Chapter Text
Perseus was excited. Amon was coming home today! Amon, his best friend (and crush) since childhood, was coming home from the battlefront. He did his hair, the way he always does and the way Amon likes it, and dresses in an outfit that’s a little nicer than usual. He sets his crown on top of his head, and makes his way to the stables. He hears the horse trot in, hears the voice, talking to the horse.
“I’ve still got to deliver the report to the king. But first, I’ve got to try and find--” Perseus takes the last step into the stable, holding back a smile. “Ah! Your royal highness. Your faithful knight, and sworn protector, Amon has returned to you at last.” Perseus stops. Why isn’t he smiling? Even in professional environments Amon never failed to smile at Perseus. Maybe he’s messing with him? Well then, two can play at that game.
“And what might bring you home so soon General Amon? The war isn’t over yet, is it?” Perseus tilts his head up, regally, and barely holding back his smile.
“I bring news of the war efforts against the enemy kingdom of Andras.” Amon notices Perseus’ smile, and loosens up a bit. His troops seem... Uneasy, as well. What’s happening?
“Well, we should see my father about that, shouldn't we?” Amon nods, and steps closer to Perseus.
“Shall I accompany you to your father’s throne room then?” Perseus has to hold back a giggle.
“Yes, Amon, you shall.” They’re both almost giggling now.
“Very well Your Highness.” At that, they make their way out of the stables and towards the castle. In through a back door, right past the throne room and… “Psst.. Quick in here. Maybe we can get a few moments alone.” Perseus steps into his own room, giggling a bit.
“Amon, this is my room.” Amon just chuckles.
“Yeah whatever. I swear you get some cruel satisfaction from watching me act all formal, and knightly.”
“I might.” Amon raises his eyebrows.
“You do, don’t you?”
“Alright, I do.”
“Oh, if only the kingdom knew how cruel the heir to the throne truly is.” Perseus just giggles. Amon joins him. “Speaking of formalities, is bowing and polite conversation how you greet your best friend since childhood? Give me a hug!” Perseus easily falls into Amon’s arms, taking comfort in the warm and strong embrace of his arms. He could feel Amon’s muscles, steady and unwavering, even through his armor.
He wished he could stay like this, forever. His presence was so comforting.
“Oh, I’ve missed you, Your Highness. Feels like an age since I’ve set foot within these walls. The war against Andras has been..” Amon hesitates, for far too long. “Taxing, to say the least. It’s actually rather urgent that I speak to your father as soon as possible. Speaking of which, how is the old royal majesty?” Perseus groans. “Still as grumpy as ever?”
“Gods, he’s only gotten worse since the war started.” Amon chuckles a little.
“Figured as much. We spent so many years playing together in this castle and I never saw him smile once. Ugh, and don’t even get me started on the silence! I mean I’ve never heard of a king who refuses to speak! He always has that creepy royal advisor Horace speak for him.”
“I know! I’ve never heard him speak in court, even during the war! And then he wonders why things never get done!”
“So weird. Well, I suppose if he did speak he wouldn’t have any kind words to say to me. I mean, it was one thing for a commoner like myself to be best friends with you, but when we were caught fooling around behind the stables,” Perseus blushes. That memory of Amon’s lips against his helped him sleep at night. “I honestly thought he’d have me on the executioner’s block by sundown!” Amon chuckles, and Perseus groans. He was happy that Amon could laugh about it, but it was traumatizing having to convince his father not to kill his best friend over a kiss. “I mean~ A commoner, and a royal, sharing their first kiss together! How scandalous!”
Perseus starts laughing, properly. Amon’s face was too dramatic, his tone too sarcastic.
“Gods, you have no idea how long it took me to get you out of all that trouble, Amon!”
“Yeah, well we tried explaining that we were just close friends,” Perseus raises his eyebrows. “Okay really close friends, but nothing saved me from six months of cleaning the very stables where we were caught at.” Amon gives a shy giggle, and Perseus joins him. “But life has a funny way of things working out. Years later, I enlisted as a knight, and I was to be sworn into your service. We were so excited that we couldn’t wait. We made our own oath that night! We swore that we would travel the world, and explore together.” Perseus remembered. They had been so excited. So happy to finally know that they could be together, if even as… Just friends. Perseus wanted more, but he didn’t say anything.
But now, Amon had seen so much more of the world than he had. Perseus was stuck here, in the castle, and Amon had crossed kingdoms a few times over.
“Of course, you did force me to add that our journey wouldn’t start until you could guarantee the safety of your kingdom. Oh, how the heart melts at your compassion and sense of duty your highness.” Amon gives a playfully evil little chuckle, and Perseus can’t help but notice the nervousness behind it. It wasn’t a natural chuckle, it was forced. Perseus doesn’t say anything.
“Oh buzz off Amon! I’m not gonna ditch my dad to take care of Andras by himself, especially not with his best knight~” Perseus smiles. “What… What have you been thinking of recently?” Perseus had been thinking of Amon. Too often to call it normal.
“I’ve been thinking about that night at the stables a lot. Especially since I joined the war against Andras. I’ve had a few near-death experiences now.” Perseus’s face falls. He hated that. Amon didn’t deserve any of this, but Perseus couldn’t argue much. He literally signed up for this afterall. “And each time, my mind always goes to you. To our years of friendship, to our oath…” Amon touches Perseus’s jaw, who’s blushing a crimson reed. “Our kiss.”
“Why are you saying?”
“I guess, what I’m trying to say is…” Perseus’s breath hitches as Amon takes a deep breath. “I think I’m in lo-”
Knock knock knock. Perseus groans. If Amon was saying what he thought he was saying, Perseus could have had a boyfriend by now.
“Oh for the love of-” Amon looks to the door, and sighs before going over there and opening the door. “Yes?”
“General Amon, sir, the king is waiting for you.” Renavik. Amon’s right hand man. He looks nervous. Perseus’s suspicion from earlier grows. Even Amon seemed on edge now.
“The king is ready for me?” Renavik nods, and Amon looks back at Perseus, who quickly pretends to not be listening. Amon’s voice drops to a whisper. “Is everything in place?”
What? Perseus freezes. The hell is that supposed to mean? He can’t see Renavik anymore, he moved away from the door, but he assumed he nodded or something.
“Good. Don’t worry, if the King is willing to see reason, we won’t even need them.” Need what? “Thank you. I’ll be there in a minute.” The door closes and Perseus looks up. “Your Highness,The King wishes to see me now. I promise that I’ll finish what I was going to say later.”
“I’m counting on it, General Amon. Do you want me to come with you?” Amon shakes his head.
“No. For now, can you please just promise me that you’ll stay in your room until I get back?” Perseus is very suspicious now. Amon always wants Perseus nearby, if possible. Perseus crosses his fingers behind his back.
“I promise.” Amon opens the door, and turns back to Perseus before he leaves.
“I’ll see you soon, okay?” Perseus nods, and Amon leaves. The prince waits until he can’t hear the clunk of armored feet walking away anymore. Then, he slips behind the curtain blocking the entrance his servants use to take care of his room. He’s done this before, so a simple shushing motion to the maids that look at him gets him past them.
He takes the back corridors to the throne room, and hides behind the open service door, peeking through the open slit.
“Your Royal Majesty, I beg you to see reason! Andras’s forces are far greater than we anticipated! They’re gathering reinforcements from neighboring kingdoms! We cut down one, and ten more take his place. Your Majesty, please. You have to see that this fight is lost! Announce the surrender.” Horace, the creep, speaks in response.
“We do not need to. We have reinforcements of our own.”
“What do you mean we have reinforcements coming from another kingdom? Our gold reserves are empty.” Horace just nods. “What did you trade for then?”
“A marriage has been arranged.”
“An arranged marriage? Horace, what do you mean, ‘Arranged Marriage’? Arranged to who?”
“Prince Perseus and Princess Calanthe of Lettenhove.” Perseus was not made aware of this. He almost bursts in, but refrains. He has an odd gut feeling. Amon turns back to the king.
“What? You’re auctioning him off like an animal? Your own child? What depth would you sink to in order to win this pointless war?!”
“Watch your tongue young man!”
“No Horace, I will not watch my tongue! I-, I can’t take this anymore! Watching this Kingdom fall into chaos and despair was bad enough, but this? This right here shows how desperate you are.” Perseus covers his mouth to muffle his breathing. He’s starting to panic. He’s basically been sold into marriage, his father won’t listen to the one man he entrusted with the title of General, and Amon acting odd about seeing the King.
Something big is happening, and Perseus was all wrapped up into it. Unwillingly, might he add.
“And since you’re out of options, Your Royal Majesty, and are unwilling to see reason enough to surrender, I’d like to suggest an idea of my own.” Perseus almost sighs in relief, but he’s glad he didn’t. It just got worse. “But first, let me take care of your guards.” He raises his right hand, fingers together. “Now!’
And Perseus watches as everyone except the King and Amon is slaughtered by Amon’s troops, hidden in the rafters. He suppresses a scream into his hand. Horace’s head rolls, and blood, as well as the scent of iron, drains from the numerous bodies.
“You see Your Royal Majesty, we don’t need you to announce the surrender. Just the current ruler of this kingdom. And the King of Andras, in exchange for removing you from your throne, has offered me a kingdom of my own.” Amon steps up to the throne, a smug look on his face. “Yours. To put it bluntly, Your Royal Majesty,” Amon draws his sword, and Perseus feels the tears fall. He turns away. He can’t watch anymore. He won’t watch his father die. No… “You’re sitting in my chair. I shall not ask again. Relinquish your hold of the throne, or I’ll relieve your head from your shoulders. I am King now. Your crown is mine.Your lands are mine. And your heir, is mine.”
What? Perseus turns to watch again, and quickly takes in the scene in front of him. Amon is holding the crown, having removed it from his father’s head, and the King (former King?) has been thrown to the floor. What was Amon talking about? ‘Your heir is mine’?
“And we shall rule together, as we were always meant to.” No. Did Amon think… Did Amon think it was okay to kill people like this? Just because Perseus wasn’t his yet? All he ever had to do was ask, and Perseus would have fallen into his arms with glee. Would have talked his father into allowing them to be married. He was the only one to ever get his father to see reason, it would have worked! “You’re a man of your word, and I respect that. So I give you my word that I shall take care of your heir and keep him safe. Just like when we were kids.”
Don’t say no, father please. He might kill you. Don’t make me watch you die! Father!
“Well, your royal majesty? What do you say?” Amon smiles, and Perseus cries. They both know that Amon gets what he wants from the king, no, Perseus’s father, whether he says yes or not. That’s all he is now, he’s not even King anymore.
“You are not worthy of my child.” NO! Amon, with a quickly fallen face and a grunt, beheads Perseus’s father. A servant comes up behind Perseus, and he jumps a little. She looks scared, and as they make eye contact he puts a finger to his mouth in a shushing motion.
Similar to what they had done not ten minutes ago. It was a cruel irony.
She walks into the room, and tries not to hyperventilate. Amon turns to her.
“You there, servant. Send a message to the king of Andras. Tell him that King Amon has fulfilled his end of the deal.” She nods, quickly, but Amon watches her leave. And catches Perseus’s eyes. “Someone is spying on us. Guards! Grab them.”
Shit. Perseus is frozen. He can’t move. He’s terrified. He allows the guards to drag him into the throne room, but lifts his head to face Amon as he’s forced to his knees.
“Y-... Your Highness? What- What are you doing here?”
“Why? Why did you kill them?”
“I told you to stay in your room!”
“WHY? Amon, you fucking killed my father, why?” Amon moves towards Perseus, who flinches and moves backwards.
“No, please don’t be scared. I did this for you. Your father was tearing us apart and sending you to be married off to some slimy princess!”
“That’s no excuse Amon! You MURDERED HIM!”
“He would never have approved of us! As long as he lived, we could never be together.”
“I don’t want you. You.. Monster.” Perseus lets the tears fall properly this time, sobbing as he stares at Amon, trying to ignore the still warm body of his father right next to him.
“Your Highness?” Perseus sobs, feeling the blood soak the knee of his pants, and seep through to touch his skin. “Don’t you see? The kingdom is safe now! Andras will accept the peace treaty and share it’s resources. We can end this stupid war, and finally begin our journey together! Just like we promised.”
“Forget that stupid promise! I never should have sworn anything to you!” Perseus yells, struggling now against the guards that prevented him from leaving.
“Why aren’t you happy? I’ve given you everything you could want! Freedom from a forced marriage, peace with Andras, your own damn kingdom on a silver platter for gods’ sake! Is that not enough for you?” Amon takes a deep breath, like he’s scared of his own words. “Am I not enough for you?
“You think I cared about that? I’m a fucking orphan now, thanks to you, he never even got to see my 18th, thanks to you! That’s all he ever wanted. To see me become a man, a King. And now he never will, AND IT’S YOUR FUCKING FAULT!” Perseus glares straight into Amon’s eyes, into his soul. “You killed him, and for what? My hand? Fuck off. You had a chance half an hour ago, but that’s gone now. You're not the Amon I fell in love with. Not anymore. The Amon I knew would have NEVER made a deal with the motherfucker sitting on the enemy throne!!”
“Wh-What are you…? Stop it! Stop staring at me like that! You don’t know what it was like on the battlefield! You don’t know what power Andras wields. We can’t possibly defeat them. The king of Andras gave me a chance to save you from sharing your father’s fate, and I took it. No matter the cost! Please, Your Highness.You have to understand why I did this. I care about you too much to watch you throw your life away, or give it to another for the sake of your father’s schemes! Your life is mine. A-And mine is yours! Now we can finally be of titles and politics and judgment, and just be together! Like we promised each other.”
“I wish you had let me share his fate. It would have been less painful than having to look at your disgusting face.” That was a lie. Amon’s face wasn’t disgusting, not in the slightest. He was gorgeous, even with his father’s blood splattered across his face. But the hurt that Perseus felt when he looked into the eyes of his father’s killer was unbearable. It made him want to scream out in agony.
“No, no, no no no I don’t understand! This isn’t how it was supposed to go! You’re supposed to be happy!”
“Happy? HAPPY? ARE YOU MAD? You want someone’s hand, you fucking ask for it. You don’t go killing a bunch of people!”
“Oh… I see. It’s your father’s fault, isn’t it?” Oh, he’s a proper madman now. “He’s been filling your head with poisonous words while I was fighting, dying for him. I gave him everything I had, and this is how I’m repaid?”
“My father was a better man than you could ever dream of being. My life will never be yours. Nor my hand. To me, you are nothing but a traitorous murderer, and I’ll have your head for this someday, mark my fucking words.”
“Well then, Your Highness. If I cannot have you as a friend, an equal, then I shall command you as my subject. Guards. Seize him.” Perseus is pulled from his knees on the ground, and his hands pulled behind his back. “Take our, former, Royal Highness to the dungeons.” Former? Take the crown off my head then, you bastard. “If there’s one thing I learned in the dungeons of Andras, it’s that everyone breaks eventually.”