Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Every day he saw the looks, the rude comments about his appearance and nature. It was bad enough he was a bastard child; it was even worse he was part elf. Due to this, he often hid away from the nobles. In the gardens, when they weren’t partying, it was just the servants out here.

He was lying down in his favorite floral patch, a place most of the gardeners didn’t go until later in the day since it was so sunny.

“Hey doofus! Wake up!” A familiar voice shouted down at him.

Vylad squinted his eyes and sat up slightly. He quickly made out the figure and rolled his eyes.

“I wasn’t sleeping. You don’t have to shout at me.” Vylad pulled his knees to his chest as the person collapsed down next to him.

“If you yell, the gardeners will come, and then I actually have to talk to them.” He added, glancing to the left at the boy next to him.

Zenix Rhydderch, son of Sorin The Ruby Arrow. The only reason Zenix was even at the palace gardens in the first place was because Sorin was Zianna’s personal guard. Any other family of the Jury of Nine’s members normally would stay in their own homes.

And due to Zenix and Vylad’s similar ages and the fact that Zenix was the only other kid who didn’t look at Vylad in disgust, naturally they were friends.

“You’re so weird, who the hell just sunbathes all day? Weirdos, that’s who.” Zenix spoke loudly and rudely as usual.

Zenix shifted and properly sat next to Vylad, sprawling out his legs on the grass and narrowing his eyes at the sun. Vylad, in turn, just rolled his eyes at Zenix’s comments and movements.

“Just tell me what you want already. Also, you’re the weird one.” Vylad spoke as he closed his eyes and laid back down.

Zenix groaned, “You’re so boring!” He trailed off and pushed Vylad into the grass with a huff. “C’mon, let’s just do something fun! I’m so bored!”

Vylad rolled his eyes and sat up again, pushing Zenix back. “I preferred when you thought I was disgusting like everyone else.”

“Don’t worry. Me too. Now c’mon, let’s do something!” He said cockily as he pushed Vylad again, making him fall in the grass harshly.

Vylad rolled his eyes before finally sighing and standing up. He looked back at Zenix on the floor and nodded his head to the side.

“Fine. Come on. Let’s go do something stupid you decided was a good idea.”

“Finally! Let’s fucking go!” Zenix said excitedly as he jumped up from the ground and quickly caught up to Vylad.

“Stop cursing!”

Chapter Text

That was essentially his everyday life for the next three years; occasionally he’d have days with his mother, but it wasn’t often.

Then it all fell apart. It all started a week before his thirteenth birthday; the rumors spread faster than Vylad could blink. He was going to die.

The first he heard of it was straight from his own older brother. He had been in the garden, avoiding everyone and everything as he always did, until Zane approached him.

“Vee-Vee!” Zane spoke in a taunting tone as he stood over Vylad with a devilish grin.

“What do you want?” Vylad responded in a harsh tone, probably because Zane hated him with everything in him.

“Dad’s gonna kill you!”

Vylad’s eyes widened at the words as he quickly sat up and searched Zane’s face for any clues that he was lying. None. Everything indicated he was telling the truth.

“People have been talking about how weak he is for letting his wife’s bastard children live to adulthood! So he’s gonna kill you!” Zane spoke with a giggle as he paced around Vylad.

“Liar. Mom won’t let him.”

“He’s going to get someone else to do it. Obviously, what are you, stupid?”

“…no. And I still don’t believe you. King Garte wouldn’t do that,” he responded sternly, but he obviously wasn’t confident in his answer.

Zane just hummed in response and turned his back, hands pressed together behind his back. “You’ll believe me when you’re pulled apart by assassins. I just wanted to warn you.”

Vylad let his face fall as Zane disappeared; he clutched the grass under him. Panic filled his senses, one thought prevalent.

He was no longer safe here.

It’s not like he believed Zane; it wouldn’t happen. His mom would protect him, but with Garroth gone at Guard school, he wouldn’t be safe with Zane.

What if he tried to kill him with assassins? He couldn’t stay here any longer. But it’s not like he could just leave.

He rushed towards the palace, pushing past servants until he finally got to Zenix’s room, quickly opening the door and closing it behind him.

“Dude?” Zenix spoke, confused, as he sat up from his bed and looked at Vylad with a suspicious look.

Vylad leaned against Zenix’s door and looked up at him, panting heavily.

“I can’t stay here—” Vylad quickly spoke in one breath as he tried to calm himself.

“What? Like in my room or what?” Zenix put his hands on his hips and tilted his head.

“No—no, like I’m gonna die if I stay in O’Khasis.”

“What?!” His only friend yelled suddenly, his eyes widening.

“I think Zane is going to kill me. I gotta, like… leave,” Vylad explained in the simplest of terms. It’s not like he’d be the first royal in his family to run away, and since no one but his mother, brother, and Zenix cared for him, he wouldn’t exactly be missed.

“Hold on, hold on—he’s going to what?!”

“Kill me. He told me Dad is gonna do it, but like… I think he’s doing it instead,” Vylad explained further, which only seemed to confuse Zenix more.

“Okay… I’m gonna pretend like you’re making total sense. Why is he going to kill you? How can he anyway?” Zenix asked, trying to clear his own confusion.

“I’m making my dad look bad because I’m a bastard child, and I think he’s gonna assassinate me.”

“Right. Okay, that sucks. Like badly.”

“Yeah.”

“…So you’re running away?” Zenix asked as he eyed Vylad.

“Yeah, or something like that. I don’t know how I could, but I definitely can’t stay here,” Vylad answered as he actually stood up and got off the door.

“Cool. Do you need my help?”

“I don’t even know what I’m going to do. But I don’t want you to be roped into this,” Vylad trailed off and scratched the back of his head.

“You’ve got a good life ahead of you,” he added.

Zenix laughed and rolled his eyes, “Yeah, right. Just 'cause my dad is part of the Jury doesn’t mean I’m set. Plus, being in the Jury is dumb.”

“It’s good work, Zenix. I don’t want to ruin your chances of going to guard school,” Vylad spoke, but thoughts ran through his head faster than he could control.

“Yeah, yeah. I’m still helping you. Let’s think of a plan.”

After a moment, Vylad smiled and gave in to Zenix. They sat on his bed basically all day, just thinking of ways for Vylad to get out. To escape. To live.

Chapter Text

He woke one day before his birthday. He got his bags packed. Well, bag, just a small pack full of clothes and water. Zenix got him food in another bag.

He met up with him at 4 am, before all the royals and nobles woke. He got strange glances from every guard still on night duty as he rushed to their meeting spot.

The garden.

“Zen!” Vylad whisper-yelled as he tried to find him, jumping up slightly as he felt a hand on his back.

Zenix laughed and handed him the second bag. “You’re so easy to scare.”

“Uh-huh. I know. Now I gotta go before the guards come back out,” Vylad spoke with urgency, before he looked at Zenix. He immediately saw the face he didn’t want to see.

“I told you I was coming.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“No—I’m not letting you throw away your life at the ripe age of 13!” Vylad said firmly as he shook his head.

“It’s not throwing my life away. I’m protecting my best friend. You won’t make it alone,” Zenix responded in the same tone as he stood his ground.

“I’ll be fine, Zenix. Just—” Vylad groaned and shook his head. “Stay here.”

“I’m coming with you.”

“No, you’re not! Zenix, please,” Vylad pleaded.

“Everyone here sucks! Everyone wants me to be just like my father! I hate it. Just let me come with you.”

“No.” Vylad continued with his belief Zenix would be better here. Mainly because he would. He’d give in to the pressures and realize his life would be good as a guard.

Zenix groaned as he suddenly hugged Vylad, holding him tightly. Vylad, on the other hand, shot him a confused look but hugged back.

“You know it’s for the bet—”

“I’m in love with you.” Zenix cut him off and hugged him firmly.

Vylad’s eyes widened in shock, and he pulled away, blushing slightly as he stared at Zenix in disbelief.

“No, you’re not.”

“What—yes, I am?”

“I’m going.” Vylad turned away from Zenix and started walking quickly.

“What?! Vylad, you can’t do this.” Zenix grabbed his arm.

“Go live your life, Zenix,” Vylad basically commanded harshly as he pulled his arm away. And he ran. Fast.

“Vylad!” Zenix chased after him but quickly realized that the other teenager’s adrenaline was carrying him faster. But he followed him through the forest anyway.

“Vylad!” He screamed out again as he looked around, lost in the forest that the garden had turned into. He looked away, unable to find his best friend.

But Vylad was long gone, running as fast as his legs could carry him. Quickly making it to the border of the palace walls.

He had never been out there. The gardens were as far as he ever went. He began climbing; he couldn’t go up the ladder in fear he’d be shot down. He finally made it up to the top.

He wheezed and panted as he stared down at the stone ground. His knuckles bloody as he clung to his heart through his shirt and skin.

“May Irene forgive you.” A voice spoke suddenly. Vylad looked up only for a sword to be stabbed through him.

He felt it pierce his skin, blood coughing up out of him. He reached out and clawed at the sword. Tears filled his eyes as he saw Sorin, Zenix’s own father, stab him.

He tried to speak but the pain was unbearable as he screamed out and cried for help. No guards turned their heads. He died. His heart stopped.