Stolen Heart (yandere! King x reader)

12. And One for All

"Damien! The King took Damien!" The Tavern keeper buried his head in his arms, shrinking into a tiny ball. He was shaking, traumatized.

Surveying the room, the guards had to have entered the Tavern specifically to capture Damien. But why? Damien had nothing to do with your secret identity? He didn't even know that you were the Thief! Besides, you were at the Tribute event. Wouldn't the king have put his efforts into searching for you after you escaped?

"He's a scapegoat." You realized out loud. Since the real Thief escaped, Caspian went after someone he already had a grudge against. He's sending a message. You didn't know whether Damien was only the bait or if this was for revenge, all you knew was that the tyrant couldn't get away with this.

Verdant didn't show it, but he was as distraught as you by the loss. Damien was as good as dead and you both knew it... Unless you saved him. When Verdant turned away, you ran out and towards the palace, immediately breaking your promise to lay low. It's not like you were going to actually hide, anyway. Just when the pain in your shoulder was at its worst, it dissipated, like fog off some terrible lake. You ran on. The bandage was easily hidden beneath your common green cloak. You realized too late that you forgot to take the iconic mask cape and disguise.

Before you reached that castle you could see ten times as many guards as you had seen before, although they were small compared to the crowd of anxious commoners, waiting to see what was about to happen. These were your people, the people who believed in the rebellion, and Caspian knew this. He knew it would crush them to see the infamous Thief caught and killed. You grit your teeth and ran faster. Caspian didn't kill Damien in the tavern because he wanted a public execution to crush the rebellion once and for all.

Several guards blocked each entrance, drawing their weapons as you neared.

"Who are you?" One of them Demanded. You didn't recognize this one, assuming that these were probably mercenary guards.

"I'm His Highness' Fiancé, (Y/n)." You said, crossing your arms in faux haughtiness.

"Apologies, Miss." The guard who spoke to you stiffly bowed and their weapons retreated. The other guards bowed as well, but you were too desperate to talk to Caspian to care about any of them.

Meanwhile, King Caspian was waiting in his throne room. Soon the peasants would see their hero thief executed and this silly talk of rebellion would end. It was only a matter of time.

A guard entered, without knocking. Caspian considered punishing him for his insolence, but that would spoil the mood, and Caspian was in a very good mood.

"Your fiance is here to see you." The guard announced.

Caspian didn't look away from the window. The crowd was almost large enough, "(Y/n) isn't my fiancé. She hasn't accepted my hand yet."

"Not according to her, your highness."

Caspian's wide eyes snapped to the guard, who nodded in affirmation. Within moments, Caspian was out of the room and running to greet you. He enveloped you in his arms, overflowing with ecstasy, "Darling!"

"Caspian, this is insane." You said, more than shocked at his cheery mood over the execution.

"I was expecting a happier greeting, but no matter."

"You can't kill an innocent man!"

"(Y/n), He is a dangerous criminal and cannot be spared."

"But he has done nothing wrong!"

"He is the Thief. He has done everything wrong." Caspian insisted loudly, "If I kill off the leader, the entire rebellion will lose its momentum."

"He is innocent! I know he is!"

"(Y/n), I know how upsetting it must be to find out that your friend was lying all this time-"

"No." You pushed back, stepping away from the tyrant. This wouldn't get you anywhere. When has Caspian ever released an innocent commoner?

You turned to leave, to find another way to save Damien.

Caspian caught your arm, "Darling, where are you going?"

"Out. Away from you." You said. He didn't deserve an excuse.

"Hmm." Caspian stared at you skeptically, before nodding to some guards and turning towards the large balcony.

"What- Hey!" Two guards held your arms and prevented you from moving, "Caspian! What is this? Caspian!"

But Caspian couldn't hear you over the screaming crowd in front of him. He advanced onto the large balcony. Mercenaries moved through the crowd to silence the few protestors. There was no reason for this to be a scene.

Damien was in front of him, tied up and small beneath him. Pitiful, exactly as Caspian thought he should be.

You, on the other hand, struggled so fiercely against your captors that two more guards had to step in, the four completely outnumbering you.

"My loyal subjects, for far too long this Thief has plagued us. Today is his last." Caspian drew his bejeweled sword, one far too beautiful for an execution, "Any final words, Thief?"

Damien remained silent, the gag over the desperate prisoner's mouth preventing any noise.

"Yeah, just a few." Verdant jumped onto the balcony railing from above. Or you assumed it was Verdant, the mask and cape lending you no favors. He had a common sword, made of cheap metal without much time or effort, but sharp just the same.

Caspian moved first, aiming at Verdant's face. Verdant lurched back, the blade mere inches from his nose. But he was left off-balance, his back against the stone railing of the overlook.

"Surrender now, Thief." Caspian boomed.

"The Revolution never surrenders!" your friend declared, his eyes glinting with determination. It was a game of level-headedness, and Caspian was losing. Verdant took a handful of dust beneath him and aimed for the King's eyes, a dirty trick. Caspian deflected it with the back of his sleeve, giving Verdant enough time to circle his opponent.

"Do you have ANY idea how close you are to death?" Caspian said, spinning around to glare at his opponent.

"I'm always close to death. It's kinda the point." Verdant, now with the advantageous position, lunged at him. Surprised by the speed of the attack, Caspian was nonetheless prepared and deflected the blow. He growled in frustration. The tyrant had hoped for a quick resolution.

Caspian jumped forward, slashing at Verdant's hand and forcing him to drop the sword. Verdant gaped in shock at his bloodied hand. A little finger dropped to the ground, red and bleeding. Without a moment of hesitation, Caspian slashed at his vulnerable opponent.

You felt like you were outside yourself, watching a nightmare come to life. You forced your head to look away when Caspian moved, but you couldn't protect yourself from the sickening thud that Verdant's head made as Caspian sliced it clean off.

Damien was nowhere to be seen, but Caspian couldn't care as he held his opponent's head over the side of the balcony to declare his victory. The mask plummeted into the crowd below.

The people below roared with a thousand emotions, some good, some bad, but to all of them the symbol of the revolution was dead--and the only family you had left.