The Last Midnight

Chapter Three: "A Man Of His Word"

Nathan bowed to his dad, rushing up the steps of the palace. While behind him, he heard his dad state aloud. "Captain Charles. Go with him. Don't let him out of your sight. And don't let anyone see him until he's cleaned up." Stopping before the palace doors, Nathan turned and was about to yell something to his father in response. However, Captain Charles rushed up the steps and raised a hand as he discreetly told him. "Don't. Your highness, if you please? Let's go to your chamber." Nathan pointed at his dad, but Captain Charles politely lowered it and ushered him through the opening doors. Captain Charles nodded to the guards that opened the doors for them, then hastily walked a step or two behind him with a hand to his back to keep him moving. The moment they were out of earshot of the king and his guards. Captain Charles grumbled out quietly over his shoulder to him. "Nathan, you promised you weren't going to do this again." Stopping short in the hall, Nathan told him apologetically in a grim tone. "I know. I'm sorry. I had to get away from here. I wanted to remember that life exists outside this damn fancy bird cage."

Captain Charles rolled his eyes, straightening up as he sighed out. "Well, forgive my pertinence, Highness. But I don't think biting the hand that feeds you grants you much freedom. Often it results in a locked cage. Which is the opposite of what you are trying to achieve. Is it not?" Turning to walk on, Nathan questioned him over his shoulder a bit shortly. "I'm not a wild animal. I'm his son. Though, I'm starting to wonder if he knows the difference since he plans to breed me like his prized hunting dog!" Captain Charles kept pace with him, calmly regaling aloud. "Highness, as a man with two boys of my own. I can tell you that kids and wild animals are practically the same thing. As well as how to deal with them." Grabbing Nathan's arm to stop him nicely, the Captain added as he looked into Nathan's eyes with his honest ones. "Locking them in their room for instance." Nathan locked eyes on him for a moment, before smirking out. "Yes. But a dog doesn't have a window to climb out of." Nathan tried to walk away, but the Captain pulled on his arm to keep him still before telling him bluntly. "Keep this up and you won't have one either. Your father is one argument away from putting bars on it. Then you'll really feel like you're in a cage."

Nathan's shoulders fell as he let that sink in. Giving the Captain a defeated shrug, he asked him a little desperately. "What am I supposed to do? If I obey him, I'm going to be forced to live HIS life. I'll be miserable. By the time he dies, I'll have forgotten who I am and what makes me happy! I'm a prince! But I feel like his prisoner..." Captain Charles let him go, following him to his chambers as he told him honestly. "It's not my place to give you advise on this matter, Sire." Slamming a hand on the door to Nathan's room, Captain Charles very quietly whispered to him. "However... If I'm just speaking to the void. As a father myself. As hard for me as it would be to hear that my boys didn't want the life that I was trying to give them. A life that would set them on a path to a secure future... I wouldn't be opposed to hearing WHY they didn't want it. For me to understand. I would need to know without a doubt what they want to pursue and use those desires for. Deep down. I want my boys to lead happy and healthy lives. I want to see them grow strong because I can't protect them forever. I can only do what I can now. To keep them from making MY mistakes."

Captain Charles lowered his hand from the door, positioning himself up professionally to stand by it, before adding with a light shrug. "I'm no king... but that is how I would see it as a father." Nathan pondered it over. Patting the Captain's shoulder, he uttered out as he entered his room. "Thank you, Captain. You are a good friend to me. I'm sorry about the tavern... I'll send someone to wash that stain out." Captain Charles glanced down at the beer stain on his uniform, before pointing to his blackeye and stating out with a smirk. "Explain this to my wife." Nathan chuckled out while slowly closing the door. "She'll love it. Makes you look very manly. She'll swoon when she hears how big the guy was compared to you." The Captain shot him playfully glare, prompting Nathan to laugh. It had been so long since Captain Charles had been forced to watch over him. It was strange to think about how much he missed him. Captain Charles was only two years older than himself and had grown up in the palace with him. Charles' dad had been the previous Captain of the royal guard until he retired. Having been raised to practically take his place, Charles had never once complained about his position.