Kings [A Medieval AU]

Chapter Sixteen - What Happened After

"So, what happened after you realized I was gone?" Dan asks, leaning on his left hand and watching PJ. The advisor shifts a bit in his chair and folds his fingers together, closing his eyes for a moment.

"Where do I even start? It was such a hectic morning..."

"I'll get you another cup of tea, and then you can start at the beginning. As much as you can," Dan replies. He stands up and takes PJ's empty cup, refilling it with fresh, hot tea. "You must understand that I haven't heard a word from home since that morning. I need something."

"I understand." PJ takes his cup from Dan's hands and sips it thoughtfully. "From the beginning, huh?"

~

The moment he wakes up, PJ knows something is off. He can't really explain how he knows, he just does. Something is wrong and he needs to figure out what it is.

He pulls himself out of bed and gets dressed quickly, heading out into the halls. He hurries down to the throne room, hoping that the squirmy feeling in his stomach is just leftover from a dream that he doesn't remember.

On the floor of the hallway is a Tenebrisian guard, clutching at his stomach and groaning weakly. Two other guards tend to him, his armour lying at their sides as they press a cloth to his stomach.

"It's a minor wound. You should be fine, just stay still," one says, her tone tinged with worry.

"What happened here?" PJ demands, fear bubbling in the pit of his stomach.

"There was an attack last night," the other guard states, glancing over at the advisor. He grits his teeth and clenches his hands into fists. "Go to the throne room. All your questions will be answered."

PJ nods and races towards the throne room, throwing open the doors and stepping inside. There, Adrian stands pale-faced in front of a large group of Divian soldiers and nobles.

"PJ," he squeaks, looking much younger than sixteen when he has multiple blades aimed at him.

"Adrian," PJ replies, watching the Divians as he slowly edges his way to the prince's side. "What is the meaning of this?"

"We have taken your king prisoner and intend to execute him in due time. Surrender your kingdom or suffer the consequences," one nobleman says, stepping forward from the group.

"Over my dead body," Adrian growls, black magic starting to swirl around his hands.

In an instant, his hands are tied behind his back. A Divian lady lowers her hand, blue magic still lingering around her fingers.

"Sorry, love, I wouldn't try that. King Philip made sure to send a relative," she says. "Lady Louise, cousin to the king and representative of his highness."

"Pleasure," Adrian snarls, reminding PJ so much of Dan that it's a little frightening. "I've had enough of jokes. Let my brother go."

"I am afraid that cannot happen, dear," Lady Louise replies.

The door of the throne room opens and Dan's parents stride in, freezing the moment they see the Divians. Dan's mother raises her hands, knocking three guards down before Lady Louise binds her and her husband's hands with her magic. Dan's father fights it, but the moment he does he gets a sword pressed against his throat.

"What are you doing here?" Dan's mother demands. "Where is my eldest son?"

"King Daniel has been taken to Divum to be executed. The kingdom of Divum hereby takes control of Tenebris as a piece of Divian property. We hope for a peaceful takeover with no resistance because we do not wish to shed any blood," Lady Louise states.

"Doesn't everyone wish for a peaceful takeover!? We will not let you have it!" Adrian shouts, lunging forward. A Divian guard grabs the back of his shirt and pulls him in, a sword at his throat.

Dan's mother sucks in a sharp inhale, tears pricking at her eyes. "Execute my son? You wish to execute my son?"

"Such is tradition, madame," Lady Louise says.

"Damn your tradition!" she cries out.

"Emily, Adrian, please calm down," Dan's father snaps. He turns to Lady Louise and clenches his jaw, expression stony. "I, along with my wife, will speak with Lady Louise privately about the conditions of this recent happening. Liguori, Adrian, return to your private quarters until further notice."

Lady Louise nods and the Divian guards relax. The soldier holding Adrian lets him go and he stumbles forward, a scowl on his face. PJ places a hand on his shoulder and leads him out, trying not to let everyone know how badly he's shaking.

"Let me at them, PJ! Let me show them what I'm made of!" Adrian exclaims as soon as the door closes behind them. He lunges towards the door again and PJ catches him, shaking his head.

"Adrian, do as your father told you," he orders. "If you keep fighting back, you won't make it out alive."

Adrian struggles for a second longer before giving up, his head hanging. PJ can hear him sniffling and fighting back tears, but he doesn't bring it up. He knows how much Adrian hates crying, and telling him about it doesn't help.

"They're going to kill my brother. Those... those... MONSTERS... are going to kill my brother!" he cries out, scrubbing his sleeves stubbornly across his eyes. "He didn't do anything and now they're going to just kill him!?"

"I know, Adrian. I know."

"I hate Divum! I'll kill their king one day if it means I can avenge Dan!"

PJ takes hold of his shoulders and meets his eyes. "Adrian, don't say things like that. In Tenebris we strive for peace, and killing others as vengeance won't help anything. Hate doesn't atone for hate."

Adrian nods a little and rubs his eyes, crossing his arms over his chest. "Fine."

PJ straightens up and leads the prince away, fighting back his own grief and fear. Dan is his best friend, and now Dan is going to die. It's not fair. The world just isn't fair at all.

~

"Wow," Dan breathes when PJ stops speaking. "And after that?"

"Conditions were arranged. Lady Louise remained as a representative of Divum. The kingdom mourned you and then anxiously awaited news regarding Adrian and the mark."

"What about my parents?"

"Your mother and Adrian cling to the hope that you're still alive. Your father is a bit more cynical and believes that you died and that the mark was transferred to someone else."

"Of course. That sounds just like him," Dan replies with a small laugh. "Thank you, PJ, for telling me."

The advisor smiles. "You're welcome, Dan."