Ash Prince

Prologue

A/N: This is my first fanfiction ever, this is how I wish Red Queen went.

Content Warnings: spoilers, physical violence, emotional/phycological child abuse, mental health issues, explicit language, homophobia, torture, war, loss of autonomy, manipulation, classism, sensory triggers, betrayal, family conflict, relationship struggles, imprisonment, pregnancy, intense family dynamics, violent themes, death sentence, powerlessness, deception, neglect, trauma, and desperation.         Emotional distress, manipulation, intense family dynamics, violent themes.

Disclamer: All original characters, specific lines in italics, and the established world are the intellectual property of Victoria Aveyard. This fanfiction is created for entertainment purposes only and no copyright infringement is intended.                                                               None of the chapter art, photos, or videos included belong to me.

A/N: Inspired by Hope by NF

Song Suggestion: Hope (NF)

From his vantage point, Maven bore witness to the unfolding drama playing out like a tragic play, the culmination of their grand design. Yet, as the scenes played out, his eyes betrayed him, moistening ever so slightly. He quickly regained composure, ensuring no emotion tarnished his façade.

Cal's hand shook, reaching forward, pushed along by her will. He tried to resist, struggling with every ounce of strength he had, but it was no use. This was a battle he did not know how to fight. When his hand closed around the gilded sword, pulling it from the sheath at their father's waist, the last piece of the puzzle slipped into place. Tears coursed down his face, steaming against burning-hot skin.

"It's not you," Tiberias said, his eyes on Cal's wretched face. He didn't bother pleading for his life. "I know it's not you, son. This is not your fault."

This was the vision of Maven's destiny, the very path he had so coveted. He thought he would be happy.

Why does this hollowness persist? Maven can't help but wonder.

The events transpiring before him seemed to steadily consume the warmth of his heart, rendering it cold and lifeless. He felt a distance from himself, ensnared in the intricate web woven by his mother, a mere pawn in this treacherous game.

Mare, still chained, looked up at him, her face streaked with tears. "I loved you, I needed you, and now I'm going to die for it." For a second, Maven paused as memories of their secret glances, late nights, and their secret kiss all rushed back to him like a rock to the head.

Love? No that couldn't be, she loves his brother.

Mare's gaze met his, a mixture of sorrow and resignation evident in her depths. "I will never make the mistake of loving you again, Maven Calore," she declared with heartbreaking clarity. That single sentence stroked deeper than any weapon, more piercing than any neglect he had ever felt from his father.

The weight of her words settled heavily on his chest, a crushing pressure. Her voice, once filled with warmth and hope when speaking his name, now carried the cold sting of disillusionment. He could see the walls she was hastily erecting around her heart, walls to keep him out.

The pain was exquisite, sharper than the keenest blade. All the times he had felt overlooked by his father, all those moments of neglect and yearning for acknowledgment, paled in comparison to the raw ache Mare's words ignited within him. He had betrayed so many, so willing to lose so much, and here was the final blow – the loss of someone who had once looked at him with nothing but affection and trust.