Chapter Text
There were once four princes, four brothers, young men who resided in the kingdom of Bryalshire, sons to the King Lachlan.
Prince Roman, the eldest of the four at twenty-seven years old and next in line for the throne, was a dreamer and an adventurer, always eager to embark on a quest with his knights.
His closest brother in age, four years younger, was Logan. The most logical and intellectual of the four, twenty-three years of age. He kept Roman aware of his responsibilities and was always the one to point out the most efficient way to do things, being the most mature since childhood.
The next was Patton, twenty-two years old, and the kindest soul to be found. He loved everyone and could often be found out with the townspeople playing with the young children. He adored his brothers and would do anything for any of them, but most of all the fourth and youngest prince, Virgil.
The boy was only seventeen years old, and he had no desire to be a prince. He had always stood out from the others, and his dark mannerisms and solitude led the people to think of him as a cursed child. He spent a lot of his time down at the town theatre, enjoying the dark plays that had many sinister messages to them, as much as it made his brothers uneasy that he did so. Even so, as much as he tried to hide the feelings, he did in fact deeply care about his brothers and just as Patton, would do anything for them.
The four brothers were well known across the land, Roman being the most well-known as the youngest leader of the knights of Bryalshire. He had been on many a crusade, and their father was always so proud of him when he would come back victorious again. Despite his many victories, Patton always worried for his brother’s safety every time he left the castle. Virgil would never admit it, but he too held the same concern, only praying that his oldest brother would come home safe again. Logan tried his best to calm the two whilst Roman was away, as their father only ever seemed to focus on the oldest of his sons, hardly ever even acknowledging his youngest. But Logan took care of them. He was the smartest of them all and knew how to care for them.
And thus was the lives of the four as Roman was called by his father from the courtyard where the four brothers had been sitting. Logan watched him go, then turned back to see Patton smiling as a butterfly landed on his finger. The responsible brother then turned his gaze to the edge of the courtyard where Virgil stood, staring down at the town. He leaned against the wall, his shoulders shrugged up. Logan hesitated, then he called out.
“Virgil. Come over here.” He said, making his youngest brother spin around, his dark brown eyes filled with unsaid emotion as always. He walked over to his brother with slow steps, then sat down on the stone bench beside him. Logan put his hand on Virgil’s arm. “What is troubling you?” He asked in his gentle voice, and Virgil looked down at his hands, tracing one of the intricate designs on the wrist of his tunic with his finger. His voice was timid as he responded.
“Why… why am I a prince? I don’t want to be a prince.” He said quietly, and Logan raised his eyebrow, then opened his mouth to speak before another voice stopped him.
“Oh, Virgil, you’re a prince because you are the sweetest little boy I’ve ever known! And you are our little brother! We are all here to care for you.” Patton said as he walked over, putting his arm around his younger sibling. “Virgil, why do you always ask that? You are as fit to be a prince as anyone. I understand you don’t like having to be someone that is seen differently. But understand me when I tell you that you can always come to me.” He said with a bright smile, and as Virgil switched his gaze between his two brothers, a small grin spread on his face.
“Thank you.” He murmured, then Roman’s voice sang out from the entrance.
“REJOICE!” He exclaimed, strolling in with an excited grin on his face. “Father has another quest for my knights and me! We shall be travelling farther than we have ever gone before, to the Land of Shermore into the Brosbriand Forest!” He voiced, making Virgil bolt to his feet.
“NO!” He said suddenly, the other three brothers surprised that the young boy had actually spoken without coaxing. Virgil shook his head, staring at his oldest brother. “No, Roman, please, don’t go.” He said, his eyes scared. “Shermore and that forest are far too dangerous! Every knight quest that Father has sent through there has never returned!” He exclaimed, but Roman sighed, then walked forward to put his hands on his little brother’s shoulders.
“Virgil, don’t be afraid. We will only be searching for Meldolite to use to make our forces better weapons and armour. All I want is for my men to be safe, Virgil. I will protect them.”
The dark boy shook his head, shoving his brother back. “I don’t care about them! I just don’t want to lose you!” He yelled, and Roman’s eyes went wide when he saw the single tear run down Virgil’s cheek. Logan and Patton both met eyes, then looked to their youngest brother. Virgil closed his eyes, squeezing them tight. “I...I don’t want you to leave.” He said in a hushed voice, then a hand on his cheek made him open his eyes to see Roman kneeling in front of him. Roman stared into Virgil’s eyes, then a small smile made its way onto his face.
“Virgil, hear this now. I give you my word that I will return. I would not leave you. I will always be here to protect my younger brother.” He said, and Virgil’s eyes widened, then he nodded. Roman rose to his feet with a sigh. “I must go get the knights together and prepare to leave. But I promise all of you I will be back.” He said as he looked over his three younger brothers.
Logan nodded then rose to his feet. “We wish you the best of luck, brother.” He said, and Roman nodded then spun to walk down to the armoury to donn his own uniform and armour and ready his horse. The three still in the courtyard sat silent for a moment, then Patton turned to Logan.
“What exactly is Meldolite, anyway?” He asked, and Logan touched a finger to his temple, slightly adjusting his thin glasses, then met his brother’s eyes.
“Meldolite is a very precious material that, when melted down, can be used to make some of the strongest weapons and armour possible, not to mention the metal itself can fetch a hefty price. I assume that is why Father wants the material, not in the interest of the knights.” His face crossed with a frown. “It seems that these days Father has begun to care less and less about the kingdom’s population and more about his own wealth. He has even begun to disregard all of us aside from Roman.”
A scoff from Virgil made his eyebrow rise. “That may be new to you, but I have always just been a shadow to him. A son he never wanted, unimportant, with no purpose aside from adding to the family’s name.” He spat, turning his head away. “I’ve always been disregarded by him.”
Logan eyed his brother with a wide gaze then shook his head. “Virgil, I was unaware that you felt this way. Is this the reason that you have no desire to be a prince? The fact that you seem to dislike Father-”
“Seem to dislike?! I DESPISE HIM! What good has he ever done me?! I sit at his feet eating breadcrumbs compared to how he treats Roman!” He yelled, and Patton reached his hand out, taking Virgil’s arm.
“Virgil, you know that we all care for you. Even if you feel that Father ignores you, we never will.” He said, receiving an agreeing nod from Logan. Virgil brushed his long brown hair from his face, then he let out a long breath.
“I know…” He murmured. “That...that’s why I don’t want Roman to go. He cares about me so much, and if he-” He couldn’t bring himself to say the word, but Logan patted Virgil’s shoulder.
“He is the strongest man we know, as well as the smartest, aside from me, of course. He can handle himself, Virgil. Do not worry.” He tried to comfort, but Virgil stood still for a moment, then he spun out of Logan’s hand and sprinted out of the courtyard. He ran down the hall, his boots echoing on the stone floor and his jacket tassels bouncing. He stumbled as he almost fell, skidding around the corner to the entranceway to see his brother atop his horse, his red cloak billowing in the wind, the prince giving orders to his men.
Virgil started down the steps, still staring at his brother. “ROMAN!” He shouted, and the older prince turned around, his horse trotting in a circle. His eyes went wide when he saw Virgil running towards him and he dismounted, standing beside his horse before Virgil ran into him, wrapping his arms around him, surprising him.
He looked down at his younger brother, who lifted his head with tears in his eyes. “V-Virgil? What are you doing down here?” Roman wondered, then he pointed back to the castle. “Get back to Logan and Patton. I’ll return soon-”
Virgil shook his head. “NO!” He stared deep into Roman’s eyes, then asked his older brother something that Roman could never have been ready for.
“Take me with you.”
Roman blinked for a moment, then his wide eyes took in Virgil’s teared-stained face. He opened his mouth to say something, then he let out a sigh. “Do Logan and Patton know where you are? Do they know you’re asking this of me?” He wondered quietly, and Virgil shook his head. Roman bit his lip, then Virgil’s eyes shot open as Roman grabbed him by the waist and lifted him up onto his horse before mounting it himself.
He looked over his shoulder with a small grin. “Good. Because they’d both yell at me for taking you with me, but I’ll keep you safe.” He said, and Virgil’s wide eyes then sparkled in a grin that Roman had never seen before. Never had he seen his younger brother look so happy, then he smiled as he nodded to one of his knights. “Go get Virgil’s cloak and another sword for him. Then we can depart.” He ordered, and the knight nodded then ran into the castle, his footsteps slowly growing quieter.
Virgil looked up at his brother. “Roman...why are you bringing me with you? I expected you to say no in a heartbeat.” He said, and Roman tilted his head, then turned around as far as he could to face the boy.
“Because I care about you more than anything, Virgil. I always have.” He said, and Virgil’s breath stopped when he heard the heartfelt tone in Roman’s voice and saw the sincere smile on his face. Roman rubbed his younger brother’s hair. “Nothing is ever going to happen to you as long as I’m around.”
Another knight drew closer, his horse’s hooves scuffing at the ground. “Sire, why are we bringing a child? Don’t you know how dangerous it is to have him around? The Forest of Brosbriand is full of threats that a boy his age wouldn’t even dream about-”
“That’s enough, Dwight.” Roman snapped, making all the other knights turn their heads with wide eyes. Never had they heard the prince sound so stern, but now his tone was deadly serious. “You will not question my decision, and you will do anything to protect him if need be, Dwight. Is that understood?” He demanded, and Virgil’s eyes went wide as he began to see an entirely new side of his brother.
Dwight nodded, bowing his head. “Yes, sire. Of course.” He said graciously, then the other knight came running out, carrying a small bag, a cloak, and a sword. He stopped beside Roman’s horse, looking up at the prince.
“Sire, I retrieved what you asked, as well as a blanket for the young prince for when we make camp.” He said, and Roman nodded.
“Well done, Ottie.”
The knight handed the cloak to Virgil, who wrapped it around himself to buckle the clasp at his neck. The bag was transferred from Ottie’s hand to the saddlebag beside the young prince, then Roman turned around again to meet his brother’s eyes, holding a sword. “I know you’ve never exactly been one for violence, but you will need this, just in case.” He said, then was surprised when Virgil took the sword without hesitation, sliding it into his belt.
“If I’m going to be with you, I am willing to do whatever I have to.” He said, and Roman smiled, then he turned around, bringing his horse to face the rest of the knights, all of their white and red uniforms contrasting the grey clouds overhead. Roman waved his hand, sweeping his eyes over his men.
“We ride for Shermore!” He shouted, and the knights exclaimed in unison their loyalty, then parted to let Roman flick the reigns of the horse and gallop out of the castle gate, Virgil holding tight to his brother’s waist, his cloak whipping in the wind, an excited smile on his face. He had never felt so alive as with his brother, and as he looked up, he could see Roman’s focussed face looking forward, then his eye glanced down slightly, then he winked at Virgil. The young boy grinned, ready for an adventure.