The Lost Prince

1

It was said that there was nothing more heavenly than standing about while the thick, Avenian summer air blew around you, and while most children wouldn't understand enough to even agree, this particular child would challenge that there was no heaven that could rival the old mountain grounds. He sat there barefoot, legs dangling off the edge of the small cliff. Digging his heels into the rocky dirt, the boy giggled as the breeze blew back his boyish curls, allowing dried leaves and grass to mix in.
Looking at him, you would be drawn to his smile- wide and with a childlike innocence that was hard to come by naturally- not how the wind also pushed back his coat behind him on one side and the other side covered the crest of the kingdom he was sure to rule one day.
Taking advantage of being a carefree kid, six year old Dan ran around in circles after jumping up from his seat with Mother Nature. On top of the world, he threw his hands up and started off to the cliff once again. Whether he meant to stop or not didn't matter when Dan took off. For a moment, he seemed to fly, and that was all he cared about.
He fell, twirling down the mountain, ripping and getting mud on the carefully chosen pants he was wearing.
The boy was in love; totally and absolutely smitten with the beautiful town that was meant to always stay below him.
How he had longed to go and play with the townsfolk. The thought lingered in his head way into the night, even when lights were out and lessons were early the next morning. The familiarity of his own kingdom was sweet and homey, but this new land was a foreign sweet Dan just drooled over.
But he was not to leave his perch. Was not to leave the country, no matter how tempting it was, without his father.
Dan could feel the gently reprimanding eyes if his father looking up and down at the sight of his now ruined attire. "Now, Daniel, that's where you cannot walk across. That cliff is dangerous as is, but you are older now and you know the chances of a child falling down. And if you are injured, my boy, I cannot come find you. A maiden might try to care for you as her own, never knowing she had swept up a young prince."
He remembered that talk, sitting on the tiny throne to the right if his father, and king. The most valuable of lessons were started in their chairs and practiced out in their countryside.
"The land next to us is ruled by a great and just king, one i know to be a wondrous friend in the time of need.
"We have been peaceful for over four generations, all the way back to the start of their kingdom. One of our own ran away to Marlane for refuge and they fell so greatly beyond in love that they got a blessing to stay if they renounced their claim to the throne."
No one knew who they were, the secret family, but that was for the best. Avenia just wished then the best and left the runaway to live comfortable with their blessing.
"King Jared has two sons, a family of his own to care for. His boys would never run around like you do now, Daniel. Their line is raised in the castle until their coronation or marriage. Prince Maven and Prince Philip are blessed children- sheltered and raised to be smart, unable to be tricked or swindled. They are cunning and reliable to Marlane; a bountiful resource. But you will be as well, and in different ways than those boys. So go, meet your people but don't stray."
Don't stray. Don't fly off your perch.
This all played through Dan's head, but it wasn't his fault for not listening, right? He was just playing, being free. He had heard the children laughing, cats meowing- he had to see it. Dan had to be free desperately. Just for a moment.
He had jumped, and meant to fall, which he did. Dan hadn't noticed but he fell on his right leg at the top and got caught in the rocks. He was too busy looking around to be scared. His leg was broke from the ankle up to mid thigh and his foot was shattered, but here came people.
Dan still held his head high, not daring to cry, even when a boy slightly taller and older looking walked over with a nurse maid. He pushed himself to look strong but this boy held himself like pain and weakness wasn't a part of his upbringing. Confident, but not to a fault, just to a capital letter statement.
Awe commanding confidence.
The woman, however, did not bother keeping composure; a luxury of not being royalty. She wore an appropriately plain white shirt tied over top of a powder blue dress with a love worn scarf and muddied boots meant to combat the slightly chilly weather. She looked like someone Dan would give up a crown to see one last time.
But one thing about her was wrong, and the injured child saw her mistrust and built up walls in her heart as the woman grabbed the child she was watching over sharply when he tried to access Dans injuries. The embrace she tucked the boy into screamed of "you may not touch someone so below you" but whispered tenderly in shades of  "stay safe with me."
It was clear she was an authority figure to the boy but that he, at the end of the day, was not to be stopped. He smiled sweetly, a promise of safety, and broke the contact between the two of them. He knelt down and the self hatred grew in his maids' eyes as his pants were soaked in puddles and layered in mud.
Almost seemingly fighting himself on habitual formalities, the boy put out his hand. "Hello, are you hurt?"
Dan looked at the band and began to shake it but had to pull away abruptly to cover his face  while coughing. When he finally stopped, he went to retry an introduction but was waved off. The boy had caught sight of Dans' jacket pocket.
His grin widened at the sight, and when Dan went to announce his name, the boy dropped his head quickly in honor.

"Hi," Dan coughed out cheerfully, "my name is-"

Enjoy.
Part one of a few.
1096 words