The Union of Violet and Gold

Like Flowers and Bees

Emil stood feverishly in front of the entrance to his father's office, the large doors that had always loomed over him since he was a small child making him dread the person who stood behind them. He looked over questioningly to the sentinel guard who stood directly to the left of the door, silently asking if he could enter the usually off-limits area. The rigid guard gave him a stiff nod before reaching over to formally open the door for him. Taking one last look down at his simple white cotton shirt and sturdy dyed brown pants, he strode through the open door. Emil would have normally insisted upon opening the door himself, but on this occasion he let the man do the job he was probably given strict instruction to do.
The clicking of his bleach white boots on the mahogany wood floors pierced the delicate silence like gunshots in a peaceful night. The room smelled fresh like cleaning products and polished wood, several of the large windows on either side of the room were propped open letting in the mixed sent of flower blossoms carried by the mild spring breeze. He looked to the shining white marble desk centered at the end of the room, and to the the intimidating figure of his father who sat behind it, ruler of the kingdom of Glaciem. Windows flanking him on all sides let in streams of the golden afternoon light that highlighted his father's strong features. A deep gold and fur accented cloak adorned his neck, giving him the look of a lion who awaited it's prey. Emil had always feared the man who sat before him, and this moment was no exception; he had never truly shown caring for him, and it was with distaste Emil called the regal man his father. Having never known his own deceased mother, the closest thing Emil had ever had to a parent figure was his older brother, Lukas.
"You requested to see me, father." Emil adjusted his posture but could not bring himself to make eye contact with the taller man."Emil, yes.." His father looked up from the paperwork that sat in a disorderly heap on his desk and removed his reading spectacles before standing up to greet his son."I have an important matter to discuss with you." Emil felt a rush of fear course through his body like a bolt of lighting, important matters were usually not a good thing, especially at a trying time like this while they were on the brink of war with the elusive kingdom of Fán, which Emil had been given little information about. Emil fidgeted with the hem of the creme colored bow tied carefully a around his neck."Well, get on with it then." He looked up to his father, feeling a wave of intimidation rush through him at the sight of his father's towering figure. The king waltzed purposefully over to the window, as if acting out a rehearsed play." The gardens are beautiful this time of year, no?" He surveyed the neatly trimmed maze of booming flowers that sprawled out on the flat fields outside castle walls. Apple orchards stretched out beyond the glowing petals of the garden's plants, and Emil recalled fondly of the blossoms that would soon burst from their sturdy branches."They are nice, but are you not going to tell me what the matter is that you need to discuss with me?" Emil stepped anxiously beside his father, but keeping a respectful distance away from him as he too observed the plants that sprawled out below them."Do you know how flowers grow, son?" Emil was about to answer but his father continued on,"They are pollinated by bees, and in return for spreading it's pollen, the flower gives the bee what it needs to make honey. They rely on each other, because they both recognize that the bond they have with each other is for the benefit of all around them. And because of that, we get to enjoy the beautiful blossoms every year." His father gestured to the flourishing gardens, but Emil still didn't understand what this had to do with anything at all. "I'm sorry, father, but I don't understand why you are explaining this to me." He subconsciously tugged at the edge of his shirt in an attempt to straighten it. The king sighed warily before turning to look at Emil directly."There is no gentle way to explain this situation to you son..." He paused for a moment to meet Emil's lavender eyes with his own deep indigo ones that matched those of his older brother. Suspense hung heavily in the air as Emil waited for his father to explain further."We have come up with a union of sorts to avoid any future war with the Kingdom of Fán. But you see.."He spoke formally, however it was almost as if there was a touch of apology to his tone that distressed Emil. His father took a deep breath before delivering the long awaited information."You are going to be married as the bride of their prince." For a frozen moment, the words didn't even register properly in Emil's mind; 'married'? 'Bride'? Suddenly he pieced together the words that he had just heard and he nearly imploded. His father had arranged a marriage for him. It felt as if a bullet had been shots though the glass that held together his cool composure. Words were pouring out of his mouth faster than he could think them over."WHAT! FATHER. YOU CANT BE SERIOUS." He felt his face heat up as his voice resounded more and more intensely in the large open room."I CANT GET MARRIED. I WONT DO IT. I REFUSE." Just the idea of being wedded to some unknown man, some probably disgusting and perverted man, made him feel sick. He didn't want to spend the rest of his life bound against his will to someone whom he didn't even love. Emil clenched his fists tightly, as if ready to strike at any given moment. His father simply let out a wary sigh and looked to Emil calmly."Like the flowers and bees, our two kingdoms shall rely on each other so that we can both exist peacefully. You two will simply be the bond that visually holds us together. I've discussed it already with the King of Fán and he agrees that it is the best idea. However, the people must think that you two are truly in love due to the fact that our kingdoms would otherwise not be too fond of this union. Your unity will make them feel happy and unified as well, it's really not too complicated; everyone simply loves a wedding." His father once again looked outside the window, overlooking the now sunlit golden tops of the trees, but Emil was still seething with anger; he had lost the cool composure that he had entered the room with like a heavy rock plunged into a delicate layer of ice."I DONT LOVE A WEDDING. THIS ISNT RIGHT! ITS UNFAIR, ITS...ITS.." He couldn't even think of another word before his father interrupted him in a strident tone."It's, what's best for both of the kingdoms. It's marry this man, or people die in the fiery rage of war. Is that what you want?" He narrowed his eyes, causing Emil to jolt slightly when he caught the intimidating glare. Gazing down at the floor, he muttered a soft 'no', there was really no way out of this for him and to be honest, it made him want to scream."Louder, son." Emil glared heatedly back up at the taller man, his face still flushed crimson with anger and embarrassment."I SAID NO." His father have him a fake and haughty smile that said,' that's what I thought ', Emil had despised that look as a child and he despised it now."You know, you should consider yourself lucky that I hadn't married you off sooner, you are seventeen years old. Lukas was married off at only fifteen, and you see how happy he is with Matthias." His father lectured, taking confident strides along the wall of windows. How could he relate Lukas and Matthias to this situation at all? They had known each other for several years before the marriage. They actually loved each other. Emil was about to protest the statement when his father sent him a glance that said,'now is not a good time to be stubborn'. "And before you tell me that you aren't interested in men, which would be irrelevant anyhow, I'll have you know that the guards have seen the way you look at stable boys, they have told me how you blush and stutter around them. You may think that I don't pay any attention to my sons, but believe me, I have eyes all around the kingdom." His father stated rather smugly. Emil's face grew hot at the mention of his sexuality, which even he found himself questioned most of the time, but he couldn't protest against his father's words. He stared out into the fading light as the sun began to stoop below the far off mountains, all he wanted to do was scream and cry in frustration, however he took a breath and decided against that."I..I..I just need some time to think about this." He faltered, directly avoiding his father's pressuring gaze."Do as you please, but we will be meeting with your soon to be husband and his father tomorrow." Emil gave a small nod of his head; this was happening so quickly, vexation boiled inside of him and he felt utterly nauseous, and before he could even think to say a goodbye, he was sprinting out of the grand office without a word to the king who had just turned his life upside down. The clacking of his boots on the tiled hallways resonated as he raced to the garden entrance. He need to get some fresh air.
Taking small, shaky steps down the marble stairs that led to the ground from the second floor balcony, he noted that many gardeners and guards had taken notice of his presence. No, no, he wanted to be alone, he wanted to be away from these people and their stupid marriages and their stupid eyes that always watched him. The world spun and only one thought stood out in Emil's mind, 'get away from these people'. As soon as they his the neatly trimmed Bermuda grass, Emil's feet made a break for the orchards, and it wasn't until he was deep within the tranquil confines of the trees did he stop to catch his breath. Tears had begun forming in the corners of his eyes, and lone one rolled down his cheek. He took a quivering breath in, everything was going to be...He wanted to tell himself that it would be okay, but that was a complete lie. He let out a cry of grievance as he spun his body around and kicked the trunk of the tree closest to him , scaring off some of the birds who were nestled peacefully on the branches of the tall trees surrounding him. They squawked and flew off to some more peaceful location. Emil wished he could fly like them, he had always wished it, since he was a child. But even more so now he wanted to fly high up into the sky, feel the cool wind beneath his wings, going wherever he pleased, no kings, no marriages, no rules to tie him down. He wanted to escape.
More tears flowed down his cheeks, but he made no attempt to wipe them as he continued to bash the harmless tree with the heel of his boot. A long scream of frustration was released from his throat as he he crashed into a heap on the soft grass beneath him and wept pitifully. When he was finally able to compose his sobbing enough to take a weak breath and wipe his eyes, he looked to the tree that he had been pouring his anger onto. A wave of remorse washed over him at the sight of the bruised bark, that tree had done nothing to hurt him, it didn't deserve to be punished, if anything, the tree should be more trusted than any of his family. The golden rays of the sunset that shown through the leaves of the orchards were fading quickly, and he didn't want to be out in the dark. Standing up, he laid a hand delicately on the bark of the tree and muttered an apology to the innocent plant before straightening the collar of his shirt and regaining his calm composure, he couldn't let people know that he had been crying. As he walked out of the orchards, one of the guards rushed up beside him."Prince, we saw you running, is everything alright?" He asked formally, stooping down to look Emil in the eyes, an action that was polite when he was a child, but now he felt as if only mocked his shorter than average male height."I...just needed some fresh air...that's all." He crossed his arms in a defensive fashion, and looked in the opposite direction of his inquisitor. He wondered if everyone else was already aware of the union, gossiping about it behind closed corridors and lowering their voice to a whisper when Emil passed by. It only angered him more to have been in the dark about what HE should be the first to know. Blood beginning to boil once again, Emil left the guard behind him without a word as he made his way back into the castle and quickly down the grand hallway to the bedroom that used to be conjoined with that of his older brother's. Lukas had long since moved into a larger suite with his husband Matthias, but on this occasion he was awaiting Emil at the door of the room they had once shared together. Emil glowered at him, not in the mood for any of his brother's teasing at the moment, but Lukas was unfazed." So I'm assuming father told you about the marriage." His silky voice had a note of sympathy to it that it usually lacked."I don't want to talk to you about it." He reached down to open the door, but Lukas blocked him."You, know that this will be good for everyone in our kingdom, Emil, and you might actually end up liking the guy." He stared directly into Emil's gaze, deep pools of dark indigo that reminded Emil so much of their father's."I don't care, I hate him, I hate the marriage. I want to get married because I love someone, I would rather be alone my entire life then to be forced to love someone I don't." Emil felt his face heat up and tears well up in his eyes once again."Oh, little brother." Lukas gained a sudden look of worry and stepped forward to wipe the drops of water from his eyes, but Emil batted his hand away and raised his voice harshly."Im an adult, I don't need you caring for me anymore, I can make my own choices, I sHOULD BE ALLOWED TO MAKE MY OWN CHOICES!" His words sounded louder than he had wanted them to, but Lukas held a calm expression as usual."Father has asked me to help you through this, but if you don't want my assistance, I suppose I can just leave you to make a fool yourself." Lukas moved out of the way and began striding in the direction of his own room. Emil looked up from the door handle and mumbled under his breath just loud enough for Lukas's attentive ears to hear. He turned around to face his younger brother."What was that?" He questioned in a slightly mocking voice. Emil grumbled,"I want you to help me." A small smiled formed on Lukas's lips,"'I want you to help me', what?" Emil knew this trick, and he was not in the mood for games."I want you to help me..." His voice strained and he clenched his fist around the door handle"big brother.." Lukas grinned, a look that really didn't suit him, but he had a strange enjoyment of Emil referring to him as 'big brother' as he did when he was a small child."It's best that you be getting a good night's rest, tomorrow is an important day for you." Lukas said calmly, the hint of a smile still held on his lips."Now, if you will excuse me, Matthias is waiting for me." Emil listened to the clicking of his brother's shoes fade away before entering his room.
Tomorrow would in fact be an important day, and Emil decided to take his bother's advice and just go to sleep, he had exhausted himself emotionally and physically. After washing up and putting in the soft grey tunic that he wore to sleep, Emil climbed under the protective covers of the bed and shut his eyes forcefully. He wasn't sure how much sleep he was actually going to be able to get with all the thoughts running ramped in his mind, but it was in his best interest to try, and before he knew it, he was out like a light.