Short Story Compilation

Medieval Mischief

Content warnings - homophobia, use of slurs, violence, parental abuse, sex references, sexual images, suicide references, death, language - reader discretion is advised please stay safe

The wind blew through my open window, disrupting the large fabric curtains that sat at either side of it. It wasn't a particularly cold night. Cold enough to need a cloak if you went outside,  warm enough that you could sit next to the window comfortably - as long as the fire was still lit.

I leaned my head out of the window, placing the book I had been reading into my lap. It had been weeks longer than usual since Nathan had climbed into the room to meet me. The thrill of having to fear one of the maids finding us and telling my parents - it was unmatched, and I was longing for it. There was so much for me to tell him and likely so much for him to tell me, as he travelled hundreds of miles away, seeking some kind of adventure, some escape from this little kingdom.

I had been sat there for almost two hours, waiting to see him and his horse on the horizon, waiting for him to climb over the garden wall and then into my room. But all I saw was the faint flapping of a dragon's wings as it settled itself on a far-away mountain top. I'd been doing this for the past few days now but he still hadn't returned and it was starting to worry me.

Not only had he never been away from me for this long before but, from what I could tell, he was going to do something dangerous. Thoughts began to race through my mind about what could have happened to him - he likely was just taking longer than usual but that didn't stop the gruesome images forming in my brain. I imagined my life without him - the incessant hopelessness that'd grow indefinitely, the uncertainty as to why he never returned; whether he had died or had simply left me would drive me crazy.

Sighing, I closed the window and drew the curtains. Not tonight it seemed.

I climbed into bed, blowing out the candle that sat at my bedside before I fell asleep. Unaware and unprepared for what tomorrow would hold for me.

"It's time to wake up, your mother has a lot planned for you today." I was woken by one of the castle's maids pulling the covers from me, banging the dust out of them. I rolled over instead of getting out of bed - when she said my mother had a lot planned, she was not over-exaggerating.

It wasn't until she pulled at my ear that I got out of bed, "your sister's been up for an hour already, get ready and have some breakfast," she ordered, ruffling my hair as she pushed me up and towards my closet. Jae doesn't sleep, of course she was.

Ten minutes later I was in the dining hall, only a bowl of oats in front of me amidst the mass of food that had been prepared for the four of us - me, my sister and our parents that was.

"You need to eat more," my father commented as he placed more meat onto his plate, "how will you take my place if you can't eat like a man?" We made eye contact briefly, his gaze serious, demanding, as if he had control over me - which as king, he did really.

"Yes, I know," I replied, the same as I did every morning we ate together. It had been the same incessant routine since the year that me becoming king first crossed my father's mind.

"I ought to take you out with me, teach you how to be a king."

"Mikhael, not while we're eating - please." My mother did not look at him as she spoke, instead looking at me and giving a slight nod, "Corliss will give you the list of what I want you and -" She paused, glancing at my sister and then to my father. Who had stared at her with fire in his eyes, "Jetta to do today." My sister's shoulders dropped - she hated being called that.

I nodded.

The table stayed silent for the rest of the meal. The occasional discreet kick was the only thing that kept me entertained while our father finished eating. This lasted almost half an hour, and only after this could we leave to do our duties.