The King's Guard (BL)

Home

I stood pacing by the entrance.

What was I to say?

Father, I like men and Nathan is my boyfriend.
No, too forward.
Father, I have found someone that I deeply cherish and he sees me the same, please give us your blessing, Nathan and I wish nothing but to be happy.
Yes. Yes, maybe that will suffice.

"Have you been standing here and pacing for an hour?" Creed asked as he reentered the castle. He saw me when I first came then went to a training and was returning.
"Yes, I'm terribly nervous." I stated and fiddled with my fingers.
"I'm sure it will all be fine." he encouraged.
"I hope so..."

I heard the trumpets begin to play.

"OH, NO!" I shouted and paced faster.
"Relax! He's just in close proximity! He is not here yet."
"Close proximity is close, HENCE THE TERM 'CLOSE PROXIMITY'! I have maybe a minute before he walks through those doors, Creed!"
"Someone's tense." he joked.
I sneered at him.

There was cheering outside. The townsfolk stood outside the castle to greet the king as they should. Soon the maids, chefs, knights, and any further workers of the castle came inside the main section of the castle to greet my father as well. They stood around mumbling in excitement. They new his return would probably provoke a large party of sorts where everyone would be invited and that made them excited.

The doors erupted open and my father sat on his horse. The crowd's cheers were even louder.

"I am home!" he shouted and the castle workers screamed and chanted in glee and excitement.
My father had a wide smile and he began getting off of his noble steed. I read some of the signs held by the townsfolk that read 'Welcome Back King!' or 'Our Leader is Home!'.

He walked inside and I stood there in both nervousness and joy.

"My boy." he said and pulled me into a hug.
I hugged him back.

Something was off...

I felt he hugged me with one arm and although I hugged him with two...I could not find his missing one.

I let him go and looked under the cloak he wore.

I was in shock before I ripped it off of him.

Nothing but a taped shoulder. No elbow. No wrist. No hand. It was a shoulder then nothing.

"Your-...Your arm?" I called.
"Nothing but a minor scratch."
"YOU HAVE NO ARM! THIS IS FAR MORE THAN A MINOR SCRATCH!" I shouted.
"Aspen, I am fine. I am bandaged and have been bandaged for weeks now, as a matter of fact I'm sure I can remove them soon. Everything's okay. I am still standing tall and breathing with the use of both of my lungs."
I was teary eyed. If they came that close to his shoulder then that means...he could have very easily been killed. He escaped death. I should have been there. He shouldn't have gone.
"My heart beats strong, boy. Everything is all right." he said with a pat to my shoulder. "WE SHALL CELEBRATE OUR VICTORY AND NOT WORRY ABOUT THE PAINS AND TRAGEDIES INFLICTED ALONG THE WAY!" he shouted with a smile.
They cheered some more.

I looked over at Nathan and he looked at me.

____________________________________

I was dressed in some of my finest attire for the party my father had thrown together tonight. I went to find him before the gathering began.

I knocked on his office door.

"Come in." he permitted.
He wore an outfit fit for a king with a large coat hung over his shoulder. I looked at the empty space to the right of him where his arm should have been.
"Father..." I began.
"Yes?" he asked.
"There is something I must tell you."
"Out with it, boy, I have to be in the ball room in forty five seconds."
"Okay, well, you see..."
"Listening."
"I just...I've come to the conclusion that..."
"Thirty seconds."
"Umm..."
"Come on, Aspen, we haven't got all day."
"I'm sorry...it's just..."
"It's just WHAT, Aspen?! You're keeping me on my toes here."
"I just wanted to say that I am glad you made it back safely..."
"It took all of that stuttering for that?" he snickered. "Thank you, son."
"Of course, father."

I left his office room.

My heart was pounding. I didn't expect it to be this difficult.

I walked down the corridor to head to the ballroom.

By the end of tonight, I swear to tell him before I close my eyes to sleep.