Captive

Chapter 2

How can the Gods make possible the impossible? Never before has my existence felt hollow, bleak and void of what makes me smile.

"Darius!" Harry bursts into the throne room of his father - a title that's disgraced him since he could suckle.

"Oh Heavens save me now." Darius looks up from the definitely forged map on his lap. "What do you need, son?"

"Do not address me as your son." Harry's green eyes are livid. He has reason to, having not slept these past nights.

"By your tone, I'd imagine that you need my assistance. Yet, here you are throwing around harsh words."

"You do know that I carry more power over your own army than you do? Me coming to you as I am now is a mere formality."

"Hurry this up, Harry. I am drowsy."

Harry would smirk but there was no point in the temporary gratification it would bring. Again, he thinks of his parting with Louis. It wasn't a parting because he wasn't present. He swallows hard, feeling the clenching of his abdomen and twisting of something within to their full degrees.

"You hate the kingdom of Darsh?" Harry asks, chin up and eyes hard.

"Ever since the moment the first King was crowned. Why do you ask me this now?"

"Would you side with me if I chose to invade their land?"

"Every second of the preparation and attack." Darius' eyes light up at this proposition which enabled him to rid this world of one of his enemies. "But wait."

Harry glares at him but awaits the enquiry.

"Your Prince resides there. Would he not be upset to see you burn their shores and bring down their forts?"

Harry's nostrils flare at the by-name of his Louis. Oh how he missed his presence. "He has left." Harry takes two strides up to his father, not bothering to kneel. "Abandoned me, Father."

"And so you believe I would hand command of my warriors to you so that you can carry out a vendetta?"

Harry nods tightly.

"I thought I'd see this day. Tell Liam to prepare the ships! I'll get the declaration signed-"

"No." Harry cuts him off. "I want to take them by surprise. We have the element, why not manipulate it?"

"Well done, my son." The King claps his shoulder. "I will see to it that this is carried to the end. Might I ask-"

"You may not." And with that, Harry shrugged off Darius' hold and stormed out of the grand room feeling no more at ease than he was when he entered.

I want forever with you.

"Brother?" Niall politely - which is an uncharacteristic as it gets for the younger lad - on Louis' door before entering on his own order.
He finds his older sibling hidden beneath layers of the finest cotton around, his flushed and pale face resting on his pillow. Niall had meant to be in the courtyard training soldiers by now, but the detour to Louis' quarters just happened.

Louis is asleep, but for Niall that is a depressing sight. Louis has been sleeping for twenty hours out of the day, he never ate or drank unless Niall force-fed him. He didn't leave his room and the only progress he made, was get sicker. When Father found out he ordered the best medicinal prospector's to come visit, but none had valid reason.
One did say that Louis' pregnancy was taking a toll on his body, he would close his eyes in mere months if he didn't make an attempt to recover. Louis tried, he really did with all the strength he could muster. Being diagnosed at a young age with a terminal condition that caused regular discomfort, was only a bigger obstacle.