𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐁𝐈𝐃𝐃𝐄𝐍 𝐅𝐑𝐔𝐈𝐓

𝕳𝖊𝖎𝖗 𝕺𝖋 𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝕱𝖔𝖔𝖑

Weeks later...

"Your majesty!" Magnus came storming into the palace. 

"Yes?" The king sipped his tea calmly.

"Where's my son?" Magnus crossed his arms.

"However, am I supposed to know?" The king shrugged.

"Arthur, he had been acting strange since he came back from  a talk with you," he huffed. "What did you do?"

"I did nothing? We just played chess and talked," he shrugged.

"Talked how?" Magnus questioned.

"I gave him a little advise," Arthur stamped a piece of paper.

"It wasn't something about running away I hope?" Magnus poked his tongue into his cheek. 

"I'd say it was more like, becoming one with nature," he grinned.

"You really will be the death of me," Magnus groaned. "Odette is going to kill me."

"Yeah, she might," Arthur chuckled.

"You and these stupid games!" Magnus yelled, "if my son is dead it's on your hands!"

"I take full responsibility for the disappearance of Sirus Luneth," he placed a hand on his heart, grinning. "Is that what you wanted to hear? I'll send a letter to Odette so she can cool down."

"You could've at least told us,"Magnus huffed.

"Where's the fun in that?"Arthur began writing.

Meanwhile, in the distant lands, where neither vampires or humans resided, was Sirus. Finally all alone, he had been given the chance to train in the middle of nowhere. Obviously, it was a plot of land the king owned, but the possibilities were endless. 

He could feel the earth beneath his feet, the wind on his skin. The voices of the forest along with the scent of life. His own personal heaven. A place where he could forget the responsibilities, forget about that girl and make mistakes. He felt free.

Giggling, he raced through the trees. It didn't matter where he was going, just the idea he could go anywhere was liberating. Laying onto the ground, he stared up at the sky.

"Thank you," he whispered, shutting his eyes.

That night...

"You see Sirus, I'm in a little bit of a pickle too you see," he moved his pawn. "You see my wife fell into slumber before we could create an heir."

"So you want me to be an heir?" Sirus moved a pawn.

"Yes and no," he moved his bishop. "I need a decoy, you shall be my fill in heir until an heir is produced."

"When will she wake up?" Sirus asked, moving his knight.

There's not an exact date, but I can tell. I'm close. Very close to awaking.

"She sometimes can hear us with her physical body," the king grinned, moving his knight.

"What about the girl?" Sirus moved his knight.

"She'll probably settle for an engagement and ask for time," the king sighed. "She's one to never get wrapped in my nonsense, far too clever." He moved his night. "Perfect for you."

"Would I have to marry her?"Sirus questioned, moving his pawn.

"If you'd like," the king shrugged. "But your father is right, you could suffer greatly if you break the bond." He moved another pawn. "She's lovely girl, I'm sure you two would be a fine couple."

" I know but isn't there away we can both live normally," Sirus pleaded, moving a pawn.

"There is," the king stroked his beard. "But it's a bit of a hassle." He took Sirus's pawn.

"What is it?" Sirus took the king's knight.

"I have a plot of land far off, the bond can be weakened between you two," the king moved his pawn.

"So wouldn't it break?" Sirus took the king's bishop.

"No just extremely faint, that some of the powers won't develop," the king took Sirus's knight.

"So the bond won't develop as well if I'm not in contact with her," Sirus beamed, moving his pawn.

"Exactly," the king clicked his fingers, moving an pawn.  "The bond is weakened, she gets you as her fiancé blanket , you get freedom and I have a way to shut the pests up."

"Why don't you just punish them?" Sirus moved his knight.

"It's all about reputation," the king chuckled, moving his rook. "If I killed everyone off, it'd be too easy."

"But your a king, it shouldn't matter," Sirus moved his moved his knight.

"You'd think that,but power in numbers is greater than individual," the king moved his pawn. "If I was a tyrant I'd be overthrown, and those who labour would join in fear."

"So you have to be a good king," Sirus moved his knight.

"Correct," Arthur moved his rook. " But If I'm too good I'd be assassinated, so I have to be just the right balance."

"So enough to keep people in order but to be liked?" Sirus asked, moving an pawn.

"Correct again, you probably won't need to be trained," he laughed, moving his rook. "However, seeing you got attacked, I guess I need to tip the scale a bit."

"So your going to make an example out of them," Sirus moved his bishop.

"Yes, and since it's you, I'd have a reasonable reason to go overboard in the punishment," the king moved his rook.

"So I'm just an trap for them all," Sirus rolled his eyes, taking his pawn.

"Technically, yes," He moved his rook. "I'll slowly sniff out the traitors , whilst raising you as an heir."

"Then reveal me and go for the kill," Sirus took his knight.

"You're get the hold of this already," the king guffawed, moving his queen.

"You really are a sly fox," Sirus laughed, moving his pawn. "I can't believe you've been holding such an act for so long."

"It was not an act but the fools who deceived themselves," he moved his pawn. "I simply acted how I usually do, honest, and they labelled me a fool." 

"But wouldn't the young ladies engagement be seen as a sham if I don't visit?" Sirus moved his pawn.

"You'll write letters, and the gossip of her fiancé should be spreading already," he explained, moving his pawn. "That would last for a week or so until the engagement is announced."

"And then I'd be announced heir?" Sirus moved his pawn.

"And then they'll be buzzing in that and make conspiracies and all that nonsense," he took Sirus's pawn. "I'll then publicly acknowledge you and we shall have a celebration." 

"But-"

"Don't worry you'll only be with her for a couple of seconds," he rested his chin on his fist.

"I'd then go to the plot of land to "train"?" Sirus moved his pawn.

"But you want to leave earlier don't you?" Arthur grinned taking Sirus's pawn. "You can."

"What's the conditions ?" Sirus narrowed his eyes, moving his pawn, now queen.