Fit For a King <Lashton>

Eight; Ariana

A rich man is nothing but a poor man with money. ~W. C. Fields

Ashton's POV

It was meeting after meeting after meeting. For the first time tonight, I did something that I was clearly not allowed to do - especially after the last time I did it - but I would anyways. To get away from everyone, to get out in the moonlight and more importantly; away from Leona. 

I did not dislike her or anything, but she hung on me and made everything feel wishy-washy. So I took a deep breath and sighed. 

I filled up a pouch with clothing and slipped out of my room, sliding through the hallways until I reached outside the castle. For some reason I was always able to slip past the guards. No one else could, but I guess I was just that stealthy. 

When I reached the outside walls of the castle, I took out the raggedy sack-like clothing and changed behind a tree. I had an old-looking cloak and wrapped it around my neck and put it over my head. Slipping off my shoes, I looked like a regular old beggar. That was what I aimed for. No one ever paid attention to me.

I had been caught once before - after being beaten to a pulp - when my parents found out they were furious. Wondering why I would ever desire to give up such a glamorous life. 

I let out a sigh as I limped slightly on the pebbles I stepped on, I was so accustomed to wearing shoes it felt weird to not be. 

The wind was blowing harshly, so I did my best to hold the hood of my cloak to my head. After all, if anyone saw my face they might recognize me. That would do no good for me. 

I wandered around until I reached where most of the shack-like houses were. We actually demanded tithes for these. I walked around, this was not the first time I had been down here. I aimed to change these when I was King, but honestly I had no idea what to do. Or even if I would be King, right now I did not want to be. 

I looked around, and I could hear what sounded like someone crying off in the distance. I was so well off, it was unfair. I had anything I could ever hope for, but then again - I had nothing. I was lonely with my wealth, worthless with my power. It was one of the most excruciating concepts to me. 

I could hear the clip-clops of a horse in the distance, and I could hear the movement of pebbles beneath my feet as the crickets played their lovely tones to match with the owls harmonies. 

It was much different out here. Much more peaceful and everything was greater to me. 

I walked until I reached a set of trees, to which I stepped into the thicket. I knew exactly where I was and that soon I would reach the border of this town and travel into the next. If I had walked until sunrise, I may have just reached outside of the kingdom entirely. Although, I knew if I did that, I would die. 

But I did not walk until sunrise. In fact, I stopped and sat down on a rotting log, letting out a sigh as I wiggled around my cold toes. 

I felt idiotic, I had no reason to feel miserable. Yet I did, at least with peasants like Luke he actually had a family, and one that cared about him. Maybe I could consider Leona my friend, if she was not so obsessed with combining our kingdoms. She was always about the game-side of running these worlds. 

I held my arms tightly to myself as I slid off of the log and onto the ground, laying my head in the grass. I always had a feeling that living this way must be better than my life, but maybe that was ridiculous. After all, how could you complain about being Prince? Especially one that many commonfolk enjoy. 

Then maybe, it was the moon that was staring down at me that made me anxious. Knowing that in a short time my fate would be decided, and I had to face it whether or not I wanted to.

Broken out of my thoughts by the sound of a scream I sat up quickly. I then got off of the ground and sneaked towards where the noise came from. Peaking around a bush I could see a young lady lying face down in the dirt, I felt like I recognized her, but I had no idea from where. You could see the blood pooling out of her, just another common folk to die, I suppose. The two men standing above her did nothing and walked away. 

I slunk away from the body, and thought they should be grateful to be dead. This world is full of crooks, thieves. Every soul seems to be dark and the light ones are crushed in an instance. 

I wanted to stay out here forever, I really did. I wanted to lay down in the dark grass and close my eyes and be able to sleep for a thousand years. Maybe when I would wake up I would have my own "Happily-Ever After" or maybe I am being ridiculous, and the whole situation is pointless. 

I thought about it for a while, but why would I ever return to the castle? Who needed me there? Yes I was the heir to the throne, but anyone could inherit that. In fact, I would love to give it to someone else. Maybe they really should just combine with Riverin. It would save us all a lot of trouble and I would never have to be King. Leona would find her Prince and it would not be me. But she would seek to conquer and destroy. Damn she would do it too.

I try not to dwell on it too much and enjoy the nights that I am allowed to sleep out in the grass alone. The burlap-sack clothing I was wearing was itchy, but it was the most comforting clothing I ever wore. I would do anything, to be here forever without a care in the world. And so, I fell asleep, and hoped tomorrow I would make sense of the chaos. 

AUTHOR'S NOTIFICATION; Ariana

Hey guys there is not one section of dialogue in this entire chapter. That's really weird for me but I really liked writing this even if it is kind of bad. But yeah =3 

Hugs, Kisses, Cuddles and Serenades xX