Zorian rode on a chestnut horse, his arms wrapped around Remulus’s waist, a party of knights and guards riding beside them in a formation, passing through the keeps woods to Stregan. “I do not understand why I had to ride with you, I could have easily taken a horse from the stables,” he grumbled.
“This is much faster,” Remulus argued.
Zorian snorted, “you could have at least allowed me to sit affront, instead behind like some woman.”
“We are nearly there.”
Zorian sighed, “are you sure he will approve.”
“Of course, when i had told him about you, he wanted for nothing else than for me to marry you.”
Zorian scoffed, “then you praised me too well,”
“I did nothing of the sort.”
Zorian smirked, he looked about his surroundings seeing Stregan close in view, Remulus sped up his horse into a gallop, heading faster towards the gates, Zorian heard Will groan behind them, quickly trying to catch up. Soon enough they arrived through the gates and down the long pathway Zorian could see the rush and hassle of people arriving and leaving Stregan, or simply there for business.
They stopped in front of the steps as servants came to their horses, Remulus jumped off first as he held a hand out for Zorian, Zorian snorted and ignored the hand climbing off himself with ease. He followed behind, as the prince took hold of his hand pulling him up the steps, Remulus had an uncontrollable grin plastered on his lips, that made him look foolish, yet Zorian couldn’t help to smile a bit too. He led him through the castle, till they found themselves in a courtyard, Remulus dragged Zorian along the gardens, coming to a pivillan, where attendants and servants gathered, as they served an old looking man Zorian recognized to be the king.
“Father,” Reumuls greeted happily, rushing to the man,
“Found him did you?” the man stated,
“Father, this is lord Zorian of Harwood.” he introduced,
The elderly man looked at Zorian with keen eyes, gazing in inspection, he hummed, leaning back on a small wooden throne, he began to guzzle down some wine in his glass, it spilled slightly from his lips, but he hadn’t a care.
“He is handsome,” he noted, “and strong looking.” he observed with a tilt of his head, a servant came to wipe his mouth with a cloth, “had he said yes?” he spoke as if Zorian wasn’t there.
“He has,” Remulus smiled.
The king grinned, “finally!” he cheered, his arms raising up, “i had thought i’d go mad if he hadn’t, with the amount of bloody time you’ve spent telling me of him, i’d die if it came to nothing.”
Zorian stood silently as he watched the father and son talk endlessly to each other, feeling a slight jealousy at their relationship. Remulus abruptly turned to Zorian beckoning him forward. “So your father was lord of Harwood?”
“He was,”
The king nodded, “I remember him fondly, a cousin of his served me a few years as an attendant, Sam I recall his name was. A fine cup bearer, I had met your father at Sam's wedding. I suppose you have not met him, for he went to live in the western lands a many years ago. '' he paused, “i had thought you had died, i was told so, it was why lady Eleanor had taken over at Harwood.”
“It is hard to explain, your majesty.”
The man hummed, “a tale for another day. We must think of weddings instead.” he grinned, Zorian thought Remulus was much like his father, a jolly mess of laughter and smiles.
Later that day, Remulus and Zorian took a stroll through the gardens, as the prince showed him around. Remulus handed Zorian something from his sleeve, it was a blue rose, Zorian smiled. “You still have it.”
“I present this to you once more, as a sign of my devotion to you.”
Zorian scoffed, “thank you,” he spoke, taking the rose, “i shall treasure it always, or least until it dies.”
Remulus snatched the flower away from Zorians hands, “then i will have a castle mage cast a spell to suspend it in time.”
Zorian rolled his eyes, “you shouldn’t go through such trouble,” he tried to reach for the rose, but Remulus pulled it out of his reach,
“Nonsense, it is not when it comes to you.”
Zorian sighed giving up, “do what you wish,” he muttered,
Remulus smiled, as they carried on through the gardens.
It was a couple weeks later that the boy stood before his mother's tree stub. He wore new attire of the colour of silver, threaded and embroidered perfectly by Stregans seamstress, and fabrics imported from across the eastern sea, he looked grand, seeming much to his given title, no more looking as he were of the common folk. He swore a crowd melted down from his Stepmother's golden jeweled pieces, it was a gift from his stepsister, who seemed eager to prove to him how sorry she truly was for her treatment of him for the years they had been together at Harwood. Zorian accepted the crown, though it was not too heavy to wear, for it seemed to be only a ring to place on his head, with a few fashioned details of flowers into the metal, she had made to be identical to the ones that use to grow on his mothers tree, though it was odd in gold and Zorian preferred the flowers in it’s natural blue.
His two step siblings had not talked of their mother since Zorian had sold her to the slaver, and after her purchase, he had made sure that she would be sent as far south as the ship would allow, he nor his step siblings cared to find out what happened to her, weather she was successful bought in auction or not. Rob did not seem sorry of Zorian decision, and soon after her leaving had told Zorian of his plans to leave, for he did not want to impose on him any longer, but Zorian had told him not to, for he would gladly make Rob lord of Harwood, for he had never wanted for the title and knew Rob would be much capable for it. Gwyn had told her brother and Zorian how she had planned to go east with her merchant, Zorian finding out indeed they were married. The merchant talked endlessly of his palace, and Gwyn seemed content and happy to listen, but seemed eager to leave, having but one reason to stay, that being Zorians wedding.
Zorian looked down at the stub, he sighed, “it would be nice to know you to be there today, but i know you are not.” he paused, “i will try to visit often, though i can not say when, for Remulus has so many ideas, and wishes for me to see every manner of place.” he sniggered, “i do not mind, he is very happy, and i know that father and you would adore him much.” he smiled, “it's a shame you cannot be at temple with us.” Zorian knelt down on the ground not caring if he got grass stains on himself, he bent down and kissed the stub, “goodbye mother,” he whispered, pulling himself up and walking away. And as Zorian traveled away from Harwood, he thought he saw a gathering of crows following him, and thought perhaps his mother really was looking over him.
And through the many years he had with Remulus he could always catch sight of a crow watching him from afar, and even on his deathbed, gripping the blue rose his husband had picked for him all those years ago, awaiting for his last breath, a crow sat on the other side of his window and as death came for him, that crow was no longer a crow, but a woman, his mother, and by side her side a man whom Zorian knew to be his father, she took his hands gladly, and gently as they came to a deep far ocean, she led him into the vast waters and thus into the kingdom of death...
Comments (0)
See all