The King's Guard (BL)

Understand

"He didn't enjoy it."
"Well, I wouldn't think so, seeing as Max hates Lucas. Why would you even leave the two alone?"
"I thought he could handle it!" he laughed.

We laid in Nathan's bed, I on top of him as he rubbed my arm and occasionally kissed my face, and we just talked.

"How much longer?" he asked and I unfortunately knew what he meant.
"Two weeks. It will be held on the 15th."
"I don't want you to."
"I don't want me to either." I responded.
"Then don't."
"Nathan, it is not that easy." I sat up and looked at him.
"Sure it is. Just don't do it. Reject it."
"Reject my father's wishes?"
"If that's how you want to word it then, yes." he offered.
"No. I have certain duties to play and just like all of you I must listen."
"But this is your life. It's your future and you don't want it. How hard is it to tell him no?"
"Very!" I answered. I hadn't meant to raise my voice.

He sat up in the bed and placed his back against the head board.

"So you'd rather be unhappy than stand up to your father?"
I looked away from him.
"You plan on letting him control you until the day one of you dies?"
"No..."
"Well, you certainly seem to be."
"I just...you don't understand."
"Then help me understand." he instructed and grabbed onto my hands. "Help me understand why you deal with it."

"Would you argue against your father?" I asked.

He looked down and away from me.
"Well...I'd like to think so but..."
He didn't look at me as I waited for him.

"I do not know my father." he stated. "I do not know my mother either."
"Oh, I...um...I didn't know...I'm sorry."
"It's all right. I never told you."
"What...happened to them?"
"When I was really young, perhaps five, my parents left me at a neighbor's home and said they were going to buy food and needed someone to watch me for the time being. Days went by and they never returned. Then weeks. Then months. Once the neighbor realized they weren't returning. He kicked me out on the street when I reached ten because he did not have the patience to raise a child. I ran around markets, stealing food, but I was not good at it. I was caught a few times but in the end they were rather nice and just gave it to me. There was this one old lady who used to give me one of each fruit she had at her stand, everyday. She remembered my birthday but I don't believe it was my actual birthday. It was the day she first met me. She memorized it and once a year went by she told me happy birthday. I never knew the date of any day, I just knew when she'd tell me happy birthday and counted the years. I began helping her around her market, lifting all of the heavy objects and since I was tall and my stature wasn't frail from all of the heavy lifting and healthy foods, I also helped to ward off potential robbers once I got older. She'd pay me in food. Years went by and she was aging. She passed away when I was around 17 or 18. I was recruited for your army while I roamed the streets with Max. It meant food and shelter so I accepted. And now we're here. "

I just stared at him. Seven and a half months had gone by and he only just now spoke of this.

"I felt it was about time I told you." he stated.

I hugged him tightly. I felt his arms wrap around me as well. This explained everything. Why he didn't know his birthday. Why he came to us uneducated. Why he never spoke of family.

"SIRE, WAIT!" I heard someone yell.
We both jumped up.

I heard the sound of quick feet.

"PLEASE, DO NOT DO THIS!" Presley shouted.

I quickly kissed Nathan's lips then got off of him and grabbed my lantern.
"Where are you goi-..." he began but I left his room and softly closed the door behind me.

As soon as I turned around, Presley and my father had turned the corner.

My father looked in disbelief. My hands began to shake nervously.

"You..." he began.
"I'm sorry..." I said as my eyes watered.
He began walking towards me and quickly.

"Please do not harm him! Don't do anything!" Presley begged.
He reached me and I felt a smack to my face.

"YOU SICK CHILD!" he shouted and hit me again, harder than before. I fell to the floor as tears ran.
"I'm sorry!" I cried.
"YOU ABSOLUTE DISGRACE!"

The door to Nathan's room slammed open.

I looked at him.

"Nathan, go back inside!"
I screamed as my father grabbed me by my hair and lifted my head up. More tears shed.
"LET HIM GO! WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?!" Nathan shouted at my father.
"Nathan, go back inside! PLEASE!" I cried.

"WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME?! YOU'RE THE ONE THAT FUCKED HIM UP! MY SON WAS A PRINCE! A RESPECTABLE YOUNG MAN! AND YOU DESTROYED HIM! HE'S BROKEN! I HAVE TO FIX HIM BECAUSE OF THE MESS YOU DID!"
He pushed me by my hair.
"He didn't do anything!" I shouted and looked at my father.
He smacked me again and I landed on the floor once more. I was dizzy.
"SHUT UP, DAMN IT YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SAYING!"

Nathan dropped to me and checked my face.

"Are you alright? Look at me." he stated and held my cheek.
I looked at him as my tears ran.
"UNHAND HIM!" my father yelled and attempted to grab me.

Nathan grabbed his wrist and squeezed it tightly, so much so that I heard a pop.

"You touch him again and I'll kill you." he threatened and let him go.

My father hung his wrist like it ached.
"You bastard..." he said in disbelief.

Nathan picked me up like a bride.
"You put him down right now!" my father demanded.

Nathan ignored him and began walking away.

"YOU COME BACK HERE!" I heard him yell.
Nathan continued walking.

"Your highness, please, just let the boy go..." Presley begged.