Chapter Text
Jaswant's scream of rage and sorrow lingered and echoed throughout the hall. The Shindhurans' mutterings were low, full of uncertainty and some in shame. Shame in Gadevi's followers that without question acted on orders to attack the Parsians, the king and his true successor after the Duel Before the Gods; even more so when the Black Knight's speech rang true through Gadevi's men after the brief hesitation when Grand Vizier Mahendra was struck down. Such fools they were to think they could overthrow the sacred battle's outcome!
"The battle has been decided," King Karikala II's solemn voice rang out, despite being bed-ridden for quite a time, there was not a hint of fatigue in his words. The soldiers subconsciously dropped their battle stance, adrenaline seeped out of their bodies. "The second prince, Rajendra, will ascend the throne after my reign. Take the bodies and prepare for a funeral for those who have passed. They are still Shindra's men, She will want a proper farewell."
Jaswant lifted his face and nodded gratefully to the king. At the very least he could give his adopted father a proper burial, not as a traitor. He released his grip on his adopted father's hands and raised an arm to wipe the remnants of tears away. Jaswant left with other soldiers to fetch stretchers to transport the bodies.
"Ghais, please escort Prince Arslan and his company to the guest's chamber." Rajendra gestured to his attendant. "We have caused enough trouble."
Gieve stepped forward to follow Ghais but stopped at Arslan's words. "Thank you, Prince Rajendra for your kind consideration. However, Ghais can you direct me to the medical wing? I will head over there by myself so you can lead the others to rest."
Narsus smiled, "Your Highness, you should rest when you can. Daryun has had much worse injuries than this, he would want you to wait with us rather than seeking him out alone."
Narsus and Farangis shared a fond glance as Arslan tilted his head in thought over the so-called painter's words. They knew that he would still want to see Daryun as his face grew more worried about the knight.
Farangis laid a hand on Arslan's shoulder before he could protest, "Fear not Lord Narsus, I shall accompany His Highness to see Lord Daryun." Her smiled tinted with humour, "I doubt Lord Daryun would like to have foreign hands treat his wounds, perhaps with us there he will be more agreeable." She squeezed Arslan's shoulder in comfort when her statement, meant in jest, caused Arslan to vibrate in worry. If she didn't have a hand on him, he surely would've bolted to find Daryun.
Gieve held a hand over his heart, "Ah, dear Lady Farangis-"
"I trust His Highness in your care, Lady Farangis," Narsus cut in. He patted Gieve's back and pushed him in the opposite direction, "We shall take our leave and await for the three of you." Elam and Alfreed both patted Gieve's shoulders and laughed at his dejected expression.
Ghais gave directions to the medical wing before leading the others. Arslan and Farangis headed over, Farangis's alert eyes watching all the soldiers they passed in caution.
"Thank you, Farangis."
"Whatever for?"
Arslan huffed out a laugh and quickened his pace. He trusted Farangis would not mind his hurry. The two swiftly made their way to their destination, Farangis nodded at the guards to open the door and was met with a comical sight.
"No, it's fine. I can handle this wound myself." Daryun protested with his hands up, slowly backing up from the female healer. Really, a man that toppled a beast in human skin was afraid of a female touching his person, Farangis didn't know whether to laugh or to hold a hand to her head in disbelief.
"Daryun!" Arslan hurried to the knight's side, face scrunched in worry. "Are you alright? How do you feel?"
"Your Highness!" Daryun made a move to bow but twitched as his sides protested against the movement. Arslan stopped him from bowing and gently moved the larger man to sit on a seat.
"I see that Lady Farangis was correct," Arslan sighed in a disapproving manner. He scanned the room and found a basin of water with a cloth, grabbing it he wrung out the excess water and dabbed lightly on the head wound. The wound was shallow and had already clotted, but there were dirt smears and Arslan took care to clean his friend's head.
Farangis hid a smile behind her hand as Daryun became very still and had left his mouth gaping at his prince. She nodded at the pouting healer and motioned for her to leave, her services wouldn't be needed as Daryun cannot lower his guard in foreign hands, even more so with a female.
"Y-Your Highness! You do not need to-I can treat myself!"
Arslan batted away Daryun's hands, he sternly looked at Daryun, "Lady Farangis had said you would be uncomfortable with strangers treating your wounds. I would feel at ease if you would allow me to look at your injuries."
"But-!"
"The sooner you let His Highness treat you Lord Daryun, the faster we can all rest after a long day." Farangis cut in. Arslan smiled in thanks and finished cleaning the dirt from Daryun's head. Following Farangis' advice, he applied an ointment to reduce bruising and infection and nodded in satisfaction at his work.
Daryun slowly raised from his seat, "Now that we are done..."
Arslan quirked an eyebrow up, "No, we are not. You took a hit to your side from the back of the battle axe. Please remove your armour Daryun."
"Um." Daryun looked beseechingly at Farangis for help but was met with a shake of her head. "Your Highness..."
"Daryun," Arslan's shoulders slumped a bit, but his eyes looked back in determination. "I have made the grave mistake in doubting you during your fight. Instead of placing faith in your abilities, I let fear cloud me and threatened our ally. Narsus had told me my stateliness would be tested and I have failed." He smiled ruefully, "I know this is not the worst injury you have faced so far, but it has been the first time I've seen you injured this much during our travels. Please let me see, Daryun."
Daryun tilted his head in confusion when Arslan mentioned threatening their ally, he directed all his concentration to the fight so he didn't hear the threat. Honestly he didn't think his prince had it in him to threaten someone.
"I believe it was 'if Daryun should die, I will hang your head and the head of that monster in front of the castle gates'." Farangis commented lightly. "I have to say Your Highness, Prince Rajendra looked quite frightened."
"Your Highness!" Daryun looked in shock at Arslan. The prince had a wonderful shade of red blossoming across his cheeks, but he stared back defiantly at Daryun.
"Your armour, Daryun."
Perhaps in shock that his gentle prince had made such a frightening promise if his death occurred, Daryun obediently unbuckled his armour. He let out a sigh of relief as the heavy weight was lifted from his body, and lifted up his shirt.
Arslan hissed in sympathy as Daryun revealed the bruising already forming along the side of the ribs. "Lady Farangis, could you check if any of Daryun's ribs are fractured or broken?"
"Understood." Farangis crouched down and gently prodded Daryun's side. In the midst of checking, she noted how Daryun did not let a sound of pain slip from his lips and how his eyes glanced at Arslan to see his reaction to her prodding. She snorted quietly, men and their refusal to show pain she thought.
But if it was to give Arslan a piece of mind, she couldn't really blame him. It was the first time she had seen Arslan that much in distress. She leaned back and placed her hands on her lap. The prince looked at her worriedly, "Is Daryun alright? Did you find anything?"
"Lord Daryun is merely bruised, Your Highness. A nice, hot soak and rest for a couple of days shall suffice." Her lips quirked into a tiny smile at how relieved Arslan looked, she also added an afterthought, "And no strenuous activities."
"I shall ask an attendant if there is a bathing room we can use right away." The prince hummed, placing a hand on his chin in thought. "Daryun is always up to train at the break of dawn, perhaps someone should sleep in the same room with him to make sure he doesn't sneak out?"
"That won't be necessary."
"That sounds like a lovely idea, Your Highness."
Daryun threw a betrayed looked at the priestess. Farangis could only smile as Arslan beamed at her, glad that someone agreed with his plan.
"Your Highness..." Daryun shifted uneasily, it was rare for nobility to go this far for their subordinate. But then again, he had never met such a kind soul like Arslan.
"Daryun, indulge me until you are fully recovered." Arslan smiled softly, "Until now I have never doubted you, but today has been a reminder for me that everyone is still human. I fear today will not be the last day where myself or our comrades will be injured."
"As you wish, Your Highness."
"And..." Arslan looked hopefully at Daryun, "Perhaps addressing myself as simply Arslan?"
Farangis raised an eyebrow while Daryun, again, gaped at the prince. "Your Highness I cannot-!"
"You have advised me, protected me, and are one of my most trusted companions. Surely we have reached the level where we can address each other without ranks?"
"I would never-!" Daryun hastily corrected himself at Arslan's crestfallen look. "I have been raised to properly address those who deserve their ranks, it is not a habit I can break easily."
"But have I deserved my rank?" Arslan asked quietly. Farangis slipped out of the room. This was a talk between master and servant, there was no need for her to listen. She could make herself useful and see if baths could be drawn up for Daryun.
"Time and time again I have been saved by our comrades. I am constantly told to follow my path to be a worthy king, yet I do not know if I am on the right path." Arslan continued. "I fear one day my actions will cause you to all leave me."
Daryun adjusted his shirt and slowly sank down to one knee, minding his ribs. He held on hand over his heart, mimicking the night on top of the watch tower days ago. "Your Highness, I shall always repeat this until it is, forgive my expression, beaten into your head. Your Highness is my liege and of the greatest importance to me. I will serve no one but you."
"Daryun..." Arslan could do nothing else but smile and accept the growing warmth in his chest from Daryun's vow. "You will still accompany me, despite carelessly ordering you to wager your life for another man's purpose?"
"If it is Your Highness' orders, I will fulfill it." Daryun smirked, "I trust my abilities to not fail you."
"And who can I trust but Daryun?" Arslan murmured, Daryun felt his pride grow at the trust the prince had in him. "Daryun, in the future I may give orders that will endanger your life; but amongst my orders I give you one that will always take precedence, understood?"
Daryun nodded
"Then I, Arslan, order Shirghir Daryun, that in any situation where your life is in danger, to retreat no matter what your first order was." Arslan held his palm up to pause Daryun's objections. "Your pride is not even comparable to your life. I hope in the future there will be no situations that will endanger you, but if there are, please retreat and fight another day. Come back to me alive."
Daryun stared up in almost bewilderment. The life of a servant is nothing compared to a master, this was taught to him since he was young. To have his liege order him to come back to him alive...even if a servant was valuable to the master at some point there would be sacrifices to obtain goals. Surely it would be more wise to order Narsus, the tactician, to come back alive. Daryun, ultimately he thought, was brawn over brains.
But His Highness did not see him in that light.
He saw a devoted friend instead.
"If I may compromise, Your Highness," Daryun began, choosing his words carefully, "I will take your order as my second precedence. My first precedence will always to protect Your Highness from any danger."
Arslan blinked, "But I do not want your life over mine, we would not be equals then."
Daryun let out a bark of laughter, quickly coughing into his fist to regain his composure. "Forgive me Your Highness, but from the beginning we were not equals. If this were chess, you would be the king and I the knight. You always protect the king."
"But how awful the end result would be, if only the king were to be alive."
"Then how about you compromise and keep each other alive?" Farangis stepped back into the room. She interrupted knowing this conversation would drag on forever, both of them were quite stubborn. "On the way to Peshawar you already have done so."
"To put His Highness in such danger-"
"That is a wonderful idea!"
Daryun sighed, knowing he would be unable to change the prince's mind at the moment. Perhaps another time he could rectify Arslan's orders, it would not do to put His Highness in dangerous situations.
"Now that has been settled, the baths are ready for you Lord Daryun." Farangis shared.
"Wonderful!" Arslan clapped his hands, he gently grabbed Daryun's arm to lift him out of his kneel. To Daryun's mortification, he did not let go. "Come now Daryun, you must quickly soak."
"Ah, Your Highness, I can reach the baths by myself..."
"Nonsense! I can help you grab your washing necessities. I saw how careful you were with your ribs. Bending down and reaching for items cannot be comfortable with that size of bruising."
"Your Highness..."
Farangis waited until the two left the room before laughing out loud.