The Prince's Sacrifice

Chapter 4: Betrothal of a Prince

To say that the carriage was ornate would be an understatement, it shone in the light nearly blinding any passerby. Prince Tydus shifted in his seat as he waited in his father's carriage; his rambunctious energy caused his father to scowl. "Tydus Black, behave," his father hissed. Tydus sat up straight in his seat. He knew this meeting with the king and queen was important, but he didn't see why he had to be in it as well. "Father, why do I have to go again," Tydus whined. "Stop whining boy. You have to go so that I can introduce you to the king. He wants his future son-in-law to be from a good family and full of courage. You being nearly seven means that if he approves that we can go ahead and betroth you," William Black said impatiently. Tydus looked up at his father, he didn't know what he meant by betrothed but it sounded awful. He made a face. "Straighten up boy," William said sternly. Tydus minded begrudgingly. He didn't get to spend much time with his father, and when he did, Tydus was always getting picked on for not behaving. He wished that they could play together, but his father never seemed interested. Putting him through swordplay and other princely activities. Though he was under ten, he still managed to be the top of his class for swordplay. A useful skill to have in these times his father had told him. Still, he only wanted the life of a normal boy his age, where his friends could run and be as wild as they dared without being told to behave all of the time. 

***

William Black was quiet for the entire carriage ride with his son. Always having a paper in his hands, trying to hide his nervousness. This was his only chance to get his son as more than a lesser prince in the kingdom. If the king liked Tydus well enough, Tydus would one day be king. But first his talented son had to behave long enough to impress King Roland. He knew that he was always hard on his son, but he was training him to be king one day. It was good luck for William that a princess was born not a prince, he had plans for his family and a princess fit perfectly into that plan. Now the only thing that stood in his way was Roland's opinion of Tydus. As they arrived at the castle, in Narvina the capital of Ithuania, Tydus gasped. "It's huge, father," he said timidly. "Yes, son, sit down and act like the prince you should be," William said.

King Roland was a formidable fairy, his stern gaze made many shrink, some would even cry when they left his gaze. He was not a hard man though, only heavily guarded. His queen would call him a softy, though she had the most intimate relationship. Magnus the Seer was the only other fairy that had such a good relationship with the king. William hesitated, but only slightly, he did not want Tydus to know he was afraid of the king. "Your Majesty, this is my son, Tydus Corbin Black," William said after all the pleasantries. King Roland made an effort to smile, though it did little in the way to calm Tydus. "Is this the swordsman that I've heard so much about? Good to meet a fine warrior in our kingdom," the king said in a friendly tone. Tydus, puffed up as big as he could without being silly, at the praise. "Y-yes S-sire," Tydus stuttered nervously. His nervousness seemed to amuse the king. "Good, I could use a young warrior today. Would you like to see what the king does," King Roland said, bending down to his level and winking. He laughed as Tydus' eyes lit up in excitement.

The young prince hung onto every word that Roland said as he showed him around the castle grounds. Poor boy was a pawn in his father's plans and he didn't even know it from what Roland could tell. It was his innocence that had made the boy so pleasing as a candidate for his infant daughter. Instead of showing the boy the business side of things, he showed him some of the perks of being king, after all the boy was only six. He didn't need to grow up just yet. Besides that, he liked how nervous him taking Tydus alone made William Black. William had certainly proved his worth in recent years, but Roland hated being used. He knew that William had grandiose plans, some were probably traitorous. Not wanting to give in just yet he had one of his advisors take William to the Library. He could pace there while Roland and Tydus played some games and got to know each other better. 

As evening waned, King Roland pulled William aside. "You have a fine boy. You've raised him well. I would like to go ahead with the offer of my daughter's hand. They will grow up together in the ways of the kingdom and marry when Anisa turns eighteen," Roland said to William. "Thank you, Sire, that is very generous of you," William said humbly.

***

The betrothal ceremony began the next morning at dawn. Magnus the Seer and the  clergy of the church were overseers of the anointing of both children and the magical mark that was given Tydus as a sign of his royal status it glowed on his wrist before fading to nearly invisible. Tydus flinched but nothing more, wanting to show the king he was brave, his determination amusing Roland, making him smile a little before taking on his business look. 

Everything went without a hitch and William was glad that his son seemed to settle down around the king. Whatever his boy and Roland had done the day before had proven good medicine for Tydus. His son would be the next king! William's plans were working much to his delight. The ride home would be much more pleasant now that his plans were moving forward. 

As they entered their carriage to travel back home, the king bid them farewell. Less foreboding than he had been the day before, his smile genuine and kind. The moment they were out of sight of the king, William snatched his son's wrist marveling at the crown with a sword through it. The mark was beautiful and it meant that he could now rest easy. Still unbelieving he sank down further in his seat causing him to somewhat slouch. Tydus grinned, but kept silent as the carriage started moving.