The Thorn in My Side

Part 2

 The sunlight glinted off the mirror and into Alex's eyes as the handmaids circled him. They fluffed his hair, curled his lashes and ironed his clothes. He was poked and prodded until the maids were happy with their work. As a final touch, they adorned his head with a crown that barely stayed upright. The young girls stared in awe at the handsome prince, momentarily stunned until they snapped back to reality. Murmurs and giggles spread among them as they gleefully bowed and left the room. Alex paid them no mind, his attention stuck on his reflection.

He eyed the gold stitching against the pure white fabric and the golden crest pinned to his collar. The tailcoat reached just past his knees and was decorated with even more gold designs. The crown was wired in intricate designs, holding sparkling gems and jewels in place.

He stood there inspecting every inch of the fabric until a knock sounded at the door. His father's voice traveled through the woods. "May I speak with you, son?"

When Alex did not answer, Sebastian came in and stood behind him. One would not think twice about them being related, every hair matching the latter. They stood in silence for a few minutes, not exchanging a word. It was Alex who spoke first.

"I'm turning 18 in three hours and I have not once gone beyond that moat." He turned toward his dad. "Father, I know it is for my own well-being and you both only want the best for me, but it has been agonizing sitting at my window and watching all the other children run around freely while I'm bound by a stream of water."

"I know," Sebastian responded.

"If you would just listen to me- Wait, what?" Alex paused in the middle of his sentence.

"I know we have been harsh and ... overprotective. And I'm glad you understand why. You are our only child and we would hate to lose you." Guilt crossed his face for a moment before he straightened out his shoulders. "That's why me and your mother had a long and serious talk about the matter. We decided that from now on you are free to roam the whole kingdom whenever you want. As long as you let us know beforehand and with a few accommodations, of course." A soft yet excited smile crossed Alex's face as he threw his arms around the king.

"Thank you, father." They shared a smile right before there was a second knock at the door. Rosa peeked her head in the door.

"I hate to cut this short, boys, however the guests are ready and waiting." Her smile shined bright against the ruby red of her gown. Sebastian waltzed over and grabbed her by the waist. He mumbled compliment after compliment until Alex got so red, he matched the queen's gown. Once the two left, he took one last glance at the mirror. His eyes did not seem as down as before and his cheeks held the remnants of his smile. He adjusted his tie before following his parents out to the ballroom.

"And I introduce to you, the prince of Ezaelon, the birthday boy, and my beautiful son. Prince Alex Griffin!" Cheers covered the last bit as Alex descended the stairs. The golden ballroom was filled to the brim with nobles and royals from all over Iliria. The bright light from the chandelier practically blinded Alex as he entered the crowd at the bottom of the steps. They created a path, still clapping and wishing him 'Happy Birthday'. After what felt like an hour, Alex reached the raised stage that held three thrones dedicated to him and his parents.

The guests returned to their earlier conversations and drinks. He sat in the smaller of the three thrones, overseeing the festivities. Many nobles came up to him to wish him even more 'Happy Birthdays' and to hand him small goodies. He received baked goods, expensive jewelry, and even a little statuette of himself. He accepted them all humbly until he got tired of sitting.

"Excuse me, I'm going to go get some air." He got up while his parents wished him well. On the way to the back door, many women ran up to him and pronounced their love. He kindly rejected each of them until he was finally free.

The moonlight shone bright over the garden, covering the roses and irises in a magical glow. The pond reflected the night sky perfectly and the water looked so inviting. Alex strolled towards the gazebo. He trailed his fingers along the many different designs, stopping at the crest. It portrayed the head of a ram with golden eyes in front of a gold triangle. Above it was a crown that had two spikes replaced with sails, corresponding to their trading port.

Out of all the kingdoms in Iliria, Ezaelon has the best trade system on the continent. They ship out produce, tools, materials, and the occasional weapon supply, all overseen by the Griffin family. With the strangers that come in and out of the port, they have learned to be very out-going and friendly to anyone they meet. It is also one of the reasons Alex's parents were so protective of him. Strangers from new and different places bring new and different dangers.

Alex continued through all the patterns until he was brought to the side facing the kingdom. He stared through the darkness and saw all the shopkeepers closing their stores, all the nocturnal creatures sprouting from their homes, and two dark figures hiding behind the trees in front of him. He took a deep breath of the fresh night air and-

Wait, Wha- Before Alex could say a word, he was overcome by darkness.