Fit For a King <Lashton>

Two; Ariana

Remember where you came from. ~Donald Rumsfeld

Ashton's POV

I rubbed my face as I walked through the town. A guard on my left, a guard on my right. Michael's steps matched up with mine and I listened to how proud he sounded, but I could not share the same excitement.

"Are you even listening, Prince?" He asked in annoyance.

"Not at all, squire." I taunted him, we both knew that he was no squire. It was almost if I called him a swine. He scowled at me, I knew exactly what he would say.

"Well let us see what your father has to say to your insults!" He scoffed. "For your information, I could even see myself being at a higher position then you Ashton!"

"Take the throne, I do not wish it." I said, dismissed him with my hand.

"Well, for your information you will lead this kingdom to prosperity." Michael smiled as he gestured to it. "Every Bard, every peasant, and every knight, and every duke! It is all yours to oversee and care for, just as your father has done."

I swallowed hard, my father did not care for his people. He ordered them, they all served under him and there was only so much my mother could do for them. I took a deep breath and kept walking, everyone bowed when I passed them and it seemed to tear out my soul. I almost wanted to tell them to stop bowing at me.

"Tonight you have a dinner with several high class families and their daughters." Michael discussed with me. "Obviously, you has to make no decision before the ball - they simply wanted to meet with you beforehand."

"Oh great, a bunch of girls that want to marry me for I am rich and powerful. Stupid ungrateful strumpets."

"Prince Ashton!" Michael gasped. "How dare you speak of such ladies with such contempt!" Michael sighed, shaking his head and folding his arms. "Let us go, you still have much to do.

I stopped when I saw a man sitting on a crate, shaking his head and rubbing the top of his head. I nudged one of the guards and pointed towards the man. "Does he not look ill to you?"

"He looks nervous, Prince." The guard said to me. "Not ill. He is the town's alchemist, I doubt he becomes engrossed with illness."

I walked over to him and put my hands on my waist and cleared my throat. "Something the matter, dear sir?"

"P-Prince Ashton!?" He jumped up and fell over from the crate he was standing, I smirked and cocked an eyebrow. This was probably the most entertainment I have had all day. "What are you doing in town?"

"Doing what I must." I shrugged as I folded my arms. "What seems to be your troubles?"

He sighed and ran a hand down his face. "Some are just born to be too good, I suppose. Do not worry about it, Prince. Nothing is the matter - I should feel good about helping out the unfortunate."

"Unfortunate, huh?" I asked. I looked around, if you were the market you had money to spend. So I had no idea what he was talking about - I had never gone past this area. Despite my position I barely every left the castle's courtyards.

"Poor boy, said he needed some medicine for his mother - but alas he had not anything to spend on it." He told me.

"I see." I pursed my lips. I reached in my pocket and dropped a small ruby in the mans lap before turning and walking back down the path. Medicine was expensive, and if he was going to be good enough just to give it away - he deserved compensation.

"You already seem like a very good king!" Michael smiled wide as we walked down the path. I wanted to take a dagger and slit his throat with it, but that would never pass with anyone.

I walked back into the castle doors and found myself stumbling upon a large group of people. Everyone and their mother's were here - and that was exactly what was going on.

"Ah, Ashton!" My mother greeted me, she pulled me around the room and introduced me to every young lady in the room. I kissed each of their hands and continued down the line but I had no idea who they were after as I was chatting in a room with about twenty older women and young ladies.

A servant handed me a glass of wine, I smiled and nodded to them and they went on with the work.

"Oh, that is nonsense!" My mother laughed along with the guests. I cocked an eyebrow as she spoke, I was not paying much attention. "Oh we have been so short-handed lately after that scandal in the prior months and we had to say goodbye to such good servants." My mother sighed. "What I would not do for some more good help, would you say Ashton?"

"Of course, dearest Mother." I smiled to her and the ladies seemed to hang on my every word.

"Oh your son has the most pleasant manners, my Queen!" A woman exclaimed.

"I intend to always act as a gentleman." I smiled at her as I took a sip of my wine. It was all a planned and played out like theater. I glanced up and saw a young lady staring directly at me - but she did not glance away once when I caught her staring. Instead, she smiled and I felt my stomach churn but did my best to remain without disgust. Instead I gave a small smile and looked back down at my wine.

I heard the ladies continue to laugh, watching everyone discuss and while I was the center of everyone's attention I was certainty left out of the group as they all discussed one another. It would not be long before the ball and I knew that all of these ladies would be there. But it left me feeling ill. I folded my arms just thinking about it - marriage. It was not a fate that I would share with any woman.

AUTHOR'S NOTIFICATION; Ariana

Let's start with some vocabulary:

Strumpet - A female prostitute

Bard - A Musician whom plays and/or sings of the deceased.

Swine - A person who is seen by disgust.

Thank you for reading this, this is the first time that I've done collaboration and I am really excited to see where it goes!

Hugs, Kisses, Cuddles and Serenades xX