Slowly Burning

The Prince

Speeding down the hallways, a well dressed gentleman named Zeke was in a rush. He'd forgotten that, it was, in fact his first day working under the prince's rule. He hadn't done work in a long time, as he was formally a prince as well. Only when King Rota has conquered his homelands did he need to find work. Thankfully, the king was kind enough to allow him to work in the castle. He had a fair wage, just like everyone else. He was treated practically like the kings third son. Though tensions started to rise around the happy group when it was found that Zeke's father went out of his way, even after the treaty was signed, to kill Queen Miora. Zeke was horrified when it happened, and he immediately ratted out his father when he was told about the incident. She had been the kindest to him after all, and now he was running late on his first day officially working under the prince. It was awkward enough but now he had really out done himself.

When he did arrive to Prince Val's quarters, he was surprised to see him dressed to go horseback riding. He didn't think that someone else had told him the schedule ahead of time, since that was, after all, his duty along with accompanying the prince in every activity. Zeke's suit was specially tailored to him, not only for his size, but also for the fact that it was made for all activities that the prince could ask for, even dragon slaying. Though there was no guarantees that anything other than the suit would survive a dragon. 

"Your majesty, are you ready?" Zeke asked, shutting the door behind him after walking inside. 

"My my Zeke, you took your time this morning. Don't be late next time." the taller prince scolded the other half heartily. "Just because it's your first day on the job, I'll be nice. Next time, I'll make you clean my entire room with nothing but a toothbrush."

"I apologise, I didn't realize how late I was." He mumbled out the apology, not making eye contact, before brightening up a little bit, "How about we start getting to work on going to the stables and going for your horse ride around the city? I'm sure you'd like to see the flower field just off road." 

Prince Val nodded, and thus the two started walking down and out of the palace, crossing over to the royal stables. It felt like it was taking forever, even if it was just the pair. Once they were outside of the palaces protection, two guards also on horse back would be joining them. Apparently, it was well known that the prince enjoyed sneaking off to little hidden areas with his horse rather than stick to the planned Route, and that is just a rumor Zeke hadn't been there long enough to learn about. Alexia, the prince's horse, was used to going off on her own. She was a Friesian horse, known for having a dark and curly mane. The guards, of course, both got Clydesdale horses as they are massive and easy to scare off anyone who dare question their authority. Zeke got a Icelandic horse, as they are the breed he is the most familiar with. He was allowed to keep his own horse, Titan, with him even though he was now working in the castle rather than living in said castle, Titan wasn't all too affected by the change unlike Zeke though.

The start of their journey was slow, as they were just trotting around, waiting for the guards to come escort them out. It took a few minutes but soon everyone was heading out of the gates. A few citizens cheered as it had been the first time they had since the prince since the war. Of course, both Zeke and Val fought in it, and more importantly, fought against each other. 

 It was cold, frost and snow had build up around both sides and they engaged in their warfare, Val in the back commanding his peers to fight like his father had taught him so long ago, but also to treat the enemies kindly as his mother had reminded him. Though this is where he would meet some problems as soon, everyone around him was dead. A arrow piercing their hearts. His own heart was racing as he looked to see where the shots had been coming from, running to the nearest cover. That's when he heard the footsteps. They were light. Their camp was surrounded by trees, which, was supposed to hide them from the enemy, not give the enemy the ability to hide, a severe and costly oversight by the Prince. It was the enemy approaching. Whoever they were, they clearly thought that they had killed everyone in the camp. Armed with just a knife, the prince slowly stood. by the entrance was the mysterious archer, Zeke. They locked eyes, thought it wasn't what Val had expected. Zeke was crying, he was mourning those he had shot and killed in the name of fueling his fathers battle. Though now, as he was still crying, another emotion shown through. Fear. He thought he had killed everyone. But apparently he missed one. He quickly armed himself with the bow, and Val was ready to fight, though now Zeke was backing away. Soon, he lowered his arrow and just sprinted, running away in all of the snow, even though his uniform didn't exactly blend in. Val gave chase, trying to find the crying soldier. "Wait! Stop! I know you didn't have a choice!"

It was that small sentence, that one sentence that was enough to make Zeke look back for a second, to slow down for merely hearing those words. He just gave up there, no matter how many people he had shot and killed, it always tore him up inside, having to take life after life. Zeke had made it his habit to bury the bodies afterwards, but he couldn't this time and their faces would probably haunt him. Though now, Val was catching up to him, and Zeke was quickly disarmed. He prepared himself to fight back with his own hands, tears running down his face.

"Just stop and come back with me, I'll keep you safe." The prince extended a single hand out towards the other, though he did have the knife ready just in case any funny business. And that's how the pair met, Zeke surrendering there, and going back with Val. He gave up the crown, and his family that he didn't like all to well with his fathers constant wars and his mothers abstinence to live with them, just as the princes friend and butler.

They turned on to a off road, just like Zeke had planned, though the road was too small for the guards clydesdales. So they had to turn back, trusting the former prince Zeke with the prince. Val headed in to the flower field, dismounting his horse as Zeke soon followed.

"What do you think of this place, your majesty? Does it suit you?" Zeke asked, going to approaching the prince with the lead to his trusty steed in hand.

"hmm. Yes. I think I do quite like this place Zeke. Good job." Prince Val praised him, going to drop his horses lead as he didn't really care what Alexia did, he knew she would come back for him. "I think this is going to be our secret little spot when I don't want to be a prince. Whenever we're here you address me as Val. Now lets make some flower crowns." He was always a ray of sunshine, the prince was, a complete counter to Zeke's more quiet, shy personality.

He nodded, "Of course your maj- I mean Val. I learned how to make flower crowns at home, here let me help."

 They worked on their decorations for a while, braiding flowers in to their hair along with this horses manes. When it was time to go back to the castle, Zeke had to practically drag Val indoors in to the castle, the prince whining and complaining about how Zeke was a horrible person, how he should've never taken him in, and all of the other nasty stuff someone could say, before apologizing and hugging his butler. Of course, it was awkward to explain to the king why the second heir to the throne, only being taken up by Val's older brother, was clutched to his butler, covered in flowers and muck.