Crankiplier One Shots

I'd Give Up A Crown For You (Part 4)

The long and painful hours stretched on until the night sky took away the days light. Their hadn't been so much as a flutter from those beautiful eyes of his. I stared at the reflecting candle light bouncing off of him as my fingers curled around the sheets. God I would do anything for him to wake up. We don't even have to be together. I'll live if he wants nothing to do with me anymore. I doubt he does after what I've done. He doesn't even have to stay here. He could leave the kingdom. As long as he's okay. That's all that matters to me anymore. I just need him to wake up.

I ended up falling asleep by his side with my head buried in my arms over the tear stained sheets. I only awoke when a loud crash startled me. I shot up in my seat to see a nurse scrambling to pick up tools and a metal tray she had tipped over.

"My deepest apologies your majesty!" She whispered softly.

"It's quiet alright" I assured her. I stood from my chair and helped her pick up the tools. She paused for a moment or two, seemingly double checking if I was indeed royalty.

"Y-you don't have to help" she said.

"It's fine" I insisted. "I don't mind".

"We'll...thank you" she said smiling. I nodded as I handed her the last of the medical supplies. She took the tray over to the sink.  "I'm sorry again for disturbing you".

"It's okay" I said sitting back in my chair with a sigh. "Have you or the doctor notice any changes?"

"I'm afraid not, your highness" she said ringing out a warm wash cloth. I sunk lower in my seat. Every minute that passed diminished any hope of him getting better.

I held his hand with both my own. "Do you think he'll ever wake up?" I asked as the nurse started to carefully remove Ethan's bandages. I winced upon seeing the old blood that had stained the bandages and had to look away.

"Well, I sure hope so" she said softly. "He's obviously very special to his majesty".

I looked down at Ethan's pale hand and rubbed my thumb over his soft skin. "He is" I whispered. "He's the best friend I ever had. No one is more special to me".

"Not even your parents?" The nurse said before immediately covering her mouth. "Oh, I'm so sorry- I didn't mean to speak ill of the Queen and late King. I just-"

I couldn't help but to let a bitter felt chuckle escape me. "It's alright" I said. "Having any remorse for my...parents, is quiet honestly a joke. I've never considered them to be my family. Ethan...has always been my family".

"Oh..." she smiled softly. "I'm glad you've found someone like him. It sounds like you two are very close. I wish you both plenty of happinesses for the years to come".

I looked up at her a little fearful. Did...she know? Fuck. Of course she did. Why wouldn't she? I've been by his bedside the entire day, holding his hand. I wouldn't be surprised if everyone in the palace suspected it by now. What was I thinking?
I wasn't! I mean, I could care less at this point if people wanted to start spreading the secret around that I like guys. But what about Ethan? He could be put in prison. Or even executed!

"Don't worry" the nurse said as if she was reading my thoughts. "Your secret is safe with me".

I let out a sigh and rubbed the back of my neck. "Okay. You caught me. Fuck".

"You have nothing to worry about your highness, i promise you I won't tell a soul-"

"That doesn't mean other people don't probably already know by now" I said standing up and running my hands down my face. "I wasn't thinking. I just wanted to be with him".

"That's understandable" she said. "Look, I'm certain that even if people suspected it they'd be too afraid to accuse 'the future king".

"Yeah, maybe, but what about him? It's not safe here for...people like us. At all..." I began pacing the room as my thoughts started to race.

"Has his majesty ever considered...finding home elsewhere?" The nurse asked.

I sighed heavily. "Ethan has actually. That's how this whole thing happened. He wanted to run away with me. And I-" I choked back a sob. " I refused. I was too much of a fucking coward. And now he's going to die because of me, one way or another!" I fell to my knees as tears ran down my face. The nurse slowly walked closer and kneeled down by my side. She placed a hand on my shoulder. I looked up at her. "He can't be here" I whispered between my cries. "I need to get him out of here".

"Why don't you two do what he suggested in the first place?" She asked.

I shook my head. "What if he doesn't want me around anymore? What if the kingdom goes after us? What if the other kingdom does because I ditched the wedding?!"

She smiled warmly at me. "Well...There's one thing you don't have to worry about. I'm sure the princess will understand".

"How do...How do you know that?" I asked.

She rose to her feet and bowed like royalty. "Princess Amy stands before you, your highness".

My eyes widened. "You...you're the princess?!"

She hushed me and looked around. "Tell the whole kingdom won't ya?" She whispered while trying to hold back a laugh.

"You're princess Amy?" I questioned again.

"Yes"

"I don't- I don't understand. Why dress up as nurse and sneak all the way over here?"

"Well, to be honest, I had to see what you were like. No way in hell was I going to marry some snob, or creep. But...you seem like a good person. Too bad you're already taken" she giggled. I smiled and laughed a little myself feeling a little relieved. "As for your other issues," she continued, "I can't speak for Ethan, and I can't promise you two will always be safe but...if Ethan awakes and wants you to join him, I do own a private spot of land. It's big, has plenty of resources, it's hidden, there's even a small cabin built there from when I had people there before".

My eyes darted between hers in disbelief. "You...you'd do all that for us?"

"Of course. Consider me your guardian Angel" she giggled. "It's really no problem. As far as the rest of the kingdom knows it's my 'vacation resort', but I've always used it to help people who needed a home, or a place to hide. No one's stayed longer than a few months to a year, but you're more than welcome to stay as long as you need to".

I didn't say anything at first. Tears blurred my vision and I engulfed her in a tight hug. "Thank you!" I cried out. "Thank you so much! I-I don't know how to ever repay you!"

"Don't worry about it" Amy said hugging me back. "Although I might ask you to watch some of my horses for me. They love being there".

"Deal!" I easily agreed. I pulled away smiling. "You have no idea how much this means to me. E-even if Ethan doesn't want anything to do with me anymore, I'll be relieved knowing he's in a safe spot".
I turned around to face my beloved, still in a deep slumber. My smile faded. "I don't what I'll do if he doesn't make it" I whispered. Princess Amy placed a hand on my shoulder. "What do we do until then?"

Amy smiled. "You marry me". I looked at her a bit confused and she laughed. "No, no, we get 'married', and we send Ethan to the safe spot. I'll have my men take him there by ship, they'll explain everything to him. Then, you leave just a day or two after him...if he wishes you to. I'll be Queen by then, I'll be in charge of the search party so obviously, they'll never go where you are".

I looked at her a bit shocked. "Are...are you sure about all of this?"

She nodded. "Mark, I've been trained my whole life to rule some day. I'm ready for this. I'm ready to start making a difference. I'll be the rule decider. It's time this world start to change for the better".

I smiled at her. "You'll make a good Queen, Amy".

TBC