Uneasy Alliance (A Roleslaying with Roman story)

The Father

Roman fidgeted with his hands nervously, staring at a point on the wall across from him. The room he had been ushered into wasn't unlike Youngblood and Noise's dorm room, but seemed to be ever so slightly more comfortable. Roman laid down on the soft, cool bed, pondering what to do next and worrying about his friends.

He jolted upright and drew his sword as the king opened the door and walked in. He tilted his head as he looked over Roman's sword with a smile.

"Well, Riker actually trusted you to carry his sword? He must have a lot of faith in you, he was practically stretched to it when we were your age," he started conversationally, sitting on the bed across from the one Roman had been laying on.

Roman cautiously sheathed the sword and sat back down. "I.. thank you..?"

The king smiled and nodded, looking him over again. "I'm sure he never told you about me."

Roman shook his head, not making eye contact with him. "N-no, he didn't... but I read about you in my mom's journal. It's, um.. Remus, right? She said you and my dad were really close.."

He met Remus' eyes and immediately tensed. The king's gaze had sharpened at the mention of Roman's mother and his own name, but he hadn't let anything else change. "..that's correct. Your father and I were extremely close. Almost close enough. Then Cassandra had to come in and ruin what we had."

For the first time, his smile faded. His expression twisted into a scowl, and paired with his injuries and the hair unevenly framing his face, it made him look much older and more bitter than he had seemed. He looked back up at Roman and immediately fixed himself up.

"Anyways, that's sort of what I wanted to talk with you about."

Roman took a while to acknowledge him, his ears still ringing with the name of his mother. Cassandra. That was a beautiful name. He wondered why he had never heard it mentioned by his father-

"Ahem."

Roman jolted and looked back up at Remus, who was watching him expectantly.

"O-oh, right.. sorry.."

Remus chuckled softly and patted him. "I just wanted to ask where your father is, dear."

Roman hesitated for a long while, thinking about all of the horrible things Youngblood and Noise had told him about the king. "I.. I don't want to endanger my village.."

Remus scoffed, but his smile stayed present. "No one will be in danger, my dear, I only wish to speak with him."

Roman bit his tongue to hold back an argument, instead trying to think. He knew that refusing the king would likely have bad repercussions, but he didn't just want to give away the location of his home. He sighed and sat up straighter. If there was only one thing in the world he wanted, it was to keep the people he loved safe.

"I'm sorry, but I don't trust you enough to tell you that. And I don't think my father would want me to either."

</p>

<p>Roman noticed a muscle in Remus' jaw tense, but the king gave no further indication that he was upset by what he had said.</p>

<p>"Fine. I will show you around the castle in the morning, it is where you will be staying until further notice."

Roman looked up at him in alarm as he stood, going to the door.

"W-wait! Where are my friends?"

The king hesitated as he put his hand on the doorknob, his eyes fixed on one spot on the door. After a long silence, he opened the door and stepped out.

"Good night, my dear."

Roman's heart sank as he heard the lock click into place.</p>