Chapter Text
Once upon a time, in a small country called Hawkins, there were two kingdoms. Starlos, ruled by the Harrington Family, and Astrum, ruled by the Buckleys. These two kingdoms, though one much larger than the other, lived in harmony in the land, under the hopes that someday their heirs would marry and come together in a union of peace and power.
Starlos, the larger of the two, was a wondrous kingdom centered by a large castle atop a hill, one that overlooked the village and common people below. The entirety of the land was surrounded by a wall, one long overgrown by moss and vines.
And that’s where our story starts, with the only current heir of Starlos, Stephen Harrington, and his upcoming 18th birthday. The day he needs to start looking for a queen. That’s where 17-year-old Robin Buckley comes into frame. Prince Stephen is expected to woo and marry the girl as soon as her 18th birthday comes around, five months after his.
But Stephen and Robin don’t plan to be each other's Happy Ever After. Not when their story has only just begun.
—
A harsh knock awoke Steve from his slumber. He groaned, rolling out his bed and walking toward the door as his eyes adjusted to the light streaming through his window. When he opened it, he was met with the sight of Jonathan Byers, who stood with his back straight and eyes attentive.
“Good morning, Prince Stephen.” He greeted cheerfully, despite the tiredness that painted his pupils. “The King has requested you in the dining hall.”
Steve scoffed, running a hand through his messy hair. “Now, what did I say, Jonathan? You’ve known me for years, please, call me Steve.” He sauntered toward his dresser, throwing the doors open and inspecting the array of clothes thoughtfully. “What shall I wear for this… beckoning?”
Jonathan shrugged, biting his lip anxiously. “It is only your father, Prince… Steve.” He began, but Steve stopped him.
“Please, just Steve works fine, thank you. “Prince” makes me sound like a God-damned... Well, a Prince!” He sifted through his clothes, hands stopping on a silk white button up with gold leaves sewn into the sleeves. Looking back, he raised his eyebrows at Jonathan, who was standing awkwardly in the center of the room. “You may be excused.” He said with a sigh, wiggling his fingers out in front of him. Jonathan nodded before promptly leaving.
Turning back to his clothes, Steve grabbed a simple pair of black pants that fit snugly around his waist. He pulled off his night outfit and slipped on the new one, glancing at himself in the mirror.
“Somethings missing.” He muttered to himself, fiddling with the top button of his shirt until it popped open, revealing a small section of his upper chest. Smiling at himself, Steve nodded. “Perfect.” He said, before turning on his heel and heading reluctantly toward the dining hall.
He swung the large wooden doors open, leaving them to band against the walls and make a noise that echoed around the spacious room. “I was summoned?” He said with a smile, before remembering who he was talking to. “I mean, good morning, Father. Good morning, Mother. You asked to see me?” He attempted to recover, smile fading as he made eye contact with his father at the head of a large table.
“Stephen.” The King spoke, words booming loudly around the room. “Have you thought about our conversation?”
Nodding, Steve swallowed. This throat suddenly felt thick, weighed down with pressure. “I haven’t decided yet,” he responded nervously.
His fathers glare only worsened at his words. “Well, then,” he started, adjusting his collar, “it’s too late. I said you had until this morning to decide. Your 18th birthday is in a week, and you will have a ball, with all the fairest maidens for you to pick from. You will look over them, and you will keep Princess Robin in mind as well. I expect no complaints.”
Steve nodded lamely. “Yes, father. May I go now?” He wasn’t hungry anymore.
“Yes,” his father said. As he left, the loud, chilling voice followed him. “Don’t get into any trouble, Stephen!”
With a sigh, Steve made it out the door and kicked at the first rock he saw on the path in front of him. Laughter came from the nearest tree, and he peered toward them to see some of the newly appointed knights, Tommy, Jason, and Billy. Three people he only knew from the constant snickering behind his back and from the way they treated the townspeople so poorly.
Steve hurried past them, ignoring their jeering. He rushed into the kitchen, greeted by Nancy Wheeler, one of the head chefs, as well as someone who helped around the castle often. On the counter next to her was a basket of cookies and a book, which Steve reached for immediately.
Nancy slapped at his hand. “What do we say?”
He rolled his eyes at her. “Thank you, Lady Nancy. I will forever be at your service,” he said with a mocking bow. She shook her head at him before swatting in his direction with a towel.
“Have fun, you heathen!” she called as he rushed out the door and down the hill toward the village. He didn’t stop until he reached the kingdom walls, settling against the brick and ducking his head. His fingers skimmed the book Nancy had picked out for him, slowly becoming engrossed with the romance that danced across the page.
Footsteps approached him, and out of the corner of his eye he saw a hand reach for the basket of cookies.
He laughed. “Are you not going to greet me?” he asked, and the hand froze, pulling away slowly. Looking up, he was greeted by the face of Dustin Henderson, one of the village kids that Steve often found himself visiting, as an escape from the royal life. “Are you alone today?”
Dustin shook his head and let out two high pitched whistles. A group of children rushed out from behind one of the closest houses, and he took a quick count in his head of how many there were.
First came the Byers siblings, William and Jane, followed by Nancy’s brother Micheal, and Lucas and Erica Sinclair. And one more girl than normal, with auburn hair that hid her eyes.
“You’re Maxine, right?” he asked. “Billy’s sister?”
She nodded. “It’s Max.”
Smiling, Steve held the basket out toward her. “Well, Max. Want a cookie?” She took one, and then passed the basket around to the rest of the group, who flocked to it like ravenous beasts. Steve only chuckled and turned back to his book.
When he looked back up, the basket only had one cookie left. “Christ, okay,” he said, taking it before anyone else could. “I’ll tell Nancy you liked them.” As he raised the cookie to his mouth, a strong gust of wind blew toward him, knocking it into the air. It landed on his lap and he shrugged, lifting it to his mouth and taking a bite.
After he finished it, he went back to reading, and the kids went back to chatting. Something shifted under him, and he looked at his arm to see one of the vines from the wall wrapping around his skin.
“What the hell!” he yelped, shaking his arm. The vine only grew tighter.
Dustin looked over at him and screamed, causing the vine to retract from his arm. “What the hell was that?” he asked, but before Steve could respond, a voice echoed from behind him.
“Hush, darling,” it said, and Steve’s eyes widened in panic.
“Did you guys hear that?” he asked.
Lucas shrugged at him. “It was probably just the wind, Steve.”
But Steve shook his head firmly. “No. No, that was a person.” He stood, trying and failing to peer over the tall barrier that separated them from the outside of the kingdom. Leaning back down, he looked for a crack in the wall, for anything that might seem out of the ordinary. The vines squirmed again, but this time he didn’t jump away. He kept looking, looking, looking, and suddenly was met with what looked like a deep, brown eye peering at him.
Screaming, he fell backward, the kids rushing to his side. A deep, soft voice came from the other side of the wall. “That’s what you get for taking the cookie.”
Staring at the wall in awe, Steve stood up straighter. “Who are you?” he asked, nerves causing his hands to shake at his sides. “I’ll report you to the King!”
“No you won’t,” said the voice with a laugh.
Steve raised an eyebrow. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Oh, relax,” purred the voice. “Can I come in? I’m hungry. I promise I won’t hurt you.”
“How would you even get over here?” Steve asked fearfully. There was a pause from behind the wall, and all was silent. Then the voice spoke once more, this time from behind the group.
“Like this! Steve whipped around to see a boy around his height, with long, curly brown hair. He was wearing a black and purple cloak, and despite the dirt that coated his skin, there was something rather charming about his presence. He was what Steve would call pretty, if he had to put a word to it. “Impressed?”
“Who-who are you?” Steve demanded, pushing the kids behind him. “How are you here? You shouldn’t be here.” He was panicking. No one ever just appeared from outside the walls like that. Not without being known, or invited, or checked at the gate.
The boy laughed, extending a hand adjourned with rings in Steve's direction. “The names Eddie. Eddie Munson. Pleasure to meet you, Your Highness.” He bent his knees to mimic a bow.
Steve, despite himself, blushed. “You need to leave,” he said to him, before turning to the kids. “And you aren’t to say a word about this, understand me? Now, go.” They nodded and rushed home, leaving Steve to turn back toward Eddie. “Look. I don’t know where you came from, or who you are, but you need to leave. Before I have to call for someone.”
Eddie frowned. “Please, Prince Stephen. Let me explain myself first. I don’t have anywhere to go. People want me dead, and I haven’t eaten in a week. Please.”
With a sigh, Steve glanced up at the castle. “Come with me. And take that cape off.”
Eddie did as he was told and followed Steve, the two of them taking the back paths in order to not be noticed. When they reached the kingdom, Steve knocked three times on one of the doors, and was quickly greeted by Nancy.
“Steve! Welcome back. How were the-” she froze, her eyes falling on Eddie. “Who’s this?”
“Nancy, I’m going to need an extra set of bedding, if you can arrange it,” he said, ignoring her question in case someone was listening. She nodded and ushered Eddie inside, leaving Steve to walk back to his room alone.
He waited until Nancy got there, and when she did, she wheeled in a large cart with bedding and other clothes draped over it. Wheeling it into the room, Eddie fell out of the lower section and onto the ground. Nancy rolled her eyes and groaned.
“The things I do for you, Stephen Harrington,” she said as she headed out the door, leaving Steve alone with a stranger.