Stephen White and his Huntsman (boyxboy)

Chapter 3

"Father, how far are we going?" Roderick asked his father.

Stephen walked alongside Roderick as they followed his father in the woods. The Queen had ordered him to attend a hunting party with the pair, deciding it was time he did some men's work.

Even though he was perplexed by the command, he was delighted to finally leave the palace in what felt like, been like, forever. And he was even more glad to be given these new garments to wear for the trip.

Now instead of old rags, he wore a white tunic with black trousers, matching boots, a gold buckled belt, and a nice leather satchel.

Roderick, on the other hand, was more perplexed with his father behavior. He had been acting out of character all day, and now here they were wandering further away from their usual hunting grounds.

"The sun is starting to set." Stephen observed, seeing the sun dipped further from the blue sky.

"Exactly." Roderick stopped walking, and Stephen stopped alongside him. "Father? What is going on? You have been acting strange, and it is making me uneasy."

Roderick's father stopped walking. His back turned towards them, he didn't say anything.

"Head Huntsman?" Stephen inquired, concerned.

"Your father was a very kind man to me, Prince Stephen." the Head Huntsman began. Stephen widened his eyes at the mention of his father.

"Father?" Roderick was now confused.

"He was a dear friend to me, and I look at him like a brother - that, that is why . . . I cannot go through with this."

"Go through with what?" Stephen inquired.

The Head Huntsman finally turned around to face them.

Tears were dripping down his face.

"I can not go through with killing you my Highness." His voice wobbled.

"What?" Stephen and Roderick said at the same time, astonished by the Huntsman display of emotions and shocked at his words.

"The Queen had ordered me to kill you in these woods yesterday. That is why she had you come out here in the pretense of going out on a hunting party." The Huntsman explained, no longer crying.

"And you were thinking of going through with it," Roderick demanded, stepping in front of Stephen in a protective stance.

"No." His father answered, wiping his eyes. "That is why I brought the two of you out here."

"What do you mean?" Stephen questioned.

The Head Huntsman took a deep breath before looking straight at the two young men.

"You must flee your Highness."

"Flee?" Stephen repeated.

"Yes, flee. Go as far away from this wretched land. Go somewhere where the Queen cannot find you." Then turning to his son, he said: "And you will go with him."

Roderick gaped at his father. "What- "

"You will go with the prince and do everything within your power to protect him. No harm can come to him until he is old enough to claim the throne."

"But how?" Stephen stammered.

"Simple. Turn twenty-one." The Head Huntsman replied. "Now go the both of you."

"And what about you, father?" Roderick asked. "What will happen once she figures out the prince still lives. She will have your head!"

"I know."

Roderick was taken aback by his father calmness.

"Son." His father came up to him and placed both hands on Roderick's shoulders. "I can not think of anyone more capable of looking after the prince then you. I have taught you everything I know and is confident you will use these skills to the best of your abilities."

"Father . . . " No, this sounds like goodbye.

Roderick felt his father's warm, callus hand touch his cheeks. He looked up into those wise, hazel-colored eyes he inherited.

"I am sorry for not being a better father to you, and I know you have not forgiven me despite cleaning up my act. But just so you know, I love you, son, I always have."

Roderick felt his heart squeezed at this, and his gaze waver.

"Now go." His father said, letting go of his shoulders and stepping around the pair.

Stephen started. "But - "

"I said, go!" The Head Huntsman shouted. He shoved both Roderick and Stephen back roughly. "GO!"

They stepped back, unsure. The older man had a determined look in his eyes, and that's when they knew, they had no other choice.

Ignoring the pain in his chest, Roderick clenched his eyes and spun around.

"Don't just stand there." Roderick grabbed Stephen's hand and with a yank, began to ran.

Knowing there was no other way out of this, Stephen followed Roderick - hand in hand - as they ventured deeper into the heart of the forest.

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Dun,dun-dun ... What will happen now? Keep reading my readers.