Rosewood Kingdom

That's Just Something You Don't Do

1324

Young York of Shadowcourt, not yet king, held his sword in his right hand. He listened intently to the general in charge. Although he had no problem with fighting, he didn't understand why they were fighting in the first place. "And Prince York is going to lead us into battle."

"WHAT?!" a rival for the throne, Damien of Washington, looked the young prince in disgust. It was rumored that York's father was a sickly man who hadn't formally appointed him as the next in line. His only son...

"That's my final word. If you want to be considered to lead, you start leading." The general spoke as finality. York mounted his white horse in full armor. One thing he was grateful for was the fact that his suit of armor shook, so the men couldn't see even he was shaking with nerves.

"Why are we fighting in the first place?"

"Just to prove that we don't need other countries coming into our territories."

"But we're not Vikings in the far north...I'm not understanding." York pressed. "It has to be worth losing lives over."

"The King believes that there is an impending famine coming and we need to extend our territories to ward that off..."

York twisted his lips but remained quiet.

Fifteen minutes later, the general nods his head to give the signal. York slides his knight's helmet on and dug his heels into his horse. "CHARGE!" He yelled over the men. His skin got hotter, his eyes turned steely serious as he got closer to enemy lines. Personally, York didn't like the person he became on the battlefield, but it was for the betterment of his future subjects.

He slanted his sword to slice heads and knock men off their horses...with only a scratch to his armor. He turns back on his horse for more damage...

In thirty minutes, the battle was over. The Shadowcourt army forced their way across the land, looking for more to demolish in its path.

A year later, despite the Council's best efforts to discourage York's father, York was crowned the King after his marriage to Millicent. Their idea was to show how Damien was the better choice. York's father had become king by taking the crown from the former king's son. So, historically, it could happen. Either York could be...killed off or, mysteriously died.

So, it's not out of the ordinary that he was eventually framed for his wife and child's death. Damien was their king. That was clear from the beginning.

1328

York jerked himself awake in the fresh snow. His horse neighed softly. He didn't remember when he'd fallen asleep. All he remembered was taking himself in his hand to relieve himself off the hard-on Helia had inadvertently gave him. He smirked to himself when he thought about how ashamed she looked. All while giving him a full view...

One more wouldn't hurt...he grabs his member again.

Shortly after he cleaned his hands, he headed back to the cottage. Helia was awake and moving around. Smoke was coming out of both chimneys of her home. He knocks on the door and it swings open.

"Took you long enough, yeah?" she looks him over in disapproval. "Hurry up... the water is getting cold and I'm not drawing anymore."

"Why are you like this?" he asked her. The warm bread teased his nose, and it was then he realized he was hungry."

"Like what?"

"So...warm, inviting, maybe?"

"Everybody needs somebody, yeah? Now bath...now." And with that, she slams the door to the extra room.

Once he was done, Helia was preparing to leave. "I'm going to town to see if I can sell a bit more. You're free to go, if you choose." She baits him. York gives her an eyeroll, but a genuine smile.

"Cute."

"Well, it was worth a shot to see if you'd take the bait." She chuckled. "You're expensive to feed too." she places her hands on her hips. "You eat like a king!" she doesn't pass up the opportunity to tease him.

"So, I've heard." He couldn't take the smirk off his face for a moment. "Did you want me to come?"

"York, you're still on the run..." she quickly reminds him.

"I'm not the man they're looking for, Helia. I'm not a king..." he insists.

"In what world?" she scoffs. "Still, I don't need your help. If anything, you'll attract the unwanted attention to my booth. Far too many people are looking for you." She slaps the straps to make her horse pull the wagon.

A man off in the distance takes off in the opposite direction after witnessing the contact between Helia and York.

"Since when did Helia remarry?"

"I don't think she ever did, Sire."

"So, we need to find out who that man is stayin in her cottage."

Helia arrived with time to spare. She set up her booth, spoke to old friends, and had a little food, courtesy of said friends. She even saw some of her former students. "Miz Helia! When are you coming back to be our teacher? Our new teacher is mean..."

"Joseph!" his mother called his name to pop him. "Ignore him, Miz Helia. He just misses you." She chuckled.

"I get it all the time, I miss my students too!"

Meanwhile, York whispered into his medallion and disappeared in thin air. He spent time checking on all his projects. The black horse stood eating hay in content.

He stoked the fire with an iron rod. Sweat dripped from his face, his goatee growing into a beard. The hammer banged on the wagon. "Makes sense to build a wagon, but what for?" Mika appeared in thin air.

"They're going to go after her to get to me. Last night when I was in the woods, I heard group of men planning to scope her out."

"But you've lied about your identity to her. What does it matter now?"

"I saw a figure off in the distance this morning watch us talk. They are aware that someone is in the cottage with Helia now."

"Look at the stupid, young king. He has feelings for a woman again."

"Surely you would know that Milly would want me to love again."

"You should want to love again." Mika places a hand on his shoulder. "Like the magic in the medallion? I knew you would."

"I just know somebody is missing your worrisome ass..." he turns the iron again.

Meanwhile, Helia headed back to her cottage alone in the dusky sunset. A group of men followed and cornered her. She pulled out her own weapon from her thin cloak, a dagger to be specific and ready to use it.

York returned to a cold cottage. His senses heightened for a moment. He left with the black horse and cloak.

"HELP!" Helia screamed.

"Where is the man in your cottage?!" the man growled. His breath was something sickening. "Is he King York?"

"No!" she yelled. Her hands tied to a rope. The man held a log burning fire in his hand.

"Yes he is." He placed the fire in front of her face as if to burn her.

"No."

Suddenly, the group heard aggressive horse riding. They turned around to see moving black all over. York flicked the sword with his wrist and decapitated the men's heads in one fell swoop.

"Please don't kill me." she sobbed but before she could look into York's eyes, she fainted.