Tale as old as Time (Tom Holland x reader)

Prologue: The one who had it all

Word count: 6.7k 

Warnings: Angst, for the purpose of this story Tom's a bit ooc, some swearing, some fairy-tale fluffiness too, definitely some inaccuracies but oh well (don't @ me)

Once upon a time, there was a kingdom known as Adaelia. The kingdom's history was as rich as those who presided over it, shown in tapestries and written in leather bound books. The kingdom embraced the changing seasons with every passing wind that the skies brought. It was beautiful in every sense of the word from the highest edge of its mountains to the meadows and little villages that resided there, but the pinnacle of Adaelia was the royal castle; tall and intimidating in its exterior, commanding the kingdom as did the monarchy inside.

Many royal families had passed through the lavish halls of the castle, for centuries generations of royalty had walked those marble floors. Much like a torch, the reign of the kingdom was passed down through an exclusive bloodline. The Holland's had been in reign since before anyone in the kingdom could remember. The King and Queen resided in the castle with their four sons - Patrick, Harold, Samuel and Thomas. All preferred abbreviated versions of their names but nonetheless they were known throughout the kingdom.

The eldest prince, Tom, was next in line to the throne and was often the talk of the kingdom - known for his charity work across the small villages and his kind nature as well as his looks. He had locks of curly brown hair that had become slightly overgrown and a smile that could make any girl in the kingdom swoon. He was kind, funny and very much down to earth for one of the wealthiest princes in the world. He had everything he could ever wish for, all except for one thing.

The girl who had left all those years ago and yet remained in his heart. The image of her riding away, her eyes welling with tears as she looked out the window of the horse-drawn cart was imprinted on his brain. His eyes fell onto a picture frame of when he was young, the same one that his gaze always seemed to come back to whenever he thought about her; the black and white picture showing Y/n's hand swinging in his own. Even after all these years he still missed her especially on days like today.

"Tom!" The knock on the door intruded his thoughts, the all-too familiar voice travelling through the rich oak panels of the door. He sighed and let the tension loose from his shoulders as he realised it wasn't his parents coming yet again to check up on him.

Tom hadn't muttered as much as a 'come in' when the door swung open. "Your mother wants you to try this on."

Harrison entered, already dressed for the event in his formal suit; a long black tailcoat complete with a black vest over a white blouse with a white bowtie to match. Tom looked very much underdressed in comparison still in his plain undergarments as he debated a suit to wear amongst the options his Mother had laid out.

Tom looked down to the material draped over Harrison's arms and rolled his eyes. "Not another suit. I've tried on at least 50 already." He gestured to the suits already lined up for him to choose from, each one had been tried on and approved for the evening.

Harrison laid the suit down to the other options with a smirk, having to admit that none of the suits Nikki had picked out were appealing. He turned back to his best friend who reached up to pinch his cheek as he spoke. "She just wants you to look nice Tommy."

Tom batted Harrison's hand away with a scoff. "Piss off." He was glad his Mother and Father were not in the room to hear him, he would never hear the end of how unbecoming such language was for a prince.

Harrison laughed and took a seat on the footstool near the end of the bed, adjusting the collar of his coat in a jokingly smug way. "Now is that any way to talk to a newly betrothed prince?"