An Unusual Fairytale

Chapter 3: The Betrayal

"Father!" They yelled running through the halls of their castle. Outside their parent's room were their two younger brothers and three younger sisters. The eldest of the girls placed their four year old brother on another's lap and walked over to them.

"Rebecca, what has happened?" Mason asked worriedly.

"Father is ill. It is his heart. The medicine man does not think he will be with us for much longer." She started to cry. She was only fifteen and she couldn't be strong any longer. "He is asking for you Mason. You too Thomas, of course. But Mason you must find a bride soon." She bit her lip. "Even if it is not the woman by the river." She pleaded. His eyes widened and he shook his head.

He thought he had more time to win her over before he would have to take the throne. He kept shaking his head as he entered his father's room. His father, The king of the kingdom he would one day have to rule over, was lying on the bed, his slow breathing filled the air with a tense silence. He coughed as he waved Mason over towards him.

"Come here my son." He rasped out.

"Father." Mason choked out in a whisper as his eyes filled to the brim with tears.

"Stay strong my boy." His father gulped as if it hurt to speak. "Stay strong. You are the eldest." The king took a deep breath. "You are to take the throne, the kingdom, in a few sunsets from now. You must stay strong." He grabbed his father's hand as the king swallowed. "You must find a bride. Someone to be your queen and rule by your side. A king is only as good as the queen that guides him. There are many wonderful women in our kingdom. Book keepers, teachers, medical assistants, and even some lovely peasants in the impoverished parts of the village. You must forget the river girl and choose one for your bride. Also, promise me, my boy. Promise me you will bring the village out poverty. Unite the other kingdoms and lower the taxes for those who can not pay them." He was about to argue with his father about the maiden by the river he had fallen in love with, when the old man drifted off to sleep.

"I-I promise, father. After I get my love to become our queen. I promise, I will lower the taxes. I will take on the other kings to change our land. However, I cannot promise to forget her."

"Son?" His mother tried to catch his attention as she walked in the room.

"I cannot give up mother. I know I should, but I cannot. I love her. I will win her heart."

"My son, you do not know her. She has not so much as spoken to you."

"But she has mother. She spoke to me today. Just this afternoon. I know I can win her over if I just do not give up." He argued quickly.

"I am sorry son. I too wished for her to speak. I wished for you to have the one you love. However, I am afraid that we do not have time for you to court her. Just choose another. You must take the throne with a bride. You must give up on the silent girl." The queen reached out to her son, but he shrugged her off and stormed out of the room. She sighed and went to her husband's side. "Give him time, my love. Give love time." She looked up to the heavens. "Give us time. He is not ready for the throne. I am not ready to lose my husband." She wept.

"You are not giving up, are you?" Thomas asked stopping his brother from storming down the hall. "Father needs you to marry and take the throne! You will not turn your back on this kingdom for some woman!" Thomas yelled and grabbed his older brother's arm.

"I love her!" Mason yelled yanking his arm back. "I will marry her!"

"Mason, stop! Think of Father! Our Kingdom! We need you to be king!" Rebecca shouted.

"I will not be king if my queen is not her!"

Thomas grabbed him again, this time slamming him against the stone wall.

"You are a madman! How is a woman who has spoken to you once worth losing our kingdom?! The respect and admiration of our people! Loyalty to our Father! To your family!"

"I love her! That is worth everything to me! I would gladly give up my kingdom before I would give up on her!" With that Thomas punched his older brother in the face.

"Thomas, stop!" Rebecca said pulling him away. "If he wishes to betray us. Let him. It is his decision to live with on his head." She said pulling Thomas away.

Mason got up and walked away. His siblings watched him, feeling betrayed. They were always loyal to their kingdom. They always did what was asked of them. They always respected their father and mother. But Mason just walked away from all of it. He just left his kingdom to ruin.

Mason found his horse and mounted it, riding off before one of the guards or knights could stop him. He rode down the hill to the river. He took a deep breath and rode down the path she had always gone down to escape him. He would find her and court her.