Unwanted Kingdom

Chapter Six

The ballroom was full, bodies spread around, so close the heat between them had to be sickening. Why so many people cared to attend. This was not a ball of the common citizens in the land, but of those who held power, or worked for those who held that power. Castiel was shocked by the numbers. His Kingdom had lots of servants but he was going to have to build up those who served him in matters of the thrown. He could not bring himself to trust those who followed Michael so blindly.

"Tonight," Balthazar stood in front of the honorable guests. "We are here to coronate Prince Castiel, son of Late King Charles, with the crown. He must first pass three tests. One of honor, one of humility, and lastly, one of courage. If he is to pass these three tests, he will be made King and we as a Kingdom can rejoice in his name."

Balthazar turned to bow toward the corner of the room, where Castiel was standing, waiting to be presented to the Royal families from behind a long red curtain. As Balthazar rose out of his bow, Castiel knew that was his cue and walked out to stand in front of the people. He was nervous, his stomach turning, his palms sweaty and his mind racing. All he wanted during this moment was for Dean to be here by his side to help him remain calm.

"First off, we have King Robert, from the land of Salvage." Balthazar introduced the man. He was short and pudgy, with a look in his eyes that he had been to war and back more times than he could count. "He is here to question your humility."

"Prince Castiel," King Robert stepped up to the stairs before Castiel and made a quick bow. "In order to be King, you have to recognize and demonstrate moments of humility. Can you tell us of a moment in which you have felt humble?"

Castiel looked around the ballroom at all the faces surrounding him. He had not experienced life at all until the last few weeks. No one could learn how to be humble in just a few weeks, could they? He thought on his time with Dean and all that he had learned. Had he been humble?

"I have traveled all of the Land," Castiel admitted. Some would think it were a lie because he never left the Palace, but they did not know of his travels with Dean. He would tell them in due time. "I have seen the most beautiful of places. Waterfalls with water beneath so clear that you could see all the way to the bottom. Forests so rich with life that you didn't know where to step for fear of harming what it truly stood for. And darkness. I have seen lands that have crumbled since Michael has been at the thrown. Nothing more than baren land and dark clouds, no life to be seen among it. I believed once that when becoming King, all of these things would be mine. I would have my say over how things happened. But that is far from the truth. In becoming King, none of these lands will be mine, they will remain all of yours. I am nothing more than a watchful eye to make sure that no one comes in and destroys our land. Not my land, ours."

King Robert seemed to think about the answer the Castiel had given. He beckoned someone from the crowd over to them and they proceeded to have a hushed conversation. Castiel could feel the nerves growing more intense in his stomach and all he wanted to do was run away or throw up, possibly both. But he stood his ground. He was going to see this through, even if he failed.

"To know that you are not almighty," King Robert finally broke the silence. "That is one of the truest forms of humility. It takes many Kings their entire reign to learn that being King is not owning all but being a part of all. You have passed the first test."

The crowd erupted into applause and Castiel finally let out the breath that he had been holding. He looked over to Balthazar who offered him a smile and a nod, letting him know that he had done well.

"And for your humility," King Robert began to speak again, "we wish to present you with this."

A group of people made their way up the center aisle with something large, covered in cloth. They set it beside King Robert and stepped away, back to their posts. King Robert reached up, grabbing hold of the cloth and pulling it from the object. Standing before Castiel was a large mirror. The Mirror itself was beautiful but the frame surrounding it seemed to have been made by piecing together a bunch of objects that did not exactly go together. Somehow, this made it seem even more beautiful.