Fit For a King <Lashton>

Twelve; Ariana

Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts. ~Charles Dickens

Ashton's POV

My eyes looked at the ground as I could hear Faye and Luke behind me. They were whispering the entire time and I could almost feel my stomach twisting with every word that they said. But every word stopped in a flash. "Ashton? What are you doing?" The three of us turned to see Leona standing behind us in a deep red dress embellished in gold, on her left was Calum. I swallowed hard as she looked at the two. "Ashton?" 

"N-Nothing." I shook my head and she let out a sigh. 

"Wait a second.." Calum said and I could hear a small squeaking noise from either Faye or Luke. Either way, this was not good. So I immediately placed myself between the two of them. "What are you doing? Are you.. Committing treason!? Releasing prisoners, that is my job alone!" 

"You are lucky you still have a job after what you did." I scoffed. "If you will not follow my orders, Calum, I will find other ways to get my way." Calum stood back and pursed his lips. 

Then there was the smile but before he could speak Leona stepped forward, placing a hand on Calum's shoulder. "I think what Ashton did is valiant. Just like a knight should be. If anything Sir Calum you are in the wrong place." 

"You have no power here peasant." Calum scoffed and slapped Leona's hand down. 

I could not help but to laugh when I saw the look on Leona's face. She immediately took him to the ground, slamming him against it. "I swear if you cross me again, my father will call an army to tear you apart limb by limb and then put your head on a stake for the buzzards to pick away at!" Her voice echoed through the corridor, and I smiled. 

"Oh my.." Luke muttered. 

"Leona, that is enough." I chuckled as I lifted her off the ground, Calum was wide eyed, not moving a muscle. He slowly sat up, and just when we thought everything was calm, everything shifted once more as the door opened. 

"Oh my! Is that Luke!" My mother's warm laughter filled the room as she walked towards us. "I remember you! So nice to see you again, my boy." When she reached us she looked, almost shocked to see the condition of Faye and Luke. "You both look ill, are you alright?" 

"They were in the dungeon, My Lady." Calum scoffed as he dusted himself off. 

"Oh?" My mother cocked an eyebrow. "What for?"

"They're thieves." Calum snarled. "And your son, your lovely boy, let them out." 

"Why ever would you do that, Ashton?" My mother asked. 

"You can't treat them that way because they steal food to save their families." I said quietly. "Are you actually going to take Calum's side?"

"He is seeing things in a lawful way." My mother commented. "I am sorry but - "

Then I lost my temper. "You can't be serious right now! Have you seen the way Calum treats them!? The way he treats me with such disrespect!"

"What are you talking about?" My mother's eyes grew wide. "I always was told our dungeons were clean and we fed our prisoners well enough." 

"That is a lie." I snarled. "It's dark, dirty, and I swear I can hear dripping. Calum beats prisoners and when I ordered for their release he locked me in a room and refused my order!" 

"What?" My mother cocked an eyebrow.

"Then he disrespects Leona as if she is nothing, mother I want his head on a post, I want him stoned, I want a public execution!" My voice echoed through the room and my mother put a hand on my shoulder.