The Merger

The Decision

"Your majesty!" A servant girl carrying bed linen entered for a moment and froze. She then retreated and slammed the door behind her.

You noticed how closely you held Lord Barnes and pushed yourself off. "My apologies Lord Barnes. I see now that it would be a compromising position for someone to find us in. I better get to my father before rumours swirl. Would you join me? I find that he believes my tales only when I have evidence," you glanced to his stitches.

"Of course...your highness," Barnes corrected himself and followed you to the conference room.

He watched the way you walked. Head high, shoulders back, ready to take on whatever life threw at you. It would be hard to believe just minutes ago a man had his hands all over you.

James didn't know what ignited his rage to throw a punch at the ugly ogre. He always had his head on his shoulders but seeing you struggle and call for help was just too much for the Lord to bare.

You didn't bother knocking on the conference doors, you seldom did anyway. You found the Prince in talks with your father. He had dried off and changed his attire, no doubt he had already been a tattletale.

"My daughter, the pusher." Your father greeted. You wished him with a peck on the cheek and a bow.

"Father I have come here for some more pressing matters other than the Prince's outfit for the day." You were still mad at him and you let it show by merely ignoring the bastard.

"Apologise to your fiancé...even if he deserved it," your father muttered. You resisted rolling your eyes, trying not to be a brat and turned to your future husband.

"I sincerely apologise for what I have done to you, your highness. I hope to make it up to you in any way I can. If you'll excuse my father and I, we have much to discuss." It was something you rehearsed over and over again throughout the years. Say sorry, offer something and tell the other person to fuck off for a bit.

You tried to lead the prince away but he wouldn't have it. "Buck, where have you been? And what happened to your eye?" Steve stormed forward but eyed you suspiciously.

"That's what I am here to discuss," you turned to your father, "I was outside the castle walls," you admitted, "alone. And there was an attempt on my..." you stopped talking, imagining the horrible scenario to happen if James wasn't there.

"Life? I told you it's not safe!"

"My virtue. James stepped in to save me and was beaten..."

"I offered to execute the ghastly gentleman but the Princess' mercy allowed me to spare him. He kept saying awful things about your daughter so I thought I would rough him up at bit, your highness. For your daughter's sake,"

"I wanted to award Lord Barnes by being Hand to the Queen at my coronation," you spoke the words as they came to mind. A small hush came over the room. It was believed that Edwin would care for you as Queen just as he has all your life but you knew the man was getting old even just walking with you in the garden.

"Absolutely not." Steven intervened.

You forgot he was here for a moment and retrieved some wine for yourself. "Here we go," you muttered. Your father took a cup and you filled it for him.
"Why do you protest dear fiancé?"

"Lord Barnes has served my family long and well. I should think to reward him Duke of York upon the merge of our kingdoms."

"You mean your marriage to my daughter?"

"Y-yes, your highness." The blond stuttered and you and your father shared a look.

"If I may get political for a moment," you began, "it is of course up to Lord Barnes whether or not he decides to stay here with his closest comrade and future...king."

"What?" That caught the Prince's attention.

"Is that how you address all royals, your highness?"

It was a risky offer. James either becomes essentially independent, in charge of his own county or he stays protected by the realm.

"I thought my father agreed to a deal that you become Queen for our marriage, therefore holding total power."

"That was my intention," The king looked back at you, "but it wasn't my idea in the first place."

Your eyebrows pumped at the Prince, hinting that it was your idea.

"What?!" He stepped closer. You were sneakier than he thought.

"Again? Can you believe the manners on your future son-in-law?" You took a cheeky sip of wine, "As I said though, it is up to Lord Barnes to decide."

All heads went to James. His head hung low but raised it to speak, although nothing came out.

"Sleep on it. You have until tomorrow. I'll draw up copies to announce you as knight or duke for when you decide," The king went closer to Barnes and put a hand to his metal shoulder, "and know that I am grateful for saving my daughter." He was sincere, Bucky could see. "Now get out, I need to have a little chat with my daughter about the importance of staying within the castle walls."

The two friends stood silently outside the conference room. Servants zoomed past every now and then but didn't interact.

"Drink?" Steve spoke. Bucky nodded.

"Ale or wine?"

"I think there's some mead in the kitchens."

"Just like the old days," Bucky let Steve lead the way.

This was probably the hardest decision Barnes would have to make.

Or not.

He was never one for leadership, he preferred to be on his own. So to be in charge of all of York was a huge ask that the Prince clearly didn't think through.

He liked being by Steve's side everyday, his only friend. He was confused by your offer though, and to ask him to hold Steve's future in his hands seemed quite manipulative.

Did you want to spend more time with James? Or were you just messing around with Steve?
Either way, he knew what to choose.

"I hate to ask," Steve belched after finishing, "but you do hold my future in your freakishly large hands. What are you leaning towards? York or...here?"

"I can't ask you to give up the crown for me. Plus, I don't mind it here too much. The climate doesn't agree with our attire come summer but I don't know, I like it here."

Steve would have cried if he weren't surrounded by people. So he squeezed his friends shoulder and laughed, "thank you. You're a good man, Buck, a great man." Steve wouldn't stop grinning, Bucky joined in. Liking that he's made the decision to stay.