the_campus | [Event] It couldn't last forever.

When I was very young... I met a young boy in the church. He was very badly off, very dirty and hungry. He looked lonely, so I snuck away from my mother later on and I met with him. We talked for a while, and I gave him something to eat after it was clear he was starving. About then... some members of a group that didn't want my family on the throne found me away from my mother and guards and tried to take me away. Christopher drug me off and around, leading me away from them and trying to protect me.

Eventually... we were cornered. But even then, he put himself between them and me and refused to move, no matter how much they kicked him around or aside. We were only children... and he was already willing to die if it meant that it would keep me from them.

About then... my mother arrived and chased them off. The other guards shoved Christopher away until I started yelling, at which she asked me what was wrong. I told her what he had done... and she demanded that a guard return to the castle immediately to prepare a hot bath and a banquet. She also told him to alert the tailor to take in a few of my older clothing so they'd fit, and then she took Christopher and I back to the palace with her.

He showed bravery even adults never could... and as such, my mother immediately gave him a home, food, clothing, and a purpose: to become my royal guard.

Though... my mother was tricky. She never told us that last part until much later.

...

[Never told them? Why would that be? ...ah!]

I see! If he was just given that duty straight away, he might have become resentful. Instead, she instilled a sense of gratefulness in him over time that would have led him to be even more willing to protect you. He already had shown a willingness to do it, but it could be reinforced over time.

That was a part of it, yes. The other part was that my mother knew the duty of a personal guard required not only a sacrifice of everything else, but a deep desire to protect and safeguard the one you were assigned to; not just out of debt, but loyalty and even love as well. Though my actions had given Christopher everything and though the two of us were inseparable as children, she fully intended to test our bonds to the limit to try and see if it was right.

So when I turned 13, I was forbidden from ever speaking with Christopher again. I was shoved into my studies as a prince and he into his training as a guardsmen. We tried to be obedient and good, but after so long of being as good as brothers, neither of us could stand the loneliness again.

So we began to disobey my mother. Sneaking out at night, or during lulls in the guard, or even just sending letters to each other via Kuriboh, we kept in contact and kept each other from feeling lonely. I had thought we were being clever, and to a degree, we were... but my mother knew all of what was going on. It had been exactly what she wanted to see, after all, and since we were smart enough to get around the regular guards, she never felt the need to call attention to it.

...And then... I became old enough to be considered a proper prince. My mother decided to hold a tournament to see who would be my guard and had all but the junior knights allowed to participate. Now, the thing about royal knights is that they must be skilled... but even knights that aren't fully trained can start out with a very young royal, so that the two adjust and the knight can be specially trained for the position. For a reason no one understood until it was over, my mother refused this, and pointedly forbade them during the court's meeting.

Christopher, at the time, was still a junior knight, but was horrified at his exclusion -- after all, the reason he had trained so hard even when were separated is so that, one day, he could be assigned that position, or at least be eligible.

In a move that made the entire court go silent, Christopher stood up and spoke out of turn. He demanded that the junior knights be allowed to try out as well. My mother calmly stood up and challenged him to a fight then and there, which he accepted. Needless to say... Christopher was no match for her, yet he kept getting up, over and over, no matter how many times she knocked him down. Finally, when he was so exhausted and hurt that he had to use his sword just to stand, she asked why he wouldn't stay down. He told her that he would never give up, and that no matter what she tried, some day, he would be the one to protect me.

I remember it being so perfectly silent, with even the birds not daring to sing a note. And then, slowly, my mother began to laugh, clapping. The first words from her mouth, then, were...

"It's about time."

Edited 2013-09-20 13:30 (UTC)

Incredible... Your mother must be a scary person to cross. And Christopher really sounds like a remarkable person.

[Ryou's voice is filled with fascination. It's a life he can't even imagine, not truly. Even though the faces involved are familiar, it's an entirely different plane of existence.]

[Henry visibly shivers, moving to rub his arm for a moment.]

Let's just say... even I was never willing to misbehave enough to make her angry. None of the Lancastrians ever were. She is... more frightening than even the largest army.

[The thought makes him shiver too. Someone like that would have to be terrifying.]

Suddenly I'm really glad I didn't grow up where you did.

Mother wasn't really that bad. She took in Christopher right on the spot because he deserved it, after all. It's just that when she's genuinely angry, she... is a force that anyone would gladly bow to just to calm her.

I can't imagine anyone that powerful... My mother was an ordinary businesswoman, after all. The only person that ever got scared when she was angry was father.

That was only one part of her. She loved me dearly. Even if my own father was a man not even worth spilling the blood of, she strove to make herself and me into proper royals, not simple mongrels.

...There were times when I was sick in bed and she would excuse herself from her duties to tend to me, or even just be there to sing me to sleep. A queen's life is a busy one, and I understood how she could not always be there -- or even there often -- but she was still my mother, and she still did everything for me that she could. She taught me how to act, how to speak, how to spot if I was being deceived...

Heh... for all she loved me, what she gave me was the ruthlessness a king sometimes needs.

Edited 2013-09-20 14:12 (UTC)

Sorry, Henry. I didn't mean it to sound disparaging, or anything. She really sounds like an amazing woman. She must have wanted the best for you, even knowing how hard it would be.

It's all right. And yes, she did, but mother was... well, she was a ruthless woman. She lifted those who deserved it, but those who dared cross or betray suffered terribly. I never quite agreed with that, and neither did Christopher.

Hah... in fact... I'd say he's as much a cause of who I am as mother was. Having him at my side so long... it was odd when he was no longer there.

I hope you find him again soon.

[It's a simple, honest statement. This place has magic to it, but that doesn't mean it isn't kind sometimes. He really hopes that Henry's friends come together again.]

So do I. But I have to stay strong until then. Even if this isn't my kingdom, I still am a king. Times like this, in private, are still precious to me... because even here, I have to keep my bearing while in public.

[Petpet on the hair again. Feeling comfortable?]

Though... having you nearby is almost as relaxing as having Jack. I may have to find a way to take you back to England with us.

[He's joking, of course, but he can't resist poking a little fun.]

[Feeling very comfortable indeed. He could almost drift off right here, until he hears that. He's quite sure Henry is joking, but the idea makes him flail a little inside.]

U-uwah! I don't think I'd do so well back in England! I don't even speak English very well, and I'd probably faint the first time anyone pulled a sword on me.

I think you'd be fine, once you were trained a bit. And if nothing else, you could handle the diplomacy aspect of things rather than the active combat.

As for English... I think it's learnable. If nothing else, maybe this area can help with that.

[...Henry, stop making him consider this. He sounds serious - if a little sleepy - when he responds.]

I'd... worry about Father a lot if I went so far away. But I would like to at least see it...

Edited 2013-09-20 14:29 (UTC)

...

[He continues to pet Ryou, using his other hand to pull the blanket over them.]

England is a wonderful place of castles and horses and knights... it rains often, but it's very cool because of it.

[He can hear the sleepiness, and he's trying to gently lure Ryou into it fully. Perhaps even with a dream of his home.]

I think the Lancastrians would adore you. Elizabeth is always polite... and Thomas and Grandfather would find you one of a kind.

[It's warm and comfortable, Henry's pleasant voice painting pictures in his head as his hair strokes through Ryou's hair. It feels nice.

He wants to ask about them, to coax more details out of Henry, but he feels too relaxed to even muster up the words.

Before he even realizes it, he's drifted off to dreams of old english castle and knights in armor.]

[Henry closes his eyes when he feels Ryou's breathing slow, smiling softly.]

Sleep well, Prince Ryou... see England through your dreams if nowhere else.

[Speaking of England...

It's not much longer before Jack, alerted of the other man's presence in - inexplicably - the wrong dorm, comes to check on him. Seeing the sight, he pauses, debates leaving them alone... and ends up just standing there. It looks like Henry's pretty comfortable with his descendant. That's something, at least.]

Henry?

[Even if Henry hadn't been able to sense Jack's presence, the Dark Magician would have alerted him. He glances over to the door, nodding gently and waving him over.

No need to yell over and risk waking Ryou.]

[Crossing over, he stands beside the couch, leaning over to speak quietly at him. Ryou never even stirs.]

This is quite the adorable scene before me.

He suffers a burden with a terrible weight, and it seems that he came searching for me when it became too much.

[He gently pets Ryou's hair again, giving the boy a soft look.]

Your descendant... he's quite an amazing young man, Jack.

[He watches as the young man smiles in his sleep, entirely at ease in Henry's arms. Truthfully, if it had been anyone but Henry, he'd have been more concerned. He was worried still, but Henry was no mindless fool. He'd not have let Ryou get this close if he suspected treachery.]

Heh. You sound fond of him... Should I be worried?

[His tone is slightly teasing. As if he would be worried about replacement! There was no chance of that.]

[Henry notices the look from Jack and nods down, reaching over to very gently pull the young boy's shirt up. His eyes linger on the Ring scars for a moment with a flash of anger.]

No Ring. The Spirit agreed to remove itself entirely from him for a few hours a day in return for the dagger mother had given me.

[He pulls the shirt back down, noting just how dead to the world Ryou seemed to be. It was a mix of cute and amusing, honestly... but Jack's comment causes him to flash the man a grin.]

He is somewhat softer than you...

[Of course, it's teasing back. There truly is no chance of it, especially not after so long.]

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