Chapter Text
Once upon a time there was a young prince, stranded in the middle of a crystal lake.
Although the lake was breathtaking in its beauty, and although many would wander by to admire it, none ever dared wade into its depths or break its mirrored surface. And so, although the prince was surrounded by the perfect reflections of his people, he was always left alone.
Then one day, a bird flew by. Unlike the others, the bird wasn't afraid to get his feet wet, nor did he care overly much about the serenity of the lake. Instead, the bird flapped his way across the pool, and when he could find no place to land, splashed down into the cool waters and paddled over to where the prince dwelled.
'What're you doing all by yourself?' the bird asked, 'Come on, let's go have some fun.'
'You don't understand. I'm trapped here,' the prince said. 'There isn't any way for me to leave the lake.'
'Sure there is!' insisted the bird, stretching out his feathers. 'You just follow me. Uh, but you might have to give me a boost first.'
Uncertain though he was, the prince scooped the bird up into the palm of his hand and held him aloft. With a flap of his wings, the bird flew into the air, waiting for the prince to join him. Sure enough, when the prince took a careful step out onto the lake, he found that he could walk across its surface. The prince was at last free, and he followed the bird all the way to the shoreline.
And from that day forward, the bird and the prince became good friends.
But that isn't the end of the story.
“Father!” Richard threw wide the door, aware too late that his outburst was inappropriate of Windor’s crowned prince. Richard’s heart still drummed in his chest thanks to the brisk pace he had set through Barona’s bustling streets, his throat parched with fear.
“Ah… Richard? You’ve returned already?” a hazy voice asked from across the king’s chamber, muffled beneath the canopies of an immense oaken bed.
Richard allowed himself, at last, to breathe. After signalling the two guards to withdraw, he pulled the heavy latch closed and made his way across thick carpets to kneel at the bedside.
“I apologize, Father.” Richard said, head bowed. “For not being present when the messenger arrived. Lord Aston told me there was an urgent message, that you had fallen ill and that I was to come back straightaway. However, I...”
“That’s quite all right, Richard. Please, come closer. There’s no need for you to be so stiff around your old father.”
Hesitating, though he knew the man meant every word, Richard finally drew himself up. His fingers dug into cool, silken sheets, his legs trailing over as he perched on the edge of the mattress, too short yet to touch the floor.
It had been mere days, less than a week, but already it seemed to him that his father had aged a year. A light sheen of sweat dotted his forehead, the furrows under his eyes long and deep. Richard had been right to worry.
King Ferdinand IV had been a strong man once. Confident and even-tempered, his audiences were often punctuated with light-hearted humor and the kind advice of someone who truly cared for his subjects and their families. He was a man who believed in his country, and a man who also believed that the faith of their king could bring out a person’s innermost strengths. He was, in a word, an idealist. And he had been the first person, also, to believe in Richard’s ideals.
But despite this, Richard knew that his father was far from a fool. That clear, sharp gaze missed very little, and Richard himself had witnessed the deftness with which he could maneuver a blade. Perhaps that was why his father’s failing constitution was so sad - and so frustrating. There was no reason for him to be shut up inside his suite as illness preyed upon that strength. There was no reason for any of this. If only he could do something to stop it from happening time and again, then maybe...
A warm hand over his interrupted Richard’s thoughts, and he lifted his eyes to find a matching pair watching him patiently. Not watching, he reminded, but reading .
“Did you enjoy your stay in Lhant, Richard? It must be quite lively during the summer months.”
Richard swallowed, moving his free hand to cover his father’s in turn. “I did in fact. Very much so. Lord Aston was quite hospitable. And also, I was able to make some new friends. There are friendly, good people in Lhant.”
“I am glad to hear as much.” A tired smile stretched the king’s face. Had he not been ill, Richard was certain the man would have sat straight up in bed as if he had just divulged the most miraculous of surprises. “Now you must tell me about these friends of yours, Richard. Are they young people your age, I wonder, or perhaps someone older you can look up to?”
Grinning, Richard shook his head. “Their names are Asbel and Sophie. Asbel is Lord Aston’s son.”
“Lord Aston’s son, you say? I’d been told he had two sons now, though I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting them.”
“Yes, you would be right,” Richard continued, letting loose the stopper on the bottled excitement he’d been quashing until now, “Hubert is shy and takes after the Lady Lhant. And as for Asbel...”
“A heathen, I hear.”
“What? No!” Richard flushed as he caught the gleam of a truer smile on his father’s face. “What I meant to say was… Although it’s true that Asbel is reckless and a little too brash, he still--”
A hoarse laugh interrupted him. At first, the sound alleviated some of Richard’s flustered nerves, even conjuring a sheepish smile on his own face. However, a second more and the merry chuckle had turned into a fit of coughs.
“Father.” Richard leaned forward, squeezing his hand tight to stop his whole body from trembling. “Are you all right? Shall I summon the royal physician?”
“No, no. It’s fine…” Ferdinand whispered between coughs. “Don’t worry yourself so.”
“It isn’t fine .” Richard muttered darkly.
“There now, Richard. I’m sure that this ‘Asbel’ is a fine boy. I would like very much to meet him.”
Richard bit his lip, trying to read his father’s face the same way he read his kingdom. Of course he would turn the topic back to happier things, like Richard’s journey to Lhant… Kings were supposed to be foundations for their kingdoms, and Ferdinand never had allowed others to fuss over him for long. Still, it seemed a bit unfair. Title or not title, his father was still a man. But, at least for now, the coughing had eased.
“I would like that as well. Perhaps we can go together at a later time.” Richard offered, playing along even as his chest tightened. “Once you are feeling better.”
“Yes, perhaps we shall. I owe Aston a visit as well.. It has been a long time, and he always did take things much too seriously when left to himself. Much, much too seriously…” Ferdinand patted Richard’s hand. “ I am sorry for this, Richard. I wish you could have stayed in Lhant where you would have been much safer.”
“It’s all right, Father. I understand why you summoned me back here.”
“No, my son. You misunderstand,” said Ferdinand, his voice suddenly firm, “I wanted for you to spend the entire season in Lhant under Lord Aston’s care.”
“What do you mean?” Richard asked, uncomprehending. Shifting to close his fingers around his son’s wrist, Ferdinand drew him to himself, his breath warm at Richard’s ear, his scent a concoction of bitter herbs tinged with a lingering sweetness Richard had learned to dread.
“I am sorry, Richard.” Ferdinand whispered. “I never ordered the knights to bring you home.”
What? Richard felt his blood run cold, a ship lost at sea as he was released from his father’s comforting embrace and left hovering like a leaf on the wind.
Only then did Richard hear the slow creak of the door, the metallic shuffle of armor, the calm familiar voice of the one person he resented most in the entire world.
“Your Majesty, I believe the doctors have advised that you not overexert yourself.”
“Yes… I suppose they did, Cedric.” Ferdinand turned back to Richard with an expression of apology and silent understanding. “Thank you for coming to visit your father, Richard. Perhaps we can talk more about your time in Lhant tomorrow?”
“Y...yes. Of course.” Richard answered, all warmth having drained from him completely. It was all Richard could do to keep his footsteps steady as he turned and tread out of the room, the muscles in his legs quivering with rage held in check.
“How is your father?”
Richard stopped in his tracks, biting down the million curses he wished he could fling at this man like knives. Lately… again and again, despite changes to the staff and every conceivable precaution, his father continued to become sick. That was the official story. However, the truth was something far worse, and something his father refused to believe for reasons Richard could hardly imagine. Ferdinand wasn’t sick, but poisoned, and the most likely suspect, the person who stood to gain the most...was his own brother, Archduke Cedric.
Richard turned to the man standing outside the doorway, summoning a tone that at least bordered on acceptable. “He’s tired, Uncle. But with some rest, I’m sure he’ll be feeling much better.”
“Yes, let us hope so. By the way, Your Highness, I heard that you had quite a scare while you were in Lhant. It’s a shame what Sir Bryce tried to do to you. I will see to it that the council enacts a just punishment on that man.”
Richard nodded, fists tight at his sides. “I understand. Thank you, Uncle.”
“You must be exhausted. I shall leave you be. A good day to you, my prince.”
Richard watched him go, eyes trailing him until he had disappeared around a turn in the corridor. Then, and only then, did Richard start down a different corridor..
One of the servants met him at the top of the staircase, bowing low before he launched into a flurry of apologies for being ill-prepared and a swift recital of the tutors who would be arriving tomorrow for lessons. Richard hardly heard a word of it. Excusing himself, he retreated to his chambers and sank slowly down into the divan near the window, overlooking the castle gardens and above that, a wide expanse of blue. He had only just returned, and already the hope Asbel and the others had given him was a sputtering candle. How would he ever manage to make true friends in a place where he must forever be careful, watchful, afraid? With this, it seemed his vacation was over.
An entire season in Lhant…
It sounded unbelievable. And yet, Richard yearned for it. A whole season with his new friends, getting tugged along on Asbel’s misadventures, helping Sophie recover her memories, and learning more about Cheria and Hubert. It sounded like a nice dream. But that’s all it was now.
A beautiful and impossible dream.