal said with anger in his voice making them both look down to the floor in silence. "So we've become quite mice all of a sudden?" He said Fauna and Lucus looked at each other wondering who would speak first. Lucus stood up eager to talk " We were only bickering father because we wanted to know who will become king" he grinned Fauna quickly got up to her feet "or queen" she protested. Their mother looked at her husband with sadness in her face "I dreaded this day" she whispered to Mungdal. He looked at them both and smiled he knew this day would come and he was ready but they weren't ready for the answer just yet. "I have seen you both grow up and get stronger together eager to sit where I am now. You both know there can be only one to rule Stvlhiem. If you must know King or Queen of Stvlhiem is the person who has proved themselves worthy to me." Fauna and Lucus looked at each other from the corner of their eyes knowing they were thinking the same thing.
I'm going to be king
I could be queen.