Birdie and the Beast

Chapter 4: Dinner

Back in the village, Matthias was moping in the local tavern. He had already drunk several glasses of beer but he still couldn't forget the humiliation of being rejected by Matthew.

"I don't understand it, he was supposed to say yes. We would be the perfect couple. Heck, our names even sound similar. It was meant to be. How could he say no to me, the King? That boy has no idea what he's done." Matthias sulked into his glass. "No one ever says no me."

"That's absolutely right!" Peter piped up, in an attempt to cheer up Matthias. "Do you want me to refill your glass?"

"Might as well. Nothing like a beer to make you forget."

"Aw come on. He just doesn't realize how cool you are." Peter carefully avoided using any names due to not remembering who Matthew was. "Cheer up, Matthias, I don't like seeing you this way."

Peter then began praising everything about Matthias that there was to praise: his physique, his good looks, how he didn't take anybody's shit, and how he won all of his fights. Peter even tried to get the other people in the tavern to do the same although they were less enthusiastic (Matthew wasn't the only one to find Matthias annoying). In particular, a group of four blonds in the corner were only making half-hearted comments in the hopes of cheering up Matthias enough to pay for their drinks as he had in the past.

After some time, Matthias finally began to respond. "What you're saying is true, I suppose. Even as a boy, I was exceptional."

Matthias then went into a long-winded account of his childhood and how everyone had loved him as a kid and how he could eat enough meat for three men. "…And nowadays, I eat enough meat for five!" He would have gone on, but the door was suddenly flung open and nearly fell off its hinges as Alfred burst into the tavern.

"Dudes! Dudes, I need your help. They've got Matthew locked in the dungeon!" he cried frantically, moving from person to person trying to get their attention before kneeling over as he was taking over by a coughing fit.

"Hold up. Slow down, Alfred. Who has Matthew locked up in a dungeon?" Matthias chuckled, amused by Alfred's panic.

"A-yeti! A big white hairy beast and a castle full of possessed furniture!" there was a pause before the whole tavern burst into laughter.

"What and I suppose they are aliens that abducted Matthew and have him on their spaceship." Peter sniggered.

"What? That's stupid, yetis aren't aliens." Alfred glared at the boy before turning back to everyone in the tavern. "You have to go with me to the castle and be my backup while I save Matthew!"

"So you want us to help you out?" Matthias inquired slowly, choosing his words carefully.

"Yeah!"

"…Okay." Matthias made a gesture and two men picked Alfred up and threw him out of the tavern. Alfred let out a loud "Oomph!" as he landed head first in the snow.

"Poor choice of words, Alfred." Matthias grinned as he downed another beer. "That crazy kid should be locked up-"

Matthias stopped abruptly as he considered his own words, and he smiled darkly. "Peter, I've been thinking."

"I've heard that's not good for you in large quantities."

"Shut up. I have an idea." Matthias whispered his plan to Peter, who gasped and whispered, "Really? But he-Oh I see!"

Matthias stood up. "Gentlemen and Ladies." he announced, "Dust off your oldest wine bottles, because you'll soon be celebrating my marriage to Matthew Williams! Drinks are on me!"