Chapter Text
Severus hated royal gatherings. Even more so when circumstances were dubious. For all he knows, it's some 'random formal annual banquet'
"Be patient, boy," says his mother, Queen Eileen, as she watched her son grow restless and frustrated in their ballroom overseeing the decorations together. "I am sure you'll like the festivities. Besides, you haven't seen Lily in years, I'm sure she misses you."
"Of course she does," snided Severus, "flirting with a neighboring Duke and leaving me in the dust for four years and suddenly she misses me."
Lily was a daughter of a powerful duke, and James Potter was the Prince of that kingdom, the boy who happened to catch her eye. Lily could've done a bit better, but Severus can't judge. For some reason, the Gryffindor Prince holds a grudge against him— Severus hasn't even done anything except be friends with her.
The Queen remained silent after that and moved to other affairs.
The palace was filled with flowers of green, silver, and champagne and cream white— a typical scene for a royal banquet. Soon after guests piled in, it was filled with music, conversations, and politics. Most of which bored Seveus greatly (except politics, he could go on for hours discussing each kingdom's flaws and then his own).
Once inside, Severus, in his ever formal Slytherin green robes (forced into it by his mother, of course), he hadn't noticed Lily had made her way to the front of the ballroom, unintentionally saving him from greeting a nervous, blabbering baron. Once he left and they locked eyes, Lily's eyes filled with glee.
"Sev!" She greeted, "So glad you could make it! I haven't seen you in years!" She said, though there was something else in her voice Severus couldn't quite name. Severus smiled back at her, and shot a glance at her sister, Petunia, who looked awfully bored. "I'm very glad you two could make it."
"Ah, I see the Snake Prince has decided to coerce a poor princess into marriage, I see." Chimed in a voice from behind. It didn't take the kingdom's best detectives to know who the voice belonged to. Prince James Potter, Prince of Gryffindor. Their kingdoms weren't enemies, but they weren't exactly allies, either. "Got bored brooding by yourself now?"
"...So nice to 'see' you, Potter." He said, eyeing him up and down. James was in his typical, flashy, Gryffindor colored robes. Severus also didn't miss the way Lily's lips nearly curled into a smile and Petunia shooting them both a glare of envy.
"For the record, I do not know who—"
A sound of a wine glass clinking stopped their conversation, as they turned towards the grand staircase in the front, where his mother the Queen stood, as well as the Duke of Gryffindor, and Lily's father. Oh no, is this...
Severus wasn't exactly listening amidst his panic, but his mind seemed to clear up in the worst possible moment.
"...it is my privilege to announce that my son, Prince Severus, shall be wed to Lady Evans, daughter of the Duke of Gryffindor." Spoke the Queen's voice.
It was impossible to have misheard that, the Queen's voice was loud and clear. Panic welled up inside Severus as all eyes turned to him. Most eyes were a blurry scene of congratulations, but Lily's and Petunia's were in clear shock, and anger of Potter.
After a beat of silence and expectant gazes fell onto him, all Severus could muster was a weak- "Wh— What?"
"Wait, no I—"
"What's the matter, dear boy? I thought you'd be delighted." Chimed in Sir Evans, the Duke.
"It's— it's not that—"
"Then it's settled. The wedding shall take place in two months." Spoke the Queen's voice once again, and the entire banquet, save for the four of them still in shock, erupted in cheers.
"Sev..." Said Lily, who wasn't nearly as concerned with this arrangement as he was. Potter looked angry.
Without thinking straight, Severus bolted. He didn't know where, he just needed out.
"Did you— oi, Prince!" Yelled out Potter, close behind him.
Severus ran past through the thick crowd, hardly stopping. When he burst open the doors to a balcony, the first thing on his mind was to take a leap.
He messily climbed over the marble railings, shut his eyes, and jumped, not bothering to look down for anyone passing by— it might've been better if he died on the spot, anyway— he never wanted to take Lily in the first place.
He felt himself crash into one of the bushes with a thud, He heard Potter's voice call out for him in anger, something about stealing or whatever. Eventually the voice faded away— he might try to find him soon.
Severus tried to lift himself off the ground, but his wrist hurt terribly. He hissed in pain, clutching his wrist. He needed to escape though, and he couldn't move- did he just hear a groan underneath him?
A cold, metal hand gently grabbed his waist, "Uh... your highness...?" Mumbled the voice. Severus couldn't see his face clearly, but he could recognize the voice. It was Mulciber, the Head of the Royal Guards, and the former Army General's son. Severus sat up abruptly, and he was now made aware he was sitting on him.
Surprised, Severus moved away, embarrassed. "Sir Bruce!" He said in a hushed voice. "Did I land on you? Are you hurt? Did—"
"I'm alright, Your Highness." He said, struggling to sit up straight. Severus helped him get out of the silver chestplate he wore to sit up properly. "You fell a good twenty feet before you used me as a cushion. Never been better." Severus cheeks flushed. "Right... sorry about that."
"But why did you run? I thought your party was going well." He tilted his head slightly. "Well, no," he confessed. "I found out I'm marrying Lily."
"I see..."
"And Potter's probably chasing me as we speak."
Bruce didn't respond to that. "I thought you liked Evans?"
Severus was stunned. "What? No, she's only a friend."
Bruce looked away for a moment, silent. Severus, however, had a time constraint of ten seconds to run before Potter kills him.
"Okay, look, I know this'll sound weird—" that sentence alone captured Bruce's attention. "—but I need to hide. Run away, if need be. Before Potter sees me. He thinks I took Lily from her and—"
"Alright, alright." He said, sighing. The grip on his waist tightened. "Can you stand?"
Bruce stood up first before helping Severus up, and when he tried to walk, he felt a surge of pain shoot from his ankle and straight to his brain. He nearly fell again, but Bruce caught him in time. "Must've been from the fall.." Severus mumbled. He was getting a little nervous— he could hear the footsteps of Potter and at least five other guards searching for him. "They're—!"
Without much to say, Bruce scopped him up, bridal style. His strength was... impressive, he carried the Prince as if he weighed like nothing.
"Wait a minute—!"
"We don't have a choice, your highness, you wanted to hide? Run away, you said? We're running. I'm not going to listen to you complain about this, since you can't currently walk." And with that, he bolted. Severus had to wrap his arms around his neck and cling on for dear life. Potter and the five Gryffindor guards were close behind them.
They managed to sneak past the guards, over the gate, and into the woods, where the voices of frantic guests and urgent guards faded away, and was soon replaced by the crunching of leaves under Bruce's boots and slowing footsteps. TBC.