Chapter Text
(INSIDE – THE PRINCE’S QUARTERS OF THE CASTLE – EVENING)
(The Sun has yet to set when Prince Morpheus Aldrich has just gone up to his room for the night and his personal guard, Robert Gadling, has followed him)
ROBERT
(enter stage left - knocks on the Prince’s door)
Sire? May we speak?
MORPHEUS
(standing center stage, facing stage right - calls back through the door - shortly)
I am not in the mood Robert Gadling; I am fine.
ROBERT
(hesitates, a bit concerned by the tone)
I am sorry sir, but you do not sound it and you left supper rather abruptly.
(tries the door handle only to find it locked)
Morpheus?
MORPHEUS
(glances at the door, frustrated)
Leave, Robert. I will not tell you again.
ROBERT
(furrows his brows, hesitating a moment before rifling through his pockets and fishing out a skeleton key)
MORPHEUS
(startles as the door swings open, spinning to face it (stage left), looking disheveled and angry)
What is the meaning of this?
ROBERT
(raises his hands in a placating gesture – the key still held in one hand)
It is for safety purposes only, sire, I swear it.
MORPHEUS
(grits his teeth and turns back to his bed - which sits in the middle of stage right & upstage right)
As you can see, I am perfectly fine. Leave.
ROBERT
(tucks the key away, brows furrow)
I have known you long enough to know that is a lie, sir. I cannot leave if you are this out of sorts.
MORPHEUS
(pauses and looks over his shoulder at him)
You have been my personal guard for the past five years, since I was seventeen, when my elder brother lost his life.
ROBERT
(a bit confused, nods)
…I remember, sire.
MORPHEUS
(glares)
Then why do you still not trust me?
ROBERT
(sighs, (steps into center stage) fully entering the room and closing the door)
It is not about trust. It is merely that my duty is to protect you, even if it is from yourself.
MORPHEUS
(bristles)
So you think me mad?
ROBERT
(gently)
No, sire. I think that you are stressed. Have you slept?
MORPHEUS
(ignores his question, agitated)
Are you not supposed to obey my command?
ROBERT
(calmly)
I am, sire, but my primary duty is to protect you.
MORPHEUS
(turns back towards his bed with a sigh, mutters)
Stay if you must.
ROBERT
(fails to hold back a smile at his small win, nods)
I shall.
MORPHEUS
(moves around the room to gather various items (downstage right, upstage left) – clothing, a pouch of coins, a dagger – ((return to stage right) before aggressively shoving them into a bag on his bed)
ROBERT
(watching the Prince carefully, curiously)
Sire? May I ask what you are doing?
MORPHEUS
(doesn’t even look up, shortly)
You may not.
ROBERT
(considers)
May I ask why the sudden mood?
MORPHEUS
(hesitates as he comes up with an excuse)
…I have never liked your pestering.
ROBERT
(grins, (head to stage right) taking a few steps closer to peer at Morpheus’s face)
Another lie, your highness?
MORPHEUS
(hides a slight smile, scoffs)
No.
(glances at him before turning back to his task, teasingly)
…You are a true nuisance.
ROBERT
(soft laugh in response)
Will you answer any of my questions?
MORPHEUS
(huffs, lightly)
No, in fact, I have a mind to force you from the room.
ROBERT
(raises his hands once again in a placating gesture)
Alright. There is no need for that.
(considers, softly)
…Sire, truly- What are you doing?
MORPHEUS
(mumbles)
Surely you have better things to be doing.
ROBERT
(rolls his eyes, remaining ever patient)
This really is my main duty. …Tell me.
MORPHEUS
(gestures to the bag on his bed, simply – though a touch sarcastically)
Clearly I am packing.
ROBERT
(flatly)
Morpheus.
MORPHEUS
(goes quiet)
ROBERT
(huffs a laugh)
This is childish. You have never been afraid to tell me anything. What is it?
MORPHEUS
(still not facing him, quietly)
I am running away.
ROBERT
(furrows his brows in confusion, a little shocked)
What? No. You cannot simply leave.
MORPHEUS
(unmoving as he stares down at his bag)
My mind is made. You will not change it.
ROBERT
(concerned)
Where will you even go?
MORPHEUS
(resolute)
I shall start by journeying through the woods that border the castle. From there I do not care.
ROBERT
(points out)
You will be spotted in the surrounding counties.
MORPHEUS
(seemingly calm)
Then I’ll travel farther. I will go completely out of my Father’s district.
ROBERT
(takes a step closer as he attempts to reason with him)
Sire-
MORPHEUS
(rounds on him)
Enough! I am not some child or idiot that does not know what choice he is making. I am leaving.
ROBERT
(pauses in slight shock at the outburst, watching quietly as Morpheus turns and finishes the last of his packing)
(placating)
Sire… I meant no disrespect. I only wish for you to sleep on it.
MORPHEUS
(jaw clenched, his face a picture of held back frustration and anger, shakes his head)
ROBERT
(tries again)
These decisions really should not be made with such anger-
MORPHEUS
(turns to face him, sternly)
I am going. Come if you wish.
(storms past Robert — leaving the room (exit stage left))
ROBERT
(stares after Morpheus for a moment before following with a sigh and quickened steps)