Fit For a King <Lashton>

17; Paisley

L U K E

Ashton sat quietly beside me on the log near my small fire and watched as I slowly turned the spit as not to burn the rabbit. Burnt rabbit is utterly repulsive and not even the peasants with even littler amounts of food than my family had would eat it if they succeeded in catching one.

The silence became disturbingly awkward after a short while so I began to hum a tune that mother used to sing to us on stormy nights to take our minds off the wind rushing through the small house and the rain seeping through the straw. We had it rough. So the way I had spoken to her earlier saddened me. She had done so much to raise me yet I treated her with such hate. I am such a bad son. 

"Luke?" Came Ashton's quiet voice from beside me. I turned to look at him. 

"Yes Prince Ashton?" I asked tauntingly. Although he could lock me away it was worth a try to see if it would make him leave. 

"Would you... Would you be able to show me around the town?" He asked. 

"It's yours. You should already know your way back." I replied sharply and removed the rabbit from the spit. 

"No, I mean from your eyes. How you see it." He concluded. 

"Why not... On one condition though." I said.

"Of course, what will it be?" He asked eagerly. "You live like us peasants for the day properly." I told him. 

"I must eat the rabbit mustn't I?" He asked worriedly. 

"Yes you must." I smirked and tore off a rabbit leg and handed it to him. He daintily took it from me and began to nibble at the limb as I ate another. 

"This isn't actually that bad." Ashton said once he had finished. 

"Have another." I told him. So he did. The sun was only a little higher in the sky once we were done. I splashed water over the fire and threw the spit into the river. 

"Come here, we must make your clothes and face dirtier. You are simply too clean to be a peasant." I said and stepped over to the muddy river banks. The prince stood silently as I rubbed mud onto his clothes, face and hair. He looked like a real peasant and I almost could not recognise him to be the prince of Solaris.

"I do not like this Luke." Ashton complained as we walked across the meadow. "My feet are sore and these roots are not helping." 

"You asked to be shown around as a peasant. So, you must deal with this." I said sternly. "Yes Luke." He sighed. 

"I am sorry for complaining. I just do not understand how you walk around with your feet bare."

"I have never had shoes and wearing them at the palace felt odd and unwelcome. So I did not wear them when the chance was given." I replied. "We can take Sparrow if you would like." I offered and lead him to where the mare stood. 

"If that is okay." He said hopefully. 

"Why not? It would be quicker." I helped him up onto Sparrow's back before climbing up after. I sat with him behind me. "Keep your arms around me, we do not want you falling off." I joked.

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The sun was sinking lower and lower in the sky when I was finished showing the prince around. We had been everywhere but the area my old family's home was. I could not go there. I could not see the disappointment on their faces and have another encounter like the one with mother. I could not put the prince through that. It would not be fair. But he had other plans. 

"We have not been down there." Ashton said and pointed to the path towards my home. "Shall we go?" He asked. 

"No, we will not." I said and urged Sparrow to walk on and I lead her away. 

"Luke!?" A familiar voice called out from behind. Lucinda. I could not face her so I urged my horse on faster to get away. 

"Slow down Luke, I cannot hold on properly." Ashton panicked behind me so I slowed down again. "Whatever could be the matter?" He asked. 

"That was my sister." I replied sadly. 

"Could I meet her?" He asked. 

"No. I am not welcome there." I said and we went back to the woods. Ashton went quiet again as we reached the spot where he had seen mother and I fighting. I climbed from Sparrow's back and helped him down almost immediately. 

"Thank you, Luke." He told me. 

"You are very welcome." I replied. We were quiet for a while again until Ashton spoke up. 

"I do not think I wish to marry a princess." He said. "Mother said to Faye and I this morning that she married father and he was a peasant. But I do not think that they would want me to marry the peasant I have not stopped thinking about." His voice was quiet and saddened. 

"Whatever do you mean?" I asked. "I do not wish to marry a woman I believe." He said. 

"Then who on earth would you marry?" I was awfully confused. 

"I think I wish to marry a man." Ashton was quiet and sounded ashamed. "But I do not think mother and father would agree, or the man I believe I have fallen for." 

"I think that you should go with what your heart tells you." I told him and wrapped a comforting arm around his smaller frame. "You can love whoever it is you want to love. It is your life after all. You should spend it with who you want to spend it with. Whether it be a man or a woman."

"Thank you Luke." He sighed and nuzzled his cheek against my shoulder. "Will you be attending the ball?" He asked. Ashton's hazel eyes shine hopefully as he stared into my own blue ones. 

"Yes, I do believe I am. I have heard that the food in the palace is to die for." I chuckled and nudged him. 

"Good, I look forward to seeing you there. Do not be frightened to approach me. You know very well that I do not bite." He said and stood up. "I must return home, mother will start to wonder about me." 

"Good bye for now Prince Ashton." I said, standing up with him. After hesitating for a moment I pressed a soft kiss to his cheek. My own flared with embarrassment as he walked away. He must think I am odd for kissing his cheek. But he did say that he wished to marry a man not a woman so he could not have hated it. I laid down in the long grass and sighed quietly. 

I wondered as the moon began to rise who this peasant man that Ashton wishes to marry is. I could only wish that it would be myself, but alas, I am not fit for a king...

//BOOOOOM!!

 It's the last chapter before the ball so heads up. I'm excited so hope you fellas enjoyed the fully Lashton chapter and princes confession... 

Peace out Girl Scouts, I'll see you on the flip side! xx