The Last Midnight

Chapter Twenty-Five: "The Stars"

Drizella nearly pulled Matt's arm off as she pulled him toward his mother's horse. Quickly swinging up into the horse's bare back by using a fence, she held out a hand to him to help him up. Taking her hand, he let her pull him up behind her. Quincy rushed toward his horse, swinging up into the saddle before telling them seriously. "If we don't want the Baronet to bolt from the party before I can convince the guards to arrest him, then you might have to cause a distraction." Drizella turned the horse to start trotting toward the road, while asking Quincy in return. "How do we do that?" Quincy trotted alongside them, his glace drifting back to look at Matt. Gawking at him, Matt blurted out. "ME? What can I do?" Quincy shrugged a little, promptly replying. "You can dress up for the part, right?" Matt's face paled, his voice shaking a bit when he scolded Drizella lightly. "You told him?" Drizella winced, answering honestly. "Yes. I'm sorry. But I had no other choice. I needed his help, and he blew off guard duty for this." Matt wanted to be mad, but he was grateful that he had been rescued. Sighing, Matt shook his head and told Quincy reluctantly. "I don't think I can do that..."

Quincy smirked, telling him openly. "You can. By just you showing up it will be enough of a distraction for everyone and the prince. I just need you to buy me time so that I can find and talk to Captain Charles. Even if Charles losses sight of the prince, the prince will find YOU. You'll be able to tell him. He'll be waiting for you." Matt shook his head more, blurting out to Quincy seriously. "No. I can't. The Baron and the Baronet know who I am! If they see me... I don't know what will happen. I could be putting the prince in more danger!" Quincy looked at him firmly, when he retorted bluntly. "If you don't go. You let the Baron and the Baronet win. The prince is already in danger. You know what he's like. You know what he has to do tonight... If you don't show tonight. What do you think he's going to do?" Matthew lowered his eyes from him, mumbling out mostly to himself. "Nate will be crushed... He'll... He'll isolate himself." Quincy nodded, then told Drizella confidently. "Take him home. Dress him. I'll meet you at the castle."

Back at the castle, Nathan stood in the center of the garden maze. His insides felt like a swirling storm, until the only emotion he could feel was a mix of nervousness and anxiety. Putting a hand on the stone mother dragon's nose, he tried to take deep breaths. He had until midnight to choose his bride, or his father would choose one for him. He couldn't prove that Matt was who he said he was, but his mother had taken it upon herself to look into the matter personally. He could only hope that she found something, but the thought of trying to explain any of it to his dad was... just making him feel overwhelmed. The soft thuds and clinking of armor, made him turn slightly to look at the entryway to the center of the garden. After a moment of two, his father stepped into view and waved off his guards. His stony expression softening once he stepped out of their view. Staying by the entryway though, his father asked him curiously. "You wanted to speak with me?" Nathan nodded meekly, turning back to face the statue before answering in a slightly timid tone. "Yes, Father. I... wanted to talk to you about tonight." His dad exhaled slowly, strolling farther into the garden as he said casually. "You're worried about tonight. More specifically, my part in it?"

Nathan couldn't bare to really look at his father. It was slightly worrying that his father had asked him to straighten up and speak clearly to him. His hold on the statue's nose tightened as he leaned against it like it would protect him. All he could manage was a nod in return. His father stopped by a young dragon spewing water into the pond to place a gentle hand upon its head. Then with another sigh, his father told him gently. "I know I'm hard on you. It's because I'm... worried about you. I wouldn't press you so hard, if I was confident that you were ready. I wasn't ready to be king... I'm trying to spare you the pain and mistakes that I endured during my early reign." He watched his dad pet the little dragon's head soothingly, before adding without looking at him now. "I've tried not to treat you like my dad treated me. I've let you have your space... I've let you pursue music because it seems to make you happy. I just... I don't want you to end up alone and forced to deal with the burdens of this realm. The weight can be unforgiving and backbreaking at times... If not for your mother, I..." Bowing his head, his father turned to face him before telling him seriously. "My parents betrothed me to your mother. I was your age when they died and had no one... I was a young king. Scared of my duties and my new wife that was a stranger to me... but she got me through it. I want that for you."