The Sovereign and The Sorcerer (Larry Stylinson - L.S.)

Chapter 2

Louis woke up from the sound of a key turning in a lock, the metal gate protesting as it was opened.

"You look uncomfortable sleeping there, Sorcerer," the same voice as last night greeted him.

He blinked open his eyes, the prison cell was not drenched in dark anymore, the windows at the top of the ship's walls providing some amount of light.

Rubbing at his mouth with the back of his hand, Louis attempted to glare at the man and failed miserably when he saw him in daylight. Louis wasn't wrong when he took him for a high ranking official, this man seemed regal, someone definitely not belonging at the bottom of the ship, talking to a prisoner.

The man had a patient smile on his face, no angry lines, no rudeness to him. He was built strong and held himself confidently.

He brought his admiration to a stop as the man raised his eyebrows.

"And who is to blame for that?" He asked in return, remembering he had been addressed to.

"Not you, by any means," the man replied, offering the plate as an olive branch, "Want me to test it for poison?"

Louis couldn't help the small smile breaking at his lips, "I'll go against my better judgement and trust you."

The man looked pleased, "Ah, so you can be nice to people."

He rolled his eyes, concentrating on his food, "Don't make me regret it."

The man watched him silently and Louis tried not to let it phase him.

"I would offer you a room on the deck, but the other crew members are wary of you, and rightfully so. You are from enemy lands originally, afterall."

"I did not assume that I would be given any hospitality," he shrugged, "You can let your consciousness rest."

"Nonetheless, I can offer to have a cot brought down here, a mattress, sheets and pillows," the man supplied.

Louis eyed him warily, "Your kindness does make me question your intentions."

"Hasn't anyone been kind to you before? This is the bare minimum."

"I wouldn't say I have had the privilege of receiving kindness."

"And yet you were seen healing troops of soldiers without a thought to your own safety."

"A moment of wrecklessness," Louis muttered, "It lead me to be a prisoner, didn't much work in my favour."

The man lapsed in another silence and Louis went back to finishing the food on his plate.

"In our lands Sorcerers are considered noblefolk, we have high regard and respect for them. Keeping you here as a prisoner, in chains, it pains us all, it is against our code of ethics," the man spoke at last.

"What use do you have of me?" Louis asked as he returned the plate, seeing as the man still stood there. "If you have Sorcerers there, and you don't degrade them, what do you need me for?"

"We haven't had a healer in ages, the last Maester was born three generations back, and when we came to know of your abilities, well, we couldn't have left you in a place that disregards such a gift," the man said the last part ashamed, as if he couldn't believe that Louis' people considered him an outcast.

"So, you are doing this for my well being?" He raised his eyebrows, holding up his bound wrists.

The man's dour mood lifted, a smile forming at his face, "As I said, you're still to prove your loyalty. Your first plan after being is released is to kill me. Pardon me if I insist on keeping you in handcuffs."

"You speak with a regal tongue," Louis noted, "Impeccable manners, and still you do the measly job of feeding a prisoner. Why?"

"It is hardly a measly job, Sorcerer. It is an honour to be of any service to you. I volunteered to be the one to look after your stay, and there were a lot of contenders. I consider myself lucky to be given this opportunity," the man's answer was honest, Louis would have known if he were lying. His ability provided him the benefit of hearing anyone's heartbeat, and the man's heart didn't falter once. He hadn't yet lied to Louis.

"I might regret saying this, but I'm glad it is you who comes down here," he smiled again, quite pleased with how the man seemed delighted with his reaction.

"I'm happy to know that, Sorcerer," the man bowed, "Now, I must take your leave. I'll see you at dinner time."

Louis watched him lock and leave again, he slouched against the wall and considered the situation. He definitely felt better about it compared to the previous day. These people apparently weren't vile, they respected those of his kind, and there were more people like him in that foreign land.

They needed a healer. Louis could tell it wasn't merely for the lack of having one in the kingdom, they actually were in need of one. A sickness then. But affecting whom? Not the whole nation, or else they would have lost the war due to lack of resources. Someone of importance, most likely, suffering from an illness unable to be treated by medicines or other Sorcerers.

Sorcerers other than healers could still brew potions for most ailments, so it wasn't a normally occurring illness. A rare disease, affecting more than one part of the body. Something that couldn't be diagnosed without full knowledge of the human body.

He would have to see for himself before he could decipher more about the ailment.

He could figure out who was suffering, anyone who put a little thought to it could come to the conclusion. He was being taken in a Royal Navy ship, so it wasn't a rich merchant, or a socialite, it was a member of the Royal family. The King had been at the war fronts recently, so it wasn't him, and the Prince was talked about often enough to rule him out as well.

It was the Queen. News about her had been near to none in the past year. It had to be the Queen.

If he could cure her, then maybe he would be granted his freedom. He had to cure her, he had to prove what he was capable of. For too long he had kept his powers to himself, letting others push him as they wished. He wanted to treat her. If these people were actually kind-hearted, Louis would help them.

He closed his eyes again, letting his mother's lullaby drift him.

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