Abbott POV
(A month ago)
"We had an agreement" I reminded him.
"Our agreement was voided when she stepped foot in the palace. I agreed to not pursue her. There was no agreement whatsoever preventing me from using her now that she just basically handed me herself on a platter. I need that map her father hid, Abbott"
"You have her parents. I captured them for you myself. Get your map from the baron and leave their poor daughter out of it"
"The Baron has proven adamant to my questioning. He won't say…not even when i cut the baroness…such courage wasted on a scholar"
"Maybe he knows that no man should have that much power…especially someone like you, Aldous. The world would burn if you had Baltimore's maps and his proven war plans' 'I told him.
I watched as he sat back on his throne.
"Miss Spencer has handed me a Raven's Seal and I am bound to honor it. She shall be wedded to my heir in a fortnight. If anyone can find where her father hid the maps, it would be Miss Spencer. Cheer up, rat! It will be more war for your bloodthirsty blade"
I took a step closer to him.
"I think there has been a miscommunication, your majesty. Abby Spencer is off limits to you or there will be…"
I was interrupted by the sound of the door. I turned around and I came face to face with the former lead knight of the realm, Sir Darken.
I stared at him briefly before turning my attention to my father.
"Like I was saying…."
"Your Majesty!" Darken said loudly and lowered his head.
"Sir Darken, what brings you this far from the north. How's the ice Haven?" Aldous asked him.
"Coldwell, your Majesty…I came to pay respect to sir Coldwell. He was a great knight and he served his king well"
"Who?" King Aldous asked.
I felt my fist tighten. I hated the fact that good men had to die for someone like him.
"Sir Coldwell…he died fighting to gain control of the midlands alongside many good men for you" I told him coldly.
"Ah, that he did…well, mission accomplished"
I looked at him and for a hot second, I fantasized wrapping my arm around his neck and squeezing until his lips turned blue and light went out his eyes and even then I wouldn't stop.
I will keep at it diligently until the shaking of his limbs stops and the air in his lungs runs out and even then, I would still hold on.
"Why are you smiling, Rat?" Aldous asked.
"I just had a fun memory, do you want to hear about it-"
"Your highness!" Sir Darken yelled and took a couple of steps towards me. "I heard you acquired a couple of royal horses. I want to see them"
"My horses…why?"
He had this look on his face that said it wasn't really a suggestion. It was more like an order.
"Fine. Lead the way" I said in resignation.
He smiled. It didn't reach his threatening eyes.
"Oh no, Lord Commander. I insist. Please, lead the way"
He pointed at the door.
I turned my attention to the king.
"I must go, your Majesty. I am glad, we have come to the conclusion that Miss Spencer is off limits to his Majesty or my beloved nephew"
"Get her out of my palace. You have a day or she will be wedded to Markle. Now, get out!"
I turned around and walked away. Sir Darken followed me.
When we came out the door, Sir Bastian was leaning against the wall. He was waiting for me and suddenly everything made sense.
"You bloody wanker! You sent for Aaron!" I yelled at him.
"No…he is here for Sir Coldwell's funeral, sir" Bastian said as he tapped his thigh.
"He hated the bloody man! We all did. Coldwell was a buffoon!"
"Fine. I sent for him. He is the only one who could talk you down when you get like this"
Bastian said.
Get like what?
What's the fool blabbering about?
I am perfectly alright and quite capable of snapping his neck.
"You are on a warpath with his Majesty. You are stabbing his guards and you are openly threatening his heir. You are…" Bastian's faded away "I am your friend, I didn't want to see you get sentenced to hang for treason. And so, I…I sent for Sir Darken"
I chuckled before shaking my head.
"I'm sorry but are you under the impression that we are friends, Sir Bastian? We are not! I am lord Commander and you are nobody!"
He didn't flinch at my unkind words.
He wouldn't be my second in command if he did. He simply nodded and rubbed his jaw.
He lowered his head slightly in submission and he walked away.
Something about him lowering his head in submission made me almost regret my words.
Almost.
Bastian has never lowered in submission to me before, not since we met at fifteen and he ended up saving my life on the battleground.
I watched him leave.
"I leave the capital and suddenly, you are suicidal, Abbott. I taught you better than this!"
I watched the man that practically raised me and taught me everything I knew.
Aaron Darken was more of a father to me than a hundred Aldous Raven. Everything I know I learnt from him.
"I can handle Aldous" I murmured to him.
"No. No, you can't because he is king and guess what, boy! You are not! You are not fifteen years old anymore, Abbott and I'm no longer the lead knight. I can't protect you anymore, do you hear me?!"
"I don't need your protection because you are right. I am not a scared little boy anymore and if you are so keen about helping…then tell me about the first ten years of my life that are totally blank, Aaron! What is it that was so horrible that I made myself forget?!"
I saw the anger in his eyes go out immediately.
"Why? What good would that do? It wouldn't change a thing, Abbott" Darken said.
I hesitated. Just for a little bit.
I looked at him and I was honest with him like always.
"Two reasons. I hate that Aldous knows something I don't "
"And the second reason?"
"Because there is a good chance that Aldous Raven is not my real father!"