Prince Farley [BL]

Chapter 6

Farley's POV

I memorized every little thing about him, small details I've had five years to cherish.

Kade had a mole under his eye, no last name, an earthly scent, dark skin, curly hair, and a soft spoken voice. I've listened to that voice for the past five years. When's the next time I'll be able to hear it?

At least two years, I reckoned. I'll be a man in two years. Perhaps in two years when I'm crowned a man, I can truly stand up to Father and stand as equals. I'll be Farley- a king in waiting. Not Farley- the crown prince. I could only hope.

There were no guards at Kade's cell. In fact, the door leading down to the cells was even open. The only thing that kept us apart was the cell itself and the bars that shaped it.

He felt so far away right in front of me.

A prince's punishment- it seemed quite laughable. It was, wasn't it? A prince so spoiled, his punishment was inflicted on someone else. My punishment wasn't really punishment at all, it was a person. A boy, to be precise. A boy I was fond of.

A friend- my only friend. It was a bit sad when you really thought about it. The consequences of befriending the crown prince. Kade was and would always be the only person to know these consequences. Because he was my only companionship.

I wanted to apologize, and I could not hold it in this time. "I'm sorry."

And he smiled, lips stretching into a tired, small smile. "What for?"

"Everything." I admitted. "I'm not sure how I would've avoided this.. but I'd go back and change something if I could." Perhaps I'd go back to when we never met. But no, those five years were the best years I've ever lived and I will forever cherish them.

I won't allow myself to think I've gone crazy and made him up.

His name was Kade. He smiled often, but it was always tired. He wanted to be a knight- and now he is. He was my only friend. He was but a boy when we met, and almost a man when he left. His name was Kade. That's how I'll remember him, along with every other detail I've memorized.

"I don't regret it." He sat on the cell's ground. It was cold against his palms. I felt that same coldness in my own.

"But if we could at least go back to that night and change it, then-" I was cut off.

"I don't regret it." He repeated. "I refuse to regret it." His hair was so long now. It curled into his eyes and he was forced to brush it away. "Just like you, you're my only person." My heart thumped. "Going back would be taking away a memory of you. I don't want that."

It thumped again. Thumptbumpthump.

I wished to think the same, but I could not. While I cherished every moment I was allowed with him, I would do anything to go back and change that night. I would tell him not come, and wait until tomorrow.

But this was our reality. Him stuck in a cell while I had the privilege of a prince. No cell kept me hostage and I did not go to sleep shivering, but he did. He was not a prince.

"I'll come and see you." I told him, almost desperately. "If I can just leave the palace, then I can see you. I'm the prince-"

"You are only a prince, Farley." His smiled dimmed until I realized it was no longer a smile at all. My name, he said my name. And it would be the first time he acknowledged my useless rank. I see, we were no longer pretending.

"A prince seems magical to people like me, but I realize now you are not much different." He gazed at me with such honesty it hurt. "You are a royal and you have many things that people could only ever wish for, but there are still things even you cannot have." Me, went left unsaid. You can't have me.

"I would not ask you to tarnish your family name any longer." He finished softly.

There would be consequences, I knew. A boy living in the knights quarters would need to be explained to the entire squadron, and then word of why that boy was there would spread. And if they saw me with that boy, there would surely be consequences. Because they are Father's men before they are anything to me.

His Majesty cannot keep his son in line, the nobles would shame. I could hear them now. They've always favored Quinton over me.

I was smart enough to predict the consequences, but I was a sixteen year old boy who didn't want to lose the first person I've ever considered a friend. "You don't want to?" I asked quietly. "I can come see you, I will."

"You cannot." He denied gently.

"Do you not want to see me?"

"It is not that, you surely know." His lips pulled into a frown. "You are a prince and as a prince you have a certain standard to uphold."

Prince, prince, prince- I know, I wanted to yell. I've been a prince my whole life, I knew all too well that I was a prince and had to pretend. Because that is what a prince does. But I was just so tired of pretending that being a prince was not exhausting. "I don't want to be. I hate being a prince, I hate everything about it. What is a prince that cannot even do this much?"

I was a boy, not yet a man, and already had to fight for my right on the throne. Not from Quinton, Quinton didn't want to be the King, but from the nobles. The nobles carried almost as much authority as Father when they came together. And the nobles did not favor me over my brother.

I was being a child, I knew. Who am I to complain about my royal blood in front of someone held hostage? I was a child, and proving it again and again.

"You've done enough." Kade settled me. "A prince... shouldn't be expected to save people."

His clothes were dirty, just like the first day we met. Mine weren't.

Mentally, I gave up. I embarrassed myself in front of him enough with my constant begging. Begging doesn't work, standing tall and arguing doesn't work, so what does? I didn't know.

I was but a mere prince and would be considered little to nothing until I was a king.

My eyes were downcast, too shamed to meet his. He's accepted it, so I must too. Is this not a good opportunity for him? He was becoming a knight just like he wanted. It was selfish of me to want to risk that for him.

"When I am a man-" I cut myself off and rephrased, "When we are men and I see you again, I'd like to be someone you can.. depend on." Not now. Now, I can hardly depend on myself. But in the future, I'll be stronger. I'll take our time apart and grow stronger.

"I promised you, didn't I?" He attempted a smile even if it fell a little short. "I'll be the best knight in all of Rerian."

"Just Rerian?" I attempted my own smile. "Why not the whole country?"

"If feels like too much, no?" His smile grew a bit more. "Would it not be selfish to wish the entire country?"

"I believe you could." I told him honestly. "But perhaps conquering Rerian first would be best."

His hair was curly, and his skin darker than any I've ever seen. He had a mole under his eye and he always looked tired. His name was Kade.

In the next three years that came to be, I'd look back upon this moment again and again and laugh with irony. I'd look back and wonder what went wrong, what happened?

Conquer Rerian, I told him. I didn't think he'd actually do it.

        Kade's POV

I grew to like Rerian the longer I stayed. Or more, I liked the crown prince who would one day rule it.

At sixteen years old, I still wasn't fond of their language and I missed my home more than anything. Rerian was beautiful, but nothing compared to my home kingdom.

Sitting in the back of a carriage with Rerian's royal crest barring my new tunic, a knights tunic, I was left to gaze at the scenery. There was a lot of green, it almost seemed endless. Rerian was a kingdom full of green nature.

Weben was more known for our lakes. If known at all, we were a small kingdom. A small kingdom that was easy to take over.

As I stared at the tall mess of tress passing by, I remembered the flames, the cries of children, women, and men alike, and the terror I felt that day my home was raided. The loss of my family settled into my stomach and made me feel a little sick, but I ignored this feeling. I was used to it.

I was Kade now.

Not Hamol Sandoval.

As far as anyone knew, the Sandoval family had ended on that tragic day. We might as well have. My life in Weben seemed like a fever dream, I almost couldn't believe I lived like that once. I had a family, but not anymore.

There were no knights in Weben. Or at least we didn't call them knights. Guards was probably the right word, but even that was a stretch. They were a small group of men that took turns patrolling streets and settling drunk men.

Nothing could've prepared them for the hundreds of real knights that stormed the city and cut us down one by one.

They were just growing in number too, training hard to become what other kingdom's naturally had. They would've been a fine force to be reckoned with if they were given time to grow. I had no idea what they were like now or if they were even alive. I doubted it but silently hoped they were.

Thank you, I would say since I never got the chance to. I saw them from time to time, patrolling the peaceful streets that didn't need any protection, but they were always there- at least two of them. They looked like any other citizens, but they wore black tunics that all matched. Armor didn't exist to them, only the nobles had that and it was only for decoration.

The royal family fell first that day, and then all the citizens after.

Were they mourned and properly buried? I wouldn't know. The royal family was good to its people. His Majesty cared for his citizens and they loved him just the same.

The royal family fell first and their entire line wiped out. I could only silently hope they were resting peacefully, but it must be hard having to watch your people work as slaves for another kingdom.

Another clump of tall, bright tress passed us and I knew we were close. "It's right up on this trail." I mumbled to the knight watching me, Braun. He let the coachmen know and the carriage soon came to a stop.

"I'll have to accompany you." He let me know as we both exited the carriage. Of course, I thought.

I silently nodded and felt discomfort form at the sight of my home. Not a home- but a place I slept now and then. Not by choice of course, but by necessity.

The old man was home, I could hear his horse in the stable around back.

Clause, the old man's name was. I hated him. I hated him with every fiber in my body and wished he was dead. I might just kill him myself one day.

I didn't bother knocking on the door and entered as I pleased. If it were any other day, this would've earned a smack to my face, but with Braun here, he wouldn't dare.

Clause was an old man, at least to me. He was nearing sixty but his body showed all the work he's had to do in life. I hated that he wasn't a wrinkly old man I could make fun of.

"Boy?!" He called from outside. His home was small and only housed him and I. Because of this, it made it almost impossible to sneak in and out without making any noise. But it never stopped me. "Is that you?"

He came inside a minute later wearing mud clad boots with a bucket in hand. "Where the hell-" He paused when he saw Braun. "Who the hell are you? f**k you doin' with my boy?" He must've recognized the royal crest on Braun. He was in full uniform, sword and all. It was easy to tell he was a knight. "You get in some trouble?" Clause asked me, tossing the empty bucket aside.

It clattered to the floor. "Yeah." I answered shortly.

"f**k you do?"

I stared at him silently.

He would've slapped me silly for this silence if we were alone.

Braun explained the situation in great detail and even politely asked that Clause understand my crimes couldn't go unpunished. "I have a boy of my own, I really do understand how you may be feeling." Braun sympathized. "But it is under His Majesty's orders that we must do this."

"His Majesty's orders, huh?" Clause came off amused but I could see his anger rising. "Who am I to deny the king? But won't you allow me a minute with my son?" I almost spit right in his face. Son- it was laughable. "Just to say goodbye."

Braun was hesitant and even tried explaining that Clause could still see me in the knights quarters if he requested an audience. "I'm an old man, I cannot travel as much as I would like. Surely you understand?" Clause smiled and it felt disgusting to watch.

Braun eventually caved. "If it is just a moment.. and then we will gather your belongings." He glanced at me towards the end and I silently nodded. I had nothing of value here, at least nothing I'd bother taking with me. 

The silence when we were left alone was deafening. I'm sure he wanted to backhand me as hard as he could, but he knew he couldn't.

I laughed. I laughed and laughed and watched him grow angry. "I'm sorry-" I tried calming down but it was just too funny. "The 'son' part really was amusing." I hate him so much. "You have never called me that before, it would be the first."

I wanted to kill him. "You got cocky and look at you." He titled his head and spit outside. "You think I didn't know what you were doing?" I knew he didn't, but he could pretend all he wanted. It made no difference to me. "Sneaking off every night, not coming back for days, you probably thought you had it real good, huh?"

"Better than here." Every street I slept on would always be better than here.

"This image you've created of me in your head, does it help you sleep at night?" He chuckled but there was no amusement. He reached out and knocked his hand on my head. I'm going to kill him one day. "You make me out to be some big bad guy but what have I done to you? Huh?" He prompted.

There was a long list I didn't feel like answering. Everything could be wrapped up in, "I wish you had left me to die there that day."

"You had a choice and you took my hand and came home with me." I was ten- I had nobody, no family, no name, no title. I was nothing. "You can blame me for all your problems if you wish, if it makes you feel better." He waved a dismissive hand around. "Throw yourself a pity party like always, I never mind. I did 

you a favor and still am."

"Favor?" I laughed. "Beating me every day was a favor?"

"Discipline." He corrected.

"Discipline." I repeated.

He spit out the door again. "When we first got here in Rerian, you and I both sat down and agreed what we would do. I gave you a choice and you begged me to help you."

"I was ten and had just lost my entire family!" I hate him, I hate him- "You wanted me to help you. Do not pretend it is you doing me a favor. If it weren't for me, none of what you've done would've been possible."

He'd choke me if he could. "Yeah, I'll give you that. I've had to depend on some shitty little brat for the past six years. You want a 'thank you' note? Or do you think you can do it all by yourself? You think Hamol Sandoval can get you anywhere in life? No." He spit again. "It's going to get you killed."

"Then let me die." I stared at him darkly. "Anything would be better than you."

"I would, trust me. The last thing I wanted was some snot nosed brat, but fortunately for me Hamol Sandoval can get me out of this s**t hole kingdom and back in Weben. And don't forget, you begged me to help you."

I was ten- "Sure, a 'thank you' note would be nice."

He laughed again and kicked the bucket as he walked past me. "It's tough being a prince, isn't it?" I'll kill him one day. "Get to packin', boy."

A prince, I thought as I stared outside. I almost laughed. Is this what a prince looks like?

No- Farley was a prince worth remembering. I was but a boy who ignored his people's cries and ran away. I could hear them begging. Please help up, please don't abandon us. Prince Hamol, please!

I remember running with both of my siblings and having to force my wide eyes filled with terror away from a women dragging herself along the ground. There was a baby in her arms and she was begging me to take her. Just save her please! Leave me! She begged, legs completely shattered.

I pretended not to hear her and kept running. In the end, everyone in my family died but me. Was it karma for leaving that baby? I didn't know.

The royal family fell first that tragic day. The entire Sandoval line wiped out.

I was no longer worthy of that title. I was nothing more than a fallen prince with nothing to my name. 

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hey besties. i have a vague idea of where this story is going but not really  kinda confusing but whatever.

okay bye ily,

maddie